Blues Like Showers Of Rain – A compendium Of The Finest British Country Blues Artists – 1966 – 1976
Saydisc Matchbox Blues Series
www.matchboxbluesmaster.co.uk
6 CDs – 106 songs – 316 Minutes
Disc 1: Blues Like Showers Of Rain (Vol.1)
Disc 2: Blues Like Showers Of Rain (Vol.2)
Disc 3: The Inverted Word
Disc 4: Blues Miscellany:Searchin’ The Desert For The Blues
Disc 5: Hokum Miscellany:Selling That Stuff
Disc 6: Ragtime And Miscellaneous:The Nailbreaker
For lovers of British Country Blues this extensive collection will be like Christmas morning squared. It is all presented in pristine sound. The kicker is that it isn’t all just country blues. There are acoustic blues guitar guys, jug bands, piano players, rags, a bit of hokum and a few surprises to boot. I am familiar with some of the names and musical reputations here, but I have heard little of their music until now. I have heard of Jo-Ann and Dave Kelly, Bob Hall and Ian A. Anderson (Not the Jethro Tull guy, the other one). Going in one may think this is a collection of boring guitar folkies, but you would be wrong. These are talented artists all. From skilled guitar finger-pickers to goofy jug bands to energy-charged piano masters. I found myself tapping the occasional toe. This music draws you in. There are covers and variations on classic blues, as well as original songs. A few nice surprises as well. There are some instrumentals to give variety to the proceedings.
The most represented country blues purveyors here are Dave Peabody, Ian A. Anderson, Mike Cooper and Simon and Steve. That is not to downplay the quality of those with fewer tracks. Many of the songs are collaborations of various musicians. Steve Rye of Simon and Steve pops up all over to lend his harmonica expertise to various musicians, as well contributing one vocal-harmonica piece on his own. Covers of the blues innovators include the ubiquitous Robert Johnson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Tampa Red, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Boy Fuller, Skip James and Blind Blake. Some of the titles are altered, such as “Write Me A Few Of Your Lines” becomes “A Few Short Lines”. Occasionally you witness the lyrical inbreeding that was a usual practice among the old-time innovators.
It is needless to say that I won’t be commenting on every one of the over one hundred songs. Here are some of my personal favorites of the more traditional country blues performances. Dave Kelly and Mike Cooper offer great versions of “A Few Short Lines”. Dave’s sister Jo-Ann Kelly, one of the few female country blues singers of this era, does a good turn on Memphis Minnie’s “Nothin’ In Ramblin'”. She also does an unaccompanied and dark “Black Mary”. The only other female included in this collection is Frances McGillivray. She was a vocalist and is accompanied on guitars here by Mick Burke & Mikel Kooper. Her hearty vocal energizes “It Hurts Me Too” and “Rambling Man”.
Mike Cooper and Ian A. Anderson were among the most well-known artists of the era. Ian’s vocals and guitar shine on “Rowdy Blues”, “Big Road Blues”, “Little Queen Of Spades” and “Beedle Um Bum”, among others. He is joined by Elliot Jackson on harmonica on a few tunes. Al Jones shares vocals and guitar on the latter. There is also an uncredited person playing kazoo. Mike Cooper’s approach is similar to that of Ian A. Anderson. His finger-picked guitar skills and vocals are well represented on Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “Black Snake Moan”, “One Time Blues”, “The Way I Feel”, among others. His original guitar instrumental puts his guitar skills out there. Another of his instrumental numbers “The Inverted World” also has Ian A. Anderson on guitar and Chris Turner on harmonica.
Singer, guitarist, harmonica player and songwriter Dave Peabody also has quite a presence here. His performances include “Death Letter”, “Love In Vain”, and Big Maceo’s “Worried Life Blues”. Two curious inclusions by him that are not usually associated with the blues are Tommy Tucker’s “Hi-Heeled Sneakers” and Rufus Thomas’s “Walking The Dog”.
The Panama Limited Jug Band and Tight Like That honor the jug band tradition with their collection of feel good tunes featuring kazoos, washboard, jug and all manor of percussion. Songs like “Wildcat Squall” and “Muskrat Ramble”. One song by Tight Like That jumped out at me-“If I Had A Talking Picture Of You”. It was done by many acts in the twenties, but the first time I heard it was by The New Vaudeville Band.
Piano players also make a great impression too with the likes of Bob Hall, Diz Watson and Quentin Williams. They do solo instrumentals and/or accompany others. Damn, these guys can play!
A variety of instruments show up all over the place: violin, saxophone, harmonica, mandolin, banjo and assorted percussion instruments.
I barely scratched the surface of the treats in store here. Everything here is well worthy of a listen. Here are a few: Al Jones, Little Brother Steve, Simon & Steve, Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra…on and on. Pick out your own favorites. Not a lemon in the bunch! Saydisc has done a real “bang up” job with this compilation.
