Jimmy Regal & The Royals – Live At Elephant And Castle
Self-Release – 2024
www.jimmyregalandtheroyals.com
9 tracks; 37 minutes
Jimmy Regal And The Royals are a three piece band based in South London, UK. They have released three studio albums. On this limited edition disc they give us their first live release, majoring on tracks from what was then their latest album, First And Last Stop, plus a short return to their debut album. The band does not actually feature anyone called ‘Jimmy Regal’ and their instrumentation is also somewhat unusual, drummer Sammy Samuels and guitarist CJ Williams supporting vocalist/harp player Joff Watkins, though on this album they are joined by some guests who fill out the sound: Titch Walker (trumpet), John O’Neil (sax), Alan Hughes (djembe and percussion), Toby Kinder (keys), Jon Heal (bass) and Tricia Davies Nearn (backing vocals). All the songs are originals, credited to the core trio.
After a short introduction the trio launches into “Burn It Down” from their first album, a chugging rhythm and plenty of vibrant harp behind Joff’s tough vocals. The rest of the album concentrates on the new release, covering eight of the twelve songs from it, starting with two relatively gentle cuts: “Can’t Keep From Losing You” is a light and airy tune with Tricia’s backing vocals the first contribution from the guests; “Empty Streets” develops into a country-inflected tune, with bass added so that CJ can expand on his slide work. Things get busier on the fast-paced “The First And Last Stop” with additional percussion and vocals, Joffo returning to his harp for a melodic solo.
Introduced as being about a shady character from a South London pub, “Mickey Two Suits” is an instrumental, Joffo tearing into the tune with frenetic harp, organ adding drama to the tune. Sound advice follows when we are warned never to put your hands on a “Fat Man’s Chicken”! Strong guitar/harp riffing is supplemented by the brass players, each of whom get a short solo spot in an exciting tune. From here on the larger band takes centre stage, “Bones To Dust” being a strong R&B tune with Joffo’s snarling vocals, the horns in support mode as CJ takes a strong slide solo. The jagged rhythms of “You Can’t Run” find Joff’s keening harp work wrapped in a strong horn arrangement and lots of percussion. The album closes with another full band production with strong backing vocals as Joff urges us to find a way out of the routines of everyday life, to find a “New Flame”.
Building on the sort of harmonica-based R&B music that has been a familiar part of the UK blues scene since the 1960’s and adding a wider range of sounds, including elements of Mississippi Hill Country blues, Jimmy Regal And The Regals offer us a good insight into their sound here, the additional instrumentation definitely a plus.
