“The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions” by SUNNYLAND SLIM and JOHNNY SHINES [Featuring Their Rare 1969 Albums “Midnight Jump” and “Last Night’s Dream”] - A Review by Mark Barry...

“…Got A Lean On My Body…Mortgage On My Soul…” 

 The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions by SUNNYLAND SLIM and JOHNNY SHINES (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Remasters)

This February 2008 UK released 23-track CD features two very rare blues albums from 1969 in their entirety along with three previously unreleased outtakes from the original sessions - and all of it in top quality digitally remastered form. Here are sunny details...

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by SUNNYLAND SLIM and JOHNNY SHINES on Sony/Blue Horizon 88697192172 (Barcode 886971921724) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD that comes with Three Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (78:36 minutes):

1. Layin’ In My Cell, Sleepin’

2. I Am The Blues

3. Sunnyland Special

4. Heartache

5. Lowland Blues

6. Stepmother

7. Get To My Baby (Take 2)

8. Get To My Baby (Take 3)

9. Stella Mae

10. Midnight Jump (Take 3)

11. Midnight Jump

12. Depression Blues

13. Heartache (Alternative Version)

Tracks 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are the 10-track SUNNYLAND SLIM album "Midnight Jump" issued in January 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63213 in the UK. It wasn't issued initially in the USA - but was re-issued in 1972 with a different cover and name - "Blues Masters Vol.8" on Blue Horizon BM 4608.

Track 7, 10 and 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED – new to this CD

All tracks were recorded at Chess's "Ter-Mar Recording Studios" in Chicago on 10 June 1968 - corrected from the album's sleeve notes that mistakenly credited the recording date as May 1968.

14. Solid Gold

15. From Dark ‘Til Dawn

16. I Will Be Kind To You

17. Last Night’s Dream

18. Baby Don’t You Think I Know

19. Pipeline Blues

20. I Don’t Know

21. Black Panther

22. I Had A Good Home

23. Mean Fisherman

Tracks 14 to 23 are the 10-track JOHNNY SHINES album "Last Night's Dream" issued in January 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63212 in the UK; like the Sunnyland Slim album, it was also re-issued only in 1972 in the USA with a different cover and name - "Blues Masters Vol.8" on Blue Horizon BM 4607

The band for both sessions were:

SUNNYLAND SLIM (Albert Luandrew) on Piano & Vocals (Tracks 1 to 13 only)

JOHNNY SHINES on Guitar (All tracks except 3, 5 and 13)

WALTER "SHAKEY" HORTON on Harmonica (All tracks except 3 and 13)

OTIS SPANN on Piano (Track 19 only)

WILLIE DIXON on Upright Bass (All tracks except 13 to 17, 20, 22 and 23)

CLIFTON JAMES on Drums (All tracks except 13, 14, 17 and 22)

The original master tapes were transferred and remastered by SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music in Berkshire and SIMON WOOD at Dubmaster Studios in Hampshire and while Sunnyland Slim's album is clean, clear and ballsy sounding - the Johnny Shines album is very hissy on a good few of the tracks. Don't get me wrong - his music is very good - eerie almost - but the hiss level and tape glitches on "I Don't Know" and "I Had A Good Home" do detract a little (four session reels are missing).

The 16-page booklet is written by label boss MIKE VERNON and features detailed biographies on the two main men and each of the session players, album recording details, photos of the original LP covers - all of it in the usual card wrap on the outside - superbly presented as ever.

Musically, this is a deceptive release - at first I honestly thought it was all a little dull - merely workmanlike - but after a few listens - it's eaten into me - especially the Shines tracks. Badly recorded or not - they're wonderfully evocative of lone-guitar-blues - the ghost of Robert Johnson hanging over every long-fingered string bend. And even more enticing is that 17 of the 23 tracks are self-penned by both artists (the other 6 are covers) - which is impressive indeed given their overall quality. 

Both men had great voices and are complimented to the ninth degree by both DIXON and HORTON. Highlights include the Harmonica Driven instrumental "Lowland Blues" and a mighty Johnny Shines version of Robert Johnson's "Baby Don't You Think I Know (aka Sweet Home Chicago)" with Horton again blowing up some great Harmonica fills. The shuffle of "I Will Be Kind To You" is as infectious as blues gets - just lovely. Can't stop playing it. The three outtakes are complete versions too and it's hard to know why Take 3 was used and not Take 2 - they're equal to each other.

To sum up – this is yet another classy release from the Blue Horizon camp in a long line of them. Give this superb CD a chance - it has rewards aplenty, it really does…

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by KEY LARGO [including the "Key Largo" LP] (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Reissue & Remaster With Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry…

"...Big Chief..."

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by KEY LARGO revolves around the British blues band sole self-titled debut LP for the cult UK blues label 'Blue Horizon' – a hard-to-find £70 to £100 vinyl rarity. This superb 2008 Sony CD Remaster adds on five juicy bonuses too. Here are the key details...

KEY LARGO were:

PAT McAULIFFE on Vocals with LAURENCE GARMAN on Harmonica

LAWRENCE (LOL) SANFORD on Guitar

BOB SAVAGE on Keyboards

TOM STEAD on Bass with KENNY LAMB on Drums & Percussion

Released September 2008 - "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by KEY LARGO on Sony/Blue Horizon 88697359862 (Barcode 886973598627) is a CD compilation and breaks down as follows (53:26 minutes):

1. Big Chief (Part 1)

2. Axe And The Wind

3. Give It Up

4. What Do I Do With It (Now I’ve Got It)

5. Stranger In My Own Home Town

6. That Did It

7. Big Chief (Part 2)

8. Medley: (a) Come And Get It, Baby (If You Want It) – Bit One (b) Get It In Together) (c) Come And Get It, Baby (If You Want It) – Bit Two

9. O.S. Blues

10. Wrapped Up In Love Again

11. Biscayne Bug

12. As The Years Go Passing By

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album “Key Largo” issued in the UK in September 1970 on Blue Horizon S 7-63859

Track 13 is “Voodoo Rhythm” - the non-album A-side issued on 7” single 2 October 1970 on Blue Horizon 57-3178 (it’s B-side is the last track on the album “As The Years Go Passing By”)

14. Sweet Home Chicago [by STEAMHAMMER]

15. Soul Survivor [by STEAMHAMMER]

16. So Many Roads [by STEAMHAMMER]

17. Soul Survivor [by STEAMHAMMER]

Tracks 14 to 17 are previously unreleased DEMO recordings of the band credited under their original name STEAMHAMMER - recorded in September/October 1969 in Mono

SIMON WOOD at Dubmaster Studios in Hampshire has transferred the original master tapes while SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music did the digitally remastering and editing – and the usual high standard has been achieved. The album itself sounds clean, but the extras are crude and very hissy. The 8-page booklet has an essay on the album sessions by label boss MIKE VERNON, a detailed blurb on each member of the group and even pictures the A&B of the lone 7” single they produced in its distinctive ‘red’ label bag (they’re usually blue). A card wrap covers the outside – it’s mid-price too – all good - classy as ever.

The music is a strange hybrid of Dr. John’s New Orleans rhythm ‘n’ blues mixed with a slightly Blodwyn Pig feel on the more rockin’ tracks (most songs segue into each other without a break). The album opens with an excellent instrumental version of Earl King’s “Big Chief (Part 1)”, followed by a bluesy cover of Willie Dixon’s “Axe & The Wind” which features superb backing brass. Laurence Garman plays great Harmonica and Jew’s Harp on a very funky and soulful cover of Allen Toussaint’s “Give It Up”.  Given the wads of previously unreleased material we’ve been treated to on almost all of their other BH releases, the extras on this one are a huge disappointment – the demos are very crudely recorded and frankly a bit dull. With just a plodding “Voodoo Rhythm” to comfort us - all of it leaves the album itself – on ok-only white-boy blues album – a little naked and alone.

I’ve loved all the BH releases to date, but this is a good release rather than a great one. Still, for the better album tracks on here debuting for the first time on CD – I’d recommend it.

PS: see also reviews for TOP TOPHAM, GORDON SMITH and JELLYBREAD in this round of September 2008 reissues

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" (including the "Long Overdue" LP) by GORDON SMITH (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Having A Good Time..."

Once in a very blue moon - a CD comes along that grabs you by the short and curlies and blows your tiny gin-sozzled mind. Gordon Smith's "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" is that album. What a blast – and there’s so much of it too. Here are the finite Acoustic Blues…

UK released September 2008 – "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by GORDOM SMITH on Sony/Blue Horizon 88697359852 (Barcode 886973598528) is a CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (76:07 minutes):

1. Diving Duck Blues [Sleepy John Estes cover]

2. Highway 51 [Tommy McClenman cover]

3. One Dime Blues [Blind Lemon Jefferson cover]

4. Having A Good Time [Gordon Smith song - instrumental]

5. Instrumental No. 2 [Gordon Smith song]

6. Walking Blues [Robert Johnson cover/Muddy Waters Arrangement]

7. Rolling And Tumbling  [Traditional Blues cover]

8. I Been Down So Long [J.B. Lenoir cover]

9. Instrumental No. 4 [Gordon Smith song]

10. Pearlie Blues [Traditional Blues cover]

11. The Woman Down The Hall [Gordon Smith song]

12. Big Road Blues [Gordon Smith song]

13. Instrumental No. 3 [Gordon Smith song]

14. Worried Life Blues [Sleepy John Estes cover]

Tracks 1 to 14 are his lone album "Long Overdue" LP issued on the cult UK label Blue Horizon Records 7-63211 in March 1969. It's an incredibly hard-to-find acoustic blues rarity clocking in at over £100 - if you can actually locate one. It reputedly sold over 4000 copies on release but in the near 20 years that I've been dealing with rare records - I've never actually seen one. So it's reissue is welcome and a huge plus for blues fans everywhere.

BONUS TRACKS:

15. Nobody’s Fault But Mine [Blind Willie Johnson cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

16. One Dime Blues (Take 1) [Blind Lemon Jefferson cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

17. Instrumental No. 2 (Take 1) [Gordon Smith song] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

18. Walking Blues (Alternate Mono Version) [Robert Johnson cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

19. Rollin’ & Tumblin’ (Alternate Mono Version) [Traditional Blues cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

20. Walking Blues (Electric Version, Take 1) [Robert Johnson cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

21. Pearlie Blues (Alternate Mono Version) [Traditional Blues cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

22. I’m So Glad (Take 1) [Skip James cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

23. Instrumental No.1 (Take 3) [Gordon Smith cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

24. When You Got A Good Friend [Robert Johnson cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

25. I’m So Glad (Take 2) [Skip James cover]– PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

26. Too Long

27. Funk Pedal – tracks 26 and 27 are his lone 7" single on Blue Horizon Records 57-3156 issued in July 1969 (both are non-album tracks) and again the 7” single is impossibly rare - itself upwards to £20 to find a mint copy in it's distinctive Blue Horizon label bag. The A-side is a Mississippi Sheiks cover while the B-side is an instrumental cover of a Robert Johnson song. 

28. I’m Sitting On Top Of The World (Mono) [Robert Johnson cover] – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Tracks 15 through to 25 and 28 are all previously unreleased. Some were from his aborted 2nd album and all are being made available here for the first time anywhere. All are studio quality finished versions.

The original analogue master tapes have been used, mastered by SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music - the sound is SUPERB - clear, warm and punchy. There is hiss on some of the quieter tracks like "Instrumental No. 4" but it's not enough to detract.

The detailed 12-page booklet has a really informative and enthusiastic essay by the label founder MIKE VERNON which stylishly mixes the personal with the factual - making for a really great read. There are promo photos from the Blue Horizon archives of Gordon with his guitar, the A & B-sides and label bags of obscure 7” singles along with the rare album sleeve are pictured too. There's a concert poster showing that he supported Muddy Waters on tour in the UK and a very detailed track-by-track session breakdown. All of it is contained by a card wrap on the outside - which gives the release a classy and eventful look. 

Several tracks contain guests: the opener, a cover of Sleepy John Estes' "Diving Duck Blues" has PETER GREEN on Harmonica (he plays a blinder) while PETER HALL adds lovely rolling piano blues to the instrumental "Having A Good Time". Another label mate DUSTER BENNETT compliments Smith's stunning acoustic blues with his Harmonica work on the Robert Johnson cover of "Walking Blues". Fans of that early FLEETWOOD MAC sound will flip for the version of J.B. Lenoir's "I Been Down So Long" which has both JOHN McVIE and MICK FLEETWOOD on it. Their rhythm section work perfectly compliments this really cool blues shuffle.

However, the album mostly highlights the beautifully deft guitar work of the 20-year old lad from Tyne & Wear. Many tracks are guitar and vocals only. It sounds like Robert Johnson transported from the 30's to the 60's and 5 of the tunes are his own compositions - pretty impressive stuff really. His voice sounds a little like Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac, but it's his guitar playing that impresses most - especially on the acoustic guitar with a bottleneck squeaking up and down the frets. If you want a good taster of what to expect - try to access the Traditional Blues air of "Pearlie Blues" if possible - wonderfully evocative of the Delta that has so obviously entranced him -body and soul.

I love acoustic blues - especially a really good string bender. And what you get here is a cracking great album full of it - a wad of tasty outtakes that you'll play again rather than just listen to once and leave there - and all of it wrapped up in Grade A packaging. Brill!

Investigate this superb GORDON SMITH CD soonest. An exemplary reissue - and hats off to all the good people involved - keeping the blues flame alive…

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions' by TOP TOPHAM with Lloyd Watson and Pete Wingfield [featuring the "Ascension Heights" LP from 1970] (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This review is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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At the pimply age of 15 - Surrey-born Anthony 'Top' Topham stepped onto stage in May 1963 at the Eel Pie Island Club in Twickenham with his new wailing blues-band THE YARDBIRDS. A few months later he was replaced with Eric Clapton and after that - a certain Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page also joined that volatile crew. When you consider what a staggering influence CREAM, JEFF BECK, THE YARDBIRDS and LED ZEPPELIN have had on everything in rock then and now - it's a damn shame that Top Topham got musically lost in the mix somehow and has never been given the catalyst credit he so deserves. Maybe this superb and slightly odd release will change all that.

UK released September 2008 – “The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions” by TOP TOPHAM on Sony/BMG 886973590829 is a single-CD based around his obscure sole album “Ascension Heights” for the UK cult label Blue Horizon released in early 1970. 
It boasts top-quality remastered STEREO sound and 7 previously unreleased MONO bonus cuts.

Here's the breakdown (59:43 minutes)

1. Sawbuck

2. Mini-Minor-Mo

3. Hop House

4. Ridin’ The Blinds

5. Hot Ginger

6. Funks Elegy

7. Ascension Heights [Side 2]

8. Tuxedo Junction

9. Globetrottin’

10. Spider Drag

11. Mean Old Pullman

12. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

Tracks 1 to 12 are "Ascension Heights” - his only vinyl LP released on Blue Horizon Records 7-63857 in January 1970 (recorded in London at CBS STUDIOS in October 1969)

Tracks 13 and 14 are "Christmas Cracker" and "Cracking Up Over Christmas" - his lone UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3167 released November 1969

Track 15 is "Hop House" which is a previously unreleased live BBC session recorded at The Paris Theatre in London on 8 January 1970 for the Blue Horizon Hour on the JOHN PEEL SHOW. It was aired 11 January 1970 on BBC Radio and is a slow blues tune with lovely fretwork from Top complimented by tasty keyboard rolls from PETE WINGFIELD (then with another BH signing Jellybread).

Tracks 16 to 19 are “Heart Of Stone”, “You Gonna Ruin Me Baby”, “Long And Lonely Year’ and “Anything For You” - previously unreleased tracks recorded in May 1969 by then unknown Blue Horizon signing - LLOYD WATSON – a very talented 20-year old guitar player (Jamaican mother and English Dad) who looked and played a little like Shuggie Otis meets Peter Green. "You're Gonna Ruin Me Baby" is a rocking Leslie Johnson/Jerry West cover version while the other three are Lloyd Watson originals.

The tapes were transferred and remastered by SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music and the sound quality is gorgeous - really clear and clean - all the instruments given a fab new lease of life. The 12-page booklet has detailed liner notes and stories about Topham's life by the label founder MIKE VERNON, colour and black & white photos from the period, full session discographies and it even sports a dapper card wrap sleeve on the outside that gives the whole package a real air of class and event.

The album "Ascension Heights" has always been a £100+ vinyl rarity (I've seen only one copy of it in my life), so its reissue here is to be welcomed. But it has also divided Blues purists for years because - for a blues label release - it's a slightly strange record! Firstly it's entirely instrumental - and not in a blues way either. It doesn't seem to quite know what it is. One minute it has the playfulness of Django Reinhardt jazz noodling on "Spider Drag", the next minute it's Sixties Chet Atkins on "Globetrottin'", the next second its funky Blood, Sweat and Tears without the vocals on the brass filled "Mini-Minor-Mo" (a personal favourite and one that funky rock enthusiasts should check out pronto). It also features PETE WINGFIELD on Piano. There are even times on "Hot Ginger" where it sounds like a soulful version of Fleetwood Mac's debut album. It's a varied record - daring in its choices and filled with original songs by Topham. "Ascension Heights" is a grower that bears repeated listening.

The extras are a mixed bag. The funky backbeat of "Christmas Cracker" sounds like something Booker T & The MG's would dash off as festivities filler. It's good - if not great. The live track is received well too by an enthusiastic British audience.

But the four LLOYD WATSON tracks are however - a real find. He had an excellent voice and presence; they're mostly rockin' blues and make for a fab vocal surprise after the dearth of instrumentals that preceded them.  "Anything For You" finishes the disc in a great Yardbirds meets Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac kind of a way and will have fans of both loving this release. 

Another winner from Blue Horizon that’s thoughtfully put together - and full of surprises you wish there was more of...