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Elly Roberts reviews
Sony/BMG
- Cat.no: 82876822902
- Format: 2-disc CD
- Released: May 2006
- Rating: 10/10
Otis Spanns life was cut short at the age of 40.
The classy blues keyboard player recorded this album, complete with falsestarts and different takes, a year before he died. A band member ofMuddy Waters for many years, playing on several of his famous records, Spannwas regarded as one of the finest contemporary players.
He also contributed to Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Floyd Jones andJohnny Young recordings. It was his trip to Europe with Waters during the1963 AFBF that brought him international recognition. These sessions from1969 and produced by Mike Vernon / Mike Vernon and Marshall Chess, catchSpann at his Delta dazzling best.
As you can see from the tracklisting, there are various takes, includingfalse starts (and corrections) which show how professional the recordings were.
His trademark Mississippi tumbling piano tinkles and husky voice are litteredacross the entire collection, whether it be blasts such as Walkin, Dig Youand No More Doggin, or the nice and slow numbers Aint NobodysBusiness, Bloody Murder, Someday Soon Baby, Temperature Rising andBlues For Hippies.
Another highlight of the session is the incredible backing band in itsvarious forms: Fleetwood Mac members Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, Mick Fleetwood,John McVie and legendary Bluesman Willie Dixon.
Musical highlight is the mesmerising guitar solo on Track 8, CD 1 and again,track 7 CD2, presumably by Peter Green.
The full list of tracks included are :
DISC 1:
1. Cant Do Me No Good
2. Bloody Murder
3. Someday Soon Baby
4. Hungry Country Girl
5. My Love Depends On You (take 1)
6. Walkin (take 5)
7. It Was A Big Thing (take 1)
8. Temperature Is Rising (100.2F) (take 2)
9. Dig You (take 4)
10. No More Doggin (take 4)
11. Aint Nobodys Business (take 1)
12. She Needs Some Loving (take 2)
13. I Need Some Air (take 3)
14. Someday Baby(take 7)
DISC 2:
1. No More Doggin (take 1)
2. No More Doggin (take 2)
3. I Need Some Air (take 1)
4. Walkin (takes 1 & 2 )
5. Walkin (take 4)
6. Blues For Hippies (take 1 )
7. Temperature Is Rising (98.8F)
8. Someday Baby (takes 1, 2, 3)
9. Someday Baby (take 5)
10. Someday Baby (take 6)
11. She Needs Some Loving (take 1)
12. Dig You (take 1)
13. Dig You (take 2)
14. Shes Out Of Sight (takes 1, 2, 3)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.