Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings: Just For A Thrill

Elly Roberts reviews

Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
Just For A Thrill
Distributed by
R&M

    Cover

  • Year: 2004
  • Rating: 5/10
  • Cat. No: RAMCD007

    Track listing:

      1. Disappearing Nightly
      2. Roll ‘Em Pete
      3. Down Home Girl
      4. Mississippip Flyer
      5. That’s How Heartaches Begin
      6. Booty Ooty
      7. Cadillac Woman
      8. Town Living
      9. This Ain’t United Nations
      10. Memphis Woman
      11. Taxman
      12. Just for a Thrill
      13. Cry Baby
      14. You Don’t Know
      15. Jitterbug Boogie (live bonus track)

Ten years after leaving the Rolling Stones, Bill Wymancontinues his blues odyssey with a brand new album. Just For A Thrillsees the former Stone tackle material from the past and present. Tribute ispaid to great writers such as Butler and Lieber on track 3 – Down Home Girl,Meade and |Russell on track 13 – Cry Baby, George Harrison on track 11 –Taxman, Spencer and Bohren on track 1 – Disappearing Nightly.

After a ropey start with some boogie woogie (which includes Mark Knopfler),they sound like your average pub band. Eventually they get into a groove withDown Home Girl. Only let down on this track is Georgie Fame’s dreadfulsinging, which sounds flat and undisciplined. On most occasions he seems outof his depth by comparison with other singers. Class kicks – in with the divinelysoulful That’s How Heartaches Are Made (best track of the lot) asBeverly Skeete takes the lead with her finely tuned dulcet tones, and later onwith a stunning rendition of Garnett Mimms’ Cry Baby.


Funk follows – a classy cover of Johnny ‘ Guitar ‘ Watson’s Booty Ootywith Mike Sanchez taking over from Skeete. Had it been released 20 years ago(during the disco time of Kool & The Gang and Earth Wind & Fire) it would havebeen a smash hit single – but it’s a great retrospective. Fame disappointsagain, to the point of irritation, on a below par Cadillac Woman andCry Baby (this is painful listening).

It’s not all covers, as the Wyman / Taylor compositions are a sheer delight,particularly the dobro – harmonica driven Town Living, and Terry Taylor’sslide guitar work on Memphis Woman. A ‘ Stax style ‘ You Don’t Knowfinds the rhythm and brass section on top form. Recorded live in Southampton,Jitterbug Boogie is a comparatively weak closure for a solid album – butfar from great.

Produced by The Dirt Boys aka Bill Wyman and Terry Taylor.More info atBill Wyman.com

[Up to the top of this page]


Loading…