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Tuesday 16 September 2008

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by CHAMPION JACK DUPREE – Including The Albums "When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling” (1968) and "Scoobydoobydoo” (August 1969) - featuring guests Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke of Free, Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones, Stan Webb and Johnny Almond of Chicken Shack and Duster Bennett (September 2005 UK Sony/Blue Horizon 2CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell and Mike Vernon Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...






This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my
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"...When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling..."

UK released September 2005 – "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by CHAMPION JACK DUPREE on Sony/Blue Horizon 518516 2 (Barcode 5099751851622) is a 2CD set of Remasters housed in a card-wrap slipcase that finally makes available for the first time on the format both of Champion Jack Dupree's notoriously rare UK albums on the cult Blue Horizon Label. 

These sessions also featured hidden musical contributions from members of FREE and THE ROLLING STONES as well as more visible BH label mates like Duster Bennett and members of Chicken Shack. Here's how the discs are laid out:

CD1 (76:13 minutes):
1. See My Milk Cow
2. Mr. Dupree Blues
3. Yellow Pocahontas (Extended Version)
4. Gutbucket Blues/Ugly Woman
5. Street Walking Woman
6. Income Tax
7. Roll On
8. I've Been Mistreated (Extended Version)
9. A Race Horse Called Mae
10. My Home's In Hell
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling” - released 1968 on Blue Horizon Records 7-63206 in the UK

11. How Am I Doing It
12. I Haven't Done No One No Harm 
Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-album B and A-sides of his 1st UK 7" single - released 1968 on Blue Horizon 57-3140

13. Street Walking Woman (Alternate Version)
14. Big Fat Woman 
15. Whiskey, Look What You Done To Me
16. Going Down To The Blue Horizon
17. Juke Box Jump 
18. Black Cat Shuffle
Tracks 13 to 18 are previously unreleased studio out-takes from the April 1968 "When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling" album sessions

CD2 (75:33 minutes):
1. I Want To Be A Hippy
2. Grandma (You're A Bit Too Slow)
3. Puff Puff
4. Blues Before Sunrise
5. I'll Try 
6. Going Back To Louisiana 
7. Ain't That A Shame 
8. Stumbling Block 
9. Old And Grey 
10. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well
11. Postman Blues
12. Lawdy, Lawdy
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "ScoobyDoobyDoo" - released August 1969 on Blue Horizon Records 7-63214 in the UK in Stereo. Issued USA 1972 as "Blues Masters Volume 10" with different artwork on Blue Horizon BM 4610.

13. Kansas City
14. Ba' La Fouche
Tracks 13 and 14 are the non-album A & B-sides of his 2nd UK 7" single - released 1969 in the UK on Blue Horizon 57-3512

15. Rub A Little Boogie (Live)
16. Black And White Blues (Live)
17. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
18. The Sheik Of Araby 
19. You Make Me Feel Alright (Live)
20. Do The Boogie Woogie (Live)
Tracks 15 to 20 are previously unreleased 'live' tracks from a June 1969 gig in the UK 
 
The original analogue tapes were transferred and remastered by DUNCAN COWELL and MIKE VERNON and the sound quality is just gorgeous - lively, warm and clear. The booklet features both albums' artwork, full session discography, knowledgeable liner notes and even has a classy card wrap on the outside. 

Champion Jack Dupree's style was boogie-woogie, his rolling piano licks accompanied by witty lyrics - often spoken before being sung (he wrote all tracks on Disc 1). You can just tell by looking at a photograph of his mischievous face - and the huge chomper of a cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth - that this man and his music are going to be infectious and endearing - and they are. Even when the recordings are just Dupree and his piano, the sound he makes is huge - and so entertaining - almost as if there's more going on than there is. And as if this wasn't good enough, both albums are bolstered up with heavy-hitter musicians from the British Rock, Blues and Jazz scene of the late Sixties. Four of the "When You Feel The Feeling..." tracks feature Paul Kossoff on Guitar and Simon Kirke on Drums of FREE. The songs are "Income Tax", "Roll On", "A Racehorse Called Mae" and "My Home's In Hell". 

STAN WEBB of CHICKEN SHACK contributes guitar on "I've Been Mistreated". Webb is also featured on the A-side of Dupree's 1st BH 7" single and Kossoff/Kirke on the B - the single being sought after for years for these reasons. The really cool news for FREE fans is the last two songs on Disc 1 which are previously unreleased - both contain Kossoff & Kirke in unheard songs. The takes are a bit rough and ready, but still fascinating to hear - even then with that 'Free' feel they brought to everything.  One of those last two tracks, "Black Cat Shuffle", also features fellow label mate DUSTER BENNETT on Guitar and a Deram label favourite, JOHNNY ALMOND on Sax - this is on top of the FREE types - bit of a Supergroup going there!

Moving on to Disc 2, the "Scoobydoobydoo" album featured MICK TAYLOR of THE ROLLING STONES on guitar on every track (including the A&B-sides of the 2nd Blue Horizon 7" single) - and the album also features turns from drummers KEEF HARTLEY and AYNSLEY DUNBAR. The last six live tracks were recorded 1 June 1969 in The Angel Hotel in Goldaming in Surrey, England. My heart always sinks when I see live tracks, but these are great and the quality of the recordings is excellent - capturing the crowd singing along to his cover of Sticks McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee". 

A great release then that I urge you to take a chance on. And top marks to all the good people involved. Long may the Champion reign! And my God - when you think of the debt Rock owes to Black music and Black musicians…

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