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These were the early days of Blue Horizon, before it became a properly constituted label, and
Vernon again recorded Dupree, but this time with solely the support of Tony McPhee on acoustic
guitar. Most of the sessions remain unreleased, but the old “white label” Blue Horizon issued ‘Get
Your Head Happy’ b/w ‘Easy Is The Way’.

After the success of the first Decca album, they asked for another, this time including Mickey
Baker and soon-to-be Led Zeppelin bassist John Baldwin (aka John Paul Jones), but subsequently
showed no further interest in the project. Consequently Vernon took the opportunity to sign
Dupree to his now new label, which resulted in the 1968 LP “When You Feel The Feeling You
Was Feeling”. Apparently a studio session with him was extremely relaxed, which might have
something to do with his enjoyment of more than the odd alcoholic drink! I saw him perform a
number of times during the 1960s, and he was usually somewhat the worse for wear, but it never
affected his performances, which were always tremendously entertaining.

This particular album included a stellar line-up of British talent, including The Black Cat Bones
(featuring Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke, who were soon to form Free), Duster Bennett, and Stan
Webb. Press and radio response to the release was very good, and resulted in healthy sales, thus
plans were made to record again with a British band.

The February 1969 album, entitled “Scoobydoobydoo”, included support from members of The
Aynsley Dunbar Retalition, The Keef Hartley Band, and Mayall guitarist Mick Taylor. Once again,
the relaxed studio atmosphere resulted in mostly first takes, although the Dupree tendency to
drop or add in the odd bar here or there could have caused a problem, if the supporting musicians
had not had their ears fully open.

Dupree was as relaxed with his contract signing as he was with his playing, so the Vernon brothers
were not happy to learn that he had cut an album in Paris for the Vogue label at the same time
that they were working on “Scoobydoobydoo”. Throughout his career he was happy to record
for anyone who paid him cash! In spite of this they agreed to record Dupree live for another Blue
Horizon album, which duly took place at The Angel, in Godalming, Surrey, on June 1st 1969.

Unfortunately, with all the usual live recording problems, the recording was a very mixed bag,
and not deemed worthy of release as an album. However, 6 of the tracks eventually appeared in
2005 on “The Complete Horizon Sessions of Champion Jack Dupree”, which also included both
of the Blue Horizon LPs, and 6 other previously unreleased tracks from the “When You Feel The
Feeling” sessions.

Regretfully, Dupree and the Vernons fell out over the live recording - they said he would only get
paid if it was released, but he wanted payment whether or not it was released. As a result, they
never worked, or even spoke, to him again, which was very sad considering how much they had
achieved together.
Part 3 next month.