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Various Artists—Shake That Thing! The Blues in Britain 1963-
1978—Strawberry CRJAMBOX019
Matte clamshell box containing 3 CDs in uniquely designed card

sleeves plus a 32-page saddle stitched booklet.

Oh-My-Oh-My, what a cracker this is. Seventy-three tracks on three
CDs drawing on music from the ‘blues boom’ in the UK and
presenting some blistering examples of the fire and enthusiasm with
which artists of all kinds, absorbed this vibe from another culture,
and in some cases, many cases, made it their own.

The CD was compiled and the notes written by Russell Beecher with
help from John Reed, British music journalist and compilation producer. For the most part they
have hit-the-nail-on-the-head in their selections. I am slightly dubious over the inclusion of John
Martyn with his own tune ‘Going To Memphis’ which is bluesey, but John, who is saw many times,
was never a blues man, and would not have claimed to be so. The same is also probably true of
Ralph McTell and Pentangle…BUT, the bulk of the musicians (and bands) are central to the culture
and style of the blues starting from the opening track. That is the well selected Cyril Davies And
His Rhythm And Blues All-Stars—‘Country Line Special’, Cyril’s own song. Next up is Long John
Baldry with the Rosetta Tharpe special, ‘Up Above My Head’. That one also includes Rod Stewart,
who also takes the lead on a version of John Lee (SB1) Williamson’s ‘Good Morning Little School
Girl’, with some ace guitar work by Jimmy Page.

There are some cracking tracks here. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac with ‘Hellhound On My Trail’
by Robert Johnson, produced by Mike Vernon. John Mayall with Eric Clapton ‘Rambling On My
Mind’ (ditto). Alexis Korner, just (April 2024) inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with
his own song ‘Steal Away’ , vocal by Robert Plant.

There is an outstanding performance by Sam Mitchell on his own tune ‘Leaf Without A Tree’ and
similar exceptional performances by Jo Ann Kelly and (separately) her brother Dave Kelly, Tom
Robinson, Fran McGillivray (a striking version of one of my favourite tunes ‘It Hurts Me Too’),
Rory Gallagher, Dave Peabody, and as they say, “Many, Many More”.

I could go on for pages about this wonderful collection, but I’m going to stop and let you find it
for yourself.
Ian K McKenzie

Travis Bowlin—Four, Four Fever (single)—Moonbeam
Records

Travis Bowlin is a bluesman and cigarbox guitar designer and
manufacturer . He is working on a new album to be released later
this year and here is a taster.

YouTube has it labeled as ‘Soul’ but it is closer to funk, funk with
more than a dash of trance-blues, the kind of hypnotic, largely
one chord epics produced by Otis Taylor. Here the chord work
is undertaken by Meg Williams and a nice bit of rhythmic
flat-picking it is too. The song, of course delivered with panach
by Travis, is about the way he and we, are hooked on the 4/4
time signature that is at the core of the music we love. Check it out! You won’t regret it.
Ian K McKenzie