Page 47 - BiTS_04_APRIL_2021

Dave Thomas—One More Mile—Blonde on Blonde Direct
(Records) ASIN: B08R83TQG5

Dave Thomas, one time front man with the group Blonde on
Blonde, has used the Lockdown to compile this album in three
different locations with three different bands with the
common link being his vocals and guitar. We get off to a great
start with an authentic version of BB King's 'It’s My Own
Fault' followed by one of Dave's own songs 'I Like My Chicken
Fried' which is of the same high standard. The first four
tracks here feature Tom Arnold (Hammond organ), Dylan
ApIvor (bass) Terry Popple (drums), Norman Tischler (tenor

sax) and Jeff Hager (trumpet), with the track 'Poor Boy'
featuring more BB-style guitar from Dave as well as the
organ/brass backing.

The next three tracks were recorded in Ireland with Declan Sinnott playing all the backing
instruments, the songs all have a softer, more acoustic vibe—'I Have the Blues' is the most bluesy
(natch) with acoustic guitar and harmonica, 'You Danced In My Kitchen' is a lovely gentle, romantic

song and 'There’s A Train' is similarly poignant and melodic.

The final three songs are by Tony McPhee and were recorded in Bristol with Ken Pustelnik’s
Groundhogs, with Dave out front. 'Garden' is an unusual lilting blues that ramps up with biting
riffing and slide guitar, 'Eccentric Man' is more riffing but a bit more prog than blues and 'Strange
Town' is a combination of the two but with some great biting blues lead guitar. This is certainly a
record that features lots of variety and if initially I liked the first four more straight blues tracks

the others have also grown on me, particularly 'Strange Town’.
Duster Bennett
Graham Harrison

Johnny Mastro and the Mamas Boys—Elmore James For
President—Continental Blue Heaven ASIN : B08Q6VT4Q6

I'd never heard of Johnny Mastro or the Mamas Boys before
but presumed that an album called 'Elmore James For
President' was going to be a tribute to the great blues slide
guitarist, however the title track didn't feature particularly
prominent slide guitar but instead is harmonica led and the

rest of the album doesn't feature any of Elmore's classic
songs. The band come from New Orleans and have a string of
albums behind them, with a lineup of Johnny on (vocals and
harp), Smoke (guitar), John Fohl (baritone guitar) and Jimmy
Goodhall (drums) and the album was recorded in the Music
Shed studio in New Orleans. They have a lowdown and dirty
sound, a kind of mix between a Crescent City groove and the Excello sound of Slim Harpo etc. from
nearby Baton Rouge. 'If Think I've Lost You' in particular had a real Lazy Lester feel. There is some
really nice harp playing throughout with an incredibly thick, dirty sound and 'Last Dance in

Memphis' features a nice guitar solo, the album closes with 'Little Freddie Is King' an instrumental
tribute to Little Freddie King! There are some great moments here but I found it all a bit too samey