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shuffle ‘This Time’. Janiva Magness delivers a stunning vocal on the slow burn blues ‘Can’t Stay
Away’. The hypnotic ‘Drone’ possesses a certain Hill Country feel.

The grooving instrumental ‘Docksidin’ ’ is a splendid organ and guitar led floor duster. The
Faces ‘My Fault’ is simply an enticing raw, sawing rocker. ‘Forever Shall Be’, is a splendid
slowburning, gospel, horn, soul fuelled ballad. The uptown funky ‘Standby’ is full of cheering,
soaring horns. ‘Devil On My Shoulder’ is a Delta guitar blues, with a harmonica infused swampy
feel. While ‘She’s A Twister’ is simply a rousing piano led rocker.

The Delta infused, harmonica-led ‘One Man Chain Gang’ is a tale of one man’s misery. Whilst on
the Huey “Piano” Smith classic ‘You Can’t Stop Her’, Kim Wilson excels on vocals and harmonica.

‘Use As Needed’ is a heartfelt slowburning ballad and Fleetwood Mac’s ethereal ‘Albatross’ bids
us goodbye!

A splendid legacy!

Brian Harman.

Joel Astley— Seattle To Greaseland—Blue Heart Records
BHR 047

Joel is from Seattle, Washington and over time has gained a
fine reputation. He went to San Jose to record this debut
album at Kid Andersen's Greaseland studio. Joining Joel;
vocals and harmonica, are; Johnny Burgin; guitar, Kid
Andersen; keyboards and guitars, June Core; drums and Randy
Bermudes; bass. All numbers are Joel originals.

The opener ‘Born Cryin'‘ is organ and harmonica led with an
almost spoken, rolling, gospel influenced vocal with Kid
delivering a dense and crunching rich, guitar solo.

‘Candy Shop’ is a gleeful organ led jump and jiving swinger, with a richly enticing harmonica,
and some splendid guitar from Johnny.

The enjoyably foot-tapping ‘Just Right’ has splendid echoes of rockabilly, fresh from The Sun
Studios, during the fifties. ‘Karma Wheel’ possesses a late night, walking blues feel, the lazy organ
and stinging guitar mesh so well. ‘Secondhand Kid’ is a bluesy, shuffling tale of unwanted
hand-me–downs and possibly, a second hand life?

On the softly swinging, harmonica-led and guitar-stinging ‘Takin’ It With Me’ sees a man
determined to take all his possessions with him when he expires.

The urging, stinging rockabilly guitar work from Johnny drives ‘Hot As Hell’ with a burning
harmonica from Joel. ‘Down To The Rims’ is a splendidly enticing bubbling, organ-led, guitar
shuffling, rocking roller with definite echoes of Dave Edmunds.
The stop-starting, blues laden ‘Work With What You Got’ entwines splendid guitar work with a
wheezing harmonica and affirming backing vocals (from Jill Dineen and Marina Crouse).

On ‘Bobby’s Place’ Joel, assisted by a weeping guitar and harmonica, pays tribute to an old Seattle
Blues Club.

‘No Brighter Gold’ is a delightfully enticing swinging gospel/revivalist meeting fuelled harmonica
driven toetapper.

Recommended!

Brian Harman