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‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’ is a mellow, slow, thoughtful and very melancholic piece.
The slowburning, desperate, atmospherically arid sounding slide on ‘110 In The Shade’,
definitely leaves you with a thirst.
The instrumental version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma’, is delivered as a toe-
tapping mixture of country and swing with a rolling and bouncing vibraphone for good
measure. Guy Clarkes’ ballad ‘Anyhow I Love You’ is simply a comforting and heartfelt decla-
ration of love. Dave displays his exquisite guitar skills on his instrumental version of Neil
Diamond’s ‘Red Red Wine’.
The third CD contains a variety of numbers that show Dave relaxed and in his element; live.
The fifteen numbers here have never been released before and are a treat to the ears.
‘That Same Thing’ opens and sets the tone, the hair-standing feeling starts here. Sparse,
chilling slide, ringing guitar and menacing bass. A stark enticing ‘I Can’t Be Satisfied/ Chicago
Calling’ delivers crisp, ringing guitar, punching percussion and a bass you could walk on.
‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ prowls and here Dave delivers an eery, haunting slide. ‘You Shook Me,
is a fine slow burner, over six minutes long. On Son House’s ‘Walking Blues’, Dave eloquently
displays his dexterous and subtle guitar skills.
This is a very fine collection.
Seriously recommended!
Brian Harman
Dave Kelly—Sun On my Face—Repetoire REPUK1469
This is the latest album from The Dave Kelly Band. Many will
remember Dave as one of the original members of The Blues
Band. The album was started before COVID but, during that
time Bill Gautier, whose studios were being used to record the
album, had moved home from South West London to the Kent
Coast, thus closing his studio. The album was later re-started
and finished with keyboard player and engineer Rob Millis, who
owns the Left Bank Studios, on the bank of the River Crane in
Twickenham.
In the studio with Dave who takes lead vocals and plays acous-
tic, electric and slide guitars are, Rob Millis and Lou Stonebridge on keyboards, Rob Millis and
Homer Kelly-Tarrant (Dave’s son), bass and Sam M. Kelly (Dave’s son) drums and percussion,
Steve Simpson, violin, Doug Cox, dobro, Paul Jones, harmonica and Pete Emery, guitar.
The fifteen numbers here, range from old classics to fresh originals. The album opens, with a
very engaging piano and organ led, rolling version of Cole porter’s ‘Let’s Do It, Lets Fall In
Love’. Dave’s warming vocals and equally warm slide entice you in. A delightful, version of
Dobie Gray’s ‘Lovin’Arms’, is led by a very emotion filled slide with suitably enticing guitar and
organ underpinning it all.
‘Sun On My Face’, originated from a collaboration between Dave and a musician friend Marcus
Wagstaff. It is a lovely and engaging violin-led tale of love, sun and freedom. The piano and
organ-led Ray Charles classic ‘Georgia On My Mind’, is filled with warmth, love and sweet
affectionate memories. Arthur Crudup’s ‘Mean Ole’ Frisco Blues’ is a wonderful rolling piece,
with Paul Jones on evocative harmonica and Dave’s enticing acoustic guitar both suitably