Originally released in 1996, and then reissued by Gonzo in 2014, this was a follow-up to his 1991 solo album ‘All Said and Done’, although there had also been a Blodywn Pig album (‘Lies’) in between the two, and Mick has at times used the names interchangeably. But this time Mick was working with an already existing outfit, The Norman Beaker Band, who have built a strong reputation as a backing band for visiting blues musicians, and certainly there is a feeling that all the guys in the studio know exactly what they are doing, and in many ways, this feels like an album from the Sixties as opposed to the Nineties.
Mick switches not only between originals and covers, but also between many different blues styles. He has learned from the masters, and at some points he is reminiscent of BB King, others the dirtier Albert King or Lightnin’ Hopkins, while T-Bone Walker is also here in spirit. I was interested to hear his version of Bobby Bland’s “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of the City”, as it is very different indeed to the Whitesnake version that I know best. Although Mick will always be renowned for his prowess on guitar I must confess to also being surprised at the quality of the vocals, which were far better than I expected. Again, he has the rough and rawness of many Americans, but there is also a range and strong control that shows that he is much more than just a guitarist who dabbles with singing, but someone who is comfortable in both mediums. This is available at a cheap price at www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk
