To be honest, the only similarity between this 1993 release and the incredible blues outfit that recorded ‘Ahead Rings Out’ back in ’69 is guitarist and singer Mick Abrahams (the rest of the line-up is Graham Walker (drums), Dave Lennox (keyboards, vocals) and Mike Summerland (bass, vocals), with Jackie Challoner (backing vocals) and Nick Payne (harmonica, saxes)). But it is more that just the line-up that has changed, as here we have a commercial R ‘n’ B album with roots in blues but with plenty more going on as well. Think of it as more Huey Lewis than Robert Johnson and you won’t be far from the truth. Part of me really doesn’t want to like this album, as when it comes to blues I would much rather have it served up straight with just a man and his guitar (preferably acoustic), with possibly a few other instruments but it should be in your face, and none of this layered production rubbish.
So, when faced with an album that flies against everything I think should happen with blues what do I do? Sit there like a lunatic with a huge great smile on my face, that’s what. This is one of those albums that I shouldn’t like, but somehow it connects on every level from the very first song to the very last. Most of these are Mick originals, but it is nice to see an Alexis Korner number here as well. Interestingly some of these songs do also feature on the later live recording reviewed above, but there they are in a very different format altogether. MA’s Blodwyn Pig may not be the same one that I remember (I even have the sheet music to ‘Getting To This’!), they have changed into something quite different, with an album that works so very well indeed. It’s just not pure blues as we know it, Jim.
