These Kind of Blues

4 Star Amazon Review: 8 January 2010 This album was originally released in 1986 and features tracks recorded between 1979 and 1982, with this CD reissue featuring three extra tracks. I wouldn't say that it is one of the band's best records but I think it is better than mediocre and does contain some good stuff, it's rawer and less sophisticated than some of their later albums. We get off to a great start with a rocking version of John D. Loudermilk's "Tobacco road", featuring nice harp from Paul and great vocals from Dave. Lots of other good uptempo tracks follow- "Doing All Right", "Time After Time", "That's It, I Quit", "Let the Four Winds Blow" etc etc. We also get a version of Humph's "Bad Penny blues" featuring Paul's harp and guests Ian Stewart and Charlie Watts and also a great version of Howlin Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning". Paul Jones plays great harp throughout and him and Dave Kelly split the vocals to great effect, with the rest of the band swinging along behind and I particularly enjoyed Tom McGuinness's lead guitar on the bonus track "Let me sleep on it". The only track I didn't like was the Memphis Jug Band's "Stealing", which came out sounding like Status Quo!