Live, Rare & Raw: 1973-1979

REMASTERED 3CD SET INCLUDES SEVERAL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED RECORDINGS 16-PAGE BOOKLET WITH DETAILED LINER NOTES A brand new compilation that charts the period when the Climax Blues band accelerated from club act to US Top 40 regulars and, finally, Top 3 hit makers with ‘Couldn’t Get it Right’. Accompanying frontman Colin Cooper (vocals, sax) and Pete Haycock (guitar, vocals), both now sadly deceased, were John Cuffley (drums) and Derek Holt (bass, vocals). The return of original member Richard Jones on keyboards midway through this gig sequence completed the classic Climax Blues Band line up. Material covers band-penned classics from ‘Sense Of Direction’ (1974), ‘Stamp Album’ (1975), ‘Gold Plated’ (1976), plus songs from then current album ‘Real To Reel’ (1979). Also included are blues standards like ‘The Seventh Son’, a long-time staple of their ‘live’ set and Wilbert Harrison’s ‘Let’s Work Together’. The Beatles ‘Get Back’ was introduced by Pete Haycock one night to lengthen a short set. “Towards the end of ‘All The Time In The World’ I started jamming the Beatles guitar solos and the other guys picked up on it. We started playing to please the crowd after that!” The three concerts, from Marquee Club London (1973), New Jersey (1974), Guildford (1976) are previously unreleased. Only 1979’s Miami show had a limited US release on Warner Bros. This an essential new set for blues aficionados and band fans alike. Booklet with authoritative and extensive liner notes includes quotes from Climax Blues Band’s Derek Holt and the late Pete Haycock.