Foghat,”Slow Ride-Live in Concert” (Wienerworld)- This muscular outfit were formed by three recently departed musicians from iconic British blues band Savoy Brown in 1971,. They relocated to the United States soon afterwards, where they enjoyed several years of very healthy chart success built on the firm foundation of their relentless touring schedule. The eighties and nineties were much leaner times for Foghat, although they soldiered on regardless with what seemed to be a constantly changing line up. This powerful live set was captured for posterity over two Texan nights in 1999, with founder members Lonesome Dave Peverett, Tony Stevens and Roger Earl reunited once again as they delivered a crowd pleasing set list featuring much loved old favourites such as “Stone Blue,” “Drivin’ Wheel” and their covers of Willie Dixon’s “I Just Want To Make Love To You” and Elmore James’ “It Hurts Me Too.”


 

Muddy Waters, “Hard Again / I’m Ready / King Bee” (Floating World)- This splendid 3 CD re-issue from the good people at Floating World focusses attention on three of the albums that the mature Muddy Water originally released on vinyl in the years before his death in 1983. This magisterial character is rightly regarded as one of the key figures in the development of Chicago blues during the post war era, and these gritty collaborations with demon slide guitarist Johnny Winter supply an ideal introduction to his hugely influential brand of music making. Top notch players such as pianist Pinetop Perkins and harmonica aces James Cotton and Big Walter Horton provide a solid instrumental backdrop as the revitalised Waters serves up classic creations such as “I’m A King Bee,” “Mannish Boy” and “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” for your listening pleasure.


 

Edgar Broughton Band,”Gone Blue-The BBC Sessions” (Cherry Red)- This Warwick outfit’s uncompromising brand of bluesy, Beefheart influenced rabble rousing rock made quite an impact on the underground music fraternity during the late sixties and early seventies, and they became a regular fixture on the late John Peel’s highly influential radio shows during this period. This splendid 4 CD set from the good people at Cherry Red brings together the various Peel sessions that the Broughtons recorded between 1969 and 1973 alongside three BBC “In Concert” sets from the early seventies, capturing Edgar and his cohorts in typically raw and vibrant form as they serve up epic performances of Beefheart’s “Dropout Boogie” and their legendary signature piece, “Out Demons Out,” which gave the power trio a brief glimpse of minor chart success when it was released as a single by EMI’s prog rock Harvest imprint in 1970.