On July 22, 2024, John Mayall died aged 90. He was musician (keyboards, harmonica, guitar), singer, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of the most famous blues and blues rock musicians, including Sammy Prosser, Davey Graham, John Gilbey, Ricky Brown, Pete Burford, Sam Stone, Brian Myall, Keith Robertson, Bernie Watson, John McVie, Peter Ward, Martin Hart, Roger Dean, Hughie Flint, Eric Clapton, John Weider, John Slaughter, Geoff Krivit, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Aynsley Dunbar, Micky Waller, Mick Fleetwood, Terry Edmonds, Keef Hartley, Chris Mercer, Rip Kant, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Paul Williams, Keith Tillman, Henry Lowther, Andy Fraser, Tony Reeves and Jon Hiseman. John Mayall was referred to as the “Godfather of the British Blues”, and the “Pioneer of the British Blues”, with career that spanned nearly seven decades, remaining an active musician until his death. He released seventy albums (studio and live).
Tag Archives: Dick Heckstall-Smith
Paul Williams
On March 1, 2019, Paul Nigel Vincent Yarlett aka Paul Williams died aged 78. He was musician (bass, keyboards, harmonica, percussion), singer and songwriter, worked with Zoot Money, Aynsley Dunbar, Juicy Lucy, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Allam Holdsworth, Micky Moody, John Mayall and Blue Thunder, but was best known as member of Tempest.
Colosseum: Those Who Are About to Die Salute You
On March 13, 1969, “Fontana” label released “Those Who Are About to Die Salute You – Morituri Te Salutant”, the debut Colosseum album. It was recorded 1968 – 1969, and was produced by Tony Reeves and Gerry Bron.
Personnel:
- Dave Greenslade– organ, vibraphone, piano, backing vocals
- Dick Heckstall-Smith– saxophones
- James Litherland– lead vocals, guitar
- Tony Reeves– bass guitar
- Jon Hiseman– drums
- Jim Roche – guitar
- Henry Lowther– trumpet
Track listing:
- Walking in the Park – Bond
- Plenty Hard Luck – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman, James Litherland, Tony Reeves
- Mandarin – Tony Reeves, Dave Greenslade
- Debut – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman, Tony Reeves
- Beware the Ides of March – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman, Tony Reeves
- The Road She Walked Before – Dick Heckstall-Smith
- Backwater Blues – Leadbelly
- Those About to Die – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman, Tony Reeves
Jack Bruce: Jet Set Jewel
On May 5, 2003, “Polydor” label released “Jet Set Jewel”, the sixth Jack Bruce studio album. It was recorded August-October 1978, at “Chipping Norton Recording Studios” and “Trident Studios”.
Personnel:
- Jack Bruce – vocals, bass, piano, cello
- Hughie Burns – guitars, backing vocals
- Tony Hymas- keyboards, backing vocals
- Simon Phillips- drums, backing vocals
- Dick Heckstall-Smith- saxophone
Track listing:
- The Boy – Jack Bruce, David Hart
- Head in the Sun – Tony Hymas, Pete Brown
- Neighbour, Neighbour – Alton Valier
- Childsong – Jack Bruce, Tony Hymas, Pete Brown
- Jet Set Jewel – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown
- Please – Tony Hymas
- Maybe the Dawn – Tony Hymas, Pete Brown
- Mickey the Fiddler – Jack Bruce, David Hart
- She’s Moving On – Jack Bruce, David Hart
- The Best Is Still to Come – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown
Jack Bruce: Somethin Else
On February 23, 1993, “CMP” label released “Somethin Els”, the tenth Jack Bruce studio album. It was recorded 1986 – 1992, and was produced by Jack Bruce, Kurt Renker and Walter Quintus.
Personnel:
- Jack Bruce – vocals, bass, piano, keyboards, cello, drums, percussion
- Eric Clapton, Clem Clempson, Peter Weihe, Ray Gomez – guitar
- Stuart Elliott, Anton Fier- drums
- Trilok Gurtu, Mark Nauseef- percussion
- Dave Liebman, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Uli Lask, Gerd Dudek – saxophone
- Bruce Fowler- trombone
- Walt Fowler – trumpet
- Maggie Reilly- backing vocals
Track listing:
- Waiting on a Word
- Willpower
- Ships in the Night
- Peaces of the East
- Close Enough for Love
- B. Dawn Blues
- Criminality
- Child song
- FM
Colosseum: The Grass Is Greener
In January 1970, “Dunhill” label released “The Grass Is Greener”, the third Colosseum album (released only in US and Canada). It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Tony Reeves and Gerry Bron.
Personnel:
- Dave Greenslade– vocals, organ, keyboards
- Dave “Clem” Clempson– vocals, guitar
- Tony Reeves– bass
- Jon Hiseman– drums
- Dick Heckstall-Smith– saxophone
- James Litherland – vocals
Track listing:
- Jumping Off the Sun – Mike Taylor, Dave Tomlin
- Lost Angeles – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith
- Elegy – James Litherland
- Butty’s Blues – James Litherland
- Rope Ladder to the Moon – Pete Brown, Jack Bruce
- Bolero – Maurice Ravel
- The Machine Demands a Sacrifice – Pete Brown, Jon Hiseman, James Litherland
- The Grass is Greener – Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman
Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated: R&B from the Marquee
In November 1962, “Decca” label released “R&B from the Marquee”, the debut Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated album. It was recorded on June 8, 1962, at “West Hampstead Studios” in London, and was produced by Jack Good.
Personnel:
- Alexis Korner – acoustic guitar
- Cyril Davies – vocal, harmonica
- Keith Scott – piano
- Spike Heatley – string bass
- Teddy Wadmore – bass guitar
- Graham Burbidge – drums
- Dick Heckstall-Smith – tenor saxophone, vocal chorus
- Long John Baldry – vocal, vocal chorus
- Big Jim Sullivan – vocal chorus
- Jack Clegg – recording
Track listing:
- Gotta Move – Alexis Korner
- Rain is Such a Lonesome Sound – Jimmy Witherspoon, Rachel Witherspoon
- I Got My Brand On You – Willie Dixon
- Spooky But Nice – Cyril Davies
- Keep Your Hands Off – Cyril Davies
- I Wanna Put a Tiger in Your Tank – Willie Dixon
- I Got My Mojo Working – Preston Foster
- Finkle’s Café – Alexis Korner
- Hoochie Coochie – Willie Dixon
- Down Town – Alexis Korner
- How Long, How Long Blues – Leroy Carr
- I Thought I Heard That Train Whistle Blow – Long John Baldry
Colosseum: Valentyne Suite
In November 1969, “Vertigo” label released “Valentyne Suite”, the second Colosseum album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Tony Reeves and Gerry Bron.
Personnel:
- Dave Greenslade- Hammond organ, vibraphone, piano, backing vocal
- James Litherland- guitars, lead vocals
- Tony Reeves- bass guitar
- Jon Hiseman- drums, machine
- Dick Heckstall-Smith- saxophones, flute
- Neil Ardley- conductor, string arrangements
Track listing:
- The Kettle – Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman
- Elegy – James Litherland
- Butty’s Blues – James Litherland
- The Machine Demands a Sacrifice – James Litherland, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Pete Brown, Jon Hiseman
- Valentyne Suite Theme One: January’s Search – Dave Greenslade
- Valentyne Suite Theme Two: February’s Valentyne – Dave Greenslade
- Valentyne Suite Theme Three: The Grass is Always Greener – Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman
Chicken Shack: 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve
In June 1968, “Blue Horizon” label released “40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed and Ready to Serve”, the debut Chicken Shack studio album. It was recorded February 1968, at “CBS Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Vernon.
Personnel:
- Stan Webb– vocals, guitar
- Christine Perfect– vocals, organ, piano
- Andy Silvester– bass
- Dave Bidwell – drums
- Johnny Almond– alto saxophone
- Dick Heckstall-Smith– tenor saxophone
- Alan Ellis – trumpet
- Mike Ross – engineer
- Terence Ibbott – design, photography
Track listing:
- The Letter – Jules Taub, B. B. King
- Lonesome Whistle Blues – Rudolph Toombs
- When the Train Comes Back – Christine Perfect
- San-Ho-Zay – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson
- King of the World – John Lee Hooker
- See See Baby – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson
- First Time I Met the Blues – Eurreal (Little Brother Montgomery) Montgomery
- Webbed Feet – Stan Webb
- You Ain’t No Good – Christine Perfect
- What You Did Last Night – Stan Webb
Colosseum: The Grass Is Greener
In April 1970, “Dunhill” label released “The Grass Is Greener” the third Colosseum, album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Tony Reeves and Gerry Bron. The album was released only in the United States.
Personnel:
- Dave “Clem” Clempson – vocals, guitar
- Dave Greenslade- vocals, organ, keyboards
- Dick Heckstall-Smith- saxophone
- Tony Reeves- bass
- Jon Hiseman- drums
- James Litherland – vocals
Track listing:
- Jumping Off the Sun – Mike Taylor, Dave Tomlin
- Lost Angeles – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith
- Elegy – James Litherland
- Butty’s Blues – James Litherland
- Rope Ladder to the Moon – Pete Brown, Jack Bruce
- Bolero – Maurice Ravel
- The Machine Demands a Sacrifice – Pete Brown, Jon Hiseman, James Litherland
- The Grass Is Greener – Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman
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