The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions

Once in a very blue moon, a CD comes along that grabs you by the Short and Murphys and blows your tiny gin-sozzled mind.
Gordon Smith's "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" is that album...

Here's the layout first (76:07 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are his lone album "Long Overdue" issued on the cult UK label Blue Horizon Records S 7-63211 in March 1969. It's an incredibly hard-to-find acoustic blues rarity clocking in at over £100 - if you can actually locate one. It reputedly sold over 4000 copies on release, but in the near 20 years that I've been dealing with rare records, I've never actually seen one! So it's reissue in September 2008 is welcome and a huge plus for blues fans everywhere.

Tracks 15 through to 25 and 28 are all previously unreleased; they're alternate takes, acoustic and electric versions, mono mixes. Some were from his aborted 2nd album; all are made available here for the first time anywhere and are uniformly superb. All are studio quality finished versions.

Tracks 26 and 27 are "Too Long" and "Funk Pedal", his lone 7" single on Blue Horizon Records 57-3156 issued in July 1969 (both are non-album tracks) and again the single is impossibly rare - itself upwards to £20 to find a mint copy in it's distinctive Blue Horizon label bag.

The original analogue master tapes have been used, mastered by SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music - the sound is SUPERB - clear, warm and punchy. There is hiss on some of the quieter tracks like "Instrumental No. 4" but it's not enough to detract.

The detailed 12-page booklet has a really informative and enthusiastic essay by the label founder MIKE VERNON, which stylishly mixes the personal with the factual - making for a really great read. There's promo photos from the BH archives of Gordon with his guitar, with his touring band, the 7" single and label bag is pictured as well - as is the front of the very rare album sleeve. There's a concert poster showing that he supported Muddy Waters on tour in the UK and a very detailed track-by-track session breakdown. All of it is contained by a card wrap on the outside - which gives the release a classy and eventful look.

Several tracks contain guests: the opener, a cover of Sleepy John Estes' "Diving Duck Blues" has PETER GREEN on Harmonica (he plays a blinder) while PETER HALL adds lovely rolling piano blues to the instrumental "Having A Good Time". Another label mate DUSTER BENNETT compliments Smith's stunning acoustic blues with his Harmonica work on the Robert Johnson cover of "Walking Blues". Fans of that early FLEETWOOD MAC sound will flip for Smith's version of J.B. Lenoir's "I've Been Down So Long" which has both JOHN McVIE and MICK FLEETWOOD on it. Their rhythm section work perfectly compliments this really cool blues shuffle.

However, the album mostly highlights the beautifully deft guitar work of the 20-year old lad from Tyne & Wear. Many tracks are guitar and vocals only. It sounds like Robert Johnson transported from the 30's to the 60's and 5 of the tunes are his own compositions - pretty impressive stuff really. His voice sounds a little like Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac, but it's his guitar playing that impresses most - especially on the acoustic guitar with a bottleneck squeaking up and down the frets. If you want a good taster of what to expect - try to access the Traditional Blues air of "Pearlie Blues" if possible - wonderfully evocative of the Delta that has so obviously entranced him -body and soul.

I love acoustic blues - especially a really good string bender. And what you get here is a cracking great album full of it - a wad of tasty outtakes that you'll play again rather than just listen to once and leave there - and all of it wrapped up in Grade A packaging. Brill!

Investigate this superb GORDON SMITH CD soonest. An exemplary reissue - and hats off to all the good people involved - keeping the blues flame alive.

PS: see also reviews for TOP TOPHAM, JELLYBREAD and KEY LARGO

GORDON SMITH is the REAL DEAL.

Described by John Peel as " The foremost white Blues guitarist in the world ", Gordon is also one of the country's greatest Blues vocalists.

His 1968 debut album 'Long Overdue' was produced by Mike Vernon for the legendary Blue Horizon label, and featured members of Fleetwood Mac, including Peter Green. For years this album has been a collector's classic, but it is now it has been re-released by Mike Vernon along with other vintage Blue Horizon recordings.

During the 70's,Gordon was a member of 'The Kevin Coyne Band' with whom he recorded several albums for Virgin, as well as a couple of his own for the Italian label Appaloosa, and in the 90's a solo country Blues album 'Out of the Bottleneck'.

Gordon is now back with these re released recordings. He also has a brand-new recordings made for Note Records, on which he is accompanied by some of London's finest Blues musicians. These tracks reflect his passion for both country and electric traditions, and really are 'Essential' for all lovers of quality Blues.

Gordon Smith is one of the unsung heros of British Blues. A real treasure who should be nurtured.

His recordings have great merit and should not be missed by any serious Blues lover.

Blake

Now I'm a great advocate of accoustic music and this is a great example of accoustic country blues... except... for the foot stomping that dominates certain tracks (e.g. tracks 1, 7 & 10). I wouldn't get irritated by it if the stomping were actually on the beat but, particularly on tracks 1 & 10, it is just everso slightly out. And that's irritating. As I live on a main road I thought one of the locals was parked outside in a van with a particularly loud dance track on the stereo...

Other than that, it's a great album played in great style by a very dedicated bluesman...