Complete Blue Horizon Sessions [Best of, Import, Original recording remastered]

This fabulous double set finally makes available for the first time on CD both of Champion Jack Dupree's notoriously rare albums on the cult UK blues label Blue Horizon. And a typically superlative release it is too in this excellent on-going series.

Here's how the discs are laid out:

Disc 1:
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling", 1968 on Blue Horizon 7-63206
Tracks 11 and 12 are the 'non-album' A & B-sides of his 1st UK 7" single, 1968 on Blue Horizon 57-3140
Tracks 13 to 18 are previously unreleased studio out-takes from the April 1968 "When You Feel The Feeling..." album sessions

Disc 2:
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Scoobydoobydoo", 1969 on Blue Horizon 7-63214
Tracks 13 and 14 are the 'non-album' A & B sides of his 2nd UK 7" single, 1969 on Blue Horizon 57-3512
Tracks 15 to 20 are previously unreleased 'live' tracks from a June 1969 gig in the UK

The original analogue tapes were transferred and remastered by Duncan Cowell and Mike Vernon and the sound quality is just gorgeous - lively, warm and clear. The booklet features both albums' artwork, full session discography, knowledgeable liner notes and even has a classy card wrap on the outside.

Champion Jack Dupree's style was boogie-woogie, his rolling piano licks accompanied by witty lyrics - often spoken before being sung (he wrote all tracks on Disc 1). You can just tell by looking at a photograph of his mischievous face - and the huge chomper of a cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth - that this man and his music are going to be infectious and endearing - and they are. Even when the recordings are just Dupree and his piano, the sound he makes is huge - and so entertaining - almost as if there's more going on than there is. And as if this wasn't good enough, both albums are bolstered up with heavy-hitter musicians from the British Rock, Blues and Jazz scene of the late Sixties. Four of the "When You Feel The Feeling..." tracks feature Paul Kossoff on Guitar and Simon Kirke on Drums of FREE. The songs are "Income Tax", "Roll On", "A Racehorse Called Mae" and "My Home's In Hell". STAN WEBB of CHICKEN SHACK contributes guitar on "I've Been Mistreated". Webb is also featured on the A-side of Dupree's 1st BH 7" single and Kossoff/Kirke on the B - the single being sought after for years for these reasons. The really cool news for FREE fans is the last two songs on Disc 1 which are previously unreleased - both contain Kossoff & Kirke in unheard songs. The takes are a bit rough and ready, but still fascinating to hear - even then with that `Free' feel they brought to everything. One of those last two tracks, "Black Cat Shuffle", also features fellow label mate DUSTER BENNETT on Guitar and a Deram label favourite, JOHNNY ALMOND on Sax - this is on top of the FREE types - bit of a Supergroup going there!

Moving on to Disc 2, the "Scoobydoobydoo" album featured Mick Taylor of THE ROLLING STONES on guitar on every track (including the A&B of the 2nd BH 7" single) - and the album also features turns from drummers KEEF HARTLEY and AYNSLEY DUNBAR. The last six live tracks were recorded on 1 June 1969 in The Angel Hotel in Goldaming in Surrey, England. My heart always sinks when I see live tracks, but these are great and the quality of the recordings is excellent - capturing the crowd singing along to his cover of Sticks McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee".

A great release then - I urge to take a chance on it - and top marks to all the good people involved. Long may Champion reign! And my God - when you think of the debt Rock owes to Black music and Black musicians!!

Recorded in 1968 and 1969, these cuts are what British Blues Fans' thought Champion Jack should sound like. The producer was deeply involved with the Bluesbreakers and brought in Mick Taylor and two of John Mayall's old drummers for one of the the sessions.

I love Champion Jack, but about all you can hear from my man is his voice. The cuts are way over-produced. He's swamped by the sidemen. Usually you have to strain to hear the piano, and even that is pretty weak, knowing what the man could do. They actually brought in a string section on several cuts. Strings, if you can believe it! The live cuts they tacked onto the end are sad examples of him playing to a room full of drunk college boys.

Friends, look elsewhere for the good stuff.

I love humor and naughtyness in the blues. I have always liked Champion Jack Dupree's "drinkin' drinkin' again" songs. He always seems to have a good story to tell middle of many of his songs - told while playing of course. He was a great artist and a fantastic piano player. If you have never heard Jack Dupree I recomend this as a good place to start your collection. I have played it for all my friends down at the bar, everyone I play it for wants to buy it. Lots of laughs and good music too... Hard to beat that. I really don't think there is a bad track on the album.