Three Decades ago Spectrum produced
sounds that remain fresh and unique.
1999 saw their first blues album " Spill "
and this release proves that Spectrum
is a Musical Force to be reckoned with.
This album stands tall alongside
Eric Clapton's " From The Cradle " ,
B.B. King's " Blues On The Bayou ",
and Bob Dylan's " Time Out Of Mind ".Real Audio Music Clips from 'SPILL' - Spectrum Plays The Blues.
CROSSROADS BABY PLEASE DON'T GO
BABY PLEASE DON'T GO HARP SOLO BABY PLEASE DON'T GO 2
Link to aquire Real Audio Player is at the end of this page
As well as a Fabulous New Blues Band we have the Power - Rockin' / Folky - Blues,
( with a dash of Psychedelia ) Spectrum. Check out this great c.d.
Ghosts : Post -Terminal Reflection. - Spectrum / Murtceps 1971.
" SPILL " - SPECTRUM PLAYS THE BLUES.
Three Decades ago Spectrum rocked the charts with " I'll Be Gone ". The sounds they produced in these early days were in a class of their own and remain fresh and unique. If you're not familiar with this side of Spectrum, imagine Jefferson Airplane/Starship with a bit more chunk, or Lou Reed with a Folky edge. If I had to put a tag on their early music, I'd call it Power - Rockin' / Folky - Blues, with a dash of Psychedelia.
From the first track of " Spill ", I realised I was in for some Great Blues. By track number two, I believed that Spectrum can play the Blues as good as anyone. By my third listen, I was of the opinion that this album stands tall alongside greats like, Eric Clapton's " From The Cradle "
B.B. King's " Blues On The Bayou " Bob Dylan's " Time Out Of Mind " and Gordon Waller's
" Race With Destiny ".The classic sounds of Spectrum filter through this album and add to the freshness that will hold it in good stead with blues lover for a long time to come. Vocals, harp, wah, slide guitar, keyboards, bass and drums and the unique way the nylon stringed guitar has been used, gel like magic. Mike Rudds' voice is a real treasure with timbre galore, while his harp playing excels with virtuosity. On top of this there is a banquet of the coolest guitar sounds and the tightest of rhythm sections.
Spectrum can give themselves a huge pat on the back for this venture into the Blues. Ross Ryan has done a great job with the Engineering and brought the sounds of Spectrum together in world class style. Several of these songs deserve to be part of major compilations the likes of Chess and Alligator. This version of Crossroads is the best I've ever heard. Cover songs include classics such as " Baby Please Don't Go ", " Hoochie Coochie Man ", " Crossroads " ,
" I Just Wanna Make Love To You ", and " Louie Louie ", and these are all fabulous takes.Of the originals, " Manuela ", with its sleepy guitar interweaving the inimitable voice of Colin Hay, is a classic instrumentally driven song.. " Lowdown Summer Blues " cruises along in a J.J. Cale style, with Colin Hay and Mike Rudd mixing the vocals sensationally well. The reminiscent of Michael Franks silky sounding " I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now " is as cool as Jumpin' and Jivin' as you will ever hear. I wouldn't be surprised to see this song do very well in the mainstream dance scene. " ( I'm Not On A ) Health Kick " is a classic slow blues - and these original songs are the highlight of this album for me, as they are Fresh, Slick and New.
" Spill " features, Mike Rudd (Guitar, Wah Guitar, Vocals, Harp) and Bill Putt ( Nylon String Guitar, Down Turned Slide Guitar, Lap Steel, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Chinese Roadcase), Peter “Robbo” Robertson, ( Drums ) Mal Logan ( Keyboards/Piano/Organ ), Colin Hay ( Vocals on Manuela, Lowdown Summer Blues and I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now ) Chris Wilson ( Harp on Sitting On Top Of The World ) and George Koves ( Vocals on [ I'm Not On A ] Health
Kick ). Mike Rudd and Bill Putt also Produce, while Ross Ryan Engineers and Martin Pullan Masters.
Al Smith 10/10/2000
THE MUSICIANS
" Spill " features, Mike Rudd (Guitar, Wah Guitar, Vocals, Harp) and Bill Putt ( Nylon String Guitar, Down Turned Slide Guitar, Lap Steel, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Chinese Roadcase), Peter “Robbo” Robertson,
( Drums ) Mal Logan ( Keyboards/Piano/Organ ), Colin Hay ( Vocals on Manuela, Lowdown Summer Blues, and I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now ), Chris Wilson ( Harp on Sitting On Top Of The World ).and George Koves ( Vocals on [ I'm Not On A ] Health Kick ) Mike Rudd and Bill Putt Produce, while Ross Ryan Engineers and
Martin Pullan Masters.
Orders, Bookings and Enquirys
First Jak Management - Volcano Records
PO Box 1181 Camberwell. Vic. Australia. 3124
Telephone. (Australia) 0419 842 312
firstjak@hotmail.comBackground Art and Designs Original Art Backgrounds.
