AUSSIE BLUES #4
Chain - Towards The Blues (1971)
01 - Thirty Two-Twenty Blues
02 - Snatch it Back and Hold It
03 - Boogie
04 - Booze is Bad News Blues
05 - Albert Gooses Gonna Turn The Blues Loose
06 - Black and Blue
Matt Taylor - Vocals & Harmonica
Phil Manning - Guitar & Vocals
Barry Sullivan - Bass
Barry Harvey - Drums
Review:
Toward the Blues (1971) by Chain is widely regarded as a seminal Australian blues-rock album, frequently praised for its raw, energetic sound, masterful basslines by Barry Sullivan, and Matt Taylor’s gritty vocals. It blends traditional blues with psychedelia and R&B, featuring long, jam-oriented tracks like "Boogie" and the iconic "Black and Blue".
The album is described as having a "naive urgency" that perfectly captures a gritty, pub-rock atmosphere, often featuring prominent, heavy-lifting basslines. Black and Blue" is lauded as an "outrageously rough-as-guts" standout, while the 10-minute "Boogie" showcases a shift from hazy, atmospheric blues into a faster, rock-driven sound.
Guitarist Phil Manning is noted for his proficient, tasty solos, and drummer Barry Harvey is highlighted for his work, particularly on the instrumental "Albert Gooses Gonna Turn The Blues Loose".
It is considered one of the best-selling and most influential Australian blues records of all time.
Thanks so much, Bob!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Concha
Deletevery nice Bob........thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteHi cabledogg2: I saw Chain live in a Perth club not long after this album was released, they were astonishingly good. You really had to see them live to appreciate them. Singer Matt Taylor had some hilarious things to say while introducing songs, and Phil Manning's guitar playing was jaw-dropping good. basically they were an Aussie pub band, loud & raw. The tracklist here is also very representative of what Aussie blues bands were doing in the early 1970s...their own arrangement of an old country blues classic...a long boogie...a song with a drum solo.
DeleteThanks Bob for another Aussie classic. Cheers mate!
ReplyDeleteCheers Hector, thanks for your comment.
DeleteHi Bob,
ReplyDeleteHere is the 30th Anniversary CD from 2001. Chain played at the Prince Of Wales Hotel that year as part of a tour. Its always good to see Chain play live. Will see them this easter again at Bluesfest. The CD has a few more tracks.
Chain - Toward the Blues - 30th Anniversary Edition
Info URL: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005MARL
Barcode: 9397603339721
Release date: 2001-09-17
Release country: AU
Release label: Festival Mushroom Records
Release catalog#: 333972
Release label: Infinity
Release catalog#: 333972
01. Black and Blue (single version) [0:03:55.10]
02. Judgement [0:03:27.00]
03. Blow in D [0:05:56.20]
04. Thirty-Two, Twenty Blues [0:04:11.45]
05. Snatch It Back and Hold It (adapted from the stage version) [0:05:05.37]
06. Boogie [0:10:45.58]
07. Booze Is Bad News Blues [0:07:46.57]
08. Albert Gooses Gonna Turn the Blues [0:07:07.15]
09. Black and Blue (original album version) [0:04:49.33]
Hope folks will enjoy both releases.
https://mega.nz/file/g8AyWDiI#fNs0Ylelg4n6Wtaw0d0vvHSMvwGnRsjGGZvCj7aW1Xc
Thanks for that Ray, it's been a few years since I last saw Chain play, likewise Dave Hole, but I'd sure like to catch them again someday.
DeleteThank you Yardraw & Bob for this edition!
ReplyDelete👍😁👋
Delete