The Sensational Blues Burglars - Chicago Blues at its best
The debut album "Breakin' in"
Contrary to American cultural norms, everyone has a history, and in terms of musical output they don't come much more colourful than that of Newcastle's premier blues band The Blues Burglars. The debut album "Breakin' in" documents a band that circa 1986 finally headed south of Watford Gap to conquer a seemingly intransigent London blues scene, before memorably making their name in Europe.
One wet and windy night many years ago I received a call from the 'Clown Prince of R&B' and fine harp player Wolfie Witcher who extolled the virtues of the Burglars. Bowing to his judgement, a couple of gigs were organised, and the band swept into the capital, bulldozing their way to the centre of a busy gig circuit.
It soon became apparent that this was no ordinary band. The uncompromising 50's Chicago sound and the occasional swing style outings featured Paul Lamb's deep toned harmonica as well as John Whitehill's sinewy guitar runs. Topping the lot was one of Britain's 'unsung' vocal talents, wild Billy Sharp. Big in stature, long of hair, and with a booming voice that could cross over from Howlin' Wolf to Captain Beefheart in one fell swoop, Billy's voice oozed the aching urban blues of Chicago. Billy's powerful emotive style alone gives short shrift to the theory that British Blues bands are a pale imitation of their American counterparts.
If the Blues Burglars became primarily known as a Chicago style band, they were also subtly embracing a dance friendly feel - in hindsight ahead of their time - that served the band well at festivals, as no-one else on the live scene had this approach. The band quickly picked up the "Best Blues Band of The Year" award from Radio London, and played several high profile gigs including an appearance with Buddy Guy & Junior Wells. Europe beckoned and it was with some of the unforgettable live gigs that the essence of the album tracks took their shape.
But it was in the middle of 'Money Maker' at a packed Belgian Blues Festival that a disconsolate Sharp - first verse completed - headed out into the startled crowd to drink a table dry of its content of beer and return belatedly to the stage to thunder into the third verse and into blues oblivion. Lamb shuffled to centre stage to fill the gaps with some breathtaking harp, and Whitehill like the solid rhythm section of Ed Bowman and PJ White behind him, remained granite faced and steadfast. The crowd as one took to their feet and the Blues Burglars became Belgian royalty.
Sharp's sheepish grin suggested a sense of fulfilment and he responded with a moving version of Jimmy Witherspoon's 'Evening". Billy's performance on this album has rarely been bettered and shows just how good the Burglars were.
Edited from an article by Pete Feenstra - Red Lightning Records
