Play Some Blues Tonight

Releasing on all platforms Friday 7th February 2025.



         

Mick writes:

In the immortal words of BB King: "If you've been with us a long time you might remember this one.."

This was a song which I wrote and recorded about forty years ago, circa 1984. It appeared on my third solo album 'All These Blues' and featured Rory Gallagher's drummer, the late Wilgar Campbell, along with Russell Prett on bass, Peter Terry on keyboards and a couple of girls from a South London gospel choir, Yvette Orrigio and Lorna Brown. The track was recorded at Elephant Studio in Wapping, East London, by engineer Nick Robbins, who also recorded The Pogues and The Damned.

It was a good effort, but let down by my rotten singing, even with the girls' help. Still, I always thought there was something in the song and it lodged somewhere in my brain.

I did revisit the song a few months ago with the idea of reviving it, but decided that I didn't like the lyrics. Back in 1984 I was in quite a dark place having just had my first marriage break up. Listening to the lyrics again I thought they sounded a bit bitter and twisted..(I probably was, at the time). However, recently a friend of mine, drummer Mike Hirsch, mentioned that the song was one of his favourites from that period, so it made me think again.

I've adjusted the lyric a little, so it's now, in my mind, about heading off to a gig in the van. Cold and miserable but looking forwarding to turning my 'face to the light' and playing some blues.

So here it is.. jaunty little thing with a solo on my new Les Paul, which I'm just getting used to. It's a bit of a pop song..(if you're stuck in a 70s time warp as I am), but I think it's quite fun and I hope it finds its own market somewhere. Anyway, it's always a good sentiment - Play some blues tonight.



Artwork photo by Charlie Deets, Unsplash.