Gaz's Rockin' Blues

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: The eldest son of British blues legend John Mayall, sometimes Trojans vocalist Gaz Mayall launched his weekly DJ showcase "Gaz's Rockin' Blues" in July 1980. A quarter century later, his Thursday night residency celebrating vintage R&B remains a staple of London nightlife, reigning as the city's longest-running active one-nighter. Ace first released Gaz's Rockin' Blues on LP in 1981, and its 2005 CD reissue doubles the original's 14-song track listing; across 24 years, Mayall's tastes appear to have changed little, and the new material merges seamlessly with the old. If anything, it's the additional cuts that make the disc worth acquiring, as they feature a number of songs not reissued since their original 78 rpm debut. Mayall favors raw, pulsating R&B rooted in jump blues and swing, and it's not difficult to imagine his play lists packing the dancefloor. Highlights include Joe Hill Lewis' "Nappy Head Woman," Cookie & the Cupcakes' "I'm Twisted," and "Open the Door" by Little Booker, later known as Joe Tex. ~ Jason Ankeny

Mojo (Publisher) (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t encapsulates perfectly the soundtrack to his boozy Soho cellar dive. Sixties ska, '70s reggae, pub rock and 2-Tone fill the slippery dancefloor." Mojo (Publisher) (p.126) - 5 stars out of 5 - "[C]elebrating 25 years of Little Richard-style holler at London's top R&B club..."

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.3

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