Verdict: polite mixture of blues and country
More info: www.joebrown.co.uk, www.myspace.com/joebrownuk
I remember this guy being on the TV quite a bit when I was kid. In fact, Joe's career dates back to the 50's when he played along with acts such as Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Johnny Cash. Since then he has formed a couple of successful groups (Joe Brown & The Bruvvers in the 60's, Brown's Home Brew in the 70's), been in films (such as Mona Lisa with Bob Hoskins), been in West End plays, been a DJ and had a number of TV programme which is probably where I remember him from. More recently he played at Glastonbury in 2002 and appear at the George Harrison tribute concert later that year.
Not much wonder then that it was only in 90's that he started to make albums again. This album, produced by his son Pete and featuring daughter Sam on vocals, feature some original songs plus covers of song by Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Richard Thompson and Gallagher & Lyle. The musicians are from his regular band, but Joe doesn't tax them too heavily as he plays Dobro, Tenor Dobro, Mandolin, Electric and Acoustic guitar, Mandola, fiddle and squeezebox.
Joe has created an album of polite tracks in a style that is a mixture of blues and country. The album is well executed and is easy listening There is nothing here to take offence at, but on the other hand there isn't anything to get really excited about either. I, and I imagine that most Mood Swings readers, would prefer something with a bit more 'balls' - the blues to be dirtier and the country to be grittier. For example, the cover of Ram Jam's "Black Betty" have been transformed into a country hoedown, whereas I would prefer a more 'metalised' versions of this song.
