Barbican Blues - Chris Barber & His Jazz Band

Advantages: The absolute pinnacle of Barber
Disadvantages: None

...- but listening to the live (October) broadcast on steam radio - I was especially allowed to stay up late - is one of my earliest musical memories. I subsequently owned the original Decca EP release which featured tracks 4,5,6 and 8 below. The CD starts with the announcement '...And now we come to the top of the bill, Chris Barber'. And what a billing it is. Chris Barber was a legend in his own time (still is) - but this is the greatest of the greats of line ups - from guest spots to members who went on to other things in their time. These include: Chris Barber - trombone Pat Halcox - cornet Jim Bray - bass, sousaphone Monty Sunshine - clarinet Ron Bowden - drums Lonnie Donegan - banjo Ottilie Patterson - vocals Bertie King - alto sax So many types of music are featured here - Traditional jazz, Blues, Folk, Skiffle... Read review

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Advantages: perfect music, wonderful lyrics, flawless singing
Disadvantages: somewhat downbeat

...While I was watching a country music channel quite a few years back, I was captivated by Chris Isaak's video for "Somebody's Crying". It wasn't just the video that had me interested, although Issak is always very handsome, and he appeared to be very much so during the footage, but rather the song. I have been a fan of Isaak's ever since his work with David Lynch on the "Wild at Heart" Soundtrack. His "Wicked Game" is a pure and haunting classic. It is clearly washed in the songs of yesterday that inspired Isaak, such performers as Roy Orbison and Elvis. Loving "Somebody's Crying", I started looking for the album it would appear on. I found out that it was an album entitled "Forever Blue". Along with expecting and awaiting its release date, I found out the story behind many of the songs that would be featured on the album... Read review

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Advantages: Great performances, excellent adaptation
Disadvantages: Storyline weak in areas

...Turpin who had to have Benjamin's wife Lucy for himself and punished him for a crime that never existed shipping him off to Australia indefinately. 15 years later is where the story begins with Todd AKA Benjamin Barker arriving back into London after being rescued by a Sailor Anthony from the cruel seas who allows him to travel with them. Barker seeks his revenge and after 15 years he has dreamed of returning to his wife and daughter and resuming the lifestyle he once had. Anthony knows nothing of Todd's dark secret and hopes that he will once again meet up with Todd once they go their separate ways in London to which Todd insists if he needs to find him then he will meet again. Todd decides to find his bearings once more in the familiar location of Fleet Street where he once had his barbers premises and this is where he meets Mrs... Read review

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