Cherry Blues

Medicine Head - New Bottles Old Medicine (1970) {Dandelion–Cherry Red CDMRED314 rel 2007}
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© 1970, 2007 Dandelion Records / Cherry Red Records | CD MRED 314
Rock / Blues Rock / British Blues

When, in early 1970, legendary Radio 1 DJ John Peel ventured up to Wolverhampton’s Lafayette club to do a gig, he came upon two guys who called themselves Medicine Head, the uniquely configured duo of John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans. So impressed was Peel that he signed Medicine Head to his label, Dandelion Records and later that year released “New Bottles, Old Medicine” the 1st of three studio albums that Medicine Head would release on the revered label. The walrus-moustached Fiddler would simultaneously sing, play guitar and operate a bass drum and hi-hat cymbal with his foot, augmented by the equally hirsute Hope-Evans on harmonica, jaws harp, mouth bow and strange concoctions of percussion.

As part of The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions series, alto saxophonist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson is spotlighted on 14 digitally remastered tracks, recorded at Cargo Studio in Paris on March 9, 1969. This straight-ahead session pairs Cleanhead with pianist Jay McShann, Gene Ramey on bass, and McShann's drummer at the time, Paul Gunther. While this disc doesn't contain any unreleased tracks, it does feature several first-rate renditions of Vinson's signature tunes, including "Mr. Cleanhead Blues," "Kidney Stew," and "Juice Head Baby".

The celebrated blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield performs a variety of blues, R&B, and ragtime classics, including "Cherry Red," "Don't You Lie to Me," and "Walking the Floor Over You," on this accomplished and wide-ranging set. He's accompanied by the pianist Mark Naftalin and a skilful rhythm section, and though singing was never his strong point, his consummate guitar playing carries him through.