R & B From The Marquee – ALEXIS KORNER’S BLUES INCORPORATED****

Gotta Move/Rain Is Such A Lonesome Sound/I Got My Brand On You/Spooky But Nice/Keep Your Hands Off/I Wanna Put A Tiger In Your Tank/I Got My Mojo Working/Finkle’s Café/Hoochie Coochie Man/Down Town/How Long How Long Blues/I Thought I Heard That Whistle Blow

Blues Incorporated were a British rhythm & blues band from the early 1960s, led by Alexis Korner. Although never very successful commercially, they had a strong influence on the development of British rock music in the 1960s. R & B from the Marquee was a misnomer since it was neither a live album, nor was it cut at the Marquee Club in London, but instead was recorded at Decca’s London studio.

“The debut album by the self-described 'first white electric blues group in the world'. This is where British blues started, a genre that was to completely change all western popular music. This album and this band were a fundamental influence on every vital British act from The Stones, The Yardbirds, The Who, The Kinks, Cream and on and on.”

“Their first album, R & B From The Marquee, consisted of some gritty, raw blues played with convincing authenticity. The album unsurprisingly was not a commercial success, but proved highly influential in the then upcoming British blues scene. Many of the musicians went on to great things.”

“Alexis Korner is of course the Godfather of British R & B, but for me the star of the album is Cyril Davies both for his singing and for his magnificent harmonica playing.”

“Cyril Davies handles most of the vocals in a confident and very authentic way and his harp playing was miles ahead of any other British players at the time. A very young Long John Baldry also guests on vocals.”

“This record was an underground classic and the spark that started the British blues boom of the early 60s. Alexis Korner was mentor to The Rolling Stones, Paul Jones, John Mayall and Free and many of the blues-based bands that followed. Cyril Davies sadly died before he could get the credit that he deserved. For many British fans this would have been their introduction to blues and especially the songs of Muddy Waters like I Got My Mojo Working and Hoochie Coochie Man.”