Autumn ’66 – THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP****

Together ‘Til The End Of Time/Take This Hurt Of Me/Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out/Midnight Special/When A Man Loves A Woman/When I Come Home/Mean Woman Blues/Dust My Blues/On The Green Light/Neighbour Neighbour/High Time Baby/Somebody Help Me

Autumn '66, the third album from The Spencer Davis Group, continues their traditional fare of blues drenched numbers. Stevie Winwood would depart the following year bringing the band's chart career to a close. (UK:4)

"There isn't a duff track on it and it is one of my top twenty albums. OK so it's mostly covers of blues standards, but let's not forget that the band were a blues band, the hit singles were kind of a side product. To criticise a blues band for playing the likes of Dust My Blues etc. is like criticising snow for being cold and wet."

"It is almost impossible to say anything about this band without making reference to a young Stevie Winwood. Basically filled with rhythm and blues standards from the 60s, it would be a ho-hum listen if not for him. But, putting it in another perspective it was the perfect vehicle to emphasize one of greatest talents to arise from this era."

"At the peak of their popularity, The Spencer Davis Group's albums were considerably less impressive than their hits and a bit thin on imagination, although they were never less than competent. This, their third LP, relies heavily on soul covers, as well as a few oft-covered blues."

"The Spencer Davis Group were one of the best R & B groups of the British Invasion. Winwood's tenure in this group is overshadowed by his work in Traffic, Blind Faith and his solo career. But his talent is present even in these early recordings. Most feature his soulful vocals, his impressive organ playing and underrated guitar work."

"Whether they performed covers or original songs, their performances were always top notch soulful blues. Young Stevie's voice was incredible, and many songs will make you wonder if it was really possible that a white teenager could sing with such a mature voice. Spencer Davis has a very good blues voice too."

"Compelling, solidly crafted English blues from its earlier years - sometimes understandably derivative, but with an honesty and charm all its own."