Downchild Blues BandIt's Been So Long/Ready To Go1997Stony Plain 1242

Downchild Blues Band - It's Been So Long/Ready To Go - 1997 - Stony Plain 1242

Written by Warren Dallin

Now here is a double album that showcases Canada's most famous blues band over two decades. It pits the 1987 release of It's Been So Long against the 1975 Ready To Go album. While each album has a unique blues style, overall the CD clearly keeps you tapping your toes. The common thread through both albums is the mainstay of the band: Donnie Walsh on guitar and some mean ass blues harp, and the vocals of Tony Flaim.

The first nine cuts were the first recordings after a five year hiatus since the talented piano player Jane Vasey passed away. Knowing that it took that long to record after her untimely death, the vocals take on a different meaning if you think about them in that light, especially on songs Bop 'Til I Drop, Where Have You Gone, and It's Been So Long. The one real hit song Don't Mind Dyin' creates an aura of a gospel infused blues testimonial that drives the point home with some heavy metal licks during the guitar solo. All cuts still rock the blues with a good fill of blues harp, horns and guitar so I truly think it showed their determined spirit to carry on playing the upbeat blues they do so well.

The remaining eleven cuts are of some of their earliest work that tends to showcase more of an instrumental blues boogie shuffle on some tracks. One of the most interesting things is that if you shut your eyes and just follow one instrument through a song, like the bass (but try them all individually - it's freaky how clean you can pick each one out), it shows their talent and also how the instruments just gel to create some smooth yet uplifting blues. The slide work on One More Chance and The Slide are hauntingly like that of Elmore James, with backing sax to add to that 1950's blues rock feel. All songs also show just how Jane Vasey could tickle and trickle the keys, adding some delicious fills.

Even though most of the songs do not appear on the Downchild's Greatest Hits (except Don't Mind Dyin') it is guaranteed to please anyone who knows that Downchild plays a brand of blues that gets you in a groove. Priced as a value single album disc, you just can't go wrong.

Copyright 2002. Review by Warren Dallin.

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