6644 - BLUES 'N' TROUBLE (1985)
BLUES 'N' TROUBLE
''BLUES 'N' TROUBLE''
1985
54:07
01 - Born In Chicago/3:28
02 - Natural Born Lover/4:28
03 - C.T/4:22
04 - Honey Pot/3:00
05 - Blues 'n' Trouble/5:27
06 - Sloppy Drunk/2:57
07 - Tearstains On My Pillow/3:55
08 - Mystery Train/3:23
09 - Wake Up Mama/4:58
10 - Deep Blue Feeling/2:17
11 - Spank The Plank/3:01
12 - Texas (Bonus Track)/3:16
13 - What's The Matter (Bonus Track)/2:49
14 - Red Hot (Bonus Track)/1:40
15 - Wake Up Mama (Orginal Lp Version, Bonus Track)/4:59
John Bruce /Guitar
Tim Elliott /Harmonica, Vocals
Dave Neill /Guitar, Vocals
Allan Scott /Bass
Sean Scott /Drums
OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Led by top UK Blues singer and harmonica player Tim Elliott, award winning British Blues band Blues 'n' Trouble have forged an international reputation over almost 30 years as a hard driving, good time Blues and Boogie outfit.
Now sporting a retooled and rejuvenated line-up incorporating Tim Elliott (vocals/harmonica), Sandy Tweeddale (guitar/vocals), Angus Rose (keyboards/guitar), Rod Kennard (bass) and Andrew Samson (drums), Blues 'n’ Trouble are heading for 30th anniversary celebrations with the fire and swagger for which this top British blues band has always been renowned.
Rising from the depths of Livingston in the central belt of Scotland in the early 1980s, Tim Elliott and Blues ‘n’ Trouble have journeyed from their Edinburgh roots to secure an international audience and fan base, touring incessantly, working with blues greats such as Robert Cray, Pinetop Perkins, Charlie Musselwhite, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Their Chicago blues inspired sound, delivered with take-no-prisoners attitude and barely controlled energy behind Tim’s impassioned vocal and harmonica, caused BB King to remark that B ‘n’ T were “the best white blues band in the world” - an opinion reinforced by the winning of a WC Handy award for their album with Louisiana bluesman Lazy Lester.
Formed by singer and harmonica player Tim Elliott, influenced by Canned Heat and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band as well as older artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson and Jimmy Reed, Blues ‘n’ Trouble went through numerous personnel changes while building a loyal following in the pubs and clubs of central Scotland. Following the release of a single, "Old Time Boogie", in 1983, a second single, "Mystery Train", in 1984 and the decision to become a professional band, came the release of a first album, "First Trouble", in 1985. Musicians credits include Tim Elliott - vocals, harmonica; John Bruce – guitar; Jim Brown – guitar; Pete Sklaroff – guitar; Gus Boyd – bass; Chris Grey – bass; Willie Pettigrew – bass; Paul Collins – drums; Sean Scott – drums.
Their second album, "No Minor Keys" (1986) includes a stable line up of Tim Elliott, John Bruce, Tele Dave Neill (guitar), Alan “Scotty” Scott (bass), and Sean Scott (drums). The album also includes guest musicians Robert Cray and “sixth Stone”, Scottish born Ian Stewart of the Rolling Stones on piano.
With their albums achieving chart success, the band were touring constantly, marrying a powerful drums/bass/guitar rhythm section to the crowd-pleasing spectacle of fiery showman guitarist John Bruce and the explosive vocal and harmonica of Tim Elliott.
At a time when the likes of Stevey Ray Vaughan and Robert Cray had helped to raise the profile of Blues music to a high level, Blues ‘n’ Trouble were the living embodiment of travelling bluesmen. If Blues ‘n’ Trouble weren’t about to play your town, it was because they’d just left it. Their travels criss-crossed Europe and Scandinavia, and led them as far as the Memphis Blues Festival . John Bruce’s guitar still hangs in the fabled Rum Boogie Café in Memphis, Tennessee
A third album, "Hat Trick", produced by Mike Vernon (previous credits include the John Mayall/Eric Clapton album that had helped to launch the British Blues Boom in the 1960s) was released on the revived Blue Horizon label in 1986, swiftly followed by a Vernon-produced collaboration with Lazy Lester. "Lazy Lester Rides Again" received a prestigious WC Handy award, and was reissued in 2011..
Further regular record releases led to the "Live" album in 1988, "With Friends Like These" (another Mike Vernon production) in1989, and 1991s "Down To The Shuffle", winner of a British Blues Connection award. By now Tele Dave had left the band, and John Bruce had recruited ex-Rory Gallagher keyboard player Lou Martin, while “Lucky” Lox Lovell had replaced Sean Scott on drums. "Poor Moon"came out in 1992.
John Bruce himself left the band to be replaced by guitarist Mike Park for 1994s "Bag Full Of Boogie" live album, while the year 2000 album "Blues Graffiti" saw the band reduced to a quartet of Tim, Mike, Scotty and Lox. "Devil’s Tricks" was recorded by same personnel and finally released in 2003. "Lost Deposit", a live album and DVD released in 2005 was actually a recording from 1992.
In a return to their classic twin guitar sound, Sandy Tweeddale was asked to join the band in 2001 – his song "Tennessee Whiskey" had already been covered by Blues ’n’ Trouble on "Devil’s Tricks". Alan “Scotty” Scott departed to live in Holland, and was replaced by bassman Gus Boyd (previously a member in the early 1980s). Lox Lovell was superceded on drums by Andy “Mr Boom” Munro. Most recently Gus’ commitments elsewhere required Rod Kennard to deputise on bass – Rod was asked to join on a full time basis in May 2011, while later in the year long-standing mainstay of the band Mike Park left the ensemble, to be replaced by keyboard/guitarist Angus Rose. In the summer of 2013 Andy Munro was superceded by drummer Andrew Samson.
In 2011 and 2012 B'n'T made a number of Festival appearances in the company of the great Scottish Blues and Rock singer Maggie Bell. Their fist CD in nine years, "Try Anything Twice" was released in November 2012.
Tim Elliott and Blues ‘n’ Trouble continue as the Scottish flag bearers of British Blues. The B’n’T Thirtieth Anniversary approaches!