Blue Horizon Records was a British blues independent record label, founded by Mike Vernon in 1966. Its roots lay in Vernons mail order label Purdah Records, which released just four 7 singles; including Flapjacks [] Stones Masonry - Flapjacks youtu.be/brKa0i8LCCo by Stones Masonry (featuring Martin Stone, later to join Savoy Brown and Mighty Baby); and another by John Mayall and Eric Clapton Bernard Jenkins, and Lonely Years.. [] John Mayall & Eric Clapton - Bernard Jenkins youtu.be/t65BE9zeZtU Only 99 copies of each are thought to have been pressed - limited originally to avoid purchase tax - although it has also been said that the number was as high as 500. After briefly forming the Outasite label, Vernon switched to Blue Horizon in 1966, issuing singles and a small number of now-unobtainable albums by U.S. blues artists, including Doctor Ross. A world-wide licensing and distribution deal with CBS heralded the glory years of the label. Starting with two 7 singles with combined CBS/Blue Horizon stamps featuring Fleetwood Mac and Aynsley Dunbar there followed a string of singles and albums by both British and U.S. blues artists, both licenced and newly recorded. Heres our first segment dedicated to the Mike Vernon and the great artists/bands that recorded for the studio...notes/ comments by Mike Vernon. [] Cyril Davies - Country Line Special youtu.be/pxpqlEaMcDM by Cyril Davies Blues Allstars. Recorded in London. An original PYE Recording, released by arrangement. As I recall it, this was the first solid British blues single released on the market. It featured Cyril Davies superb harmonica work which was heavily influenced by both Sonny Boy Williamson and Sonny Terry. Davies did record other sides at this early date but none have ever been released to my knowledge. The only other sides featuring Cyrils work were made for Decca with Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated. Sadly. - Mike Vernon. [] Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated - Gotta Move / Keep Your Hands Off youtu.be/54e7GYjmg3M Alexis Korner Blues Inc. (featuring Long John Baldry, Dick Heckstall-Smith) Recording-originally released in United Kingdom only. Alexis Korner, who started his career as singer and guitarist much influenced by the early country blues artists-Leroy Carr, Scrapper Blackwell, Blind Lemon Jefferson and so on-has perhaps more than any other been responsible for the surge of interest in this country in all forms of Negro folk music, but particularly of course in blues. Touring the country giving lectures and concerts, sometimes solo, or with his band, working on projects with author Paul Oliver, radio and television interviews and discussion groups-his influence has not gone unnoticed. - Mike Vernon. [] The Yardbirds-Baby Whats Wrong youtu.be/M3QWOq4592k From THE YARDBIRDS first studio session, recorded late 1963 at R.G. Jones Studio in Surrey, England. Licensed from (P) Charly Records International APS, Copenhagen, Denmark. [] The Spencer Davis Group ~ My Babe youtu.be/bcaLpcCALFI The first time I ever saw Spence was at the Flamingo Club, Wardour Street in the heart of Londons Soho. The club, owned in those days by John and Rik Gunnell as I recall, promoted only Rhythm & Blues and Soul bands. Spencer Davis and John Mayalls Bluesbreakers became regular attractions but whilst Mayall found it comparatively easy to get work around the club circuit of the South, the same was not so for Spence. Their repertoire featured mainly Chicago oriented material-Sonny Boys Help Me. Little Walters My Babe, Howlin Wolfs Smokestack Lightin just to give three examples. It was a direct result of seeing the band work at the Flamingo that I recorded five titles as an audition for Decca. The group was rejected and subsequently recorded for Chris Blackwell with their first disc Keep On Running being released on Fontana. - Mike Vernon [] The Downliners Sect - Put A Tiger In Your Tank youtu.be/uupf0l3-Dwc The Downliners Sect. A CAMPBELL CONNELLY Recording Just one of the many early rocking blues outfits that missed the success enjoyed by the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and Spencer Davis. Like so many others their main musical influences were Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed. The members were unknown then and heaven knows where they are today-but their memory lives on with the crowds that faithfully followed them and their like from club to club just digging de blooze. Dont know why but just thinking about the Sect brings back memories of all those other unknowns-Hogswort Rupert, Soul Stirrers, Herbie Goines, Undertakers, Soul Agents.....................yeah! - Mike Vernon. [] The graham bond organisation - long tall shorty youtu.be/uG_Rq-KLawg by The Graham Bond Organization (featuring Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce) The bands first single rush-released at the time by Decca. A DECLON Recording. Another one of the great crusaders. Graham Bond was to become almost a fixture at the 100 Club, Oxford Street. I suppose in those days nobody could have known that at least two of his band were to later attract the tag of superstars-Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, who with Eric Clapton (on leaving Mayall) formed Cream. The Organizations brand of blues was tough and rough and their demise was a considerable loss-their own individual efforts everyones gain. - Mike Vernon- --------------------------------------------------------------------- We hope to promote interest in the artist and their work and aim to entertain and perhaps educate too. We also hope you can educate us by commenting on our posts. If you like what you hear on this page please buy the albums, cds to keep the blues alive and well. There are many reasonably priced reissues available from web dealers or perhaps from your local record shop, if it still exists. These reissues will be in far better sound quality and will usually have more up to date liner notes and info, so go out and splash a little cash now and again. Help keep those reissue labels going. Thanks again for tuning in and sharing the music! Blues Rocker: Seth, ex Radio DJ (Las Vegas) & Abe, LP / Record Collector (Honolulu, Hawaii) https://facebook/blues.rocker.1 .
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:52:49 +0000
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