Blue Mink
Our World

THE REVIEW

It's incredible how such an ugly cover could have been conceived, then proposed, then accepted by some boss or the person in charge, and finally printed in multiple copies. Pointless... there are truly so many of us down here on this planet where anything can happen... It’s redundant to be surprised.

These “Blue Mink” are only strange and eccentric in name, besides this horrendous cover for their second album dated 1970. Otherwise, they were a British pop/r&b sextet active from 1969 to 1977. Almost no one remembers them in Italy, but they did quite well, especially with singles—or more precisely, 45s—in their home country.

Their lineup was classic except for the double vocalist. Two very different performers, namely a soul singer of color imported from New Jersey and then a very British crooner… They almost always sang in duet, one verse each and then together for the choruses. Same importance, but Roger Cook was also the principal songwriter.

The other four musicians were highly professional instrumentalists; in fact, all of them went on to have solid careers, even during and after Blue Mink. Take bassist Herbie Flowers, for whom it’s easier to list who he hasn’t played with (but here’s a hint: Bowie, Elton, Ferry, three-quarters of the solo Beatles…). For the record, he’s the one who gifted Lou Reed that immortal bassline in “Walk on the Wild Side.”

Back to Madeline Bell, the African-American of the band, her credits include the Stones, Cocker, and once again Elton; she is the classic soul singer ready for any rhythm & blues you could want, the kind the USA has produced by the thousands.

As for Roger Coulam, the band’s pianist and keyboardist, you can listen to him on the soundtrack of the musical film “Jesus Christ Superstar.” A few years earlier it was him hammering on the organ that insistent and absolutely recognizable melody while Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin pretend to make love in the aphrodisiac “Je t’aime… moi non plus.”

In short, not a bunch of nobodies… these are top-notch people. Five albums and at least as many high-charting singles in their career. Of the noteworthy things that stuck with me from this record, I’d mention the title track and especially the beautiful choral quality of “Pastures New.” There are no bad songs, but often, let’s say it, they come off rather ordinary.

An English group that sounds American... there have been several—Simply Red come to mind, and also Sade... Even the Beatles and Stones did the American thing in their early years. Every now and then it’s enjoyable to dive into this music—supposedly old-fashioned and sometimes a bit sugary, but always elegant and vibrant.