The Blues Band
Brand Loyalty

The Blues Band represents one of the most significant chapters of the British blues scene of the 1980s. The artistic paths of its members (exceptional musicians such as Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher, Rob Townsend) intertwined during the Sixties with personalities like Alexis Korner, Eric Clapton and several bands, among which the Bluesbreakers stand out. Their pre-existing fame in the scene allowed the supergroup to achieve success with relative ease.

“Brand Loyalty” from 1982 is the third effort in chronological order, just before their temporary disbandment. It shows a decline in their creative streak, perhaps influenced by their already matured desire to unplug.

On the first side, their electric blues, infused with rock, is lively yet technically flawless: in this way, it caters to the needs of seasoned listeners on one hand, and easily captures the ears of newcomers on the other. The vibrant combination of Paul Jones's voice & harmonica emphasizes the sound and sweeps away the muck accumulated, over more than a decade, by a certain wailing and now weary blues. The constant and massive infusions of sax and piano support this operation.

In the reprise, rock imposes itself strongly and interacts with various genres: it hints at its hard component, attempts to shake up rock and roll, challenges the r&b genre. The songs still prove impeccable from a technical perspective, their sound retains the explosive charge of quick appeal, but during the listening, compared to the opposite side, there is a detected lesser clarity of intent. This factor distances the possibility of promoting the work with full marks.

The Blues Band disbanded in the same year, not before gifting a splendid farewell concert immortalized and released in the album “Bye Bye Blues”. They reformed a few years later, regained old fans and expanded their audience through interesting albums, followed by repeated tours beyond the borders of Albion.