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The Blues, Man, Rides Again!





         

The Blues, Man, Rides Again!

Mick writes:

Yes it's back - now a full length album. Rockin' the Blues!

There's a favourite moment of mine on one of Hound Dog Taylor's albums. Between songs he just says..'I got it'. Someone in the crowd shouts: 'What you got?' and the laconic answer comes back.. 'The blues, man...".

So obvious.. what the hell do you think he's got? He's Hound Dog Taylor. Anyway, I liked it, and it lodged in my head, where it grew an extra bit, and became 'the blues, man, the blues'..

Originally a 6 track EP, it has been remixed with an extra 8 tracks - still featuring Consuela the Cuban Chevy - she rides again!!

Track 1: You Got To Move

Fred McDowell's classic with a little of the Stones' insouciance. Rock'n'Roll..

Track 2: Mind Over Matter

King Biscuit Boy's great song from, I think, his first album. 'Mind Over Matter' by Allen Toussaint.

Track 3: Turpentine

Originally my song 'Gasolene'..(I was being lazy).. so I thought it was a good song and needed a more original title.. Turps!

Track 4: Good To Go

My old 1930s Harmony archtop with the Elmore James De Armond pickup sounding sweet on this.. an MC original about cars 'n stuff..

Track 5: Preachin' to the Choir

A nice MC boogie.. pretty much jammed live as much as possible.

Track 6: Tearin' Up My Home

Sort of true - watching the mechanical diggers tearing up the maize field behind our house to build a development.. the blues, man, the blues..

Track 7: Love's a Disease

A great song by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.. a favourite on the old record player back in the 70s after a couple of drinks..

Track 8: If You Can't Follow

A nice stop time blues based on a quote from Jimmy Rogers.. lead guitar on the 'Bent Frets' Strat.

Track 9: I Sing Um the Way I Feel

I first heard this song by J.B.Lenoir way back - one of the first blues tracks I ever heard. Mid 60s sometime. And I liked the tune, so lately I tracked it down. J.B's version is quite laid back - I've boogied it up a little, with some Hubert Sumlin influenced guitar.

Track 10: I Asked For Water

We toured with Wolf as I've mentioned before. I don't think he ever did this one on stage, not when I was there. If he had it would have been spellbinding. Anyway, here's my version with the Strat wailing.

Track 11: Doing The Best I Can

When I was just a kid my late brother Derek used to bring home a lot of the hit records of the day. That's when I heard Lonnie Donnegan, Buddy Holly and others. He loved the Elvis album 'G.I.Blues'. Actually he loved all the sloppy tracks, bless him, and Elvis's version of this Doc Pomus / Mort Schuman song is pretty sloppy. However it can also harden up nicely and with some Guitar Slim style guitar I think it rocks. Hope you enjoy it.

Track 12: Mizzable Blues

I think I did have the backache and the toothache and the headache when I wrote Mizzable Blues. It's all true! 'Getting old is not for the faint of heart' - the blues, man, the blues..

Track 13: Baby Please Don't Throw Me Down

Tampa Red wrote this, but the version I liked was by Chicago blues man Jimmy Eager. Hard rockin' stuff. So I've applied some Hound Dog style slide to my version.. verges on the rockabilly which is not a bad thing. Boogie on..

Track 14: Love Her With A Feeling

I was privileged to play this track as rhythm guitarist with Freddie King many times on our two UK tours together back in 1969. Always loved the song, and Freddie put it across beautifully. I've tried to keep a lot of his phrasing while at the same time adapting it to my style. Anyway, I'm happy. Hope you enjoy the track.

Sound Guardian Review
by Mladen Loncar

(Google translation from the Croatian)

I've lost count of how many albums I've covered since Mick Clarke. Current "The Blues, Man, Rides Again!" was released on October 27th for Rockfold Records and like all of them so far, Mick continues his determination to keep his musical being alive in a completely uncompromising way of performing blues that sounds solid, energetic, with a deep involvement in the mud of the great Mississippi River.

Phuuu... 14 new compositions woven into a little more than 56' will certainly not leave us indifferent to all of us who love and follow this musical style. Everything that we recognize very well has now been given a new "clothing" and now Mick presents it as is his custom and, I must admit, I really like it.

Mick Clarke is not a new musical name, he has been on the scene since the end of the sixties, from that famous, great British "blues boom". He started his career in the band Killing Floor, which followed famous blues legends, such as: Freddie King, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Span and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. This band released two albums that today have cult status and were included in the top twenty British blues albums between 1967 and 1970. In 2003, the band reunites and works on studio recordings, starts some projects, goes on tours and plays at important European blues and rock festivals.

At the beginning of the eighties, the Mick Clarke Band started, which was particularly popular in London and the surrounding area, and soon offers arrived from Europe and America. He works with great musicians like the late Johnny Winter, Canned Heat, Foghat and C.J. Chenieroma. Today, he belongs to one of the regular, important musical names that regularly perform in Europe, Asia and America.

This album, "The Blues, Man, Rides Again!", is characterized by a rather raw, airy way of playing, very skillfully integrated into the complete presentation form. Namely, Mick "dusts" extremely hard, there is not much room for any compromises, he really demands with his presentation form that the volume of the volume is not spared, but let's "squeeze" as much as possible, the atmosphere and feeling are stronger, more effective and more impressive. All the material was recorded by Mick with his old friend Bill Thorndycraft at Rockfold Studios in Surrey in August 2023. Together, the two formed the band Killing Floor.

I have already mentioned something about them, but I would also like to add that in addition to everything, they also performed with bands such as: The Nice, Yes, Jethro Tull, Captain Beefheart, Ten Years After and other names of that period, and they were definitely part of the British "blues boom" of the late sixties.

"The Blues, Man, Rides Again!" will amaze you with its variety, energy and slide, special atmosphere. There is really everything here and therefore you should listen to the complete content of the album, which hides that special, special energy, message, "mojo" and the more I listen to it and play it, the stronger its expression becomes!

In my opinion, the album "The Blues, Man, Rides Again!" is a true surprise due to its dynamism, solidity and deep commitment to rock n' blues, and these 14 offered and recorded compositions will directly and strongly support its further and repeated global affirmation.

The album contains six original songs plus eight new ones. These latest songs are a mix of originals and blues standards. The question arises whether this is actually what Mick wants or whether it is better and simpler for him to "whip" everything from home. I admit, regardless of everything, I was still a bit taken aback by how all the songs on this album take on a strong "blues-rocker touch" and how every one of them fit me well!

Recommendation

Album "The Blues, Man, Rides Again!" is in front of all of you and after only a few listens, an extremely positive perception of this album was completely created in me. It is precisely this perception that I simply want to share with you now. I believe that many will be surprised if they get hold of the album "The Blues, Man, Rides Again!". Hand on heart and in fact Mick Clarke clearly shows where the wind is blowing from and how listeners adapt to the new situation and this excellent musical offer with unprecedented ease. The album really shouldn't have any problems and there really aren't any, in fact! I believe the album will be well received. And therefore, there is really no reason why you, the respected visitors of the "Blues Corner" of the SoundGuardian.com music portal, should not seek out this inspired album, and I believe that in just a few days or listens, it will simply become a part of you. Great, right?



The album 'The Blues, Man, Rides Again!' was released Friday 27th October 2023.

Roots Music Report 11 Nov 2023 - Mick Clarke

Knocking The Stones off the No.1 slot - Roots Music Report UK Airplay Chart, 11 November 2023. Thanks to all presenters who are playing the album.

'The Blues, Man, Rides Again! will amaze you with its variety, energy and slide, special atmosphere....a true surprise due to its dynamism, solidity and deep commitment to rock n' blues'
Mladen Loncar, Sound Guardian Review (Google translation from Croatian).

Original review here - click to view

'As usual, Mick remains resolutely committed to preserving the very essence of his music. He does it relentlessly by delivering a blues interpretation that resonates with firmness, energy, and a deep dive into the muddy meanders of the Great Mississippi River'
Sierra Blues, Switzerland

The original 'The Blues, Man, The Blues' EP reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report Blues Rock Airplay Chart and No. 11 on their main international Blues Chart. 'I Sing Um The Way I Feel' is on regular rotation on BB King's Bluesville channel, Sirius XM.



Review from Blues Town Music, Netherlands by Peter Marinus

Mick Clarke is simply unstoppable! And we can only be happy about that as long as Mick releases one great blues rock release after another.

Now he comes with the EP 'The Blues, Man, The Blues'.

A title coming from Hound Dog Taylor. After he sighed “I Got It” during a concert and a fan asked what he had, the statement came The Blues, Man, The Blues…

The EP contains five covers and one of Mick's own songs. All songs on the EP are stripped of any kind of frills so that the pure raw essence of the blues remains.

Opening with the J.B. Lenoir cover 'I Sing Um The Way I Feel'. A song on which Mick has poured a boogie sauce with a nice unpolished result in which Mick's ingenious piercing guitar comes out well. The next cover is Howlin' Wolf's 'I Asked For Water', which sounds raw, brooding and funky with nasty biting guitar work this time.

'Doing The Best' I Can could be known for Elvis Presley's performance. The song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman and is in the hands of Mick Clarke, a lazily pumping blues in which Mick lets his guitar flame and scrape hard.

Then Mick's very own 'Mizzable Blues'. A lazy raw boogie, which stomps through nicely. Tampa Red's Baby Please Don't Throw Me Down has been put into a soggy boogie version with Mick's roaring slide guitar.

Finally, Mick Freddie King's 'Love Her With A Feeling' gives a very loving and soulful treatment.

A wonderful unpolished blues EP from Mick Clarke that eases the wait for the next Mick Clarke release. But knowing Mick Clarke we probably won't have to wait long for a next release


Track 1: 'I Sing Um the Way I Feel' now on rotation on BB King's Bluesville channel, Sirius XM - also the earlier single release 'Fine and Dandy'.

British blues guitarist Mick Clarke on AMI Jukeboxes Recent releases are also available on AMI Jukeboxes - over 30,000 outlets across North America.











































Mick Clarke - The Blues, Man, Rides Again!' You got to move, you got to move
You got to move, child, you got to move
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move

You may be high, you may be low
You may be rich, child, you may be poor
But when the Lord gets ready
You've got to move

You see that woman that walk the street
You see that policeman out on his beat
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move

You got to move, you got to move
You got to move, child, you got to
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move

Mind Over Matter - Matter Over Mind
Gettin nowhere fast I'm just a wastin' my time
Mind Over Matter - Matter Over Mind
Got to get my head together get my business in line

Yeah I know your love is good little girl
There ain't no dealing with my friends
But the problems that come along with you girl
Is enough to drive a poor man insane

Mind Over Matter - Matter Over Mind
Gettin nowhere fast I'm just a wastin' my time
Mind Over Matter - Matter Over Mind
Got to get my head together get my business in line

Yeah you tell me that I please you woman
You say you love the way I make you feel
But my pocket book is so worn down
This kind of love can't be a real deal

Mind Over Matter - Matter Over Mind
Gettin nowhere fast I'm just a wastin' my time
Mind Over Matter - Matter Over Mind
Got to get my head together get my business in line

Well I ordered whisky - they gave me turpentine
yeah I just wanted a whisky - they gave me turpentine
thought I'd seen - just 'bout all - customers laid out in the hall
yeah look like whisky - smell like turpentine

I asked for shelter - somewhere to lay my head
yeah gimme some shelter - I'm just lookin for a bed
told me lay down on the mat - cockroaches down there big as cats
cos I asked for shelter - just to lay down my head

I asked for water somewhere to wash my face
well I just asked for water - somewhere to wash my face
took me down to the bus station - said alright - you got running water its open all night
I asked for water - just to wash my face

Well I thought I'd seen - everything - this place threw in the kitchen sink
just wanted a whisky - gave me turpentine

Well you ain't goin' nowhere
when yo engine's runnin' low
when you all warmed up
man you good to go

she's hot as mustard
cool as a lollipop
but when the motor's running
man ... just can't stop
Yeah Good to go
Good to Go
When you get that engine runnin'
man you good to go

like a fine white wine
with a moule et frite
good loving woman
man ... sure is sweet
Good to go
Good to go
When you get that engine runnin'
man you good to go

get all lined up get your
ducks in a row
get that hot sauce cookin'
man you good to go
Good to go
Good to go
When you get that engine runnin'
man you good to go

Now lovin you darlin's like leanin' on an open door
talk to me baby tell me just what love is for
you make it so easy mm I couldn't ask for more

tell me that you love me tell me I'm yours always
tell me 'bout the story that live til the end of days
don't worry 'bout that baby well you preachin' to the choir
yeah you preachin' to the choir
yeah

yeah I know trouble when I see it comin' down the road
and trouble won't stop to help you with your load
but one thing I know don't change when you get old
preachin' to the choir
preachin' to the choir
preachin' to the choir


Well - they tearin' up my home
Mmm - tearin' up my home

now for five long years
we fought that fight
to keep that dream alive
through sweat and tears
just to have that right
just tryin to survive

Mmm - yeah - they tearin' up my home
Well - they tearin' up my home

well you got to take it
all the way
sock it to the man
fight your corner
night and day
shout it loud so they understand

Well - they tearin' up my home
Yeah - tearin' up my home
well the way they headin' now
I won't have nothin' left to own
no place to own

Oh well now love's a disease
It's contageous as can be
I believe to my soul
It's got me now It's got me now
I was real surprised
when I realised
Cos I really didn't know
how hard I fell how hard I fell
Well I may get better
Honey but I won't get well

Every time I walk down the street
Well the people look at me
Everybody sayin'
He's in love, He's in love
But I'm not ashamed
And the fact still remains
I really did not know
how hard I fell how hard I fell
Well I may get better
Honey but I won't get well

The way that love works on me
It's the worst thing it can be
All that I'm doing
s'wasting my poor self away
If you ever walk out on me
I'd be left in misery
I really didn't know
how hard I fell how hard I fell
well I may get better
Honey but I won't get well

Sometimes I wish it would go
And then again I don't know
I really can not say
How much of all this I can bear
I can't eat and I can't sleep
My heart skips a beat
I really did not know
how hard I fell how hard I fell
Well I may get better
Honey but I won't get well

Take a back seat baby
You don't need to drive
Well take it easy now
Just sit back enjoy the ride
If You Can't Follow -You Can't Lead

Some time you need to listen
Maybe not not what you wanna hear
Some time you need a little word
Whispered in your ear

If You Can't Follow -You Can't Lead
You can get anything you want..
Get what you need
Yeah what you need

Try to get some understandin'
What the other man has to say
If you talkin without thinkin'
No-one's listenin' anyway

If You Can't Follow -You Can't Lead
You can get anything you want..
Get what you need
Yeah what you need


God made man, of His own will
That's why I sing my blues
I sing them the way I feel

You love your gal, I love mine
You may hurry if you want to
But I'm goin' to take my time

The girl looks good and it takes my breath
The way my baby love me
Oh, I just can't help myself

I love that girl
like a baby child
And if I give my life, I'm gon' give it with a smile

Oh, I asked for water, she brought me gasoline
I asked her for water, she brought me gasoline
That's the troublingest woman, that I ever seen

The church bell tollin', the hearse come driving slow
Church bell tollin', the hearse come driving slow
I hope my baby, don't leave me no more

Oh tell me baby, when are you coming back home?
Tell me baby, when are you coming back home?
You know I love you baby but you've been gone too long

I gave my heart
I gave my love
mm my darling
My whole life through
Doin' the best
The best I can
But it's not good enough for you

I tried so hard
So hard to please
Oh ho, my darling
What more can I do
Doin' the best
The best I can
But it's not good enough for you

You know I was the kind who'd run
Any time you'd call
I guess I was the only one
Who didn't mind at all

I'll be a dreamer
I'll be a fool
well my darling
My whole life through
Doin' the best
The best I can
But it's not good enough for you

You know I was the kind who'd run
Any time you'd call
I guess I was the only one
Who didn't mind at all

I'll be a dreamer
I'll be a fool
well my darling
My whole life through
Doin' the best
The best I can
But it's not good enough for you

Well they say gettin' old ain't for the faint hearted
yeah I know its true
seem like every day I have a new pain somewhere
well I don't know about you
but I got the Mizzable Blues
I got the Mizzable Blues

I got the toothache and the back ache
the headache and the pain in the feet
I ain't got no friends any more cos I tell everyone I meet
I got the Mizzable Blues
I got the Mizzable Blues

Well I talked to the doctors I talk to the nurse
these troubles don't get no better they only get worse
well I can't afford to live you know can't afford to die
I get up every mornin' but I don't know why

Ain't nothin for it I'll have to open up the gin
or mix me some whisky and throw myself in
it's too hard to live I'll have to drink myself to death
I'll be righteously testifying to my very last breath
I got the Mizzable Blues
I got the Mizzable Blues

Baby Please - Baby Please Don't Throw Me Down
Baby Please - Baby Please Don't Throw Me Down
And I will quit my drinkin'
Actin' like a country clown

I would try to please you - in every way I know
I would try to please you - in every way I know
And the things I used to do -
I swear I would not do no more

Sometimes I get to thinkin' - bout the way I bin treatin you
Sometimes I get to thinkin' - bout the way I bin treatin you
yeah I feel so bad - don't know what the hell to do

Well I'd give you all my money - all my lovin too
Well I'd give you all my money - all my lovin too
Well won't you tell me baby - what more can a poor man do

Well if you wanna love that woman
You'd better love her with a thrill 'Cos if you don't
Some other man will
You'd better Love her With A Feeling
Love her With A Feeling
Love her With A Feeling
Or don't you love at all

She shakes all over
When she walks
She makes a blind man see she makes a
Dumb man talk
You'd better Love her With A Feeling
Love her With A Feeling
Love her With A Feeling
Or don't you love at all

The cops took her in
That woman didn't need no bail
She just wiggled one time for the Judge the Judge put the
Cops in Jail
You'd better Love her With A Feeling
Love her With A Feeling
Love her With A Feeling
Or don't you love at all