Jaklin

180 gram vinyl reissue of 1969 psychedelic blues classic originally on Stable Records, original copied sell for upwards of £400. Band Line-up: Bass - Andy Rae Drums - John Pearson Guitar - Jaklin Piano, Organ - Tommy Eyre Producer - Douglas Mew Variety within the somewhat strict framework of the blues format is something rare and elusive, and although musicians aspire to it and audiences long for it, failure and disappointment are usually their respective rewards. Yet unlike so many other musical forms, variety within blues does not necessarily mean an excess of complexity, sophistication, poetry or melody: it is the contiguity of blues and genuine personal feelings that constitutes the prime essential, for without it everything down to the most basic twelve-bar becomes inherently meaningless. This first album by Jaklin demonstrates how a young composer and singer with an ingrained feeling for contemporary blues manages to produce songs which are both emotionally evocative yet simple enough to be tremendously vehicular - just take a listen to the weaving and pounding, the blending and harmony of the instrumentation on most of the tracks on this LP Particularly interesting is the rolling arrangement on "Song To Katherine", a piece with a strong New Orleans atmosphere, or as a contrast the tinkling piano on the mellow "I Can't Go On". As a performer Jaklin sets a high standard of variety - this set kicks off with "Rosie", a raunchy adaptation of an African tribal number that Nina Simone once recorded as "Be My Husband", while in absolute contrast an acoustic guitar opens "Look For Me Baby", a folk-based blues. "Early In The Morning" has Jaklin demonstrating a blues. shouting technique that merges subtly into the jazz vocal field, and many of the instrumental passages on the LP consist of basic improvisations .

In a lighter mood, "Going Home" could easily be a John Lee Hooker song and arrangement from the late fifties or early sixties with the inspirational influences of rock'n'roll rhythms stamped out all over it. Jaklin's vocals are consistent throughout - the voice itself is a typical piece of British blues workmanship, with the influence of Alexis Korner coming through strongly - certainly Korner's "The Same For You" could well be a track from an Alexis LP. Both sides are rounded off with twelve bar numbers and "Catfish Blues" which ends the set is undoubtedly one of the most. powerfully uncompromising ethnic blues cuts on a British LP today. At 24, Jaklin has been living and playing the blues for many years. This LP marks an important phase not only in his career but in the British blues movement in general.