THE JOHN DUMMER BLUES BAND - THE JOHN DUMMER BLUES BAND 1969

This blues outfit formed in the Summer of 1967 in London. By the beginning of 1968, Tony Walker and Roger Pearce had both quit the music business. The next line-up was playing solid Chicago-styled blues. In July 1968, they turned professional. By now, Steve Rye had departed for Simon and Steve, and Tony McPhee, a friend of Dave Kelly's, came in on guitar. However, McPhee's stay was brief - a few month later he left to join The Groundhogs. Their two albums for Mercury are the most sought-after by collectors.Dummer followed this with Music Band, a venture with violinist Nick Pickett, which achieved little here but had a French hit with “Nine By Nine”.

Shortening their name to John Dummer, they signed to Vertigo, recording “Blue”, with a cover designed by Roger Dean. The music was still competent blues-rock, but nowhere near as good as their earlier, late-sixties offerings on Mercury. Then, teaming up again with his original guitarist Dave Kelly, Dummer recorded “Oobleedooblee Jubilee” with a country-influenced band. This was a dreadful album, and Dummer went on to hit the skins for another appalling (if commercially successful) band, Darts.Only his early albums are recommended. John Dummer's Famous Music Band's French hit, “Nine By Nine” can also be heard on Vertigo's 1971 compilation, “Heads Together, First Round”.

Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson

Tracks :

Few Short Lines
Bullfrog Blues
Try Me One More Time
Money & Fame
Reconsider Baby
Riding At Midnight
Ain´t Gonna Work No More
Big Feeling
Memphis Minnie
Birds & Booze Blues
Skin Game