But I Ain't, So I Won't

When posting recently about Emmylou Harris, I mentioned the decision to choose one definitive album release rather than some career retrospective. I have gone the other way with Chicken Shack : The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions. My motivation was purely financial, this three disk box set was as cheap as buying their definitive first album, Forty Blue Fingers Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve. That is included in its' entirety anyway and is undoubtedly their finest hour, together with both sides of their first couple of single releases. The other two disks contain a smattering of fine tracks, together with some dubious attempts to take this masterful blues band down the road of hard rock / heavy metal that are much more disposable. But at their best Chicken Shack were fighting for the position of the foremost British blues band. While Fleetwood Mac edged that live, it could legitimately be argued that Chicken Shack recorded better, especially that first album. The rhythm section rivalled that of Fleetwood Mac and Christine Perfect ( later McVie and later of Fleetwood Mac ) provided fine blues piano and occasional distinctive vocals that were not in the shouting Janis Joplin vein but which had their own attractive winsome quality. But it seems somewhat perverse that I have got this far into a post about Chicken Shack before mentioning Stan Webb. Essentially, Stan was Chicken Shack and was a very distinctive front man, singer, humourist and blazing guitarist. Edgy, spiky guitar playing which combined both BB and Freddie King's styles with touches of the simpler and more menacing John Lee Hooker and Howling Wolf. Vocally indebted to Buddy Guy he also showed a wry humour, try the track King Of The World. Still going strong around the circuit, catch him if you ge the chance.