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Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts : Unchained
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slide, country boogie blues with a touch of gospel
Genre: Blues: Rhythm & Blues
Release Date: 2004
Unchained Record Label: Sun House Records
  • Download Album (MP3) - $9.99
  • Buy CD - $12.97
Preview Song Name Time Format Price Select
make it to the woods 2:02 $0.99
I'm ready 3:25 $0.99
you're gonna need somebody by your side 3:30 $0.99
hurry up train 4:19 $0.99
too many hot dogs 3:49 $0.99
no worries 3:47 $0.99
how many more years 2:35 $0.99
a change is bound to come 3:26 $0.99
walking blues 3:52 $0.99
be ready 2:43 $0.99
county jail blues 4:02 $0.99
tough times 3:27 $0.99
big city beat 3:47 $0.99
little red caboose 3:19 $0.99
hairy..bye ..bye...baby 2:07 $0.99
preview all songs

Album Notes

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Before you go, don't forget to check NEWS UPDATES and BUYERS' REVIEWS below.
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BRETT MARVIN AND THE THUNDERBOLTS
UNCHAINED:

We shouldn't forget the impact Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts have had on not just British, but European blues music history. They were at the heart of Great Britain's Blues Boom that 'Ruled the (Air)Waves' in the 60s, a revolution championing the black blues heritage that was then unfashionable within it's own continent. Such bands as the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, and later Brett Marvin, reinvigorated an interest in the blues back home. It is to these latterday pioneers that traditional blues largely owes its survival, and modern blues interpreters their living.

Here, at last, Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts break out. Unshackled from record company barons, they tell me that this release includes some of their best tracks on their favourite label - their own - 'Sun House Records.'

The 'Bolts are not afraid to extract every ounce of excitement and variety from blues classics, or the originally-penned compositions of Taffy Davies, Pete (Gibbo) Gibson, and Graham Hine. They have an eclectic attitude to a remarkable range of instruments - moving from one to another from song to song. This, with their good humour and camaraderie, gives the unique flavour that is typical of Brett Marvin events - and they are events!

It's great to hear renowned keyboardists Jonah Lewie and Taffy Davies 'eating music at the same table.' There's also Graham Hine on guitar - to me he is London's Ry Cooder - this CD shows it. And on five tracks, the Kokomo Singers - you can't get better than that!

Brett Marvin typically feature six lead singer instrumentalists:

Graham Hine - electric lead and slide guitar.
Taffy Davis - keyboards, clarinet.
Keef Trouble - zob stick and electric ironing board.
Jim Pitts - banjo. harmonica, sax, guitar , slide mandolin.
Peter Gibson - trombone, violin, tin can percussion, whistles and sirens.
John (Jonah Lewie) Lewis - keyboards.

These bluesmen are skilfully supported by:
Pete Swan - bass guitar.
Big John Randall - drums and washboard.

Many new to Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts might not know of their musical acclaim, and their international hit, 'Seaside Shuffle,' under the name of Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs.

This CD is a necessity for blues lovers, and fun lovers, everywhere.

Jack Slipper.
(Whistling Jack Slipper, composer and blues musicographer, is a reviewer for music magazines worldwide).

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NEWS UPDATE 01:

Also on CD BABY ...... KEEF TROUBLE - 'OASIS'

Brett Marvin's 'in house' performance/fine artist, top zobstick player, writer and performer of many Brett Marvin songs, Keef Trouble, has his own album, 'OASIS' on CD Baby.

He co-wrote "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties" with and for Jonah Lewie, (of Xmas song 'Stop the Cavalry' fame), which became a top five hit in the U.K., Europe, Asia and Australia, and 'Keep the Furniture but Leave Me with the French Au Pair!'

Many songs on 'OASIS' are orchestrated by Tony O'Malley (international soul-man also on CD Baby), and include ex-Roxy Music guitarist Neil Hubbard, with Duffy Power, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Frank Mead, and Kokomo singers Frank Collins and Dyan Birch. And - a rare appearance by 'Whistling' Jack Slipper!

Keef is a prolific writer, recorder and performer of his own work - look out for more albums by him in the future on CD Baby.

WORTH A LISTEN! - Type in: Keef Trouble.

Ced C.

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NEWS UPDATE 02:

There has been a happy, but unanticipated overdemand for the 'Unchained' album, and a not much less a one for 'Bootleg.' Sun House is rushing extra CDs to CD Baby. Apologies if you are experiencing delays in product arrival.
Sun House Records.

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NEWS UPDATE 03:
01.05.06
See Keef Trouble, Brett Marvin percussionist/writer/singer, perform with songs such as 'PE Teacher,' 'You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties,' and 'Jodrell,' in the great 'Broadstairs Folkweek 2008,' August 8th to 15th, at Broadstairs, Kent. Look for him at this event with the Okee Dokee Band. Details: www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk

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REVIEWS

Thr VERY BEST BAND EVER !!!!!!
author: BULLMILK(Rythm`n Bluegrassband)NORWAY
I lost my first LP in a fire in 1988 and have been lookin for recordings ever since.This one shows a band playin MUSIC .It`s OLDTIME,BLUES,TRAD,GOSPEL,R`nB,SOUL,JUGBAND ,STRAIGHT,CRAZY, played like you`ve never heard before . We hope to record MAKE IT TO THE WOODS on our next album . Hats off !!!
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From Crawley to Coolham !!!!!!
author: Ian Baldwin
Firstly,I must confess that I did not buy this Cd from CdBaby but actually from the Bretts themselves !!!!! I am pleased to report that BM & the T's are still alive and well and were sighted playing at Coolham Village Hall on Friday 25th November 2005 for the record. All the original members were on duty and a damn good time was had by the packed audience.All the old favs were performed including 'Too many Hot Dogs' and 'Nervous'. Pete was as manic as ever,Jim Pitts as funny as ever and Graham Hines acoustic set was wonderful !!!. When's the next gig lads ?
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I AM APPALLED!
author: Dougie Damone
I am appalled! Appalled that I have been deprived of this album for so long. I know it must have taken the band much time, and argument, over what to leave out – a ‘best of’ Brett Marvin selection might perhaps be squeezed into four cds! It’s been a long time coming, but worth it. I must admit a personal interest in writing this review – I know the boys. In fact Keef Trouble, recording artist in his own right, co-penned my ‘on the way to being a standard’ song - ‘Hello Mum,’ – orchestrated and vocally backed by that internationally renowned funkster Tony O’Malley, (also on CD Baby). It makes me proud to know that ‘Hello Mum’ is the musical link between a great blues band and a great soul-man. And two of the band have recorded versions of ‘Hello Mum’ – wouldn’t it would be nice to hear it on the next Brett Marvin CD? The rendition of ‘Hello Mum’ by Jim Pitts, (who on this cd fronts ‘How Many More Years,’ ‘Too Many Hot Dogs,’ and ‘Hairy,’) brings tears. Most bands fight over who can shoehorn in their pretty mediocre ‘original’ fillers, in an attempt to get a bigger share of the glory, and the ‘ackers.’ Not Here! Here, what is particularly remarkable IS the original material. All quality! Not surprising I suppose, when you have such great writers as Jonah Lewie onboard. I can’t understand why someone like Beau Jocque or Waylon Thibodeaux hasn’t snapped up Taffy Davies’ gem, ‘Big City Beat.’ Don’t stop here boys – give us more! Best wishes, Dougie.
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I just can't sit still!
author: Queenie
Anyone who has ever managed to get to see a Brett Marvin gig will know that the one thing you can't do is sit still! This CD captures the unique atmosphere that only they can create, brings it right into your own home... driving rhythm, crazy percussion... a real foot stomper. Play it loud and let your hair down! I've got the neighbours banging on the walls already!
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