Album Notes

STOP PRESS!!! NEW ALBUM 'THE HOUNGAN' WILL BE AVAILABLE AT CD BABY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS..OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF CD NOV 8TH PRESTON UK...see www.thestumble.com for details

PLEASE GO TO www.thestumble.com TO LISTEN TO SOUNDCLIPS OF 2 BRAND NEW TRACKS....


'MAN THIS BAND'S SO GOOD I WANNA TAKE 'EM BACK TO AMERICA WITH ME!' Lazy Lester (Louisiana Harp Ace)

'A SUPERB ALBUM FROM A TOP CLASS BAND!' Blues in Britain

'THIS IS THE STUFF I LIVE TO SPIN ON MY SHOW!' The Blueshound 90.1 F.M. KPFT Houston, Texas

'CATCH THE STUMBLE LIVE...YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID' Blues in Poland

'STEAMING AND MASTERFUL..' Rootstime Radio Belgium

'I SAW FLEETWOOD MAC AT THE FILLMORE EAST IN 1969, ONE OF THE BEST BLUES BANDS I EVER SAW, YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF THAT POWER AND SKILL' Greg Allen Accent Radio, Florida

CD REVIEW FROM BLUES IN BRITAIN MAGAZINE 2006

The Stumble is a Preston UK based band, which comprises Paul Melville on vocals, Colin Black on lead guitar, Jonny Spencer on rhythm and slide guitar, Simon Anthony on sax, Dave Heath on bass and Boyd Tonner on drums. The album contains ten tracks including six original compositions, five of which were written by Boyd Tonner (one in collaboration with Jonny Spencer) and one by Dave Heath.

Three of the first four tracks of the album are covers of numbers strongly associated with BB King. It opens with a fast-moving version of “You Upset Me, Baby” enhanced by a brilliant sax solo, followed by Granger Hunt’s “Stop Leadin’ Me On”, which affords Colin Black his first chance to shine on lead guitar. The excellent title song, a medium-paced shuffle, sets up a fabulous version of the slow blues “All Over Again”, which is a perfect vehicle for the magnificent blues voice of Paul Melville and, at eleven minutes of playing, not a second too long. The upbeat “Greyhound”, on the other hand, complete with a nice bit of harp playing from Black, is short and sweet, lasting just under two minutes.

The rumba-rhythmed “Saturday Night” boasts another Colin Black trademark solo, while “Small World” races along with a prominent slide guitar accompaniment and another masterpiece on sax from Simon Anthony. The pace is then slowed – first, by the medium-paced shuffle “Be My Baby” and then by the slow blues ballad “Work It Out”, on which Paul Melville excels on vocals once again. The album reaches a tremendous climax with a terrific version of Hound Dog Taylor’s “Gimme Back My Wig”, which showcases Jonny Spencer’s marvellous technique on slide guitar. In short, this is a superb album from a top class band, which is going from strength to strength.
Rating: 9
Lionel Ross Aug 2006

CD Review from Rootstime Radio, Belgium 2007

Lovers of explosive and dynamic Chicago blues simply must give The Stumble a try. There is no doubt that their debut album "The World Is Tough" can be described as steaming and masterful. This British band from Preston knows the art of producing damn fine blues. Apart from a few covers such as: "You Upset Me Baby" and "All Over Again" by B.B. King, from the years 1951 and 1965 respectively, and the closing "Gimme Back My Wig" by Hound Dog Taylor, from 1971 (featuring some beautiful slide by Jonny Spencer!), this band mainly performs their own work. Uncomplicated guitar solos are the main feature of this dazzling CD. Lashing out heavily on "Stop Leadin’ Me On", a superb slide on "Small World", then full of tender passion in a beautiful ballad "All Over Again", the sensitive listener is kept spellbound. This CD contains ten songs in total, all of this kind of class, and all are performed so beautifully by Paul Melville (vocals), Colin Black (lead guitar), Jonny Spencer (rhythm and slide guitar), Simon Anthony (sax), Dave Heath (bass) and Boyd Tonner (drums) that you would have to be a diehard blues fundamentalist not to succumb to its charm. I am also very impressed with the powerful, raw voice of singer Paul Melville, but that is not all. The backing by the other band members is faultless. The Stumble is more than just another blues band. Primarily their own work, with strong arrangements, and performed with vigour and passion makes this a beautiful album that deserves your attention. Still not convinced? Then listen to the opening "You Upset Me, Baby" featuring a wonderful sax solo, the upbeat "Greyhound", the rumba rhythm in "Saturday Night", featuring a solo by Colin Black, the shuffle "Be My Baby" or the slow blues ballad "Work It Out". Don't go to The Stumble for originality, but as a band they easily leave the competition behind. Artists of this quality deserve a big career.
Freddy Celis
www.rootstime.be


French CD Review 2007
The Stumble : The World is Tough

Premier album pour ce sextet Anglais originaire de Preston,emmené par Paul Melville chanteur à la voix puissante,expressive&pleine de feeling, deux excellents guitaristes Colin Black&John Spencer bien dans l'esprit de leurs ainés qui offiçiaient chez les BluesBreakers de John Mayall des années 60's (Peter Green,Mick Taylor,Eric Clapton),un saxophoniste magique aux accents jazzy Simon Anthony,vous ajoutez à celà une section rythmique particulierement dynamique Dave Heath à la basse&Boyd Tonner à la batterie. Pour un premier essai un coup de maitre,je n'ai rarement entendu un premier opus aussi réussi, 10 morceaux ,6 compos 4 reprises créditées de BB King (2) BJ Turner&Hound Dog Taylor çà demarre avec fort avec "You upset me Baby",suivi de Leading me on ,notons la superbe version de "All Over Again" un caviar de 11 minutes ou Paul Melville avec sa voix pleine de sensibilité, les solistes tour à tour s'en donnent à coeur sortant des soli bien pensés,plein de feeling, &d'intensité un vrai régal, du grand art!!!! Saturday Night sur un rythme rhumba qui permet à Colin Black de briller une fois de plus,pour finir en beauté Gimme me back my wig ou la slide rageuse de John Spencer fait merveille. Un album ou l'on ne s'ennuie à aucun moment, superbement produit,çà sera simplement mon cd préféré du trimestre.contact www.thestumble.com disponible chez www.cdbaby.com/thestumble
Philippe Le Guennec maitnaj@aol.com




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