The new recordings CD starts off with a cover of the Pretty Things' "Big City" which chugs along nicely sets the standard for the rest of the album. The band manage to maintain it throughout the ensuing 12 tracks, 11 of which are originals (as are 14 of the 16 tracks on the second CD). Frontman, and founder member Tim Elliott is a live wire, with a rich voice, and a highly accomplished harp player. The first chance he gets to stretch out is on "Dames Don't Care." He also struts his stuff in a Jimmy Reed style on "Dr Boogie" and then goes one better on "Little Black Engine" which is dedicated to the underrated Papa George Lightfoot. On this one the line-up is stripped back to just Elliott and Lox Lovell on drums, with Elliott singing the train style blues through the harp microphone to great effect. The peak is maintained when Mike Park (guitar) and Alan Scott (bass) return for "Louisiana Blues" which has a real swap feel to it.

Blues'n'Trouble have always had a good feel for the blues, and this shines through in their performances. It has also been recognized by many of the good and great along the way, with the band working with or supporting the likes of B.B. King, Robert Cray, Pinetop Perkins, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. They also worked with Lazy Lester on his comeback album ("Rides Again") which picked up a Handy award in 1987. Prime evidence of the band's feel for the blues comes on the closing track of the first CD ("Hip Shakin' Mama") which was the result of the band jamming at the end of the recording session, when the tapes were left running.

The live/rare album mostly features tracks from a live gig recorded in Germany, some of which the band still play. They have all worn well, possibly because the band refrain from adding too much in the way of frills and filler. The net result is that you are left with a set of fine tunes that usually clock in round about the 3 minute mark. The rare stuff includes a couple of previously unissued live tracks and a demo that the band cut for Lazy Lester (which was later recorded by the band). The album offers a good insight into the standards that the band achieve when they play live, although it cannot capture the way that the band (and the crowd) always thoroughly enjoy things from start to finish.

"Blues Graffiti" is a cracker of an album, from one of Britain's finest R&B bands. This is good time British R&B at its best, in the same bracket as Dr. Feelgood and Nine Below Zero, and shows that Blues'n'Trouble know how to deliver a good time boogie with the very best of them. Since the album was recorded the band have been rejoined by original member John Bruce on guitar, which means that a very good band just got even better. "Blues Graffiti" is an album that is well worth tracking down, and if you get the chance you should also catch them live. You can get order "Blues Graffiti" from the band's label (www.rgfrecords.demon.co.uk).

This review is copyright © 2001 by Gordon Baxter, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.

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