“I get a number of albums and tracks sent each week for review and it’s always a pleasure to put headphones on and just sit back and listen to something new and original. One recent album, mainly original, was High Horse from The British Bluescasting Corporation, a four piece band from the UK. It’s their debut album and it’s a good one.
I’m mainly a 100% old style Afro American bluesman but I was brought up in London and on the early British Blues scene, so it was a real pleasure to hear a band that has some of the touches of originality of the early bands. They haven’t cloned the blues or other bands, they have created something new that is difficult to define, but in my humble opinion this band will, in time, become one of the best British bands around. The title track High Horse is one of nine original songs on the album alongside three covers. Bob Cranham (Guitar & Vocals) wrote eight of those, including High Horse and has produced over 50 albums for other musicians, including six Top 5 singles on the iTunes Rock Chart in 2021. Dave Williamson on bass and Vocals also has a star studded background having played with the likes of Midge Ure, Beverley Knight, Lisa Stansfield and a host of others. Barry Cook on drums has toured with so many of the greats like Ben E King, The Drifters, The Three Degrees and many more. Benny Keen on Guitar and vocals rounds off the band.
We all hear and feel music differently and I “heard” and “felt” this album and this band.”
Herman Primus The Blues Club Magazine
- As a thousand snotty punks, armed with three chords and cheap guitars, lurched gleefully onto the sticky stages of London pubs and clubs at the fag-end of 1976, those already occupying those stages looked warily on. Pub rock met punk, but both quickly realised that neither wanted to be in ELP so all was well. This preamble sets the scene into which High Horse comes a-galloping. The BBC (lawyers on alert) have delivered a shiny, sparky, good time rhythm ‘n’ blues record that (whether intended or otherwise) champions the heyday of The Count Bishops, Roogalator and The Pirates. Bob Cranham, Ben Keen, Dave Williamson and Barry Cook have, in their words, “been around a bit” and it shows in the tight-as-a-nut playing and accomplished song writing chops: ‘Today Was Made For You And Me’ echoes Nick Lowe, there’s some jazzy touches to ‘Indecision’, the playful ‘Not A Day For Playing The Blues’ rolls out a tight, compact Knopfler-esque solo and ‘Country Cousins’ twists and jumps like a hoedown Hank Wangford. On the covers front, Bukka White’s ‘Fixin’ To Die’ sports an upbeat arrangement and while this BBC re-run of that old Freddy King favourite, ‘Tore Down’ doesn’t attempt to overtake Nine Below Zero’s version, it works perfectly well at a slower lick. ‘Every Time I Roll The Dice’ was recorded by Delbert McClinton but here it’s given a nagging Quo riff. Splendid stuff: just perfect for a Friday night at Islington’s Hope & Anchor. Fun, fuelled-up and fit for purpose, this High Horse could win the National. – Leon Blanc – Blues in Britain Magazine
- “I absolutely love High Horse, it’s got such a great vibe…..and the video’s fantastic too!! Can’t stop playing it!” 😃 Paul. (Studio Engineer)
- “You guys rock!” – Ralph. (An American)
- “Totally awesome” – Andrew Scott. (Classical Guitarist)
- “Wow!! What a great dance tune. Could barely stay in my chair!! Well done Bob!! This is terrific.” – Craig Jones – Ontario.
(Author of “Chasing the Blues Travellers Guide”)
- “Love this, fab video!” – Clare. (Music Publisher)
- “So brilliant”. – Francis (Irish man living in Scotland)
- “Oi’ll give it foive”. – Ian (English man living in France)
- “Hello Bob, I’ve listened to the entire album, I love it ! So many darn good tracks, the one I think will be a damn good crowd pleaser is Fixing To Die. I will let you know via facebook messenger when I will be featuring your tracks on any shows that I will produce in the near future. Thanks for the great music!” – From Yippee Ki-Aye Blues in the States
British Bluescasting Corporation 