The John Slaughter Blues Band – A New Coat Of Paint (1992)

> The album

British Blues unslaughtered

From the first notes, you know it's British blues. When the last note fades away, you know it's British blues at its best, in the tradition of Alexis Korner, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Savoy Brown, Eric Clapton and of course Chris Barber whose band's guitarist was...  John Slaughter. As many musicians and bands who contributed to the revival of blues by converting white European audiences and inviting numerous US black bluesmen for recording joint-ventures in London between 1965 and 1975.

The young but talented John Slaughter was part of an obscure band whose drummer knew John Mayall. In 1964, one night that Mayall's regular guitarist was sick, Slaughter was asked to replace him. He probably did well because when Chris Barber later told Mayall he was looking for a good blues guitarists, Mayall recommended John Slaughter. In the summer of 1964, John joined The Chris Barber Band and stayed there until shortly before his death in 2010, except for a 8-year break from 1978 to 1986.

At the end of the 1980s, while still playing in Barber's band, Slaughter formed his own Blues Band. They recorded two albums, this one in 1990-91, and the second one, "All That Stuff Ain't Real", in 1994. Quite a slim output which probably explains why the John Slaughter Blues Band did not reach the top of the fame bill.

Concerning the material, "A New Coat Of Paint" is an all-American affair, except for John Mayall's
"Walking On Sunset". The covered songs are signed (*) by Ray Charles, Taj Mahal (is "another coat of paint" referring to his painting his mailbox blue ? !), Riley B. King aka BB King, Sonny Boy Williamson (his "Help Me" is served here by an excellent heavy blues version), and on the fringe of blues, Tom Waits (in fact, he is the painter) and J.J. Cale (his "Don't Go To Strangers" is delivered with a great sound produced by the acoustic rhythm guitar-afro-cuban percussions blend).

Nine good and effective blues tracks led by the perfectly matched leading duo, Slaughter on lead guitar and Paul Cox on gritty vocals. The last and tenth number is a funky cover of the R'n'B "Watch Your Step" written by Ted Hawkins (not to be mixed up with Bobby Parker who wrote a song identically titled).

In the beginning of the 1990s, contrary to a common legend, British Blues was not dead. The proof is on this album...
 

Songwriting credits
Riding With The King : John Hiatt
Walking On Sunset : John Mayall
I Believe To My Soul : Ray Charles
Paint My Mailbox Blue  :Taj Mahal
Watch Your Step : Ted Hawkins
Cold Cold Feeling : Jessie Mae (Booker) Robinson
Woke Up This Morning : Riley B. King aka B.B. King & Jules Taub (Bihari)
Help Me : Sonny Boy Williamson (arr. By J. Slaughter)
Don't  Go To Strangers  :J.J Cale
New Coat Of Paint : Tom Waits

Videos
>> The John Slaughter Blues Band :
> At a 1993 concert in Tourcoing (France) :
- Part 1 : http://www.lacinematheque.fr/archivesmp4/1993-V-M-UMATIC-PRO-C9TV_0000000000478_WEB.mp4
- Part 2-1 : http://www.lacinematheque.fr/archivesmp4/1993-V-M-UMATIC-PRO-C9TV_0000000000467_WEB.mp4
- Part 2-2 : http://www.lacinematheque.fr/archivesmp4/1993-V-M-UMATIC-PRO-C9TV_0000000000471_WEB.mp4
> At the Q club, Montreux Jazz Festival 1992 : https://youtu.be/LmeXDTWRSoM
> At New Morning Club in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1994 : https://youtu.be/xIVPi2UDzT8

>> John Slaughter with the Chris Barber's Jazz and Blues Band :
- At the "Subway", Köln (Germany), in 1989 : https://youtu.be/KW_sJCGWbMk
(Lineup : Chris Barber - trombone ; Pat Halcox - trumpet, flugelhorn ; Ian Wheeler & John Crocker - tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet ; Johnny McCallum  - guitar, banjo ; John Slaughter  - guitar ; Vic Pitt - bass ; Alan "Sticky" Wicket - drums)
- With The Big Chris Barber Band at the Internationale Jazzwoche Burghausen, Wackerhalle, Germany, 2005 : https://youtu.be/QpvsQSOPuxc
(Lineup : Chris Barber - trombone, bass, vocals ; Pat Halcox – trumpet ; Mike "Magic" Henry – trumpet ; Richard Exall - clarinet, saxes ; Tony Carter - clarinet, saxes, flute ; John Defferary - horn, saxes ; Bob Hunt – trombone ; John Slaughter – guitar ; Andrew Kuc - guitar, banjo ; Vic Pitt – bass ; John Sutton – drums).

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