THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
Live Anthology 1965-1968 (Varese Sarabande)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale


With so many bands coming to America during the Beatles-inspired British Invasion of the sixties, it's amazing in retrospect to realize that one of the very best, the Spencer Davis Group, never toured the States. Their popularity was based on the strength of their records alone, without the support of their shows, and the resulting degree of that popularity is an indicator of just how good a band they were. With Davis, Stevie Winwood, Muff Winwood and Pete York in the original lineup, they cranked out hits like "Gimme Some Lovin'," "Somebody Help Me," "I'm A Man" and "Keep On Running." Davis blames the lack of a US tour as part of the reason for the departure of the Winwoods with Stevie's move to Traffic, and that was a serious setback in the band's fortunes.

Were they as good live as their records might indicate? Here are twenty answers, and they add up to a resounding yes. Drawn from a variety of performances in Europe during the band's glory days, along with a couple tracks from the post-Winwood band of '67-68 and a couple from Davis' resurrection of the sound and material, if not the band in fact, in 2000, there's ample demonstration here that the Spencer Davis Group was at the forefront of the roots oriented British R&B scene on stage as well as on record.

For all of us who were stuck on the wrong side of the Atlantic to see them in person, this chance to hear what that might have been like is a treat. If the recording quality is spotty in places, the musical quality is first rate, and this is one well worth having.

Track List:

Every Little Bit Hurts * Stevie's Blues * Midnight Special * It Hurts Me So * I Can't Stand It * Somebody Help Me * Sittin' And Thinkin' * Dust My Blues * Keep On Running * Goodbye Stevie * When I Come Home * I Can't Get Enough Of It * Oh! Pretty Woman * I'm A Man * Gimme Some Lovin' * Don't Want You No More * Time Seller * With Their New Face On * Mr. Second Class * Good Old Days

© 2002 - Shaun Dale