THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
I'm A Man (Sundazed)
Gimme Some Lovin' (Sundazed)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The forty tracks on these two discs capture the cream of one of the great roots oriented R&B bands of the British Invasion era. The Spencer Davis Group, with teenage wizard Stevie Winwood, were every bit the equal of their cohorts like the Yardbirds, Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and the early Rolling Stones. Unlike the Yardbirds and Bluesbreakers, though, the band had a consistent lineup throughout its productive period, and unlike the Stones, when one of the linchpins fell away (two, actually, because Steve Winwood was joined in his departure by his brother, bassist Muff Winwood), the band couldn't survive the loss.

Unfortunately, Steve Winwood left just as "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm A Man" were hitting the US top ten. Without a band to tour in support of those breakthrough hits, the Spencer Davis Group faded into the purgatory of "oldies" stations and K-Tel comps quickly. They left behind a marvelous legacy of rave up R&B, though, and either of these CDs will convince you that this band was indeed something special.

I can't really tag one of these as *the* one. If you can't make room for both, well, check the track lists and pick the one with your favorite singles ("Keep On Running," their first British smash, will always be mine) and snag it. You'll probably be back for seconds.

Track List:

I'm A Man: I'm A Man * Every Little Bit Hurts * Searchin' * I Can't Stand It * Dimples * Look Away * Georgia On My Mind * My Babe * I Can't Get Enough Of It * On The Green Light * Stevie's Blues * Watch Your Step * You Must Believe Me * Strong Love * Hey Darling * Waltz For Lumumba * Please Do Something * Let Me Down Easy * Stevie's Groove

Gimme Some Lovin': Gimme Some Lovin' * Keep On Running * This Hammer (The Hammer Song) * Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out * When I Come Home * It Hurts Me So * Somebody Help Me * Midnight Special * Here Right Now * Trampoline * Sittin' And Thinkin' * Goodbye Stevie * Jump Back * It's Gonna Work Out Fine * I'm Blue (Gong Gong Song) * I'm Getting Better * She Put The Hurt On Me * Blues In F * High Time Baby * Drown In My Tears

© 2001 - Shaun Dale