...A note for this compact disc.
In 1968, I joined the Savoy Brown Blues Band (later shortened to just "Savoy Brown"). We did a few gigs out of town, and then returned to London where guitarist Kim Simmonds promised me I would meet the band's part time pianist for the first time. Just before show time a rather stooped, be-suited business man clutching a brief case and brolly approached the stage. To my amazement, Kim warmly greeted him, and he sat at the piano. Boy, he didn't sound like a city gent when he hit the keys!
Thus began my relationship with Bob Hall, which was to last many years and encompass many bands, tours and recordings. When I got thrown out of Savoy Brown for questioning some very creative accounting, I bumped into Bob in the street and suggested we put together a band to honour a recording contract with Saga Records I'd just signed. Thus the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band was formed. We cut three albums in quick succession, though the band never played a single live gig.
In 1969, Southern Music's Peter Eden contacted us, and invited us to put together a new band to record an album for them. Bob and I put our heads together, wanting to ensure that we had a strong line up to exploit this opportunity. We decided to call this recording unit "Tramp", because we wanted a name in which we could utilise the skills of any musician who felt interested enough to work with us. Bob Hall, writer Dennis Cotton and I started writing the material, all firmly blues-based. The choice of singers was easy. Bob had worked closely with two of the finest that the "South London Blues Delta" had produced: Dave Kelly and his sister Jo Anne. They readily agreed, so the next job was to find a guitarist and drummer.
Before joining Savoy Brown, I'd played bass with Fleetwood Mac, and had remained very friendly with all the guys in the band. Despite the fact that they'd just been voted the top band of the year by the Melody Maker, and had recently enjoyed their first number one hit single, I didn't feel at all inhibited about asking either Peter Green, Danny Kirwan or Mick Fleetwood if they cared to join us in "Tramp". Peter was willing but ill (a sad precursor of things to come), but Danny and Mick eagerly accepted the invitation. We trooped into the "Trident" studio in the West End, and recorded all the rhythm tracks in the first day. Danny threw in a powerful instrumental as a bonus ("Hard Work"), and Dave plus sister Jo Anne added their fine vocals over the next two days. We all enjoyed it and were amused to see the distinctively strange album sleeve when the record was released a couple of months later (on "Music Man" SMLS 603) featuring photographs of impressively hirsute members of a (genuine) remote Tibetan tribe.
In those days, artistes were not always encouraged to record for anyone other than their own record companies, so Jo Anne Kelly coyly became "Memphis Lil", and Dave Kelly "Little Brother Dave". Mick and Danny already had enough clout to not be bothered by such constraints.
Danny and Mick then went back to Super-stardom, Dave and Jo Anne pursued their busy careers, and Bob and I continued to copiously tour and record with various line ups, including yet another Brunning Hall Sunflower Blues Band, plus recording dates with J.B. Hutto, Johnny Mars, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, Jimmy Dawkins, Homesick James, Snooky Prior (sic) and Eddie Taylor.
In 1974 Spark Records beckoned again. Could they have another "Tramp" album please. Bob and I took our customary two seconds to say "yes", and then thought about a line up for Tramp II. Could we re-create the original one? Dave and Jo Anne once again obligingly agreed, and I contacted Mick and Danny. Although I didn't know it at the time, Fleetwood Mac were in complete disarray: half the band had appeared to have quit, a notorious "fake" Fleetwood Mac were about to hit the road, and the genuine Fleetwood Mac members couldn't record for legal reasons. All credit then to Mick and Danny then for once again enthusiastically agreeing to be members of Tramp. We invited Dave Brooks, sax player along, and piled into Southern Music's tiny Denmark Street Studios. The session went well, and the album was completed in three days (those were the days: Bob and I once made three albums in one day!). It was released on the Spark label (SRLP 112) with a very sleazy cover!
It certainly was a pleasure for Bob and I to work and record with such talented and powerful musicians: listening to the tracks again whilst writing these notes, it is a moving and poignant experience particularly to listen to the majestic vocal of Jo Anne Kelly who, of course, sadly died at a tragically early age a couple of years ago. I know all the members of Tramp would join me in dedicating this new compilation of our recordings to Jo. She is sadly and badly missed on the British Blues scene.
BOB BRUNNING
Original sleeve note from the first TRAMP album...(Tracks 1-11)
We decided to use the name "Tramp" for the group of musicians on this album because we wanted to devise a name which suggested the concept of a fluid musical framework in which we could utilise the skills of any musicians who felt interested and excited enough to join Bob Hall and myself in playing material which appealed to us all. Thus the personnel on this album consists of people with whom we enjoy working, and we trust that they got something out of the session as well.
I first met Bob when we worked together in the Savoy Brown Blues Band, and prior to that I played bass in Fleetwood Mac, when I was associated with the drummer on this l.p. - Mick Fleetwood. Mick is a fine drummer, simple yet effective. Neither Bob nor I had worked with Danny Kirwan before, although of course we had heard his work with Fleetwood Mac, and he added a great deal to the session. The voice of "Memphis Lil" and her "Little Brother Dave" will be familiar to blues enthusiasts and I feel sure that you will enjoy their powerful contribution.
Bob Hall and myself are very pleased with the result of this meeting of musical "Tramps", and we sincerely hope you are too.
BOB BRUNNING
Original sleeve note from the TRAMP's "Put A Record On" album...(Tracks 12-21)
Recording sessions involving musicians who do not regularly work together can be notoriously unproductive, the shelves of second hand record shops are littered with dusty remnants of what might have been a great session.
Happily 'Tramp' is a very fine exception to this rule, perhaps because although there is plenty of creative and spontaneous playing on these tracks, the songs themselves, written by Bob Hall and Dennis Cotton, are economical, witty and tightly constructed; there are no twelve minute guitar solos on this record. Every musician contributed hugely to the overall strength of performance that is obvious throughout the set. Dave and Jo-Anne Kelly are renowned for their ability as blues singers, and they tackled each song whole-heartedly, often adding new ideas whilst actually recording. Bob Hall is surely the finest boogie pianist in Britain, and has never played better than on these sessions. Bob Brunning is also a highly experienced bass player who has worked and recorded with many blues giants, forming a unit with Bob Hall which has become much in demand by impressed visiting American performers, many of whom have invited them back to the States to form a permanent band! Mick Fleetwood has been the mainstay of Fleetwood Mac for a long time, and when one listens to this exciting playing on this album, one can see why - listen to his inspired and absolutely spontaneous drum lead in during the entirely unrehearsed piano break in 'Too Late For That Now' which leads incidentally to one of the most exciting solos heard in a long while. Danny Kirwan plays crisply and economically, showing his ability, unusual among rock guitarists - to know when not to play, nevertheless turning in some pleasing solos. Dave Brooks proves just how easily he recently stole the show on some of the '73 American Blues Legends performances, and last but not least, percussionist Ian Morton adds a lot of excitement to the proceedings. Here then is a fresh and exciting album representing of more than worthwhile gathering together of some well known musical 'Tramps'.
...and TRAMP are:
MICK FLEETWOOD - Drums
Founder member of Fleetwood Mac. He played on all their hit records and is currently spending most of his time touring the U.S.A. He is an old friend of Bob Brunning who he played with in Fleetwood Mac.
DANNY KIRWAN - Guitar
Replaced Peter Green as the lead guitarist in Fleetwood Mac and previously had his own band 'Boilerhouse'. He is currently forming a new band and is touring the U.S.A. He appeared on Volume One of Tramp, replacing Peter Green as he was unavailable.
DAVE BROOKS - Sax
Tenor Player for Manfred Mann, currently freelancing and doing session work.
DAVE KELLY - Vocal
Lead guitarist and vocalist with the John Dummer Band, he has made several albums with John Dummer and also two under his own name.
JO ANNE KELLY - Vocal
Sister of Dave Kelly, she was once dubbed by Melody Maker as Queen of British Blues Singers and has made two albums under her own name. She has toured the U.S.A. and is returning for a further visit.
BOB BRUNNING - Bass
Bass player with Fleetwood Mac and Savoy Brown. He left to continue his career as a teacher, he is working with Tramp and is also a member of a band he got together with Bob Hall, The Sunflower Blues Band.
BOB HALL - Piano
Together with Bob Brunning, he has recorded and toured with a number of American Blues men. He co-wrote all the songs on the album and has made over thirty LP's with various bands including Savoy Brown.
IAN MORTON - Percussion
Original sound recordings made by Spark Records.
Issued under license from Peer Southern Productions Ltd.
Great British blues
2 Great albums on 1 CD
Tracks 1-11: (P) 1969
Tracks 12-21: (P) 1974
This compilation (P) (C) 1992 See For Miles Records Ltd.
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