All-Star Medicine Show Prager/Rye/Hall 77 Jo Ann Kelly

	A$		32
	$		20

All-Star Medicine Show Prager/Rye/Hall 1977 LP Jo Ann Kelly

In 1977 Simon Prager, the pianist Bob Hall, the washboard player John Pilgrim and harmonica genius Rye recorded the fine All-Star Medicine Show album which featured Rye's tour de force solo, 'Steve's Jump'. They were joined on the album by John Pilgrim, Jo Ann Kelly and Dave Green.

Simon Prager (Vocal and Guitar) was a member of the ‘South London Blues Mafia’ which grew up around the late Queen of the Blues - Joanne Kelly. He performed and recorded extensively with Ace harmonica player Steve Rye and Boogie Pianist Bob Hall as ‘The All Star Medicine Show’. He has also appeared on British Blues compilation albums along with the likes of Albert Lee, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart!

Simon’s ‘up front’ style is influenced by Rev Gary Davis, Brownie McGhee and Blind Blake and his repertoire ranges from Ragtime, Jazz and Country Blues through to Vaudeville and Music Hall.

Bob Hall:

After leaving John Lees Groundhogs he joined Savoy Brown for four years and as many studio albums. In the early 70’s he joined original Fleetwood Mac bass player, Bob Brunning, in the Brunning Sunflower Band. The latter developed into the De-Luxe Band and between them the band released thirty albums up to the late 70’s. During this period they backed a lot of blues artists from the United States. They were all signed to Jim Simpson¹s Big Bear Records ­ he had been Black Sabbath’s first manager.

In the early 80’s Bob formed the super groups of all super groups. The band was called Rocket 88 and included Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, Alexis Korner and Ian Stewart on a double piano attack. They managed to record one album for Atlantic but they played many gigs. The band came to an abrupt end with Bob’s illness. He didn¹t play again until the middle of the decade when he joined the legendary Blues Band. Even though it’s been a few years since he was a permanent member he still plays the occasional gigs with them.

In the last ten years he has formed a band with his bass playing partner, Hilary, and guess what? He’s still playing the blues! He still manages to fit the odd gig in with Savoy Brown. He has also formed another all-star band recently. The British Blues All Stars boasts an impressive roster of occasional players. These are some of the musicians who have lent a hand; Long John Baldry, Peter Green, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuiness and Dick Heckstall-Smith (sadly passed away in 2004). In 2004 they played the San Francisco Blues Festival before a 20,000 crowd. They played the afternoon show with Buddy Guy and Santana. Bob recalled recently with a grin: “There were two local bands and us!” (©Martyn Hanson, from the Unofficial Groundhogs site))

Steve Rye:

After leaving the Groundhogs he went back to play permanently with Simon Prager in their acoustic blues duo. He had played with Prager since 1965 and had fitted in gigs with him during his stint with the Groundhogs. Later on they became a trio when Bob Hall joined them and at various times a quartet. The fourth member was John Pilgrim who played washboard; he’d been in the Vipers. The arrangement was pretty fluid as each line-up was enacted as convenient to the musician¹s diary.

In the early 70’s Rye and Prager formed the All Star Medicine Show and they recorded an album. During this time they also played a lot with Jo-Ann Kelly. Rye's drinking was causing problems. Simon Prager recalls: “Steve was a very talented man. I thought he was interesting when he was sober but he didn¹t think so.” It came to a head in the late 70’s when the All Star Medicine Show was due to tour Belgium and Holland. Without warning Rye disappeared on the morning of departure, leaving Prager and Hall in a fix. It was at this time that Prager¹s patience had run out. He decided to end his musical association with Rye.

In September 1987 they got back together for a one off gig at the Enterprise pub in Hampstead, London. Prager remembers it well: “Steve was in a bad way but I rehearsed him for a couple of days and by the end he was great, just like the old Steve.” They played a handful of gigs after that but Prager recalls another depressing encounter: “We were at Jo-Ann Kelly’s funeral in 1990 and he told me: ‘me next, old boy!’ ” Within two years Steve Rye was dead, he was forty six years old. (©Martyn Hanson)

It was Jo Ann Kelly who encouraged Rye's early performances in the mid-Sixties by getting him to play at her regular Sunday-night session at Bunjies coffee shop in the West End of London. They are reported to have met when Rye was walking the dog and playing his harmonica in the streets of Streatham and went past Jo Ann's house. She shouted out of the window and called him in, to discover they were kindred spirits in the blues. The Jo Ann Kelly Retrospect LP reveals that by 1966 Rye was already a polished and distinctive accompanist. Jo Ann died in 1990, also aged 46, and listening to them in this early recording it is hard to believe that these two vibrant artists are no longer here.

Shortly after that, Rye was at a party in north London when he heard someone enthusing about the recent performance of the Rev Gary Davis, the consummate finger-picking guitarist. Rye had also seen the concert, and informed his new friend, a guitarist called Simon Praeger, that he had all of Gary Davis's records. Praeger went back to Rye's flat and listened to his collection, only to discover Rye's cache of harmonicas. Here started a 12-year association between Praeger and Rye which was typified by a drive and energy only heard previously in the work of black country blues artists, particularly Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. © Rob Mason, from Steve Rye’s obituary in The Independent.

Side One:

Wrong Woman  2:37

Feets Too Big  3:09

Steve’s Jump  3:03

Death Don’t have No Mercy  3:30

I’m Troubled  2:57

Ain’t Seen No Whiskey  2:30

Side Two:

John the Revelator (w/ Jo Ann Kelly)  3:12

Sun’s Gonna Shine  2:54

Buck Dance  2:22

Texas Stomp  2:51

Rub A Dub  2:22

Up The Country  3:10

CONDITION:

SLEEVE:  VG+, no damage but ex-radio station copy; gold stamp on front, yellow sticker on spine, pen notation and large sticker stain on back.

RECORD:  EX+ to NM; radio station ID gold stamped into one label.

RECORD GRADINGS

(May be further qualified by + or - )

M = Mint

Must be in perfect condition with no audible or visible defects whatsoever. The record and cover/sleeve should be exactly as brand new.

NM = Near Mint

Almost mint but has one or two minor visible marks on the cover/sleeve or surface with sound quality remaining perfect.

EX = Excellent

Not quite perfect. There may a slight chance of minor deterioration in sound quality. The cover/sleeve may show slight wear.

VG = Very Good

The surface and cover/sleeve shows visible signs of wear due to the fact that it has been played on a regular basis. There will be some audible surface noise but it will not effect the listening experience.

G = Good

The sound quality has deteriorated due to having been played often. The cover/sleeve and surface will show considerable signs of wear and tear with some possible damage.

F = Fair

Has been neglected, but is still playable. There will be major audible defects such as loud clicks or jumping. The cover/sleeve maybe badly damaged.

P = Poor

Technically playable, but with serious deterioration in condition and sound quality. The cover/sleeve will be badly damaged.

VP = Very Poor

In terrible condition and absolutely unplayable. Would only be of use as a last resort to complete a collection.

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TOS current 8 June, 2010