Brian Short ?– Anything For A Laugh

Label: Transatlantic Records ?– TRA 245 Format: Vinyl, LP, Gatefold 
Country: UK Released: 1971 Style: Prog Rock

Tracklist 

A1 Ring That Bell 3:32 A2 Emily 3:50 A3 Don't Need You Anymore 3:50 A4 With You On My Side 2:30 A5 Blue Tuesday 3:45 A6 I Think It's Going To Rain Today Written-By – Randy Newman 3:35 B1 Mother Molly 4:20 B2 Anything For A Laugh 3:25 B3 Wishing Well 3:15 B4 Winter Comes 3:20 B5 Goodbye Brother Paul 3:23 B6 Always Another Train 2:55

Credits

• Backing Vocals – The Leiston Dafties Choir
• Bass – Colin Gibson
• Double Bass – Coleridge Goode
• Drums, Finger Cymbals – Alan White
• Guitar, Harmonium, Vocals – Ken Craddock* 
• Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals – Peter Kirtley
• Percussion – Ed Spevock, Ray Cooper
• Piano – Max Middleton
• Producer – Mike Finesilver
• Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Lyn Dobson
• Vocals, Written By – Brian Short

Notes

This album would have not been possible without the kind help of the following friends: Tom Duffy and John Maslen, Joy and Alan, Peter Ker and Nat and all the boys and girls at 86, Marylebone. 
Album design and photos of Tyneside by Ian Vincentini  SHIP FROM ST.PETERSBURG, RUSSIA $12.00 WORLDWIDE REVIEW FOR CD RELEASE: As I always say, most of the unknown music is the best music, and it certainly carries those little tracks that just make you feel great. This album has been another addition of unknown music to my CD collection.

Basically, it all started with a 12-bar blues band called "Black Cat Bones", in which Simon Kirke and Paul Kossof (later of rock band "Free") were members. Right before "Black Cat Bones" were to record their album, Simon Kirke and Paul Kossof jumped ship and went on to become the band we know as "Free" (with the sensational Paul Rogers, may I add). Leaving the surviving members of "Black Cat Bones" to record an album without them.

Brian Short was the lead vocalist for "Black Cat Bones" on their one and only, and fantastic studio album, entitled "Barbed Wire Sandwich" (which thankfully is available on CD). "Black Cat Bones" were a blues band arriving far too late on the scene which consequently didn't make them rock stars. After the album, guitarist Rod Price later went on to success in the band "Foghat", the rest of the members went on to become what is now known as "Leaf Hound", and in 1971, vocalist Brian Short created his one and only solo album.

When the liner notes for "Barbed Wire Sandwich" said that Brian Short's solo album was hard-to-find, it just made want to track it down. And I am pleased to say it was a good decision. What you have here on this CD is 12 tracks, slightly similar to that of the tracks on "Barbed Wire Sandwich", and all of them are absolute winners. Some slow tracks and some fast tracks, all with a slightly blues feel and of course, with Brian Short's cracking vocals on top.

It's just a shame that it is not well known, as it is a damn fine album, and certainly worth getting if you can obtain a copy. I would recommend this to anyone who loves good ol' classic rock, I bought it purely out of interest once I'd read about in the "Barbed Wire Sandwich" liner notes, and I was blown away. And as the title says.......anything for a laugh