The New Album
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
‘Anyway The Wind Blows’
If Bill’s last album, the highly acclaimed and very successful ‘Struttin’ Our
Stuff
was the teaser, ‘Anyway The Wind Blows’ is the main event. Each song is superbly
crafted and reflects Bill’s encyclopaedic musical historical knowledge. The
result is a delicious blend of blues, jazz, R&B; and rock.
The great thing about this album is that it will transport you to a land where
it’s always two in the morning, where the air is thick with cigarette smoke
and the heady mix of bourbon and perfume. It’s a dark hot crowded room full
of broken hearts, shattered dreams and a wonderfully misspent youth. Old tunes
sit seamlessly with new ones, the common denominator? They’re all classics.
Bill Wyman Ü always the quiet almost immobile one at the back Ü has delved
into his musical roots to provide an audio feast for the present. And being
Bill the band he has put together, the unbelievable ‘Rhythm Kings’ is just
extraordinary. They play with the outrageous skill that only comes when you
make music from the heart. Because they want too.
Having been one half of the greatest rhythm section in history there’s no cigar for
guessing that Bill provides a bass line that motors like a ’57 Chevy V8 cruising
the Pacific Coast Highway. Think of two of the most distinctive characters in
rock and you’ll be thinking of Georgie Fame (sans the Blue Flames) and Garry
Brooker, still a whiter shade of pale. Both are featured on keyboards together
with Dave Hartley.
Think of your favourite guitar hero, would Albert Lee (The Thunderbirds and
Everly Brothers), Peter Frampton (The Herd, Humble Pie and the bloke who by
coming alive made one of the biggest selling albums of all times) and Andy
Fairweather-Low (Amen Corner and the chap who sits next to God during his
Albert hall concerts and world tours) suffice?
Someone’s got to sing, and that someone is Beverley Skeete. Trust Bill to include
someone who has the best voice in the world Ü it’s unlikely that Jamiroquai,
Van Morrison, Jools Holland and Chaka Khan would get it wrong. The album also
has Paul Carrack (Mike & The Mechanics) bossing the mike on ‘Too Late’.
Then there’s Terry ‘Tex’ Taylor, the brilliant guitarist, and Bill’s co-writer
and before I forget there’s the best horn section this side of Memphis. Laying
down the beat behind the kit is Graham Broad. I mean this man really drums.
Frankly that would be enough for most people. But not for Mr. Wyman.
So, isn’t that Chris Rea on Bill’s song ‘Every Sixty Seconds’ and Mick Taylor
(yes, that Mick Taylor) on Bill and Terry’s ‘A True Romance’? And I thought
Mick Taylor never left Hyde Park after that concert.
Then there’s Martin Taylor, the guitarist who has topped the UK Jazz Album Chart
yearly and toured with Stephane Grappelli and played alongside Chet Atkins.
Oh yes and there’s Eric Clapton, who’s quite good.
“Anyway The Wind Blows’ is a master class of musicianship, blues arrangements
and emotion.
It’s real. It’s how you always wanted to hear it played.
Of course if you asked Bill he’ll just give a small wry small and say “Nah
it’s just a few mates having a good time”.
