His first studio album after moving from Decca to Polydor and second for the new label after the "Turning Point" live, here backed by the same band. I'll get back to that and them later, but for now I can't help comparing this with his last Decca studio LP - "Blues From Laurel Canyon" - and they differ quite a lot. While that partly was built on a sturdy blues/rock foundation with if not big hit potential so at least a more crowd-pleasing assembly, this sounds a lot more personal and down to earth. As I understand most of the lyrics are about his then girlfriend and their relationship, the arrangements are relatively sparse with no drums involved leaving a naked almost vulnerable impression much reminding me of his 1967 "The Blues Alone" album. Not all customarily beautiful, but honest and well done and appealing as such. Personally I've always been more intrigued by his Decca stuff and then especially the "Bluesbreakers", Bare Wires" and BFLC LP:s, but it seems back then most of his old fans adjusted, or he'd found new ones, as the album managed #9 in UK, #33 in US, top ten on a couple of other lists and remains one of his biggest sellers so far. Favorite tracks - "Something New" soft jazzy blues with moody saxophone by Johnny Almond and "To A Princess" carried by an inventive bass duet from Steven Thompson and Larry Taylor (then just out of of Canned Heat). Originally released on vinyl over Europe, South America, Downunder, Japan, Canada and South Africa. First US on Polydor (24-4010). There's also been a number of CD reissues through the years, but to my knowledge non with any kind of bonus. Premiere UK had label as shown here, thick vinyl, thin matt cover and pic/lyric/discography insert (missing with this copy). (MÄH*)
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