BRUNNING SUNFLOWER BLUES BAND/BULLEN STREET BLUES FID 2118 (-68) UK

When posting the band's second LP "Trackside Blues" and third "I Wish You Would" a while ago I was so occupied with Brunning's own background in Fleetwood Mac and Savoy Brown, the appearance of Peter Green on both those albums and the surprisingly good audio for Saga vinyls, I forgot to mention the other member's futher whereabouts. Important indeed for the collector who likes to keep track, so here's some of that for this for those that doesn't know already. Piano player Bob Hall worked with Alexis Korner, played with Savoy Brown 1965-70 and was one of the founding members of Groundhogs. Peter Frech went on to Atomic Rooster, Cactus and Leaf Hound and Michael Halls also to Leaf Hound. An all over impressing surrounding for a band that at time only was looked after by the ill-famed Saga label. Even so...for me their second and third albums provide much better listening. I'm a big Peter Green fan and his attendance on those means a lot to me. Not that this is all bad. Seemingly recorded live in the studio with a true garage feeling it comes very honest, sounding more in an electric black blues tradition than the then more common British "white" variation. All songs written by band memers, offering a mix of up-tempo and slow blues. There's a lot of skill involved, but unfortunately partly shadowed by a bad quality recording. I can appreciate lack of production and scant mixing if the audio is ok and it brings me near, though on this press a couple of the numbers are cut so loud they burst the groove and thus hamper the connection. Favorite tracks - "Big Belly Blues" up-tempo carried by nice guitars and piano and the Elmore James inspired "Shout Your Name And Call It". In my world not one of the better period British blues albums, but interesting enough. Originally issued in UK only, reissued on Boulevard 1971 (4032). Italian 1986 on Appaloosa (AP 039). UK 2000 CD on Indigo (IGOCD 2012 Z) came with this and the "Trackside Blues" album plus one bonus track. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (SÄGÖ*) (ÖGÄ*)