Long John Baldry

I guess I was pretty disappointed when I went to the Wheel to see Cyril Davis. He was one of the promised performers who never made it; he died shortly before he was booked to appear. Cyril had started out alongside Alexis Korner as band members of the Chris Barber Band. Cyril after a few angry bouts of arguments with Alexis whom he had played with notably on the LP R&B at the Marquee had split to form his own group (after also being with the proto-Rolling stones) and became Cyril Davis and the All Stars. I had his EP and thought (and still do) that each and every track upon the Extended Play disc was fantastic for an English bluesman! Chicago Calling – Preachin’ The Blues – Sweet Mary – and the fabulous harmonica instrumental – Countryline Special But it was that night that launched Long John Baldry who had been a member of Cyrils group. That’s when we first heard him – singing his version of 'I Got My Mojo Working' and ‘Stormy Monday’ and others. At other times he was part of other groups – Steam Packet, once with Julie Dricol and Brian Auger, and also in his own right with his Hoochie Coochie Men. And so I heard – he wasent called ‘Long John’ for nothing.’ Track Hoochie coochie Man