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The Climax Blues Band

The Climax Blues Band
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The original members:
Derek Holt, Colin Cooper, George Newsome
Arthur Wood, Richard Jones, Peter Haycock
Other members through the years:
John Cuffley, John "Rhino" Edwards
Johnny Pugh, Peter Filleul, Nicky Hopkins
Jeff Rich, Dave Marquee, Johnny Mars
Roger Inniss, Henry Spinetti, Anton Farmer
The most recent lineup:
Roy Adams, Chris Aldridge, George Glover
Graham Dee, Neil Simpson, Lester Hunt

In the late sixties in Stafford, England vocalist and harmonica player Colin Cooper left the R&B band Hipster Image and formed a new R&B band, Gospel Truth, with guitarist Peter Haycock. Soon after they decided to go in a more blues oriented direction and they brought in guitarist Derek Holt, bassist Richard Jones, keyboardist Arthur Wood, drummer George Newsome and the Climax Chicago Blues Band was formed. A few years later the name was shortened to The Climax Blues Band to avoid confusion with the American band, Chicago. Prior to the release of their second album, Plays On, Richard Jones left the group to attend Cambridge University. In 1969 Anton Farmer was brought in on keyboards and appears on the, A Lot of Bottle, album. He did live performaces with the band until 1973 because Wood prefered to work in the studio. After the bands fourth album, Tightly Knit, Newsome was replaced by John Cuffley. Newsome joined the band Mad Wax for a short time and then went on doing shows with Alexis Korner. Korner was a major influence in bringing together English blues musicians. Then in 2007 Newsome joined The Tim Jenks Band. Arthur Wood left the band in 1973 before the Rich Man album and went on to become a producer for Radio Stoke and Radio Three, he died in 2005.
By now the band was a four piece with Cooper on vocals, harp, and guitar, Pete Haycock on vocals and guitar, Derek Holt on vocals and bass with John Cuffley on drums. The band became a headline act after the release of FM/Live in 1973. It was recorded in New York and was also broadcast live on the radio. It became their best-selling album, charting for 30 weeks and peaking at #107. The Stamp album from 1975 saw the return of Richard Jones on keyboards and the band got on the singles charts when, Using the Power, reached #110 in the US. In 1976 Gold Plated had the top ten hit, Couldn't Get It Right. It reached #3 in the US and #10 in the UK and it is the most played of their songs on the radio. At this time Jones left the band and was replaced with Peter Filleul on the Shine On album with Makin' Love peaking at #91 in the US. Filleul left after the Real to Reel album and has played in The Parlor Band, The O-Band and The Blues Band he would later go on to produce movie soundtracks. In 1980 the Flying the Flag album had the US hits I Love You which charted at #12 and Gotta Have More Love which made it to #47. This album had the session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins in the studio. His career is impressive having worked with some of the greatest rockers in history the list is long and includes, The Kinks, The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Nilsson and others. He died in 1994 from complications resulting from surgery presumably related to his long battle with Crohn's Disease. By this time they were drawing crowds of up to 20,000 at U.S. concerts but the crowds started to dwindle as punk rock was becoming popular so they decided to become a mainstream pop-rock band. The 1981 album 'Lucky for Some' was the last to feature the Cooper, Haycock, Holt, Cuffley line up. Derek Holt was soon to leave and formed the band Grand Alliance and through the years he did several solo albums. He wrote and recorded a series of library music and occasionally performs a tribute to Pink Floyd as Floyd Pink. John Cuffley also moved on but continued to play drums and doing projects with current and past Climax band members.
Cooper and Haycock kept the band going with various musicians until Cooper died of cancer in 2008. Cooper was replaced by Johnny Pugh, but illness forced Pugh into retirement in 2012 and he was replaced by Johnny Mars. Band members from 1983 to present day include: George Glover, keyboards and backing vocals, 1983 to present day. Jeff Rich on drums and John "Rhino" Edwards on bass, 1983 to 1985, they left to join the band Status Quo. Henry Spinetts on drums and Dave Markee on bass in 1983 on the Sample and Hold album. Spinetti is a session musician who has worked with Procol Harum, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and many others. Markee is also a session musician whose credits include Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton and Roger Daltrey. Roger Inniss on bass, 1985 to 1991, another session musician who now has his own band, The Roger Inniss Zone. Roy Adams on drums and Lester Hunt on guitar and backing vocals, 1985 to present day. Johnny Pugh, vocals, saxophone, harmonica from 2008 to 2012. The band continues to this day with; George Glover on keyboards and backing vocals; Lester Hunt on guitar and backing vocals; Neil Simpson on bass; Roy Adams on drums and Johnny Mars on vocals and harmonica.

The Climax Chicago Blues Band

The Climax Chicago Blues Band
1969
Released on CD in 2006 with a bonus track
A   B
Mean Old World 3:52 Twenty Past One 3:09
Insurance 3:48 A Stranger In Your Town 4:18
Going Down This Road 3:03 How Many More Years 3:01
You've Been Drinking 2:31 Looking For My Baby 2:51
Don't Start Me Talkin' 3:20 And Lonely 8:43
Wee Baby Blues 3:25  

Plays On

The Climax Blues Band - Plays On
1969
Released on CD in 2013 with bonus tracks
A   B
Flight 7:26 Mum's the Word 3:42
Everything's Gonna Be Alright 4:27 Twenty Past Two / Temptation Rag 3:20
Cubano Chant 5:31 So Many Roads, So Many Trains 6:29
Little Girl 2:58 City Ways 3:20
  Crazy 'Bout My Baby 6:07

A Lot Of Bottle

The Climax Blues Band - A Lot Of Bottle
1970
Remastered on CD in 2013 with bonus tracks
A   B
Country Hat 1:56 Seventh Son 6:48
Everyday 2:24 Please Don't Help Me 2:55
Reap What I've Sowed 4:35 Morning Noon And Night 2:34
Brief Case 4:03 Long Lovin' Man 3:35
Alright Blue? 4:14 Louisiana Blues 5:18
  Cut You Loose 5:20

Tightly Knit

The Climax Blues Band - Tightly Knit
1971
The vinyl reissue and the CD version have a bonus track
A   B
Hey Mama 3:33 Little Link 1:38
Shoot Her If She Runs 3:36 St. Michael's Blues 9:55
Towards The Sun 3:24 Bide My Time 3:22
Come On In My Kitchen 6:35 That's All 2:11
Who Killed McSwiggin 4:59  

Rich Man

The Climax Blues Band - Rich Man
1972
Some CDs have a bonus track and there is a second cover
Mouse over the image to view the different cover
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Rich Man 5:50 Shake Your Love 5:27
Mole On The Dole 5:08 All The Time In The World 6:04
You Make Me Sick 3:52 If You Wanna Know 5:29
Standing by a River 5:29 Don't You Mind People Grinning In Your Face 2:27

FM Live

The Climax Blues Band - FM Live
1973
This has been released on CD several times
There is an abridged version of this concert titled, "Live"
Mouse over the image to view a different cover
A   B
All the Time in the World 5:17 Seventh Son 4:23
I Am Constant 3:24 Standing by a River 4:59
Flight 11:10 So Many Roads 10:48
C   D
Mesopopmania 6:29 Goin' To New York 9:25
Country Hat 5:55 Let's Work Together 6:12
You Make Me Sick 3:34  
Shake Your Love 2:30  

Sense Of Direction

The Climax Blues Band - Sense Of Direction
1974
Some CDs have alternative versions of selected tracks and there is a different cover
Mouseover the picture for the second cover
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Amerita / Sense of Direction 6:05 Reaching Out 5:16
Losin' the Humbles 2:38 Right Now 6:33
Shopping Bag People 4:03 Before You Reach the Grave 3:15
Nogales 4:09 Milwaukee Truckin' Blues (Chipper's Song) 2:38

The Stamp Album

The Climax Blues Band - The Stamp Album
1975
The 2013 CD release contains bonus tracks
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Using The Power 4:38 Sky High 5:08
Mr. Goodtime 5:23 The Devil Knows 4:13
I Am Constant 3:05 Loosen Up 4:22
Running Out of Time 5:21 Spirit Returning 2:53
  Cobra 2:27

Gold Plated

The Climax Blues Band - Gold Plated
1976
The 2013 CD release contains bonus tracks
A   B
Together and Free 3:53 Couldn't Get It Right 3:27
Mighty Fire 4:51 Rollin' Home 3:12
Chasing Chase 4:30 Sav'ry Gravy 4:56
Berlin Blues 3:35 Extra 3:40

Shine On

The Climax Blues Band - Shine On
1978
Released on CD in 2012 with a bonus track
A   B
Makin' Love 4:01 Watcha Feel 6:28
Mistress Moonshine 5:16 Teardrops 4:14
When Talking Is Too Much Trouble 3:34 Like A Movie 4:10
The Gospel Singer 5:43 Champagne & Rock'n Roll 3:26

Real To Reel

The Climax Blues Band - Real To Reel
1979
Released on CD in 2012
A   B
Summer Rain 5:27 Lovin' Wheel 4:20
Money In Your Pocket 4:04 Fallen In Love (For The Very Last Time) 3:26
Children Of The Nightime 3:59 Fat City 4:33
Long Distance Love 3:53 Crazy World 4:27

Flying The Flag

The Climax Blues Band - Flying The Flag
1980
Released on CD in 2012
A   B
Gotta Have More Love 3:27 Dance The Night Away 2:48
So Good After Midnight 4:08 Money Talkin' 3:19
Horizontalized 2:48 Blackjack And Me 4:06
I Love You 4:01 Nothing But Starlight 3:45
Hold On To Your Heart 2:33 One For Me And You 3:10

Lucky For Some

The Climax Blues Band - Lucky For Some
1981
Released on CD in 2012 with a bonus track
A   B
Victim 3:03 Darlin' 4:53
Cuttin' Up Rough 4:34 This Time You're The Singer 4:11
Shake It Lucy 3:59 Last Chance Saloon 4:37
Oceans Apart 4:23 They'd Never Believe Us 5:54
Breakdown 3:48  

Sample and Hold

The Climax Blues Band - Sample and Hold
1983
Released on CD in 2012 with a bonus track
A   B
Friends In High Places 4:12 Heaven And Hell 4:08
Sign Of The Times 4:33 Listen To The Night 3:37
Walking On Sunset 3:40 Doin' Alright 4:59
Shine 4:13 I'm Ready 3:18
Movie Queen 4:20 The End Of The Seven Seas 5:40

Drastic Steps

The Climax Blues Band - Drastic Steps
1988
The 1991 and 2012 CD have a different cover.
Mouseover the picture for the second cover.
A   B
California Sunshine 4:22 Couldn't Get It Right 3:31
Lonely Avenue 4:03 Fool For The Bright Lights 5:18
The Deceiver 3:31 Good Times 3:25
Ordinary People 4:11 Trouble 3:02
The Winner 4:51 American Dream 2:40

Blues From The Attic

Climax Blues Band - Blues From The Attic (Live)
Released on viny and CD in 1993
Fool for the Bright Lights 6:01   The Movie Queen 4:49
Chasing Change 5:40 Towards the Sun 3:30
Don't Start Me Talking 4:07 Couldn't Get It Right 4:56
Take Me Back to Georgia 4:12 Evil 4:34
So Many Roads 11:39 Going to New York/Money 7:52
The Seventh Son 4:21 Let's Work Together 7:42
The Last Chance Saloon 4:24 Let the Good Times Roll 3:39

Big Blues (The Songs of Willie Dixon)

Climax Blues Band - Big Blues (The Songs of Willie Dixon)
Released on vinyl and CD in 2003
Little Red Rooster 4:57   I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man 4:06
Spoonful 4:47 You Can't Judge A Book  
The Seventh Son 4:46 By Looking At The Cover 3:05
Third Degree 5:12 Big Boss Man 4:40
I'm Ready 3:19 I Love the Life I Live 2:56
Wang Dang Doodle 4:25 That's My Baby 4:00
My Babe 3:04  

The River Sessions

Climax Blues Band - The River Sessions
Released only on CD in 2005
Black Jack And Me 5:49   Horizontalised 4:30
Cuttin' Up Rough 6:50 The Last Chance Saloon 4:41
Shake It Lucy 5:16 Gotta Have More Love 4:40
Couldn't Get It Right 4:57 Goin' To New York 8:35
Evil 5:23 Johnny B. Goode &  
  Let The Good Time Roll 9:08

Security Alert

Climax Blues Band - Security Alert
Released only on CD in 2014
Seventh Son 6:00   Spoonful 4:36
Louisiana Blues 5:14 I'm Ready 4:18
Chasing Change 6:05 Last Chance Saloon 3:37
Fool For The Bright Lights 6:31 Wang Dang Doodle 4:48
Take Me Back To Georgia 5:00 Couldn't Get It Right 4:07
So Many Roads 10:22 Towards The Sun 5:47
There are several other live releases and compilation CDs
1. "Wikipedia", last modified August 22, 2018, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climax_Blues_Band
2. Jason Ankeny and Stephen Thomas, All Music Guide to Rock, 3rd edition (San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2002), 225

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CLIMAX BLUES BAND MUSIC