The Doc Thomas Group
The Italian Job

I'll be dogone (Robinson/Tarplin/Moore)
She was really saying something (Whitfield/Stevenson/Holland)
Steal your heart away (Parker)
My babe (Hatfield/Medley)
Please do something (Don Covay)
Shake (Sam Cooke)
I got you (James Brown)
Harlem shuffle (Relf/Nelson)
Talking about my baby (Curtis Mayfield)
Just can't go to sleep (Ray Davies)
Barefootin' (Robert Parker)
Rescue me (C Smith/R Milner)

Recoreded Milan, Italy. October 1966
produced by Gian. Stellari

Stan Tippins lead vocals
Mick Ralphs lead guitar, vocals
Dave Tedstone guitar
Pete Watts bass guitar, vocals
Bob Hall drums

SJPCD020 (one CD of a 2 on 1 CD package with The Silence 'Shotgun eyes')

Available in all good record stores,
or by mail order from Angel Air Records

Half Moon Bay says...

There must be, in my subconscious, a memory bank full of sixties beat standards as a result of being exposed to them by having the Light Program as an audio backdrop to life as a pre-school nipper. There is no other explanation as to why I find these so familiar. Not only that, but the sound takes me back to Saturday mornings in my dad's green mini van, lashed-up transistor radio on, with acts such as the Paramount's, Chris Farlowe, Yardbirds, Pretty Things and so on treating the nation to the new, heavy R&B these British Acts were pioneering as the decade entered its last quarter.

In recent years I have enjoyed listening to the Beatles' 'Live at the BBC' ; choc-full of beat standards the collection is one of my favourites. And in 'Italian Job' we have another similar collection, but a few years on...

What we have here is a real slice of history; an authentic (66) recording by one those aforementioned getting-heavy R&B groups. And what's more, its all live and the opening track gives you the impression of walking from the lobby to the main dance floor of the theatre the band are playing in. It is so evocative.

After hearing the tracks on the Anthology, I was already a fan of Stans voice, and this stuff just makes me appreciate it more. No surprise the Italians liked him.

Although this band are in the Mott family tree and in a few months time were to be joined by Buffin, importantly there are no keyboards. So if you are looking for Mott in embryo its not here, really.

However, what is here is immensely enjoyable.

As I said, Stans voice is great and Mick Ralphs provides excellent backing vocals and guitar work also very enjoyable (as always).

'Steal Your Heart Away', 'My Babe', a particularly excellent version of 'Harlem Shuffle' are stand-outs at the moment, but not a duffer in sight.

So, as I said, I am a sucker for this stuff so it works for me, but Mott the Hoople it ain't. But thanks Angel Air for putting it out. A real slice of British rock history and immensely enjoyable. One for the car and for work.

Terry Burgess November 1998