Peter Marinus - Bluetown Music

The new album by married couple Suzy Starlite (bass, vocals) and Simon Campbell (vocals, guitar) and their Starlite Campbell Band has become a live album, recorded at The Met, Bury and the Grand Theatre, Oldham and let the band best side.

The band also consists of Steve Gibson (drums, including Jack Bruce) and the organists Jonny Henderson (including Matt Schofield, Kirk Fletcher), Christian Madden (including Liam Gallagher Band) and Josh Phillips (Procol Harum). 

This live album proves that the Starlite Campbell Band is an excellent blues band, which also leaves room for a lot of soul influences.

The firmly pumping Brother opens the album with the swinging organ of Christian Madden. A nice funky song in which Simon Campbell proves to be a powerful singer and lets his guitar bite fiercely. Cry Over You is then a wonderfully atmospheric slow blues in which the voices of Simon and Suzy fit together seamlessly.

In Take Time To Grow Old the band steps off the blues path for a while to switch to a very soulful, almost Paul Carrack-like song with warm and intimate guitar playing.

Said So is an exciting rocker full of You Really Got Me and Get Ready influences, but also with room for almost prog-like blues. Simon's guitar screeches and swings in all directions with secretly hidden Allman Brothers licks. Guilty is another example of the band's soulful customer. This time with soulful vocals by Suzy.

The swinging pumping organ of Jonny Henderson plays an important role in the funky blues Preacher Of Love and the stiffly driving shuffle Misgivings .

Of course we all know A Whiter Shade Of Pale from Procol Harum. I never knew this song sounded so bluesy! Of course Josh Phillips' organ plays a leading role here.

Album number three from the Starlite Campbell Band proves once again that this is an excellent blues band!

Peter Marinus - Bluetown Music