Paul King's Skeleton Crew
'Live at the Phoenix'

Yet another ‘bone-shaker’ from Paul King’s latest SKELETON CREW line-up, with a live recording of the band’s appearance at The Phoenix in Staines in August 2005.

This particular CD comes is another originating from Paul’s official website, and thanks are due to webmaster John Burton, who has played no small part in producing these collectable PAUL KING CDs for us.

Remember the first CD from the PAUL KING – OFFICIAL SITE stable, ‘SCRAPING THE BONE’, well this latest offering sees the ‘Crew’ knocking out more of the same ‘jug band, skiffle and blues’ with the usual style and panache at what I hear was a great gig. The set opens up with ‘My Babe’, from the ‘Crews’ early 1990’s CD, ‘The Complete Works’, and from the same album, ‘She Belongs To Me’, ’38 Plug’ and ‘Creepin’ Like Jesus’. The band maintain the good-time feel throughout and two of my all time favourite jug-band numbers, ‘Move That Thing’ and ‘May Lou’, are welcome additions. ‘May Lou’ always takes me back to 1996 and the Cropredy Festival, when I saw the KING EARL BOOGIE BAND for the first time, and ‘May Lou’ was one of the memorable numbers played that sunny day, with the legendary BOB ‘OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST’ HARRIS on zob-stick.

Another personal favourite, ‘King Bee’ features again, and all in all, ‘LIVE AT THE PHOENIX’ is another bright and breezy collection from ‘Kingy’ and friends. I’ve got to get to a gig!

It really is great to see Paul gigging again with the guys – COLIN PATTENDEN (bass), JEFF WARD (guitar), ‘SMILEY’ STEVE (drums) – and the prospect of him teaming up with RAY DORSET again in some form is a mouth watering one. Further more, when we hear that Paul is writing again, it does the old ticker good to know that we should soon be hearing new material from the guy who brought us, ‘Hey Rosalyn’, ‘Little Louis’ and the never to be forgotten jewel in my collection, ‘Nobody Knows’.

Paul is a true MUNGO JERRY legend, a real talent – it’s good to have him back!

ALAN TAYLOR – FEBRUARY 2007.

© Paul King 2007. All ri