Bright Lights Big City: The Collectors' Duster Bennett CD

Includes acetates, demos, studio outtakes, and five previously unreleased live tracks recorded in the mid 60's.

Duster Bennett was the real thing. This was a cat who was a one-man blues band and who had a profound influence on his best mate, Peter Green. He also wrote one of the greatest British blues songs ever, "Jumping at Shadows." This two-CD collection with liner notes by Neil Slaven contains 41 tracks of Bennett recordings from his entire career, beginning in 1963 and ending when he was killed in a car accident in 1969. Bennett, whose real name was Anthony, was a smoking harmonica player who could have taken Paul Butterfield in a throw down, a fine guitarist, a one-man rhythm machine, and a monster kazoo player in addition to being an expressive if not overly gifted singer. He was also a fine and prolific writer. The early stuff here, which is primarily home sessions, sounds wonderful and is full of a raw vigor and street savvy not even heard on Rolling Stones recordings in the early '60s. The mid-'60s material features Peter Green and other Fleetwood Mac members such as on "Jumping at Shadows," which appeared on his first Blue Horizon disc. The second disc is made up of some sessions with the Mac and highlights Bennett's increasing proficiency in the studio. He was one of the few British blues musicians who could get all the emotion from a live song to happen for him in the studio. His recordings are downright exciting. Check out "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me," "Lone Wolf Blues," "Blue River Rising," "I Feel So Good," and the amazing "Wasted Time," which virtually bleeds blue. This is indispensable for anyone even remotely interested in Brit blues -- as necessary as John Mayall or early Mac. Pick it up and be amazed. ~ Thom Jurek

Includes liner notes by Neil Slaven.

Personnel includes: Duster Bennet (vocals, harmonica); Tom Topham, Peter Green (guitar).