Happy Birthday Paul Kossoff

Another year rips by, and today Paul would have been 76. It's always a bit of a sad day, but as ever celebrate the fact he WAS here, and that you still remember him. Play a little of his music, and spare a thought for him sometime today. Raise a glass, because while he was here, he did good.

Right: Paul at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, in the summer of 1975, while working on the recording of the debut Back Street Crawler album, 'The Band Plays On'. Seen here on the lawn of the studio smiling, with Mike Montgomery, and Tony Braunagel sitting at the keyboards. The photograph is by Mike Green, better know to many as 'Bird-Dog'. There's an interview with him if you clink the link below.

 

'Get Read To Rock'

Interview with Mike Green (Bird-Dog)

May 2009

https://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/paul_kossoff.htm 

Alexis Korner, Peter Thorup, Andy Fraser - 1971

Alexis Korner, Peter Thorup & Friends

Germany, December 16, 1971

Full unedited performance (47 Minutes). 

No visual 'effects' added

There was a 16 minute edit shown on TV at some point, using just three of the songs (*). I think the show was called 'Sounds – A Session With Alexis Korner'. This had added 'post-perfomance' visual effects.

'Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me' (5 minutes) was used in 'Beat Club' (Episode nº 74), also with the added 'post-perfomance' visual effects.

All three cuts of the performance are included here for reference, the full perfomance, then the 16 minute edit, and then the aired 'Beat Club' song. While the latter two 'edited' versions can also be found on YouTube, I cannot find the complete original perfomance there, so here it is. It does show that this stuff, in it's unabridged original form, does still exist. 

Interestingly you CAN find a similarly uncondensed 45 minute version of a performance from Manassas (Stephen Stills), with a fantastic version of 'It Doesn't Matter' on the YouTube 'Beat Club' channel. Like the Korner, this has all the moving around, chat, tuning and setting up. Let's hope they put more things like this up, particually as the quality is outstanding. Here the Alexis has had to be compressed a bit to fit 'Bloggers' limits for file size (100mb Max), but it's still pretty good, and thanks to Angus for his help with that.

Alexis Korner, Peter Thorup & Friends performance:
'Come In from the Cold' *
'Old Gospel Ship' *
'Evil Hearted Woman'
'Hellhound On My Trail'
'I Don't Know'
'Lo And Behold' *
'Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me'

Musicians:
Alexis Korner
Peter Thorup
Andy Fraser
Zoot Money
John Marshall
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Ray Warleigh
Chris Pine

Alexis was actually in a really productive period here. He worked with Peter Thorup quite a bit, and that included within the group Snape, which also included Boz Burrell, Mel Collins and others. CCS (Collective Consciousness Society) had also done well, with a series of singles that charted in the UK. 'Tap Turns On The Water' reached a highly respectable No.5 in the UK, and is the song most people seem to recall. Both groups appear to have had some overlap, Snape apparently formed specifically for an American tour with Humble Pie, both featuring Korner and Thorup, who got a 'producer' credit on Snape's 'Accidential Band' LP (1972), but doesn't seem to have played on the tour.

This session, from 1971, in Germany by Korner and Thorup, appears as almost a third project. The line-up isn't reflective of Snape or CCS, and while Korner appears to have done some dates in Germany prior to this footage, in November, I can't confirm Andy was playing with him then. At the time Andy had split Toby as the idea of Free reforming became more of a reality. I guess he had a bit of spare time while that was being sorted out, and Alexis must have invited him to play. Out of interest, Andy once told me he bought the semi-acoustic bass used here after his EB3 was stolen. So it appears that was nicked some time after Free split in 1971, as he used it in Australia when they had last performed.

Anyway, while this Alexis performance is a bit rough and ready, there are some good moments, and the film quality is excellent. Enjoy. 

 

Alexis Korner - 'Beat Club', Germany Performance

Recorded December 16, 1971 - Complete (47 Mins)

Alexis Korner - 'Sounds – A Session With Alexis Korner', 

Germany - Recorded December 16, 1971 - Edit (16 Mins)

 

 

 

 

Alexis Korner - 'Beat Club' Episode 74, Germany

Recorded December 16, 1971 - Aired December 26, 1971 - Edit (5 Mins)

 

Postscript:

Seems this set was added to the YouTube 'Beat Club' Channel today! August 15, 2026. 

It's randomly cut up, but you can find it here:

(click the link below):

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v_Gm8fvFXo&list=PLMd7VpLPCOrBlR6-nWatAkbeE2f-hf6G3&index=2 

Mike Green (Bird-Dog) and Paul Kossoff

Thanks to Angus for pointing this one out. Mike talking about his time with Koss and BSC starts around 20 munites into the Podcast. You can check out all the episodes here:

https://www.youtube.com/@RockinMalariaPodcast

This includes the one below. Interesting stuff from people who were there. The video sharing is disabled on this channel, but click the link in the video box to go straight the episode.

 

 

2026 Jack White & Chris Robinson 'I'm A Mover'

Always nice to see Free mentioned, particularly when it's high profile. So, at Jack White's Chicago Radius show, on July 23rd, he brought out Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes and they performed 'I'm A Mover'. This can be found on the 'NME', 'Louder' and... the 'Rolling Stone' websites. Seeing it on 'RS' was a surprise. It's a wonder anyone there even knows who Free are! It's also on the usual 'Facebook', 'Instagram' etc. social media sites and of course 'YouTube'. Chris, of course, is a well known Free fan, and while I've never heard Jack White mention Free (not that I can remember anyway), I often wondered if he did know about them, as he's one of those guys with a good grasp and knowledge of 70s music.  

Regradless of all that, seeing Free in the headlines in 2026, that's actually pretty awesome, and covering one of the more obscure songs - even better. Hopefully it'll get a few 'newbies' to check Free out for the first time. Always a good thing.

Thanks to John Shakeshaft for bring this to my attention.

Video by David James Swanson. 

NME site

Rolling Stone site 

'Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing' - with FREE!

I'd almost forgotten about this, but as the episode with this clip in it has just been on the 'U&Dave' channel (Series 6: Episode 4), I thought I'd put it up in case anyone hasn't seen it.

We've mentioned Bob Mortimer a few times. For those outside of the UK, he was one half of a somewhat surreal nonsensical comedy duo with Vic Reeves (Jim Moir). Jim can now be found on TV painting, and he's very good indeed. Anyway, both are huge Free fans, and in fact Vic (Jim) subscribed to the FAS for many years. Bob did not! Anyway, the show this clip is from ('Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing'.) is very good, features Bob with friend Paul Whitehouse (another UK TV comedian from 'The Fast Show' among others), and episodes (or clips) from it can be found on the ubiquitous 'YouTube'. It's a slow show with fishing, but not specifically about that. It's more about life, getting older, and sharing memories in a warm and funny way. It's a endearing show, and much loved by those who know about it. Well worth checking out, and often repeated on TV.

This episode features a visit to a record shop, and Bob buys something you might be very familiar with. If you've never seen this before, I hope you enjoy the clip.

Show Blurb:

Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse are celebrated British comedians and long-time friends, best known for their critically acclaimed, BAFTA-nominated BBC series 'Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing'. The show, which originated from their shared experiences with major heart problems, follows the duo as they fish across the UK, reflecting on life and sharing their comedic banter.

Information on Bob's 'Desert Island Disc' episode here: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3b2k5jV6ZD7PVCBp92WBTz8/nine-things-we-learned-from-bob-mortimers-desert-island-discs

Clip here;

http://freeappreciationsociety.blogspot.com/2019/02/bob-mortimers-desert-island-discs.html

Andy Fraser's 74th Birthday Today

Birthdays for dead people... It's always a bit tricky, but as someone once said, 'people aren't truly dead until you stop saying their names'... I agree, and bearing that in mind I'm happy to put Andy in your head, on what would have been his birthday, and in doing so help keep his memory alive.

There are a number of albums by Alexis Korner that feature Andy Fraser, and indeed Paul Rodgers. They include 'Bootleg Him' from 1972, 'Alexis Korner And...' from 1986, and 'On The Move' from 1996. These are compilations, and feature songs recorded at Olympic Studios in London between September 23rd, and October 1st, 1969. Certainly, we can be pretty sure Andy was in the studio on September 24th, as he's listed on the session for 'Louisiana Blues', and then on October 1st for 'Rosie'. Both feature on Castle Communication's 'On The Move' CD (CCSCD 809). I think this may be the only place you can actually find 'Louisiana Blues', but originally the majority of these Olympic studios sessions can be found on an LP that only came out in Europe (German and Netherlands) in 1970. It was eventually released as a UK CD in 2006 (Castle Communications – CMRCD1417).

Anyway, on that album, called Alexis Korner - 'Both Sides', as released on Philips in the Netherlands, and Metronome in Germany, there are six tracks that feature Andy, and allegedly three that feature Paul Rodgers* as well, though I can't really hear PR at all. It's pretty obviously Andy tho', as only he plays like that!

The album is okay. I'm not a huge Alexis fan, musically. I find some of his stuff a bit 'grating' personally. Songs with Andy appear to be 'Mighty-Mighty Spade and Whitey*', 'Funky', 'To Whom It May Concern', 'I See It*', 'You Don't Miss Your Water' and..... 'Wild Injun Woman*' (sic). Yes, it's THAT 'Wild Indian Woman', with a new spelling, as featured on 'Tons Of Sobs', but with an Alexis arrangement!

Anyway, if you want to check out the complete album, there's a YouTube link below the Fraser/Rodgers song, which is here, and most likely what you are really interested in hearing! 

I've a little more Alexis stuff, relating to Koss and Fraser, to be posted, once I've sorted it out!

Above: Wild Injun Woman

 Alexis Korner - Both Sides LP: Click Me!

New Album From John 'Rabbit' Bundrick 2026

John “Rabbit” Bundrick

Mr. Big Boss Man
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: Suburban Records
Release: 2026

Release date: June 5, 2026

John “Rabbit” Bundrick is a highly respected American rock keyboardist, pianist, and organist whose distinctive sound has left a lasting mark on rock, blues, and reggae music

Best known for his expressive Hammond organ playing and soulful piano style, Bundrick has contributed to some of the most iconic recordings and live performances in modern music history.

Throughout his career, John “Rabbit” Bundrick has worked with an extraordinary range of legendary artists. He performed on albums and tours with The Who, where his keyboard work became an essential part of their live sound during the 1970s.

Beyond The Who, his credits include collaborations with Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Mick Jagger, Free, Back Street Crawler, and Crawler, among many others.

 -------------------------------

This has been a LONG time coming, and in fact has been on the go in various forms for years! However, to finally have something new from Rabbit is a pleasure, and you can find this on CD and Vinyl, as well as digital download, if that's your thing.

Like the majority of Rabbit's work, it runs an ample breadth of musical styles and genres, but I'd say the main thrust is a Soul/Funk/Rock thang, probably in that order! There's a vast array of musicians and vocalists helping out here, and that includes old friends like Geoff Whitehorn (Crawler) and Juan van Emmerloot (who Rabbit knows from his work with Snowy White). Also singers like Gregg Kofi Brown (Osibisa), Jimmy Kunes (from Cactus/Savoy Brown), and Eddie Baird, from Amazing Blondel. Given this vast array of different contributions, the album does actually have a sense of coherency, which could easily have become muddled. It does sound like Rabbit, but without him doing any singing here, which is what I'm used to on a Rabbit album, it's good that this doesn't end up sounding like a compilation of different random artists. It does have an overall 'feel' and uniformity. All the songs are written by Rabbit, and you can tell it's him. There's great keyboards throughout, some fabulous Hammond, and his arrangements are tight and funky. Juan's drumming is right in the groove pocket and Geoff plays a blinder, so lots to enjoy. Hearing Eddie Baird singing the closing song brought a tear to my eye, another sadly deceased friend of the FAS, giving a final smile, and wave. Lovely.

Curiously the majority of the album is already on Youtube, which seems a bit odd if they want to get sales. But if you want to hear it all before you commit to buy, all but one song can be found there, with only 'Forever You' being missing. (link to the YT playlist below)

This is being touted as John 'Rabbit' Bundrick's final album, and given that he's driving rapidly toward being a ripe old 78, and has been dealing with some of the usual older-aged health stuff (comes to us all), then I can see that may be the case. But if you want to go out with a statement of musical wherewithal and talent, then this shows what we all really know. The final record from a hugely talented individual who, in his career, has pretty much done it all. Been there, done that, seen it all, got the T-shirt, and still kept going, because he's simply full of music. (DC)

Full 'Youtube' Playlist: -  Click Here

 

John 'Rabbit' Bundrick - Mr. Big Boss Man

01. What The Man Has To Say (feat. Gregg Kofi Brown & Leslie Smith)
02. Nkosi B (feat. Gregg Kofi Brown)
03. Asylum (feat. Jimmy Kunes)
04. Mr. Big Boss Man (feat. Jay Fleming)
05. Grownups (feat. Ben Rodenburg)
06. Living On A Level (feat. Gregg Kofi Brown)
07. Africa ’25 (feat. Damian Corlazzoli)
08. Hole In My Head (feat. Jamie Bruhn)
09. Funky James (feat. Andreas Suntrop)
10. Salty Popcorn (feat. Ben Rodenburg)
11. Send Your Love (feat. Eddie Baird)

FEATURING ARTISTS: Jay Fleming, Jamie Bruhn, Jimmy Kunes, Leslie Smith, Gregg Kofi Brown, Ben Rdnburg, Damian Corlazzoli, Roberto Tiranti, Andreas Suntrop, Eddie Baird.

MUSICIANS: John Bundrick, Juan van Emmerloot, Age Kat, Jeroen de Rijk, Paola Zadra Full, Simone Ewouds, Walter Latupeirissa, Geoff Whitehorn, Brian Bordes, Martin Verdonk, Frederike Schonis, Bobby Jacobs, Daan Hadiedaan

"Mr. Big Boss Man" on CD presents John "Rabbit" Bundrick as a seasoned musician whose soulful keyboard work and songwriting have long impressed fans of roots rock, blues and classic rock. On this release, Bundrick blends earthy blues grooves with melodic rock elements, creating an intimate, song-driven album that highlights his expressive playing and mature, emotionally resonant vocal and instrumental arrangements. The tracks move between reflective, slow-burning pieces and more driving, rhythm-focused songs, always carried by warm analogue-style production that puts the keyboards and songcraft at the center. This CD is ideal for listeners who appreciate authentic, musician-led albums with strong melodies and a timeless feel rather than trend-driven productions. John "Rabbit" Bundrick is best known as a highly respected keyboardist and composer who has worked with some of the biggest names in rock and has earned a reputation as a versatile, inventive player. Over the years he has contributed to numerous acclaimed recordings and tours, establishing himself as a go-to musician for artists seeking depth, groove and atmosphere in their sound. His solo work, including "Mr. Big Boss Man", reflects that same musical maturity, giving him room to step out of the sideman role and present his own artistic voice. Jrb Records, the label behind this CD, focuses on music driven by artistic integrity and strong musicianship. Rather than mass-market releases, the company's catalog centers on carefully produced projects that give artists space to develop their personal sound. With "Mr. Big Boss Man", Jrb Records underlines its commitment to authentic, well-crafted music that places the artist and the songs at the forefront, making this disc a fitting addition to any serious music collection.