The Producers

The Producers - Somewhere Down The Line - 1998 - Mojo UK Records

The Producers were a popular British blues/R&B band who had built up a large British fan base between 1990 and 2001, before they disbanded. "Somewhere Down The Line" is good, no frills blues rock. There is a great mix of blues' styles here, ranging from Peter Green, and Canned Heat, to Little Feat. Harry Skinner is a great vocalist and guitarist, and there is some terrific harmonica from Hugh Budden. The band is tight, and musicianship is Grade A. Twelve of the tracks were penned by band members. There is also a gteat cover of Dylan's "New Pony". "Somewhere Down The Line" is HR by A.O.O.F.C. This very much neglected album deserves to be heard by more people. The Producers were a relatively obscure but excellent band, Harry Skinner, and Dave Saunders reformed this year (2009), and are on the road again with some new musicians. Go and see them if they are playimg near you, and if you can find it, buy the band's 'Ain't No Love in the World' album

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1.Tear Down These Walls (Skinner, Saunders, Budden, Wright)
2.Take What you Want (Skinner, Saunders, Budden, Wright)
3.Never Told You Lies (Skinner)
4.Seven Hills (Skinner, Saunders, Budden, Wright)
5.Winter Is Coming (Skinner)
6.The Soul Of A Man (Skinner)
7.One Rocky Road (Skinner)
8.Somewhere Down the Line (Skinner)
9.Lucky Charms (Skinner, Saunders)
10.Bitter and Sweet and Blue (Skinner, Saunders)
11.New Pony (Bob Dylan)
12.Mule(Skinner)
13.Somewhere, Sometime (Skinner)

BAND

Harry Skinner - Guitars, Pianos, Vocals
Dave Saunders - Bass Guitars, Percussion
Brian Wright - Drums
Hugh Budden - Harmonicas

SHORT BIO

Dave Saunders and Harry Skinner formed The Producers in 1990. They went on to be one the most popular blues outfit in the country at that time winning the 'Blues Band of the Year' award 4 times, releasing 7 CD albums one of which 'Ain't No Love in the World' was nominated for the 'Best Blues Album' award. They regularly sold out venues around the country and were among the first to feature an acoustic set in their show which led to Theatre and Art Centre bookings nationwide, the whole acoustic set became almost Ode rigueur and every band, blues or otherwise, followed The Producers lead. Many festival headliners including Colne, Burnley, Stanley Blues, Dublin Templebar, Cork, Farnham, North Wales Blues Festival and many others were played. Belgium, Ireland, Holland and France played host to Producers tours and a month long tour of New Zealand was also undertaken, the band playing at the Tauranga Blues + Jazz Festival to great acclaim. At the Cognac Blues Festival in France they were joined on stage by headliner Ray Charles' brass section and, memorably, his 'Raelets' shimmying and dancing in front of them! They were featured in session on the Paul Jones Blues Show on BBC Radio 2 and have been praised by both Johnnie Walker and Bob Harris. Playing at the Alexis Korner Memorial Concert at Buxton Opera House they were spotted by Peter Greens management during Peters first major gig and asked to support the Fleetwood Mac guitar legend on his first national tour for 25 years, The Producers also featured on the BBC documentary of the Buxton concert. The Producers gave their last concert on New Years Eve 2001/2 after undertaking a 6 month farewell tour of the UK, needless to say it was a complete sell out. And now in 2009 they are back! Harry and Dave still front the band ably assisted by Ray Drury on Organ and Piano and Biff Smith on the sticks and percussion. New songs have been written and loyal fans will recognise some reworked stage favourites as they move on from but definitely not forget the past musical history of the band. © www.h33t.com/details.php?id=621a947449a211ceda9f93b4b5958e2b32dce2ed