Big Town Playboys - Now Appearing (1990)

The CD album of the best live R&B band on the club scene. They opened for Eric Clapton on his three blues nights during one of his mammoth 18 show stints at the Albert Hall. Not only did they go down well with the punters at this event, but blues guitar star Robert Cray was so impressed that he invited them to play his wedding the following week. Robert Plant also used the boys as a backing band for a TV special and they were the regular backing band for Little Willie Littlefield on his visits to the UK. Singer, pianist and all round smoothest dude in town, Mike Sanchez leads the other 4 Playboys through a dozen stomping R&B originals and covers, including Roy Montrell's "That Mellow Saxophone", Willie Eagan's "What A Shame" and the McCracklin classic,"The Wobble". So throw away your prejudices about whether or not rhythm and blues men can play the whites and flip your wig to the uptown sound of the Big Town Playboys. If it's good enough for the likes of Willie Littlefield and Robert Cray, then be assured, it's good enough for you.