Jimmy Powell - Progressive Talking Blues (2024)

Jimmy Powell was one of the true veterans of the British blues scene, having cut his first single ("Sugar Babe" Pts. 1 and 2) for Decca in 1962, when Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies had barely established themselves. Powell formed the Dimensions in 1963 as his backing band, and within its ranks at the start was a young Rod Stewart on vocals and blues harp. The band played the Crawdaddy Club, one of the Meccas of the early blues boom, and were signed to Pye Records, but their singles failed to register with the public despite a high-energy sound strongly reminiscent of the early Stones, solid attack on their instruments (check out "I'm Looking For A Woman"), and a good feel for the blues.

The Dimensions split up in 1965 and Powell continued as a solo backed by various bands that he invariably called The Dimensions at his live gigs. He left Pye to record for the Strike label, and was back on Decca later in the 1960's. As late as 1969, he was still recording singles and his early work on Decca was getting reissued. © Bruce Eder