Originally released on LP format in 1971 with a cloth burlap cover, Gooduns is the second album by Richard "King Biscuit Boy" Newell. After the success Official Music the year before, Gooduns was more of the same style with a few left over songs from the previous albums' sessions with Crowbar (although by this time they had officially parted company) and backing from some new musicians that included members of Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band, Seatrain and Canada's Dr. Music.
For this album, Newell recorded on a couple of cover songs written by Dr. John,Little Walter and Willie Dixon but the album contained mainly original compositions by Newell. With a harder blues guitar sound and tighter band edge than the debut, "Gooduns" was supported by a successful tour of England in 1971 where King Biscuit Boy and The Real Gooduns Bandwere backed up by the British band The Idle Race.
Despite the success of the album and tour, the Daffodil Records label fell on hard times financially and folded with no single or album promotion, leaving King Biscuit Boy to move to the Epic label for the next release. This budget priced reissue by Unidisc does not contain any bonus tracks but faithfully reproduces the original album graphics and liner notes.
by Keith Pettipas
1. You Done Tore Your Playhouse Down Again (Richard Newell) - 5:17
2. Boom, Boom Out Goes the Lights (Stan Lewis) - 2:45
3. Georgia Rag (Blind Willie McTell) - 1:35
4. Barefoot Rock (Scott Harper) - 3:31
5. Boogie Walk, Pt. 1 (Richard Newell) - 4:03
6. Ranky Tanky (Richard Newell) - 3:58
7. Twenty-Nine Ways to My Baby's Door (Willie Dixon) - 2:42
8. Bald Head Rhumba Boogie (Richard Newell) - 4:06
9. Lord Pity Us All (Dr. John) - 5:38
Musicians
*Larry Atamanuik - Drums
*Richard Bell - Keyboards, Piano
*Sonnie Bernardi - Drums
*Dianne Brooks - Vocals
*Roland Greenway - Bass
*Kelly Jay - Keyboards, Piano
*Steve Kennedy - Horn
*Rheal Lanthier - Guitar
*Richard Newell - Guitar, Harmonica, Slide Guitar, Vocals
*Brian Russell - Vocals
*Rhonda Silver - Vocals
*Slide Tallman - Horn
*Mr Sunshine - Drums
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Born Richard Newell, 9 March 1944, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, d. 5 January 2003, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Blues harpist and vocalist Newell aka King Biscuit Boy will be remembered as one of his country's finest unsung musicians. Newell began playing harp at the age of 12, and made his recording debut in 1961 with the rock 'n' roll group the Barons on the "Bottleneck" single. Various name changes ensued, with the band performing their increasingly blues-orientated material as Son Richard And The Chessmen and Son Richard And The Gooduns, but despite a popular live following a series of failed record deals led to them calling it a day in 1965. Newell joined Richie Knight And The Mid-Knights, recording a cover version of Sam And Dave's "Soul Man' before being poached by Canadian rock 'n' roll legend Ronnie Hawkins. The Hawk gave Newell his popular sobriquet (from the KFFA Arkansas radio programme King Biscuit Boy Flower Hour), and introduced him to venues that far outsized the bar circuit he was used to. Newell left Hawkins in 1970, recruiting drummer Sonnie Bernardi and keyboard player Jozef Chirowski (aka Crowbar) to record Official Music for Daffodil Records. Despite warm reviews for the album Newell moved on once more, reviving the Gooduns name for a solitary album before launching a solo career. He relocated to New Orleans to work with songwriter/record producer Allen Toussaint and the Meters on the excellent King Biscuit Boy, which was released in 1974 by Epic Records. A follow-up album was not forthcoming until 1980, when Mouth Of Steel appeared on the tiny UK label Red Lightning. Further releases dripped out over the years, including 1987's Juno nominated King Biscuit Boy Aka Richard Newell and 1995"s Urban Blues Re: Newell. Newell, who had suffered from alcohol problems throughout his life, was found dead at his house in Hamilton in January 2003.
ReplyDeleteThx Marios.
Thanks.
ReplyDeleteCool band. Very nice music. thank you very much!
ReplyDeletemany thanks
ReplyDeleteI bought the vinyl album " GOODUNS " in early '70's...what an amazing blues LP. A real shame Richard is no longer with us.RIP Biscuit !!!!
ReplyDeleteEric B.