Customer Reviews

Outside Woman Blues

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If someone wrote a book about British blues-rock and failed to mention Jim McCarty, the book would have a gaping hole. McCarty was the Yardbirds' original drummer, and failing to mention him would be like not mentioning Cream's Ginger Baker or Led Zeppelin's John Bonham. The Yardbirds weren't strictly a blues-rock band; many of their songs favored a haunting, quasi-Gregorian outlook. But blues-rock was an important part of what they did, and McCarty's blues-rock side dominates Outside Woman Blues. This 2002 release finds the drummer leading a quartet that is billed as the Jim McCarty Blues Band, which also includes guitarist/singer John Idan and ex-members of Mott the Hoople (guitarist/singer Ray Majors) and the Strawbs (bassist Rod Demick). Not everything on this CD is blues-rock; "Lawyers, Guns and Money," for example, is '70s-style arena rock, while the moody "Heart's Not in It" is Police-like reggae-rock. But Outside Woman Blues favors blues-rock more often than not, and all of the material is solid - that is true of the studio recordings that dominate the disc as well as a few hidden live tracks at the end (including performances of "Train Kept a Rollin'" and the Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul"). Overall, the sound could be described as London by way of Chicago (as in Chess Records, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and Little Walter) and Detroit (as in John Lee Hooker). Is Outside Woman Blues groundbreaking? Hardly. But then, it isn't supposed to be; this CD is meant to be faithful to McCarty's history. Although not in a class with the best work that the Yardbirds, Cream, or Ten Years After had to offer, it's a solid effort that will appeal to die-hard fans of classic British blues-rock.

The CD is great. I think it is some of Jim's best work since Shoot. This band was a killer live unit. Their version of Cream's "Outside Woman Blues" with absolutely dead nuts on guitar tone makes you forget about how bad Eric's last cd was.
Walkin Thru The Back Streets is another burner. Other highlights are Black Hearted Woman, Heavy Weather,Lawyers,Guns & Money and Slow Driver. This is a disc that cries out to be have it Play it loud! This release makes you want to hear more from this line up consisting of Jim McCarty-drums/vocals John Idan-guitar/vocals ,Ray Majors (Mott/British Lions) -guitar/vocals and Rod Demick (Strawbs)-bass/harmonica.

I was a late comer to the Yardbirds (about 10 years ago), and have avidly sought out anything related to this group since then. This release captures the spirit of the Yardbirds in their finest hours. The cover of Cream's Title track is fantastic !!! This is every bit as good as the original version. Jim and the band are tight and precise on this whole disc. Every song is well worthy of a good listen, but IMO the true treats are:
Outside Woman Blues, Walkin' Through the Back Streets,Lawyers Guns and Money, and Slow Driver. Jim may have aged in years, but like a fine wine, has only become better. John Idan, Ray Majors, and Rod Demick round out this foursome, and go out and prove that R&R is still very much ALIVE and KICKIN'!!! Do yourself a huge favor and buy this disc. After the first song (Outside Woman)you'll be adding this to your favorites list and listening to it repeatedly. LONG LIVE ROCK AND ROLL---------OUTSIDE WOMAN BLUES RAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are a fan of The Yardbirds, you'll want to add The Jim McCarty Blues Band's 'Outside Woman Blues' to your collection. Jim (founding member of The Yardbirds/Box Of Frogs) along with current Yardbird vocalist John Idan, Former Mott/British Lion Ray Majors and former Strawb Rod Demmick turn out an excellent blues/rock album. The best cover version I've ever heard of Cream's 'Outside Woman Blues' kicks off the album and original songs penned by McCarty and more super cover versions follow. Leiber & Stoller's 'Framed' Warren Zevon's 'Lawyers,Guns & Money'and a remake of The Box of Frogs' 'Two Steps Ahead'...McCarty's 'Heavy Weather' and 'No Easy Way Out' are easily on par with his compositions for The Yardbirds. Dont miss this one!

James McCarty continues to combine talented musicians for blues side projects. Earlier, McCarty pulled together a couple of members from the Pretty Things and Canned Heat and produced two CD's as the Yardbird/Pretty Things Blues Band. Now McCarty is back, this time with Ray Majors from Mott/British Lions, Rod Demick from the Strawbs and current Yardbird frontman, John Idan. The CD was recorded at Abbey Roads Studio. The result is a very good blues disc with a bit more polish than the garage band sound of the discs cut previously with the Pretty Things. The music on this disc is exceptional and the vocals of John Idan are first rate. Favorite tracks are "True Blue" and "Framed". If there is a downside, and that's a BIG if, it would be Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns & Money" although I must say, even that song grows on you.

This is a very nice rock disc.Glad I found it.Sounds like some of the old rock music I listened to back when.