Due to New Zealand’s geography, and where I work compared to where I live, it is not unusual for me to be on a plane multiple times a month and generally I sit with my headphones on, reading a book. However, on one of these occasions I engaged in conversation with the person sat next to me. Des Horsfall. He told me he was a musician, I told him I was a reviewer, and he soon started telling me about the project he had where he was providing homage to Ronnie Lane, and particularly the debut Slim Chance album, ‘Anymore For Anymore’. It sounded interesting and we swapped email addresses, with Des later sending me details of his website. This was at the beginning of last year, and then in November I sent out a mass email to those on my contact list, and Des (who by now was back in the UK) again got in touch, saying he wanted to send physical copies of the two albums over if that was okay, but wanted to wait until he had a friend coming to Australia as it would be cheaper to send from there.
In February this year the package arrived, and I was blown away as it contained two copies of the first album, and one of the second (more of that later). The vinyl version is a delight, including an envelope containing a detailed booklet and photos telling a story of how the album came out, plus a gold key and a Taylor’s of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold teabag (all is explained in the booklet). It was the first time this 2011 album had been released on vinyl as it was tied in with the reissue on vinyl of ‘Anymore For Anymore’ for the first time in 30 years. Also in the package was the CD, which comes in a hardcover book containing the booklet (plus the key and teabag). I was (and still am) blown away by what I was seeing, and all this before I played anything. I did also note a comment on the vinyl which quoted Pete Townshend saying, “This is a killer record… KILLER!” and it also contains musical contributions from original Slim Chance members Benny Gallagher, Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson. I looked at it and just kept saying to myself, “please be good, please be good”, as the amount of effort (and money) which had gone into this was considerable, but I had nothing to worry about. I should mention the cover photo where Des is sat in a gypsy caravan (something very close to Ronnie’s heart), a photo of Ronnie on the dresser, and ‘Anymore For Anymore’ clearly visible on the floor.
Originally released on what would have been Ronnie Lane’s 65th birthday (1st April 2011), this is a tribute in its truest sense, attempting to bring recognition to an artist who is now sadly often overlooked by today’s music lovers. To say this album is a step back in time is something of an understatement, as Des has somehow managed to capture the style and finesse of one of the UK’s finest rockers, being a founder member of both The Small Faces and The Faces. What Des wants people to do is to take this as a starting point and then go back and discover the originals and for this to get the blessing and endorsement of the Lane family surely speaks volumes. Most of the songs are Horsfall originals but we do get his version of Ronnie’s “Careless Love” along with an acoustic take on “The Poacher”, but due to the care taken on this recording all songs fit together, and nothing sounds as if it was originally written by someone else.
This is classic good-time rock and roll, a party for the senses and all that is missing is the alcohol (or nice cup of tea) to go with it. Just when one thinks it is not possible to find anymore links to the past we get to the 24-minute plus “Unwinese Mix” (The Quest For The Key to the Tune of Life Itself”. The second side of the third Small Faces album, ‘Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake’, famously contained the store of Happiness Stan, narrated by Stanley Unwin who performed it in his famous nonsensical language. Unwin died in 2002, but here we have his son John narrating in Unwinese (and sounding remarkably like his father). The result is a wonderful roots album, loads of acoustic guitar, electrics, violin, banjo, dobro, pedal steel, harmonica and so much more. It is an album of love, respect, and definitely achieves its aim of wanting people to discover more about Ronnie Lane.
Rating: 9/10
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Track list:
1. Careless Love
2. Hard Woman
3. Chungadiddy
4. Nothing New
5. Little Girl
6. Something’s Wrong
7. Long Long Time
8. Random Acts of Kindness
9. Chungadiddlydumdee
10. No One Talks
11. Unwinese Mix (The Quest for the Key to the Tune of Life Itself) including The Poacher
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Links:
https://www.kuschtyrye.net