The Best of

by

The Spencer Davis Group

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There are two monster hits on this compilation (the 1966 "Gimme Some Lovin,'" and "I'm a Man" and their inclusion probably justifies the 60's music fan's purchase of this otherwise disappointing CD. Why disappointing? Because there are the most perfunctory of liner notes, nothing on track personnel, recording date, song authorship, and almost nothing biographical about the group (although Stevie Winwood, as its virtuoso and most durable musician gets added attention for his later efforts). There's nothing, really, about the band's place in British blues/rock history, just the familiar account of how the band met up, and a perfunctory list of their hits.

Still, any album that opens with their great, precocious single, "Gimme Some Lovin" is worth a look. Winwood's outstanding vocal against a raucous background chorus, the sexually tinged lyrics, and joyous, kicking beat, made it a classic-- a #2 record in England, and # 7 in the US. "Keep on Runnin'" didn't enjoy the same success, but chances are you'll recognize this R&B tune with it's buzzy guitar and bouncing beat. It's got the requisite "Hey hey hey" chorus, and could easily been done by the Stones (albeit with more sexual menace). It's got a trace of ska, not surprising considering (as the liner notes inform us) that it was a gift from Jamaican musician, Jackie Edwards. "I'm a Man" features a great beat and vocals, with an extra dose of percussion that gives it complexity and texture. Stevie Winwood's instincts, as always, are just right; he injects genuine, unstudied soul and passion into this brief but energetic song.

I Can't Stand It" is a fun song that sounds fairly typical of the era; it's a something the Yardbirds might have done, but it lacks their heavy blues-base and overall musicianship. I liked the spirit of "When I come HOme" (especially the chorus), as well as "Every Little Bit Hurts"-- mostly because of its uncanny resemblance to the Fine Young Cannibals' sound! Check it out. "Stevie's Blues" is Your_Basic-British-Blues, but Winwood's authentic sounding vocals and some totally kick-ass guitar work completely elevate it. Winwood's vocal and Davis' guitar similarly lift "Goodbye Stevie." The lead guitar also tracks Winwood's voice in the latter part of the song, an interesting change from the blistering solos preceding this.

Working On the Railroad" sounds dated, a kind of British country and western/folk/rock aesthetic that the Kinks would eventually perfect on "Village Green Preservation Society.' There are a number of other less-than-memorable tunes here (e.g., "Strong Love", Back Into My Life Again, instrumental "Trampoline," the fairly standard "Somebody Help Me"--although some listeners may have their own fond memories of these), but at the right price, this is worth it.