Delta Roots (2001)

  

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Reviews

"...three musicians interweaving and complementing each other perfectly."
Folk Roots UK

"Blues stripped down to its essential elements."
Bass Player Magazine US

"...Swinging, toe-tapping, rootsy blues ...great rhythm and slide guitar...a fine album."
Blues Matters UK

" ...Semi-acoustic, country blues featuring Ben Tyzack's fine songwriting and spare, clean guitar lines".
Time Out UK

 

Blues Revue (US) - 2003

...There's something infectious about this bubbly little record. The more you play it, the more it begins to make its mark. What enters into the mix of this Britain-based trio is enough old fashioned back-porch honesty to bring the neighbors over for an impromptu party (and there's no denying they'd go away feeling better). It's fair to say that the SPIKEdrivers infuse their country blues with swing jazz, folk, and elements of jug-band music.

...Simple songs performed well across slide guitar, bass, drums, and vocal harmony. Based on the universal standard of applied toe-tapping, it works. The heart of the band's blues influence, if not total sound, lies in founder Ben Tyzack's stylings - he's is equally adept at slide guitar, banjo, and harmonica. (The banjo mentioned is actually a homemade resonator guitar that has a rather plunky banjo-like sound)

The disc begins strongly with Tyzack's fanciful fretwork on Robert Wilkins' perky "That's No Way To Get Along" but hits its stride with a lazy take on Robert Johnson's "Stop Breakin' Down Blues", showcasing tasty slide. "I Can't Be Satisfied" is sped up, but it's all the better for the spunky arrangement. "Kansas City Kitty", the album's best track, is an intoxicating, too-short instrumental that highlights Tyzack's significant skill on Hawaiian guitar.

All in all, Delta Roots is a habit-inducing little record that gradually sinks its teeth in and refuses to let go.

Eric Thom - Blues Revue

 

Folk Roots (UK) - 2003

The Spikedrivers are a trio based around the vocals and guitar picking of Ben Tyzack. After various changes the line-up has settled with Constance Redgrave on bass and vocals and Maurice McElroy on drums.

Delta Roots opens and closes with the sound of crickets chriping (presumably at dusk)... scene setting or what? Robert Wilkins' That's No Way To Get Along opens the set, played with the nice easy swing that's the band's hallmark, with the three musicians interweaving and complementing each other perfectly. After a couple of perky originals penned by the leader, it's time for Ben to get mean on Robert Johnson's Stop Breakin' Down Blues. The bass and drums lock into the beat, Ben flashes his bottleneck and growls a bit but, by the end, still sounds like a thoroughly nice chap.

Constance sings well on Rhythm Guitar and her own Queen Of The One Night Stand. Maurice sings nice on J.J. Cale's Clyde and is suitably laconic on the weed song Am I High.

The Album continues to run as smooth as a rail until the returning crickets signal it's time to press the replay button.

Dave Peabody - Folk Roots

 

Bass Player Magazine (US) - 2002

Bassist: Constance Redgrave, Instrument: Fender Precision

Blues stripped down to its essential elements. This London (based) trio plays folk-inspired American roots music with conviction. Redgrave's spare lines have everything you need for the style: thick tone, solid note choices, and a deep pocket.

Ed Friedland - Bass Player

 

Blues Matters (UK) - 2002

The Spikedrivers are an interesting combo. They have guitar/ bass/ drums line up but are not a power trio; they are British based but two thirds American. And they are two thirds male. They are also a swinging, toe- tapping, rootsy blues outfit. Guitarist Ben Tyzack comes originally from South Carolina and learned to play guitar for his trumpet playing father's Old New Orleans style jazz band. Bassist Constance Redgrave hails from California and, along with drummer Maurice McElroy, has provided the rhythm in Otis Grand's band in recent years.

The Spikedrivers are beginning to get coverage in the blues press, which suggests they may be among the contenders next year. They've certainly done themselves no harm with this album. On first listen it was pleasant, but repeated playings have revealed some lovely moments.

The CD is two-thirds covers to one-third home written, with Tyzack contributing four songs and Redgrave the excellent "Queen of the One Night Stand". Tyzack's "Front Porch Swing" is particularly good. They visit Robert Johnson for "Stop Breaking Down Blues", on which Tyzack plays some great rhythm and slide guitar with solid backing; Big Bill Broonzy for "Hey Hey" JJ Cale for "Clyde" and Professor Longhair for "How Long Has That Train Been Gone?". Oh, and there's the obligatory "I Can't Be Satisfied". If I were to stand on top of a pile of CDs I own which contained that song, I would be 9 ft 6! Their version is a good 'un though.

The harmonies are lovely as well, particularly on the sublime "Midnight Mademoiselle". "Rhythm Guitar", with Redgrave on lead vocals is a beautiful song too. So, a fine album, and one that hints towards an exciting live act as well. I suppose we should get them up here for a tour next year.

Chris Simmonds - Blues Matters

 

 

Blueprint (UK) - 2002

When a CD of Delta blues, roots and country music begins and ends with the soft pre-recorded sounds of the Delta you know it's going to be one of two things - good or very pretentious. Any lingering doubts are immediately dispelled as SPIKEdrivers begin to play - this is good! Producer Phill Brown has a knack of getting an American sound from a British studio and achieving a dynamic presence for the instruments that is rare in UK produced records. This is pretty much a live studio recording with very few overdubs - fortunately SPIKEdrivers respond to this and provide a jewel-like collection of songs; there are solos and they are of a high quality, as well as one short instrumental, but it's the songs that tell the story.

"Stop Breakin' Down Blues" is taken slower that the original and in a lower key, but you get the feeling that if Robert Johnson had recorded with bass and drums this is probably what it would sound like. Muddy's "I Can't Be Satisfied" doesn't work as well - it is faster, faithful to the spirit of the original, yes, but I just can't see bandleader/vocalist/guitarist/harmonica player Ben Tyzack "snapping a pistol" in anyone's face. Other covers bring in a country feel as well, allowing bassist Constance Redgrave, who provides delightful backing vocals on a number of tracks, to take lead vocals on a very bluesy Emmylou Harris number, "Rhythm Guitar", and her own "Queen Of The One Night Stand". Maurice McElroy gets his chance to be Levon Helm (well he's not Phil Collins) by singing as well as drumming on two numbers, "Clyde" by JJ Cale, and a lovely, laconically boozy "Am I High" from Ray Benson, which features Ben's converted Kazoo - the Brasso section.

Ben's originals fit perfectly into the selection. Both "Front Porch Swing" and "Soul Searchin' Blues" sound completely authentic. "Midnight Mademoiselle" sounds like one of the burlesque numbers that slide players like Bob Brozman uncover but is another Tyzack original, whilst the closing "Hard To Get.(but so hard to get rid of!) includes an infectious strain of Louis Jordanesque humour. The instrumental, "Kansas City Kitty" by Donaldson and Leslie - although Kitty sounds mighty like she's come to the Delta by the way of Hawaii in the company of Bob Brozman -is a virtuoso slide guitar piece that demonstrates that Ben can really grandstand with the best of them when he wants to!

My favourite here is "Life Is Fine", Ben's musical setting of a Langston Hughes poem. This is a deceptively simple recording which can be listened to casually or carefully, but which repays and rewards careful listening and, because of the quality of the recording, sounds clear and fresh every time.

Paul Soper - Blueprint

 


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Track List & MP3s

(MP3 samples in blue.)

That's No Way To Get Along 3:49

Front Porch Swing 4:40

Soul Searchin' Blues 3.:02

Stop Breakin' Down 5:26

Rhythm Guitar 5:11

Hey Hey 3:19

Clyde 3:24

Queen Of The One Night Stand 2:58

Kansas City Kitty 1:09

Am I High? 2:59

Life Is Fine 3:50

How Long Has That Train Been Gone 3:10

Hard To Get 4:12

 

 

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Lyrics

 

Thats No Way To Get Along

Lyrics & Music by Robert Wilkins
Ben - lead vocals - baritone guitar (Lowden) harmonica
Constance - backing vocals - bass
Maurice - drums

 

Front Porch Swing

Lyrics & Music by Ben Tyzack, Music by Spikedrivers

Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance -backings vocals, bass
Maurice - drums

You know my baby she’s long and tall
Got the biggest pair of brown eyes I ever saw
She’s so sweet aint no doubt
She make my little heart wanna pop right out

But she left me here as I whipped out my ring
Well she left me all alone just sittin’ on a front porch swing

Mmm late at night she’s so fine
She got a way of lovin’ that just blows my mind
She likes to shout, she likes to scream
She likes to wake up the whole damn street

But she left me here as I whipped out my ring
Well she left me all alone just sittin’ on a front porch swing

I’m gonna sit here swingin’
I’m gonna swing all day
I’ll just sit on my front porch swingin’ my blues away


I tried everthing in the book to keep her around
The only trouble was I had it upside down
She wore me out then she waved goodbye
No matter how I tried I couldn’t satisfy

So she left me here as I whipped out my ring
Well she left me all alone just sittin’ on a front porch swing

I’m gonna sit here swingin’
I got nothin’ else to do
Just swingin’ in the breeze
An’ wishin’ I was swingin’ with you

I’m gonna sit here swingin’
I’m gonna swing all day
I’ll just sit on my front porch swingin’ my blues away


Soul Searchin' Blues

Music & Lyrics by Ben Tyzack
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - bass-backing vocals
Maurice - drums

 

It’s been a long, long, long time
Since I travelled my way home
When I think ‘bout the years gone by
And all those miles out on the road

So I’ll walk all my life
Ain’t gonna stop lord ‘till I die
I’m gonna walk ‘till all my shoes
Ain’t got no soul
Searchin’ blues


Well I tried to settle down
And I worked hard as I ever will
But I gave into the sound
Of my feet when they can’t stand still

So I’ll walk all my life
Ain’t gonna stop lord ‘till I die
I’m gonna walk ‘till all my shoes
Ain’t got no soul
Searchin’ blues

It’s been a long long long time
And now I stand here alone
The house I see once was mine
But my home everywhere I go

So I’ll walk all my life
Ain’t gonna stop ‘till I die
I’m gonna walk ‘till all my shoes
Ain’t got no soul
Searchin’ blues

I’m gonna walk all my life
Ain’t gonna stop lord ‘till I die
I’m gonna walk ‘till all my shoes
Ain’t got no soul
Searchin’ blues

 

 

Stop Breakin' Down

Lyrics & Music by Robert Johnson
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - bass
Maurice - drums



 

Rythm Guitar

Lyrics by E. Harris & P. Kennnerly, Music by Constance Redgrave
Constance - lead vocals - bass
Ben - backing vocals - guitar
Maurice - drums

 

Hey Hey

Lyrics & Music by Big Bill Broonzy
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - backing vocals - bass
Maurice - drums


 

 

 

Clyde

Lyrics by JJ Cale


Maurice - lead vocals - drums
Constance - backing vocals - bass
Ben - Guitar - backing vocals-harmonica


 

Midnight Mademoiselle

Lyrics & Music by Ben Tyzack
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - backing vocals -bass
Maurice - drums

“Let’s go to bed,” she said, “I’m a woman in need”
but I’m just so tried but at least I’m not lonely
‘cause when the stars come out and twinkle above
I just can’t refuse her love
It’s like the deepest wishing well,
My midnight mademoiselle

S’il vous plait, let me sleep
You sleep in the day, c’est la vie
While I’m workin’ all week
I got great big circles under my eyes
Walkin’ in a daze and here the reason
Her evening smile is how I fell for
My midnight mademoiselle

S’il vous plait, let me sleep
You sleep in the day, c’est la vie
While I’m workin’ all week

“Are you awake” she’s says, “you know I just can’t sleep”
but I can hardly move and it feels like I’m in a dream
when the moon comes up and starts to shine
She warms my up like the finest wine
One taste and I’m under her spell
My midnight mademoiselle

I got great big circles under my eyes
Walkin’ in a daze and here the reason why…
Her evening smile is how I fell for
My midnight mademoiselle
My midnight mademoiselle

 

I Cant Be Satisfied

Lyrics by McKinley Morganfied
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Maurice - drums
Constance - bass - backing vocals

 


Queen Of The One Night Stand

Lyrics & Music by Constance Redgrave
Constance - lead vocals - bass
Ben - guitar
Maurice - drums

She got looks. She got style
And the boys in the band
would walk a country mile.
She got money to take her anywhere
But when the goins this good
Who needs the getting there?

She got a telephone.
It rings off the hook.
She got a answer machine
but she never looks.
She only wants the boys
that she aint found
And it’s the thrill of the hunt
when the sun goes down

She’s the queen of the one nightstand
Haunts the cowboy bars, for the cowboy man
That’s got the key to her heart
and knows the master plan
But when the sun comes up,……
Wrong again.

Another sunrise.
Her hearts broken,
she got tears in her eyes.
She tells him sweet lies.
Sun comes up and she don’t say goodbye.

She got looks. She got style
And every notch in her belt’s another country mile.
She got money, to take her anywhere
But when the goins’ this good
Who needs the getting there?

 

Kansas City Kitty

Music by Donaldson & Leslie
Ben - guitar
Constance - bass
Maurice - drums


Am I High?

Lyrics by R. Benson
Maurice - lead vocals - drums
Ben - guitar -Brasso tin kazoo
Constance - bass

 

Life Is Fine

Lyrics by Langston Hughes
Music by Ben Tyzack
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - backing vocals - bass
Maurice - drums

 

How Long Has That Train Been Gone?

Lyrics by Professor Longhair
Music by Ben Tyzack
Ben - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - backing vocals - bass
Maurice - drums

 

Hard To Get

Lyrics & Music by Ben Tyzack
Ben - - lead vocals - guitar
Constance - backing vocals - bass
Maurice - backing vocals - drums

Well life’s a bowl of cherries
But with you it’s the pits
You’re like a bad bellyache
You give me the sh…..ivers every night layin’ by your side
Always clingin’ on to me you make me wanna hide
Messin’ with my hair you won’t leave me alone
You ’re not the girl I met all those years ago

When you would play hard to get
So hard to get !
I was a fool for your love
So hard to get !
You where so hard to get
now you’re just hard to get rid of


You say we go together like red beans and rice
I think it’s more like sauerkraut and Ice cream
Every time when you come around
You drive me crazy when you won’t get out of town
This is the last straw baby you pushed me too far
Woman leave me alone I got to play my guitar

So hard to get !
So hard to get !

They say you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone
I used to believe it then you came along
You’re like something sticky stuck to the soul of my shoe
No matter how I try I just can’t get rid of you
Every year I try and work it out but it turns into a mess
You always come back just like the I.R.S.

So hard to get
So hard to get !
I was a fool for your love
So hard to get !
You where so hard to get
now you’re just hard to get rid of

So hard to get
So hard to get !
I was a fool for your love
So hard to get !
You where so hard to get
now you ’re just hard to get rid of

 

 

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