Time: 37:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1970
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front
01. Big Chief (Part 1) (1:26)
02. Axe And The Wind (1:35)
03. Give It Up (2:41)
04. What Do I Do With It (1:53)
05. Stranger In My Own Home Town (2:54)
06. That Did It (4:56)
07. Big Chief (Part 2) (2:26)
08. Come On And Get It, Baby (If You Want It) Get In It (Together) (6:12)
09. O.S. Blues (3:16)
10. Wrapped Up In Love Again (2:16)
11. Biscayne Bug (1:56)
12. As The Years Go Passing By (5:29)
Patrick McAuliffe - vocalist (born December 16 1945 Paddington, London)
Laurence Garman - harmonica (born February 14 1950 Hendon, North West London)
Lawrence (Laurie and later Lol) Sanford - guitar (born May 20 1949 Hammersmith, London)
Robert (Bob) Savage - piano (born August 19 1948 Chalk Farm, North London)
Tom Stead - bass
Kenny Lamb - drums/percussion
In October 1969, a demo disc from a group known as Slamhammer was sent to the offices of Blue Horizon, where label owners, brothers Mike and Richard Vernon, were impressed with what they heard. Mike went to a band rehearsal at The Roebuck on London's Tottenham Court Road and enjoyed the performance of Slamhammer, who had named themselves after the Johnny Young instrumental "Slam Hammer". However, Mike felt that the bass player and drummer needed to be replaced if any recordings were to be made for Blue Horizon. Another concern was that since CBS had a blues/rock-based group with a similar sounding name, Steamhammer, an alternate name was needed for Slamhammer. Guitarist Laurie Sanford came up with Key Largo, the name of Howlin' Wolf's club in Chicago.
The only musical history in vocalist Pat McAuliffe's family were an aunt who played 'a bit' of piano and his mother who could sing. Early musical influences for Pat were Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers and after seeing Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino perform live, Pat decided to form his own group, The Deep Purples. Each member decided the instrument to be played by picking out of a hat with Pat becoming rhythm guitarist until the bass player left and Pat took over that role. The group changed names to The Bond and developed a strong following in the North Kensington area with their music being influenced by The Rolling Stones, The Animals and The Kinks. However, after hearing the impressive blues record collection of local blues/jazz pianist Les Creighton, Pat turned his attention to blues musicianship, with Pat and Les becoming members of a group they formed known as The Boots Bird McQueen Blues Band. After this short-lived venture, Pat joined So Many Roads, led by pianist Bob Savage. When the group broke up, Pat answered a music press ad for a 'blues singer' and Bob tagged along, with both becoming members of Slamhammer.
Bob Savage had been influenced musically by his parents jazz record collection. Both Bob and his father had taught themselves to play the upright piano in the family home, but in 1965, while Bob was attending London's Northern Polytechnic, someone in the common room playing Tommy Tucker's "Hi-Heel Sneakers" on the piano showed him the riff. Around the same time, his brother-in-law gave Bob a copy of the EP "Mississippi Blues" by Muddy Waters with Little Walter, resulting in Bob becoming a blues convert. He began to collect blues records and sharpened his piano technique by playing along to them. By this time, Bob was playing in various blues bands with college friends until he finally formed his own band, So Many Roads with David Marshall and Pat McAuliffe.
Laurence Garman began his interest in rock and roll at age eight as an enthusiast of the music of Elvis, followed by his purchase of a record player at age twelve, resulting in his building up a collection of Little Richard, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, et al. Many of the circuit bands featured vocalists who also played harmonica, and Laurence immediately bought one. However, it was the wrong kind and he read in Melody Maker that he required an Echo Super Vamper. Listening to and reading about the blues became an obsession. As with many self-taught musicians, Laurence learned by playing along with records. He also attended performances by touring American blues harmonica players such as Little Walter during his gig at the Hammersmith Odeon and Paul Butterfield at The Marquee. In 1966, along with school friends, Laurence formed The Junk Shop Blues Band. The next year, he met guitarist Laurie Sanford via an ad in Melody Maker. As a result of this meeting, Laurence hooked up with Alexis Korner, resulting in Alexis and Laurence regularly playing clubs such as Bunjies and Les Cousins. This was followed by Laurence joining Slamhammer.
Laurie Sanford grew up as an admirer of The Beatles, The Shadows, The Stones, Ray Charles, Rufus Thomas, Lee Dorsey and doo-wop. Upon hearing Steve Cropper, Laurie decided to learn to play the guitar. At age sixteen he joined The East Generation as rhythm guitarist. His early blues influences were B.B.King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Albert Collins and Magic Sam. After meeting Laurence Garman, the two musicians would rehearse together regularly and by 1968, both were 'sitting in' with The John Dummer Blues Band during their regular Sunday afternoon session at Studio 51. When Slamhammer first formed in early 1969, bassist Pete Cruickshank and drummer Ken Pustelnik, from Tony McPhee's Groundhogs had both been the original rhythm section of Slamhammer, but the duo returned to the Groundhogs prior to the demo session for Slamhammer.
Once Slamhammer became Key Largo, auditions were held to replace the current bassist and drummer, with Tom Stead and Kenny Lamb (later to join Blue Horizon recording artists Jellybread) being brought into the group. In 1973, Mike Vernon would produce the "Ram Jam Rosey" album for Dutch group Livin' Blues with Kenny Lamb joining, at Vernon's insistence, as their drummer for the recordings. Following this Kenny went to live in Holland.
Meetings were held with the group at Mike Vernon's flat in Widecombe Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb, North London to determine the material for a proposed album. Compositions were chosen from the catalogue of artists such as Earl King, Willie Dixon, Allen Toussaint, Percy Mayfield, Pearl Woods, Albert King, and Deadric Malone, with the rest of the contributed material being songs written by the group members and Mike Vernon. The album "Key Largo" took the format of a 'Blues Suite' on Side 1 with each title running into the next. "Voodoo Rhythm" was written by Bob Savage and Laurie Sanford for a single release in order to gain radio airplay and increase the band's public exposure. The single received favourable reviews but insignificant sales. Sales of the single and album were also lacking promotion by the band since they never actually toured.
Key Largo fell apart when Bob Savage and Laurence Garman left to form Michigan Rag with guitarist Richard Painter, vocalist Andy Nicholson, bassist Lindsay Rogers and drummer Dave Terry. One single was recorded, and soon after the group mutated to become The Michigan Flyers with Bob, Andy and Laurence being joined by guitarist Dave West, bassist Bill Hain and drummer Ian Murray. Shortly after, Andy Nicholson was replaced by Les Walker as vocalist, with this line-up playing numerous gigs on the college and club circuit until 1975. Bob Savage stopped playing and formed his own highly successful architectural practice. Laurence Garman worked on several projects for Mike Vernon in the 1970's as well as recording with Bob Marley and The Wailers and Gerry Rafferty. In the ensuing years, he has been a member in numerous bands including as a harmonica player for The Yardbirds from 1994 to 1996. Laurie Sanford (who now prefers to be called Lol) continued to be active in the music business, touring and playing with several bands while vocalist Pat McAuliffe became a London taxi driver.
Laurence Garman - harmonica (born February 14 1950 Hendon, North West London)
Lawrence (Laurie and later Lol) Sanford - guitar (born May 20 1949 Hammersmith, London)
Robert (Bob) Savage - piano (born August 19 1948 Chalk Farm, North London)
Tom Stead - bass
Kenny Lamb - drums/percussion
In October 1969, a demo disc from a group known as Slamhammer was sent to the offices of Blue Horizon, where label owners, brothers Mike and Richard Vernon, were impressed with what they heard. Mike went to a band rehearsal at The Roebuck on London's Tottenham Court Road and enjoyed the performance of Slamhammer, who had named themselves after the Johnny Young instrumental "Slam Hammer". However, Mike felt that the bass player and drummer needed to be replaced if any recordings were to be made for Blue Horizon. Another concern was that since CBS had a blues/rock-based group with a similar sounding name, Steamhammer, an alternate name was needed for Slamhammer. Guitarist Laurie Sanford came up with Key Largo, the name of Howlin' Wolf's club in Chicago.
The only musical history in vocalist Pat McAuliffe's family were an aunt who played 'a bit' of piano and his mother who could sing. Early musical influences for Pat were Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers and after seeing Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino perform live, Pat decided to form his own group, The Deep Purples. Each member decided the instrument to be played by picking out of a hat with Pat becoming rhythm guitarist until the bass player left and Pat took over that role. The group changed names to The Bond and developed a strong following in the North Kensington area with their music being influenced by The Rolling Stones, The Animals and The Kinks. However, after hearing the impressive blues record collection of local blues/jazz pianist Les Creighton, Pat turned his attention to blues musicianship, with Pat and Les becoming members of a group they formed known as The Boots Bird McQueen Blues Band. After this short-lived venture, Pat joined So Many Roads, led by pianist Bob Savage. When the group broke up, Pat answered a music press ad for a 'blues singer' and Bob tagged along, with both becoming members of Slamhammer.
Bob Savage had been influenced musically by his parents jazz record collection. Both Bob and his father had taught themselves to play the upright piano in the family home, but in 1965, while Bob was attending London's Northern Polytechnic, someone in the common room playing Tommy Tucker's "Hi-Heel Sneakers" on the piano showed him the riff. Around the same time, his brother-in-law gave Bob a copy of the EP "Mississippi Blues" by Muddy Waters with Little Walter, resulting in Bob becoming a blues convert. He began to collect blues records and sharpened his piano technique by playing along to them. By this time, Bob was playing in various blues bands with college friends until he finally formed his own band, So Many Roads with David Marshall and Pat McAuliffe.
Laurence Garman began his interest in rock and roll at age eight as an enthusiast of the music of Elvis, followed by his purchase of a record player at age twelve, resulting in his building up a collection of Little Richard, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, et al. Many of the circuit bands featured vocalists who also played harmonica, and Laurence immediately bought one. However, it was the wrong kind and he read in Melody Maker that he required an Echo Super Vamper. Listening to and reading about the blues became an obsession. As with many self-taught musicians, Laurence learned by playing along with records. He also attended performances by touring American blues harmonica players such as Little Walter during his gig at the Hammersmith Odeon and Paul Butterfield at The Marquee. In 1966, along with school friends, Laurence formed The Junk Shop Blues Band. The next year, he met guitarist Laurie Sanford via an ad in Melody Maker. As a result of this meeting, Laurence hooked up with Alexis Korner, resulting in Alexis and Laurence regularly playing clubs such as Bunjies and Les Cousins. This was followed by Laurence joining Slamhammer.
Laurie Sanford grew up as an admirer of The Beatles, The Shadows, The Stones, Ray Charles, Rufus Thomas, Lee Dorsey and doo-wop. Upon hearing Steve Cropper, Laurie decided to learn to play the guitar. At age sixteen he joined The East Generation as rhythm guitarist. His early blues influences were B.B.King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Albert Collins and Magic Sam. After meeting Laurence Garman, the two musicians would rehearse together regularly and by 1968, both were 'sitting in' with The John Dummer Blues Band during their regular Sunday afternoon session at Studio 51. When Slamhammer first formed in early 1969, bassist Pete Cruickshank and drummer Ken Pustelnik, from Tony McPhee's Groundhogs had both been the original rhythm section of Slamhammer, but the duo returned to the Groundhogs prior to the demo session for Slamhammer.
Once Slamhammer became Key Largo, auditions were held to replace the current bassist and drummer, with Tom Stead and Kenny Lamb (later to join Blue Horizon recording artists Jellybread) being brought into the group. In 1973, Mike Vernon would produce the "Ram Jam Rosey" album for Dutch group Livin' Blues with Kenny Lamb joining, at Vernon's insistence, as their drummer for the recordings. Following this Kenny went to live in Holland.
Meetings were held with the group at Mike Vernon's flat in Widecombe Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb, North London to determine the material for a proposed album. Compositions were chosen from the catalogue of artists such as Earl King, Willie Dixon, Allen Toussaint, Percy Mayfield, Pearl Woods, Albert King, and Deadric Malone, with the rest of the contributed material being songs written by the group members and Mike Vernon. The album "Key Largo" took the format of a 'Blues Suite' on Side 1 with each title running into the next. "Voodoo Rhythm" was written by Bob Savage and Laurie Sanford for a single release in order to gain radio airplay and increase the band's public exposure. The single received favourable reviews but insignificant sales. Sales of the single and album were also lacking promotion by the band since they never actually toured.
Key Largo fell apart when Bob Savage and Laurence Garman left to form Michigan Rag with guitarist Richard Painter, vocalist Andy Nicholson, bassist Lindsay Rogers and drummer Dave Terry. One single was recorded, and soon after the group mutated to become The Michigan Flyers with Bob, Andy and Laurence being joined by guitarist Dave West, bassist Bill Hain and drummer Ian Murray. Shortly after, Andy Nicholson was replaced by Les Walker as vocalist, with this line-up playing numerous gigs on the college and club circuit until 1975. Bob Savage stopped playing and formed his own highly successful architectural practice. Laurence Garman worked on several projects for Mike Vernon in the 1970's as well as recording with Bob Marley and The Wailers and Gerry Rafferty. In the ensuing years, he has been a member in numerous bands including as a harmonica player for The Yardbirds from 1994 to 1996. Laurie Sanford (who now prefers to be called Lol) continued to be active in the music business, touring and playing with several bands while vocalist Pat McAuliffe became a London taxi driver.
Key Largo