Mick Clarke - The Best: 20 Favourite Tracks (2016)

Tracklist

01. Steady Road
02. Shake That Boogie
03. Walking in the Dark
04. Talking with the Blues
05. Complicated Woman
06. Gypsy Blues
07. Loosen Up
08. Journey
09. New Star over Texas
10. Happy Home (Live)
11. Rockin' the Blues (Live)
12. Celebration
13. See You Later Alligator
14. Lovin' Heart
15. Smoked Ham Blues
16. Shake It on Down
17. Begging Bowl
18. Who's Educating Who?
19. It Don't Stop Rockin'
20. Graveyard Shift



In 2016 British Blues Guitarist Mick Clarke presents a new compilation - all three of his last studio albums on a double CD release, coming soon on BGO Records. His new live album "Ruff'n'Roar - Live at Scratchers" is also available on CD and through all digital outlets. Mick has become an established name on the international touring scene and has played regularly in Europe, Asia and the USA. Praised for his fiery "straight from the wood" guitar sound, Mick is the winner of the 2014 Artist Aloud Awards "Best International Act".

The Mick Clarke Band was established in the early 80s and has appeared on numerous festivals with artists such as Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter and Joe Bonamassa. Recent shows have included festival appearances in Italy, Belgium and India. Mick has released sixteen solo albums so far.

Mick began his career with KILLING FLOOR part of the British blues boom of the late 60s. The band backed Texas blues guitar star Freddie King and toured with legends Howlin' Wolf and Otis Spann. Two albums were released which have achieved cult status around the world - the first, "Killing Floor" is one of Classic Rock Magazines "20 greatest British blues albums 1967-1970". In 2003 Killing Floor reformed for recording and tour projects, and recent live work has included a performance at Sweden Rock Festival.

In the mid 70s Mick co-formed SALT a powerful blues-rock act who were a big hit on the London scene playing regularly at the Marquee and other top venues. The band played at the Reading Festival and also opened for Muddy Waters at two major London concerts. SALT has also reformed for occasional re-union tours.

THE MICK CLARKE BAND originally started working around the London area in the early 80s, but quickly received offers of work from mainland Europe and the United States. Early festival appearances such as the Belgium R&B Festival in Peer confirmed their appeal for continental audiences, while the US tours established a world wide reputation for the band.

Mick's first solo album "Looking For Trouble" came out on the Italian label Appaloosa in the early 80s and sold well. More albums quickly followed including "West Coast Connection" recorded in Portland, Oregon with an all star line-up including Curtis Salgado, Rod DeAth (Rory Gallagher Band) and Dover Weinberg (Robert Cray Band). Later releases were on the German label Taxim, including the classics "No Compromise" and "Roll Again". "Happy Home" on Mick's U.S. label Burnside featured just Mick with Lou Martin on piano and some old favourite songs. "Live in Luxembourg" was Mick's first live album, recorded in 2002 at the "Big Blues" in Luxembourg, and the 2007 "Solid Ground" contains thirteen original blues rock compositions.

"The Rambunctious Blues Experiment" was recorded at Mick's home studio in Surrey, "Rockfold" and features Mick with Russell Chaney on drums and Dangerous Dave Newman on harp. "Ramdango","Crazy Blues" and 2015's "Shake It Up" were also recorded at Rockfold, but by Mick alone, on a variety of instruments - real drums, but not necessarily all at once. The new "Ruff'n'Roar" showcases the band's down home blues side, live in a small club with Chris Sharley on drums and Eddie Masters on bass.

Recent tours have included appearances at the Baden Blues Festival in Switzerland, "Blues Express" Luxembourg, "Rock at Sea" in Stockholm, Sweden, "Seven Nights to Blues" in France and the Bragdoya Blues Festival in Norway. In 2005 Mick headlined the Saturday night at the Great British R&B Festival in Colne, England as part of the British Blues All Stars, also featuring Kim Simmonds and Maggie Bell. In 2014 the Mick Clarke Band headlined the "Simply The Blues" Festivals in Mumbai and Bangalore, India.

In the U.S.A. Mick has appeared with artists such as Johnny Winter, Canned Heat, Foghat and C.J.Chenier. The Southern California Blues Society called him "One of the finest blues players to come out of England".

The Mick Clarke Band usually features Chris Sharley on drums and Eddie Masters on bass, either as a three piece or augmented with Dave Lennox on keyboards or Dangerous Dave Newman on harp. New dates are being lined up for 2017 and a brand new studio album is on its way!

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