''The Booze Brothers'', ''featuring Mark Knopfler & Dave Edmunds'', is the second album released by Brewers Droop, an English

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

band. Although most of the tracks were recorded in 1973 the album was only released in 1989 when it was discovered that the album had involved

Dave Edmunds David William Edmunds (born 15 April 1944) is a Welsh retired singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Although he is mainly associated with Pub rock (United Kingdom), pub rock and New wave music, new wave, having many hit record, h ...

and the line-up had included Pick Withers and

Mark Knopfler Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British musician. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995, and he is the one of the two members who stayed during the band's existence ...

, later of

Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals, lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums, percussion). Th ...

.''The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', Ron Watts, the founder of the band, later in the '70s became a

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

promoter at venues such as

100 Club The 100 Club is a music venue located at 100 Oxford Street, London, England, where it has been hosting live music since 24 October 1942. It was originally called the Feldman Swing Club, but changed its name when the father of the current owner ...

. Steve Darrington continued as a professional musician, appearing on over 50 albums, and is the organizer of the Swanage Blues Festival.

Track listing

#"Where Are You Tonight" (John MacKay, Steve Darrington) #"Roller Coaster" (John MacKay, John Watts, Steve Darrington) #"You Make Me Feel So Good" (John MacKay, John Watts, Steve Darrington) #"My Old Lady" (

Nick Gravenites Nicholas George Gravenites ( '; October 2, 1938 – September 18, 2024) was an American Blues music, blues, Rock music, rock and Folk music, folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his work with Electric Flag (as their lead singe ...

) #"Sugar Baby" (Francis Romuald Lewis, Jerry McCain, Tanner) #"Rock Steady Woman" (John MacKay, John Watts, Steve Darrington) #"Louise" (John MacKay, John Watts, Steve Darrington) #"What's The Time" (John MacKay, Steve Darrington) #"Midnight Special" (Al Smith) #"Dreaming" (John MacKay)

Musicians

:Alimony Slim - lead and/or background vocals (except on tracks 4 and 8), guitar (except on track 1) :"Big Ron" Watts - co-lead vocals (on tracks 2, 7), lead vocals (on tracks 4, 8), background vocals (on tracks 5, 6, 9) :Steve Darrington - accordion, organ, saxophone, clarinet, piano, background vocals :

- guitar (on tracks 1, 4, 6) :Derrick Timms - bass, backup vocals (on tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10) :Steve Norchi - bass (on tracks 1, 4, 6, 8) :Bobby O'Walker - drums (on all tracks except 3 and 8) : Pick Withers - drums, percussion (on tracks 3, 8) Guests: :Track 3: Gerry Hogan - pedal steel :Track 10:

- harp, banjo, double bass, Fender pedal steel, 'secret sound', all background vocals

Recording

Recorded in and around Wales, circa 1973
1, 3, 6, Produced by Kingsley Ward and Alimony Slim
2, 9, 10, Produced by Dave Edmunds
4, 5, 8, Produced by Kingsley Ward
7, Produced by Dave Edmunds and Kingsley Ward

Liner notes

The Droop began in the late sixties with Big Ron and various other players being dragged out of the pub in High Wycombe area and forced to play. In 1971 the situation became serious and they became one of the hardest gigging bands in the country and unable to spend much time in the pub. An album was released which reflected the live stage act and enjoyed some commercial success, but circa 1973 times changed and new men arrived in the band. At an audition in the Nags Head, High Wycombe, Mark Knopfler auditioned with a red guitar, a flat hat, and joined the band. Around this time the Droop were in the middle of recording tracks in an unknown location in the U.K. These tracks were done with Mark and a new bass player—Steve Norchi, with production help from Dave Edmunds. Some of these tracks are featured on this album. Brewers Droop began as a Cajun band and progressed to what is recorded on the disc.

References

External links

Red Lightnin', Record CompanySwanage Blues Festival
{{DEFAULTSORT:Booze Brothers, The 1989 albums Albums produced by Dave Edmunds