The band released their self-titled debut album in 2018. Rave reviews proceeded and with the release of ‘late Night Chicken’ in 2020, the band were hot gossip and well on their way to taking
centre stage on the UK blues scene. 2021 saw the release of a 5-track E.P., and a track featuring long-time friend and collaborator, Diabel Cissokho was featured on BBC 4’s Loose Ends as a live session, recorded during the pandemic.
Jimmy Regal and the Royals transfer their music seamlessly to the live stage, having recently opened up for U.S. sensation, GA20 at London’s Garage, as well as appearing at Red Rooster Festival and the UK blues and rock festival. The band continue to reach new audiences and
Lunaria Records is pleased to announce the release of their latest album, ‘First And Last Stop’.
An all original release, which successfully demonstrates the band’s ever evolving style, packed with plenty of guest musicians, whilst retaining the spirt of the core band and their individual sound.
‘First And Last Stop’ is due for release on Friday 28th July, 2023
The 1st single ‘Ain’t Done Yet’ is due for release on Friday 26th May, 2023
Jimmy Regal and the Royals are without doubt a unique band. “No other band is a three-piece with harmonica, guitar and drums, for a start,” mentions Joff. As a trio they have discovered interesting ways in which to experiment within the line-up, bolstering their sound as well as maximising the use of their instruments. With the guitar and harmonica taking on multiple roles, using effects pedals and innovative techniques, means they come out with exciting and creative music — setting them apart from the more traditional guitar bands on the circuit.
The band’s music explores the origins of blues and blues rhythms; deeply rooted in North
Mississippi delta and hill country blues. However, anyone who is familiar with them will know their ability to put a “Jimmy Regal” perspective on it.
“We have a lot more variety on this album,” CJ explains, “both in term of material and instrumentation. There are new rhythms, horns sections, backing vocals; lots of djembe and percussion — it’s a much richer sound.”
High spirited hollering and boisterous harmonica set the tone for the album’s opener. ‘(GOT TO MAKE A) New Flame’ is a raucous carnival of sound, and is a tribute to New Orleans. Like much of this album, the band call on their personal experiences to shape the songs. “I based the main riff for this track from something I heard one of the bands playing when I visited New Orleans. You hear this kind of thing all the time — it’s like it’s in the air,” reflects CJ.
‘Ain’t Done Yet’ first appeared on their recent E.P. However, this recording is given a full arrangement of honking horns, and CJ’s guitar layered with Joff’s own showcases their versatility and skill.
The band offer up a little bit of country music on, ’Can’t Keep From Losing You’. Watkins’
Nilsson-esque vocals are smooth, and wonderfully supported by the classy voice of Tricia DaviesNearn. The harmonica soars over the band, and the added bass and lap steel from CJ Williams are a perfect touch to make this a standout track.
Recorded at Perry Vale Studio under the more than capable hands of Pat Collier (The Vibrators/
Alaska Studios/Greenhouse Studio), and produced by Lenny Bignell (Rhoda Dakar/Phoenix City AllStars/The Gene Drayton Unit), this record retains the band’s distinctive live feel — “There’s been a lot more collaboration on this album, with some terrific musicians,” says CJ. "It’s definitely a South
London record.”
’Do Whatever You Can’ was recorded live with no overdubs, and is a soulful track, executed perfectly by the trio. The interaction between the musicians is masterful and the results are as you would expect from a tight band. Joff puts down the harmonica and switches to guitar on ‘Empty Streets’. The two guitars rock ’n’ roll with some hill country swagger, but Joff’s reflective vocals lead the band here.
"Through our collaboration with Diabel Cissokho on Late Night Chicken, we became fascinated with the music of Senegal and Mali,” explains CJ. “‘You Can’t Run’ combines North Mississippi grooves with West African influenced rhythms and harmony. Joff came up with some killer riffs for the brass, which became our tribute to Fela Kuti.” A rolling waltz through life, ’Show Time’ appeared on the band’s previous E.P. and Toby Kinder once again provides some slick organ playing on this re-record version.
’The First And Last Stop’, the album’s title track "is actually the name of a remote bar in the 7th ward in New Orleans,” explains CJ. “It’s the kind of place that Mardi Gras Indian groups practice in the back of. The owner, Topsy had invited me to the local baptist church for a Sunday gospel service. After a long night of seeing bands around the Quarter and Bywater, Topsy dropped by on the way home and we drank Fireball whiskey until the early hours, all with a huge sound system blasting out quality soul music."
The funky instrumental number, ’Mickey Two Suits’ has become a bit of a theme tune for the band (and for a notorious personality who frequented the South London pubs). "When it comes to song-writing, the nice thing is there's no set formula,’ reflects Sammy. “As songs develop and diversify we manage to find a way back to our Jimmy Regal sound.” A song about a relationship gone wrong, ‘Bones to Dust’ is one of Sammy’s contributions. Full of heavy riffs, this is one of the more rock influenced tracks, with Joff’s crunchy guitar and some gravely sax playing from Chris Rand intensifying the sound.
The album concludes with a theme now synonymous with the band, and with a serious warning — “never put your hands on a ‘Fat Man’s Chicken”. The steam train harmonica, second-line drums and dixie-horn section get your feet tapping — the band’s love for all things New Orleans shining through with delight.
The music of Jimmy Regal and the Royals may be rooted in traditional blues, but you could never mistake this group to be a homage to an earlier era. Each track is well thought out, striving for new sounds, whilst simultaneously harking back to the music’s birth-place; their clever and innovative song-writing means you get plenty of surprises.
“South London meets West Africa meets North Mississippi meets New Orleans, in 2023,” proclaims CJ. If you like your music with a dash of Louisiana hot sauce, then ‘First and Last Stop’ is going to be an album for you.
ALBUM TRACK LISTING:
- (GOT TO MAKE A) NEW FLAME — words and music by CJ Williams
- AIN’T DONE YET — words and music by J Watkins & S Samuels
- CAN’T KEEP FROM LOSING YOU — words and music by CJ Williams
- DO WHATEVER YOU CAN — words and music by CJ Williams
- EMPTY STREETS — words and music by J Watkins
- YOU CAN’T RUN — words and music by CJ Williams
- SHOW TIME — words and music by CJ Williams
- THE FIRST AND LAST STOP — words and music by CJ Williams
- MICKEY TWO SUITS — music by J Watkins
- BONES TO DUST — words and music by J Watkins & S Samuels
- FAT MAN’S CHICKEN — words and music by CJ Williams, J Watkins & S Samuels
- ELMERS END BLUES (BONUS TRACK) — music by J Watkins
BAND LINE-UP:
- JOFF WATKINS — VOCALS, HARMONICA & GUITAR
- CJ WILLIAMS — GUITAR, BASS & LAP STEEL
- SAMMY SAMUELS — DRUMS, PERCUSSION AND BACKING VOCALS
- TITCH WALKER — TRUMPET
- GEORGE SIMMONDS — TROMBONE
- AL NICHOLS — TENOR SAX
- CHRIS RAND — TENOR SAX
- ALAN HUGHES — DJEMBE
- TRICIA DAVIES NEARNE — BACKING VOCALS
- RECORDING ENGINEER: PAT COLLIER
- MASTERING: PAT COLLIER
- PRODUCER: LENNY BIGNELL
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