Description

A blues recording simply entitled Live, by the American singer and songwriter John Fowler featuring Harpoon, was released on Lightworks Records in 1980. The 6-track 10-inch vinyl EP was recorded live at Calvary Chapel in California during one night in February 1980, with Michael Aguilar and Thom Roy producing for Lightworks Records. All songs written by John Fowler except “B.C. Blues” co-written with Mike Matthews.

Featuring John Fowler on guitar, harmonica and vocals, backed by Randy Rigby of Bethlehem fame on guitar and keyboards, Mike Matthews on guitar, and a rhythm section consisting of Michael Aguilar on bass and Johnnie Graves on drums. (Guitarist Jon Linn of Solid Rocker Records fame actually was a part of the John Fowler Band for a while.)

This particular project was one of the few gigs we did as a band. It was even a last minute decision to put a band behind me. We had one rehearsal and did the gig at Calvary Chapel the next night back in February of 1980. I am still a functional songwriter, having had songs recorded by Martina McBride, Dion, Bob Bennett, Cindy Cruse, and a few others. [John Fowler, 2011]

Finally, a Christian blues-rock record with some muscle. Although not as meaty as Stevie Ray Vaughan or John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, these California boys make a pretty good go of it with their tough hard-hitting style. Triple rocking guitar action courtesy of John Fowler, Randy Rigby and Mike Matthews, with Michael Aguilar on bass and Johnnie “Boom Boom” Graves on the back-beat. Fowler is the lead vocalist and also blows a mean harmonica The live setting works perfectly here – I enjoyed the little things, like John saying he’s gotta take his jacket off cuz he’s burnin’ up, or when he runs through the band members’ names and their instruments in the middle of a song. The slow-burner «B.C. Blues» kicks things off, followed by the fast-paced «You Only Go ‘Round Once». Next Fowler’s harmonica gets a decent workout on «51st Street Blues». «Lookin’ Back» opens side two with a forceful swinging mid-tempo jam. The mood shifts for the 6:43 «Faithful», a Springsteen-esque heartland power ballad with saxophone. «Liar» closes the set, burnin’ away in Southern boogie fashion. Only 26 minutes of music since this is an EP, but what’s there is solid. It’s also a rare example of 10-inch vinyl, housed in a 10-inch cover (you can store it next to your Horrendous Disc EP). The second release on this label, following the Born To Die project. Wish we could have heard more from these guys. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

Vinyl EP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “B.C. Blues”
A2. “You Only Go ‘Round Once”
A3. “51st Street Blues”

Side Two
B1. “Lookin’ Back”
B2. “Faithful”
B3. “Liar!”