Hung Up On You is the latest album by the James Taylor Quartet and the first one since the Pandemic, since when he's been busy with The Prisoners Reunion and working with Billy Childish, Most of the songs on this album were written at the same sessions as the latest album by The Prisoners. The JTQ are James Taylor, Mark Cox, Andrew McInney and Pat Illingworth, the album was recorded at Ranscombe Studios in Chatham, engineered and mastered by Jim Riley.
They blast off with the title song Hung Up On You that has a driving estuary mod rock classic feel, the repetitive riff and urgency to make it as plain as possible how much they want and need you, just listen to the guitar solo and let it melt your heart.
She Dreams In Crimson is 60's style psychedelic garage soul, for all the dreams or are they nightmares cloaked in crimson.
Chicken Leg is an organ driven lament for the wonders of the Chicken Leg that they got at Jimmy Smiths Chicken Shack, while a couple of the band argue if Stan Webb's Chicken Shack has better legs or not. This struts and preens across the speakers.
Feet On The Ground takes a 70's Brian Auger keyboard line, marries it to Sutherland Brothers and Quiver in musically intriguing ways, this could have been recorded at any time since the early 70's.
Miss Your Life is something you don't want to do, you shouldn't miss this tune either, with its sharp advice to go out and get yourself a real life, don't become a drudge or drone, This is an uplifting mod manifesto, to the need we should all have to do the things that we really want to, write a song, a book, make a movie, climb a mountain, go on go and do it and play this while you do.
Perche Non Vai Da Lui is obviously aimed at the bands legion of Italian fans, for this bi-lingual song of lust and denial, rejection telling her to just go with him and his Lambretta, enjoy his Espresso life style, cheered on by a Joe Meek style kitchen sink pop backing.
Put Your Hands Up and admit you've been far too clever for your own good, over driving sounds of Medway garage soul, give in as the whole dancefloor will have there hands up before the end of the song.
Small Thing is a tight groove, nailed to the floor drums, evolving organ, spry almost John McLaughlin style fusion guitar musical work out.
My My My we do want to sound like the Rolling Stones on this one, James does his best Jaggeresque vocal barbs, he lays into the idiocy of the EDL and Reform style politics, while asking how you bring about change and get through to people that the more multicultural you are the better, the Keef style guitar break is spot on, they want to get through to all you Street Fighting Men making you change your minds and live together, this is a great modern anthem.
The 4th Dimension where Booker T rubs shoulders with Procol Harum coming to a conclusion somewhere the other side of 110th street grooving all the way.
The album closes with My Wife an almost Bread style love song, for all the things she means to him. Touching descriptions of visiting her in hospital and her miraculous recovery.
Find out more at https://kud.li/JTI005 https://www.jamestaylorquartet.co.uk/jtq/ https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJTQ
On Tour.
30th/31st October Ronnie Scott's London
November
1st The Bullingdon Oxford
2nd The Junction Cambridge
12th Rochester Cathedral
17th Benenden Hall Benenden, Kent
December
20th 229 London
21st The Boileroom Guildford
