Hershey and the 12 Bars - Welcome To Hershey

Blues In Britain are proud to release, through their Abacabe Records label, a compilation of the best of Hershey and the 12 Bars. Contact us for details!

Sleeve notes: "Back in the early eighties, Hershey gathered together a few friends to indulge their passion for playing the blues. Eventually they boasted a line-up of guitar, bass, keyboards and drums as well as Hershey himself on vocals and harmonica. It was just a good way to keep in touch with friends and play the blues but work built up.

One day the keyboard man was away on tour with a Big Name Act, a dep. was needed and nobody was available. In desperation Hershey turned to Frank Mead and replaced keyboards with alto sax. Shortly afterwards a tenor player of some repute (Alan Wakeman) asked if he could play with the band (for nothing if necessary!). Thus the embryo that was to become The Hershey Horns was conceived.

Hershey liked the sound and added a trumpet to the mix so that when the horn took a solo there would be a section to back it up. Hershey got the numbers of various good keyboards people so, with the horns now an established fact of life, a solid foundation was laid. They started a Monday night residency at the Prince Of Orange, a well known jazz venue in Rotherhithe, south east London where the CD bonus tracks were recorded. The musically aware audience appreciated their free approach. It wasn't long before the landlord, after a particularly steamy night, said that he would like the band even better with five horns. Hershey explained that it was just a question of money, the landlord said 'Let's do it!' and so the legendary Hershey Horns blew into existence.

People came from far and wide to see this blues phenomenon and, as a direct result, they were booked for every type of venue. Invitations to play at events as diverse as the opening night at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera (several times) to clubs and festivals. They were also one of the only blues bands to enjoy success on the British university circuit.

Naturally, players of this ilk were in high demand (as they still are!) so, as individual members they inevitably took leave of absence. The queue to step into their shoes was both endless and impressive. Hershey And The 12 Bars became more than a band - it developed into a gigantic social club, attracting great musicians whose undoubted skill, married to tremendous humour and joie de vivre, are reflected on this album. Join in and feel the fun!"

Track listing:

Studio tracks:

1. Angel Of Mercy
2. You Upset Me Baby
3. How Blue Can You Get?
4. Asked My Woman
5. 44
6. Back At The Chicken Shack
7. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
8. Money's Getting Cheaper
9. Tiger In Your Tank

Live tracks:

10. Paying For It Now
11. Born Under A Bad Sign
12. Sweet Sixteen
13. Playing In The Dirt
14. Angel Of Mercy

Produced and mixed by Richard Shirman. Studio tracks recorded and mixed at Gateway Studios, London - 1986. Live tracks recorded at The Prince Of Orange, London - 1989

"The CD contains some absolutely superb musicianship from a band comprising musicians who have gone on to reach the top of their profession and if for no other reason than that, this is surely a must for the collection of anyone who is serious about British Blues and its development.." - Ashwyn Smith, Digital Blues, PhoenixFM.com