Best of British
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"Mac" is back...say no more.
The 35-year veteran of the British rock scene -- a keyboardist who has played with everyone from Bonnie Raitt to the Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen -- Ian McLagan (known to his friends as "Mac") releases his first new album in nearly two decades.
"Best of British" features Mac and the Bump Band delivering 14 tracks of rock with a
decidedly-British flavor. Originally cutting his teeth on American blues and rock, Mac's
roots show through here, with the CD's tracks moving back and forth from straight ahead
rockers to more soulful tunes and back again. In addition to McLagan on lead vocals and
keyboards, the Bump Band features Sarah Brown on bass, Don Harvey on drums and
Scrappy Jud Newcomb on guitar. Overseeing the project was producer/guitarist Gurf
Morlix.
WORTH NOTING:
-- Several tracks feature guest appearances from RONNIE WOOD, BILLY BRAGG, and DAMNATIONS TX.
-- The release coincides with the American release of "All The Rage" (Billboard Books), Mac's colorful memoirs of his three and half decades in rock and roll.
Growing up in London in the '50s, Mac started out playing keyboards in several London-area bands in the early '60s. He found himself smack dab in the middle of the British rock explosion when he was hired (at age 20) to join The Small Faces, who had already garnered a reputation around the U.K. and were gigging steadily and making lots of television and radio appearances. Sharing the Rolling Stones' management, The Small Faces (Steve Marriott, Kenney Jones, Ronnie Lane and Mac) were releasing LPs and charting singles in no time. They had their biggest American hit with "Itchycoo Park" (1968).
When Steve Marriott left the group to found Humble Pie with Peter Frampton, lead vocal duties were taken over by Rod Stewart and Ron Wood joined the group as a guitarist. Shortly after, the group (renamed The Faces) had hits with "Maggie Mae," "Stay With Me," and "You Wear It Well."
The group broke up in 1975 when Ronnie Lane left the group and Wood left to join the Rolling Stones.
Since then Mac has toured extensively -- with the Rolling Stones (late '70s) and Bonnie Raitt
('80-'83), among others -- cut two solo LPs in 1979 and 1981 and has continuously provided
studio backup for name musicians from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen to Melissa
Etheridge, and many others.
Tracklist:
1. Best of British
2. I Only Wanna Be With You
3. She Stole It!
4. Warm Rain
5. Hope Street
6. Hello Old Friend
7. Big Love
8. Don't Let Him Out Of Your Sight
9. Suzie Gotta Sweet Face
10. Barking Dogs
11. I Will Follow
12. This Time
