You may wonder when you read the title of this lp, "R&B Plus" - plus what ? Plus the Mark Leeman Five of course, but also a little bit of jazz - a lot of feeling and the distinctive sound that can be only produced by true musicians. Personally I am unable to select a favourite track from the eleven. This is just a small sample of the very wide range the boys are capable of. From the belting rhythm of "got my mojo working" to the gentle phrasing in "Frenzy" -
THIS is the Mark Leeman Five.
Jim Goff
If you're a fan of British R&B and haven't heard the tracks you'll be blown away - listen to the incisive guitar and Mark Leeman's stunningly sublime vocals on the barnstorming opener, and then realise that this was recorded in 1963 - it makes bands like the Stones and Yardbirds recordings from the time sound like that of pissant wannabees, and even my beloved Downliners Sect and Pretty Things don't come close. Even if you're not a fan of the era and style, then you have to be impressed by the musicianship and the sheer balls of a British band daring to take on a jazz classic like "Moanin'" or the arrangement and vocals on "Work Song". I guess that as an unsigned band using Pye's studios they were limited by time, and most of the tracks were one or two takes. It's an understatement to say they must have been absolutely awesome live...