Kornerstoned: The Alexis Korner Anthology 1954-1983

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Castle Music to release first wholly comprehensive anthology album of the Godfather of British Blues – Alexis Korner on May 1st, 2006. The double disc album release of Kornerstoned: The Alexis Korner Anthology – 1954-1983, a deluxe slip cased set laced with copious rarities and material which debuts on CD for the very first time. Alexis Korner’s role in the development of UK Blues, R&B and Rock cannot be overstated, and this set pays homage to the great musician. Featured sidemen, guests include Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Paul Rodgers, Chris Farlowe, Davy Graham, Long John Baldry, Robert Plant, Cyril Davies, Peter Thorup, Zoot Money, Duffy Power, Dick Heckstall-Smith & many more.

But his most important role was perhaps that of a catalyst, discovering and encouraging emergent talent - as the cast list of sidemen playing on this compilation confirms. He first recorded in 1954 with Ken Colyer’s band, before forming his own combo with Cyril Davies in 1956. They made their first recordings in 1957 for a tiny collectors’ label, billed variously as Alexis Korner’s Breakdown Group and Alexis Korner’s Skiffle Group, before adopting the infinitely hipper-sounding Blues Incorporated identity in 1960. Over the years, Blues Inc underwent endless line-up changes, and by the late 60s Alexis was trying out new brand names (e.g. Free At Last). After his next band, New Church, had begun to make waves in Europe, another of his projects, CCS, unexpectedly charted in the UK with their chunky, big band arrangement of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’. But within a couple of years Alexis was on the move again, alternating an increasingly eclectic solo career with further group projects like Snape and Back Door, and continuing to record with as many different musicians as was humanly possible! This is the first in-depth study of Alexis’ career, starting with a cut from his earliest session and ending with the semi-autobiographical ‘Mean Fool’ from his very last, a live set for the BBC.

Kornerstoned is the first in a series of a major reissue programme from Sanctuary Records; the Korner catalogue has recently been acquired by the label, with all those really rare albums (e.g. Blues From The Roundhouse, R&B From The Marquee, At The Cavern and Sky High) remastered with bonus tracks, which will start following later this year. The Korner range will be stickered with the “Godfather Of British Blues” icon, which will appear on all forthcoming Alexis Korner output. For the collector, the album inlay also features photo’s & memorabilia drawn from Alexis’ family’s archives, with comprehensive liner notes by Neil ‘Mr Blues’ Slaven.

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