You are hereAlbum Review: The Annie Duggan Band - If I Knew Then.. (Clarksdale)
Album Review: The Annie Duggan Band - If I Knew Then.. (Clarksdale)
With Ann Duggan's distinctive voice backed by a pretty tight rhythmic unit courtesy of the newly re-named 'Annie' Duggan Band, comprising of Rob Hines on guitars, Alan Shotter on bass and harmonica and Gordon Taylor on drums and backing vocals, Ann's fourth album blends country, folk and rock to create something distinctly their own. IF I KNEW THEN... once again demonstrates something of a rarity; the successful transition from a young girl whose musical calling was not at first apparent, to a mature artist who seems to have been born to sing.
Ann Duggan began singing by chance when asked to help out Norfolk-based songwriter Colin Granger who had penned a number of songs but was in need of a voice to blaze their trail. Until that moment, Ann had little or no interest in singing but rose to the challenge and in the last ten years hasn't looked back. Four albums and countless gigs down the line, Ann has blazed that trail which has taken her from the East Midlands to the States and back, sharing stages with such Blues greats as Larry Garner, Lonnie Shields and Mr. Johnnie Billington. The songs on this latest collection indicate that Ann's singing career shows no signs of waning as she continues to grow as a vibrant light on the live music scene.
Those songs are at times reminiscent of early Richard and Linda Thompson, with Ain't That a Shame being a suitable counterpart to Bright Lights, largely due to Rob Hines' mature guitar style and Granger's comparable lyrics. The treatment of Granger's lyrics differs greatly from song to song with Shooter's Last Ride being fairly typical country rock fare, whilst Sucking Down Air has all the hallmarks of early 1970s riff-rock blues. The funky Travellin' Man Blues on the other hand leans more towards Doobie Brothers type West Coast pop, a clear indication of Duggan's versatility as a performer and Granger as an all round songwriter.
The three songs not from the pen of Colin Granger includes Billy Joe and son Eddy Shaver's delightfully optimistic Live Forever, which in the hands of Ann Duggan is much more ballad-like than Shaver's original. Gordon Taylor contributes two songs, the jaunty Taking Me Out Tonight, which makes a good companion to Ain't That a Shame, and the folky Dream of You featuring the only additional musician on the record, Kerrie Vernon, who contributed the violin solo as well as a good deal of hospitality during the making of the record.
Rounding off with Worn Out Blues, a power ballad that wouldn't be out of place as the live show closer with lighters aloft, the Annie Duggan Band continue to develop their own brand of mature bluesy country rock.
Allan Wilkinson
Northern Sky
Allan Wilkinson
Northern Sky
.JPG)
