Jimmy Regal And The Royals Talk New Album, Musical Influences And More

Nov 2, 2024 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Photo Credit: Chris Griffiths/Riff Photos

Three-piece blues band Jimmy Regal and The Royals released their latest album ‘First and Last Stop’ and have been regularly touring. The band chatted to JLTT about the record, their musical influences and more:

Who is in Jimmy Regal and The Royals, what do they play and how did you meet?

Joff- harmonica, vocals, some guitar

CJ- guitar

Sammy-drums, percussion and backing vox

CJ and Joff met a gig on which were both playing with other bands. We got talking and realised we shared a lot of the same musical interests such as New Orleans music and hill country blues. CJ suggested we get together in a rehearsal room and see what happens. He brought along Sammy and that was it, the Regals were born.

When did you begin songwriting?

CJ: About aged 8, making up tunes on the piano and inventing non existent albums. 

Joff: Much later than that. Actual songs started with Jimmy Regal. Before that it was mainly instrumental music.

Sammy: My first song was at about 10. It was called One Way Love!

What is your earliest musical memory?

CJ: My mother playing Chopin.

Joff: Being in the car with mum and dad listening to tapes. That would be mostly 70’s music.

Sammy: I remember Piano man mid 70’s crossing the Nepean River in the blue mountains on my way home on a car ferry – very vivid memory for some reason

Your new album ‘First and Last Stop’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

A live, vibrant feel at its core, with layers of horns and rhythm.

Sammy – genuine energy and joy

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

Recorded at Perry Vale studios in Forest Hill with the legendary Pat Collier. Sadly he passed away recently. He had an incredible history, working on many records with all sorts of artists. You will probably have an album made by Pat Collier. Lenny Bignell produced the album for us.

 One of the tracks is ‘Ain’t Done Yet’.  What is the story/inspiration behind the track?

Sammy:

“Ain’t done yet” is kind of biographical about getting older without necessarily ‘getting older’ Just before I turned 50 I was asked how I felt and the line Devil likes his meat cooked real slow, ain’t quite 50 got a long way to go just popped out. From there the song almost wrote itself based on the passing of decades and the fact that for me getting older in numbers only changed how I was having fun and living life, not slowing me down…

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the album recording sessions?

Recording the horn parts, getting these great players to solo over the whole track with the idea of later producing dub versions. At some point, everyone runs out of breath and ideas.

Who created/designed the album artwork?

The concept was put together by us. We wanted to reflect our musical influences and where we come from. Hence references to New Orleans, Dakar in Senegal, Australia, and Crystal Place. Design and layout by Jon heal and Illustration by Elly Walton.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage? 

To have played well and to have connected to at least one person out there.

Sammy: to have inspired a new generation of players and to leave a body of music that in it’s own way contributes to the fabric of music

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

CJ-Watkins Copycat tape delay.

Joff: Hohner harmonicas and a Fender Bassman amp

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

London. Big. Thronging. Surprising. Old. New. 

Which of the tracks on the new album hear you at your a) happiest, New Flame b) angriest, Bones to Dust and c) most reflective, Do Whatever You Can.

How do you look after your voices? 

Try to do some regular vocal practice.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Factotum by Charles Bukowski. A lot of bar scenes, which would need a band.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

 Professor Longhair, a master of playing two different rhythms at once. Clarence Gatemouth Brown, fluid and funky. Boubacar Traore, amazing feel and complex rhythm from Mali. Townes Van Zandt, such a deep songwriter.

Joff: Dr John, RL Burnside, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Nine below zero, and playing with Diabel Cissokho. I recommend all of them!

 Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024/2025?

Plent of dates already booked for 2025. Hoping to get to Europe later in the year.

Was it a difficult album to write?

The songs came quite naturally, and some had been written some years earlier.

What makes Jimmy Regal and The Royals happy and what makes you unhappy?

Happy to meet people on the same musical journey as us, whether that be a room full of cheering people at a gig or playing with musicians we admire. Not happy to deal with parts of the music business that doesn’t seem to like music very much.

Jimmy Regal And The Royals

Feature Image Photo Credit: Chris Griffiths/Riff Photos

Jimmy Regal And The Royals latest album ‘First And Last Stop’ is out now on Lunaria Records.

Purchase the album here: https://www.jimmyregalandtheroyals.com/shop 

For more information visit the band’s official website: https://www.jimmyregalandtheroyals.com/