Si Cranstoun - Old School

Si Cranstoun

Old School

(Ruf Records)

The phrase ‘it does what it says on the tin’ is somewhat overused BUT every now and again it suits what one is trying to describe. This is an unashamed retro/blast from the past collection of songs in the form of an album designed by the originator to act as a musical tonic. If we’re judging success by the achievement of a clear aim then this record rings the bells. Mr Cranstoun feels the world is currently a tad monochrome and jaded and that many things we can rejoice in can be overlooked in a slurry of depressing news. He and his band go for an organic and elemental sound and general vibe, hence here is not one note on this entire collection that couldn’t have been recorded fifty years ago or more. For some that is no bad thing.

The players here are Si on vocals, guitar, bass and keys, Mez Clough on drums, Stewart Panaman on bass, Dan Faulkner and Drew Davies on the saxes Jon Radford on trumpet and Patrick Hayes on trombone ; plus there are further contributions from Neil Casey and Paddy Milner on piano and extra guitar work by Simon Picton and Jay Gipson.

Most of the numbers are self-penned though I know Lover Please from Billy Swan.

It’s a Let’s Dance manifesto if we’re honest and the impression I get is that a packed dancefloor is what Cranstoun likes best.

The better cuts are the title track which brings to mind The Coasters, the horn-spiked Vegas Baby, the cod-drama of Run Free which conjures up Sam Cooke, the bouncy Jukebox Jump, the Crickets-like Count On Me, the springheeled Skinny Jeans, dance item Big Bess and pleading Lover Please. By the time you’ve heard these you will be convinced a time warp has dumped you in front of a valve radio listening to Saturday Club in 1958…

If you like Louis Jordan, James Hunter or even Sha Na Na, this disc may well be one you will dig, man. It sounds like it was fun to put together.