The very latest Big Town Playboys Album "Roll the Dice", after a very long wait, is now available for ordering directly from this site. Full details on how to purchase this CD can now be found here along with four Realaudio tracks from the album for you to "try before you buy".

The album features 14 tracks from the very cream of the UK blues and Rn'B scene:

1. "Sweet Lovin Mama" (Starring special friends Chad Strentz, Andy Fairweather-Low)
2. "Yield Not" (Starring special friend Chad Strentz)
3. "Hit, Git & Split" (Starring special friend Jools Holland)
4. "Down In The Hole" (Starring special friend Steve Weston)
5. "Merry Way" (Starring special friends Lisa Mills, Jools Holland)
6. "Look Out Mabel" (Starring special friends Robert Plant, Jeff Beck)
7. "Daddy Rollin Stone" (Starring special friend Steve Weston)
8. "Hot Dog" (Starring special friend Chad Strentz)
9. "Sweet Baby Of Mine" (Starring special friend Lisa Mills)
10. "Not For Me" (Starring special friend Chad Strentz)
11. "Up The Line" (Starring special friend Steve Weston, Jools Holland)
12. "Come To Love" (Starring special friend Lisa Mills)
13. One Monkey (Starring special friends Steve Weston)
14. "Big Town" (Starring special friend Chad Strentz)

LATEST NEWS!! The Big Town Playboys performed with Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott's in November 07 as part of Jeff's week of gigs at the venue. The band played amongst other things music from the album "Crazy Legs" which the band recorded with Jeff in 1993. Other guests included Eric Clapton, Joss Stone and Imogen Heap. The show was filmed and should be available on DVD later this year.

First formed in 1984, bass player Ian Jennings is the sole surviving founder member of The Big Town Playboys: but those that play in the band look on it rather like a private club; people come in, stay for a bit, go and come back again. This obviously makes for an interesting line-up at any gig, whether in the UK or abroad.

Their songs of choice are derived from the black America of the 1950s. Rockabilly and swing music were influences, but nobody was experimenting with west coast rhythm and blues; Amos Milburn, Willie Littlefield, Willie Egans – and that's where the Big Town Playboys found their niche. Stylistically it’s a more saxophone and piano based feel with bigger line-ups and it is more dance oriented than Chicago blues. The contagious dance grooves, the boogie piano, the sax riffs, the overdriven guitar solos and the wailing blues of the vocalists are all part of the reason for this band’s obsessionwith the music known as Rhythm and Blues.

By the end of the 1990s the band had visited the USA three times, including a residency at Mick Fleetwood's club in Los Angeles, a tour of the West coast, a TV show and a trip to New York. The current line-up comprises:

• Chad Strentz – Vocals, Harp, Piano
• Dave Wilkinson – Guitar
• Ian Jennings – Double Bass, Bass Guitar
• Mark Morgan – Drums
• Jools Catre– Tenor & Baritone Sax
• Matt Empson – Keyboards

However, this may change at any given moment, depending on independent projects, touring or recording commitments. That’s one of the exciting features of a Big Town Playboys’ gig – you never know who may be waiting to take the mike with them. This is compounded by their fan-base of well-known rock musicians and singers: -

Biography:

November 1984: Formation of the Big Town Playboys in the West Midlands.

1985: Release of first album, Playboy Boogie, recorded live at Dublin Castle, Camden Town, London.

1986: Performed with Robert Plant at NEC in front of 15,000 people.

1986: Recording of “It’s my life Baby” with Eric Clapton for the sound track of the Paul Newman/ Tom Cruise film “The Color of Money”.

1987: One month European Tour supporting Eric Clapton, including six nights at the Royal Albert Hall.

1989: Tour of West Coast of US. Including guest appearances from Mick Fleetwood plus live coast to coast TV appearance on Pat Sajack show.

1990: Release of second album, Now Appearing, Considered to be the definitive Playboys album.

1991: Playboys appear on Jools Hollands’ BSB music program “The Happening”

1991: Recording of film sound track with Jeff Beck for the Robbie Coltraine/ Peter Richardson film “The Pope Must Die”.

1992: Playboys play at end of tour party for Fleetwood Mac.

1993: Release of third Playboys album, (This album is seen as a Playboys album as much as a Jeff Beck album and Jeff would agree.) “Crazy Legs” by Jeff Beck and the Big Town Playboys. Released on Epic this album is considered to be the best known Playboys recording so far.

1995: Release of fourth album, “Hip Joint”

1996: Asked to support Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall for three nights of Blues.

1997: Release of fifth album “Off the Clock” a double CD recorded live with Andy Fair Weather Low on Guitar and Vocals.

2000: Release of sixth album “Western World”

2001: One month tour of South Africa. First time in the southern hemisphere for the band.

2003: Playboys play at Rolling Stones end of world tour party.

2004: Release of Playboys seventh and current album on Mi5 recordings. This is album marks the twentieth birthday of the band and so it was thought that it should feature guest appearances from friends who have been involved with the band over the years. Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, Andy Fair Weather Low and Jools Holland all join the Playboys on some of their favourite songs. Apart from the big names they also joined for the first time by female vocalist. Lisa Mills travelled from Mobile, Alabama to record three songs with the guys. Other vocals are supplied by Chad Strentz and Steve Weston.

2005: Broadcast of interview and live recordings on the Jools Holland BBC radio 2 show. As well as performing three numbers themselves they were joined by Jools on Piano for a number.

2005: Apart from promoting their current album The Playboys will be performing in India for the first time as part of a fund raising event for victims of the Tsunami. They will be joined by Andy Fair Weather Low and Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) for two gigs one in Delhi and the other in Chennai (Madras).

Other facts that maybe of interest:

Playboys have performed for Prince Charles and Princess Diane.

Playboys played at Jools Holland’s birthday party.

Playboys played at Tommy Hilfiger party in south of France.

Playboys played at Eric Claptons’ 25 years in the business party at the Savoy.

Playboys played at Robert Plants’ daugthers' wedding.

Playboys played at Robert Crays' wedding.

Playboys supported John Lee Hooker in UK.

Playboys have backed many legendary blues performers including Lowell Fulsom, Cary and Laurie Bell, Little Willie Littlefield, Champion Jack Dupree, Rosco Gordon and Jimmy Nelson.

Through out their existence The Playboys have always been dedicated to recording, performing and generally celebrating the music of Blues, Rhythm and Blues and Rock n Roll and play it with the energy and exuberance that it calls for.

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