Originally released in 1973, but reissued with four extra tracks as part of
Sanctuary's Blues Masters series in 2003,
Chicken Shack's Unlucky Boy finds guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and band founder
Stan Webb in fine form. Only drummer
Paul Hancox remains from the uneven Imagination Lady, and indeed the horn-oriented approach here is much different than the plodding
Led Zeppelin-isms of the previous disc.
Webb contributes six originals, and even though they are derivative of
Savoy Brown (a band he joined for the Boogie Brothers album just a year later), his approach here is much more subtle and controlled than on his last effort.
Chris Mercer's saxes, often double tracked to sound like a horn section, bring a tough
r&b to the mix, and drummer
Hancox is a controlled powerhouse.
Webb also reigns in his impulse to overextend guitar solos so prevalent on Imagination Lady, whipping off tight, controlled leads instead. Producer
Neil Slaven contributes honest, witty, and often self-deprecating liner notes that help explain why two of these songs suffer from poor mixes (basically, he had consumed various substances and couldn't salvage the songs after the fact). Strings on "As Time Goes Passing By," (also included in a shorter single version) are a nice touch and bring a bit of class to the proceedings while maintaining the
r&b slant of the disc. Two unedited studio jams make the cut as "Stan the Man" and the seven-minute "Jammin' with the Ash," both featuring pianist
Tony Ashton, who really lets loose on the latter. Things get stripped down for an unusually delicate version of
Lonnie Johnson's "Too Late to Cry" with just strummed guitar and bass. The opening trio of
Webb-penned tunes shows some of his best songwriting with the instrumental "Prudence's Party" a terrific capsule of
Webb's stinging, gritty guitar style. The album sounds dated but harkens back to a particular time in
british blues that is charming in its anything goes attitude. That helps make this one of
Stan Webb's more consistent and successful offerings. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide
