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Between 1964 and 1968, Birmingham’s Spencer Davis Group charted seven U.K. Top 40 hits (including two No. 1s) and two in the U.S. Top 10.  Although the R&B band was short-lived, songs like “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Keep On Running” and “I’m a Man” remain classic rock staples today.  A collection of odds and ends has just been released by Cherry Red Records as part of its PressPlay series.  The label describes the PressPlay initiative as offering “the perfect introduction to the music of its most popular artists at a competitive price.  From ‘70s prog to punk, vintage ska to rock’n’roll, ‘60s beat to ‘80s indie, PressPlay’s The Collection range will complement the existing Cherry Red labels by combining great value-for-money with the best music from a wide range of iconic cult bands/artists.”  The budget-priced Keep On Running: The Collection brings together 20 tracks from The Spencer Davis Group’s discography.

Spencer Davis formed the group that bore his name in 1963 when the Welsh guitarist invited singer/guitarist/pianist Steve Winwood, Steve’s brother and bassist Muff, and drummer Pete York to join him in a new band.  By late 1965, The Spencer Davis Group had reached the summit of the U.K. pop chart with “Keep On Running,” written by Jackie Edwards.  Edwards’ “Somebody Help Me” and “When I Come Home” (co-written with Steve Winwood) continued the group’s winning streak, reaching No. 1 and No. 12, respectively, on the U.K. chart.  The stage had been set for success in America, too, which was achieved when 1966’s U.K. No. 2 hit “Gimme Some Lovin’,” co-written by Davis and the Winwoods, went all the way to No. 7 in the United States.  Its follow-up, 1967’s “I’m a Man,” by Steve Winwood and Jimmy Miller, also went Top 10 in both countries.

That same year, though, Steve and Muff Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group.  Steve went on to form Traffic, and Muff segued into a behind-the-scenes career at Island Records.  Davis soldiered on with new members, guitarist Phil Sawyer and keyboardist/vocalist Eddie Hardin.  Sawyer lasted only a matter of months, and was replaced by Ray Fenwick.  The album With Their New Face On introduced the new line-up, and the band actually collaborated with Traffic when both bands appeared on the soundtrack to the film Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.  Soon, Hardin and York departed – to form the appropriately named prog-rock duo Hardin and York! – and future Elton John Band members Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums stepped in.  (Olsson was actually a replacement for another short-lived member,  drummer Dave Hynes.)  1969’s Funky never received a British release, and two albums recorded in 1973 and 1974 for the Vertigo label with an altered line-up (Davis, Fenwick, Hardin, York, and bassist Charlie McCracken) didn’t reverse the group’s fortunes, though Spencer Davis still tours with a new version of the group today.

What will you find on Keep On Running?  Hit the jump for more details plus a full track listing and order link!

The new anthology combines radio and television-sourced performances of the group’s early, Steve and Muff Winwood-era hits (“Keep on Running,” “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “I’m a Man”) with a selection of studio performances from post-Winwood albums With Their New Face On, Gluggo and Living in a Back Street plus the Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush soundtrack.  All of the live tracks have been previously released on compilations, and although there are some unique tracks, this disc also resembles Cherry Red’s 2004 Keep On Running: 40th Anniversary which followed a similar template.  Simon Murphy at Another Planet Music has remastered, and there are brief, uncredited liner notes as well.  No discographical annotation has been included as to the date and source of the live tracks.

Keep on Running: The Collection is available now from Cherry Red Records and can be ordered at the link below!

The Spencer Davis Group, Keep on Running: The Collection (Cherry Red PRESS2CD, 2013)

1. Keep On Running (Radio Version)
2. Looking Back (from Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, United Artists LP UAS 5175, 1968)
3. Somebody Help Me (Radio Version)
4. Mr. Second Class (from With Their New Face On, United Artists LP UAS 6652, 1967)
5. I’m a Man (Radio Version)
6. Time Seller (from With Their New Face On, United Artists LP UAS 6652, 1967)
7. Gimme Some Lovin’ (TV Version)
8. Catch You on the Rebop (from Gluggo, Vertigo LP VEL-1015, 1973)
9. Taking Out Time (original version from Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, United Artists LP UAS 5175, 1968)
10. When I Come Home (Radio Version)
11. Possession (from Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, United Artists LP UAS 5175, 1968)
12. I Can’t Stand It (Radio Version)
13. Every Little Thing (from Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, United Artists LP UAS 5175, 1968)
14. Dimples (TV Version)
15. Morning Sun (from With Their New Face On, United Artists LP UAS 6652, 1967)
16. Together Till the End of Time (Radio Version)
17. Don’t Want You No More (from With Their New Face On, United Artists LP UAS 6652, 1967)
18. Living in a Back Street (from Living in a Back Street, Vertigo LP VEL-1021, 1974)
19. She Put the Hurt on Me (Radio Version)
20. Sanity Inspector (from With Their New Face On, United Artists LP UAS 6652, 1967)

All tracks are previously released.