Ramblings

I discovered the Moonlight Club when I was living in Kilburn and working as a trainee accountant. It was in the part of town optimistically called West Hampstead, a twenty minute walk from my flat. In an earlier incarnation it was Klooks Kleek, a favourite venue for blues legends like John Mayall, Cream, Stevie Wonder when he was still Little, Fleetwood Mac when Peter Green was in the band, Georgie Fame, and a band called Bluesology featuring a young keyboard player called Reg Dwight.

These days they had up and coming bands, usually with a punk vibe – apparently it was where U2 played their first gig outside Ireland – and it became a regular haunt when I fancied music and a pint.

On this warm Wednesday evening it was the prospect of soul and R&B which attracted me. Ruby Turner and her band were, I think, the support – although I don’t recall who might have been top of the bill. Ruby came on stage with (I think) Jaki Graham, and I took a guess that Ruby was the better singer. Sure enough, during the set she sang a blistering version of I’d Rather Go Blind, which she introduced as a Rod Stewart song. Halfway through the band dropped away and she sang a capella for I’m sure, a full two minutes. The vulnerability, the courage and the voice transfixed the audience. When she stopped there was a second of stunned silence followed by a roar of acclaim. It was a thrilling performance.

Being a nerdy know-all, I approached her at the bar at the interval to shower her with praise and point out that some of us white kids, at least, regarded it as an Etta James song. No doubt she was delighted to receive this information from me. I asked her what the band was called – so they might not have been named on the bill at all – and she replied simply “The Ruby Turner Band”. She was lovely, and it was obvious she had a great future.

I later learned that she was Jamaican born British, just 22 at the time, and that she released a single that year, Separate Ways, backed with a gorgeous version of Dylan’s I Shall Be Released. I was disappointed that she didn’t immediately become a massive star – while Jaki Graham went on to have three top ten hits in the 1980s – but cracking the charts has always been as much about image as talent.

Arguably Ruby’s success has been consistent rather than commercially spectacular, and never quite matched her reputation. She has scored eight single and three album chart entries in the UK without quite cracking the top twenty. She has a wonderful voice, at home with soul, R&B, reggae and gospel (and inevitably, where Jools is involved, boogie-woogie) – a superb stylist, but perhaps missing a more distinctive personal style which might have helped her break through to (even) bigger things. And she has never had the killer original signature song which could move her to a new level of success.

Happily she’s had an excellent career, often working with Jools Holland, who knows a good’un when he hears one. She has also provided backing vocals for artists including Bryan Ferry, UB40, Steel Pulse, Steve Winwood and Mick Jagger. She achieved the rare feat, for a British singer, of reaching no.1 on the US R&B chart, with It’s Gonna Be Alright in 1990. She has been a fixture on the BBC’s Jools’ Annual Hootenanny since 2007. On New Year’s Eve 1999, she sang the National Anthem for the Queen, Tony Blair and other dignitaries at the opening of the Millennium Dome, in London. She performed at both the diamond and platinum jubilees of the late Queen. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also done some acting work. A pretty damn fine career, I’d say.

For me she is at her best singing deep soul – like I’d Rather Go Blind (above) or this marvellous version of Stay With Me Baby from 1994. The original recording by Lorraine Ellison was an adolescent favourite of mine, but Ruby’s version is more soulful and musical, without the vocal histrionics and orchestral overkill which give Ellison’s recording such a strong flavour.

Although my memory is of Jaki Graham being in the band back in 1980, I couldn’t confirm that online, so I thought I’d reach out, as they say, to see if I could get confirmation from Ruby herself. And she replied!

Hi Rik

Apologies for late response. I’m on tour and it’s a challenge these days keeping up with everything that life throws at us sometimes too many! but thank God we overcome. I have to say reading your message very late into the night made me smile! I remember the name of the venue vaguely…I learnt the song I’d Rather Go Blind when I was sixteen years old, from hearing Etta James and Chicken Shack . Of course many have covered it…It was indeed many years ago a great time learning about this business.

Looking back I was having the best time making music and enjoying singing with the band . Interestingly enough someone else put up a gig list on Facebook yesterday 1980 Dingwalls! There was my name amongst bands and other artists that are no longer around. Well! as far as I can see . So it’s been a real privilege to still be working at this time of my life. Back then I played many of the university’s gala balls! The Half Moon Putney! Dingwalls later the Jazz Cafe! Still going strong, The Road House Covent Garden and of course Ronnie Scott’s! Which I’m still playing after all these years. I hope this will help with your recounting of shows you’ve attended back then.

Wishing you well

Ruby

What a lovely message! She didn’t quite get to the Jaki Graham question, but the energy, laughter, humility and joy bubbles out of every line. And how many artists of her calibre and reputation would take the time to reply to an earnest fan enquiry? Long may she thrill us with that glorious voice. Bless you Ruby.