The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Gamblin' Bar Room Blues Single (1975)

Harvey's Shake That Thing Swing

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s “Gamblin' Bar Room Blues” 7-inch vinyl single, was released in the UK on November 14, 1975, on Vertigo Records (catalogue: ALEX 002). Backed with “Shake That Thing,” this theatrical blues-rock cover of Jimmie Rodgers/Shelley Lee Alley (A) and Alex Harvey original (B), was produced by D. Batchelor for Mountain Records. The A-side’s fiddler-driven barroom tale and B-side’s raucous energy peaked at No. 38 on the UK Singles Chart for 8 weeks. Pressed by Phonodisc Ltd., lacquer cut at EMI Records, issued with some Christmas inserts, it’s a raucous SAHB classic.

THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HAR-VEY BAND:

Gamblin' Bar Room Blues (Vertigo)

And what will little Alex be getting in his stocking this year? That's if he's not wearing it over his head at the time, and slitting Santa's gizzard. A cut throat-razor and a kiddies' embalming Set, dearie? We'll have to see what Mummy can do. And the single? Well, a lame attempt to consolidate chart credibility. Englebert's "Release Me" had more punk potential. This is not unlike The Doors' "Whisky Bar" aka Alabama Song, except it lacks Morrison's menace. And is Alex really a Master showman? The way he baits audiences, he's clearly a master taunter, but is that enough? On TOTP the other week, he was hiding that compelling mug behind a potted plant. Could try harder.

NME singles review, 6 Dec 1975

Single Overview

A-Side: “Gamblin' Bar Room Blues”

Written-By – J. Rodgers, Shelley Lee Alley. Producer – D. Batchelor.

B-Side: “Shake That Thing”

Written-By – A. Harvey. Producer – D. Batchelor.

Release Details:

Label: Vertigo Records (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Published By – Southern Music (A), Eiger Music/Panache Music Ltd. (B).

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Phonogram Ltd.

Printed By – Robert Stace.

Pressed By – Phonodisc Ltd.

Lacquer Cut At – EMI Records.

Design – Jack Wood.

Formats:

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (ALEX 002):

A: “Gamblin' Bar Room Blues” (Rodgers, Alley) – Written-By – J. Rodgers, Shelley Lee Alley – Producer – D. Batchelor

B: “Shake That Thing” (Harvey) – Written-By – A. Harvey – Producer – D. Batchelor

Notes: A Mountain Records Production. Some copies with Christmas insert.

Country Variations:

UK (Vertigo ALEX 002)

Germany (Vertigo 6078 223)

France (Vertigo 6078 223)

Scandinavia (Vertigo 6078 223)

Ireland (Vertigo ALEX 002)

Australia (Vertigo 6078 223)

Italy (Vertigo 6078 223)

Spain (Vertigo 60 78 247 promo/regular)

Production and Context

Produced by D. Batchelor for Mountain Records. Recorded in 1975. The lineup: Alex Harvey (vocals), Zal Cleminson (guitar), Chris Glen (bass), Hugh McKenna (keyboards), Ted McKenna (drums). “Gamblin' Bar Room Blues” revived Jimmie Rodgers’ 1930/1932 versions (fiddler Shelley Lee Alley, Clayton McMichen, Slim Bryant), rooted in “Unfortunate Rake” (1700s) lineage via “Streets of Laredo,” “St. James Infirmary,” “Gambler's Blues” (1925 Phil Baxter). “Shake That Thing” was Harvey’s original.

UK Chart Performance:

Entry Date: November 22, 1975.

Peak: No. 38 (December 6, 1975).

Weeks on Chart: 8 (Nov 22, 1975 – Jan 10, 1976).

Chart Run: No. 50 (Nov 22), No. 43 (Nov 29), No. 38 (Dec 6), No. 41 (Dec 13), No. 44 (Dec 20), No. 44 (Dec 27), No. 44 (Jan 3), No. 44 (Jan 10).

Legacy and Collectibility

“Gamblin' Bar Room Blues” is SAHB’s bluesy barroom stomp, with “Shake That Thing” a live-wire B-side. Verify catalogue ALEX 002.

Streams on Spotify via compilations preserve the analog grit. This single is a must-have for SAHB fans and ‘70s rock collectors.

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History