Brian Knight, Jon McLoughlin, Steve Bray, Ray Bailey, Good TIme Down The Road

rian Knight – A Good Time Down The Road

Artist: Brian Knight (featuring Jon McLoughlin, Steve Bray, and Ray Bailey)

Title: A Good Time Down The Road

Album Type: Studio Album (Original Vinyl Release)

Original Release Date: 1981

Label: Black Crow Records (Catalog: CRO 202)

Genre: Blues / British Blues / Blues Rock

Background & Production A Good Time Down The Road is a cult classic of the 1980s British blues scene. Brian Knight, a stalwart of the London blues circuit since the 1960s (and a contemporary of early Rolling Stones and Yardbirds members), recorded this album for the independent Black Crow Records. The sessions feature a tight-knit ensemble: Jon McLoughlin on guitar, Steve Bray on bass, and Ray Bailey on drums. Knight, a master of the National steel guitar and rack harmonica, creates a sound that is both authentic to the Delta tradition and uniquely British.

Musical Composition & Style The album is a lean, no-nonsense collection of acoustic and electric blues, focusing on Knight’s gruff, soulful vocals and slide guitar work.

• The "Front Room" Feel: The production style is famously intimate and unpolished, capturing the raw energy of a live session rather than a glossy studio product.

• Virtuoso Slide: Knight’s work on the National steel guitar is a focal point, particularly on the slower, atmospheric tracks.

• Rhythm Section: McLoughlin, Bray, and Bailey provide a steady, understated shuffle that allows Knight’s harmonica and vocals to take center stage.

• Lyrical Themes: Traditional blues motifs of travel, resilience, and "good times" are filtered through the lens of a veteran musician who lived through the UK blues boom.

Original Pressing & Collector Notes As a release on the small, independent Black Crow Records, original copies are relatively rare and highly sought after by European blues collectors.

• Identification: The original 1981 UK pressing (CRO 202) features a minimalist Black Crow label.

• Matrix/Deadwax: These pressings were often cut at Porky Prime Cut (George Peckham); look for the signature "PORKY" or "A PORKY PRIME CUT" hand-etched in the runout groove, which signifies a high-quality, high-gain analog master.

• The Sleeve: The cover usually features a stark, monochromatic or sepia-toned photograph of Brian Knight, reflecting the earthy nature of the music.

• Market Rarity: Because it was an indie release with a limited distribution, finding a "Near Mint" copy with no ring wear on the jacket is quite a feat for collectors today.

• • Keywords: Brian Knight, A Good Time Down The Road, Original Pressing, 1981 Vinyl, Black Crow Records, British Blues, Slide Guitar, National Steel Guitar, Jon McLoughlin, Blues Rock.

  • Collection Ideas: British Blues Revival, Independent Blues Labels, Slide Guitar Masters, Hidden Gems of the 80s.

  • Related Artists: Alexis Korner, Cyril Davies, Jo-Ann Kelly, Duster Bennett, Peter Green.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve