After a sojourn as a solo artist following Stone The Crows’ 1973 break up, the fearless Maggie Bell was once again back in the fray, this time fronting the short-lived Peter Grant-managed blues-rock outfit Midnight Flyer. This 1981 Montreux Jazz Festival appearance saw Bell in the elevated company of Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Magic Slim and Taj Mahal.
Despite the best efforts of the lion-hearted Miss Bell, Midnight Flyer seldom manage to raise the revs above what is, for the most part, unremarkable blues rock. At no point does it come anywhere near matching the raw panache captured so spectacularly on the superb Stone The Crows In Concert, Beat Workshop Germany 1973 DVD released earlier this year by Angel Air Waves. Rather than coming from any original material on display, the highlights arrive with the guest appearances of Taj Mahal on Bring It On Home and Chain Gang, and Albert Collins on the closing Blues Jam and Stormy Monday. They bring with them a welcome sense of gravitas.
