Legend is the band that Mickey Jupp fronted and that split 18 months before the pub-rock phenomenon broke, and Moonshine is the album they recorded just before that implosion. Everything about the enterprise, from the tongue-incheek name downwards, seemed suitably self-deprecating, with song titles such as Local Folk’Ol, Shine On My Shoes and At The Shop deliberately downbeat.
Like The Paramounts, Southend’s 60s R&B legends, Jupp was American-influenced. But whereas The Paramounts Anglicised themselves as Procol Harum, he remained Statesfixated. Few of these tracks exceed three minutes, but some, notably the string-backed Another Guy, are little gems. Unfortunately, in 1972 when this was released, it was totally out of step with musical fashion.
The end of Legend was, save a couple of brief renaissance periods, the end of Mickey Jupp as a bandleader. These days he doesn’t even perform, let alone record. His contributions to Chris Welch’s sleevenotes and the limited edition mini-gatefold replica sleeve make this very evocative of the period. The addition of standalone single Don’t You Never/Someday makes Moonshine an even better buy for Jupp fans.
