First released in 2004 to mark the Birmingham-based R&B revivalists 20th anniversary, Roll The Dice illustrates perfectly why they remain held in such high stead by more familiar artists. Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, and Jools Holland all feature on a lively collection of no-nonsense toe-tappers and roof-rattlers.
The songs of Bobby Bland (Yield Not), Otis Blackwell (Daddy Rollin’ Stone) and Ruth Brown (Sweet Baby Of Mine) form the backbone of their vintage goodtime vibes, but more modern excursions such as Tom Waits’s Down In The Hole also give the Playboys ample opportunity to show off their drum-tight musical chops. Holland lets rip with some sleazy blues piano on Charlie Rich’s Merry Way, while Plant gets to exercise his rockabilly wail on Look Out Mabel.
For the most part, however, it’s full-time front man Chad Strentz who plays master of ceremonies, his booming holler reminiscent of Howlin’ Wolf. On a low-key live circuit still bafflingly overrun by limp novelty retreads of The Blues Brothers or The Commitments, the Playboys represent a deep-rooted understanding of the form and pull it off with determined authenticity.
