All you ever wanted to know

about AL'S KITCHEN

'The Kitchen' plays your favourite Rock, pop, soul & blues from the last four decades. A sample of a title from the 60's 70's 80's and 90's can be found on their new promotional CD "Re-lived". Recorded at The Old Smithy, Kempsey, the album captures the flavour of a live performance. The four tracks utilise Lorraine's vocal talents to the full: from Cher's 'Walking in Memphis' from the 80's to Cheryl Crow's driving hit 'My Favourite Mistake' in the 90s to Tina Turner's 60s classic 'River Deep, Mountain High' and finally the 70's disco hit from Donna Summer 'Hot Stuff'.

THE BAND IN PROFILE.

Allan met Frank at Worcester College in the 1969. Both had separate musical 'lives' Allan in Folk, Frank in Blues. When they left in '72 they combined and played the Folk Clubs of the West Midlands with Lorraine, also a teacher and a very young Andy Ward as 'Old Horny'. They turned to Folk/Rock and to some very 'for that time' heavy music with a young drummer called Pete Overton. Lorraine left to have a family, but Allan, Frank and Andy stayed together experimenting with other drummers before finally selling all their electric gear and going acoustic (again) with the late Chris Blaymires on harmonica, performing original material penned by Allan under the name 'Zoobes'.

After Chris left, the Band drifted rather aimlessly and fell apart for a few years in the 80's before reforming as a five and occasionally, six piece with Al, Andy and Frank as the mainstays before Matt Davies joined on keyboards and, with the acquisition of an electronic drum machine became Al's Kitchen (an early rehearsal venue in Hartlebury) playing covers from the 50's onwards. Lorraine rejoined to make a vast difference to the vocals and the final piece of the jigsaw saw Andy Brown, a vastly experienced drummer join in 1999. Andy left in early 2003 to be replaced by Mick Smith. Matt decided to take a break due to family and work committments and was replaced by James Callaghan. In 2005 Jake, Al's son, joined on a permanent basis after guesting on many occasions.

Allan and Frank are retired teachers, Lorraine and James teach children with Learning Difficulties in Dudley, Andy is a Central heating Engineer and Mick an electrician. Jake is a landscape gardener.Together they are Al's Kitchen.

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