The Bellhops - The Great Con Job

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2011
Time: 63:48 
Size: 155,9 MB 
Label: Self-Released
Styles: Blues/Jump Blues/R&B
Art: Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Bellhoppin' - 4:06
 2. Have I Got Blues For You - 5:16
 3. The Thrill is Gone - 5:08
 4. Saturday Night - 4:10
 5. Cell Block No. 9 - 4:58
 6. C C Rider - 5:57
 7. Middle Arm Boogie - 4:26
 8. Personal Manager - 6:38
 9. Use It or Lose It - 2:41
10. Who's Been Talking - 4:54
11. Walking the Dog - 4:45
12. Little Sister - 4:30
13. I'm Ready - 6:13

It’s a  live album recorded live (of course) at the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium, and cleverly titled The Great Con Job. Well, their trademark sense of humour is intact. In search of elusive gigs, The Bellhops contracted first to the 3 piece Hellboppers, then to a vehicle for Ian Dittman’s songs called The Bottle Rocket Combo, but here they are back in all their 6 piece glory, and it’s great to hear them again. Ian Dittman’s great vocals and guitar, John Russell’s slashing slide, the rock solid engine room of Mark Roulston (bass) and Steve”Wrongway” Lovarini (drums), and of course the duelling saxes of Stephen O’Connell (tenor) and Ed Schots (Baritone). Lineups don’t get much better than this. Five of the tracks here have been on their earlier albums but certainly bear repeating. The other 8 tracks are covers from their live repertoire and what a great bunch of songs they are. Favourites like Thrill is gone, Personal manager, CC Rider, Who’s been talkin’, Walking the dog and I’m ready all allow the guys to strut their collective stuff. And of course there’s theJeff Cripps number, Saturday Night, which I reckon is a modern rock ‘n’ roll classic. There’s lots of great guitar, including lashings of JR’s slide, and heaps of big honking brass, all pulled together by Ian’s fine vocals and carried along by Mark & Steve’s interesting and entertaining back line. This is a typically very enjoyable Bellhops album and an essential addition to your Bellhops CD collection. If you haven’t got one, start it with this CD.

The Great Con Job