Discography
Chris Collins & Blues Etc... are signed to the Fuzzy Pig Record label
Chris has also featured on numerous recordings with Bob Pearce.
The most recent CD's, "The Set", "I Ain't No Guitar Slinger" and Everybody’s Rocking at the Challi Bar” were live studio recordings without overdubs to capture that "live" on stage sound.
This is real music played by real people.
f you are interested in obtaining a CD contact Chris via the form on the contact page
Too Much Too Late
From East Oakland
To West Cadnam
Falklands 2003
Looking Back
The Set
I Ain’t No Guitar Slinger
Everybody's Rockin'
at the Challi Bar
Review from Blues In The South
THERE must be something in the water in Southampton. There must be more blues men
per square mile around there than practically any other city in the BITS area. That
I suspect is partly because fans are well provided for by
venues and bookers who are themselves blues fans. Anyway, whether its the water or not, there’s plenty of ‘em around and one of the best is Chris Collins.
Chris Collins has been playing "The Real Deal" since joining Southampton Blues Legend Bob Pearce in 1993. He has toured Europe and the UK with Bob and backed or supported numerous visiting American Blues Artists including Billy Boy Arnold, Sonny Rhodes, Magic Slim, John Primer and Koko Taylor. Here we have fifteen tracks, all originals, ranging from the cajun tinged "Text Me" (excellent atmospheric accordion from Ray Drury), through the soulful "Knock On My Door" with a great and all too brief sax solo from Steve Taylor, to a nicely ironic song "Too Old To Cut The Mustard" with a really Muddyesque slide part from Chris’ old boss, Bob Pearce. There’s a nice harp workout for Pete Welland on Cookin’ Up! and a slide workout for Chris on "5 Minute Job".
Chris has already had some of his stuff covered by other artists (i e CJ Chenier) and some of the songs here deserve the same accolade. All in all a really nice workout for Chris and the band (the instrumental ‘Walking with Hollywood’ is excellent again with some super sax work & excellent drumming (Steve Faithful) and bass work (Darren Stevens). This one is strongly recommended.
Review from The Blues Art Journal
FOLLOWERS of the British blues scene may recall
guitarist Chris from his decade-long stint with Bob Pearce’s band, from him fronting
Blues Etc from 1996 onwards, or perhaps even from C.J. Chenier recording one of his
songs on an Alligator album. Blues Etc... now has a fluid line-up with Chris employing
a pool of musicians to complete the roster – except for the bass duties, Darren Stevens
being the man in this role.
Chris sings, "I ain’t no guitar slinger" and he isn’t; instead he is a clean and
economical guitarist who never wastes a note, and a fine singer. His material spans
the blues from zydeco to southern soul, with strong lyrics (often of a humorous bent)
and sympathetic arrangements; harmonica, horns or accordion are employed as required.
He can also turn in a raw down-
Norman Darwen
