The Return Of The Fabulous Shades

It’s 1962, the school bus rolls along, Wonderful Land comes on the radio, and it takes my breath away. I fall in love with ‘that sound.’  I buy a red guitar, form a band - The Shades - and start playing. I don’t let go. I adore the guitar/big band innovations that Jet and Tony create and the jazz inflections of the early Brian Bennett Group. I move on of course: John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Mark Knopfler, Sonny Landreth and many others but nothing surpasses that first thrill. In 2019 The original Shades, now approaching 70, meet again for a one off concert and The Return Of The Fabulous Shades is born – new music infused with that familiar iconic sound, a real labour of love.

Kevyn Smith is an independent writer, musician and producer. He wrote, played and arranged The Return of The Fabulous with a little help from his friends. He still has the red guitar but chose to use his white ‘Marvin’ special Burns for this album.


Money Green Blues
Catwalk 2020
Theme From Cobalt Blues (Remix)
Hope Springs Eternal
Dollia Coxon
One Less Shadow
The Return Of The Fabulous Shades
The Transfiguration Of The Eagle-Eyed Fahey
Shifting Sand
Stew's Waltz
Boom Boom Goodnight
Thinking Of Tomorrow

VIDEOS

And here are video links for two of the tracks:

Catwalk 2020 was originally written for The Shades way back in 1964.

HERE

And Dollia Coxon is an 18th century folk song from Newcastle - and you know who comes from there!

HERE