“Rendezvous” is Bev’s 2012 release on Beaujangle DB0041. CD

17 tracks of mainly "country/rock" style songs, although difficult to categorise due to a bit of jazz guitar and bluegrass thrown in for good measure. Performed by Bev on vocal / guitar / bass guitar / mandolin / banjo / percussion / keyboard, together with several of his regular band pals namely Pete Hartley - violin, Maurice Hipkiss - pedal steel guitar / dobro, Dutch Lewis - saxophones, Harry Rowlands - bass guitar / vocal, Ken Wright – drums / vocal. All have contributed to various tracks on this album.
The CD includes an 8-page sleeve notes and lyrics.

Track listing: Rendezvous / That Song We Used to Call Our Own / Didn’t I? / A Little Bit of Country Music / Love Song / Mr. Landlord Don’t Worry / Apache / Dear August / Billy’s Dilemma / Everybody’s Got to Have Friends / Twelve-Month Valentine / The House on The Brow of The Hill / Wildwood Flower / Sweet Georgia Brown / Learning the Game / Wes Hardin And Bad Roy Hill / Over.

Reviews:

"Rendezvous" was chosen as the showcase album on Express FM's Country Music Show hosted by Russell Hill on Sunday 19th August 2012. It was described as "absolutely marvellous" by the DJ and three tracks were broadcast during the show which were "A Little Bit of Country Music and a Little Bit of Rock 'n' Roll", "Apache" and "Sweet Georgia Brown".

Review: "Rendezvous" was reviewed in the March / April issue of "Music Maker" magazine as follows:

"Bev Pegg is a musician who can seemingly turn his hand to a myriad of styles, from country to skiffle, from rock 'n' roll to rhythm and blues. Throw in a little jazz, bluegrass and humour, offer solo and band engagements and seemingly you have an unstoppable one-man entertainment industry.

The rendezvous here is with sounds largely American and the album has an undoubted country feel but not exclusively so. I don't think Bev would claim to be the world's greatest singer (he probably doesn't claim to be Stourbridge's either) but his voice has a certain rough around the edges world-weary charm that fits the music just perfect. He's also adept across a range of different instruments but with a number of associates to hand, Rendezvous presents the sound of a band in full swing.

A good chunk of the songs is Bev's own, of which the title track is as good a road song romance as you're likely to hear east of Route 66. Covers include a version of Wildwood Flower, interestingly sung from a male perspective, while Learning the Game, a much-underrated Buddy Holly song, is delivered with all the poignancy it deserves. A couple of instrumentals add to the overall diversity on show, with a fine version of Apache displaying Bev's unerring skill at precision mimicry.

Over fifty years in the business and Bev shows no sign of tiring just yet."

Peter Stevenson - Music Maker Magazine.

"RENDEZVOUS"

"Beaujangle Recordings, West Midlands-based vocalist, guitarist and comedian Bev Pegg's own label has been releasing albums for over 40 years now, and Pegg himself has been making music for even longer. This 2012 release, an eclectic 17-track effort and the 42nd on the label, blends, if not a little loosely at times, layers of jazz, country, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll with anecdotal tales. All 17 songs on the album offer somewhat of an insight into Bev's musical tendencies and career, being the frontman of several genre-specific bands; Bev Pegg and his Good Time Jazz Gang, and Bev Pegg and his Cowboy Band being just two of them. "Rendezvous", "A Little Bit of Country Music" and "House on The Brow of The Hill", three of ten self-penned songs, are all country, rocking and rolling numbers, each carrying their infectious melodies and quirkily written hooks well. There's even a few "old favourites" embedded in the album too; seven in fact from a country-fused rendition of Gerry Rafferty's "Didn't I?" to the southern-binding "Apache". A haunting interpretation of Lesley Duncan's "Love Song", with Bev's dry vocals and gentle harmonies at the helm, creates an enchanting listen, whilst the interlude blue-jazz "Sweet Georgia Brown" gets the old foot tapping.
There's a lot to get your teeth into with this package, and what's more; Bev released a further two albums since its release. The fact that he's in his 70s and still making decent music, and doing it well is utterly admirable, and it's this maturity, particularly in his voice, that gives the album its distinguished edge. If you like a slightly unpolished and quirky, but nevertheless eclectic sound then Pegg could be your man. We look forward to the next ones Bev!"

Emily Saxton
Maverick Magazine
June 2014

 

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