Hallelujah To Amen is the second volume of The Boot Legacy, bringing another fascinating collection of home recordings from Mickey Jupp, one of Britain's great unsung Rock 'n' Roll and Rhythm & Blues songwriters. After decades spent quietly writing and recording at his remote Lake District home, Jupp opened up a remarkable archive of songs that had largely remained unheard, revealing that the creative spark behind the Southend legend was still burning brightly. This 16-track collection offers another substantial glimpse into that extraordinary body of work.
There's plenty of classic Jupp character throughout, from the rocking I Should Be Loving This, Out On The Edge and Stuck Behind A Maserati through the title track Hallelujah To Amen and the wonderfully understated Blue Coffee. Jupp's knack for sharp lyrics and memorable melodies remains firmly intact, while Got No God, Seeing Simone, Just In, Fresh Out and My Second Biggest Mistake show the breadth of the material being created away from the conventional music business. The closing The Ballad Of Guitar Pickin' Slim provides a fitting final flourish to a collection full of wit, warmth and distinctly Juppian songwriting.
For followers of Jupp's long career, Hallelujah To Amen is an especially worthwhile chapter in the story, while anyone discovering him through his Rock 'n' Roll and Pub Rock legacy will find plenty here to enjoy. The performances have the intimate character of music created for the love of songwriting rather than the demands of a recording career, making this a fascinating addition to the Jupp catalogue and a fine companion to the first Boot Legacy volume.
