Blue Plate Special

by Jason AnkenyThe retro-swing band Blue Plate Special formed in Los Angeles in 1994; at the time of releasing their debut single "Now Serving" early the following year, the group's line-up consisted of vocalist/guitarist Kevin Wright, pianist Ken Charlson, trumpeter Phil Topping, saxophonists Joe Martin and Derek Carver, bassist Todd Clark and drummer Adam Bankhead. A very limited 78 rpm release titled "Skin Tight" followed in mid-1995, and a few months later Blue Plate Special recorded a demo, The Taft Hotel Tapes. Another demo, the unreleased Live on Sunset Strip, was recorded at the notorious L.A. club the Viper Room in early 1996, featuring new vocalist Fred Stuart. Singer David Oulett replaced Stuart in May of 1997, and the group -- now also including Charlson, Topping, Clark and Bankhead in addition to newly-added saxophonists Mike Newman and Nate Dreyfus -- soon began recording their debut LP, A Night Out with Blue Plate Special. Shortly after completing the session Oulett left Blue Plate Special, with Stuart returning to the line-up; the album was then re-recorded to reflect the change, and was released in 1998 on the Slimstyle label.