This Dutch blues band was formed in the Hague around 1967, becoming a regular outfit from 1969. The early line-up included Bjorn Toll (vocals), John Lagrand (harmonica), Ted Oberg (guitar), Ruud Fransen (bass) and Niek Dijkhuys (drums) but although the name remained wholesale changes soon took place, bringing in a new singer, Nicko Christiansen, and new bass and drums, Peter Kleinjan and Beer Klaasse, the latter pair being swiftly replaced by Gerard Strutbaum and Cesar Zuiderwijk, while keyboard player Henk Smitskamp was added. Other changes followed through the 70s, by which time the band’s repertoire was more inclined towards rock. Musicians involved included bass players Ruud van Buuren, Jan van der Voort, Jaap van Eijk and André Reynen, drummers John Lejeune, Herman van Boeyen, Cor van Beek, Michel Driessen, Kenny Lamb and Arjen Kamminga; the latter pair played in the band simultaneously for a spell. Smitskamp sometimes played bass, singer Johnny Frederiksz came in, as did organist Paul Vin and guitarist Ron Meyes.
Although best known in the Netherlands, Livin’ Blues also gained a following elsewhere in Europe, especially in Poland. At the start of the 80s, the band included Oberg, Christiansen, Evert Willemstein (bass) and Boris Wassenbergh (drums). Spin-off bands formed by ex-members of the Livin’ Blues included Nitehawk and the J&T Band, while most members also played with other Dutch blues and rock bands. The band recorded from 1968, cutting a few singles with its first album coming in 1969. The band appears to have drifted from the limelight after the early 80s but interest in its recorded work remained high into the new millennium.
- CD 1 - Hell's Session:
- Waitin' On You
- One Night Blues
- Bowlegged Woman
- Hell's Session
- Big Road Blues
- Black Panther
- Worried Dreams
- Big Black Train
- CD 2 - Wang Dang Doodle:
- Wang Dang Doodle
- I Came Home At Night
- Whiskey And Gin
- This Is The Hour
- When The Sun Goes Down
- Go-Go-Train
- Spoonful
- CD 3 - Bamboozle:
- L.B. Boogie
- Sunrise
- Keep On
- Hitch-Hikin'
- Bamboozle Song
- Overture
- Black Night
- Big City Man
- CD 4 - Rocking At The Tweed Mill:
- Shady Girl, Shady Girl
- Fool On You
- Tongue 'n' Groove
- You're A Stranger
- Sweet Suzanne
- Ain't No Use Crying
- Diving Duck Blues
- Eye To Eye
- Please Don't Leave Me
- CD 5 - Ram Jam Josey:
- Dizzy Busy Bluesman
- I'm Walking
- Ram Jam Josey
- Gamble On
- Poinsetta Petal
- Isabella
- Hobo Joe
- I'm Coming Home
- The Great Grandfather
- Empty Glasses
- CD 6 - Live'75:
- Black Spider Woman
- I'm A Rambler
- Hoochie Coochie Man
- Crazy Joe
- I Wonder
- L.B.Boogie
- Boney Marony
- CD 7 - Blue Breeze:
- Shylina
- Back Stage
- Midnight Blues
- Pisces
- Bus 29
- Blue Breeze
- Pick Up On My Mojo
- That Night
- Black Jack Billy
- CD 8 - Now:
- TwoTrains
- Homework
- Hoodooman
- Ain't No Use Crying
- Livin' As A Free Man
- Havana Moon
- Let It Happen
- Can't Leave Your Love Alone
- Parachute Jump / Jump Jive
- CD 9 - Snakedance:
- Hoochie Coochie Man/Mojo Workin'
- Free Man
- Hoodoo Man
- The Snake
- Home Work
- Midnight Café
- Black Night
- Border Line
- Wang Dang Doodle/LB Boogie
- My Baby
- Parachute Jump/Jump Five
- After You've Gone
- Two Train
- CD 10 - Out Of The Blue:
- Mysterious Ways
- Blue Side Of Life
- Voodoo Dancer
- Skidrow
- Who Are You
- Who's Doing That Voodoo
- Hear Me Out
- Blueshouse
- Just Wanna Make Love To You
- Crazy
- Don't Worry, Baby
- Red Lights
- CD 11 - More Livin' Blues, pt. 1:
- Going Down Slow
- You Don't Know How Much I Love You
- Born in Chicago
- One Night Boy
- Rock Me Baby
- Lonesome Road
- Murphy McCoy
- My Sister Kate
- You Better Watch Yourself (Sonny Boy)
- Wang Dang Doodle (Single Version)
- Crazy Woman
- Black Lisa (Poor Elijah)
- Red Mountain River
- I Don't Know
- Choice
- Selection
- L.B.Boogie (Single Version)
- Johnny W
- Boogie Woogie Woman
- Ricochet
- Crazy Joe
- CD 12 - More Livin' Blues, pt. 2:
- Lazy Liza (Demo)
- Rock & Roll Hoochie Coo (Live Recording 1975)
- I'm Coming Home (Live Recording 1975)
- See My Baby Drive (Live Recording 1975)
- Back Stage (Live Recording 1975)
- Shannon (Demo)
- Punk Funk (Demo)
- Roses (Demo)
- Doomsday Night (Demo)
- Rock & Roll Hoochie Coo (Demo)
- Will You Still Love Me (Demo)
- Ted Oberg - Statement (Demo)
- Ted Oberg - Polish Blues (Demo)
- Livin' Blues Xperience - The Best Thing I Can Do
- Ted Oberg - Kaddish for Ellen