1966 The Spencer Davis Group: Keep On Running

As a song, there's not a lot to 'Keep On Running', but as originally written and recorded by Jackie Edwards for the fledgling Island label in 1965, there was even less than that. The booming drum beat still dominates, but the cavernous spaces that house it are not filled by Edwards playing catch up with a no rush to run anywhere vocal, causing the song to run out of steam before it crosses the finish line. The Spencer Davies Group embellish the paucity with a thick rope of bass filler and Kinks-like bursts of fuzzy guitar - a lazy 'Brit Beat' makeover cash-in maybe, but they unquestionably add a presence of their own that plugs 'Keep On Running' into the mains to make it the more 'complete' song. And yes, although it's Spencer's name on the tin, the true star and focal point here is that soulful tenor from the seventeen year old Steve Winwood, a full blooded yet restrained performance that gives Edward's slight lyric a keen yearning whilst avoiding any showboating 'look at me' posturing of the solo artist in waiting. Fine stuff.