Southern Lightning - Down The Road (1986) + Bonus Single

(Australian 1978 - 1988, 2014-2020)

Southern Lightning were a heavy blues band from Melbourne comprising of Dave Hogan (vocals, harmonica), Nik Guselev (bass), Louie Black (drums) & Manny Seddon (guitar). This album was produced by Trevor Courtney & John French. Southern Lightning had a very similar sound to George Thorogood & The Destroyers, and Dave Hogan's vocals could be easily mistaken for Thorogood's anyday.

Southern Lightning were formed in November 1978, when drummer Louie Black put an ad in Rolling Stone looking for a harmonica player and guitarist. It read: “Please, please if you do not know blues do not waste our time.” Adding Nik Guselev on bass, Dave Hogan on vocals and harmonica and Manny Seddon on guitar, Southern Lightning quickly made an impact on the club and festival scenes becoming Melbourne's premier blues rock band on the pub based live music circuit. Southern Lightning opened on tours for B.B. King, Canned Heat, Roy Buchanan, John Mayall and Long John Baldry. During this period they recorded two albums: 'Down The Road' in 1986 and 'Southern Lightning' in 1987.

Southern Lightning

In 2020 a compilation 'Muddy Waters Blues' was released comprising their first two albums remastered from the original vinyl, together with bonus live tracks from a 2014 Reunion (with John Stax on bass), and a laidback 2019 revisiting of "Muddy Waters Blues" by Dave Hogan and Manny Seddon, cut at Manny's home studio. [Info thanks to Kimbo at History Of Australian Music]

Stop Press: There was a lead up article published by Beat in 2014, regarding the proposed release of the compilation by the reformed band, and is worth a read

Band Members

During their time together they only released 2 singles and 2 studio albums, as detailed below:

SINGLES
''Down The Road / Stones In My Passway'' 1986 Cleopatra
''Moonlight Street / Don't Call Me Mister'' 1987 Cleopatra

ALBUMS
'Down The Road' 1986 Cleopatra
'Southern Lightning' 1987 Missing Link
Compilation 'Muddy Waters Blues' 2020 Implant Media

Southern Lightning On Stage

This post consists of Mp3's (320) ripped from vinyl (thanks to BrianL at Midoztouch2) and includes artwork and label scans. As a bonus, I am also including their single which was taken from their LP - "Down The Road"/"Stones In My Passway" - however the 2 tracks have been ripped to FLAC (thanks to Tygerhead at Heavy Metal Rarities). 

My favourite tracks are "Muddy Waters Blues" and "Blues For Breakfast" which feature some great vocals, harp, guitar work, and the wonderful Robert Johnson blues standard "I Believe" which closes the album.  The only disappointment is the low resenance of the recording, requiring a higher than normal volume setting to really enjoy this album.  Perhaps the remastered released in 2020 might have a better sound, but regrettably, I have yet to source a copy. 

Track Listing:

01 I Ain't Superstitious

02 Down The Road

03 Muddy Waters Blues

04 Shame Shame Shame

05 Stones In My Passway

06 Love Shock

07 Blues For Breakfast

08 I Believe

Band Members:

Dave Hogan (Vocals, harp)

Manny Seddon (guitar)

Nick Guselev (bass)

Louie Black (drums)

Southern Lightning Link (154Mb)