Red Dirt was a blues band formed in East Yorkshire around 1968, comprised of Dave Richardson (vocals), Steve Howden (guitar), Kenny Giles (bass), and Steve Jackson (drums). They built up an impressive live reputation in clubs and venues in the North of England. They were subsequently signed to Morgan Blue Town. When released in 1970 on the Fontana label, their self-titled debut album sunk without trace and legend - or rumour - has it sold something like 100 copies. Red Dirt is now a lost classic. There is an element of the Doors' Morrison Hotel period and a whiff of Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band in the rocking driving blues of tracks like "Death Letter" and "Problems". "Song For Pauline", on the other hand, harks back to the Delta of Robert Johnson. There has been much speculation in recent years as to whether legendary record sleeve designer Barney Bubbles was responsible for the eye-catching sleeve image of a red Indian with 4 bullet holes in his forehead dripping blood. The rear sleeve credits the design to Teenburger, Bubbles' Notting Hill-based company. As a number of people worked for Teenburger, it is impossible to confirm if Bubbles had a hand in the sleeve design.
