CHAIN "Grab a snatch and hold it"

[Dutchy1965]

where was this shot at? looks like a RAAF Mess

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Williamstown RSL!

[twotterontwit]

Oh I have been so lucky to see so many good Australian Rockers Live gigs and Man we have some talented Muso's. They do us Proud.

[cjs195]

The legendary Matt Taylor and Chain. This band would have to rate as one of the all time best Blues acts on the Australian Music Scene!

[Mrs442Olds]

Junior Wells--Snatch it Back and Hold It-ahh yeahh

[Mrs442Olds]

I have this on CD but I've never seen the band before (I am in Arkansas, USA) and this is just killer footage! "Snatch it back and Hold it" is an old blues song-I love the Chain version and the play on words :0)

[krosslyn]

matt taylor did a solo album, had a copy, but got stolen, there was a song about krishnas and a song about chickens having a go at the colonel does anyone know the name of the album and how i can get a copy LEGALLY of course LOl

[MrHoldenone]

The album is called Straight as a die, I just converted it from record to cd

[MrHoldenone]

@krosslyn

[beetle1835]

oz blues.......best

[11Tigeress11]

Ahh this brings up memories, i've met both Matt & Phill but not together "bummer" Matt was doing a bush tour with angy anderson & lead guitarist from Australian crawl .. excellent night & Phill @ a Bluse Cafe Restaurant, amazing musicians and People. Lurve Chain .. Tanks for posting Roostahhhhhh ; )

[eglider656091]

How damn good was this song, and the music of Chain. NEVER got the recognition they deserved, just like so many solid Aussie bands during that time.

[MalThorgan]

Chain & Billy Thorpe & Aztecs 2 of best live bands ever !

As I've said on another site Mat Taylor is the all time iconic Aussie Blues Harp Master !

Used to see Chain regularly in 1970/71 around Sydney (Arts Factory,Paddington Town Hall etc) & Ourimbah Festival 1970 - I was 16 & became a Blues harp-addict ,thanks to Mat !

When Chain played "Grab a Snatch and Hold It " that's exactly what I did, and I'm eternally grateful for the memories !!!!

Great to see Phil & Matt still going strong !

[MalThorgan]

Mat Taylor is the all time iconic Aussie Blues Harp Master ! Used to see Chain regularly in 1970/71 around Sydney (Arts Factory,Paddington Town Hall etc) and @ the Ourimbah Festival 1970 when I was 16 I became addicted to the blues, and the harmonica thanks to Mat ! When Chain played "Grab a Snatch and Hold It " that's exactly what I did, and I'm eternally grateful for the memories !

[ctpope61]

awesome harp playing there mister!! if you ever get to the states...nevada..look us up.. we'll jam together.

keep on rockin the blues

[ctpope61]

That was awesome!  Check out our version.

-Ten ta Midnite

[MrSmurfyDog]

Just got home from seeing these guys play in Belgrave.

Brilliant set - with the unexpected bonus of a Phil Manning solo acoustic set as an opener.

Wow. Just... wow!

[leneghp]

this group can be seen at the sunbury back road festival on saturday april tenth. check them out

[250pages]

These men are GODS of Aussie Rock & Blues , They paved the way for so many and they dont get a lot of rekognition.

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Hope you get those undies sorted out!!!

foreverrecords48 is a youtube site. Or go to my site I just favourited a song of Matt's.

Cheers

Rooster

[carmelanneor]

Great !!!!! xxxxx Luv it!!!!

[zinger52]

Thanks McBlurter, Rooster is it heard them many years ago when they came out with 'Black and Blue' I thought they were great then and still do now

[almudjk]

i was at this gig

[NTFIGJAM]

Lucky enough to see Chain in Perth in '88, was blown away. Bought a tape and tore it to shreds playing it so much, but there was a song on it, was called 2am Blues or something like that (anyone know the real name of it?) about his missus cheating on him with his mate. Had the best guitar solo I've heard in years in my opinion and would love to get a copy of it again.

[RoosterMcBlurter]

I think that song is called "Who is McGoo" That was Matt Taylor's version of Chain. Jeff Lang played on that album and it was a mighty album with mighty playing. Matt has a youtube site Forever Records. Also check out Jeff's stuff too.

Nice work on the tatts mate!

Cheers

Rooster

[vinman43]

Its called slow 2.30 in the morning type blues. It appears on the album Australian Rythmn & Blues by Chain

[SAfootballarchive]

@NTFIGJAM 3.30 in the morning blues from the abum "Australian Rythym and Blues" the gutairist is John Meyer. aggreed great song, great solo

[booky65]

remember seeing chain at the coach and horses in ringwood god knows how many years ago that was

[TheHandymanQld]

Watching this again, I have to ask. Exactly what is meant by "Grab a Snatch and Hold It?"

Has it something to do with a females anatomy?

[eellexa]

FANTASTIC!!!! I have the cd

[TheHandymanQld]

LOVE IT!!!

[smokinjoewilson]

haha...Cool.

[culmie]

The ole fella does doesn't he

[ld68]

Phil Manning kicks ass.

[sprocketrocket07]

You guys rock!

Classic Aussie Blues rock.

My favourite Chain - Matt Taylor record.

Last time I saw Matt was in Cairns in 1990 at Johnno's Blues Bar.

[fcm949]

I bought a thirtieth anniversary reissue of Towards The Blues album which was released around 2001 with the single version of Black and Blue and Judgement as bonus tracks. I would try someone knowledgable like Basement discs in Melbourne.

[jo140477]

OMG I nearly i grabbed my snatch and held it whe i found this .. i have towards the blues on cassette .. but so desprately want it on cd.Any Clues as to where i Can it.

[TeddySea]

I heard Chain, bought a guitar and became a musician, and I'm still giggin' 40 years later.

regards to thse great bluesmen

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Yes, the likes of Chain, Dutch Tilders the King Brothers plus many more have had a huge influence on many players, they are certainly at the top of the tree when it comes to the blues.

Cheers

Rooster

[scaatyrc]

Chain makes me wanna run amok.Again.Krishna loves you too Matty.

[ratrodralphy]

lived up the road from me in swansy st swanbourne perth australia.. new him well,,,had a lovley wife,,havent seen them in years.

[ev102938]

Matt Taylor and CHAIN... We salute you. You guys rock hard

[chickenb0ne]

well done mate

hoping someone would put up some chain

cheers

[penfloyd]

Towards the Blues was one of my favorite albums........

[chrisb1953]

What do the lyrics mean?

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Junior Wells original version "Snatch it back and hold it" was about a "brand new dance". However with Chain calling it "Grab a snatch and hold it" a whole lot of connotations come into play, with "Snatch" being slang for female genitalia!!!!

That's just what I think and not the definitive answer, so if anyone else has a view, let us know!!

Cheers

Rooster

[chrisb1953]

That was what I was thinking about too! I note on some "Chain" compilation CD's the song title has reverted back to Junior Wells' "Snatch It Back & Hold It" so maybe the recording companies caught onto the slang connotations and decided to play it safe.

PS: Does anyone have a video that they can post on youtube of Chain performing "Boogie". A true blues classic and my favourite Chain song with fantastic individual instrumentals !

[EdMuirton]

Glad you got some Chain up there Rooster! I must have seen Chain play at least 50 times! Maybe more. Me and me mates used to follow them everywhere. Great Ozzie blues legends man! Cheers!

[morteinman]

Great song , great band, seen chain heaps over the years and still love them, does anyone have any memories of his brother playing with a band called Feet First in Perth a few years ago, used to watch them every sunday session at the Mosman Park hotel ?

[jackdave69]

yer & it's now on advert so more royities for the man,, he lives in Perth Australia,,

[crikeymadaussie]

can't get much better than this well done bloody ledgend

[damcorp]

does anybody know if matt taylor played a song called "i remember when i was young" or had a song with those lyrics in it? and thanks for posting this awsome vid

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Yes he did mate. Was one of his big hits.

Cheers

Rooster McBlurter

[blondifan]

Think the definative recorded live version was with 'Western Flyer', Last half of song is astounding!

[blondifan]

I think the definative version was with Matt's band 'Western Flyer'. Particularly the last 1/2. Is available download from midoztouch free!

[MiMaKBaSS]

If your a fan of 'I Remember When I Was Young' you should hear 'Western Flyer's', live version. Album is available free, as a rar file from midoztouch

[jimblues21]

thanks Rooster I spent many a good night in the pubs etc over the years waching Matt and Phil & Chain.Australian legends

[civilwheels]

OI Rooster,,your a legend mate,,thanx for postin this and lettin me know it was in,,i seen chain for the first time when i was 16, i was always gonna blow harp from that day onwards,,Pete

[RoosterMcBlurter]

I think they have influenced a lot of people and keep on influencing people. Pity I didn't get to see them when they started, but I was only about 3!

Cheers

Rooster

[Vamphetamine]

Mate, I'm 32 and was only introduced to these guys a few nights ago which is a crying shame. Are they still playing and if so where would I be likely to see them? Cheers, Vamphetamine:)

[SensualBlues]

All up to date tour information for Chain is available on Phil Manning's website. Just type his name into Google and select Australia before searching.

Further information on the band can be requested from their merchandisers, who manage an archive of memorabilia relating to the band visit My Space and search for Chain Archive under the My Space search option.

Id put the direct link to these sites in here, but it wont let me!

Cheers, Linda @ The Chain Archive

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Hi Linda

All the web pages are listed on the info for this.

Cheers

Rooster

[SensualBlues]

All up to date tour information for Chain is available on Phil Manning's website. Just type his name into Google and select Australia before searching.

Further information on the band can be requested from their merchandisers, who manage an archive of memorabilia relating to the band visit My Space and search for Chain Archive under the My Space search option.

Id put the direct link to these sites in here, but it wont let me!

Cheers,

Linda at The Chain Archive

[bluescracker]

Matt can sure blow that thing. they say hes got the biggest harmonica in the bizness.

[barrylilgooseharvey]

Great arrangement and dynamics from the band. The snare drum is a killer of a sound

[WorldwidewelcomE]

Cool Bag Of Rhythm - Right On - WorldwidewelcomE - Viking

[peterdonelly]

Good one Rooster, really enjoyed that!

Chain!

[EdMuirton]

Cheers Rooster! 20 odd years back, I'd see Chain play every second week. They were always great!

[RoosterMcBlurter]

That would have been a great time to be around!

Cheers

Rooster

[australastar]

That for that mate it was a great time to be around, I have seen them many times. Those were the days of great blues in pubs.

[777collie]

thanks for posting rooster, was 20yrs old in 71

chain was a buzz, me and my mates jammed on black and blue till our fingers bled, know anybody who has the clip?

[RoosterMcBlurter]

No I don't know anyone with the original clip. There are a few sites on Youtube that specialize in 70's oz stuff such as

nzozearly1970s, might be worth contacting him.

Cheers

Rooster

[lekiwidoug]

Good to see a group enjoy themselves on stage & hitting it hard too....great stuff. Now where's my old mate Tim Piper...& hope y're doing that gig for Max Merritt soon?

Cheers & keep up the fine work.

Doug Thomas / New Zealand

[beachblues]

Great vid, Ross!

Must tell you though - the title is actually Snatch It Back and Hold It. It's by none other than the late great Junior Wells.

take care brother!

[RoosterMcBlurter]

Hi Beach

I have Junior doing that on CD. Chain however have always listed it as grab a snatch, which has so many connatations if you live in Oz!!!

Cheers

Rooster

[beachblues]

It's actually listed on the cover of Towards The Blues as 'Snatch It Back and Hold It'. So it's probably just Matt being a smart arse at gigs and when he's singing it.

Cheers mate,

Beach

[chrisb1953]

That's interesting as my copy of TTB has it listed as "Grab A Snatch & Hold It". The publication varieties must depend on the printer's insight into Aussie slang.....

[dupagirl666]

Thanks Roosta man, cheers Mate

[spincat1]

This is the real deal. Thanks for the post. keep them coming. This is just great. Oh my god this is good.Where is the cd ??? and is there a dvd and cd to buy ?

[Bluzbloke]

LEGENDS!!!