Thorpe assembled Out of the Blue in 1994 for what was to be a one-off performance at the Colne Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival; however, the project turned into an ongoing concern for Thorpe, keyboardist Jon Dyke, lead guitarist Eddie Tatton, bassist Lindsay Coulson, and drummer Nigel Lobley. In 1995, the group recorded its debut album, Blues in a Bottle, for the British Armadillo label. Thorpe and the band toured the U.K. and Europe extensively over the next few years; accompanied by Dyke, Thorpe also ventured to America's East Coast, playing a series of dates with Paul Rishell, Annie Raines, and guest guitarist Ronnie Earl. In 2001, the unit released its second album on Armadillo, under the title Shadowplay. ~ Steve Huey