Cerca:texas johnny
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First time on LP, a previously unreleased, remastered collection limited to 1000 units / white vinyl. The Legendary Guitar Player Who Inspired Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Johnny Winter had a unique career plan: to make music. The lightning-fast guitarist fulfilled this wish magnificently, decade after decade., becoming one of the most respected singers and guitarists in rock. From the Sixties onwards, Winter was the unofficial torchbearer of the blues, standing up for his idols like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker and promoting their careers. A musical prodigy, he grew up in Beaumont, Texas, on a diet of blues and rock'n'roll. As a teenager he hitchhiked to Louisiana almost every weekend to play in small nightclubs. After a short stay in college, he gave up his academic career and devoted himself to making music. This is the first collection of the "early years" to distinguish between the formative blues roots and the advance to the rock idiom. It is the best forerunner of his breakout record "The Progressive Blues Experiment" and the "Johnny Winter" album. Curated By Blues Historian Bill Dahl
Exit were a five-piece ensemble of journeymen musicians from the lone star state of Texas who came together in the early 1980’s to record a handful of popular local 45’s including two Football-mania songs. The groups line-up consisted of lead guitarist and vocalist Clennis High, rhythm guitarist Lonnie Jones, his brother Johnny K. Jones the groups keyboardist, bassist Frank Houston Jr and George Oliver on Drums.
Clennis High, a promising Football player with a flair for playing the guitar began his early musical career while attending Wheatley High school. Aged 17, Clennis played on several Crazy Cajun, Huey P Meaux’s recording sessions for Eugene Gamble and Barbara Lynn. Further recording sessions on Roy Head followed before he accepted an invitation by his neighborhood friend Willie Parnell to play alongside a group of fellow students in a band called ‘The Drells’. ‘The Drells’ had been founded by Archie Bell in 1966 pulling together neighborhood friends James Wise, base singer Cornelius Fuller, Billy Butler, Willie Parnell joined later by Archie’s brother Lee Bell. Clennis would play with ‘Archie & The Drells’ through their time on Skipper Lee Frazier’s Ovide label often accompanied by the ‘Texas Southern University Toronadoes’ where they scored a hit with the dance instruction song “Tighten Up” which on the strength of Atlantic Records picked the group up. Clennis played on all 3 of the Drells studio albums “Tighten Up”, “I Can’t Stop Dancing” and There’s Gonna Be A Showdown” under Gamble and Huff’s tutelage before quitting to return home to complete his degree. He continued to play with several local Houston bands including the Cold Four who recorded the sort after “Love And Care/Low Riden” (Drells).
Clennis later formed ‘The Reality Band’ with his friend Jerald Grey which introduced him to George Oliver and Frank Houston Jr. Occasionally ‘The Reality Band’ played with other groups, one group in particular (which Jerald previously knew) being an outfit from Conroe, Texas called the ’58 Engineers.
‘The 58 Engineers’ were founded by Johnny and Lonnie Jones, taking their name from the Army unit Johnny served with during his time in the service. By 1973 having grown to 8 members the group entered the studio to record the highly collectable and popular funk outing “The Funky Fly (Part1 & 2)” on their own Bryant Records label (Bryant being the Jones brother’s mother’s maiden name).
As members of the ‘58 Engineers’ moved on, the Jones brothers found themselves working more and more with the ‘Reality Band’ so when Jerald Grey too later moved on the remaining ‘Reality Band’ members Clennis, George and Frank having grown fond of the two “Country Brothers from Conroe” as they affectionally called the Jones’s made the decision to continue working with them, which led to the foundation of the group, Exit.
During 1980 the recently formed Exit recorded the first of their two Football -mania songs but it is from the groups 1981 release “Success/One More Hour” (Dat-Tex 105) that Soul Junction have taken the splendid ballad “One More Hour” to pair with the flipside of the groups third release “The Little Green Monster” (Dal-Tex 106) which is now highly regarded and sort after by sweet soul/lowrider connoisseurs alike. Both of these songs have been put back-to-back to feature on Soul Junction’s forthcoming September 45 release.
Whether or not you’re a believer, the Gospel stands for the good news. ‘The Gospel Of Jesamy’ by Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers is a personal good news journey ignited by the birth of a girl named Jesamy, Arp Frique’s daughter. The Amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer returns with a new record full of gospel funk inspired by his offspring. The lesson is simple and universal: we are all in need of love, unconditional love.
This new album is a deep journey in 7 tracks, where Arp Frique channels his love for organic, funk-based music full of obscure synths, bubbly basslines and swirling guitars to bring a new-old hybrid which could be described as P-funk meets gospel-disco.
Legendary vocalists abound in this Gospel: Dennis Bovell channels his inner funkadelic on ‘Look Up Johnny’; diva Muriel Blijd takes a solo feature on ‘Father Father’; and longtime Arp-collaborator Mariseya joins the vocal squad throughout.
The true gospel sound wouldn’t be complete without the help of Brandon Delagraentiss, ‘son of a preacher man’ from Houston, Texas, whose American-style Amsterdam choir The Gospel Experience supply some big vocals and who himself shares lead vocal parts on most tracks together with the legendary LA-born singer Rocq-E Harrell. In her decades-spanning career Rocq-E has sung with many of the greats, doing studio vocals for artists such as Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle and Earth Wind & Fire. Rocq-E also toured with Diana Ross and Barry White, to name a few.
- A1: Pocket
- A2: Maggie Went Back To Mineola
- A3: Everybody Loves You (When You're Down)
- A4: Kathleen
- A5: Fool Don't Play With Fire
- A6: Headhunters Themea
- B1: Gun Barrel Boogie
- B2: Independence Day
- B3: Seeing Around Corners
- B4: Who Will Your Next Lover Be?
- B5: Gimme Some Love
- B6: Burnin' Daylight
Ian Moore, Johnny Moeller, and Jesse Dayton-three of Texas' fiercest fretmen-join forces at last as Texas Headhunters, a band born from deep roots, old friendships, and a shared reverence for the raw, swaggering spirit of Texas blues. Their self-titled debut isn't a nostalgia trip. It's a declaration.
Cut over five days at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studio, 'Texas Headhunters' deals 12 tracks of grit, groove, and gut-level truth. No smoke, no mirrors-just seasoned musicians in a room, plugged in and turned up. The chemistry is real. The result is mind blowing. Clifford Antone looms large in the story of Texas Headhunters-the spiritual godfather of the project, and the man who first recognized the fire in each of its members. All three-Johnny, Jesse, and Ian-were among the last generation of young guns taken under his wing.
Texas Headhunters isn't just a summit of three badasses with guitars. It's a reclamation. A statement. A reminder that Texas blues, in all its grit and glory, still matters. It's not retro-it's revival. And it's not a tribute-it's a shot across the bow.
Format: Standard Jacket with printed sleeve with lyrics. Pressed on Opaque Red Vinyl.
Maggie Antone ist die neue timme im Alt-Country: Nachdem ihr Cover von Tyler Childers "Lady May" über eine Million Likes bei TikTok sammelte,
begann sie, an ihrem Debütalbum zu arbeiten.
Antones kommendes Album Rhinestoned mit zehn Songs ist ein überzeugender Beweis dafür, dass die aus Virginia stammende Sängerin das nächste
große Ding im Country sein könnte. Das Album, das auf ihrem eigenen Label Love Big via Thirty Tigers erscheint, baut auf dem durchschlagenden
Erfolg ihrer Debütsingle "Suburban Outlaw" auf. Auch wenn ihre Stimme einen in ihren Bann zieht, so ist es doch die Verletzlichkeit ihres
Songwritings, die einen immer wieder zurückkommen lässt.
Recorded in both Memphis and Texas and prominently featuring the amazing Bill Willis on Hammond B-3 (who doubles on bass pedals -- leaving this as one of the few blues albums without an official bassist), Jimmie's more subtle approach leaves lots of spaces to nail a groove that gets deeper as the album progresses.
Guests like James Cotton on harp and longtime associate singer Lou Ann Barton (who just about steals the show on the songs where she duets with Vaughan) inject extra spice, but the singer/ guitarist has crafted a compelling slice of contemporary blues that blends traditional elements in a distinctive way....Rootsy yet polished tracks like the R&B swamp of "Without You" and the Texas soul of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "In the Middle of the Night" (featuring Stevie Ray's Double Trouble rhythm section) crackle with taut energy and low-down soul. By forging an individual musical style, Jimmie Vaughan not only avoids all Stevie Ray comparisons, but has produced a remarkable album that truly sounds like no one else."
REISSUE OF THEE HEADCOATS' FINAL ALBUM IN THEIR ORIGINAL INCARNATION! Originally released by Friends Of The Buff Medway Fanciers Association Records in 2000! The final studio release by Thee Headcoats (until last year's Irregularis: The Great Hiatus) gets a long-awaited vinyl reissue! Includes eleven Billy Childish originals plus a cover of Bo Diddley's 'Great Grandfather'! Recorded at May Road & Red Studios. Engineered by Graham Semark. "Thee Headcoats, who put out their first album in 1989, have recorded raw, primordial romps that seem inspired by American Delta blues musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson or the Southern swamp rock of Hasil Adkins, while maintaining a decidedly English sound. They've recorded under a slew of monikers, and issued an amazing discography of full-lengths, EPs, 7"s, and what-have-you for virtually every cool indie label since they formed (including US-based labels like Sub Pop, Get Hip, Sympathy for the Record Industry, and K, among others). Whether he's covering songs with a Bo Diddley beat, garage rock chug, or playing one of his angry young man/dysfunctional family rantings ('The Day I Beat My Father Up', for example), Billy Childish has built up a solid and somewhat rabid fanbase by releasing songs that you wouldn't normally think would attract a huge audience to begin with. However, I Am the Object of Your Desire has the distinction of being the last album by this band, as their prolific leader Billy Childish moved on to a new band; they're called the Buff Medways, which is apparently an ancient and now extinct breed of chicken which had feathered legs. It's also the name of the UK imprint this record was released on. This collection kicks right off with the album-titled track reveling in pure Headcoats fashion: that warm, fuzzy vibrato guitar with Childish's fuzzy, electronically distorted voice (an effect repeated throughout the album); Johnny Johnson's soft, flowing bassline; and Bruce Brand's primeval drums. The group keeps this sort of mid-tempo riffage going for the next couple of tracks. Johnson plays a mean harp on 'Hurt Me (Slight Return)', but things don't really take off until 'In a Dead Man's Suit' and the swaggering, Texas blues 'Chatham Town Welcomes Desperate Men'. The band's punk roots show up in songs like 'An Image of You' and 'Your Crying Means Nothing to Me' while 'Come into My Mind' has a definite Kinks influence. All in all, an excellent album from this soon to be sadly missed band." - Review from 2000 by Bryan Thomas (All Music Guide)
Cauthen first earned his reputation as a fire-breathing truth teller with the acclaimed roots rock band Sons of Fathers, but it wasn’t until the 2016 release of his solo debut, ‘My Gospel,’ that he truly tapped into the full depth of his prodigious talents. Rolling Stone called the album “a triple-barreled blast of Texas country, soul and holy-roller rockabilly delivered by a big-voiced crooner,” while Vice Noisey dubbed it “a somber reminder of how lucky we are to be alive,” and Texas Monthly raved that Cauthen “sounds like the Highwaymen all rolled into one: he’s got Willie’s phrasing, Johnny’s haggard quiver, Kristofferson’s knack for storytelling, and Waylon’s baritone.” The album landed on a slew of Best Of lists at the year’s end and earned Cauthen dates with Elle King, Margo Price, Billy Joe Shaver, and Cody Jinks, along with festival appearances from Austin City Limits and Pickathon to Stagecoach.
"Room 41" by Paul Cauthen iincludes the following tracks: "Cocaine Country Dancing", "Big Velvet", "Freak", "Give 'em Peace" and more.
This version of Room 41 is pressedon swirl, orange vinyl.
- The Sky Is Crying(Live)(Srv With Albert King, B.b. King And
- Soulful Dress (Marcia Ball With Srv)
- Don't Stop By The Creek, Son (Johnny Copeland With Srv)
- Miami Strut (A.c. Reed With Srv)
- Na-Na-Ne-Na-Nay (Bill Carter With Srv)
- Goin' Down (Live) (Srv With Jeff Beck)
- Oreo Cookie Blues (Live) (Srv With Lonnie Mack)
- On The Run (Live) (Srv With Katie Webster)
- Albert's Shuffle (Live) (Srv With Albert Collins)
- Change It (Live) (Srv With Jimmy Vaughan)
- You Can Have My Husband (Lou Ann Barton With Srv)
- Texas Flood (Live) (Srv With Bonnie Raitt)
- Pipeline (Srv With Dick Dale)
- Let's Dance (David Bowie With Srv)
Solos, Sessions & Encores is an album by Stevie Ray Vaughan, released in 2023. Solos, Sessions & Encores includes a.o. the following tracks: “The Sky Is Crying(live)(srv With Albert King, B.B. King And”, “Don't Stop By The Creek, Son (johnny Copeland With Srv)”, “Albert's Shuffle (live) (srv With Albert Collins)”, “Change It (live) (srv With Jimmy Vaughan)” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl, High Quality, Insert rock 2-LP.
- Mendocino (2:47)
- 96: Tears (2:28)
- Rains Came (2:25)
- Down On The Border (3:30)
- It Was Fun While It Lasted (2:46)
- I Keep Wishing For You (3:27)
- Groover's Paradise (3:13)
- Goin' Down To Mexico (2:49)
- Who Were You Thinkin' Of? (2:21)
- Who'll Be The Next In Line? (3:01)
- Tonite, Tonite (2:04)
- Old Habits Die Hard (2:42)
- At The Crossroads (3:12)
- (Is Anybody Goin' To) San Antone (5:15)
- Ya No Llores / Chicano (4:24)
- You're Gonna Miss Me (3:55)
- She's About A Mover (3:02)
The first color pressing of this title. We’re talkin’ TEX-MEX ROCK ‘N’ ROLL! In this show from January 21, 1981, Doug Sahm (AKA Sir Doug) reunites with original band members Augie Meyers and Johnny Perez, along with the legendary Alvin Crow on guitar and Speedy Sparks on bass for a no-holds-barred, rip-snortin’ Texas rock ‘n’ roll revival. Back in the day, the SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET was Texas’s answer to the British Invasion. With the arrival of the Beatles, Sir Doug & Co. saw their chance to break out the rough, Chicano-influenced rock they had been playing in the joints around San Antonio. They donned English-looking suits and hit the charts with “She’s About A Mover” in 1965. Nobody was quite sure where they came from, but they rode the English-pop wave to fame. There’s something contagious about Augie’s cheesy, pumping Vox organ chords and Sir Doug’s chang-a-chang rhythm guitar over Johnny’s Mexican drumming style, drenched in psychedelia, that stood out from everything else at the time. And it still does today. You may not be able to sit down through “She’s About A Mover” or “Mendocino,” but that’s OK. Doug is no longer with us, but you can be sure that somewhere he’s still kickin’ out the jams. - Terry Lickona (Producer Austin City Limits®)
- A1: March From The River Kwai & Colonel Bogey
- A2: The Yellow Rose Of Texas
- A3: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
- A4: The Children‘s Marching Song (Nick Nack Paddy Whack)
- A5: Lisbon Antigua
- A6: Madeira
- A7: Autumn Leaves
- A8: Do-Re-Mi
- B1: The Longest Day
- B2: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
- B3: Sing Along
- B4: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena
- B5: Beer Barrel Polka
- B6: Tip-Toe Thru The Tulips With Me
- B7: Carolina In The Morning
- B8: Under Paris Skies
(reissue)
Cal Green is a soul guitarist from Houston, Texas who isn't afraid to get as emotional as can be. Here is one of his standout cuts which was made with R&B organist Charles Kynard plus jazz heavyweights Tracy Wright and Billy Moore gets a long overdue repress. 'Tripping' and the reverse side opener 'Sieda' are Cal Green originals that come with hooky melodies that makes perfect jazz-funk listening. The infectious groover will carry you away in no time and this limited edition reuse, the first ever, is sure to fly out so do not sleep.
- A1: Matador
- A2: She Is Gone
- A3: Your Memory Won't Die In My Grave
- A4: I'm Not Trying To Forget You Anymore
- A5: Too Sick To Pray
- A6: Mariachi
- A7: I'm Waiting Forever
- B1: We Don't Run
- B2: I Guess I've Come To Live Here In Your Eyes
- B3: It's A Dream Come True
- B4: I Thought About You, Lord
- B5: Spirit Of E9
- B6: Matador
Black[26,01 €]
Newly remastered audio.
LP pressed on black vinyl & housed in a gatefold jacket.
Willie Nelson’s 1996 album Spirit is an emotional concept album illustrating the forlorn tale of a man abandoned by the great love of his life. We follow him down the path of loss as he confronts grief, gets back on his feet, and eventually finds solace in acceptance. While producing Spirit, Nelson assuredly knew the commercial risks behind releasing an album this melancholic. After all, in 1973 he himself wrote: “sad songs and waltzes ain’t selling this year.” Beloved by those familiar with Nelson’s deep catalog, Spirit largely slipped through the cracks in the mainstream, but remains highly revered amongst critics and fans alike.
Backed by legendary country fiddler Johnny Gimble (of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys), sister Bobbie Nelson on piano, and his longtime touring guitarist Jody Payne, the song-cycle is anchored by lilting Spanish-inspired instrumentals that absorb a lonesome gravity when placed next to ballads that tug at even the most unwavering heartstrings. Likened to Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind or Waylon Jennings’ Right For the Time, Spirit sees Nelson maturing most gracefully: he trades rousing sing-alongs and saloon tunes for gut-wrenching lyrics and instrumentation of greater precision and skill, proving this release as deep and as challenging as his career-defining albums released twenty years before.
Originally released by Island Records in 1996, Spirit is newly remastered and housed in a gatefold jacket. This is a chance to own this unique album in its most beautifully presented form.
- 1: Half A Hundred Years
- 2: It's The Same Old South
- 3: I Do What I Must
- 4: There You Go Again (Feat. Lyle Lovett)
- 5: My Little Baby
- 6: Paycheck To Paycheck
- 7: Word To The Wise (Feat. Bill Kirchen)
- 8: That's How I Remember It
- 9: The Photo
- 10: I Love You Most Of All (When You're Not Here)
- 11: The Wheel Boogie
- 12: Take Me Back To Tulsa (Feat. George Strait And Willie Nelson)
- 13: The Letter That Johnny Walker Read (Feat. Lee Ann Womack)
- 14: Bump Bounce Boogie (Feat. Chris O'connell, Katie Shore, And Elizabeth Mcqueen)
- 15: Miles And Miles Of Texas
- 16: (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (Feat. Leroy Preston, Johnny Nicholas, And Ray Benson)
- 17: Marie (Feat. Willie Nelson)
- 18: Spanish Two Step (Feat. Johnny Gimble And Jesse Ashlock)
- 19: The Road Will Hold Me Tonight (Feat. Emmylou Harris And Willie Nelson)
Asleep At The Wheel is celebrating their 50th Anniversary with the release of Half A Hundred Years. The nineteen tracks feature original band members, current band members and guest artists. The special guest artists are Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson, and Emmylou Harris.
Tracks 1 - 11 are new songs featuring the original band members. Tracks 12 -16 are old songs featuring the current band members and Asleep At The Wheel alumni. Tracks 17 - 19 are songs from the vaults that have never been released and track 14 features the current and the two previous female band members.
- A1: L.a. Memphis Tyler Texas
- A2: Hello L.a., Bye|Bye Birmingham
- A3: Georgia Morning Dew
- A4: Lucas Was A Redneck
- A5: Light Blue
- A6: I'm Gonna Make Her Love Me
- A7: Hawg Frog
- A8: Fire And Brimstone
- B1: Street People
- B2: Funky Business
- B3: Stud Spider
- B4: Piledriver
- B5: Ohoopee River Bottomland
- B6: H E Made A Woman Out Of Me
- B7: Bayou Country
- B8: I Walk On Gilded Splinters
Was zur Hölle ist Country Funk? Eine berechtigte Frage. Die Antwort ist kompliziert, was zum Teil daran liegt, das Country Funk ein trotziges Genre ist, das sich allen Bemühungen einer Klassifizierung erfolgreich entzieht. Der Stil umfasst die positive Attitüde des Gospel und vereint sie mit der sexuellen Forschheit des Blues; die Harmonie des Ländlichen (=Country) trifft auf die harten Seite des Urbanen. Country Funk ist abwechselnd spielerisch und melancholisch, zwischen langsamen Jams und zündenden Arschwacklern. Er ist zugleich im Studio poliert und an der Theke gegrölt. Und während diese Kombinationen unmöglich erscheinen, macht bei näherem Hinhören alles Sinn. Light In The Attic präsentert ,Country Funk 1969-1975", einem Schmelztiegel mit der Musik von Dale Hawkins, John Randolph Marr, Cherokee, Johnny Adams, Mac Davis, Bob Darin, Jim Ford, Gray Fox, Link Wray, Bobby Charles, Tony Joe White, Dennis The Fox, Larry Jon Wilson, Bobbie Gentry, Gritz und Johnny Jenkins. Dazu gesellen sich extensive Linernotes von Jessica Hundley (MOJO, The New York Times, Vogue), Originalartwork der ursprünglichen Alben und neue Illustrationen von Jess Rotter. Dieses Paket ist nicht nur Balsam für die Ohren, sondern auch ein Fest für die Augen. Stellt Euch ein Wunderland vor, in dem die METERS aus der Josie-Ära die Backing Band eines jungen ELVIS sind, der von KRIS KRISTOFFERSON geschriebene Melodien über das bäuerliche Leben in Amerika singt. Hier beginnt das Territorium des Country Funk. Alle Tracks sind neu gemastert. Mit 24-seitigem Booklet und raren Tracks von Bob Darin, Gray Fox, Dennis The Fox, Cherokee, Gritz und vielen anderen.
Re-mastering by: Cicely Baston at Alchemy/Air Mastering, London
Electric blues guitarist Melvin Taylor had been sporadically recording solo albums for 20 years when Dirty Pool arrived — and was somehow just beginning to find fame. Already a hit in Europe, it had taken a steady run of performing in Chicago’s famed blues clubs to slowly earn Taylor a well-deserved reputation as an equal talent among the giants before him, such as Otis Rush, Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
While early records like Melvin Taylor Plays the Blues For You show off an equally amazing jazz side, Taylor traded away his Wes Montgomery-inspired runs for more Luther Allison/Jimi Hendrix attacks with the formation of the trio Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band in the mid ’90’s.
The title song of the second album by that outfit, “Dirty Pool,” is actually more the balls-to-the-wall, no-compromise, hard-rockin’ electric Texas blues of Vaughan and Johnny Winter than the sweet Chicago soul of Buddy Guy.
Indeed, three tracks on this 1997 release, including “Dirty Pool,” were SRV tunes. Other standards, like “Kansas City” and “Floodin’ in California” also have more of a Lone Star State approach to them. But the Jackson, Miss.-born Taylor’s guitar is cleaner than his forebears and technically, he even surpasses them, yet the anger and sorrow of the blues is readily evident in his playing.
This rare combination of qualities really comes out in a slow blues tune like his solo in “Dirty Pool,” which after repeated listens, still makes me head shake in disbelief when I hear it.
“Too Sorry” is a good example of how well Taylor fares when he treads in Jimi Hendrix territory, whereas his rhythm work is the best I’ve heard from a lead guitarist since Vaughan; listen to “I Ain’t Superstitious,” “Born Under A Bad Sign” and the funky “Telephone Song” for your proof.
It also helps that Taylor’s drummer James Knowles is well in synch with him, while Ethan Farmer completely owns the low end of the sound. Farmer’s peppering bass lines in and “Floodin’ in California” is the textbook way electric blues bass should be. Overall, a tight little band.
Taylor’s vocals certainly won’t draw any comparisons to the Wide-Brimmed–Hatted One but he holds his own just fine until it’s cuttin’ time. This is right at the top of my list of best blues guitar playing on record over the last couple of decades. If you decide to give this one a listen, prepare to be blown away.
When most musicians reach a career milestone they take it on tour. Texas, whose debut album turned 30 last year, had bigger ambitions. Rather than simply perform their old songs, the Scots set out to meet their old selves – the wide-eyed kids who made Southside, their two million-selling, Top 3 debut, and the band who bounced back eight years later with the six times platinum White On Blonde.
The vaults at Universal were raided for recording sessions for both albums, stored on tape and DAT and never digitised. Top of Texas’ list was their first, failed attempt at I Don’t Want A Lover, scuppered by Chic bassist Bernard Edwards.
“Just after we signed, we were in the studio with Bernard and Chic’s drummer Tony Thompson,” recalls guitarist Johnny McElhone. “Bernard got coked up and ended up running away to Mexico before Sharleen even started her vocals. But that’s a whole other story.”
Late in 2018, the aborted version was found, alongside several songs recorded during different sessions which didn’t make their debut. The biggest revelation, however, was a 15-strong batch of tracks from the White On Blonde sessions which both Johnny and Sharleen Spiteri had forgotten existed.
“When we made that album, no one in Britain gave a shit about Texas,” says Sharleen. “We were still doing really well in Europe, but here we couldn’t get arrested.
“No one at our label was asking to hear any music or pushing us, so we just kept writing and recording and trying out new stuff until we felt the record was ready. Hence we ended up with a lot more material than usual.”
So good were the songs that Texas initially planned to release them as a ‘lost’ album, possibly to be called Blonde On White. But working with their old recordings inspired them to start writing new songs.
“Tweaking the old stuff was so much fun,” says Sharleen. “It felt like us, now, collaborating with ourselves of 25 years ago. It was amazing to go back there – my voice was so young! – and to hear how much energy and passion we had. We were fighting for our careers at the time, trying to prove that Texas were still relevant.
“Our excitement at finding this treasure trove of songs collided with our excitement from back then and, unplanned, new songs started coming. You could say we were inspired by ourselves, if that didn’t make us sound insanely big-headed.”
Hi, Texas’ tenth album, is the result of that bonkers journey back but has its eyes firmly fixed on the future. The title track and sensational first single aptly fuses the two. A brand new collaboration with Wu Tang Clan, it finds a soulful Sharleen nestled next to boisterous raps from RZA and Ghostface Killah over a cinematic backdrop of lush beats and acoustic guitar.
- 1: Stuck In The Morning
- 2: Revolution
- 3: New Day
- 4: Hell In Texas
- 5: Thorns
- 6: Never Look Back (Feat. Robert Levon Been)
- 7: Shadow
- 8: Crypt
- 9: Cream Johnny
- 10: Ticket
- 11: Holy Roller
Night Beats, will be announcing their fifth full-length ‘Outlaw R&B’ and sharing the first single, ‘New Day’ on Feb 5th. Following the recent ‘That’s All You Got’ 7”, Night Beats’ latest long-player lands May 4th via Fuzz Club Records. Made during the height of the California wildfires (where Danny now resides), rioting in the streets and a nation in lockdown, ‘Outlaw R&B’ deals in a psychedelic and R&B-infused garage-rock sound that’s “bathed in post-apocalyptic bliss”.
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