Welcome back the first of four T-birds records, re-mastered and re-released with new liner notes and some outtakes and live cuts as bonus tracks.
Products of the crucible of Texas Blues that Austin was in the late 1970's, "the Birds" backed all the touring Bluesmen who came to play in the Texas capital. In fact it was a plug from none other than Muddy Waters, whom they backed at the legendary club, Antone's, that got them booked for their own tours on the east and the west coasts.
As luck would have it the "Birds" manager, Denny Bruce became president of the new Takoma record label, distributed by Chrysalis, in 1979. More good luck arrived through Ray Benson, the leader of the legendary Texas swing band, Asleep At The Wheel. Ray knew Bob Sullivan, a seasoned Dallas engineer who had worked with the likes of everyone from Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys to Elvis. With Bob's help and guidance this first "Birds" album was recorded at Sumet- Burnet Studios in Dallas in late 1979.
It's 1981 and it's easy to tell the T-Birds are really starting to spread their wings geographically as well as musically. Most of this album was recorded in Hollywood California. With the addition of three members of the other great American Blues band, Room Full of Blues (Greg Piccolo, tenor sax; Al Copley, piano; and Doug James, baritone sax), these "Birds" really take off!! As always this record is a mixture of originals, mostly by Kim Wilson, and those great "cherry picked" covers, some not done in 25 years or more.
These covers, starting with Roll, Roll, Roll are "played, not reproduced" in the words of their manager Denny Bruce, and you can tell these guys know the difference. Flavored from south of the border we have Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White a hit for Perez Prado and his Orchestra in 1955. After that, it's a pair of great old "Excello" hits, I Hear You Knockin' (a Smiley Lewis smash hit) and the jumpin', Tip On In, (Dedicated with great respect to the memoryof Slim Harpo). With these 2 gems, the T-birds go right through New Orleans on this "crawfish coast" tour.
Kim Wilson's, I'm Sorry is the swingin'est tune on the album in my humble opinion. To keep saying that this music is great is a bit redundant. This stuff is the real gravy, the sauce that you put on top of things to make them taste GOOD!!!! Mathilda is the tune that all doo-wop songs only wish they could be. That's because it's a Louisiana classic. The original record (1981) is rounded out with 2 original tunes, the harp rockin' Tell Me Why and a swingin' instrumental, In Orbit.
Outtakes from the original recording date were added to this new release. This is one of the reasons we celebrate the advent of the 74 minute CD. Found A New Love is a cool slow Blues. I Got Eyes is the slow rockin' Blues that really makes you glad these guys got together with that bunch of cats from Roomfull of Blues.
Kim Wilson's, I'm Sorry is the swingin'est tune on the album in my humble opinion. To keep saying that this music is great is a bit redundant. This stuff is the real gravy, the sauce that you put on top of things to make them taste GOOD!!!! Mathilda is the tune that all doo-wop songs only wish they could be. That's because it's a Louisiana classic. The original record (1981) is rounded out with 2 original tunes, the harp rockin' Tell Me Why and a swingin' instrumental, In Orbit.
Outtakes from the original recording date were added to this new release. This is one of the reasons we celebrate the advent of the 74 minute CD. Found A New Love is a cool slow Blues. I Got Eyes is the slow rockin' Blues that really makes you glad these guys got together with that bunch of cats from Roomfull of Blues.
Jeffrey Clements
jclements@americansofmusic.com
Contributing Writer
