Discovering John McCutcheon’s Passage – 15 Years Later and Still Powerful
Back in November 2010, while browsing the Folk DJ Chart, I came across an artist I somehow hadn’t given enough attention to: John McCutcheon. His album Passage was sitting at #19, and I thought: it’s time. So I loaded it up on Rhapsody (yes, Rhapsody!) and the result? That familiar feeling of *What was I thinking?*—how had I missed this?
A Wisconsin native now living in Avondale Estates, Georgia, John is what Southerners might call a “Damn Yankee” — one who came and stayed. He’s a master of the hammered dulcimer but also plays guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and Jew’s harp. And let’s not forget: he’s a terrific songwriter.
About John McCutcheon’s Passage
Passage was recorded in both Decatur, GA and Nashville and features an impressive list of guest musicians and friends: Kathy Mattea, Suzy Bogguss, Tim O’Brien, Mollie O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, and John Jennings, to name a few.
The album covers everything from mining life (“One More Day,” “Your Age”) to father-son relationships (“With My Father,” “Iowa”) to friendship (“Friendly Competition”), to those ever-resonant themes of love and loss. McCutcheon’s voice, both musically and lyrically, is a steady, soulful guide through it all.
Two standouts from the album—“Glory Hallelujah” and “One More Day”—appeared on the Folk DJ list that year, and with good reason. As his website once said:
“No one explores the uncharted, unspoken territories of the grown-up heart like John McCutcheon.”
🎶 Watch: “Step by Step” – Hammered Dulcimer Brilliance
Postscript – July 2025
This week, John McCutcheon’s latest album Field of Stars made it onto my Folk Monday rotation. Revisiting Passage reminded me just how long he’s been writing songs that matter. The topics may evolve, but the heart and craft never waver. Time to go re-listen — and maybe catch up on a few of those 24+ albums I missed the first time around!385″
Folk Monday kicked off with Endless Wire spinning on the turntable — Gordon Lightfoot sounding as warm and familiar as ever. Something about Lightfoot always puts me in a good place, and today it set off a whole chain reaction.
While the album played, I started revising older posts, and the first one that surfaced was my write-up on Dave Gunning’s Lift. I’d forgotten how much I liked that record — and how many East Coast voices Gunning pulls into his work. Here’s the updated post if you want to take a look:
Lightfoot led to Gunning, and suddenly I realized how many Canadian voices have shaped my listening over the years. They’re not all alike, but they share that same mix of storytelling, heart, and wide-open Northern landscapes:
Gordon Lightfoot – the foundation
Dave Gunning – modern East Coast voice with Stan Rogers’ storytelling DNA
Ian Tyson – I may need to pull out Cowboyography next
James Keelaghan – one of the finest storytellers working today
Stan Rogers – I knew I had one of his albums somewhere… turned out to be two
And just like that, I was all the way down the Canadian folk rabbit hole — the good kind — which led naturally to putting Stan Rogers on the turntable next.
By this point, I was fully down the Canadian folk rabbit hole — the good kind.
Stan Rogers First on the Turntable
Once I dug a little deeper into my shelves, I found the two Stan Rogers albums I’ve picked up over the last couple of years. First on the turntable: Fogarty’s Cove.
Fogarty’s Cove was Stan’s debut, released in 1977 on Barnswallow Records — a label he later purchased and turned into Fogarty’s Cove Records. My copy is the 1979 pressing on that very label, which feels just right for the music.
While the needle dropped, I realized I never really knew how young Stan was when he died — only that I’d heard Gene Shay mention it years ago. A quick stop at Wikipedia filled in the gaps:
About Stan Rogers
Stanley Allison Rogers (November 29, 1949 – June 2, 1983)[1] was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter who sang traditional-sounding songs frequently inspired by Canadian history and the working people’s daily lives, especially from the fishing villages of the Maritime provinces and, later, the farms of the Canadian prairies and Great Lakes.[2] He died in a fire aboard Air Canada Flight 797, grounded at the Greater Cincinnati Airport, at the age of 33. Wikipedia
Before his death in 1983, Stan — with his brother Garnett often co-producing — released five albums. He stayed a staple of the folk community long after, with live releases, tribute concerts, and, of course, the annual Stan Rogers Folk Festival up in Canso, Nova Scotia.
Listening again, it’s easy to be reminded why Stan’s music has stuck around. His baritone, that hint of Celtic phrasing, the DADGAD-tuned guitars — and the songs themselves. “Northwest Passage,” “The Mary Ellen Carter,” “White Squall,” “Make and Break Harbour”… they all still land.
Barrett’s Privateers – from Fogerty’s Cove – Stan Rogers
But the one that always leaps out, no matter how many times I hear it, is “Barrett’s Privateers.” Before I wander any farther down this Canadian trail, here it is — the perfect way to wrap up this Rogers detour.as Remembering Stan Rogers, which peaked at number 36 on the RPM Country Albums chart.
If the day stays at this pace, who knows where I’ll end up — maybe ending the night with Tyson’s “Four Strong Winds” or Keelaghan’s For now, I’m calling this the first stop on what’s turning into a full-on Canadian Folk Monday. I’ll circle back soon with Tyson, Keelaghan, and maybe a few vinyl surprises I dig out of the stacks.
Orinally Posted Under Folk Monday Now Located Under Folk Friday
Each Monday, I survey the Folk Music Charts and pick the albums I’d like to listen to over the rest of the week. I give each one a quick listen — sometimes just a few seconds is enough to know it’s for me. Sometimes it takes a track or two. I always hope to find a few old friends and a few brand new discoveries.
Here is this week’s Folk and Americana rotation. I’ve found new music from six artists that are new to me, plus six from musicians already in my library.
Six Newly Discovered (by me) Musicians and Their Most Recent Albums Added to My Folk Monday Music Rotation
Delta Traces – Billy Jeter (RMR #9) First thing that caught me was the first track, “Hambone Stomp” — Bobby Rush’s harp hooked me!
Middle – Jesse Wells (RMR #12) The lyrics in the opening track sealed the deal. Deep, poetic, and timely. This guy is for me:
All my flannels made in Bangladesh All my T-shirts in Vietnam There are places that we quietly ignore There are places that we go and bomb You know I thought an awful lot about Jesus Even more about Lao Tzu They say that the way of the Tao is to do nothing Then what the hell am I supposed to do?
Shelby Means – Shelby Means (RMR #18) Great vocals with great pickin’ — what’s not to love?
Beautiful Thing – Peaches & Quiet (RMR #20) The second track, “Calgary Skyline,” caught my attention — they’re Canadian? I immediately thought of Ian & Sylvia.
You Never Can Tell – Diane Hubka & The Sun Canyon Band (RMR #29) Any album that starts with covers of Guy Clark and Bob Dylan deserves a full listen. What else do they pull off?
Dime Store Mannequin – Son Stone (RMR #39) The opening track “Old Fashioned” grabbed my attention with its raw, confessional lyrics:
You told me I was repulsive when you met me at the bar Then you pulled me in and kissed me hard and drove me home in your car By the morning you′d forgotten my name and I’d forgotten yours Then you pushed me out of bed and kicked me out your door
You ask me for the reasons why and push comes to shove Well there′s an Old Fashioned recipe for our love You only love me for my guitar playing and I love your southern drawl Our love is one part passion and three parts alcohol…
Bonus Pick:Songs for a World Gone Mad – Mark Rubin, Jew of Oklahoma (FAI Folk Chart #6, May 2025) I couldn’t pass up an album with a title like this one — found it via the Folk DJ List.
Six New Albums from Musicians in My Music Library Find Their Way into My Folk Monday Music Rotation
Bones of Trees – Tim Grimm (FAI Folk Chart #1, May 2025)
The three albums above are from old favorites I’ve followed for years. Each of them has a thoughtful new offering to explore.
Backstage Balladeer – Jefferson Ross (FAI Folk Chart #27, May 2025) If I didn’t write about Jefferson Ross on No Depression years ago, I meant to! Glad to see he has a new release.
The Herculeons – John Cowan & Andrea Zonn (FAI Folk Chart #40, May 2025) John Cowan and New Grass Revival were staples in my rotation — I had to check out this new project with Andrea Zonn.
Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station Time to dig out my cassette copy of her first album and do a full-circle listen!
*Folk Alliance International FOLK CHART – May 2025
Compiled from FOLKDJ-L playlists | 10,531 plays from 359 playlists by 102 Folk DJs
🎧 Stay tuned for ratings, brief notes, and links to reviews for my top picks this week.
Suggestions welcome — let me know who I should listen to next Monday!
House Party – Jimmy Smith on the B3, Jazz Royalty and a Connection to Today
For most of my life, the three Jimmy Smith albums that traveled with me were Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo, The Further Adventures of Jimmy & Wes, and Jimmy Smith’s Greatest Hits. But once I moved past the Raffi and Sharon, Lois & Bram years (1979–1993, while raising four kids born between 1979 and 1990!), I started collecting more. What began with a few CDs has grown—thanks to Goodwill digging and trips to Princeton Record Exchange—into a modest but beloved Jimmy Smith vinyl collection. And now House Party has become a standout favorite, not only for the groove but also for the incredible jazz talent featured on it.
My Jimmy Smith Album Collection (So Far)
House Party (1957) – Blue Note
Midnight Special (1961)
Bashin’ The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith (1962)
Live at the Village Gate (1963)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1964)
Got My Mojo Working (1966)
Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo (1966)
Peter and the Wolf (1966)
Hoochie Coochee Man (1967)
Livin’ It Up! (1968)
The Further Adventures of Jimmy & Wes (1969)
Live in Concert – Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith’s Greatest Hits
Don Gardner Trio – Featuring Jimmy Smith
Tonight’s Soundtrack: Jimmy Smith:House Party
This isn’t just the first album alphabetically in the list—House Party is a showcase of incredible jazz players and solid grooves. Just look at this guest lineup:
Lee Morgan – trumpet
Curtis Fuller – trombone
Lou Donaldson – alto sax
George Coleman – alto sax
Tina Brooks – tenor sax
Kenny Burrell – guitar
Eddie McFadden – guitar
Art Blakey – drums
Donald Bailey – drums
If you’re not a jazz listener, let me assure you—this is jazz royalty. These players brought depth, swing, and soul to every note, and House Party is a prime example of timeless jazz that grooves like no other.
Track Listing and Lineups
Side One: “Au Privave” / “Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)” Side Two: “Just Friends” / “Blues After All”
“Au Privave”
Jimmy Smith (organ), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Lou Donaldson (alto), Tina Brooks (tenor), Kenny Burrell (guitar), Art Blakey (drums)
“Au Privave” is a refined piece of indisputable bop mastery as Smith commands the combo through an incendiary and driving rendition that grooves unforced flair and organic charisma… Even at 16-plus minutes, the pace and timbre of the performance begs for more. — AllMusic
“Lover Man”
Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Eddie McFadden (guitar), Donald Bailey (drums)
“Lover Man” is splendid and sincere as Donaldson drives right to the heart, unreeling stunningly lyrical leads behind Smith’s distinguished progressions. — AllMusic
“Just Friends”
Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller (trombone), George Coleman (alto), Eddie McFadden, Donald Bailey
“Just Friends” is a true gem… Each musician is given room to stretch and reveal his identity as both an ensemble player and soloist. — AllMusic
“Blues After All”
Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller, George Coleman, Kenny Burrell, Donald Bailey
“Blues After All” is a soulful outing that offers arguably the most sublime and understated bop on the album. — AllMusic
From 1957 to Today: House Party Meets Big G
One of the things that jumped out at me on House Party was George Coleman’s presence on two tracks. Truth be told, I hadn’t explored his work much—until recently. I’d just heard him blow sax alongside his son, George Jr., on a new album called Working Out with Big G by organist Brian Charette—who happens to be one of today’s finest Hammond B3 players.
What really blew me away? That modern quartet—Brian Charette (organ), George Coleman (sax), Ed Cherry (guitar), and George Coleman Jr. (drums)—feels like a spiritual echo of House Party’s lineup. It’s like the legacy continues, recharged and reimagined for a new era.
Final Thoughts
House Party is going to be one of my go-to jazz albums for a long time to come. If you’ve got a turntable or even just Spotify, I highly recommend diving in—and then checking out Working Out with Big G to hear how that soul-jazz legacy lives on.
For now, I’m spinning both albums and smiling at how full-circle jazz can be..
Here’s “Blues After All” from House Party And tow tracks from Working Out with Big G from Brian Charette,,,
So for the last couple of weeks I’ve had Sean Chambers second album Humble Spirits on the mp3 player and have enjoyed it. Sean is a Florida bluesman in the mold of Stevie Ray Vaughan, i.e. blues with a rock edge. Humble Spirits, was produced by Bud Snyder (The Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule), and featured featured such special guests as Bernard Allison, Frankie and Dan Toler (The Allman Brothers), Bobby T. Torello (Johnny Winter) and Greg Allman band alumnus Bruce Waibel.
Sean has been ranked in the Top 50 blues rock guitarists by Britain’s “Guitarist Magazine” and he can really play! I feel that his guitar playing carries his ok vocals on the album!
Anyway there are a lot of decent songs on the album and it’s certainly worth several listens and will probably stay on the player for a while!
Sean Chambers Release Ten Til Midnight
Today I listened to his current release Ten Til Midnight. I was only able to listen to a few of the tracks but what I heard sounded pretty good. If it cools off tomorrow the album will probably be playing when I run!
Here’s what it says on Sean’s website about the album:
On Ten ‘Til Midnight co-producer Tim Blair wanted to go for a live sound similar to their incendiary concert shows; so most of the tracks were recorded with few overdubs. They feature Chambers on guitar and vocals, and his regular touring band: Tim Blair on bass and Paul Broderick on drums. Special guests includes Ben Crider on Hammond B-3 organ, Jack Henriquez on piano, Gary Keith on harmonica, and Robin Bouie and Clarence L. Stevenson on backing vocals.
Here’s what Blogcritics says about Ten ‘Til Midnight:
Ten Til Midnight is a high-energy, pedal-to-the-metal, blues rock album that will leave you plastered against your seatback. Remember that speaker ad a few years back showing the guy sitting in a chair in front of his speakers, his hair blowing back? Yeah! That’s it, that’s the one. And that’s this CD, too. Ten cuts, 41 minutes of rockin’ blues.
So if you like Stevie Ray, Corey Stevens and other blues rock guitarists check out Sean!
Here’s “In the Winter Time” from Ten ‘Til Midnight
Originally posted March 2014 revised and updated July 2026
2026 :Update:When I first started listening to Jerry Jeff Walker, I thought I had simply found another singer-songwriter I enjoyed. Looking back, I realize he became something much more. Through his albums he introduced me to an entire circle of songwriters—Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Chris Wall, and Bill Staines—artists who have remained part of the soundtrack of my life ever since.
Through the Years – Jerry Jeff Walker and the Songwriters He Shared with Us
Through the years, Jerry Jeff Walker introduced me to a whole new world of great songwriters — folks like Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt who have become legends in their own right. But it doesn’t stop there. On his album Live at Gruene Hall, Jerry Jeff shines a light on two other stellar songwriters whose work may not be as widely known: Chris Wall and Bill Staines.
🎶 Jerry Jeff Covers 3 Chris Wall Tunes
Three songs by Chris Wall appear on Live at Gruene Hall:
I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight
Trashy Women
Rodeo Wind
These covers turned me into a lifelong fan of Chris Wall’s storytelling. His songs are rooted in dusty plains and dancehalls, with characters that feel lived-in and true. Jerry Jeff’s renditions add that raw, boots-on-the-barroom-floor charm he always brought to a good tune.
Can’t you just see that cowboy out in the barn saddling his horse, with his woman leaning in the doorway, as he gets ready to ride off into the sunset?
🌾 Jerry Jeff Covers Bill Staines’ “The Quiet Faith of Man”
The other songwriter Jerry Jeff salutes on Gruene Hall is Bill Staines, a beloved folk troubadour. If you’re not familiar with him, here’s a bit from his official biography:
For more than forty years, Bill traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audiences at festivals, coffeehouses, and concerts. A New England native, he got his start in the 1960s Boston folk scene, even emceeing the Sunday Hoot at the legendary Club 47 in Cambridge. A reviewer once called him “simply Boston’s best performer,” and he remained a top name on folk radio listener polls for decades.
The song Jerry Jeff chose — “The Quiet Faith of Man” — is, in my humble opinion, one of Bill’s most powerful and moving pieces.
🐾 Bill Staines Sings Bill Staines – “Old Dogs”
To wrap things up, here’s one more Staines gem — Old Dogs, a song that’s tender, wise, and every bit as timeless as the quiet folks it celebrates.
So what’s been playing on the iPod over these last few days. A couple of the albums are the latest albums for two old favorites.
Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow and Smoke
The first is a two disc live album from Slaid Cleaves titled Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horeshoe Lounge. I’ve been a Slaid fan since I first heard him one Sunday night on Gene Shay’s folk show. We’ve been to many of Slaid’s shows here in Philly and this album does a good job of capturing the spirit of his show
.The album was recorded at two shows one in April 4 and the other in September of 2010 at the Horseshoe Lounge in Austin. Helped out by frequent bandmates Michael O’Connor on acoustic lead guitar and vocals and Oliver Steck on accordion, harmonica, trumpet and harmony vocals,
Slaid also covers some Don Walser songs, where Slaid’s yodeling prowess is showcased. One new track “Go for the Gold” closes the show.
There’s really not a bad track on the album highlights for me always include” “Broke Down”, “No Angel Knows” the touching “Lydia” and the audience participation song “Breakfast in Hell” the story of a logging disaster featuring the brave Sandy Gray and this one “Black T Shirt”, Slaid Cleaves co-wrote this song with his bestchildhood best friend Rod Picott.
Tom Russell – Mesabi
The second album is Tom Russell new album Mesabi. This is another great album from (for me) the best Americana songwriter out there!
Looking Forward to Seeing Tom Russell Live
I am going to hold off writing about this album right now and will write a full review later in the week!
This year Elizabeth decided that rather than go to William and Mary’s family weekend (Sept 23-25) we will go to Washington go to the Braves- Nationals game. So when Mesabi came out a few weeks ago I went to Russell’s website and saw he was touring and will be in Vienna, Virginia on Sunday of that weekend.
So I quickly went and purchased tickets and Kathy and I will be going to see Tom on Sunday September 25 at Jammin’ Java!
Tom Russell Performs”Mesabi”
Here’s a Video of the title track Mesabi from 2014 and it looks just like i remeber that night at the Jammin’n Java Check Out my6 post from that night here!
Continue the Journey
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Tom Russell Live at Jammin’ Java – My memories of finally seeing one of my favorite songwriters perform Mesabi, “Blue Wing,” “Navajo Rug,” and more in an unforgettable evening of music.
Following Tom Russell into the Old Hotel – How one song from Folk Hotel sent me down another Tom Russell rabbit hole filled with writers, poets, and history.
So some days everything I listen to is enjoyable and well other days it’s just so-so! Guess which one today was! Well not the former – yes it’s Twangy Tuesday and I went looking for some new twang mostly on the bluegrass side.
The Box Cars – The Box Cars Kicked Off the Day
I started by listening to an album that I was really looking forward to hearing The Boxcars self-titled release. I was looking forward to it because two of my favorites are in the band Adam Steffey and Rob Stewart both two of the best pickers around.
Steffey won two IBMA awards in 2010 one for mandolin player of the year and the second an Instrumental Performance Award. But after two listens to the first part of the album I just can’t warm up to it – now I’m not writing it off yet – it may be on a different day or on a more thorough listen, I’ll really like it! Let’s hope!.
Next Came Tennessee Mafia Jug Band – Barnyard Frolic
After The Boxcars I listened to a few tracks from the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band and their 2008 release Barnyard Frolic again while it was good the album just didn’t grab me – like I said maybe it was just the day.
Then Frank Solivan
After lunch and reading a comment on my Favorite Bluegrass Bands of 2010 post at No Depression that I should check out Frank Solivan and Dirty kitchen I went to Rhapsody and the album was not there but Frank’s 2006 release Selfish Tears was, so I gave it a listen – hum some good picking and singing. This one did catch my attention so I kept it in the back of my mind.
Next Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers’and Ned Crisp and Bottomline
After dinner I checked out a couple of albums from the bluegrass charts at the Roots Music Report Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers’ Rambler’s Call and Ned Crisp and Bottomline’s Taking the Back Roads Home both good traditional bluegrass albums but again they didn’t quite fit my mood tonight!
Finally Brandon Jenkins’ album Brothers of the Dirt.
Later I checked out Brandon Jenkins’ album Brothers of the Dirt. This album is more like what I am looking for the first track “Blood for Oil” was good and then I kinda lost interest! So far all of the albums were pretty good and all deserve another listen on another night!
A Night Ending Return to Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
So at the end of the night I listened to Frank Solivan again and that one does have some really good tracks on it and will definitely get another listen. Oh no I remember the closing track “Scorchin’ the Gravy”. Now that was what I was looking for!!
2026 Update: After first discovering Frank Solivan’s solo album Selfish Tears in this 2011 post, I eventually explored more of his music. I did find Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen;s self-titled debut album. It WAS terrific and I became a fan!
Update No 2 : The reason that Brandon Jenkins album didn’t feel right was that he is not a bluegrass musician. He was a according to wikipedia part of the Red Dirt music genre.
The Playlist
Here’s a Baker’s Dozen Playlist with songs from the albums I listened to that day – they all sound pretty good t me!
Originally published Nov 2010 Revised and Updated July 2026
So a while ago I wrote about the great young fiddler Amanda Shaw. When the post was on No Depression one of the comments was that maybe she could team with equally young Sierra Hull, who plays mandolin to form a wunderkid band!
So never having heard of Sierra Hull I visited her website and one of the first things that stood out were these quotes”
“Sierra Hull is without doubt my favorite mandolin player!” – Adam Steffey – pretty high praise from a great mandolin player!
“Every so often, a talent comes along that makes us sit up and take notice. That time is now for Sierra Hull.” -SAM BUSH – again some greater praise from a great picker!
Award Nominations for Sierra Hull
Then I see that Sierra and her band Highway 111 were nominated for two IBMA awards in 2010 first for Emerging Artist Of the Year – Sierra & Highway 111 and then *Mandolin Player Of the Year – Sierra!
Finally, I see that her latest album and first national release Secrets was co-produced by Ron Block,(who’s worked with Alison Kraus and plays on the album along with Barry Bales, Dennis Crouch, Jerry Douglas,Stuart Duncan, Clay Hess, Rob Ickes, Chris Jones, Jason Moore, Tony Rice, Dan Tyminski, Jim VanCleve, and the remarkably hard-driving seventeen-year-old banjo phenom Cory Walker, who has already played alongside Sierra for several years.
My Thoughts
So needless to say I quickly downloaded the album and have been listening to it for the last week or so and it is a great album. Sierra voice reminds me of a young Alison Kraus. It’s never over powering and fits perfectly with the music, which as expected is very very good.
While I like the whole album the two tracks that do keep catching my attention are the two instrumental tracks “Smashville” and “Hullarious” both dynamite tracks!
So check out the phenom from Byrdstown Tennessee. Oh by the way this young woman who started playing mandolin at eight she just finished high school this year and will be going to Berklee College of Music next year on a full scholarship!
Since this post was written in 2010 Sierra Hull has released four additional albums
Daybreak – 2010
Weighted Mind (2015)
25 Trips (2020)
A Tip Toe High Wire (2025)
In addition she has won numerous awards and honors.
Hull has won ten International Bluegrass Music Association awards between 2010 and 2023, including winning best mandolin player in 6 out of the past 8 years (2016-2023).[13]
Hull received the Bluegrass Star Award, presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, on October 19, 2013. The award is bestowed upon bluegrass artists who do an exemplary job of advancing traditional bluegrass music and bringing it to new audiences while preserving its character and heritage
The young woman has done really well – now if I had listened to my adivice I’d know those four albums listed abovr! Instead of needing to listen to them now!
So a few weeks ago as I was researching for a post about Walter Trout’s latest album Common Ground ,I discovered or rediscovered that Walter had played on John Mayall‘s 1988 release Chicago Line.
I say rediscovered because I probably knew in 1988 that Walter played on the album, but by the time I listened to Walter’s solo albums a few years ago, it was something I didn’t remember!
Anyway I went to the CD shelf and pulled out Chicago Line and listened to it. I haven’t listened to it for a while because it currently is not on the iPod. It was ripped a long time ago and now resides on one of the external hard drives that think it is a CD drive!
About Chicago Line
Chicago Line was an old time John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers type album like the albums when Eric Clapton and Peter Green were the guitarists. This time the lead guitar duties were shared by Coco Montoya and the aforementioned Walter Trout. Coco has the first lead guitar solo on the opening track “Chicago Line” a great number to open the album!
On the second track “Gimme One More Day” John shares guitar with Coco. On the third track “One Life to Live” about John’s experiences in the Korean War. Walter takes over lead guitar duty.
On the cover of Jimmy Rogers’ “The Last Time” Coco takes the first solo and Walter the second. Track 5 “Dream About the Blues” Coco plays lead and Walter provides rhythm and harmonica. Walter takes the 1st solo on “Fascinating Lover” and Coco the 2nd. On one my favorite tracks “Cold Blooded Mama” Coco plays lead and Walter provides finger picking and rhythm guitars. On “The Dirty Dozens” they share guitar duties with Coco in the lead spot on the next track “Tears Came Rolling Down”.
The closing track is a Walter Trout tune “Life in the Jungle” (I used a video of Walter’s version of the song on the Common Ground post) which sounds a little different than Walter’s version!
My Thoughts
Overall it was a great listen to a really good Mayall album with the overall strength of the album coming from the guitars of Coco Montoya and Walter Trout! I must confess that I haven’t listened to much from John since his 2005 release Road Dogs. I see that his latest album Tough is his 57th album and his band is now composed of Rocky Athas on guitar, Greg Rzab on bass, and Jay Davenport on drums. Guess I have to check it out! Oh, and by the way Chicago Line is now on the iPod! And while it doesn’t make any difference to you it does to me!
Here’s a Mayall performance of “One Life to Live” with Walter on lead and Coco playing rhythm and drinking! Filmed at Iowa State in 1987.
