The Blues Sessions

Four Willie Dixon cuts, three Honey Boy Edwards tracks, and one each from Howlin’ Wolf, Roosevelt Sykes, Big Jack Johnson, himself and...

$10.52$13.00

  • Tim Woods has been singing and playing acoustic guitar for more than 25 years, with a distinctive style, playing and picking using his thumb. As a young adult, Tim immersed himself in the legendary music scene in Macon, Georgia, where he gained a deep appreciation for Southern culture, especially the blues and its offshoots. This tribute album, recorded in Chicago, Clarksdale and Atlanta, features four generations of blues and blues rock guest artists.

    Blues Blast Magazine review by Steve Jones

    Tim Woods has 25 years of experience in the blues. A session in June 2005 with David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Homesick James, Sam Lay and Pinetop Perkins inspired Tim to the point of recording with these greats. “The Blues Sessions” was hence recorded over a six-month period in studios in Clarksdale, Atlanta and Chicago. Featured on the CD alphabetically are: Allen Batts, Joe Craven, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Michael Frank, Shannon Hoover, Big Jack Johnson, Aaron Moore, Eric Noden, John Primer, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Jeff Sipe, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Ike Stubblefield, Bob Stroger, Lee Williams and Terry “Big T” Williams.

    Four Willie Dixon cuts, three Honey Boy Edwards tracks, and one each from Howlin’ Wolf, Roosevelt Sykes, Big Jack Johnson, himself and an un-authored traditional number comprise the dozen tracks presented here. Woods opens with “Deep Ellum Blues”, a beautiful acoustic piece with Noden and Smith supporting him. Folks my age will recognize it as an old folk song covered by the Dead. The interplay of Woods and Noden is a great start to a disc full of Tim’s great work and the blues greats surrounding him. Dixon’s songs like “Do the Do” get great covers here. Primer and Woods guitar work on the this is quite nice while Woods and Big Jack Johnson bend notes together on songs like “Built for Comfort”. Woods and Honey Boy sing and play together on “Bad Whiskey and Cocaine”, “Wind Howlin’ Blues” and “Drop Down Mama”, giving us traditional Delta blues done up like they used to be. The Dixon covers are updated a bit except “Spoonful” where he goes acoustic and traditional sounding; another well done effort with Noden and Smith showing less can be more.

    This is a nice mix, and he finishes up with an uncredited but apparently original track with some cool organ work by Stubblefield and jumping rock-a-billy guitar work by he and Rogers. A dozen tracks of tight and well done studio tracks showcasing Woods’ two and a half decades of experience and his ability to blend and mix it up with some other talented folks who enjoy playing together and also do it quite well! His acoustic and electric guitar are equally well done and his vocals are all spot on and bluesy. If you like traditional blues from the Delta and Chicago, this album will warm both your heart and your ears quite well! Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford, Illinois

    1. Deep Ellum Blues 3:29
    2. Do The Do 4:56
    3. Castle Rock Boogie 3:26
    4. Bad Whiskey & Cocaine 6:53
    5. Spoonful 3:30
    6. Clarksdale Boogie 5:43
    7. Wind Howlin’ Blues 4:42
    8. Built For Comfort 4:13
    9. Drop Down Mama 4:08
    10. It Don’t Make Sense You Can’t Make Peace 7:09
    11. Who’s Been Talking 4:19
    12. World Comes Tumblin’ Down 5:27
  • Release Date: May 18, 2010

    Musicians:

    Tim Woods – guitar, vocals all tracks
    Eric Noden – guitar 1,5 harmonica 6,8
    Kenny Smith – drums 1,2,3,4,5,7
    John Primer – guitar 2,3
    Aaron Moore – piano 2,3
    Bob Stroger – bass 2,3
    David “Honeyboy” Edwards – guitar and vocal 4
    Michael Frank – harmonica 4
    Big Jack Johnson – guitar 6,8,11
    Terry “Big T” Williams – bass 6,8,11
    Lee Williams – drums 6,8,11
    Allen Batts – keyboards 6,8,11
    Bobby Lee Rodgers – guitar 10,12
    Ike Stubblefield – keyboards 10,12
    Shannon Hoover – bass 10,12
    Jeff Sipe – drums 10,12
    Joe Craven – violin, vibraslap 10, bongos 12

    Produced by Michael Frank and Tim Woods

    © P 2010 Tim Woods Music
    Georgia sessions produced by Bobby Lee Rodgers and Tim Woods
    Atlanta sessions recorded by Miguel Scott, and Assistant Engineer Chad McCune, Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
    and at Kevin F. Rose Studio, Savannah, Georgia
    Clarksdale session recorded by Gary Vincent, Clarksdale Sound Stage, Clarksdale, Mississippi
    Chicago sessions recorded by Blaise Barton, Joyride Studios, Chicago, Illinois

    “Clarksdale Boogie,” “Who’s Been Talking” and “Built for Comfort” mixed by Gary Vincent, Clarksdale, Mississippi
    Album Mastered by Jim Godsey at JBG Audio,Palatine, Illinois
    Cover, back and disc photos by Maureen Elizabeth
    CD package design by Ron MacDonald
    Guest artist photos by Tim Woods
    Photos of Tim in Mississippi by Michael Frank

    Special thanks to Michael Frank; Bobby Lee Rodgers; Ron MacDonald; my wife, Paula;
    Gary and Carol Vincent; Betsie Brown;Eric Noden; Steve Simpson; Scott Heberling;
    Ernie Hawkins; Maureen Elizabeth;Tim McCormick; Steve Budeski;Gil Snyder;
    Joe Cunningham; Christy Karr;Drew Ferguson; Norad.

0