Grinderswitch "80 Miles To Memphis"

More Grinderswitch.  This is "80 Miles To Memphis" from the "Honest To Goodness" record (their debut album), circa 1974.

Happy Birthday, Muddy Waters!

Happy Birthday to one of the originators of electrified blues.  McKinley Morganfield (a.k.a. Muddy Waters), born on April 4th, 1915, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi.  Here's a tune to celebrate the occasion.  Muddy, with James Cotton on harmonica and Johnny Winter on guitar, called "Cross Eyed Cat". 

Muddy Waters has much more material he performed throughout his career, including plenty of recordings for the Chess label in Chicago.  But, check out "Cross Eyed Cat" as an intro.  James Cotton's harp playing is a notable feature on the tune.

Grinderswitch "Mail Train Blues"

Check out another Grinderswitch gem.  This one's called "Mail Train Blues".  Going to keep searching out some more great music from "the other Macon Georgia southern rock band".  The cool part about this song, is the country influenced fiddle playing on it.  At least I think that is what they called themselves.  But, I have to verify that.  Will do some research.  I'm going to keep rolling with finding these old songs though.  Really enjoying what is being discovered here.

Philip Sayce "Steamroller"

Wow!  Check this one out.  Philip Sayce, "Steamroller".  More modern blues.  Sayce reminds me anyway of a cross between Hendrix and Leslie West from Mountain.  More proof the blues is alive and well among the younger artists.  This track is HOT!

Grinderswitch "Homebound"

Another Grinderswitch track.  This one is called "Homebound" and was redone on their last album that was blogged here recently ("Ghost Train From Georgia").  Still really digging into these old songs.  Going to find more.  That's for sure.

Grinderswitch "Red Wing"

Check out this track from an early Grinderswitch album.  It's called "Red Wing".  These guys (in their heyday), sounded pretty similar to the Allman Brothers and the Charlie Daniels Band, even though, for my money, I believe that all of the bands that were a part of "southern rock and roll" music (which is kind of an oxymoron term but also a lifestyle) had their own sound.

record collection revisited: Grinderswitch "Ghost Train From Georgia"

Before beginning this blog entry, here is a Wikipedia link explaining the roots behind Grinderswitch as a band.  Most of the original members are deceased now including founding guitarist and vocalist Dru Lombar and bassists in the '70s and 2000s incarnation of the band (Joe Dan Petty, and, Steve Miller: no relation to the frontman of the Steve Miller Band). 

Grinderswitch recorded five major albums between 1974 and 1981.  Here's the Wikipedia page about them with that discography included.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinderswitch

The band's website may still be active as well.  Although they are now broken up after Dru Lombar's 2005 passing.

http://grinderswitch.com/

 Then, in 2005, with a reformatted lineup of Lombar on guitar, Jack Corcoran on guitar, Steve Miller on bass, Eddie Stone on keyboards (who has played with another boogie rock band I have to research called Doc Holiday), and Wally Condon on drums, the band recorded an album called "Ghost Train From Georgia" which showcases their R&B/blues roots.  Lombar's singing and guitar work on the album is heartfelt and energetic.  Dru Lombar was another master of the slide guitar, a lot like Duane Allman. 

Lombar has a bluesy sounding vocal style in addition to being a talented guitarist and songwriter.  He and the band wrote most of the tunes on their final record.  Vocalist Miranda Louise sings a few duets with Dru on the album as well.  It is good old fashioned southern fried boogie rock with a huge dose of R&B rhythms blended in, and the songwriting is very poignant in a lot of ways on tracks like "Holding On To Someone Letting Go" and "Help Me Lord" (a gospel song written by Lombar shortly before he passed).

There are some bluesy jams and some real heartfelt ballads in the track listing and the Grinderswitch sound (like many other southern bands) is original, and yet, draws heavily on blues and soul.  It's an enjoyable record to listen to just for the sheer talent of Lombar's guitar work and songwriting.  More Grinderswitch will be posted here.  Stay tuned.  For now, here's the track list to "Ghost Train From Georgia"

1. Where'd You Learn To Love Like This
2. Who's Been Cheating On Who?
3. When Two Hearts Beat As One (feat. Miranda Louise: duet vocal)
4. Ghost Train From Georgia
5. Holding On (To Someone Letting Go)
6. 2 Wheel Ride (a cool instrumental about a motorcycle with heavy surf guitar/Venture's influence)
7. Close Enough To Love (feat. Miranda Louise: duet vocal)
8. Homebound
9. Help Me Lord
10. Miss Understanding
11. Dixie Flyer