Last Train Out Of San Francisco (feat. Billy Branch)

#81 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series is Last Train Out Of San Francisco, featuring the smokin' hot harp playing of a true blues legend, Billy Branch. Born in Chicago, raised in Los Angeles, and then returning to Chicago to attend university, Billy replaced Carey Bell in Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars. Upon Dixon's encouragement, Billy did receive his degree in political science but the call to the blues ultimately won out over law school. In the early 1970s, Billy left the All-Stars to form The Sons of The Blues with Lurrie Bell and Freddie Dixon (Corey and Willie's sons) and although the personnel has changed over the years, SOTB continues to play festivals and make records to this day. Not that being a Willie Dixon protege isn't enough but, some of the other legendary acts that Billy has worked with over the years include Johnny Winter, Keb' Mo, Lou Rawls, Koko Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Honeyboy Edwards, Syl Johnson, Ronnie Baker Brooks, John Primer, and Taj Mahal. A multiple Grammy nominee, a U.S. State Department cultural ambassador, and an educator, Billy founded the Grammy Blues Committee and the Blues in Schools Program. Billy is an incredibly warm, humble, and generous soul and it is an honor and pleasure to have him blowin' on this track. Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Alvino Bennett (Dave Mason, Stevie Wonder) on drums and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA. And Mixed and Mastered by the Grand Wizard of Greaseland, Christoffer "Kid" Andersen. A very special shout out to Blaise Barton at JoyRide Studio, Chicago IL, for facilitating Billy's session.

Piss & Vinegar (feat. Robert Holmes)

#80 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series is Piss & Vinegar, featuring an old friend, former bandmate, and one of my favorite guitarists, Robert Holmes. The UK born and US bread Holmes is most well known as the guitarist in the '80's pop band, 'Til Tuesday (with Aimee Mann). I actually just heard their 1985 single Voices Carry in the supermarket the other day. But little did people know back then that behind that '80s hair and makeup was an incredibly dynamic and adept English Blues guitarist, in the great tradition of Beck, Clapton & Page. (Although if my memory serves me right, one of Holmes' faves is Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore.) Towards the end of 'Til Tuesday's run, Holmes and his wife at the time, Glenda, formed Ultra Blue; a psychedelic blues-rock power-trio-plus with yours truly and drummer Carl Coletti (RIP). Ultra Blue was the big fish in the medium-sized pond of Boston Rock but ultimately national recognition eluded us. Holmes has had several projects over the last 25 years, Street Magic, Love Bomb and The Velveteen Playboys to name a few. In the early '10's Holmes moved back to the UK and has since established himself as an in-demand hired gun, collaborating with the likes of producers; Paul Bryant and Hugh Padgham. In 2017 Robert joined the R&B outfit, The Achievers, and in 2019 they won the 6th UK Blues Challenge. So, sit back, turn this one up and enjoy a little Boston Hard Blues via Santa Cruz & Gloucestershire.

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Alvino Bennett (Dave Mason, Stevie Wonder) on drums and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA with additional tracking by Roger at Stonedhouse (Gloucestershire UK). This is also the first track Mixed and Mastered by the super bad, F. Reid Shippen.