After more than four decades interpreting the songs of others, renowned folk/blues artist John Hammond has written and recorded a song of his own. Due Feb. 11 via the Back Porch label, Hammond’s “Ready for Love” will feature the track “Slick Crown Vic,” the artist’s first original recorded composition.
Produced by Los Lobos singer/guitarist David Hilgado, “Ready for Love” also features songs by the Rolling Stones (“Spider and the Fly”) and Willie Dixon (“Same Thing”), as well as Hidalgo’s “I Brought the Rain,” written with Mike Halby for their 1999 Houndog project. Hammond also covers two songs written by Tom Waits (“Gin Soaked Boy,” “Low Side of the Road”), and a pair from George Jones (“Color of the Blues,” “Just One More”).
Another song tackled on the forthcoming set is Jesse Stone’s “Money Honey,” which has been recorded by such diverse artists as Elvis Presley, Little Richard, .38 Special, and Wanda Jackson. He also covers the Lew Brown/Sammy Stept/Charles Tobias-written classic “Comes Love,” made famous by Billie Holiday.
The set features several guest talents, most notably legendary keyboard player Augie Meyers (Bob Dylan, Doug Sahm), fiddler Soozie Tyrell (Bruce Springsteen), Fabulous Thunderbirds drummer Stephen Hodges, and bassist Marty Ballou (Duke Robillard).
“Ready for Love” is the follow-up to last year’s Point Blank/Virgin release “Wicked Grin.” That set, which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart, was a reading of Waits material produced by Waits, who contributes liner notes to the new album.
Here is the “Ready for Love” track list:
“Slick Crown Vic”
“No Chance”
“Easy Lovin'”
“Gin Soaked Boy”
“Spider and the Fly”
“Can’t Remember To Forget”
“Color of the Blues”
“Same Thing”
“I Brought the Rain”
“Comes Love”
“Low Side of the Road”
“Money Honey”
“Just One More”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news