Foghat –
Last Train Home
Foghat Records
www.foghat.net
Rating: B+
Finally,
the wait is over. Foghat has released a blues album. Last
Train Home has been on the bands’ agenda since the group was
the house band for a charity event Foghat organized to start a
blues archive at the New York City Public Library in 1977.
Foghat is
lead by founding member and drummer Roger Earl. Joining Roger
on this release are long time band members Charlie Huhn and
Bryan Bassett. Guesting on the CD is bass player Jeff Howell
(bassist Craig MacGregor was unable to join the band for the
recording sessions) and Lefty “Sugar Lips” Lefkowitz on
harmonica. Special Guest for two songs is blues legend Eddie
“Bluesman” Kirkland.
This is an
amazing blues album that was recorded very much live in the
studio. “Born For The Road” starts it off with a bang and the
energy does not let up. Earl jams with his brother Colin on the
bouncy “Louisiana Boogie while the band tears it up on “Rollin’
& Tumblin’/You Need Love.”
There is
not a bad track on the entire CD. This is one of those albums
that is fantastic right out of the box and only gets better with
each repeated listen. Kirkland shines on his two tracks “In My
Dreams” and “Good Good Day.
Track-By-Track by Roger Earl
Born For The Road
This one came together quickly. The song is basically about the
trials and tribulations of being on the road.
Needle
and Spoon
This was a Savoy Brown song that we
did. Chris Youlden wrote some great material in Savoy Brown.
In the original, the drums were too low so I wanted to do this
one again.
So Many
Roads So Many Trains
This is an Otis Rush song that Bryan
wanted to do. Bryan’s playing is at his best on this song.
Last
Train Home
This song
has a funky Bo Diddley kind of thing. We brought Jeff Howell
in to play bass and he added a lot to the song.
Shake
Your Money Maker
I am a huge
Elmore James fan and I think we do a particular good version of
this song.
It
Hurts Me Too
This one is not much different than the
version we did in Foghat. It’s an Elmore James tune.
Feels
So Bad
This is a similar to the Foghat version but we changed it up a
bit and made it quicker— that’s the drummer’s fault, or credit
depending how people feel about it.
Louisiana Blues
This is a Muddy Waters song. We were
playing around with this in the studio and it was so much fun
that we just decided to record it.
495
Boogie
I got a speeding ticket on the 495 Long
Island Expressway for going 137 MPH. It was 3:30 in the morning
and nobody was on the road. I was speeding along and I saw a
cop. He pulled me over and asked me, “Do you know how fast you
were going?” I said, “I think I was going a bit quick.” He
said, “A bit quick?” He took me back to his car and he showed
me the blinking light. I got a two hundred dollar fine and they
took my license away for a year.
Rolling
& Tumbling / You Need Love
It was my idea to combine the songs.
The first time we played it, it was about twelve minutes long.
If I ever get a chance to play this on stage then I am going to
play a drum solo during it.
In My
Dreams
Eddie wrote this song about a young girl
he wants to have carnal knowledge with who does not want
anything to do with him. In the song he says, “You can’t stop
me from making love to you in my dreams.” Eddie still has got
what it takes.
Good
Good Day
This song
showcases Eddie’s voice and guitar playing. There were dueling
harps, as Eddie didn’t want to be outdone by Lefty. He said,
“You take the first solo and I’ll take the second one.”
-
Jeb Wright
