Billy Jones & The Delta Blues Outlaws – Welcome to the Blues Highway
Self Released/Billy Jones Bluez
https://billyjonesdeltabluesoutlaws.bandcamp.com/
12 tracks
Bay area guitarist, singer and songwriter Billy Jones released his first recording in 2001 and has followed that with five other albums over the years. Something of a child prodigy, he studied under Little Johnny Taylor, Rufus Thomas, and Larry Davis. He hit the road running hard and delivered music in the styles of Chaka Khan, Chocolate Milk and the Bar-Kays. He sees his music as a modern, natural progression of where the blues need to go. His band here on this live recording are Rico Smith on drums, Reverend Keith Tucker on bass, Corey Bray on keys and backing vocals and Uncle Daddy Billy on lead vocals and guitar.
“Shadetree Mechanic” gets things rolling. Jones sings about how he’s going fix his woman up in a cut with a bunch of automotive repair double entendres. Jones growls, the guitar is funky, the groove is deep, the organ blares and it’s fun. Next is “Please Come Home for Christmas,” a holiday cover tune of Charles Brown’s 1960 classic. Jones sings with emotion and there is another cool organ solo. “Running Out Of Lies” is a heavy, soulful cut with Jones expressing his dissatisfaction with his lying woman. “Trying To Get Next To You” features some honky tonk piano and Jones bellowing and bemoaning his desire to get to his woman. Another organ solo is featured here as the guitar and backline drive the tune along.
“Someone New – Before I Let Go” is another deep soul cut with Jones playing some heavy licks on guitar and sings with passion as he tries to work things out with his woman. Up next is “No Diggity,” a driving cut piece with lots of wah wah and Jones getting really funky. “Love’s Train” follows with a big guitar intro. Soulful and cool mellow stuff delivered on this cut. “Barefootin’” is a dance tune with a funky and bouncy beat. Jones and Company give a rousing version of this classic. More great organ work here on this cut.
“Can We Talk” is a slow and downtrodden piece about a relationship in trouble. Jones wears his feelings on his sleeve as he wails and moans about getting back together. “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” is a slow soul blues about returning from being separated from his woman. A cover of “Tennessee Whiskey” is next. Jones gives it a soulful makeover with his emotive and impassioned tones. “Keep On Rolling” ends the live show and CD. A slow paced and cool cut about life on the road.
Billy and his band deliver a dozen good performances here. The sound suffers a bit with some of the instruments sounding a little thin from the live recording, but Billy and the band give it their all and are fine, soulful bluesmen who know how to entertain. A dozen inspired performances of a mix of originals and covers makes for a fun album to enjoy over and over again.
