Tommy Talton
Somewhere South of Eden
(Indie)
I have been a fan of Tommy Talton
since his days with Cowboy back during the seventies. The Capricorn Records
recording band was among my Top- Ten favorite bands of the decade, along with
The Allman Brothers Band and the Marshall Tucker Band, and their song “Please
Be with Me” remains one of my favorite songs to this very day.
When Tommy Talton began releasing a
string of solo albums, I was always first in line to hear his new music. It was
never disappointing, ever. With Somewhere South of Eden, Talton ups the ante.
This is one of his best efforts yet, from the beautiful and melodic title track
to the mesmerizing “When I Fall Asleep Again.” I remember hearing the latter on
a demo several years ago, and falling in love with the song back then. Tommy
has a way of delivering a ballad that is unparalleled.
On Somewhere South of Eden, Talton plays
all of the guitar parts and handles vocals, accompanied by drummer Bryan Owings
[Tony Joe White, Buddy Miller, Emmy Lou Harris] and bassist Chris Donohue [Emmy
Lou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Alison Krauss]. The basic tracks were recorded by
David Pinkston, in Hendersonville, Tn.
Other all-star players include keyboardists
Chuck Leavell [Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Allman Bros.]; Spooner Oldham
[Muscle Shoals “Swamper”]; Ike Stubblefield [Motown star organist]; Steve Conn
[singer-songwriter, Sonny Landreth, Bonnie Raitt]; John Ginty [soloist and
organist with Dixie Chicks]; Kenny Head [John Barry, Georgia Satellites, Tommy
Talton Band]; along with Jeff Mosier on banjo, [Blueground Undergrass, Col.
Bruce Hampton]. Friends Randall Bramblett [Cowboy, Sea Level] and Tom Ryan
[Shawn Mullins] add saxophones. Vocalist Deborah Reece adds soulful harmonies
to three of the tracks here, Markham White [engineer/mixer for the album] adds
guitar parts on two of the tracks.
The album gets underway with a
rocking “I Can’t Believe it,” fueled by horns and a celebratory lyric and featuring
a smooth sax solo from Randall Bramblett. “Hard Situation” is a heartfelt blues
that is enhanced by the accordion mastery of Steve Conn. Chuck Leavell –
probably my all-time favorite pianist- adds piano on “Poblano,” an excellent
instrumental that hints at Carlos Santana one minute and Dickey Betts the next.
It’s a wonderful guitar song, enhanced by the drumming of David Keith.
Jeff Mosier brings banjo and vocals
to the hoedown of “Don’t Go Away,” a true bluegrass surprise that really works
well. Kenny Head plays piano on Its Gonna Come Down on You,” a song that
features some mighty nice acoustic guitar as well as a rocking electric lead.
The star
power continues with “I Surrender,” a great song about the aftermath of a break
up, and the feeling of just giving up and giving in. Tommy brings in more
legends, Ike Stubblefield on organ and Spooner Oldham on Wurlitzer piano. Now
how much would you pay?
“Waiting On
the Saints” is a serious groove that is meant to be played loud. Turn it up to
eleven. It’s a goodie. And as I said in the beginning, the title track,
“Somewhere South of Eden,” is another of Tommy’s beautiful ballads, with crying
slide guitar and lyrics that could have easily been penned by Bob Dylan. This
one is one of my favorite tracks on the release, eclipsed only by the
aforementioned “When I Fall Asleep Again.”
Throughout all of the songs
Talton’s guitar is front and center, shining through like a beacon, whether he
is playing electric or acoustic or slide, as on “We Are Calling,” a song on
which the slide is the star. Simply astounding.
After half a century of playing,
from We The People to Cowboy to his solo band, Tommy Talton is still making
music that is both viable and extremely enjoyable. Talton continues to age like
the finest wine. Drink him in.
-
Michael Buffalo Smith
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