Blues
T-Model Ford, like several of his Mississippi Delta blues peers, enjoyed a hard-earned, late-career renaissance over the last decade or so, thanks to his raw, sweaty recordings for Fat Possum Records. Ford now hopes to continue that flourishing for the relative young Mudpuddy Recordings, and his first effort for the new label, a live disc called "Jack Daniel Time," lacks some of the grit and punch his Fat Possum efforts had. However, the new album is still proof that the Mississippi blues tradition remains alive and well to this day, especially because it's the real Delta deal. Recorded with long-time, down-home cohorts at a juke joint with a leaky roof, the CD especially shines when Ford performs by his lonesome on his first-ever non-electric recordings.
By Ryan Whirty.
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80-something-year-old Delta bluesman, T-Model Ford delivers his signature, raw, real Mississippi blues - featuring performances with an all-star band as well as his first solo acoustic recordings ever.
80-some years of hard livin’ and lovin’, fightin’ and cuttin’ has led to this: a brand new album of whiskey-soaked blues on a brand new label - the man they call “T-Model Ford” on Mudpuppy Recordings.
T-Model (a.k.a. The Taildragger) hails from Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup territory in Forest, Mississippi. He spent years in Clarksdale and currently resides in Greenville, Mississippi. Through his long and storied life, T-Model has been married five times, survived a stint at Parchman Farm and served two years on a Tennessee chain gang. He’s also played a bit of blues along the way and is as likely to be found playing huge European festivals as he is harassing the ladies at his favorite juke joint, Red’s Lounge, where this CD was recorded (live to tape with no overdubs).
Joining T-Model on “jack daniel time” is Terry “Harmonica” Bean – now in his late forties – who started his professional blues career backing up T-Model but quit him after one too many fights broke out at their gigs. Drummer Lee Williams is a veteran of the Clarksdale blues scene and another regular at Red’s. On hand as a very special guest was one of T-Model’s first drummers (and ex-Jelly Roll King), the legendary Sam Carr.
In between band sessions, T-Model also took time to play a few solo acoustic numbers – his first non-electric recordings ever. The session, itself, was predictably chaotic with rain occasionally finding its way through the leaky juke joint roof and on to the drum set and assorted electronics, but the Taildragger’s spirit never dampened. After all, as T-Model (and Mudpuppy Recordings) will tell you, it’s “jack daniel time”!
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01 I Love You, Babe (Acoustic) 2.29
02 Red's Houseparty 4.04
03 Jack Daniel Time 3.39
04 Big Boss Man 3.15
05 Rock Me Baby 2.17
06 That's Alright Mama 2.15
07 Hi-Heel Sneakers 5.00
08 Got a Woman 3.39
09 Mistreatin' Woman 5.25
10 Killing Floor 3.49
11 I Love You, Babe (Band) 6.49
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