New John Hiatt due in March

[drive-south]

John Hiatt has a new release coming out next month entitiled "The Open Road". Can't wait to hear it. I'm always excited to hear new material from John Hiatt, although the last couple of releases didn't bowl me over (Master of Disaster and Same Ole Man).

Sonny Landreth doesn't appear on this disk. Hiatt is playing with the same lineup he's been with for the past couple of years including Doug Lancio on guitar, Kenny Blevins on drums, and Patrick O'hearn on bass. I saw this lineup at the Calvin Theatre in Northhampton, MA 2 years ago and they were really smoking. Doug previously played in Patty Griffin's band and brings the chops. He reminds me of the guitar playing on "Stolen Moments" with lots of cool feedback and affects. Patrick O'Hearn played with Frank Zappa years ago when he was apparently about 2 years old (he looks way too young to have been a *Mother*). Kenny Blevins has played with Sonny Landreth as well as Hiatt. How can you go wrong with this lineup?

Can't wait!!

drive-south

[FenderBigot]

One of my favorite song writers... and from a recording perspective, I love "Child of the Wild Blue Yonder".

[drive-south]

I'm pretty sure the lead guitar work on "Child of the Wild Blue Yonder" was John Hiatt on his trusty Telecaster. One of my favorite Hiatt Albums by a long shot. Love "Rock Back Billy".

drive-south

[nmiller]

Great news. Hiatt never seems to slow down!

[mojocaster.com]

WooHoo! I am pumped.

[SHM]

Good news. I was at the Danish Royal theater to see and hear a show with John Hiatt and Lyle lovett together. Only the two of them and akustic guitar. Great, great songs, great singing and playing. Don't miss it if they are near....

[Guitar55]

One of my favorite songwriters as well. I love his use of language. He usually alternates between albums that really rock and ones that are more country oriented. Which will this be?

[JB Eckl]

Which releases does Landreth play on? I have 'Beneath this gruff exterior' and it's killer. Like listening to two albums at the same time, except they go together.

[Guitar55]

I believe Landreth is on Slow Turning. There are also some killer live shows available on the Net with Sonny as part of JH & The Goners.

[drive-south]

Landreth played on "Slow Turning", "Tiki Bar", and "Beneath this gruff exterior".

Drive South could have easily been classified as a "country" album, but it certainly didn't fit the Nashville (or any) formula. "Crossing Muddy Waters" was about as blue-grassy as Hiatt gets with no drums or electric guitar. Just guitars and mandolins and his fine vocals.

I expect this album will be typical Hiatt with his current arrangement.
I'm really psyched to hear it. Hopefully March will bring an early Spring and a great John Hiatt release.

Now that Hiatt has delivered, it's time we hear some new material from Keb Mo, Bonnie Rait, and Little Feat.
I hear The Feat showed Shaun Murphy the door. They also had to bring in a replacement for Richie Heywood as he is battling liver cancer. I'm really sorry to hear about Rickie, but I'm not sorry to see Murphy go. She's got a great voice, but never fit with Little Feat, and she looked ridiculous up there playing tamborine with the superb musicians of Little Feat.

drive-south

[drive-south]

I may have spoken too soon on Keb Mo. He has a new live album out.
"Live and Mo".

to the hunt, to the hunt, to the hunt hunt hunt.

drive-south

[GuitarsFromMars]

COTWBY was my favorite song on 'Stolen Moments'. Truly a great JH mid tempo rocker. 'Master of Disaster' and 'Same Ole Man' were only good from the standpoint of Luther and Cody Dickinson's musicianship. I didn't think the songs were as strong as say 'Bring the Family' or 'Slow Turnin', however there is always a turn of phrase or of a note or two that never fails to get my attention. Hiatt is one of America's best contemporary songwriters, a superb singer on his not so good days. I am a fanboi.

[Guitar55]

Some of my favorite Hiatt tunes:

Buffalo River Home
Seven Little Indians
Paper Thin
Little Head
Tennesee Plates
Riding With The King
Feels Like Rain
Icy Blue Heart
The TIki Bar is Open
Drive South
The Wreck of The Barbie Ferrari


(he even has great titles!)

[SHM]

Mike Landau plays on stolen moments

[drive-south]

Some of my favorite Hiatt tunes:

Buffalo River Home
Seven Little Indians
Paper Thin
Little Head
Tennesee Plates
Riding With The King
Feels Like Rain
Icy Blue Heart
The TIki Bar is Open
Drive South
The Wreck of The Barbie Ferrari

(he even has great titles!)

I could add a lot more tunes to this list. (My Old Friend, Window on the World, Rock of your Love. Someone find me a BAD Hiatt Tune.

It's on albums like Drive South and Tiki Bar that you hear Sonny Landreth do differant things that don't involved a Strat cranked through a Dumble. His 12-string sliding on "Rock Of Your' Love" for example is just sublime. His National Steel playing on "Georgia Ray" creates the coolest groove.

Ry Cooder on "Bring the Family"!!! Some of the scariest slide playing ever on "Alone in the Dark" and "Thank You".

drive-south

[coot tone]

I LOVE John Hiatt! Speaking of great song titles, one of my favorite of his is the unreleased song, "His Penis Came Between Us".

[Cobra]

Never heard a Hiatt tune I didn't like
But I gotta say my all time fave
is Memphis in the Meantime on Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan...

[rotren]

I am a big John Hiatt fan too. I really like Master of Disaster, but Same Old Man was just plain boring, except for a few songs.

[mountain blues]

Big Hiatt fan - this is good news. I'm hoping he brings a different vibe than the last two albums - they didn't quite knock my socks off.

[tele_phil]

Cool. John is a great song writer. Some fun stuff to play and great stuff to listen to.

[Crowder]

I'm a fan too, though I think he peaked with Bring the Family which was like catching lightning in a bottle.....four incredible musicians, but all playing for the same reason, which was to make John's songs sound as good as possible. The same four guys couldn't repeat that success as "Little Village." I also enjoyed Drive South and Stolen Moments a lot when they were released.

At his best, Hiatt captures a ton of emotion in a tune and creates the perfect melody to match. There are other times when he seems to be phoning it in or writing like a parody of himself. The albums prior to Bring the Family, and the most recent ones, are good examples of this.

[drive-south]

John Hiatt's new album hits the stores today. I'll be picking up a copy after work. Can't wait.

[57gold]

is a masterpiece. Great songs + great players making magic.

It's a "Kinda Blue" of this genre.

Every note supports the song. Some great notes from all.

[mannish]

Bring The Family is just wow. Like others the last couple haven't done it for me. Seen him with the songwriters tour (Lyle, Ely, John...Guy was sick) ans seen him with Landreth which was outstanding.

I agree Ry's playing on Bring The Family is not of this world



I could add a lot more tunes to this list. (My Old Friend, Window on the World, Rock of your Love. Someone find me a BAD Hiatt Tune.

It's on albums like Drive South and Tiki Bar that you hear Sonny Landreth do differant things that don't involved a Strat cranked through a Dumble. His 12-string sliding on "Rock Of Your' Love" for example is just sublime. His National Steel playing on "Georgia Ray" creates the coolest groove.

Ry Cooder on "Bring the Family"!!! Some of the scariest slide playing ever on "Alone in the Dark" and "Thank You".

drive-south

[rotren]

Downloading it right now from iTunes.

[57gold]

Makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up...I think I can get teary-eyed over those swells and that deep, soulful tone.

Made the mistake of looking for that same magic on every John Hiatt album...not fair.

Stones only made one Beggars' Banquet; Beatles only one Abbey Road; Clapton only one Layla and Assorted; The Who only one Who's Next; SRV only one Texas Flood.....

[oldschoolguy]

I was just wondering about his next album the other day as I was listening to "Walk On" which was the one that got me into Mr. Hiatt. I bought my Genz Benz because he endorsed it. Thanks for the update.

[vintage saddles]

The thing about Hiatt is he makes the songwriting seem so effortless until you try to duplicate it. A Master Craftsman.