Joe Louis Walker - Hellfire (album cover)

JOE LOUIS WALKER – HELLFIRE
Format: CD / Label: Alligator Records / Release: 31 January 2012

Raining fire with his guitar and spitting brimstone with his vocals, Hellfire begins a brand new chapter in Joe Louis Walker’s already legendary career.

With his blistering Alligator debut, Hellfire, Joe Louis Walker takes his rightful place among the pantheon of legendary electric blues singer/guitarist/songwriters like B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Luther Allison. Walker is a deeply rooted artist who consistently brings fresh energy and passion to the genre. The Blues Music Award winner and Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise favorite has been releasing critically- acclaimed albums and touring the world since 1986. Produced by Grammy Award winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Susan Tedeschi), Hellfire is Joe Louis Walker’s calling card for coronation.

Renowned for crafting innovative blues that merge gospel, jazz, soul, funk and rock, Joe Louis Walker turns the heat up on Hellfire, breathing fiery new life into guitar-stoked houserockin’ blues. Overflowing with vibrant, perceptive new songs delivered with passion and urgency, Hellfire is the highlight of Walker’s recording career and, indeed, one of the best, brightest blues releases in ages. Legendary vocal quartet The Jordanaires guest on two tracks.

Tracks

1. Hellfire 4:48
Walker, Hambridge & Fleming (Yancy Music, BMI/Tom Hambridge Tunes, ASCAP/Richard Fleming Music, BMI)

2. I Won’t Do That 5:01
Hambridge & Fleming (Tom Hambridge Tunes, ASCAP/Richard Fleming Music, BMI)

3. Ride All Night 4:24
Walker, Hambridge & Fleming (Yancy Music, BMI/Tom Hambridge Tunes, ASCAP/Richard Fleming Music, BMI)

4. I’m On To You 3:30
Hambridge & Fleming (Tom Hambridge Tunes, ASCAP/Richard Fleming Music, BMI)

5. What’s It Worth 6:17
Hambridge & Fleming (Tom Hambridge Tunes, ASCAP/Richard Fleming Music, BMI)

6. Soldier For Jesus 5:50
Walker (Yancy Music, BMI)

7. I Know Why 5:13
Walker (Yancy Music, BMI)

8. Too Drunk To Drive Drunk 3:57
Walker & Russo (Yancy Music, BMI/JOJO Russo Music, BMI)

9. Black Girls 5:23
Walker & Russo (Yancy Music, BMI/JOJO Russo Music, BMI)

10. Don’t Cry 5:00
Walker (Yancy Music, BMI)

11. Movin’ On 4:35
Snow (Unichappell Music, BMI, arranged by Joe Louis Walker)

Produced by Tom Hambridge

Joe Louis Walker: Guitars, Slide Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica
Tom Hambridge: Drums, Percussion
Reese Wynans: Piano, B3 Organ
Rob McNelley: Electric Guitar
Tommy MacDonald: Bass
John D’Amato: Second Guitar solo on ‘Movin’ On’
Wendy Moten: Backing Vocals on ‘Black Girls’ and ‘Ride All Night’
The Jordanaires: Backing Vocals on ‘Soldier For Jesus’ and ‘Don’t Cry’
Matt White: Trumpet on ‘I Know Why’ and ‘Too Drunk To Drive Drunk’
Roy Agee: Trombone on ‘I Know Why’ and ‘Too Drunk To Drive Drunk’
Max Abrams: Saxophone on ‘I Know Why’ and ‘Too Drunk To Drive Drunk’

=== Release info ===

Alligator Records has set a January 31, 2012 release date for Hellfire, the label debut from Joe Louis Walker. The award-winning guitar slinger, passionate vocalist and gifted songwriter has been releasing groundbreaking music since 1986 and has toured — and continues to tour — worldwide. The New York Times raves, “Walker is a singer with a Cadillac of a voice. He delivers no-nonsense, gutsy blues. His guitar solos are fast, wiry and incisive, moaning with bluesy despair.” Rolling Stone simply calls him “ferocious.”

Walker’s discography includes 23 albums and two DVDs. He has won four Blues Music Awards, including the 2010 Album Of The Year Award for Between A Rock And A Hard Place (Stony Plain Records), and has been nominated for 43 more. Walker’s also recorded as a guest with some of the blues world’s best-known artists, including appearances on Grammy-winning records by B.B. King and James Cotton.

Hellfire was produced by songwriter/drummer Tom Hambridge (producer of Buddy Guy’s two most recent Grammy-winning CDs, Skin Deep and Living Proof, as well as albums for Susan Tedeschi, George Thorogood and others). Walker, who wrote or co-wrote seven of the CD’s eleven tracks, says it’s the hardest rocking and most deeply soulful album of his career. His blistering blues guitar playing and gospel-tinged vocals effortlessly blend throughout the album. The psychedelic overtones of the title track (a harrowing and personal tale of the struggle of good versus evil) give way to the slow, simmering and pleading What’s It Worth? and full-force rock of the Stones-y Ride All Night. Walker’s original showstopper Soldier For Jesus (featuring vocal harmonies from The Jordanaires, who also appear on Don’t Cry) fits seamlessly alongside the other selections, making perfect thematic sense in the tra! dition of Al Green, Marvin Gaye or Prince, who all successfully combined carnal desires and gospel devotion.

Website Joe Louis Walker : joelouiswalker.com


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