Terry Adams, Steve Ferguson – Louisville Sluggers (Expanded Edition) (2006/2023) [FLAC 24bit/44,1kHz]

Terry Adams, Steve Ferguson – Louisville Sluggers (Expanded Edition) (2006/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 54:42 minutes | 577 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Omnivore Recordings

Expanded reissue of the 2006 release from co-founders of NRBQ.

In 1966, Terry Adams and Steve Ferguson, two musicians from Louisville, Kentucky, formed the New Rhythm And Blues Quartet after playing together in earlier bands. From the release of their 1969, self-titled debut, NRBQ became not only one of the greatest genre-defying bands on the planet, but also a band whose live shows were as unpredictable as they were unparalleled in the joy they brought their audiences. Although Ferguson left the band in 1971, he was never far away—periodically showing up at gigs (much to the delight of fans), and playing with Adams on various releases keeping their musical friendship alive and well.

The pair got together in the mid 2000s to re-explore that kinship. They brought along NRBQ drummer Tom Ardolino, Terry’s brother Donn (of The Whole Wheat Horns, whose work is prevalent on many NRBQ releases), and some other friends. Donn says in the album’s liner notes, “No outside producers. No time constraints. No budget influences. Just Terry and Steve and friends.”

Louisville Sluggers appeared in 2006 to the delight of the NRBQ faithful. In addition to originals from both Adams and Ferguson, the friends also explored the music they loved: Thelonious Monk, Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, and more. No matter the writer or influence, Louisville Sluggers was totally inventive, and a whole lot of fun.

Now, Louisville Sluggers returns, with updated artwork (retaining Donn Adams original liner notes) and four previously unissued bonus tracks including recordings of “Turkey In The Straw” and Allen Toussaint’s “Java.” This reissue expands the wonder and merriment of Louisville Sluggers for the new and old generations of fans of NRBQ and beyond.Too many NRBQ albums would still never be enough. Stretching the definition of American roots music to its furthest possible extensions, that fabulous but perennially underappreciated band, whose fans are often described as being a cult, could literally do it all: classic country, blues, R&B, and catchy pop music. Their most endearing quality is the way they were always genuinely connected to this span of popular music history, excelling at unearthing dusty classics and rearranging them in novel ways. As the band’s chief creator-in-residence, Louisville, Kentucky-native Terry Adams is joined on this welcome reissue of a 2006 album by original NRBQ guitarist and fellow Louisvillian Steve Ferguson. After a loose-limbed instrumental rendition of “Peanut Vendor,” a Cuban tune previously recorded by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and Dean Martin among others, they fearlessly run through a raft of clever and sometimes iconic covers like a very measured take on Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk,” or a drummer-less version of Jimmie Rodgers’s “Mule Skinner Blues.” There are several originals here by the principals, including Ferguson’s instrumental “Ichabod,” where Adams adds the super-odd instrumental duo of harpsichord and marimbas. “South of the Orient,” made famous by jump blues bandleader Tiny Bradshaw, demonstrates what an intuitive pianist Adams can be. The old R&B standby “Hi-Heel Sneakers” with Adams on organ rolls along at a relaxed pace, while he gets to ham it up on a goofy rendition of the Hank Williams classic “Hey, Good Lookin'” Among the trio of bonus tracks is a snappy instrumental version of Allen Toussaint’s “Java,” centered on a back and forth between Adams’s piano and Ferguson’s guitar. Those two instruments also swap leads on the traditional “Turkey in the Straw.” Given the shouts of encouragement that can be heard in the background on many of these tracks, it’s clear that having fun and not taking anything too seriously were the objects of Louisville Sluggers, with the pair trusting their musical talents while reconnecting with the elemental roots of American music. – Robert Baird

Tracklist:

01. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Peanut Vendor (03:39)
02. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Outer Space Boogie (Alternate Mix) (03:06)
03. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Same Train (02:19)
04. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Mule Skinner Blues (Take 1) (03:19)
05. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Ichabod (02:49)
06. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone (02:31)
07. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – It’s Too Soon To Know (03:28)
08. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Knucklehead (03:01)
09. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Dutchess County Jail (02:40)
10. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – South Of The Orient (03:55)
11. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Hi-Heel Sneakers (03:57)
12. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Turkey In The Straw (Bonus Track) (02:31)
13. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Blue Monk (05:46)
14. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Java (Bonus Track) (03:04)
15. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Duet For Cousins (Bonus Track) (02:29)
16. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Hey Good Lookin’ (03:02)
17. Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson – Ichabod (Take 1) [Bonus Track] (02:56)

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