Showing posts with label Wet Willie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wet Willie. Show all posts

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Wet Willie - The Bottom Line (1977)

Wet Willie live at The Bottom Line is a great soundboard, with the band sounding at their hottest. This is an excellent recording and features their finest tunes, like "Keep On Smilin'", "Street Corner Serenade" and "Country Side Of Life". Really, what can I say that I haven't already said about Wet Willie? These guys are the kings of Southern Soul Rock and this show will surely spice up the evening. Jimmy Hall's in great form, as is the whole band. Dixie Rock!

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Jimmy Hall - Cadillac Tracks (1982)

"Cadillac Tracks" is the second solo album by Jimmy Hall, the voice of Wet Willie. This is 1982 and it shows (audio-wise that is ;)). There's not much left of the Wet Willie sound either. Instead, what you get is a decent Southern tinged Pop Rock album. But, admittedly, a good few well crafted tunes, and musically everything is tip-top. Mostly covers, of which several had also been recorded by other artists around this time. My favorites are the two that had Jimmy's hand in writing; "Cadillac Tracks" and "Make A Miracle". But it's a really nice Pop Rock album. And Jimmy is one of the finest vocalists in Southern Rock. It's your move.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Wet Willie - Drippin' Wet (1973)



Here's a fine, raunchy Southern Rock & Soul show for ya. After having released two studio albums, Wet Willie turned in their third offering with this hot live registration. You can just imagine the sweat drippin' from your speakers. I'm at a loss for words. All I need is a beer and a Red Hot Chicken..

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

The Nighthawks - Live At The Bottom Line (1990)



Thanks to Helvis for this nice live document of The Nighthawks, featuring Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie on vocals and Jimmy Nalls of Sea Level on guitar. Musically this is more barroom type Blues/Boogie than Wet Willie's brand of Southern Rock. I don't think the songs stand out much, but the playing is just fine. A very enjoyable live show. Some songs of Wet Willie are played here, and they're the ones I enjoy most. And Jimmy can sing! The sound of this recording is like a decent soundboard. Just think: barroom+beer+rock&roll=goodtimes. Keep on smilin'!

Monday, November 08, 2010

Wet Willie - Wet Willie II (1972)



Second album by Wet Willie. And they're cooking up another fine stew of sweet Southern Rock,m laced with lots of Soul and oozing with energy. Maybe not your regular Southern fare, if you're used to sticking with Skynyrd and the likes, but Wet Willie is finger licking good, alright. This album is where the band first starts sounding like the band you might know from hits like "Keep On Smilin'. Really, this is party music at its very best. Great vocals by Jimmy Hall and some hot rocking from the rest of the gang. Red hot chicken!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Wet Willie - Wet Willie (1971)



This is Wet Willie's debut album from 1971. On this record the band was getting close to becoming that great R&B/Soul infused Southern Rock band, but the music slightly less Funky than their later outings. Some pretty good songs, though. And already you could hear that this band was a class apart. All played with great enthusiasm and verve. Excellent vocals by Jimmy Hall (as always) and splendid picking throughout. If you don't know Wet Willie, I suggest you do something about that right now. Have a good time!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Wet Willie - The Wetter The Better (1976)



I noticed that this album by Wet Willie is no longer available on CD. Which is a shame, cause "The Wetter The Better" is among my favorite Wet Willie albums. It was their fifth studio album, and on this record it all seems to come together. This has everything which made Wet Willie such a fun band to listen to. Still a lot of energy, but more matured than on previous records. It's got Soul and Funk but it still rocks plenty! Some great songs, like "Comic Book Hero" and "Everything That 'Cha Do", this is the album to have. For me. Baby Fat!

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Betts, Hall, Leavell & Trucks - 1983 - Geneva , NY



Betts, Hall, Leavell & Trucks features Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks (Allman Bros), Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie) and Chuck Leavell (Allman Bros & Sea Level). Unlike most Southern Rock bands in the early 80's, this band did not venture into AOR territory. Instead, this is fairly classic Southern Rock, with songs of The Allman Brothers, and Jimmy Hall and Dickey Betts solo cuts. It's a soundboard recording of a gig they played in Geneva, NY, on Jimmy's birthday. The sound is a little thin at the start, but it gets better with the second song. Vocal duties are being shared by both Dickey and Jimmy. I don't know if they ever recorded any studio demos, but this is very nice anyway. The kind of band you'd love to hear on a Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam. I'm guessing you'll enjoy hearing this lot keep playing Southern Rock like the 80's never happened. Yay!

Friday, February 06, 2009

Wet Willie - Manorisms Live (1978)



I've always loved the energetic, almost hyperactive Southern Soul Rock of Wet Willie. But by the time they changed labels from Capricorn to Epic, things started to mellow down a bit. Or maybe get just a little too slick. But I still think "Manorisms" was quite a good album, though. And I'm glad I did some digging and actually came up with this small treasure. A 5 song live performance of Wet Willie, doing songs from and promoting the "Manorisms" album. I don't know anything about the source, but they sound like professional recordings, ripped from vinyl. Could it be a promo live album for radio stations? Anyway, the sounds is great. And the playing and singing is excellent. Live in front of a very small audience, maybe live in a studio? Added are two Jimmy Hall solo performances from the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam VIII. Also very good sounding recordings. Hey, hey, what do you say?!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Various Artists - Alive Down South (1997)



Hey, hey! It's hoe down time, y'all! After blue Monday, this is just what the doctor ordered. Tell your mama you won't be home tonight, grab a beer and get right!
Though this album was released in 1997 (and is out of print already), these recordings are mostly from 1977 and 1978. Some of these songs are from the Rebel Jam, so there is some overlap with the "Hotels, Motels & Road Shows" album. But the overlap is limited to three songs (Stillwater (2) & The Allman Bros (1, though not the same version)). And there are 13 songs in total on this album.
Yep, it's the same idea here. Some of hottest live performances by some of the greatest Southern Rock bands. All mixed together as though this was a non-stop Southern Rock show, so it never slows down with any fade-outs and -ins. And you get the whole spectrum of Southern Rock. From the Fusion Rock of Dixie Dregs to the Southern Soul of Wet Willie to classic Southern Rock of Stillwater and The Allmans. A big thank you to Luc for this one!
If you don't dig this, you must be gay. And if you do, you sure will be. Like a tidal wave of goodness...

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Various Artists - Hotels, Motels & Road Shows (1978)



Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! It's the holiday season coming up alright. Yet another bag of goodies here. This album is the perfect example of what I dig about Southern Rock. Ladies and gentlemen: it's the jackpot!
I knew about this album for a long time, and I wanted it really bad. But I never found a copy. But how cool is that? To find it's everything I'd expected, and then some..
"Hotels, Motels & Road Shows" is a compilation album, chockful of Capricorn recording artists. But this is no cheezy-cheapo-cash-in greatest hits of the label. No, no, no, no. It's a 1978 Rebel Jam! All exciting live performances, classic Southern Rock, and a guaranteed good time. And these tracks haven't been released on albums by the artists themselves. And some artists never released a live album to begin with. The artists: Stillwater, Elvin Bishop, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Bramlett, Dickey Betts, Grinderswitch, Sea level, , The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie and Dixie Dregs. You get the whole spectrum of Southern Rock on one album. Well, it gets very close to that. This is really, really good. Up among the bestest. For real!