Features Tommy’s stripped-down, fired-up new band, The Painkillers. Includes sharp new originals and fresh new versions of songs by J.B. Lenoir, Andre Williams, Jimmy Hall and Savoy Brown’s Chris Youlden. A lineup of great guest artists includes Marcia Ball, Tab Benoit, Joe Bonamassa, The Holmes Brothers, Magic Dick and more.
Includes two tracks previously released only on a 2013 vinyl 45: “Greedy” and “That’s All I Got.”
“Irresistible contemporary blues-rock…street-level grit and soul” –Billboard
Tommy Castro Guitars and Vocals Randy McDonald Bass and Vocals Byron Cage Drums and Vocals James Pace Keyboards and Vocals<...
Liner Notes
Tommy Castro Guitars and Vocals Randy McDonald Bass and Vocals Byron Cage Drums and Vocals James Pace Keyboards and Vocals
with Special Guests: Marcia Ball, piano and vocals on Mojo Hannah Tab Benoit, vocals and guitar on When I Cross The Mississippi Joe Bonamassa, guitar on I’m Tired Samantha Fish, vocals on Medicine Woman The Holmes Brothers, background vocals on Two Steps Forward Mark Karan, guitar on Keep On Smilin’ and When I Cross The Mississippi Magic Dick, harmonica on Two Steps Forward Tasha Taylor, vocals on The Whale Have Swallowed Me
additional Guests: Mike Duke, piano and vocals on Keep On Smilin’ Mike Finnigan, organ on When I Cross The Mississippi Bonnie Hayes, Wurlitzer piano on Second Mind and background vocals Jimmy Pugh, organ on Second Mind Vicki Randle, percussion and background vocals Leah Tysse, background vocals on Second Mind
1. The Devil You Know + 2. Second Mind + 3. I’m Tired + 4. Center Of Attention + 5. The Whale Have Swallowed Me + 6. When I Cross the Mississippi + 7. Mojo Hannah + 8. Two Steps Forward ≈ 9. She Wanted To Give It To Me ≈ 10. Keep On Smilin’ + 11. Medicine Woman ≈ 12. That’s All I Got ≈ 13. Greedy ≈
+ Recorded by Joel Jaffe, assisted by Jason Victorine at Studio D, Sausalito, CA studiodrecording.com ≈ Recorded by Jim Reitzel at Tarpan Studios, San Rafael, CA tarpanstudios.com
Produced by Tommy Castro and Bonnie Hayes Guest Producer: Narada Michael Walden for She Wanted To Give It To Me Guitar Production: Eric Schramm, Tal Morris and Mark Karan Mixed and edited by Chris Manning and Tommy Castro at Salamander Sound, San Rafael, CA salamandersound.com She Wanted To Give It To Me, Greedy and That’s All I Got mixed by Jim Reitzel at Tarpan Studios Mastered by Collin Jordan and Bruce Iglauer at The Boiler Room, Chicago, IL
Additional recording by: Bonnie Hayes and Eric Schramm, Assisted by Skip Sitkin at Palace of Tone, San Rafael, CA Johnny Lee Schell at Ultratone Studios, Studio City, CA Blaine Misner at Cue Recording, Falls Church, VA Juliette Amoroso at Night Bird Recording Studios, West Hollywood, CA Danny Bernini at Sprit House Studio, Northampton, MA Adam Lichtenauer at Studio City, Kansas City, MO
Cover illustration by Scrojo Packaging design by Kevin Niemiec Photo by Steve Sherman Band logo by Britt Lundberg Alligator logo by Michael Trossman
Tab Benoit appears courtesy of Telarc International Joe Bonamassa appears courtesy of J&R Adventures Samantha Fish appears courtesy of Ruf Records
We would like to thank all of our special guest artists, business associates, The Rosebud Agency, Blind Ambition Management, Roger Naber and The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, David Tucker, Janie Soong, Dani Barese, Scott Burnett, Gibson Guitars, Reverend Guitars, Eminence Speakers, Mesa Boogie Amplifiers, Reunion Blues Guitar Bags, GHS Strings and Dunlop Guitar Picks.
