My good friend, the great songwriter Davis Raines, brought me this traditional blues song that he had written additional lyrics for, we came up with this arrangement for it, and we have been playing it ever since. The song got even funkier when Paul Griffith and Dave Roe laid into it with a deep, deep groove. In fact, Dave's growling (there's no other word for it) bass takes it to another level. Speaking of Paul and Dave--an amazing rhythm section: We cut 15 songs in 2 days, all of them in 1 or 2 takes. That's incredible. And so are they.

This song was written by my friend and mentor, the late Bill Wilson--a great writer, singer and performer. We spent a lot of years playing together and this is my favorite song of his. Kathy Hussey and Whit Hill came up with the great backup vocals, and Johnny Neel is playing some fantastic stuff on an old Wurlitzer electric piano.

An outlaw boogie blues train song--the metaphor has been over-used, but I think we captured the musical feel of a runaway train on this one, just on the edge of out-of-control. Like they say in East Nashville, “Play a train song … “

One of my favorite songs since I was a kid--a true guitar instrumental. I started playing it live a few years ago and people always say, "What was that guitar song? I love it. Will you play that one again?”

Mike Cullison, one of my favorite lyricists, is a frequent musical co-conspirator. He penned the words and we wrote music for this song together. My old friend Tom Roznowksi gave us the title. (That big banging sound in the chorus? That’s me dropping a metal chisel on a garage floor.)

I met Andi Crimmins-Renfree on my travels in Texas and she sent me these lyrics. Her words spoke to me, and I felt exactly how the music should go. My good friend and fellow Hoosier, Groove Sister Lisa Young, sings with me on this one.

I had this idea for a long time, but I knew it had to have an edge to it--be a bit sinister. I think of Luther Allison when I sing it—because Luther could sing like a dangerous dude.

This rocking romp was pretty much already written when Randy Handley brought it to me--then generously gave me credit for helping put it together. He's been one of my favorite writers, singers and players ever since I started to play. Now I’m really lucky to call him my friend, too. Crank it up loud!

Louisiana-born Paul Griffith gets a great New Orleans groove on this one. I wrote this song with Randy Handley's piano playing in mind--and, man, does he sound good. Dennis Taylor tears it up on the tenor sax, while Whit Hill and Kathy Hussey sing the coolest vocals behind me.

Tracy Nelson has been my soul favorite since I first heard “Down So Low”—having her on my CD is truly awesome. But not only that, Tracy arranged the vocals and brought the amazing Vickie Carrico to sing them with her! You almost want to jump out of your pew and testify when you hear them … and that’s Randy Handley on piano, Johnny Neel on the B-3, cool horns by Steve Smartt and Rick Mitchell.

This song was written when I was working three jobs, playing guitar in two bands, and getting no sleep at all. I've been waiting almost 20 years to record it with great horns and cool backups!