Back in 1988, Fred Scribner recieved a call from old friend,Joey Difazio,who was a production assistant for the Imus in the Morning Show.Joey asked Fred if he'd be interested in laying Imus onto some new blues,instrumental tracks for the show.What we have here is a compileation of many tracks as heard on Imus to this day,though previously unreleased,as well as two new live cuts, and one recent studio recording.In January 2008, Sammy and Fred Scribner ventured to Los Angeles to record a couple of tracks for the upcoming Delta Groove project, “Low Down Feeling” with the Mannish Boys. Meanwhile, The Levon Helm Band featuring Little Sammy Davis, were playing all over the US. The New, Revised lineup of ‘Midnight Slim made it’s debut at the ‘Midnight Ramble.”
The Mannish Boys, “Low Down Feeling” was released. Sammy appeared in a behind the scenes DVD of Levon Helm’s Grammy nominated “Dirt Farmer”. Sammy and Fred prepared to hit the studio once again in between Levon’s tour dates. Fred went out on the road with Joey and Gavin Degraw. Sammy also made a cameo appearance in J recording artist Gavin Degraw’s music video, “Cheated on Me”. Levon won the Grammy for “Dirt Farmer”.
In between these road excursions, Midnight Slim was lucky enough to get Sammy in the studio on a cut by Fred and the late Tom Lonek,only three weeks before Sammy had a mild stroke. This session resulted in “ “Travelin’ Man.“ Happily, Sammy got out of the hospital in time to celebrate his 80th birthday and he is getting better. He’s itching to play again.
The other tracks on this project span the years 1988, pre Little Sammy Davis(I can't get next to you) to 2002. Including, “This Old World”, written after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and “ juke walkin’,a throw-back to Sammy’s Chicago Days reminiscent of his mentor and friend, Little Walter, a guy who once brought the police to the club Sammy was playing after hearing some people say that they saw Little Walter Jacobs.
Walter said, “I don’t mind you playing my songs, and yeah, you do ‘em just like me, but these people think that you are me!”
Sammy says, “Little Walter was a good guy.”
Little Sammy Davis and Midnight Slim’s first time on the air with Imus back in ’91 (“Sitting on top of the World), a vocal and an instrumental version of “This Old World”, a fiery version of the Temptations by way of Al Green, “Can’t Get Next To You”) from’88 and other instrumentals that have become staples of the past and present, ”Imus in the morning show, including a couple of Live tracks recorded in the summer of “2007 in Maybrook, NY with the new Lineup are documented here. The project ends with another Imus fave, “When I Leave”, an instrumental version of Sammy and Fred’s song about their first trip to Los Angeles where they were spotted by Scott Dirks, a talent scout for Delmark Records, featuring Fred on digital guitar/organ.
Along with Sammy and Fred, the players on this disc are: Brad Scribner, Drums (Piano on “Travelin’ Man”); Jack Geisenheimer, Bass on “When I Leave”, “Sammy’s Blues”, Tribute to Elmore, Rob Curtis, Drums on “Tribute to Elmore”,I ain't Lyin'. Doug Abramson, Bass on “This Old World”, “Juke walkin. Johnny Rush, Drums on “This Old World”, “ Juke walkin‘. Craig Willcox, Organ on “When I Leave” (Piano on “Sam's Blues”); John Thompson, Bass on “Can’t Get Next To You”, “Sitting on Top of the World”; Baron Raymonde, Sax on “Cant Get Next to You”; and Randy Weimer, Keyboard on “Sitting on Top of the World”.
“Travelin Man” Fred Scribner, Producer
“Can’t Get Next to You” Fred Scribner and John Thompson, Producers
“ Juke walkin‘” and “ This old World” Fred Scribner and Robert Bard, Producers
“Sitting on top of the World,” Fred Scribner and John Thompson, Producers
" Travelin' Man "Recorded in Hampton bays, Long Island, NY, Frank Sorrino’s “Heirloom Studios- Middletown, NY "This old world","juke walkin" Recorded at Robert Bard’s-New Paltz, NY. Sitting on top of the world Recorded at Tom Venable Sound, Newburgh, NY, Sammy's blues, "When I leave" Recorded at Jim Verdi‘s-“The Kitchen,” in Cochecton, N.Y, Tribute to Elmore, Recorded at: Brian and Robin Remaley’s pig roast Maybrook, N.Y. by Greg at Thunder sound. "Cant Get Next to You,“ Recorded in Princeton, New Jersey. Mastered by Sasha Alexander.
We’d like to thank all our friends ,Vince and Sherry Santiago,Rod Wilson,Casey Wilson,Dan Blizard,Mike Joyce,Clem Gurcio for all they’re tireless support. I hope you enjoy this new outing and we hope to be coming to a town near you soon.
Midnight Slim
Cover Photos, John Rocklin
Inside Photos, ,John Rocklin
Additional photo’s,Bonnie Law,Patti Archer
Editor, Richard Logan, Jr.
Liner notes, credits, Bonnie Law
This album is dedicated to the memory of Tom Lonek 1957-2008
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