Album Notes

Blues From The Archives Vol. 2 1984-1992

In a song I am about to record with my current Band, “Speedo’s Billy Rose”, there is a line that goes “I’d Rather Be A Has Been Than To Be A Never Was.” This wonderful record will elevate my career to “Has Been” status. All most people get is fifteen minutes of fame in their life, this record runs almost seventy two minutes of pure musical ecstasy.

Recorded between 1984-1992, this CD represents the high points of my musical career to this point. None of this would be possible without the help of several special people. First and foremost I must thank the former Musical Director of WFMU Radio, the Late Great John Narucki. Without John there would be no Speedo Jones All-Stars. Back in 1981, he encouraged me to put All-Star Bands together and air them live on his radio show on Saturday nights between eight and eleven in the evening. We would do about twelve shows a year and some of the best of these shows are included in this collection. John passed away a few years ago from Diabetes and as a tribute to him, we’ve included several of his spoken introductions to my music throughout this collection. Next I would like to thank Arnie Goodman for helping put me in touch with Kim Simmonds and for throwing me gigs throughout the years as part of Savoy Brown, Chris Youlden, opening for Johnnie Winter and Ten Years After. Next I would like to thank Bob Evans and Crazy Steve for introducing me to Albert Collins, Larry McCray, Charles Brown, Johnny Adams and for holding the Archives tapes all these years so they could be re-discovered by a whole new generation of fans. Next I’d like to thank Julius Middleton for re-mixing these raw cassette tapes and making them into magic. And lastly I’d like to thank my current Bass player Free Wheelin’ Frank for helping me gather pictures and graphics for this project.

Speedo Harmonica Jones September 2006

About The Songs

1. Intro By John Narucki

2. Blues For Speedo and Albert by S. Jones, A. Collins.
This was recorded on February 7th 1985 at Irving Plaza in New York City.
I had just put out my first LP “Blues Blasters Live From The Open Road”,
Which made with Kim Simmonds and Mighty Mouth Evans about one
Year earlier. This record was only available on vinyl and is long out of
Print. I had met Albert about eight years previous to this and was hanging
Out backstage with him, when I asked when he was going to let me play
Harmonica with him. He said “Tonight’s The Night, Baby”. We’ve left his spoken to me in and pure adrenaline flows from there. This is one truly inspired slow Blues.

3. Call It Stormy Monday/Drink Muddy Water by T-Bone Walker/E.Miller
This is from the live WFMU concert recorded February 18, 1984 on my thirtieth birthday. We brought in Delmar Mighty Mouth Evans, Lead singer from the Johnny Otis Show fro L.A. and added Kim Simmonds from Savoy Brown on Guitar alongside Peter Malick, formerly with the James Montgomery Band and Otis Spann on second Guitar. This is a smoking’ shuffle done in the early Lou Rawls style.

4. I Smell A Rat by S. Jones
This is the third recorded version of this original song. We felt that the performance was so good and so different that it had to be released. My long time friend and Guitarist extraordinaire Jumpin’ Jon Specter is added on this track.

5. Double Slide Boogie Traditional arranged by S. Jones
Loosely based on Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle and Roll” mixed with some early Elmore James, Earl Hooker, and Robert Nighthawk Riffs, this number features Kim, Jon and myself just jamming’ the boogie. One of those one take wonders, this is the final cut from my birthday session.

6. Tobacco Road by J.D. Loudermilk
Delmar Mighty Mouth Evans getting down with the Blues like only he can. His spoken intro is unlike any heard before. Loosely based on Lou Rawls earlier version this song is taken in a different direction, this was recorded at Dan Lynch Bar on a very slow Tuesday night. February 21, 1984.

7. They Call Me Lazy by Lazy Lester
Guitarist and magnificent vocalist Larry McCray introduces me and we are off to the races. Tony Z takes a nice solo on this one. This track and the next one were recorded at Manny’s Car Wash, another defunct Blues venue from the Big Apple, on March 19, 1992.

8. Oreo Cookie Blues by L. Mack
My tribute to the legendary Guitar genius Lonnie Mack. I had met Lonnie several times but never got to play with him. This track features an extended harmonica solo, very sympathetic guitar from Larry and a modulated organ solo from Tony Z, that starts at one hundred and keeps going from there.

9. Outro By John Narucki