It was 1974 when blues master John Hammond met Tom Waits. They had a mutual admiration then, which makes this collaboration twenty-five years later so right. Tom Waits finds himself for the first time producing another artist, and even more bizarre is the fact that Hammond has chosen to make Wicked Grin a sort of homage to Waits as he covers many of his classic tracks.
This isn’t the first time they’ve worked together. Waits wrote “No One Can Forgive Me But My Baby” for Hammond. Here Hammond adds his signature style to Waits’ signature songs. “Heartattack And Vine” has never sounded more wicked. Hammond does a fine version of “Clap Hands”, but really gets live on “‘Til The Money Runs Out”. He whips it up to “Get Behind The Mule” and a classic cover of “Jockey Full Of Bourbon”.
Tom Waits was so inspired by the thought of this album that he wrote two new songs, “2:19” and “Fannin Street”. Tom Waits is legend enough, but add John Hammond and you have the makings for an album with monumental status. Wicked Grin is just that sort of album.
+ rae gun
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