The Path Of A Decent Groove
A Letter from Tony Joe Regarding this Album.
Tony Joe White releases his new album "The Path Of A Decent Groove" on Remark Records through Polydor
on 25th October 1993.
For those who don't know Tony Joe White's history, "he's the growling, sexy....bluesman who came steaming
out of Louisiana with the red hot "Polk Salad Annie" in 1969 says misic critic Robert K Oermann.
Tony Joe's entire family played music, so he was practically born to it in the small town Goodwill, Louisiana.
It was the French who discovered Tony first, naming his music "swamp rock" and Tony became known
internationally as the
"Swamp Fox".
In the 1970s he toured with the biggest rock acts of the day and expounded his swamp-soul sounds worldwide.
Tony Joe White is respected as a multi-talented artist whose basic love is composing and arranging. As a
songwriter, his tunes have been recorded by some of the best: Brook Benton immortalised "Rainy Night In Georgia",
a classic multi-million seller that has been recorded by over 100 different artists. Elvis Presley popularised
his own exciting version of "Polk Salad Annie", as well as the ballad "For Ol' Times Sake" and also his comeback
hit in 1974, "I've Got A Thing About You, Baby". European artist such as Joe Dassin and the French Elvis,
Johny Hallyday, have hit with TJW material as well as Joe Cocker, Etta James, Waylon Jennings, John Anderson,
Isaac Hayes, Roy Orbison, Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Rich, Chet Atkins, Hank Williams Jr, Jessi Colter,
Christine McVie and Wild Cherry to name a few.
One of Tony's greatest achievements was working with Tina Turner during the recording of her "Foreign Affair"
album.
Tina recorded four Tony Joe White songs for the album, with Tony producing the title track. The single
"Steamy Windows" went top 40 worldwide and is also on Tina's greatest hits album "Simply The Best".
In 1991 Tony recorded his first album in many years. Released in Europe on Remark Records, "Closer To The Truth"
charted all over Europe, Australia, and New Sealand, selling over 100,000 copies in France alone.
Tony and his band toured extensively throughout Europe in '91 and '92, including shows with such greats as
Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton. His charismatic, mysterious presence, distinctive guitar playing and soulful
low voice reinforced Tony's cult following. His re-emergence renewed interest in his earlier material and
such collector's items as the albums "Homemade Ice Cream", "The Train I'm On" and "Tony Joe White" were
re-reased on CD. In the U.S., Warner Bros has just issued a 20-track tribute entitled "The Best Of Tony
Joe White".
In addition, Tony completed production on four tracks for the Belgian blues group Blue Blot earlier this year
and has had songs recently recorded by Paul Young, Emmylou Harris and Patricia Kaas.
Inspired to make a more personal statement, Tony worked almost alone to record his newest release for Remark,
"The Path Of A Decent Groove" - 13 reflectieve new tracks. To coincide with the release, Kayenta Productions
in Paris has completed a documentary of Tony's rich musical history.
"They don't know if I'm black, white, country or rock" Tony says.
It's simply Tony Joe White.
Polydor Press Office, Rebecca Fitzgerald, 1993.
