Jukebox Magazine.
	A guitar doesn't lie After years with Monument, at the end of the sixties, and with Warner Bros, at the beginning of the seventies (see JBM nr 84), we encounter Tony Joe White at different labels, until today, but always with the same inspiration and nonchalence that are the basis of his success, especially in France where he was noticed by the late Joe Dassin and Johnny Hallyday. Tony Joe White, almost carelessly, with small strokes, has become a living legend as we are told here by Dominique Martin de la Cruz & Cyril Dohar. In 1974-75, Tony Joe White, who has created his own recording-studio, develops models and participates on two albums as an accompanying musician (comparable with Jerry Lewis, Donnie Fritts, Isaac Hayes). He throws himself, without much success, on the production of publicity jingles for the 20th Century Fox, who, finally, offer him a record-contract in 1976. Disco A first single thus appears in 1976 with a very danceable and inspired version of "Suzie-Q", the classic by Dale Hawkins, made popular, amongst others, by Creedence Clearwater Revival and on the B-side " It Must Be Love" which sounds very disco. Tony Joe White looks very macho on the sleeve, with whiskers and a matching mustache, his unbuttoned shirt showing a hairy chest. A second single is released several months later comprising "Hold On To Your Hiney" and "Texas Woman", the last title refers to dance music. As such the album "Eyes" is released in 1977. It is a surprising record, which diverges completely from the production that Tony Joe White's audience was grown used to. The compositions are very acceptable, but some are drenched by arrangements that are too disco. It is the fashion at that moment and Tony Joe White does not turn away from it. Later he will admit that during that period he had no control over the recording sessions. He recorded the bases and the raw rhythmic sections, and then later discovered that the record company added violins and copper sections. The word 'love' is found in six titles, disco obliges. The option for dance music is privileged. Despite this, the album is worth listening to and some of the songs are outstanding such as "Rainy Day Lover", "Swamp Boogie", and the very infatuated "That Loving Feeling". The raw sound of the voice of Tony Joe is very well suited for these songs as it shows a high amount of erotic soul atmosphere. His version of "Suzie-Q" does not appear on the American release, whereas "Texas Woman" is absent from the second European edition. Only the Italian edition , with a disgusting kitsch sleeve distinguishes itself as it shows the backside photo, enlarged with pastel colours. Whereas it does comprise all the songs, including "Texas Woman" and "It Must Be Love". In 1978 , Wilson Pickett records "Hold On To Your Hiney", whereas Ronnie Session gives his interpretation, with a lot of feeling, to "Making Love Is Good For You". As a result of the release of the LP "Eyes", Tony Joe White takes more distance from his record company. He plays on studio albums of other artists and plays in clubs for several years without getting involved in new productions. He prefers to distance himself from the American show-business which focuses on the option marketing instead of artistic values. He joins up with Waylon Jennings, Kenny Rogers and Hank Williams Jr for some country gigs when they record his songs. Joe Dassin Then, in 1979, he participates on the LP of Joe Dassin called "Blue Country", on which he plays guitar and mouth organ on seven songs. Well produced, with strong lyrics by Claude Lemesle and Pierre Delanoë, this record is very charming and it surprises more than one person. The voice of Joe Dassin, who, for a while, turned away from entertainment, lends itself marvelously well to the compositions of Tony Joe White. A small revelation proving that Joe Dassin had more to offer than what his big successes would lead to suppose. Similarly he has given us, amongst others, in the 1960's, two incredible versions of "Hello Hello" of Sopwith Camel and especially of "If The Weather Is Sunny" of Smoke, adapted with passion into "Pauvre Doudou", both are found on his album called "Les Deux Mondes De Joe Dassin" released in 1967. For the record "Blue Country" Joe chose "Home Made Ice Cream", "My Kind Of Woman", "Polk Salad Annie", High Sheriff", "The Change", "Lustful Earl And The Married Woman" and "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" of the repertoire of Tony Joe which were translated respectively into "Blue Country", "Un Babys Bébé", "Polk Salad Annie" (unchanged), "La Fille Du Shérif", "La Saison Du Blues", "Joe Macho" and "Si Je Dis Je T'Aime". If you are not convinced then simply listen to the original "Le Marché Aux Puces" autographed by Joe Dassin and Claude Lemesle. It sounds just like Tony Joe White, who adapted this song as an English version entitled "The Guitar Don't Lie", which he only recorded in 1995. Joe Dassin will cover this song in an English version on his album "Home Made Ice Cream", will will serve as a template in 1991 to Johnny Halliday when the title is changed into "La Guitare Fait Mal", which is rewritten by Etienne Roda Gil. The credits for this Johnny Halliday song by White/Roda Gil are very quickly rectified into Dassin/Lemesle, as the original song was released by SACEM. For the album by Joe Dassin , Tony Joe White called upon his preferred musicians namely Mike Utley (keyboard and arrangements), Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass) and Sammy Creason (percussion), Fred Tackett (guitar), M.L. Benoit (percussion), J.D. Madness (pedal steel guitar), Dennis Belfield (bass) and Jules Chakin (violin) completing the orchestra as well as a copper section does. Also in 1979, his record company brings out the simple "It Must Be love"/"We'll Live On Love" followed in 1980 by the album "The Real Thang". Again Tony Joe White revolts against the label Casablanca who transforms and adds to the raw takes of the songs resulting into a funky-disco record. As a result the final version of this dance music is very unbalanced ("I Get Off On It", "Disco Blues", "Grounded"), littered with superfluous retakes (""Polk Salad Annie", "Even Trolls Love Rock 'n Roll"). Waylon Jennings plays guitar on some nice country songs entitled "Red-Neck Woman" and "Mama Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies". In "Swamp Rap", with a soul accent, Tony Joe defines himself as someone originating from the swamps who doesn't move too quickly, talks slowly and enjoys dancing to "Cotton Eye Joe". The rhythmical section is reduced to Jeff Hale (percussion), Steve Spear (bass) and Thomas Cain (organ). This album was never released in France, only in the Netherlands from where it was distributed all over Europe. Two singles were drawn from this album "I Gett Off On It"/"Feelin'Loose" and "Disco Blues"/"Mama Don't Let Your Cowboys". "I Get Off On It" has been covered by Jerry Reed in a country version. Dangerous Tony Joe White is often asked to participate on the albums of other artists. As an example he plays guitar and mouth organ, in February 1980, on the Waylon Jennings album "What Goes Around Comes". Commercially, he bumps into an image problem as the public expects a country star, whereas the radio stations refuse his music, ad hoc, as they consider it too black. This is the reason that he draws back into his own eight track studio and releases the album "Dangerous" in 1983, at Columbia Records, with Ron Reynolds as country producer. This attractive album, with FM sound, perfectly suited for travelling on the highways, make Tony Joe White a charming crooner with undeniable feeling. There are plentiful ballads and romances, and Tony Joe celebrates his love for the perfect woman (his own), as can be heard in the magnificent and touching "You Just Get Better All The Time": "You just get better all the time / Baby don't you change a thing / Lately you're the only song I want to sing / You're my reason to try". Other wonderful melodies are the charming "Naughty Lady", "If You're Gonna Love Somebody", "Down By The Border", and "Lady In My Life". We can mention the participation of Jeff Hale (percussion), Steve Cobb (bass), Sam Levine (saxophone), Manuel Thomas, Shane Kelster and Alan Steinberger (keyboard) and the Nashville Machine strings. amongst others. Again the LP "Dangerous" is pressed in the Netherlands for the whole of Europe. Meanwhile, France did not forget Tony Joe White and in January 1984 he can be seen alongside Johnny Halliday in the historical broadcasted programme of Antenne 2 called "Les Enfants Du Rock", where they perform together "Polk Salad Annie", "Do You Have A Garter Belt" and "Gabrielle". This performance is followed by a mini promotional tour that brings back Tony Joe White to France in June 1984, especially for the unforgettable concert in the Eldorado in Paris. During two hours he plays his old songs but also some new pieces ("Sexual Attraction", "Hold On Your Ash") with an extraordinary passion during an acoustic and very swampy performance. The show in Strasbourg is also remarkable with, amongst others, a feverish boogie on request. His career seems to proceed prospectively as is illustrated by the unedited promotional single "Nobody's Baby Tonight" as an introduction to his new album. In reality, this is not the case and he will retire for a long absence of almost eight years. His record company decides to bring out two singles from his album "Dangerous" in the USA: "Swamp Rap" with "Living In The River City" on the B-side and "We Belong Together"/"Lady In My Life", while in Europe the promotional single "Dangerous"/ "Down By The Border" is released. On Stage In that same year Astan Music releases a white bootleg album entitled "Roosevelt And Ira Lee", on which we have no further information. Tony Joe White can not even remember himself that he ever performed "Baby Please Don't Go" on stage. He presumes that these tapes have been recorded during festivals in Europe where he performed, as he did, for example, on the Isle of White in 1970. On this live album someone announces: "Ladies and gentlemen, the man of Polk Salad Annie from Louisiana ; 'Tony Joe White' " Which is followed by a solid version of "Baby please Don't Go" followed in turn by six songs of excellent quality, three of which are unedited. Besides "Baby please Don't Go", there are "When You Touch Me" and "You Got Me Running"(with its repetition). The other songs are "So Hard To Handle", "I Want You", "Roosevelt And Ira Lee". The cover sleeve is very nice looking with, on the foreground, Tony Joe in a T-shirt and with his guitar and mouth organ. Another edition has been released a little later in the Platinium series. Next Tony Joe White composes his songs for many years in his own personal studio, sending demo tapes almost anywhere. He even considers releasing a record that will only be sold by mail. A period filled with doubts that will take several years of his life. In 1986 the album "Tony Joe White Live!" is released. It involves tapes that have been made during his European tour with Creedence Clearwater Revival when Tony Joe White filled the first part of the program in 1971. On this album, accompanied by the inseparable Mike Utley, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Sammy Creason , Tony Joe performs two unedited songs namely: "Mississippi River" and "Back To The Country". It is also on this album that the song "Lustful Earl And The Married Woman" appears for the first time. The other songs on this album are: "Roosevelt And Ira Lee", "Another Night In A Life Of Swamp Fox", "A Rainy Night In Georgia", "Willie And Laura Mae Jones", "My Kind of Woman", "Travelin' Bone" and "Polk Salad Annie". At the same time Tony Joe White publishes a book where he tells his own story and where he draws up the balance of his career. Indispensable for the true collectors! In 1990 Disc Deluxe (from Luxembourg) brings out a box entitled: "Don't Dare To Forget", it has the shape of a plastic suitcase, and it is filled with four CD's with recordings of different artists, in a limited edition of 2000 copies. It comprises six songs performed by Tony Joe White solo on stage: "No News Is Good News", "Lustful Earl And The Married Woman", "I've Got A Thing About You Baby", "Saturday Night In Oak Grove, Louisiana", "Even Trolls Love Rock'n'Roll" and "Polk Salad Annie". This extraordinary document, taped before a live audience in London in 1973, demonstrates what this artist is capable of during an acoustic performance. The suitcase also contains a calendar for 1991 and in August we find a picture of Tony Joe White standing in front of a truck. Meanwhile, the true return of Tony Joe White was launched in 1989 when he worked together with Tina Turner on her album "Foreign Affair". He had sent her several demo's of his songs and she fell completely for "Undercover Agent For The Blues". Tony Joe rushed to Los Angeles to discuss this with her. She was completely surprised by the fact that he was not a black singer/songwriter. Then, finally, in 1991 Tony Joe White makes up his mind and decides to record the album "Closer To the Truth", it is an auto-production which is re-mixed by Chris Lord Alge, and it marks the, ever so anticipated, return of the Swamp Fox. He has regained his sensuality and his velvet feeling through a lazy swing. As he states himself, it took him seven years to devise this album. All the songs have been tried out in tiny blues clubs. And only after people spontaneously decided to dance to the music was the song selected for his album, and he concludes by explaining that he has given the best of himself to the people that have supported him over the years. A nice gesture, not? The album comprises twelve songs with, on the American edition, a bonus track namely "Out Of The Rain", which can be found on Joe Cocker's CD "Night Call" as well as on Patricia Kaas' CD from 1998 "Je Te Dis Vous". Tony Joe also retakes two of his own compositions that are found on the Tina Turner album: "Steamy Windows" and "Undercover Agent For The Blues". Closer To The Truth Right from the start the song "You're Gonna Look Good In Blues" is well received. The rest of the album is maybe slightly over-produced (big drum too present and an execution that is too neat). The powerful sound is due to the musicians of the Muscle Schoals of whom Roger Hawkins (percussion) and Spooner Oldham (piano) ensure its coherence. The melancholic lyrics of "Closer To The Truth" and "Ain't Going Down This Time" show a kind of crack or rupture in Tony Joe. An internal injury appears to be getting at him. Other songs such as "Tunica Motel" describe Tony Joe's favorite spots where he goes fishing in the weekends. The swamp feeling is also present with "Bi-Yo Rhythm". The way he plays his guitar is still relatively simple, but soaked with inspiration. In all, the album "Closer To The Truth" gives the impression of listening to Chris Rea or the Dire Straits. It has the same spirit. Two singles are drawn from the album: "You're Gonna Look Good In Blues" / "Cool Town Woman" and "Tunica Motel" / "Steamy Windows" (they also exist as CD and music-cassette with two tracks). The last one mentioned also contains an unedited third title: "The Blues". The album "Closer To The Truth" is the last album of Tony Joe White that appears on vinyl. In 1991, Tony Joe White participates on Johnny Halliday's album "Ça Ne Change Pas Un Homme", remarkably, with the song "La Guitare Fait Mal", adapted from "The Guitar Don't Lie" which in turn originates from the Joe Dassin song "La Marché Aux Puces", illustrating once again that France is genuinely a receiving country for this unique musician. His concert at 'La Cigale' in December 1992, after his noticeable presence at the 'Transmusicales' of Rennes, resemble a homecoming party with a friend in a joyful environment. Right from the first songs it is clear that he will give the best of himself. Unfortunately his passage turns out to be too brief. But if life has its drawbacks from which Tony Joe White can not escape, the Swamp Fox seems well underway to new adventures that will lead him even further, to there where he will be present in our hearts and in our souls. His music is very alive and so is the pleasure to listen to him performing on stage or on an album. Everything happens to the place of swamp-music of which he remains the master. Then, in February 1993, Tony Joe White embarks on a European tour as the first part of Joe Cocker's show as a promotional activity for the album "Closer To The Truth". It is not an easy bet when appearing before an audience who hardly knows him. By chance, passing in the same program as Joe Cocker turns out to be a terrific challenge leading to great moments of rock. "Midnight Special Live" is pressed especially for the promotion of this tour. This album, a collector's item, comprises "High-Sheriff Of Calhoun Parrish", "(You're Gonna Look) Good In Blues", "Ain't Going Down This Time", "Undercover Agent For The Blues", "Steamy Windows", "Rainy Night In Georgia", "Polk Salad Annie", "They Caught The Devil And Put Him Down In Jail In Eudora, Arkansas", "Out Of The Rain", and "Even Trolls Love To Rock'n'Roll". On the other hand the live versions of "Willie And Laura Mae Jones", "Window Wimberly", "Do You Have A Garter Belt", "Cool Town Woman", ' "Roosevelt & Ira Lee", "Tunica Motel" and "Main Squeeze" initially intended for this promotional CD have not been put on the final CD. All these songs have been recorded on February 9 1992, in a small club in Germany, as part of a radio transmission for Radio Hamburg, in a very cozy environment. The tour completed, Tony Joe returns home, tired. He must undergo an operation of his ear. His minor recovery does not stop him from partying with J.J.Cale. Together they improvise for twenty minutes on "Polk Salad Annie". It is true that these two men have much in common, above all a sacred passion for the blues. Tina Just recovered, Tony Joe White continues to work on his new album "The Path Of A Decent Groove" which is released in France in October 1993. This, for many reasons, interesting album, shows nevertheless some minor weaknesses. Tony Joe even seems easy-going at certain moments. Initially he had the idea of recording an acoustic album with only a guitar and a Wooden Box. This project never got its way around and the final product is half finished. The singer is solely responsible for the project and the lack of artistic direction is felt. The entire album has difficulties to rise above the ground level. Too few songs distinguish themselves from the lot. Apart from the pleasant songs, "Tina" and "The Path Of A Decent Groove" with subtle touches on a Spanish guitar, the best song is without any doubt "2 Hot 4 U" where a Tony Joe White 'grand cru' is a pleasure to listen to. This CD is given a big promotion with extras in the form of collector items. For example a mouth organ from Hohner with the name of the singer engraved into it is offered along with the CD. At the same time, a wonderful CD-EP is released commercially, as a digipack, with moments from the "Midnight Special Live" concert of February 9 1992 in Hamburg. It contains "Polk Salad Annie", "High-Sheriff Of Calhoun Parrish", "They Caught The Devil And Put Him Down In Jail In Eudora, Arkansas", and "Even Trolls Love Rock'n'Roll". For the release of this album Tony Joe comes to Paris for eleven days in November 1993 to ensure its promotion. Then he takes off to Germany and Sweden where he has sold more than 30 000 copies of "Closer To The Truth". On the program of 'France Inter' presented by Philippe Dana called Voix Off, Tony Joe White performs live three of his songs: "Polk Salad Annie", "I Want To Be With You" and "Way Down South". He is also present on RFM for the program called 'Made In RFM' and he is invited to the television show called 'Nulle Part Ailleurs' broadcasted by Canal+, where he sets down a very sumptuous interpretation of "Polk Salad Annie". His record company brings out a first single, "Tina" / "Backside Of Paradise", before they launch the single which contains "Rainy Night In Georgia" as a bonus track. This song appears on the market at the same time as the movie about Tina Turner does. In April 1994 Tony Joe is invited to the 'Late Show' of the BBC where he plays an excellent acoustic version of "Rainy Night In Georgia". At this show he also performs "Mojo Dollar" but this is not broadcasted! After this a second single is released: "Down In Nice" / "Always The Song". The release of the single coincides with the broadcasted , magnificent, documentary "L'Homme Du Sud" by Louis Lamaison on Canal+. It allows the audience to better understand this singer different from all others, to listen to him and to absorb many of the songs that were recorded at the Muscle Schoals especially for this registration. A treat for the eyes and the ears and a documentary of a quality that one rarely encounters. Also in 1993, Joe Cocker records the album "Have A Little Faith" which contains two songs by Tony Joe White, "Angeline" (with lyrics from Joe Cocker) and the superhit "Hit The Healing Begin". Lake Placid Blues Finally, the collection CD "The Best Of Warner Archives" is a big success as it allows to rediscover the beginning of Tony Joe White's career. This career is very well presented with a long biography inside and a clear overview of dates of recordings and the names of the participating musicians and producers. The pictures are beautiful and the choice of songs is judicious. On top of this, the CD is presented with a promotion CD assembling the following songs: "Polk Salad Annie', "Soul Francisco", and "Rainy Night In Georgia". In 1994 the re-edited versions of his three first Monument albums are released in a Portugese edition. The master tapes were recovered by a Dutch label which is specialized in purchasing record catalogues through American solicitors that are either forgotten or degraded. The CD's are burned in Portugal and imported in France by Arcade. It is a pity that these re-editions, further very correct, have not been provided with their original cover sleeves. A double CD with "The Best Of", dating from the period at Monument is also released on the market. After the Monument albums, the albums released through Warner are also re-edited on CD and released with the title "The Monumental Tony Joe". This CD is somewhat scamped, as the presentation lacks any research into the former work. There is no information on the inside, nor any mention of the original notes found on the sleeves of the original albums. Nonetheless 1994 is a very good year for Tony Joe White. He writes two songs for Waylon Jennings album namely: "Waymoro Blues, Part II Endangered Species" (co-written with the country singer) and "Up In Arkansas" (which is nothing else but a re-write of a theme found on "The Path Of A Decent Groove"). Waylon Jennings CD is wonderful from beginning to end and the contribution of the two songs is not unnoticed. Other artists now also call upon his compositions and record songs that mostly have never been recorded before. For example Irma Thomas sings "Heart Full Of Rain", whereas Emylou Harris records "High Powered Love" for her album "Cowgirls Prayer's". In a similar way "Rainy Night In Georgia" is found on the greatest hits collection CD "Rhythm, Country And Blues" which represents the top of the bill in country and soul music. The song is recorded by Sam Moore and Conway Twitty. This is followed by the release of a single and a video. Later the Belgian rhythm 'n blues band Blue Blot records four Tony Joe songs for their two first album releases: the very funky "Love Bug", "Closing In On Fire", "Yoyo Man" and "These Arms Of Mine". Tony Joe White shows the broadness of his talents, he passes from country to blues on the way exploring funk and this with consequent good taste. Other projects are worked on as Tom Jones would like to cover "The Path Of A Decent Groove" and Paul Young would like to cover "Heart Full Again". In May 1995 the album "Lake Placid Blues" is released on the market. It is the third album for Remark and the singer joins up again with his favorite producer, the one that also worked on "Closer To The Truth", Chris Lord Alge. It is a splendid album, well conceived and rather composed. The melancholic songs enter your memory to stay there for a very long time, probably even forever. The completely blue cover sleeve is beautiful, Tony Joe White and his Fender Blue Guitar Placid Lake look great. It is nice to see that face with its expression of hard work. Tony Joe offers his audience some beautiful ballads such as "Paris Mood Tonight"(which is brought out on CD single coupled to "Menutha"), "The Guitar Don't Lie" (written by Joe Dassin), "Let The Healing Begin", "Louisiana Rain", and "I'll Make Love Good For You". He adds very good guitar solo's filled with feeling to "Down Again" and "Yoyo Man". The input of Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass guitar proves to be a judicious choice. The song "Bayou Woman" dates from 1978 but was never released before. At some moments, Tony Joe seems to express himself with a voice that would suit Chris Rea and the Dire Straits at the same time. But the chap really has too much talent to be enclosed within pseudo musical concepts. On May 25 he plays some songs live on Europe 1 in the program Top Live, before he gives a big concert at New Morning on 23 June in Paris. The audience can enjoy the cool performance of an artist who does not need to prove anything in view of everything that he gave in the past. Quality, mastership, human warmth, feeling are his trade-mark. None of this is forced or finished. The Swamp Fox seems well on the road for new adventures that will never leave us indifferent. The master of the swamp music is said to be working on a CD-ROM project concerned with his music, as well as on a re-edition of his remastered former albums. In the meantime they are plenty of collector items that need to be surfaced throughout the country. (I didn't copy the discography from the article over. 'cause you find them allmost all in my collection)
Dominique Martin de la Cruz & Cyril Dohar Jukebox Magazine October 1996
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