New John Hiatt album

[Robert]

Coming out in March.

Read about it on http://www.johnhiatt.com

The Open Road is the title.

[kidsmoke]

With the Dickinson Boys. :applause :dude

THAT should be something special. Thanks for the heads up!

[Jipes]

A new album from Hiatt is always some good news I love his voice :AOK

[tjcurtin1]

I see he's been touring in Europe with Lyle Lovett - that would be a cool show to see! I'll be seeing him with his touring band, I guess.

I recently did a blitz of Hiatt albums; had to buy some used as they are not in print currently.Some terrific albums, some lukewarm, but all with at least a few really good songs. I had 'Slow Turning' and Bring the Family' which are both great, and discovered new favorites in 'Perfectly Good Guitar', 'Master of Disaster', 'Crossing Muddy Waters', and 'Walk On'. 'Tiki Bar' was mixed for me, a couple of good songs, the rest not up to Hiatt's best. 'Riding with the King' was quite a surprise - Hiatt sounding like the young Elvis Costello - much of which didn't work for me, especially the first half, which is a different band than the second. I'm still out on 'Beneath This Gruff Exterior', which hasn't reached out and grabbed me the first couple of listens. The same was true of 'Same Old Man', but I only got one listen of that and have to borrow it again from my brother. I did really enjoy watching the DVD that came with that album of some live performances. Does anyone have any other favorite Hiatt albums to recommend?

Edit: I forgot 'Stolen Moments' which also has some fine songs on it.

[Robert]

You've pretty much mentioned the best ones. Stolen Moments is one of the best too. His early material is plain weird, if you ask me.

[kidsmoke]

An absolute MUST, especially for electric guitarists, is his live album "Hiatt comes alive at Budokan"

In typical Hiatt deadpan, he's parodying (is that a word?) "Frampton Comes Alive" and "Cheap Trick at Budokan", which of course are MAMMOTH recordings of huge shows. The entire tour was recorded in little bars across the country. No halls whatsoever. Ironically, by this time, he had had two songs go Gold for other performers, Angel Eyes by the Jeff Healy band , and Let's Give them Something to talk about by Bonnie Raitt, yet most of America had no idea who he was. He does both of those tunes HIS way on this album. Really it's a must have.

FANTASTIC small club recordings with the Guilty Dogs, a small rock trio, backing him up. The Guitarist, a guy named Michael Ward, absolutley owns this album. Well, no, he shares it with Hiatts stellar song writing.

The raw tone on this record still sets the bar for sound I go after often.

Did I mention I'm a fan? Can't wait to hear what he does with the Dickinson Bros. Hiatt knows what a guitar and amp are for. Remember, he use to tour with Sonny Landreth as his guitarist. I'm hoping he lets 'em rip.

[Robert]

Yes, that live album is killer good! My number 1 hiatt album I think.

[kidsmoke]

Yes, that live album is killer good! My number 1 hiatt album I think.

:AOK
yep.

[tjcurtin1]

Yes, that live album is killer good! My number 1 hiatt album I think.
Glad to hear it - I saw a review of it somewhere that panned it, so I had passed it by; I'll check it out, specially it it's ya'lls #1!

[kidsmoke]

do Check it out. A couple of the tunes were recorded right up the road from you at the Strand in Providence.

My Bro raised his kids out Meadow Rd near the airport for 15 years. I Love that area.

[Robert]

It's out today. Downloading from iTunes as I type.... :)

[Jipes]

Yes, that live album is killer good! My number 1 hiatt album I think.
I would rather vote for Bring the family because the crew is just unbelievable with Keltner, Lowe and more important Ry Cooder :AOK

[tjcurtin1]

I recently got the latest Hiatt album, and I would say that I really like this one. Good solid songs, not necessarily his best writing, but good nonetheless and easy to listen to repeatedly, and the delivery by him and the Combo (not the Dickenson's btw, but Patrick O'Hearn on bass, Kenny Blevins on drums and Doug Lancio on guitars) is top-notch. Some heartfelt road-weary vocals on a lot of these songs, honest and gritty, and the sound production of the band and the playing fits that tone. I think that it's definitely worth buying if you like Hiatt.

I also got the live album, and while it's interesting to compare, somehow I prefer the original recordings in most cases - maybe it's because I just heard him live and that experience is stronger.