Thu 4 Dec 2008
Hear the Tomcat Courtney interview about his new CD Downsville Blues as well as some tracks off the CD. It is not rock/blues, jazz/blues or anything else it’s just the good old BLUES.
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Tomcat Courtney says he’s not an old man yet. Tomcat won’t be eighty years old tell well into January 2009. For a man who was born and raised in Texas back in 1929, Tomcat is still alert and putting out great blues. He started out as a tap dancer and guitarist in his teens, but was later asked to sing. Tomcat liked to watch and talk to Lightnin’ Hopkins as he would come through town. After playing through out the south, Tomcat moved to California because he liked the weather. In the early 70’s he started playing in Ocean Beach, San Diego. That gig lasted him 22 years and the reason is obvious when you hear the songs on his CD Downsville Blues. This is also where a young teenage Chris James started out playing bass. Later when the other guitarist left the band Tomcat told Chris to switch to playing guitar with him. When I talked to Chris James about Tomcat he had nothing but great praise for his former boss and mentor.
When Tomcat Courtney got the go ahead from Blue Witch Records to make Downsville Blues he asked Chris James to come back and record with him. Patrick Rynn took on the duty’s of bass guitar working with drummers Brian Fahey on some songs and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on the others. Bob Corritore the producer also played an awesome harmonica. What helps to make this a good CD is all these artists play one thing only, blues. Whether its electric or acoustic it’s the blues through and through. The title track “Downsville Blues” and another “Railroad Avenue” are both about the town Tomcat grow up in. He’s thinking back on his past and where he comes from. The lyrics are so descriptive you think you’re there with him. You can almost see the dust on your shoes as you walk down the old avenue.
Well I was raised in a shack
Down by a railroad track
That old train came along
I bordered on, never looked back
One day I decided I’d go back home
Back to that old place, Lord where I used to roam
But that house, by the tracks, Lord, it was gone
Old neighbor he came around
He said that old house by the track had burned down
It’s been so long, since I been back home
From Tomcat Courtney’s song “Downsville Blues”.
The ruff tone of Tomcat’s voice mixed with the pain of seeing his hometown so different is perfect.
“I’m So Glad” to say this is not the overly used Skip James song but an original of Tomcat’s it’s just a nice shuffle. “Disaster Blues” is about the disaster down in New Orleans as told to Tomcat by a man who had been down there. Like so many of the song the guitar and harp playing is great on this song. Tomcat remembers hearing “Cryin’ Won’t Help You “ on an old Tampa Red record. After playing this song many times over the years Tomcat decided it would only be right to add this to the CD. “Bottle It Up and Go” is a song he heard Lighting Hoppkins do, but Leadbelly also recorded the song, too. He’s not sure where the song came from, but he has also played this over the years. Tomcat’s version is more of an up beat fun song with good harp playing. On “Four Wheel Drive” and “Bottle It Up and Go” there is some good slid guitar. Another thing that makes me like this CD so much is that it is the sound of the old time blues yet most of the songs (all but three) are new songs. Its taken 79 years for Tomcat Courtney to get a nationally released CD but thanks to Blue Witch Records it is finally hear for us to enjoy.
Songs in the show are:
1. Cook My Breakfast
2. Shake It Up Baby
3. Downsville Blues
4. Disaster Blues
5. I Wonder
L-R Chris James, Bob Corritore, Tomcat Courtney, and Patrick Rynn
The Band on Downsville Blues is:
Tomcat Courtney – vocals and guitar,
Chris James – guitar,
Bob Corritore – harmonica, most songs
Patrick Rynn – bass, most songs
Brian Fahey – drums, some songs
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – drummer, some songs
To buy Tomcat Courtney’s CD Downsville Blue
Check out other great blues CD’s at Blue Witch Records
For another great blues show check out BluzNdaBlood
I would like to thank Tomcat Courtney for taking the time to do this interview,
and thanks to Beth Lipham over at Blue Witch Records for all her help.
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Blues Music and Interviews
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by A1 Mark