Louisiana native singer/songwriter/guitarist Tony Joe White (aka Swamp Fox) never was able to regain the early success achieved with his 1969 hit “Polk Salad Annie.” White never stopped making music and releases continued even after his 2018 death. In the last decade and a half of his life, White recorded a number solo demos in his home studio with just acoustic and electric guitar, some of which ended-up on albums fleshed out with a full band. After White’s passing, his son and longtime manager Jody White unearthed these demo recordings and sent them to Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) who had always wanted to work with White. Auerbach took nine previously unheard songs and assembled a talented group of Nashville veterans including drummer Gene Chrisman (Jerry Lee Lewis, among others), keyboardist Bobby Wood (Bobby Womack), and steel guitar player Paul Franklin (George Jones), to enhance each track resulting in an impressive album that White himself might have done if he were alive. Album highlights include: the beautiful, soulful country filled title track; the ominous “Scary Stories”; the thumping “Boot Money”; the lazy Latin shuffle “Del Rio You’re Making Me Cry”; the moody “Bubba Jones”; and the lovelorn “Over You.” Smoke from the Chimney is a project of love and admiration for Tony Joe White and nicely honors his musical legacy. – Written by JFelton
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