Message in from his record company, big man’s died.
Around forever, I guess I only really caught his later work, knowing this song only through cover versions, let alone his much much earlier work.
The epitome of a slow swampy stew, his slur of a vocal was unmistakeable.
Raise a glass tonight.
https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/22277?reason=norrinuser
RNIG -one of the best songs ever and hearing Polk Salad Annie for the first time was an epihpany. Pity he stuck to a 2 piece for a lot of the late period – economics.
Love this, TJW with Foo Fighters, and I love how bands dig playing classics with their makers.
Also loved Letterman’s comment at the end. ….lotta love.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/tony-joe-white-foo-fighters-letterman-747418/?fbclid=IwAR2P348OalGYdIkbQaPMMBt-McmmWbCSb9SSn8FtP2iB2m33bOsdvWMKo8I
I guess that this will be happening with regularity in the coming years. However that does not lessen the shock of TJW’s passing. I’ve been a fan of his later work for a while now, in fact I’ve been playing the new album for the last month. TJW was unique and a class act.
R.I.P.
We played Polk Salad Annie at our wedding. Cleared the f-ing floor, but we loved it.
I love this clip from 1970. His enjoyment of the song and his own playing is infectious.
On his FB page a friend of mine posted (with a photo of him and TJW taken in 1979)…
Way back in 1979 was the first time I met him and saw him play. It was like meeting Elvis. He had a similar Southern drawl, great sideburns, and was incredibly nice to us. “Do you boys have tickets to my show? Look after my boys, make sure they get in to see the show.” They sat us on road cases in the wings ON THE STAGE. I first saw his name on Elvis records when Presley had covered Polk Salad Annie and a favourite of mine I Got a Thing About You Baby. So to hear him do those songs was a real thrill.
I next met him twenty years later and he had no recollection of having toured Australia previously. “Where was this taken son?”, Here in Adelaide the first time you came. “But I ain’t ever been to Australia before, son…”
I reckon TJW’s world was very small despite the globe trotting.
Oh fuck. Love TJW particularly his early stuff. Was first introduced to him via his mid period album Lake Placid Blues and the title track from that album has always been a favourite.
Was fortunate to see him at the Robin in Bilston about 3 or 4 years ago.
He made it look easy.
Really sad news – bitterly regret not seeing him
One of my favourite songs here :
Ahhh !! That is really sad news.
Followed TJW since the early days and still have the single “ Groupy Girl “ on the Monument label.
Really like his latter day output and saw him in concert for the first time in Manchester a couple of years ago.
Bloody awful news.
My absolute favourite cover ever is Shelby Lynne’s version of Rainy Night In Georgia. He liked it and sang it with her in 2005.
https://youtu.be/wBKlfmdFmZo
Fantastic and best version of TJW song. Love it !