Views from Western Australia

Previously, John Hammond helped Hendrix put together his first band, played harmonica for Jefferson Airplane, produced Bob Dylan and Stevie Ray Vaughan and has played with Robbie Robertson, Duanne Allman, Dr. John, Charlie Musselwhite and Mike Bloomfield; however, Wicked Grin is possibly his greatest achievement.

Tom Waits songs make up12 of its 13 tracks (the closing is a traditional gospel tune) and Waits produced the album.  Along with Hammond, the band features Doug Sahm’s keyboardist Augie Meyers, Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica, Canned Heat’s Larry Taylor on bass, and Waits contributing.  Hammond gives the tracks some oomph that fills them with a menacing rhythm and his vocals are as intense as Waits’ whisky and tobacco snarl.

For the Waits enthusiasts, the tracks included are: 2:19, Heartattack and Vine, Clap Hands, ‘Til the Money Runs Out, 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six, Buzz Fledderjohn, Get Behind the Mule, Shore Leave, Fannin Street, Jockey Full of Bourbon,  Big Black Mariah, and, Murder in the Red Barn.

Mix a well developed bluesman with one of the best song writers of the modern era, and a terrific band is a recipe for some great music with a swampy, voodoo groove.