Southbound - Let's Get Outta Here Review
Tommy Talton was a founding member of Capricorn Records group Cowboy. While in Macon, GA through most of the 70s, Talton was a studio musician recording with artists such as Bonnie Bramlett, Martin Mull, Corky Lang (West, Bruce and Lang, Mountain), Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Clarence Carter, country legend Kitty Wells, Alex and Livingston Taylor, Arthur Conley of Sweet Soul Music fame, and more. He toured extensively throughout the U.S. with Cowboy and with the Gregg Allman Tour.
On Tommy Talton’s third release from Hittin’ the Note Records in October 2012, titled "Let’s Get Outta Here," he has written the most compelling music of his career. Always known as a gifted wordsmith and creator of authentically timeless melodies, Tommy has reached deep within his creative well to create a classic Southern masterpiece. Very special guests joined Tommy on the new release, including Chuck Leavell, Paul Hornsby, Rick Hirsch, Scott Boyer, NC Thurman, Bill Stewart, Kelvin Holly, Brandon Peeples, David Keith, Red Young and Tony Giordano.
The title track "Let's Get Outta Here" sets the standard for the set and has Van Morrison written all over it while 'You Can't Argue With Love' is simply one of the finest songs Talton, with co-writer Rick Hirsch, has ever written, bringing his trademark slide guitar and vocals to the fore.Both 'Dream Last Night' with it's haunting melody and ethereal guitar work from Rick Hirsch along with 'Make It Through The Rain' that has former "Cowboy" band member Scott Boyer providing harmony vocals have that laid back Crosby/Nash feel to them.
Easy to see why you could get caught up in the hysteria of Mardis Gras on 'Slacabamorinico' that delivers Dixieland right to your doorstep complete with horn section and Chuck Leavell on piano, who incidentally makes his presence felt on 'Where Is The World?' that will have Steely Dan aficionados dancing for joy! A melancholy 'Recent Rain' recalls love lost before the tale of a fling with a married woman 'Sunk Down In Mississippi' well and truly delivers the blues. Next up is the outstanding 'If Your Attitude Is Funky (Nobody Wants Your Monkey) that witnesses the band in full flow, latching on to the songs solid beat which in turn allows each member to strut their stuff. The country ballad 'Half Of What She Is (Is All I Can Hope To Be) again featuring Scott Boyer on harmony preludes a recording of 'Momma Julie Remembers," before the band shake it down one more time on 'Give A Little Bit (A Tribute To Levon Helm).
Having recorded with such luminaries as Gregg Allman, Billy Joe Shaver, Bonnie Bramlett and Clarence Carter, to name but a few, Tommy Talton makes 'Let's Get Outta Here' his own laying down some of his best material to date! ~Scott Bomar