Blues is Dead. My Ass. That was the sentiment leading into this project, but one listen to The Last Real Texas Blues Album—a celebratory release marking Antone’s 50th Anniversary—proves that the blues isn’t just alive; it’s thriving.
Fifty years ago, Clifford Antone opened his club in Austin, turning a “dicey” area of downtown into a laboratory where the legends of the blues passed their wisdom to a new generation. This album is a direct extension of that legacy. Recorded in late 2024 at Arlyn Studios in Austin and Electrical Audio in Chicago, this project wasn’t about nostalgia; it was about the “pleasure and excitement” of musicians—old and young—locking into a shuffle.
The Sound and the Philosophy Texas blues is a “tougher nut to crack.” It is a sound wrapped in a “shroud of mystery, inside jokes, and riffs never written down but passed only on the bandstand.” This record bridges the divide between the Chicago pipeline and the Texas soul, featuring a “Big Tent” lineup that includes everyone from Bobby Rush and Jimmie Vaughan to modern torchbearers like Sue Foley and Kam Franklin.
Key Tracks to Dig Into:
- “Going Down” (Bobby Rush & Jimmie Vaughan): A definitive take on a track that defined the circuit.
- “Bad Boy” (Doyle Bramhall II): A performance so chilling, it evokes the spirit of the Texas masters who paved the way.
- “You Got Me Where You Want Me” (Sue Foley): A masterclass in how “Albert Collins changed the way” guitarists approach the instrument—with a tone that cuts through the noise.
- “Message From Miss Lavelle” (Lavelle White): A poignant, soulful reminder of the deep roots still flourishing in the Texas scene.
Why This Matters This isn’t a collection of “phone-in” performances. As producer Jacob Soba notes, everything was cut live to tape. You aren’t listening to over-processed studio tracks; you are hearing the sound of a community. Whether it’s the rhythm section of the Fabulous Thunderbirds or the soulful vocal of Kam Franklin, this pressing captures the “Big Tent” vision of Texas music that Clifford Antone championed for half a century.
Vinyl Specifications:
- Label: Antone’s / New West Records
- Format: 2xLP, Compilation
- Genre: Texas Blues / Electric Blues
- Significance: Antone’s 50th Anniversary Celebration