Jeffrey Halford & The Healers – Beware of Worthless Imitations Volume 1 (1999-2019)
Format: CD
Label: Continental Record Services
Release: 2020
20 TRACKS. 20 YEARS.
Some people call this music Americana, we call it rock ‘n’ roll country soul with a different shade of blue. Jeffrey Halford is one of California’s finest songwriters. Born in Dallas, he migrated to Los Angeles (in the late 60s and 70s) and then stewed in the blues and rock in Oakland and San Francisco. Jeffrey Halford and The Healers have played live relentlessly, sharing stages with Etta James, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Cliff, Los Lobos, Guy Clark, John Hammond and Gregg Allman, just to name a few.
Los Angeles Weekly called Halford “one of the best voices in Americana today.” And Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones said, “I really like the way these guys groove.”
Some great artists have joined Halford on these tracks, including Augie Meyers(Bob Dylan, Texas Tornadoes), The Gospel Hummingbirds (Oakland, California), Chuck Prophet (Green on Red) and Myron Dove (Santana). The songs are authentic American rock ‘n’ roll, hard driving at times but then the channel changes to some beautiful ballad tracks that will leave you floating on the Sea of Cortez In Mexico.
The band’s sense of reckless abandon has always been there. It is what has kept people coming back to their live performances and buying their finely crafted records over the years. This recording showcases tracks compiled from eight different releases and their evolution as a band. It’s no surprise that their music has traveled across the pond, and that they’ve been touring the EU with their live show for the last five years.
In 2019 Rolling Stone magazine hailed Halford’s songwriting as “stellar impressionistic storytelling that leaves you wanting more.” Nashville Scene called Halford “one of the best slide players on the planet.” Let’s just say he’s tasty. Travel from the badlands to the bayou, then to the bohemian bar rooms where Kerouac found himself. Or the fields in the high plains where the Sioux Indian rainmakers danced.
Tracklist:
01. Bad Luck
02. Creole Moon
03. Radio Flyer (Chuck Prophet)
04. Lost and Found (Chuck Prophet)
05. Satchels Fastball (The Gospel Hummingbirds)
06. Nine Hard Days
07. Watching the Trains
08. Railbirds
09. Louisiana Man (Augie Meyers)
10. In a Dream (Augie Meyers)
11. Mexico
12. Rainmaker
13. North Beach
14. Two Jacksons
15. Door #3
16. Elvis Shot the Television
17. 10.000 Miles
18. West Towards South
19. Deeper Than Hell
20. Sea of Cortez
Website: Jeffrey Halford