Fatmouth Records artist: Joshua Jacobson - Good Little Thing - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Little Thing, by Joshua Jacobson and it's got a laid back bluesy feel. Opening with Baby's Mama Really Don't Care, Jacobson on guitar and vocal sets the pace with cool rag style piano by Chris Flowers. Matt Walker on bass and Aaron Fowler on percussion round out the band. With a cool saunter, Codependent Kate, has a nice feel with Mookie Brill on harp, Clark Stern on piano and Pedro Arevelo on bass. Stern's piano work on Long Lonesome Day really stand out nicely and Jacobson's vocals are solid and spot on. Long time Allman Brothers lead guitar player, Dickey Betts, sits in on electric guitar on Pistol Packin' Papa adding his signature style. Damon Fowler steps up on acoustic slide guitar on Bipolar Mama and with Aaron Fowler's clever percussion work makes it one of my favorites on the release. Curley Weaver's Ticket Agent is a great track played by the book with the addition of Allan Jolley on banjo. Very cool. Willie Cobbs' You Don't Love Me is another standout track with Brill on harp, Fowler on slide and Aaron Fowler on percussion. Best original on the release, Mind Blowin' Blues has the melody, solid vocals, Jacobson on slide with definite Allman influence and terrific percussion by Fowler. Swing tune, Baby It Must Be Love by Blind Willie McTell displays Jacobson nicest vocals and gives Stern another solo opportunity and he shines.  Wrapping the release is traditional track, Cross The River Jordan with Jacobson on vocal and slide. I really like his slide style and with his pure vocals makes this a super track to wrap this release. 

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Dickey Betts - Winterland San Francisco, CA 12/14/1974 - Stilladog - Guest Reviewer

Dickey Betts - guitar, dobro, vocals
Jeff Hanna - guitar
Spooner Oldham - organ
Vassar Clements - violin
John Hughey - pedal steel guitar
Oscar Underwood Adams - mandolin
Stray Straton - bass, vocals
Bonnie Bramlett - vocals, percussion
Jerry Jumonville - alto sax
David Walshaw - drums, percussion
Jerry Thompson - drums
Leon Poindexter - acoustic guitar
Walter Poindexter - banjo
Frank Poindexter - dobro

 By 1974, in large part due to Dickey Betts, Capricorn Records and the Allman Brothers Band were experiencing a success more lucrative than anyone could have dreamed. Betts, as a result, found himself free to pursue almost anything he desired musically, without having to worry about finances in the least. The situation allowed him to record his first solo album, Highway Call, and to perform with countless great musicians for the pure joy of playing, without any expectations of making money in the process. Over the course of the previous year, Betts had found a true, authentic voice, and had begun to distinguish himself within the ABB as a unique stylist, blending his love for country, bluegrass, western swing, jazz and rock into a style utterly his own - and one that would soon prove highly influential on all the Southern Rock bands that followed in the Allman Brothers' wake.

Betts’ Great American Music Show featured many of the players from his solo album, including the greatest fiddle player of his generation, Vassar Clements. Both the Poindexters and the legendary Spooner Oldham were also on board, and all these musicians combined to create a show that authentically traced the history of American music. 

Betts begins this Winterland show by showcasing his more acoustic side, with plenty of tight harmonies, sweet picking and relaxed communication between the musicians. Several of the best new songs from Betts’ solo effort are included, including "Rain," "Long Time Gone" and the superb "Hand Picked." The classic instrumental "Hideaway," as well as Allman Brothers' favorites "Blue Sky" and "Southbound," are given this new treatment with great success. Betts, Clements and the Poindexters then venture into historic American music and straight bluegrass for half a dozen songs, beginning with vintage material like "Old Joe Clark" and "Salty Dog," and closing with Vassar Clements raising the roof on "Orange Blossom Special." 

The set's closer, for which the ensemble goes electric, is perhaps its most interesting and exciting moment. This 40 minute version of "Elizabeth Reed" has to be one of the most expansive versions ever played, and is almost beyond description. Everyone in the ensemble gets several chances to shine on this unbelievable jam. All the elements that influence Betts’ music are represented, from jazz to rock to bluegrass and back. This version literally has it all, and stays amazingly cohesive and inspired throughout. The audience demands more, and the band returns for an encore consisting of the obligatory "Ramblin Man" followed by another of Betts’ most requested numbers, "Jessica." This lovely instrumental showcases the inventive playing of this large ensemble, and ventures into new areas only hinted at in versions with the Allman Brothers.
This is one of the finest examples recorded of musicians playing for the sheer joy of music, with no egos or financial concerns getting in the way. Touring this type of show was destined to be a monstrous undertaking - and ultimately a financial disaster - but thankfully, for a brief time in 1974, none of that seemed to matter.

Introduction / Rain 4:58
Blue Sky 11:05
Hide Away 9:11
Hand Picked 13:54
Long Time Gone 5:32
Southbound 9:06
Old Joe Clark 1:47
Salty Dog Blues 3:13
Carolina 2:24
Rollin' In My Sweet Baby’s Arms 3:29
Hard Time Blues 4:05
Orange Blossom Special 3:08
In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed 41:19
Ramblin' Man 7:59
Jessica 12:16 

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Good Time Feeling - Dickey Betts and Great Southern

Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts (born December 12, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his instrumental "Jessica" in 1996 Recognized as one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time, he had early on in his career one of rock’s finest guitar partnerships with the late Duane Allman introducing melodic twin guitar harmony and counterpoint which "rewrote the rules for how two rock guitarists can work together, completely scrapping the traditional rhythm/lead roles to stand toe to toe". Dickey Betts was ranked #58 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list in 2003, and #61 on the list published in 2011 Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Betts grew up in a musical family listening to bluegrass, country and Western Swing music. He started playing ukelele at five and, as his hands got bigger, moved on to mandolin, banjo and guitar. At sixteen and feeling the need for something "a little faster," he played in a series of rock bands on the Florida circuit, up the East Coast and into the midwest before forming the Second Coming with Berry Oakley in 1967. According to Rick Derringer, the "group called the Jokers" referenced in "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" was one of Betts' early groups.He is currently living in Sarasota, Florida. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

DICKEY BETTS TO HEADLINE ALS SUPPORT BENEFIT CONCERT FESTIVAL FOR “DANGEROUS” DAN TOLER ON NOVEMBER 12TH & 13T

DICKEY BETTS TO HEADLINE ALS SUPPORT BENEFIT CONCERT FESTIVAL FOR “DANGEROUS” DAN TOLER ON NOVEMBER 12TH & 13^TH

SARASOTA, FL - Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dickey Betts and his Great Southern Band have signed on to headline the Dan Toler ALS Support Benefit Festival on November 12th and 13th at Herschberger Ranch in Sarasota. The benefit is being held to raise funds for Toler’s battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Herschberger Ranch is located at 13010 Fruitville Road, in Sarasota.

Also scheduled to appear are legendary singer Bonnie Bramlett, the queen of blue-eyed soul, and BlackHawk (headlining on the second day), which had a string of Top 10 country hits in the 1990s including “Every Once in A While” and “I’m Not Strong Enough to Say No.” Others set to appear include “American Idol” season four runner-up Bo Bice, The Artimus Pyle Band, Sean Chambers, Wilson Williams and His Platters, Tony Tyler’s newly named act Come Back Alice, the Mike Kach Group and many more. With such an impressive lineup, fans can hopefully get a chance to hear such Dickey Betts signature Allman Brothers Band classics as “Ramblin’ Man,” “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Jessica.”

Details: Dan Toler ALS Support Benefit Festival, Nov. 12 and 13 at Herschberger Ranch, 13010 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. Tickets: $20 (one day), $35 (two day pass), $100 (one day VIP), $150 (two day VIP), $5 for children ages 12 and under. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (941) 228-5099 or go online at the

Dan Toler official website: http://www.dantolerbenefit.myevent.com/?cp=1
Tickets will also be available at the ticket office on the days of the event.

“Dan’s always taken care of everybody around him,” said Mark Serio, charity event co-organizer and Mike Kach Group guitarist. “He’s a wonderful cat who I’ve known for 30 years and I would do anything for him. “This is a labor of love for all of us,” Serio added.

A resident of Manatee County’s Whitfield neighborhood, “Dangerous” Dan Toler played guitar in Great Southern before Betts, a resident of Sarasota, landed him The Allman Brothers Band gig in 1979. Toler can be heard on three ABB albums, including the group’s comeback Enlightened Rogues, which reached No. 9 on the Billboard album chart.

The Brothers disbanded in 1982 and Gregg Allman (a former Manatee County resident) formed his namesake solo band with Toler and recently deceased sibling David “Frankie” Toler on drums. Together they recorded the 1986 album, I’m No Angel, which produced the hit title track.

Toler rejoined Great Southern in 2002 and stayed for several years before leaving to pursue various other projects. He announced he had ALS in August of 2011. That same month a highly successful fund-raiser was held for Toler at Aces Live in Bradenton.

If you cannot attend, but would like to send a donation for Dan’s ALS medical treatment, send it to:

Dan Toler, ALS
PO Box 1786
Tallevast, FL 34270

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