Trout - The Blues Came Callin' (videos)

Walter Trout biography: Trout's career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he became a sideman for Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. He also worked in the bands of John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex. In 1981 he became the guitarist for Canned Heat.

This led to an invitation to play in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers where he shared the stage with fellow guitarist Coco Montoya. He left the Bluesbreakers in 1989 and formed the 'Walter Trout Band' which developed a successful following in Europe. In 1994 the official Walter Trout Fan Club for the Netherlands and Belgium was founded, followed in 1996 by the official International Fan Club which has members in 14 countries in Europe, America, Asia and Australia.

In 2006 the official International Fan club celebrated its tenth anniversary by giving fan club members an exclusive live CD recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was the last performance of the late bassist, Jimmy Trapp, who died in 2005. In 1998 Trout released his self-titled US debut album and renamed his band 'Walter Trout and the Free Radicals' (later renamed 'Walter Trout and the Radicals' and currently simply 'Walter Trout').

Since that time Trout has been recording and touring in North America, Europe and India. In 2002, he was featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album, Hey Bo Diddley - A Tribute!, performing the song "Road Runner" and many more guest appearances on other recordings. The 2006 release Full Circle, meant that Trout realized his dream of creating an album with some of his most admired musicians, including John Mayall, Coco Montoya, and Joe Bonamassa, among others...

Walter Trout on the songs on the new album "The Blues Came Callin’"

The Bottom Of The River: It is a figurative expression, a metaphor, of what I have been going through recently. It tells the story of a man who is pulled and held on the bottom of a river by the current. He realizes that he is about to drown; it seems like too much of a fight to get back up to the surface. Then in an instant he has a deep understanding – and he hears his inner voice tell him that it is not his time to die. He looks within, fights the current with all he’s got, and makes it up to the surface for that life-giving breath. At that moment he notices the beauty of the world which he had always previously taken for granted. He realizes that he is now a man who is forever changed.

The Blues Came Callin’: This is the title track on the album that features my friend and mentor, John Mayall on Hammond B3 organ. In a traditional blues format it tells the story of a man lying in bed who is suddenly gripped tightly by the blues. The blues comes in through his window, holds on to the man and will not let him free. All night long it says to him: "You’ll never be the man you used to be." We can sometimes be our own worst fear mongers – and this is what this song is about.

Wastin’ Away: You will hear in this track that even if my body is wasting away. I am defiant about it. I will not go gentle into that good night!

Take A Little Time: I’ve done many Chuck Berry’esque songs over my recording career, but this one probably comes closest to having an authentic Chess Records feel. It’s inspired by the breakneck pace that everyone I know seems to be living their lives at these days. If you are unfulfilled and looking for love, you’re going to need to take a little time out from the rat race and take care of your own heart.

Tight Shoes: This is as Freddy King’esque guitar instrumental piece. The title comes from my father, Ed Trout, Sr. When I was a kid, he took the family out to dinner at a very swanky restaurant in Atlantic City. It was very quiet and somber in there. As he got up to leave, he inadvertently cut loose with a massive, thunderous, earth-shaking fart. The whole place stopped and looked at him in horror. He just turned to the room, looked at everybody there, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Tight shoes". His humor and sense of confidence has left a lasting impression on me.

The Whale: This song was written by the great Mr. J.B. Lenoir. John Mayall turned me on to Mr. Lenoir’s music many years ago. This is my tribute to JB and also to Mr. Mayall.

Willie: This song is about the many times I have been ripped off by many different people in the music business in my past. I chose the name because it sings well. But it is about the experience of trusting somebody to handle your business affairs, and then having them steal from you and exploit their position.

Hard Time: It’s a funky song that compares your lover leaving you to doing hard time in solitary. But this solitary is all in your mind and in your heart; an invisible psychological cage.

Mayall’s Piano Boogie: When John Mayall came in the studio, I asked him to play some old style boogie woogie piano. He walked right over to the piano and began playing. Eric Corne pushed "record". The rest of us quietly walked in the studio and joined in. It’s a spontaneous, one-take, no-rehearsal jam.

Born In The City: I spent a good part of my youth wandering in the city of Philadelphia, and I grew to love being in big energetic, bustling cities. Never did feel like living the life of a country gentleman!

The World Is Goin’ Crazy (And So Am I): A blues-rocker which basically says: If I take a long look around, sometimes I feel like I’m just gonna completely lose my mind at the state of the world.

Nobody Moves Me Like You Do: This song is written specifically for my beloved wife, Marie. It is my gift to her. It sums up my feelings for her.