John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas

whispering bobcast

1 Jun

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band released Leftover Feelings on May 21st - the first collaboration by these longtime friends. The11-song set was produced by Jerry Douglas and recorded at Historic RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tenn. A meeting of two American music giants in a legendary setting, Leftover Feelings is neither a bluegrass album nor a return to Hiatt’s 1980s days with slide guitar greats Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth. There’s no drummer, yet these grooves are deep and true. And while the up-tempo songs are, a sever, filled with delightful internal rhyme and sly aggression, The Jerry Douglas Band’s empathetic musicianship nudges Hiatt to performances that are startlingly vulnerable.

In terms of talk points: This is the first time that veteran musicians and friends John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas have worked together. Jerry produced the record and also he and his band back John. The album was recorded at the historic RCA Studio B in Nashville (which I’m sure Bob will know well), where so many famous musicians recorded eg Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings (who is referenced in “The Music Is Hot” track). The album was recorded live on the studio floor in real time, with the 5 musicians reacting instinctively in the moment. Some of John Hiatt’s most personal songwriting features on the record eg “Mississippi Phone Booth”, “Buddy Boy” and “Light of the Burning Sun”.

See how many times Bob has played John Hiatt on his shows over the years >>