TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Black And White" - Tony Joe White (1969)

"Black And White" - Tony Joe White (1969)    

Tony Joe White is bringing some funky swamp rock and soulful swamp rock to the house.  Greasy biscuits and gravy.  This was his debut album, and though better squares were yet to come, "Black and White" was a straight arrow pointed in the right direction.  I mean, let's face it, "Polk Salad Annie" lays a lava-hot foundation as it is.  But besides that gem, there are several other tasty nuggets to go digging for on this one,

Side one is a strong hoss of originals with surprising flourishes of psych.  Side two are pretty good cover songs.  You'll enjoy his take, but side one is definitely the pool you'll want to swim in first.  Tony Joe sounds like a papa lion passing down stories to his pride.  That baritone timbre is hard to resist.

"Black And White" - Tony Joe White (back)

Favorites include:

"Polk Salad Annie"

"Willie and Laura Mae Jones"

"Soul Francisco"

My copy of "Black And White" has some pretty heavy ring-wear, but there are no seam splits and the spine is clean.  The vinyl itself was an easy vg+.  I saw it on my way out of a record swap.  I couldn't find anything that gave me much of a buzz that day, but I wanted to walk out with something in my hand.  I stopped at the very last table before the exit and found the "Polk Salad" dude and a Ten Years After album I needed.

They were $18 and $8 respectively.  The dealer sold me both for a Jackson which was a nice break.  The album looks like it has a red hype sticker on it, but it's actually part of the album cover.  Curiously, on the back, Chip Young and Bergen White are credited on "Side #2, Track #6"... but no Track 6 exists.  I don't know if this was ever fixed.  "Black And White" was also produced by Billy "I Can Help" Swan."  I don't see Tony Joe White albums around these parts much, but I'm going to keep my eye open.  Good stuff.

Monument label

Cat #  

SLP 18114

SIDE 1  DEADWAX

SLP 18114-A  P  ᴑ

SIDE 2  DEADWAX

SLP 18114-B  P  ᴑ

"Willie and Laura Mae Jones" - Tony Joe White / "Black And White" (1969)

TRACKS:

A1  "Willie And Laura Mae Jones" 4:55

A2  "Soul Francisco" 1:55

A3  "Aspen Colorado" 2:48

A4  "Whompt Out On You" 2:22

A5  "Don't Steal My Love" 3:49

A6  "Polk Salad Annie" 3:43

B1  "Who's Making Love" 3:11

B2  "Scratch My Back" 2:59

B3  "Little Green Apples" 3:56

B4  "Wichita Lineman" 2:49

B5  "Look Of Love" 3:17

PERSONNEL:

Tony Joe White - vocals, guitar, harmonica

David Briggs - piano, organ

Jerry Carrigan - drums

Norbert Putnam - bass

Chip Young - guitar

Jimmy Isbell - drums - (B2)

ARRANGERS:

Bergen White - A1, A6, B1, B4, B5, B6

Cam Mullins - A3

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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