You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

There is a profound wisdom to old proverbs that belies the simple practical truth behind them. 'You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks' is one such timeless pearl, especially as it pertains to The Dog Hisself - better known to his fans as Seasick Steve.

Additional to Steve's signature array of classic blues styles (of which he is acknowledged master), many new and previously unheard sides of Steve's songwriting breadth are herein on display: songs that invoke musical territory that ranges from the Appalachian mountains to down home Kentucky bluegrass, from Nashville country gospel to Greenwich Village coffee house folk balladry.

In the course of recording with drummer Dan Magnusson, Steve found himself hankering for a little something extra low end on some of the tracks: "I was sitting there, daydreaming, thinking to myself, 'It'd be fun to have bass on a couple of these songs. And I thought, 'If I was to get me a bass player, who's like the best rock bass player around? Hey, I like that Led Zeppelin guy, he can play the hell out of a bass.'" Legendary "Led Zeppelin guy" John Paul Jones had actually seen Seasick Steve perform before a tiny audience many years ago at the 12 Bar Club. Luckily, Steve had recently by sheer coincidence met the luthier who builds John Paul Jones' basses. "I called this guy and I said, 'This is probably a wacky question, but I would just like to have John Paul Jones play some bass.' And this guy goes, 'Well, let me give him a call.' So then John called me and he goes, 'Yeah, I want to play.' I went 'You do?' I was really surprised!"