HEADHUNTERS
"SOUL" ALBUM RELEASED MAY 6, 2003
Nashville, TN - Categorizing the music of the Grammy winning Kentucky Headhunters is like
trying to explain why the grass in Kentucky looks blue. Some things are best when left to
just grow naturally without explanation…wild and unique…
So it is with the Headhunters.
One word of caution: Hide your children, Nashville! A lot of new musical influences are
about to reach formative ears that tune into the new Headhunters release. “Soul”
is a musical travelogue that transports listeners far beyond the city limits of Nashville
to explore influences of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and rural environs known only to
musicians with a steady itinerary of off the beaten path funky, blues clubs where new
music is born from the influences of the old masters. Sibling band mates Richard and Fred
K. Young, and their cousins Anthony Kenney and Greg Martin, and friend, Doug Phelps are
the perfect hosts for the grand tour “Soul” provides.
Their newest project “Soul” is proof positive that with their current label,
Audium/Koch, someone is very smart. The band has wisely been given total creative control
when the subject turns to music. Listening to their prior project for the label,
“Songs From The Grass String Ranch” released in August 2000 leaves little doubt
that fans will need to strap on their seatbelts for a total departure on the band's new
collection.
The Kentucky grown musicians, who devised their name as an off shoot of Muddy Waters'
legendary band have always been proud to forge new musical ground more that just a little
left center of the Nashville trends. They've made their mark as a controversial
band—as influenced by heavy metal and the blues—as they have been by the
bluegrass of their heritage. Fans are used to 'hunting' through the record bins to find
Headhunter product; never knowing if the CD's will show up in Country, Southern Rock,
Blues or Rock categories.
“Soul” is the Headhunters at their ultimate best. The blues are so thick they
float to the surface amidst a pot boiling musical recipe that bubbles noticeably with some
of the groups collective favorite influences: Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Rolling Stones, The
Beatles, Jeff Beck Group, ZZ Top, Nazz, Johnny Winter, The Allman Brothers, Free, and Led
Zeppelin.
Wanting to reach into the roots of blues music, The Headhunters invited the best blues
pianist in the world, 73-year-old Johnnie Johnson, to play on this project. Johnson, who
was on stage with the Rolling Stones in Houston, TX the evening prior to the recording
session, didn't hesitate. He jumped on a plane in Houston, landed in Kentucky, and laid
down his signature piano sound for the The Headhunters…. True, ageless, historic,
“Soul.”
Grammy nominated Jimmy Hall had just returned from touring with Jeff Beck and quickly
answered the Headhunters call to record, as did Reese Wynans (Dickie Betts Band) and
legendary saxophonist, Jim Horn. In a recent interview, The Headhunters admit they were
apprehensive going into the sessions that produced their newest project with such an
eclectic group of musicians, but within hours of arriving in the studio, it was obvious
the climate was right. The result: The band calls it the most honest and passionate
Headhunter music in years.
The truth of these words will soon be in the ear of the beholder with “Soul.”
Audium Records
Webster & Associates
© May 6, 2003
Marli says:
Below are 5 clips of songs
from this 11 track CD, "Soul" that I chose as ones most befitting to the theme
of MKOC. As it states above, and as any of you who are familiar with the many years of The
Kentucky Headhunters' work, you know that they are more "Southern Rock" than
country. With that in mind, they have still won the hearts of many country fans throughout
their career.
"Soul" covers not
only Southern Rock, it's got some great Country Blues songs as well as the rock so I
wanted to feature the blues side of the Headhunters, which was my favorite part of the
album. Below are clips of those songs for y'all to sample and enjoy.
