Tommy McLain - still going strong

Swamp pop singer and keyboardist Tommy McLain played a gig with C C Adcock at the Lexington pub in London last night. Sadly I couldn't be there due to transport issues, but I did see them twice when I was in Nashville in September and very good they were too. Tommy is 82 and has recently had his first album released in over 40 years - 'I Ran Down Every Dream' - which demonstrates that his unique voice remains as powerful as ever. He and C C have been regular visitors to the UK in the last few years, having played the tiny Laylow club in Ladbroke Road twice and opening three times for Nick Lowe on this latest visit at Nell's in West Kensington. In Nashville he and C C played first in the rather cramped Roberts bar, where they faced in opposite directions as Tommy played keyboard and C C his guitar. The second show was more satisfactory as they did a full set at the Riverside Revival (top photo). On both occasions Tommy sang numbers from his new album as well as his 1967 hit 'Sweet Dreams'.

Tommy is one of the few Louisiana and New Orleans artists from the sixties still performing. His career goes back to the early sixties when he was a member of Louisiana group the Boogie Kings. which has been described as 'the ultimate Gulf Coast White Boy Rhythm and Blues Revue'. He didn't have another significant hit after 'Sweet Dreams' but recorded some excellent material from time to time, including the 1979 album 'Backwoods Bayou Adventure' produced by Huey Meaux at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston, which is well worth looking out for. He also did a great version of Fats Domino's 'Before I Grow Too Old', a song which has become the theme song of the Woodies roots music group as we try to extend our festival and gig going experience for as long as we can. Several years ago I picked up a copy of the single, released in the UK on the Oval label, with a fascinating sleeve on which was written a note from noted music expert and presenter Charlie Gillett to 'Denis' at BBC Radio Two. In it he wrote: 'We think we have a Radio Two anthem here - hope you agree.'(pictured below)

Over the years I've seen Tommy on many occasions, including at Jazzfest in New Orleans in 1991 (pictured below). He was also frequently a guest singer with Louisiana super group Little Band Of Gold, who I saw many times both in New Orleans and in London. He was brilliant on every occasion. Long may be continue.