South of I-10 (CD - 1995)

Personnel: Sonny Landreth (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Mark Knopfler (guitar, vocals); R.S. Field (acoustic guitar); Stephen Bruton (guitar); Steve Conn (accordion, melodica, acoustic & electric piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Errol Verret (accordion); Allen Toussaint (piano); Jon Smith (tenor saxophone); Ward Smith (baritone saxophone); Steve Howard (trumpet); Rick Trolsen (trombone); David Ranson (bass); Gregg Morrow, Kenneth Blevins (drums, percussion); Danny Kimball (rubboard); Tommy Malone, Marce Lacouture (background vocals).

Engineers: Dave McNair, Tony Daigle (tracks 1-10); Tony Daigle, Richard Dodd (track 11).

Recorded at Dockside Studio, Maurice, Louisiana.

All songs written or co-written by Sonny Landreth except "Mojo Boogie" (J.B. Lenoir).

Sonny Landreth's screaming slide guitar plows right into you and carries you along on its feral journey. This CD opens going for your guts and never quits, though at times its touch is more caressing than careening, as in "Cajun Waltz." This CD got a lot of airplay yet never got tiresome, the true test of good music. A wide variety of slide guitar styles, backed by an extremely tight rhythm section and various other New Orleans musicians adds to the pleasure of the album. This music combines the best of zydeco, New Orleans R&B, Cajun, and rock & roll into one mood-elevating experience. Listen to "Mojo Boogie" next to "C'est Chaud," then go on to "Shootin' for the Moon"; there is no letdown, but there is great variety. A must-buy. ~ Bob Gottlieb minimize