Tony Joe White - Live from Austin, TX

Like his old friend Waylon Jennings, the unmistakable Tony Joe White is a true American original that dares to stand out from the crowd in a music world full of pop, rock, and country clones who usually get the radio airplay that he has been denied. The country-rock classic "Polk Salad Annie" might have been his only major hit on the charts, but White is a prolific songwriter responsible for classic songs by others such as "Rainy night in Georgia". Tony Joe is one of the pioneers of "swamp rock" along with the great John Fogerty, but he is one of those rare performers who cannot be placed in a single musical category. His sound is a unique mixture of blues, rock n' roll, and country that is simply "too good" for radio programmers to accept or understand.In this Austin City Limits appearance from 1980, Tony Joe accompanies himself on guitar and harmonica with a skin tight bass player {Steve Spear} and drummer {Jeff Hale} backing him up. This simple, stripped down trio approach brings out his infectious, down home sound perfectly. Every song in this performance is a White original that showcases his totally unique, ultra-cool southern style. His manly, bluesy voice and funky, swampy guitar licks are on full display from the first song to the last. Along with "Polk Salad Annie", other highlights include "Mamas don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies", "Lustful Earl and the married woman", "I get off on it", "Even Trolls love Rock n' roll", and his classic ballad Rainy night in Georgia."Swamp Rap" is my favorite performance in this entire show as Tony Joe delivers a fantastic and totally unique RAP song set to a funky, swampy groove that is one of the coolest, funkiest songs I've ever heard. This is country-fried "rap music" like you've never heard it before with a killer groove so addictive you will wear out the repeat button on your DVD player!If you love Waylon, Creedence, Jerry Lee, Elvis, Stevie Ray, or any other "original" artist whose not afraid to stand out from the crowd, Tony Joe White is your man! Unlike any corporate puppet on the charts in today's mainstream music scene, this guy is the REAL DEAL folks. Settle back in your favorite chair and enjoy this great DVD filled with some of the best down home, southern fried music ever made...a total breath of fresh air compared to any music out there today!

3 piece band, a bunch of great songs and a truly original artist. Country, R&B, Soul, Cajun, Rock, it is all in there, but the music doesn't belong to any genre, which is probably why he never had huge mainstream success, and has been more successful as a songwriter...A voice as original as John Fogerty, songs that have a Southern, Swampy, humid, muddy feel to them, and a bunch of influences melded into one music that sort of defies catagorization. Highlights are Rainy Night in Georgia, Willie Mae and Lara Jones, Polk Salad Annie, and the crazy I Get Off On it, but it is all good, and fun, with a little social commentary mixed in. It's probably not for everyone, but this guy is one of the most underappeciated artists on the planet, and he is still recording and playing these days. He has been covered by many artists through the years, such as Tina Turner (who did several of his songs), Elvis, Brook Benton...most of his records are terrific and worth buying (and most are readily avaialble at inexpensive prices), but this live performance from the great series Austin City Limits really captures what he does...elemental, bass, drums, and TJW on guitar and harmonica...terrific if you like good original music from a completely unpretencious and talented artist. If you have ever heard John Hiatt's song, "It Feels Like Rain" which invokes the feel of the Louisiana bayou right down to the sticky heat you feel in the middle of the summer night...that is what Tony does with pretty much every song...he takes you to his world, and you are glad to be there.

As I mentioned in my review for a similar product in C.C. Music, "I've been waiting for this since 1980." Why? Well, the album from which this concert draws most of its material, "The Real Thang" (and that STILL hasn't been released on cd...are you listening anyone?)was released on the dreaded Casablanca label, home of (barf) disco. That being said (and, hopefully, ignored), the music is WAY beyond "great," "fantastic," etc; I mean, just dig the titles of the songs for a...hint: "Mamas Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies," "Swamp Rap," "Redneck Women," and the song that ENSURES TJW's place in Rock and Roll Heaven, "I Get Off On It." Tony Joe had a quality that was (and HAS been) lacking in either the "Rock" or "Country" genres: a sense of humor. If this is the episode of "Austin City Limits" that I think it is, when Tony Joe resurrects his chestnet, "Poke Salad Annie," he even observes that the "poke salad" mentioned serve(d) as a (ahem) smoking mixture, too. Even his "adult contemporary" material, "Rainy Night In Georgia" is performed. TJW, I'm very grateful that 25 years later, this is FINALLY being made available to a public who only knew you from "Poke Salad," or that brilliant stuff you did with Tina Turner. Hope you'll tour behind this, and I'll volunteer to play bass if you do!

Great concert performed by one of the greats who didn't get the attention he deserved. He is now gone too soon but his music lives on.

Nice music from the guy who performed "Polk Salad Annie". This is a trio, and I personally prefer a larger group, with horns and a B3, but the music was easy to listen to and well played. My girlfriend loves Tony Joe White, and she was very pleased with this DVD.

I purchased the DVD without knowing much about Tony Joe White and want to hear something different. The reason for the 3 isn't because it is necesarily bad, but more that his overall music is a little different than what I usually listened to. If you are familiar with him and like his music then you'll probably enjoy the dvd as there are some songs I enjoy and am glad to have it in my collection.

Very Good Condition Enjoying the great music of Tony Joe White.The price was right and delivery was fast.Thank You.

Quality was ok, definitely shot back in the day, his music deserves a remaster

Tony Joe White. A true legend. Authentic through and through. Magic from the Swamp Fox.

A master performance from a master guitarist and songwriter. Tony Joe's charm appears throughout and his guitar playing, with only bass and drums accompaniment, is crisp, innovative and interesting throughout. Although this performance is 28 years ago, all aspiring artistes can gain something from this pared-down show. I recommend it for all guitarists also.

LEGEND, BUY THIS!!

Artista conosciuto troppo tardi.Mi sto divertendo un casino ad ascoltare Tony Joe White,il suo sound è molto piacevole.Voce cavernosa,il modo di suonare la chitarra ricorda un tantino Mark Knopfler e JJCale.Diversi brani sono grandiosi.Il grande Elvis annusò,da par suo,la bellezza di Polk Salad Annie e ne fece una cover ma la versione originale di Tony Joe non ha paragoni.Ve lo dice un fan di Elvis Presley!!!!

Toller Mitschnitt seines Konzertes in Austin! Ganz besonders gefällt mir der Teil, in dem sich nur mit Gitarre und Harmonika begleitet.Absolut empfehlenswert für Musikliebhaber!