Walter Trout "The Blues Came Callin'"

 

I'd say so.  A diagnosis of liver failure would fit the title of this album which was written and recorded after first learning of his problems.  He said it himself that his early days of debauchery had come back to haunt him.  Damn near killed him.  He finally received a new liver about three months ago and recovery hasn't been easy.  The man is down to 120 lbs. and he used to be a pretty big dude!  The album shows the effects of his illness, written as if it would be his last.  Songs called "Wastin' Away" and "The Bottom of a River" are first-person penned standing at death's door.  When I saw a picture of him........oh, boy, did he look pale and drawn.  His vocals suffered from the lack of strength on all but one track and he included an extra instrumental probably for the same reason.  The writing is quite impressive and the fretwork still smokes.  Here is the label's pre-release trailer...



I hope you watched the video.  John Mayall (I have his new record in queue thanks to BKP) at 80 looks better than Walter!  Shout outs from Lukather and Sayce were cool to see.  I have posts on the previous two records Trout issued but look them up for yourself.  Since there's not any chance for support, here is a video of the man from shortly before he was stricken...



Now that's what I've come to love about WT, which makes it difficult to hear an album like this one.  I will play it another time or two before I decide to keep it as a whole. 

Here's hoping for a full recovery and another Walter Trout album.