The inside photo of this album has vocalist and harmonica man John Clifton hitching a ride on California’s Highway 99, which goes through the dusty boots of towns like Stockton, Turlock, Fresno and Modesto. This is the feel that Clifton and his team of Scott Abe/g, Jake Finney/b, Bartek Szopinski/p, Edward Fritz/dr and a handful of guests.
Clifton’s harp is howling like a dusty wind in Lodi on the bluesers “I’m Leaving You Baby” and the shuffling “If It Ain’t Me, Babe” while he’s able growl almost as well on vocals along with Abe’s boogalooing guitar on “Keep It Clean.” The team gets harrowing on a trip to the South Side of Chicago with Szopinski pounding out “Four Years Ago” with Clifton wheezing up a storm for “So Tired I Could Cry.” The team 2 steps to Texas with a Telecastor ride on Merle Haggard’s”Honky Tonk Night Time Man” and Clifton takes you to the country back porches with his dobro on “Junkie Woman Blues.” If he’s thumbing a ride on the road, give him a lift and he’ll make the drive worthwhile.