Track Listing

1. Push Comes to Shove
2. Come On in this House
3. Mean Ol' Lonesome Train
4. If You Wanna Rock & Roll
5. Tore Down
6. Eyes Behind Your Head
7. Butter
8. Heartache Blues
9. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
10. Take a Fool's Advice
11. You Know That's Cold
12. Cold Water

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39185 in Music
• Brand: Hammond
• Released on: 2007-01-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
It's a precious few artists who reinvent themselves at the age of 64, but blues luminary John Hammond proves himself the ultimate untraditional traditionalist as the dozen stellar songs on Push Comes to Shove illustrate. Push Comes to Shove marks an increased output in Hammond's original compositions- he penned five of the CD's 12 songs- and there's a bold collaboration with the album's producer, G.Love (the innovative and soulful Philly singer/guitarist and longtime Hammond fanatic), in the hip-hop-tinged blues of "Tore Down", as well as a handful of personalized renderings of traditional blues numbers, a musical modus operandi that has earned Hammond multiple Grammy nominations since his 1962 self-titled debut. Since then, Hammond has made 31 records and tours year-round, learning from and playing with musical greats and friends including Tom Waits, Muddy Waters, and Michael Bloomfield. Those unparalleled experiences and authenticity shine through brightly on Push Comes to Shove.

Amazon.com
If the combination of veteran bluesman John Hammond with contemporary Philly hip-hop/soulman G Love (a.k.a. Garrett Dutton) sends shivers of fear down the spines of blues purists, the duo's collaboration here shows there is nothing to be worried about. Despite differences in age, backgrounds, and styles, they have shared bills and obviously respect each other's talents. Hammond, who has recently dipped his toes into songwriting waters after being solely an interpretive artist for nearly 40 years, jumps into the river with a whopping five originals. Love contributes a few as well, and the result is an album that rocks harder and with more intensity than most artists half Hammond's age can muster. Add covers from Little Walter, Junior Wells, and Tom Waits (Hammond's 2001 release Wicked Grin, comprised predominantly of Waits songs, is one of his biggest sellers), and the result is one of the finest and most diverse discs in the bluesman's bulging catalog. The stripped-down backing band of journeymen including bassist Marty Ballou, ex-Waits drummer Steven Hodges, and keyboardist Bruce Katz provides plenty of sparks with which Hammond--who plays rowdy guitar and sizzling harp throughout--can catch fire. Love adds his harmony vocals and rapping to his own "Tore Down," a near-perfect collision of blues and hip-hop and a song likely to get Hammond crossover acceptance with Dutton's more youthful jam-oriented audience. The jazzy "Eyes Behind Your Head" and a rollicking take on Dion's "If You Want to Rock and Roll" further expand Hammond's reach without either diluting his sound or distancing his core fans. In his mid-60s upon this album's release, he sounds loose, energized, and ready for another 40 years. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews

Smokin' From Start to Finish
This CD starts out strong and keeps delivering throughout. Gritty at times, persistently engaging and toe tapping. Actually, your whole body is going to be moving as you listen to this one.

Slow walkin/talkin blues at times, with a deep reach for meaning in delivery transitions back to kick-a** blues with gusto.

I'm planning to see John in March (Bath, ME) and this is great preparation.

Smokin' blues from a master
Another gut-wrenching, terrific outing for John Hammond. I've been listening to John's music for 30 years, and he just keeps getting better. I saw him at Wolf Trap last night and he was superb. John is best known for his highly original guitar and harmonica takes on the blues classics, both acoustic and electric. Here he expands his repertoire by adding a raunchy "blues meets hip hop" version of the classic "Tore Down" with hip hop artist G. Love that will knock your socks off. First class music from a first class artist.

The new mono???
I've admired John Hammond for almost 39 years now. I'm glad that he's back to using an electric band again. This recording is killer! I think the fact that it was recorded in analog as opposed to digital is what gives it the raw edge.If you like your blues gritty and downright real, you'll love "Push Comes To Shove". Can this analog recording be the new mono for the 21st century? Hope more artists record this way...it's warmer...or in this case...HOT!! This CD and John's recent output remind me of his early electric Vanguard and Atlantic recordings. This guy is an unheralded Americon icon.