Ted Hawkins The Next Hundred Years

Ted Hawkins
The Next Hundred Years
Geffen  

The release of a new Ted Hawkins album on David Geffen’s label is a surprising one for a major label, and has gotten Hawkins coverage on CNN. The LA street singer’s Rounder albums have just been issued on compact disc. He might be described as acoustic folk-soul or Sam Cooke unplugged. The Next Hundred Years has a country feel from the backing on most songs which are mostly originals dealing with the vagaries of human relationships. The opening Strange Conversation relates to a phone conversation where his baby tells him that his next lover is going to be the blues. His lyrics have a force because of their simplicity and slight naivete. In addition to the originals, there is a stirring cover of John Fogerty’s Long As I Can See the Light. This is a captivating release at the intersection of southern soul and country.

This review originally appeared in the September 1994 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 194). I likely received a review copy from either the publication or the record company. This appears to be either  available new and/or used, or as a download. Here is Long As I Can See The Light.