Premiere: Webb Wilder’s [not] Lost in the Shuffle

New album unearths old gold

Since 1985, Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks have been cranking out their own brand of roots-y rock ’n’ roll, and now Landslide Records will showcase heretofore unreleased tracks on Powerful Stuff!. The album presents 16 timeless live and studio tracks recorded between 1985 and 1993, split equally between original songs and distinctive covers. Though the album primarily features the “original” Beatnecks (Wilder on lead vocals and guitar; Donny “The Twangler” Roberts, guitar and vocals; Denny “Cletus” Blakely, bass and vocals; and Jimmy Lester, drums), special guests include the legendary Al Kooper on organ, acclaimed guitarist David Grissom (Joe Ely, John Mellencamp and Storyville), and renowned bass player Willie Weeks (Eric Clapton, Gregg Allman).

The band’s energy and intensity comes from a potent mixture of roots rock, Americana, blues, and British influences, and it remains a mystery why these tunes haven’t made it to release earlier. “‘The story of “Lost In The Shuffle’ kind of suggests what happened to those tracks,” said Mississippi Music Hall of Fame member Wilder, who offered Elmore a possible explanation for at least this song’s disappearance, if not for the dozens of other recordings that had been carefully stored in a Nashville facility for over 30 years.

“I had completely forgotten recording this earlier version of the song,” Wilder told Elmore. “We re-cut it a few years later and released that version on Acres of Suede. The great David Grissom guested on lead guitar on the Acres version. Imagine my surprise when I found this earlier, forgotten recording with horns, Al Kooper on Hammond and ME playing lead guitar against Bobby Field’s rhythm. Add George Bradfute’s genius in mixing and it’s a whole ’nuther thing!”

Wilder and Bobby Field (producer for several earlier records), friends since junior high, crafted their signature brand of “Mid-Atlantic” (British and American) rock and roll into their often double-time tunes which separated Wilder’s music from the pack and boasted classic influences from both sides of the pond. The band’s 1986 album, It Came from Nashville, was recently named one of the top 50 all-time best Southern Rock albums

Webb Wilder & The Beatnecks’ Powerful Stuff! personnel include Webb Wilder (Lead Vocals, Guitars), Jimmy Lester (Drums), Donny “The Twangler” Roberts (Guitar, Vocals ), Denny “Cletus” Blakely (Bass, Vocals), Kelley Looney (Bass), Rich Ruth (Bass), Billy Prince (Bass), R.S. Field (Drums), Guitar, Scott Baggett (Bass), Al Kooper (Organ), Gary “El Bujo” Gazaway (Trumpet), Jim Hoke (Tenor and Baritone Sax ), Hugh Garraway (Sax ), David Grissom (Guitar), Willie Weeks (Bass), Wally Wilson (Piano)