Recorded at Studio At The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, CA and The Cave in Malibu, CA, Driving Towards The Daylight is a balanced back-to-basics album that highlights Bonamassa s signature style of roots blues with rock-and-roll guts, while honoring the traditions of the original blues musicians. We ve taken some really traditional old blues songs the Howlin Wolf song Who s Been Talkin ? and the Robert Johnson song Stones In My Passway, and we ve tried to imagine how they would do them in a rock context, said Shirley. It s a very exciting return to the blues in a very visceral way. It s vibrant and it s gutsy and it s really, really rugged.
To challenge Joe and move him out of his comfort zone, a unique group of musicians was gathered including Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford (guitar), Blondie Chaplan (guitar), Anton Fig (drums and percussion), Arlan Schierbaum (keyboard), Michael Rhodes (bass), Carmine Rojas (bass), Jeff Bova and The Bovaland Brass, Pat Thrall (guitar), and Brad s son Harrison Whitford (guitar).
The album features five Bonamassa-penned originals including the bruising opener Dislocated Boy, the road warrior title track (and first single) Driving Towards The Daylight, I Got All You Need, Heavenly Soul, and Somewhere Trouble Don t Go. Other tracks include Bonamassa s versions of Tom Waits New Coat Of Paint, Lonely Town Lonely Street, by Bill Withers (Lean On Me, Ain t No Sunshine) and A Place In My Heart by Bernie Marsden of White Snake (Here I Go Again). On the album closer, Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes sings lead vocals on his 1987 hit "Too Much Ain't Enough Love."
Currently available for sale on DVD and Blu-ray and airing on PBS and Palladia HD is the brand new Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre Live From New York, which showcases the stunning sold-out two-night performance at New York City s legendary Beacon Theatre last November. Special guests include Paul Rodgers, John Hiatt and Beth Hart.
Bonamassa s other recent projects include the 2011 CD/DVD Live Over Europe as well as the sophomore album 2 from Black Country Communion, Bonamassa s hard rock band with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol). His last studio album, 2011 s Dust Bowl, is his best-selling album to date.
