San Francisco Bay Area roots keyboard wizard Mitch Woods has set an August 18 release date for the expanded deluxe edition of his 2-CD album set, Friends Along the Way, on Club 88 Records, distributed by The Orchard. The multi-disc set features Woods in simple duo and trio settings with such stars as Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ruthie Foster, Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur, Charlie Musselwhite, Marcia Ball, John Lee Hooker and many more.
Mitch Woods and his band, the Rocket 88s, will be touring regionally and internationally in support of the new set. He recently performed at the New Orleans JazzFest and Utah Blues Festival, with upcoming shows at Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy on July 7; Sonoma County Fair (Santa Rosa, CA) on August 11; San Jose Summer Jazz Festival (San Jose, CA) on August 12; Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise – Mexican Riviera Oct.28-Nov. 4; Blues Heaven Festival in Denmark Nov. 9-11; and Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise – Western Caribbean Jan. 28-Feb. 4.
The theme of friendship has carried Mitch Woods along throughout his life and led him to this career-defining project. Originally released in 2017 on the eOne imprint, the Deluxe Edition of Friends Along the Way, totals 21 cuts, with the last five tracks having been previously unreleased . Upon its initial release, eOne decided they would become a film company and dropped all promotion on its musical releases, including Mitch Woods’ Friends Along the Way. Not one to be dissuaded, Mitch was able to secure his ownership of the masters and decided to release this expanded Deluxe Edition featuring the unreleased tracks to bring it to the attention of music listeners and blues lovers who never got the chance to hear these incredible songs from Mitch, along with his musical contemporaries and early influences. This is Mitch’s musical opus and culmination of a life in blues and friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
The first single, “C. C. Rider,” features Van Morrison and Taj Mahal on vocals, with Taj on guitar, and Mitch Woods on piano. Both Van Morrison and Taj Mahal are core artists for AAA Radio. In 2023, Taj won his fourth Grammy Award (Best Traditional Blues Album) for “Get On Board” with Ry Cooder, and recently hit the top of the Billboard blues chart with his new album, Savoy.
During the recording sessions, five hours of video footage that was shot in the studio with each guest artist, including Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, Ruthie Foster, Charlie Musselwhite and more. A special five minute EPK is also available for streaming. Video footage from the studio recording sessions (each day spotlighting a different guest artist) will be shared on social media outlets leading up to the release.
Mitch Woods has delivered a career spanning tour de force on Friends Along the Way. What you hear on these songs is a simple duo or trio of musicians each expressing their innermost feelings and emotions through their instrument... the voice, piano, guitar, harmonica, tambourine... anything that can communicate the feelings, the rhythms of life to the audience.
Friends Along the Way finds Mitch reaching into his historical sense of music. He reaches backwards to the roots rather than forward for his inspiration. With Friends Along the Way, Mitch wanted to get a chance to play with some of his contemporaries in an intimate and mostly unplugged environment. The piano as an instrument lends itself to this format so perfectly. Mitch can play rhythm, lead, bass, and sing while accompanying some of his friends, who happen to be today’s blues and musical greats. It is a great instrument for bringing out the best of these awesome artists who are keeping the blues flame burning for generations to come.
Some say music is a gift, not only to the person who performs it but to the world. The musicians you hear in these songs have spent a lifetime doing what they love to do... play music. Enjoy... this album is Mitch Wood’s gift to his fans.
Mitch Woods - Friends Along the Way Deluxe Edition Track Listing and Credits
Disc One:
1. C.C. RIDER feat. Van Morrison & Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (vocals, guitar), Van Morrison (vocals), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Ma Rainey, Universal-MCA Music Publishing a division of Universal Music Corp.
Van Morrison appears courtesy of Exile Productions
Taj Mahal appears courtesy of Concord Records
2. TAKE THIS HAMMER feat. Van Morrison & Taj Mahal
Van Morrison (vocals, tambourine), Taj Mahal (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Huddie Ledbetter, Folkways Music Publishing Inc.
Van Morrison appears courtesy of Exile Productions
Taj Mahal appears courtesy of Concord Records
3. KEEP A DOLLAR IN YOUR POCKET feat. Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (vocals, piano), Larry Vann (drums)
Written by Oliver Perry, Sony/ATV Songs obo Venice Music
Elvin Bishop appears courtesy of Alligator Records
4. SINGIN’ THE BLUES feat. Ruthie Foster
Ruthie Foster (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Ruthie Foster, Bucknpony Publishing (BMI)
Ruthie Foster appears courtesy of Blue Corn Music
5. MOTHER-IN-LAW BLUES feat. John Hammond
John Hammond (vocals, national steel guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Don Robey, Songs Of Universal, Inc.
6. CRYIN’ FOR MY BABY feat. Charlie Musselwhite
Mitch Woods (vocals, piano), Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica)
Written by Mitch Woods, Viper Music obo Mitchrich Music
7. NASTY BOOGIE feat. Joe Louis Walker
Mitch Woods (vocals, piano), Joe Louis Walker (guitar, vocals)
Written by Champion Jack Dupree, Unichappell Music Inc.
8. EMPTY BED BLUES feat. Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur (vocals), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by J.C. Johnson, Songwriters Guild of America obo Record Music Pub Co.
9. BLUES MOBILE feat. Kenny Neal
Kenny Neal (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Mitch Woods (vocals, piano), Larry Vann (drums)
Written by Kenny Neal, Copyright Control
Kenny Neal appears courtesy of Booga Music
10. THE BLUES feat. Cyril Neville
Cyril Neville (vocals), Mitch Woods (piano, vocals)
Written by Taj Mahal, Norman Caesar and Cyril Garrett Neville
Disc Two:
1. SATURDAY NIGHT BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN feat. Elvin Bishop
Mitch Woods (vocals, piano), Elvin Bishop (guitar), Larry Vann (drums)
Written by Jimmy Liggins, Sony/ATV Songs
Elvin Bishop appears courtesy of Alligator Records
2. BLUES GAVE ME A RIDE feat. Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Charlie Musselwhite, Henrietta Music
3. CHICAGO EXPRESS feat. James Cotton
James Cotton (harmonica), Mitch Woods (piano, vocals)
Written by Mitch Woods, Mitchrich Music
4. NEVER GET OUT OF THESE BLUES ALIVE feat. John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by John Lee Hooker, Songs of Universal
5. MIDNIGHT HOUR BLUES feat. Van Morrison & Taj Mahal
Van Morrison (vocals, harmonica), Taj Mahal (national steel guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Leroy Carr, Universal Music Corp obo Wabash Music Co.
Van Morrison appears courtesy of Exile Productions
Taj Mahal appears courtesy of Concord Records
6. IN THE NIGHT feat. Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball (piano, vocals), Mitch Woods (piano, vocals)
Written by Henry Roeland Byrd, Professor Longhair Music
Marcia Ball appears courtesy of Alligator Records
7. BLUES FOR NEW ORLEANS feat. Cyril Neville (previously unreleased)
Cyril Neville (vocals), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Cyril Neville
8. DON’T DIP IN MY BIZNESS feat. Kenny Neal (previously unreleased)
Kenny Neal (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by Kenny Neal, Copyright Control
Kenny Neal appears courtesy of Booga Music
9. SOUTHBOUND BLUES feat. John Hammond (previously unreleased)
John Hammond (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (piano)
Written by W.R. Calaway, Clarence Williams
10. MOJO MAMBO feat. Maria Muldaur (previously unreleased)
Maria Muldaur (vocals), Mitch Woods (piano, vocals)
Written by Mitch Woods, Mitchrich Music/BMI
11. WORRIED LIFE BLUES feat. Joe Louis Walker (previously unreleased)
Joe Louis Walker (vocals, guitar), Mitch Woods (piano, vocals)
Written by Sam Hopkins
