For those unaware, in 1966, Terry Adams and Steve Ferguson, two musicians from Louisville, Kentucky, took their New Rhythm And Blues Quartet to Florida after playing together in earlier bands.

From the release of their 1969, self-titled debut, NRBQ became not only one of the greatest genre-defying bands on the planet, but also a band whose live shows were as unpredictable as they were unparalleled in the joy they brought their audiences.

Although Ferguson left the band in 1971, he was never far away — periodically showing up at gigs (much to the delight of fans), and playing with Adams on various releases keeping their musical friendship alive and well.

The pair got together in the mid 2000s to re-explore that kinship. They brought along NRBQ drummer Tom Ardolino, Terry’s brother Donn (of The Whole Wheat Horns, whose work is prevalent on many NRBQ releases), and some other friends. Donn says in the album’s liner notes, “No outside producers. No time constraints. No budget influences. Just Terry and Steve and friends.”

Louisville Sluggers appeared in 2006 to the delight of the NRBQ faithful. In addition to originals from both Adams and Ferguson, the friends also explored the music they loved: Thelonious Monk, Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, and more.

No matter the writer or influence, Louisville Sluggers was totally inventive, and a whole lot of fun.

Now, Louisville Sluggers returns, with updated artwork (retaining Donn Adams original liner notes) and four previously unissued bonus tracks including recordings of “Turkey In The Straw” and Allen Toussaint’s “Java.” This reissue expands the wonder and merriment of Louisville Sluggers for the new and old generations of fans of NRBQ and beyond.

1. Peanut Vendor
2. Outer Space Boogie (Alternate Mix)
3. Same Train
4. Mule Skinner Blues (Take 1)
5. Ichabod
6. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone
7. It’s Too Soon To Know
8. Knucklehead
9. Dutchess County Jail
10. South Of The Orient
11. Hi-Heel Sneakers
12. Turkey In The Straw *
13. Blue Monk
14. Java *
15. Duet For Cousins *
16. Hey Good Lookin’
17. Ichabod (Take 1) *

* Previously unissued bonus tracks

This expanded reissue of their quite brilliant 2006 release, opens on the upbeat, jumpingly joyous Peanut Vendor and trombone-slaying Outer Space Boogie (Alternate Mix), and then it proceeds to bring us the atmospheric, and aptly-named Same Train, the fervent bluegrass of Mule Skinner Blues (Take 1), the highly energized instrumental Ichabod, the organically-sculptured, musician jam fest Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, before gracing us with both the low slung blues of It’s Too Soon To Know and the New Orleans-esque, and veritably instrumental Knucklehead.

Along next is the buoyant ebb and flow of the Americana blues within Dutchess County Jail and the languishing South Of The Orient, and they are in turn followed by the bluesy rock and roll of Hi-Heel Sneakers, their very own impassioned bluegrass within the unissued Turkey In The Straw, a quite bewitching rendition of Thelonious Monk’s instrumental Blue Monk, and then the foot-tapper Hey Good Lookin’ is sandwiched between more unissued tracks; such as the piano-led instrumental Java, the old school, fun seaside, end of the pier orchestrations within the instrumental Duet For Cousins, the recording now closing on a different take of Ichabod.

Terry Adams & Steve Ferguson Dutchess County Jail [Official Video]

Official Purchase Link