It's been a very long time since hard rock/boogie act Foghat have been a relevant & powerful force on the music scene, but despite that the band has toured on a pretty regular basis and kept the spirit of their music alive. A lot has changed since their heyday in the mid/late 70's; founding members Dave Peverett and Rod Price both have passed away, and original drummer Roger Earl now leads the band, which includes Charlie Huhn
(rhythm guitar, vocals), Bryan Bassett ( lead guitar), and Craig MacGregor (bass). After the recent Live 2 release, the band are back with a new studio album with the current line-up called Last Train Home , a hard hitting collection of blues songs, both cover songs and originals. MacGregor however was unable to play on the album due to prior committments, so the bass duties here were completed by Jeff Howell, and Roger's brother Colin sits in on piano, as does Lefty 'Sugar Lips' Lefkowitz on harmonica.
Listening to Last Train Home, it's pretty clear that these guys still can tear down the house with some scorching blues rock 'n' boogie. "Born For the Road" gets things started in fine fashion with Huhn's ballsy vocals and plenty of sizzling slide guitar courtesy of Bassett. Considering the guitar ace spent some time with Southern Rockers Molly Hatchet, it's no surprise he can play a damn fine slide guitar! On "Needle and the Spoon" , the band harness their inner ZZ Top, and really drag out some emotion on "So Many Roads, So Many Trains", a tune with plenty of white hot blues guitar solos and majestic piano. Huhn and Bassett really rip it up on the raucous title track, as well as on the grinding "It Hurts Me Too" and the classic "Louisiana Blues". Cream fans will love Foghat's interpretation of the old standard "Rollin' & Tumblin' / You Need", which features no shortage of lead & slide guitar licks, and special guest Eddie Kirkland contributes guitar and vocals on the final two cuts, "Good Good Day" and "In My Dreams".
If you in the mood for some solid blues-rock, you can't really go wrong with Last Train Home. It might be decades since the glory years of "Slow Ride", "Fool For the City", 'Stone Blue", and "I Just Want to Make Love to You", but Foghat have proved that they still have plenty up their sleeves and can deliver a solid set of hard rockin' blues 'n boogie just like the old days.
Track Listing
1. Born For the Road
2. Needle and Spoon
3. So Many Roads, So Many Trains
4. Last Train Home
5. Shake Your Money Maker
6. It Hurts Me Too
7. Feel So Bad
8. Louisiana Blues
9. 495 Boogie
10. Rollin' & Tumblin' / You Need
11. Love
12. In My Dreams
13. Good, Good Day
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