Johnny Ray Jones - Mystic Chiefs (2024) [Official Digital Download]

Mystic Chiefs, blues shouter Johnny Ray Jones’ third studio album, isn’t just a forcefully sung, heatedly played slice of contemporary blues. It marks the recording debut of vocalist Jones’ exciting all-star band, likewise known as the Mystic Chiefs, and also serves as a scorching look back at Southern California’s storied blues ’n’ roots history.

Recorded, like its predecessors, at Johnny Lee Schell’s Ultratone Studios in Studio City, California, the new recording features some well-traveled and highly skilled SoCal players. Lead guitarist Junior Watson co-founded the Mighty Flyers and was featured in Canned Heat and late harp ace William Clarke’s band. U.K.-born Carl Sonny Leyland has performed regularly with Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys and has cut his own solo records. Harp player Tex Nakamura succeeded Lee Oskar in the hit-making L.A. unit War. Bassist John Bazz was a founding member of Downey’s revered Blasters. Percussionist Stephen Hodges is renowned for his drumming and percussion work with Tom Waits, Mavis Staples, and the late James Harman. J.R. Lozano recorded with his father’s storied East L.A. group Los Lobos’ Grammy-winning album Native Sons. And rhythm guitarist Schell’s many credits include work with Bonnie Raitt (including her multi-platinum 1989 commercial breakthrough Nick of Time), Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Etta James, and Ronnie Wood.

Front man Jones has been slugging it out Southern California’s stages since the ‘80s, when he first got seduced by the romance of the blues.

“I started sneaking into shows in Redondo Beach in the late ‘70s,” Jones says. “I was kind of a loner in the area. My friends were all into hard rock then, heavy metal, but I was already tired of that. Like everybody else, I wanted to know who wrote those songs recorded by the Animals, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, bands that I grew up with. I wanted to know who McKinley Morganfield was, who Willie Dixon was. I got into John Lee Hooker after I bought a cassette of his hits; he’d get it going with just his feet and a guitar. He became a big influence. I was into the roots of it all. I realized that all these bands that made it started with the blues.

TRACKLIST

1. Johnny Ray Jones - Automatic (feat. Carl Sonny Leyland)
2. Johnny Ray Jones - Trying to Get Back on My Feet (feat. Junior Watson)
3. Johnny Ray Jones - Devil Woman (feat. Junior Watson)
4. Johnny Ray Jones - Don't Go No Further (feat. Junior Watson)
5. Johnny Ray Jones - Shake Your Hips (feat. Carl Sonny Leyland)
6. Johnny Ray Jones - I Wish You Would (feat. Junior Watson)
7. Johnny Ray Jones - I'm Ready (feat. Junior Watson)
8. Johnny Ray Jones - No Fightin' (feat. Junior Watson)
9. Johnny Ray Jones - Sugar Sweet (feat. Carl Sonny Leyland)
10. Johnny Ray Jones - My Younger Days (feat. Carl Sonny Leyland)
11. Johnny Ray Jones - I'll Be Around (feat. Junior Watson)



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