Mickey Raphael: Hand to Mouth
The Artists:
Mickey Raphael—Harmonica
Gene Rabbai, Jr.—Keyboards
Lee Michaels—Accordion
Ben Keith—Pedal Steel
Joe Lalo—Percussion
Billy Ray Austin—Guitar
Scott Page—Flute, Recorder
Willie Nelson—Guitar on Trude
Paul Butterfield—Harmonica Duet on Hand To Mouth
Track List
1. Don’t It Make You Wonder
2 Trude (with Willie Nelson)
3 If I only had a brain/Somewhere Over the Rainbow
4 Blue Angel
5 246 W 11th St
6 Asia Minor
7 Mexico-co
8 The Search
9 Breathless
10All My Love-parts 1 &2
11Gypsy
12 Hand to Mouth
But Mickey is so good, and the way he weaves his music around and under Willie’s singing and guitar playing, it’s pure magic. He makes it look easy, and it can’t be easy following Willie’s phrasing and the way he sings songs different every time.
You can sample Mickey’s album at his web site at http://www.mickeyraphael.com, He has recorded throughout the years with many artists, ranging from Elton John, U-2, Motley Crue, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Neil Young, many others, and for several decades, Willie Nelson. He said in an interview recently that he will be releasing another album soon, which is good news.
There’s a couple recordings I have, tapes of shows, I think, when Mickey plays a solo and then Willie goes, “Aaahhh, Mickey.” And whenever Mickey gives an interview, he talks about what a big fan he is of Willie, so it is seems a truly a mutual admiration thing between them.
To listen to Mickey’s cds, or purchase a cd, or just see some great pictures of Mickey and Willie and the band, visit www.mickeyraphael.com .
