Artist: Blues Traveler
Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey
Album: Traveler’s Blues
Single: “Ball and Chain”
Release Date: July 30, 2021
Label: Round Hill Records
In Their Words: “I was terrified of this one, as it’s so closely associated with Janis Joplin and stands out as a pillar of the blues genre. Not quite ‘Sweet Home Chicago,’ but close!! We were wondering, ‘What the hell are we going to do with this to make it cool??!!!’ Answer was to go back to a couple of OGs — Big Mama Thornton and Etta James. Etta did her version minor, but the feel was killer. Big Mama had more major feel and felt straight Chicago. If it wasn’t pianist Otis Spann on the version we listened to, I need to know who it was!! Stronger Than Dirt!” β Ben Wilson, keys, Blues Traveler
Photo Credit: Graham Fielder
