Powell St. John Lines Up New Rec

Dude used to run with the 13^th Floor Elevators, among many. Any questions?

By Blurt Staff

Powell St. John - called by some the "godfather of Texas psych," and with good reason - will drop his new album On My Way to Houston on July 21 via the good folks at Tompkins Square. It was recorded in Oakland with members of Roky Erickson's former band, The Aliens, and features an unrecorded Roky composition, "Hardest Working Man." Austin fixture Ralph White contributes as well. Longtime fan and well-respected publicist/journalist Bill Bentley wrote liner notes for the package.

St. John cut his teeth at Austin's Threadgill's Bar, performing with Janis Joplin and Lanny Wiggins in a trio called The Waller Creek Boys. Later, in answer to a request for material from Tommy Hall of the 13th Floor Elevators, St. John wrote five songs for their two first albums. In the late ‘60s, Powell formed the blues/rock band Mother Earth with Tracy Nelson, releasing several albums on Mercury. Among the legendary musicians who have sung and recorded Powell's songs are Janis Joplin ("Bye, Bye Baby"), Boz Scaggs ("I'll Forever Sing"), Roky Erickson ("Right Track Now") and Doug Sahm ("You Don't Know"). The Texas Music Hall of Fame inducted Powell in 2005.

Said Roky Erickson of his old cohort, "I think he is a first-rate harmonica player and I am glad he is still doing it. His songs are some of my favorites!"

Check out an MP3 from the album:

"Song of the Silver Surfer"