Derek Trucks: Selected Tracks
Quality time with Derek's catalog
In writing Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East, I gained a new appreciation for the album as an artistic statement.
At Fillmore East wasn’t a “hit record and play” live album. It was the band’s third album, recorded live on the biggest stage in rock.
Duane and company thought carefully about the album they wanted to make, the songs they wanted to include, the specific versions of those songs that would make the final album.
This led me to spend quality time with the catalog of Derek Trucks
I find it difficult to write about Derek Trucks, a guy I’ve literally watched grow up on stage.
The first time I saw him was 1993.1 He was 13. His slide playing was incredible, but what I most remember was his restraint.
He was the best musician on stage BY FAR.2
Unbelievable presence.
Four years later, May 1997, I caught my first Derek Trucks Band gig—at the Sapphire Supper Club in downtown Orlando. Derek’s band opened for Frogwings, Uncle Butch’s jamband supergroup, which Derek was a part of.
“The guy’s finally got himself a band,” I remember thinking. “I need to see this as much as I can.”
And I damn sure did.
I followed dTb all around Florida and throughout the Southeast from the late 90s through the 00s. Frankly, I didn’t realize how spoiled I was to be standing 10 feet from Derek’s amp and watching that magnificent band make its magic.
I’ve done the same with Tedeschi Trucks Band, the group Derek formed with his wife Susan Tedeschi in 2010.
I lost count of how many times I’ve seen TTB, but it’s as often as I can. They’re simply the best band touring right now.3
Tracklist
These are some of my favorite Derek Trucks moments issued officially on albums. Please know it is not a comprehensive list of every great Derek Trucks riff out there. Because, honestly, that guy makes magic every night.
I wanted to concentrate on music Derek etched into the permanent record. All but two are studio cuts.
“Revolution” Songlines - Derek Trucks Band (dTb) Put on a good set of headphones and listen to Derek underneath Mike Mattison’s vocals.
“Our Love” Already Free - dTb Love Derek’s subtle playing behind Doyle Bramhall II on vocals. A side we don’t often see live but Derek loves to dig in
“Just as Strange” Let Me Get By - Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB) This is one of my ABBsolute favorite TTB cuts. Swampy goodness.
“Rainy Day” I Am the Moon: II. Ascension - TTB Dig Derek’s call & response with Susan and also with the background singers.
“Crow Jane” Songlines - dTb The first cover, Skip James’s “Crow Jane.” Couldn’t resist sharing this live version from 2006.
“Still Your Mind” Signs - TTB I first took notice of this song here: 9/27/19 Beacon Theatre. (My buddy Steve turned to me when done and said, “I believe that’s the finest guitar solo I’ve heard in the last 10 years, maybe ever.”)
“Shame” Signs - TTB The anthem of the resistance. This one builds into something fierce.
“Anyhow” Let Me Get By - TTB This is one of my favorite Derek solos of all-time. Interestingly enough, he no longer solos on it live. Susan does.
“Layla” Layla Revisited - TTB The guitarists here are Derek, Trey Anastasio, and Doyle Bramhall II. I chose this specifically for Derek’s run that begins about 3:29, how he just climbs up to that Duane lick at about 3:46 (timing may vary).
“I Am the Moon” > “Circles Round the Sun” > “Pasaquan” - I Am the Moon: I. Crescent - TTB I offer this as a suite—“Circles” already segues into “Pasaquan” on the record and “IATM” precedes it. His solo on “IATM” is one of his best, and I particularly love “Circles.” As it gets rolling, listen closely to Derek’s call & response, first with himself then over the bed of music and underneath the vocals. He carries that motif throughout.4
“Look-Ka PyPy” Out of the Madness - dTb A Derek Trucks Band setlist standard. My introduction to the Meters.
“Down in the Flood” Already Free - dTb Tedeschi Trucks Band still covers this Bob Dylan cut. It’s the slide and that overdriven tone that makes it for me.
“Sahib Teri Bandi>Maki Madni” Live at Georgia Theatre - dTb The first time I heard this riff blew my mind. Indian classical was completely new to me when Derek espoused its influence. I prefer this to the studio version, which has vocals.
“Midnight in Harlem” Revelator TTB When I first heard this, I was certain it was a cover of a lost soul classic. Something Bobby Womack or the Five Stairsteps. Derek’s solo here is particularly special.
“Down Don’t Bother Me” Already Free - dTb Something about this track I’ve always loved. Mike’s vocals and Derek’s guitar make a great pairing.
“D Minor Blues” The Derek Trucks Band - dTb From the band’s self-titled debut album. It’s amazing how mature their sound was right out of the gate.
“Gravity” I Am the Moon: III. The Fall - TTB The fifth IATM track on this list, Starting about 4:00 in Derek just goes OFF. This one is incredible live.
“This Sky” Songlines dTb Just a beautiful song all around.
Hittin’ the Note - The Allman Brothers Band I’ll finish with two tracks from the one studio album Derek recorded with the Allman Brothers:
“The High Cost of Low Living” The one song from this album the band played at their final show 10/28/14.
“Old Friend” Hittin’ the Note - The Allman Brothers Band The only song to appear on an Allman Brothers album that features no original members.
Playlists
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