The other day CB and I were talking about music, and he sent me some links to this guy. I’ve listened to him this week and the first thing I noticed was that great guitar tone. I’ve listened to many parts of his career and the guy is a master of guitar tone. A great guitar sound attracts me to songs sometimes more than the singing and lyrics. Once I hear a good opening riff, it usually hooks me. He has a mixture of blues, folk, rock, and Americana. I also enjoyed his songwriting and vocals, as he doesn’t stick in one place.
He was born and raised in Iowa and started his music career around 1973. He originally fronted The Mother Blues Band in Iowa. His inspirations were Sun Records’ rockabilly and Chess Records’ blues artists of the 1950s. It’s hard to beat those two influences.
During the 1970s and 1980s, he played with various bands and developed his sound. He took a break from music during the 1980s but came back strong. A turning point was when he heard a song by fellow Iowan Greg Brown on the radio. He recognized a kindred spirit, so he reached out to Brown, starting a collaboration that continues to this day
In 1994, he got his first big break by opening shows for Lucinda Williams. He worked with her producing and adding guitar to her albums, and also played in her band. He has played guitar with various artists. His production and guitar work extend to notable musicians like Joan Baez, Ani DiFranco, Iris DeMent, and Elvis Costello.
This song was on his album In The Weeds released in 1997.
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PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
That guitar tone is great. Just guessing but I think he might be playing a Gibson 335 and a Gibson or Martin acoustic. It’s almost Rock-a-Billy. I like the quick change on the opening. I didn’t know of this guy.
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I like when you guys talk this stuff. My hook into the song is “Blast John Hooker from my music box”. I can get into that.
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Way cool! 😎
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I didn’t know this guy, sort of reminds me of Ray Wylie Hubbard and James McMurtry a bit.
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Hubbard is one I thought of as well…as a guitar player I really got into this.
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I can see there’s something there for the guitar player.
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As you say, a good guitar sound. I don’t think I’d even heard his name before, really obscure find!
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Yes it was…a lot of artists like this that doesn’t get played to the masses. It’s fun finding them.
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Yes, I like that unique guitar sound too.
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Thanks Glyn
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Both of the Bo Ramsey songs were fabulous, and I really like his voice, and his music is also great. The lyrics were also very interesting, thanks for featuring this artist that I never heard of Max.
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Very good songs. The name rang a distant bell, and after reading, I think I know him from Greg Brown’s work. Someone mentioned James McMurtry, and I agree regarding the vocals and phrasing.
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Yes it does resemble him as well. I heard this and I just thought quality songs and playing… I included the Burn It Down because of that trememlo that I love so much on the guitar.
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He does have a cool sound.
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The more I heard the more I know…he is a master of the tone…whatever a song needs he knows how to get it. People don’t get that it takes years to get that down.
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I appreciate the “tone” thing and the time and gigs put into mastering it. You and Phil have that thing down.
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I probably went overboard on the tone…but CB…I stand by it completely. Phil was behind me on that as well. I picked some things out through his career. I tried to listen to the Mother Blues Band but Patrick Hazell took over by the time they put anything down on tape.
Phil was right…I bet it was a Gibson 335…same as what he was playing on the Greg Brown track you had. Phil has some good ears!
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I was watching a doc on the recording of The Band’s second album yesterday. The way Helm and Robertson were listening to and reacting to the recordings was so cool. How much they were enjoying it. You music guys have a different take.
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Going deeper than I know here Max. Great find. It just seems wrong that there are so many worthy acts that just don’t get their big breaks.
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I’m a fan!
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Cool Bruce! I’m happy when you like something.
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Sounds cool. I don’t believe I had heard any of Bo Ramsey’s music before. Looks like he’s worked with various other impressive artists. I see among others he played on Lucinda Williams’ gem “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.”
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Yes he worked on that one. His music is pretty cool dude. I like the blues he brings to it as well.
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Very cool! I had not heard of him before. But I have heard of Lucinda Williams.
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Yeah, that’s quite a tone. I’m also attracted to the tonality of some guitars and guitar players. (It’s one of the things I love about Wicked Game).
I owe you an email. It might even happen sometime!
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Yea CB turns me on to many artists and bands that fly under the radar. I did a post on the guitar player that played on Wicked Game… he was another one that was great at his tone.
I would rather you owe me one! Of all people I totally get it!
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