THE BEST OF THE HOODOO RHYTHM DEVILS - VOLUME I (1970-1976)
The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils formed in late 1969 at Funky Features, Jack Leahy's legendary recording studio in the famous Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco, California. Joe Crane and John Rewind had written a few songs and had recorded some home demos themselves. Jack Leahy said that they should do some better recordings of the songs, and the band was born. Jack also needed some guinea pigs for his new studio. There were some songs recorded that have never seen the light of day (and probably never will) called "BabyLou", "Dirty Old Man","Money Back Guarantee", and "Try To Find A Reason". At the beginning they had a few different bass players - Lee Humphries, Richard Wilkins, and then finally acquired Richard "Dexter C. Plates" Greene (Roberta Flack, currently with The Bobs). There were a few different drummers too - Richard Cram, David Pepke, finally acquiring the fabulous Glenn Walters, an old friend of Rewind's from Kansas City, who was living in Pacific Grove,CA, after having been abandoned by The Emeralds, a band from KC that Glenn was touring with. With Glenn now on drums, the Hoodoos recorded for months, dozens of songs, and came up with their first album's worth of material for Capitol Records. Joe and Glenn were like twin brothers raised by different families. "Joe Crane and his Hoodoo Rhythm Devils" did a local EP that included every bar band's national anthem ,"Four Set Blues". A San Francisco DJ named Michael Sunday heard the band, became involved, and got them their first deal at Capitol as the executive producer. They thought they had died and gone to heaven being on Capitol, since they had drooled over that logo since they were kids, and remembered all of those pictures of Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps in the studio. Now, that was The Big-Time! The first record on Capitol was definitely a learning experience , trying to learn the recording process, the hard knocks of the music business, as they also wrote, played, and recorded all the songs. A pretty big job for novices. It was time to move on and up. After a short lived relationship with Ed Denson (Country Joe and the Fish) as their manager during the first LP, David Rubinson came to a gig at the New Orleans House in Berkeley, at Jack Leahy's request, to check out the band. David had produced Moby Grape, Santana, Cold Blood, Herbie Hancock etc... and was definitely the bigger-time. He said he would produce and manage the band , but had one demand. He wanted Glenn up front as a second frontman, and for them get another drummer. It was a waste hiding Glenn back behind a drum kit all night. Then, through a chance meeting, Roger Allen Clark (Alabama Music Hall Of Fame, well-known and respected Fame Studios - Muscle Shoals session drummer, currently with Travis Wammack) had just left The Steve Miller Band and met the HRD. He was just what the doctor ordered. Roger had amazing time, could hold a tempo, and could put on a "real" drum solo, serious double bass drum patterns with lots of show and flash, spinning the sticks and all. This group of players in 1972 recorded the second HRD LP "The Barbecue Of DeVille" on Blue Thumb Records, which spawned "Too Hot To Handle" which became a mainstay on KSAN-FM in San Francisco and was one of their signature tunes. (The story is Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy was riding around SF in a limo after playing Winterland and heard "Too Hot To Handle" on KSAN. He said he was inspired to write "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed", where he mentioned the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils.) After a tour of the East Coast with major acts like, Chuck Berry, The Doobie Brothers, Steeley Dan, Bloodrock, Moot The Hoople, Savoy Brown etc..., Roger Allen Clark left for Muscle Shoals for a steady session drummer gig at Fame Studios. Roger was immediately replaced by Keith Knudsen, who had just left Lee Michael's Band, for some gigs that week at Winterland, and the Whiskey in L.A.. Keith was another monster drummer, and after a few months joined the Doobie Brothers. The Hoodoos had been told by Rich Bandoni, a legendary SF guitarist and Vintage Gibson Les Paul afficianado, about this drummer playing in some of the clubs in the North Beach Broadway area that was really amazing. So, without his name they went looking for the Mystery Drummer. Well, when they heard Jerome Kimsey playing at The Peppermint Tree at 660 Broadway, they knew they had found their man. The Peppermint Tree used to be a real hot spot in the '60s, with Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Byrds etc..., but in 1973, it was well-worn and pretty seedy. Jerome was like a diamond among tourist trinkets, and the Hoodoos weren't leaving without him. After Jerome Kimsey was in the fold, the HRD started recording their third LP, "What The Kid's Want" (oddly enough it was their first album's title that was rejected by Capitol Records) that contained "Crazy 'Bout The Ladies", which got considerable airplay across the country, and was probably the HRD's other signature tune besides "Too Hot To Handle". The Best Of The HRD - Volume I includes "Sea Of Love", which was only released as a single in 1973, between their first an second LPs.

The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils over the years amassed a palate full of tapes, that contained a great batch of rare tunes. We assembled a group of old and new songs that we hope you like.

ROLL A BONE AMI - This is a demo that didn't make it on to "Safe In Their Homes" in 1974. It is a Joe Crane original about back alley gambling. Joe Crane - lead vocal, lead guitar / Glenn Walters - drums, harmony vocal /John Rewind - rhythm guitar / Pullman - bass. MAKING LOVE IS GOOD FOR YA - A song written by Tony Joe White. It was a hit by Brook Benton, but the HRD did it first - it was just never released. Joe Crane & Glenn Walters - lead vocals / Scott Mathews -drums / Maurice "Mac" Cridlin - bass / Greg Douglass - lead guitar / Norton Buffalo - harmonica / Martha Wash & Izora Armstead - harmony vocals. WHAT WOULD YOU DO (For Some Barbecue)? A reunion track recorded in 2015 written by John Rewind & Joe Kerry New, about America's real #1 pass-time. Joe Crane, Jr. & Glenn Walters - lead vocals / John Rewind - guitars / Roger Stanton - bass, harmony vocal / Jerome Kimsey - drums BATTLE OF THE BOTTLE - A Joe Crane original tortured blues song about the evils of alcohol. Joe Crane - lead vocal, piano / Glenn Walters - drums, harmony vocal / John Rewind - acoustic guitar / Richard Greene - bass. MUDCAT STEW - A song about a funky favorite fish dish of Joe's. Joe Crane - lead vocal, guitar / John Rewind - lead guitar / Jerome Kimsey - drums / Richard Greene - bass. RIDE ON MARY - A Joe Crane original about another one of his fictitious dream girls, incorrectly listed as "Right On Mary" for the last 40 years. Joe Crane - lead vocal, piano / Glenn Walters - harmony vocal / John Rewind - lead guitar / Jerome Kimsey - drums / Richard Greene - bass, harmony vocal. UNCLE JOE'S HOMEMADE BREW - One of the first original songs recorded by the HRD written by Joe Crane and John Rewind. It was a B-side on a 45 single in 1970. Joe Crane - lead vocal, acoustic guitar / John Rewind - electric guitars / Glenn Walters - drums / Pullman - bass / Jack Leahy - beer. SIGN YOUR LIFE AWAY - Everyday when we would practice at our rehearsal room on Market Street in San Francisco, we used to watch people buying anything and everything that they couldn't afford at all the sleazy stereo and jewelry shops. Joe Crane wrote a song about it. Joe Crane - lead vocal, guitar / Glenn Walters - lead vocals / Roger Allen Clark - drums / Richard Greene- bass, harmony vocal / Tower of Power - horns (solo Skip Mesquite). I WAS WRONG - An original by Joe Crane that was part of our live act during our national tour with Savoy Brown, Doobie Bros, Steely Dan, Chuck Berry, Mott The Hoople etc... Joe Crane - lead vocal, piano / Glenn Walters - harmony vocal / John Rewind - guitar / Richard Greene - bass / Roger Allen Clark - drums / The Pointer Sisters - harmony vocals. EATIN' IN KANSAS CITY - An original tune by John Rewind, Glenn Walters, Richard Greene, and Roger Allen Clark about one of our favorite subjects, the great diners, drive-ins and dives of our hometown,Kansas City, with that god-awful Farfisa organ! Glenn Walters - lead vocal / Joe Crane - organ, harmony vocal / John Rewind - guitars / Roger Allen Clark - drums / Richard Greene - bass, harmony vocal. BLACK CADILLAC - A revamp of a Lightnin' Hopkins song recorded at our first sessions in 1970. Joe Crane - lead vocal, bass / Glenn Walters - drums / John Rewind - guitars. THE MIRROR - One of Joe Crane's original country tunes. Joe Crane - lead vocal, piano / John Rewind - acoustic guitar / Richard Greene - bass, harmony vocal / Roger Allen Clark - drums / John McFee - pedal steel / Anita, Ruth, Bonnie, and June Pointer - harmony vocals.

Fresh from touring through the steamy deep South with the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Savoy Brown, Bloodrock, and J.Geils, the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils opened for Chuck Berry at a snowed-in sold out show in Buffalo, New York, when he had the #1 song in the country ,"My Ding-A-Ling". Then they went on to The Academy of Music (Palladium) in New York City for two nights opening for Savoy Brown. On the only day off before going to freeze in Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa, while staying at the luxurious Chelsea Hotel, they did a live radio show from Ultrasonic Recording Studios in Hempstead , New York for Ken Cole's Tuesday Night Live on WLIR-FM on November 28th, 1972. The next gig was 5 nights at Max's Kansas City. This CD is a classic Hoodoo Rhythm Devils 45 minute set recorded during "The Barbecue Of Deville" album tour, complete with 1972 Dr. Pepper radio spots.

In early January of 1973, Johnny Winter and Joe Crane reunited after a long time. Joe used to play bass with Johnny and Edgar Winter when they was in high school, Joe in Conroe, Texas and The Winter Brothers in Beaumont, Texas. Joe had written a tune back in 1968 that the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils had been doing for a few years called "All Tore Down". It was also recorded by the legendary Bay Area artist, Rodger Collins. The HRD had recorded it a few times, finally featuring a Wurlitzer electric piano, inspired by "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles. Joe sat down with Johnny one afternoon and played it for him on an acoustic guitar and Johnny flipped. He loved it and actually thought Joe had personally written it for him. It wasn't but a few months and Johnny recorded it on his "Still Alive And Well" album. Later that afternoon, Joe and Johnny went to see Funky Features where Jack Leahy had recorded a lot of the Hoodoo's stuff . It wasn't too long before John Rewind , Glenn Walters, and Roger Stanton showed up and a great jam session ensued. Jack quickly fired up the studio, put a tape on a portable one-inch 3M eight track tape recorder that belonged to Steve Miller, and captured 3 tracks which are featured here on "ONE NIGHT ONLY". ("Crazy 'Bout Oklahoma", "How Long", and "Battle of the Bottle".) Joe sang and played Hammond organ , Johnny Winter played Rewind's 1960 "American Pickle" Gibson ES-335, John Rewind played Joe's 1960s Fender Esquire, Roger on his custom Prairie Prince painted Fender Jazz Bass, and Glenn playing the recording studio house Gretsch drum kit.

The Lost Album Whether it was at a late night rehearsal in some smoke filled back room, or at an after hours jam at some blues club, a band of beginners beating on their first instruments in mom's basement, or a naive young music student asking his revered music teacher, the question would inevitably come up: "Is it true there is a 'Lost Album' of the Hoodoo Rhythm Devil's recordings somewhere?" For forty years it was just a rumor. Now it can finally be said - the answer is yes, the rumor was true. After decades of searching through old warehouses and dusty garage lofts, Jack Leahy finally met an old gypsy woman in New Orleans that told him where the tapes just "might be, if he played his cards right." After hours of following her around the town, through the winding back streets and dark alleys, and promising to buy her a mojo hand, they finally came up on an old warehouse that hadn't been opened for years. Jack took out his flashlight and started peering through the moist, dark, dank storeroom and there they were - palates of boxes that were labeled: "HRD Masters - Lost Album - Funky Features". Eureka! In the mid 1970's, the Hoodo0 Rhythm Devils recorded a 12 song album for a label that went out of business, leaving some of their most rockin' tracks unreleased. Joe Crane, Glenn Walters , and Jack Leahy really wanted to capture the sounds and the songs that they loved and grew up on in the '50's and '60's. The conversation naturally evolved from Leahy suggesting one of his all-time favorites, "WPLJ" (White Port and Lemon Juice) by the Four Dueces, only to have the ante raised by Crane adding "Mathilda" by Cookie and the Cup Cakes. Walters then one upped them by adding "Pretty Girls Everywhere" by Eugene Church. Leahy started making phone calls to get some special players to compliment the regular band, and they were on their way. The album features the late great master musician Steve Douglas from the Wrecking Crew on sax, and Sonoma County's priceless treasure, the late great Norton Buffalo on harmonica. Joe & Glenn perform a great duet of "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge. Joe does a timeless rendition of "I'm Asking Foregiveness" by Thurston Harris that rivals the original. Glenn masterfully covers the Pre-"Twist" Hank Ballard and the Midnighters classic and answer-song to "Annie Had A Baby" called "Work With Me, Annie". Parents had that had a secret meaning and the parents had it banned​ Rear Window Music proudly presents "The Lost Album" that is available at CD Baby, Amazon.com, etc... and available at any of the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils reunion gigs. It's Joe Crane and Glenn Walters at their best, and we know that HRD fans will enjoy it.

Ever wish you could hear just one more song from your favorite recording artist, but that artist has passed on to the great jam band in the sky? Well, that once in a lifetime wish has been granted to fans of James Dewar. A classic track originally recorded in 1986, and lost for 29 years, has been unearthed, meticulously restored, and released for all his fans to enjoy. Due to very high rates, international shipping is $20 (USD)

James "Jimmy" Dewar (1942-2002) possessed one of the sweetest and most soulful voices in all of rock’n roll. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1942, Jimmy’s career started with Lulu and The Luvvers in the early 1960s, graduating to vocals and bass in Stone The Crows with Maggie Bell, and ultimately to fronting the Robin Trower Band in 1973. Jimmy’s vocal prowess can be heard on such legendary RTB tracks as “Daydream”, Bridge Of Sighs”, “I Can’t Wait Much Longer”, “Too Rolling Stoned”, Hannah”, “Long Misty Days”. The story behind this extraordinary event is as follows: In 1986, Jimmy traveled to Northern California with the possibility in mind of starting his solo career back up again after leaving the Robin Trower Band. He recorded a song called “Word For Word”, written by two successful San Francisco songwriters Janet Minto (the famous “Janet Planet” - the former Mrs. Van Morrison), and Pam Barlow (married to Bruce “Buffalo” Barlow from Commander Cody). It was produced and recorded by John Rewind, a successful Bay Area producer and old friend of Jimmy’s from his RTB days. After the session was completed, Jimmy, who was having some health problems, returned to his family in Glasgow. The session was shelved and forgotten. Fast forward to 2015. John Rewind was taking inventory in his studio tape vault and noticed an unmarked box of 1” tape. Curious, he threaded up the tape. After one listen, he realized what he had and it all came rushing back to him. There was no doubt that Jimmys’ vocal performance on the track was inspired, but the music needed some serious updating. After all, it had been intended to be only a demo and needed to be brought up to master quality. John knew there was only one person to collaborate with on this task. The 2015 recording of “Word For Word” is a direct result of the musical and technical know how of Fred Sampson, a brilliant guitarist and songwriter, who co-wrote “I Need Your Love” with Tom Scholtz for Boston’s ‘Walk On’ CD. Fred and John, formerly with the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils and producer of Georgia Whiting, Davey Pattison, and Bobby Black, are both diehard Jimmy Dewar fanatics. Both consider this opportunity to collaborate posthumously with Jimmy a rare honor and privilege. With the able assistance of Randall Greenlease serving as their ‘sonic and content advisor’, the three worked on the production in recording studios in both in California and Nevada. The finished track has been mastered by Paul Stubblebine , also from the San Francisco Bay Area, who is one of the premier mastering engineers in the world, and one of the owners of The Tape Project, a boutique music company that releases many of the great recordings of history on two-track reel to reel tape. So, please sit back and enjoy, at long last, "Word For Word" performed by James Dewar. Who says miracles don’t happen?

Georgia Whiting is an Italian Scottish, singer / songwriter born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. During her childhood she attended the music conservatory Jacques –Dalcroze for her basic musical education and advanced to perform in many musicals and recitals. She began her original music compositions at the age of eight and took up the study of Spanish classical guitar at thirteen. Georgia entered the Music Conservatory of Geneva at fifteen and specialized in jazz vocal while continuing to perform in Geneva with several professional jazz groups. She developed a keen interest in folk music influenced by her folk songwriter father and developed a unique style combining her early musical formation and jazz-blues influence from the conservatory. Georgia’s first participated in a CD released in 2007 “Wa’s the Way”, in collaboration with her father and sister, which offers four original compositions combined with a unique life philosophy of peace, "wa". At eighteen in collaboration with producer John Rewind and REAR WINDOW MUSIC in Mill Valley, California, Georgia produced her first solo CD for release in 2011. She has 3 songs coming out in 2018. The first is "Fallen For You".

Unfortunately, Bruce Stephens passed away in Hawaii on May 16, 2012 after an extended illness. His talent, wit, intellect, and friendship will be sorely missed.

From humble beginnings that included growing up traveling around the horse racing track circuits and carnivals in Mexico and California, to working in the hot summer fields picking cotton at age seven in order to help his struggling family, to riding in chauffeur driven limos with rock star royalty, Bruce was given a unique opportunity to gain the kind of perspective that brings to his singing and playing a sense of committed authenticity. At sixteen Bruce was the youngest member in the history of the Musicians Union in Sacramento CA. He was the drummer/bandleader of a six-piece ensemble of teen musicians called THE EMERALDS who because of their music reading skills became the backup band of choice in Northern California for

major R&B acts. Bruce, along with the Emeralds, toured with The Coasters, The Olympics, The Larks, Bob & Earl, Chuck Berry, Junior Walker, Ray Peterson, and also opened shows for The Kinks, The Beach Boys, The Animals, Chad & Jeremy, Paul Revere & the Raiders and other “British Invasion” groups. Rejecting an offer for a scholarship for a pre-med career, he could not resist the lure of the emerging music scene in San Francisco in the pre Haight Ashbury days. Forming a writing team with Ralph Burns Kellogg (aka Ethan James) from The Emeralds, they soon created MINT TATTOO. While touring and opening shows for Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Ten Years After, James Cotton and Janis Joplin they recorded with the legendary producer James William Guercio (Chicago/Blood Sweat and Tears). “Mint Tattoo” was engineered by Phil Ramone at his A&R Studios in New York; shortly thereafter, Bruce and Ralph were asked to join and write for BLUE CHEER who were enjoying international fame and commercial success. After several Blue Cheer albums Bruce was asked to travel to London and work on an album with Producer Ken Scott for RCA records. The classic “Fillmore Shuffle” ensued on the PILOT album and was recorded by Sammy Hagar on his debut “Red Album”. In 1982 Bruce recorded a solo album “Watch That First Step” produced and engineered by Jack Leahy and Bob Simmons, accompanied by a very talented crew of players including Greg Douglass & Lonnie Turner (Steve Miller) BJ Wilson (Joe Cocker /Procol Harum), Norton Buffalo and a host of other exceptional musicians. This Anthology of Bruce's personally selected tunes from three decades of recording was produced by John Rewind and is available exclusively through Rear Window Music.

1st Instrumental Guitar Solo CD

John Rewind's second sold CD, on the way. "Burst" is track one.