The Final Tour

• Artist: Ted Hawkins
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 13, 1998
• Type: Live
• Genre: Blues

Review

Ted Hawkins' story is one of the most interesting -- and tragic -- in the history of R&B. Who'd have thought that a fifty-something street singer who performed 1960s-type soul in Venice Beach, CA, would have signed with Geffen's DGC label after decades of obscurity? That's exactly what happened, but tragically, a 58-year-old Hawkins died from a diabetes-related stroke just when things were really looking up for him. Recorded live at three 1994 concerts and released in 1998, The Final Tour shows how great Hawkins was sounding during the last months of his life. Nothing slick or elaborate happens on this album -- it's just the charismatic Hawkins and his acoustic guitar, drawing on Sam Cooke's influence but always sounding like his own man. Those familiar with Hawkins' Rounder output will be familiar with heartfelt originals like "Bad Dog," "Bring It on Home Daddy," and "Revenge of Scorpio," all of which demonstrate that he was as superb a composer as he was a singer. Hawkins is equally captivating on interpretations of Brook Benton's "I Got What I Wanted" and "All I Have to Offer You Is Me," a hit for country great Charley Pride that easily lends itself to Hawkins' brand of acoustic R&B. Soul lovers who haven't experienced the joys of Hawkins' music should make a point of obtaining this magnificent album. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Intro		Ted Hawkins	(:24)
There Stands the Glass (Lyrics)	Webb Pierce, Russ Hull, Mary Jean Shurtz	Ted Hawkins	(2:49)
Watch Your Step	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(2:44)
Strange Conversation	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(5:16)
Sorry You're Sick	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(2:18)
Bring It on Home Daddy	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(3:16)
Big Things	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(3:02)
Revenge of Scorpio	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(2:56)
Groovy Little Things	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(3:41)
Ladder of Success	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(3:13)
Part Time Love	Clay Hammond	Ted Hawkins	(5:24)
I Got What I Wanted	Brook Benton, Margie Singleton	Ted Hawkins	(3:07)
Bad Dog	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(2:24)
The Good and the Bad	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(4:56)
All I Have to Offer You Is Me	A.L. Owens, Dallas Frazier	Ted Hawkins	(4:23)
Long as I Can See the Light (Lyrics)	John Fogerty	Ted Hawkins	(2:44)
Biloxi	Jesse Winchester	Ted Hawkins	(4:17)
The Lost Ones	Ted Hawkins	Ted Hawkins	(3:16)
Missin' Mississippi	Byron Gallimore, William Shore, Alan Mevis	Ted Hawkins	(3:57)
A Thing Called Love	Jerry Reed, Jerry Hubbard	Ted Hawkins	(2:53)

Credits

Wayne Griffith (Engineer), Phil Garfinkel (Engineer), Jerry Gordon (Producer), Bill Wasserzieher (Liner Notes), Wayne Griffith (Engineer), Ted Hawkins (Guitar), Ted Hawkins (Vocals), Ted Hawkins (Guitar (Acoustic))