The worst thing one can say about Gov't Mule's Tel-Star Sessions is that you already know what the album sounds like; that's also the very best thing. No matter how many musical paths guitarist Warren Haynes and drummer Matt Abts have traveled since the death of bassist Allen Woody in 2000, these 1994 demo recordings with engineer Bud Snyder at Bradenton, Florida's Tel-Star Studios represent what they single-handedly pulled off in grand style from the very beginning: Reinvigorating the classic blues-rock power trio à la Cream, Mountain, Hot Tuna, ZZ Top, and Taste. Since joining the Allman Brothers Band in 1989, Woody and Haynes had lamented the dearth of the trio form's rawness, creative energy, and a lack of the "rock bass sound" in modern music. Haynes had worked with drummer Abts in Dickey Betts' band through 1988, and they recruited him. Gov't Mule was originally a "project" with no clear goal other than that of exploration. They learned how to interact through covers and originals, and worked up a repertoire to play live. Seven of these demos -- including covers of Free's "Mr. Big" and Memphis Slim's "Mother Earth" -- were re-recorded for the band's self-titled debut. "Blind Man in the Dark" appeared on Dose. Two more covers -- ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid" and Willie Dixon's "The Same Thing" -- are unique to this release. Assembled, they showcase a band not only finding its way, but imagining the possible.

1		Blind Man in the Dark
2		Rocking Horse
3		Monkey Hill
4		Mr. Big
5		The Same Thing
6		Mother Earth
7		Just Got Paid
8		Left Coast Groovies
9		World of Difference
10		World of Difference [Alternative Version]