Louisiana music hero and swamp pop pioneer Tommy McLain celebrated his first new album in 40+ years with an epic slice of bayou balladry on The Late Late Show with James Corden last night. Performing the title track to I Ran Down Every Dream (Yep Roc Records), a song he co-wrote with Elvis Costello, McLain showed national television audiences why his return has been hailed among 2022’s top musical moments.
Watch Tommy McLain’s late-night TV debut on James Corden: https://youtu.be
“If red velvet had a sound, it would be Tommy McLain’s voice…this album is just gorgeous.” – NPR Music
“McLain’s singing voice could pin you to the wall…his lyrics are delivered with urgency and depth.” – The New York Times
“When he starts singing, you don’t want to be anywhere else.” – Aquarium Drunkard
Released earlier this fall, I Ran Down Every Dream features McLain alongside Costello, Nick Lowe, Van Dyke Parks, Augie Meyers, Mickey Raphael, his late swamp pop contemporary Warren Storm and a crew of all-stars from across genres, generations and geographic locations, all united by their love of Tommy. Originally rising to stardom in the 1960s with his Billboard Top 20 breakout “Sweet Dreams,” McLain spent the next few years performing alongside legends like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke before returning to his native Louisiana for much of the past five decades.
Next up, Tommy McLain will come back to the film world as the bandleader in Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Road House’ reboot…his first appearance on the silver screen since Paul Newman’s ‘The Drowning Pool’ in the 70s.
