Now it’s one thing for an artist from Copenhagen to enjoy success at home and in a few adjacent countries. But the release of Too Many Roads saw the seven-piece combo fronted by singer and guitarist Risager gaining widespread notoriety in the U.S. and being invited to play in locales as far away as Mumbai, India. The album took home the Danish Music Award as the Top Blues Album of 2014 and also earned Germany’s illustrious “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik,” but perhaps even more impressively, it was selected as one the year’s best by Britain’s influential The Blues magazine, right alongside international stars like Robert Cray, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa. Clearly, Risager and his mates had taken their exhilarating mix of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll to the next level.
Early in 2015, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado celebrated that triumph by returning to one of their favorite nightspots – the Harmonie in Bonn, Germany. They would treat local fans to a one-of-a-kind spectacle, hitting the stage as a ten-piece mini-orchestra. After Thomas Ruf of Ruf Records introduces this deluxe edition of the band – including a three-man horn section and backing vocalists Ida Bang und Lisa Lystam – the colossal sound of Risager’s semi-hollow body spearheads the all-out attack of opening number “If You Wanna Leave.” He and his Black Tornado are off to the races…
The succeeding 100-minute concert, captured on CD and DVD for the newest addition to Ruf’s Songs from the Roadseries, shows off every facet of this unique conglomeration of musicians. There’s the sinuous funk of “Paradise” and the furious boogie of “The Straight and Narrow Line” (featuring big-time playing by piano man Emil Balsgaard and saxophonist Hans Nybo). There’s the twin-guitar blues of “Too Many Roads” and the rough-and-tumble attitude of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ride.” There’s the chilling “China Gate” and the dark drama of “Long Forgotten Track.” Finally, the band whips the crowd into frenzy with their ultra-groovy take on the classic “Baby Please Don’t Go” and the timeless party anthem “Let The Good Times Roll,” the latter track showcasing the talents of lead guitarist Peter Skjerning. The funk workout “Opener” and the charming “I Won’t Let You Down” (performed as a duet with Lisa Lystam) offer some welcome after play.
More than anything, Songs from the Road shows that the success of Too Many Roads was no fluke. Thorbjørn Risager and his highly skilled accomplices have perfected a spicy blend of musical ingredients. The hundreds of shows they’ve played during the past few years have them running like a well-oiled machine. More great things can be expected of them in the future – but until then, we have this brilliant document of a band that is quietly revolutionizing the way we look at the blues.
The Black Tornado band
Thorbjørn Risager – leadvoc, gtr
Emil Balsgaard – keys
Peter Skjerning – gtr,voc
Kasper Wagner – alto-/barythonsax
Hans Nybo – tenorsax, voc
Peter Kehl – trumpet, perc, voc,
Søren Bøjgaard – bass
Martin Seidelin – drums, perc, voc,
The Tornadettes (guest appearance on “Songs from the road” and on special occasions!)
Ida Bang – voc
Lisa Lystam – voc
BAND FACTS
● Nominated for a British Blues Award 2014 & 2015
● Winner of the Danish Music Award 2013 & 2014
● The band was founded in 2003 and 5 of the band members have been there
since the start.
● In 2005 their cooperation with Annika Westman started who has booked
more than 700 concerts for them in 21 countries.
● Songs From The Road is their 10th album in 10 years!
Long Forgotten Track
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
SEE THE MOON
SEE IT SHINING
SAID THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEL
UP ON THAT MOUNTAIN
STEADY ROLLING
STEAMTRUCK DRIVING MAN
LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
BY HIS SIDE
SAT A YOUNG WOMAN
HICHED A RIDE JUST DOWN THE ROAD
SHE WAS SMOKING A CIGARETTE
TALKING ALL OUT OF HER HEAD
SHE WAS RIDING ON THAT
LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
THEY RODE ALONG
THROUGH THE MOONLITE NIGHT
SINGING SONGS ABOUT THEIR LONG LOST LOVE
AND IT WAS JUST ABOUT THAT TIME THE MAN SAID
THIS IS AS FAR AS YOU GO
HE WAS RIDING ON THAT
LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
GOTTA MAKE A TURN
JUST DOWN THAT ROAD
SAID THE MAN AS HE WAVED GOODBYE
AND THEN HE RODE OFF INTO THE NIGHT
SPARKS AND FLAMES RUNNING WILD
HE WAS RIDING ON THAT
LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
AND THE WOLVES
THEY STARTED HOWLING
AND THE MOON TURNED CHERRY RED
AND IT WAS TO LATE
AS SHE MET HER FATE
DOWN IN EL DIABLO LAND
SHE WAS RIDING ON THAT
LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
The song "Long Forgotten Track" by Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado tells a story of a man driving a steam truck on a lonesome track with a young woman he picked up on the way. The man seems to be a rugged old soul who enjoys the solitude of the road, and the young woman is a lost soul who is seeking companionship. Together they sing songs about long lost love and enjoy the moonlit night. However, as they approach a turn in the road, the man realizes it is time for the woman to get off and says goodbye to her. As he rides off into the night, the wolves begin howling and the moon turns cherry red, foretelling of the danger that awaits the young woman.
The lyrics of this song paint a picture of a desolate landscape and the uncertainties that come with it. The man and woman on the steam truck represent two different ways of approaching life on the road: the man enjoys the scenery and the adventure, while the woman is lost and seeking something she cannot find. The song's ending is tragic, which seems to suggest that the lonesome long forgotten track can have unpredictable and dangerous consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
SEE THE MOON
Observing the night sky revealing the moon
SEE IT SHINING
Noticing the brightness and beauty of the moonlight
SAID THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL
Quoted the driver of the vehicle
UP ON THAT MOUNTAIN
On the elevated and rugged terrain
STEADY ROLLING
Smoothly rolling on the road
STEAMTRUCK DRIVING MAN
The man driving a steam-powered truck
HE WAS RIDING ON THAT LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
He was travelling on a solitary and abandoned road
BY HIS SIDE
A woman accompanying him on the journey
SAT A YOUNG WOMAN
A lady was seated beside him
HICHED A RIDE JUST DOWN THE ROAD
She had caught a lift from him a short distance away
SHE WAS SMOKING A CIGARETTE
She was puffing on a cigarette
TALKING ALL OUT OF HER HEAD
Her talk was incoherent and irrational
SHE WAS RIDING ON THAT LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
She was a passenger on the desolate and forgotten path
THEY RODE ALONG
The two of them drove together
THROUGH THE MOONLITE NIGHT
They journeyed during the bright night illuminated by the moon
SINGING SONGS ABOUT THEIR LONG LOST LOVE
They crooned tunes about their previous or deceased romantic experiences
AND IT WAS JUST ABOUT THAT TIME THE MAN SAID
Almost immediately after that, the man expressed
THIS IS AS FAR AS YOU GO
She could proceed no farther than that point
HE WAS RIDING ON THAT LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
He continued with his journey on the abandoned lane
GOTTA MAKE A TURN
He had to veer off
JUST DOWN THAT ROAD
Only slightly ahead
SAID THE MAN AS HE WAVED GOODBYE
The man declared, waving goodbye
AND THEN HE RODE OFF INTO THE NIGHT
He zoomed off into the dark night
SPARKS AND FLAMES RUNNING WILD
The powered vehicle went off, inducing fierce flames and sparks
HE WAS RIDING ON THAT LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
He sustained his journey along the dejected course
AND THE WOLVES
The beasts known as wolves
THEY STARTED HOWLING
They began to make their characteristic ululating sounds
AND THE MOON TURNED CHERRY RED
The moon acquired a scarlet hue
AND IT WAS TO LATE
It was already too late to prevent something
AS SHE MET HER FATE
She came across her ultimate destiny
DOWN IN EL DIABLO LAND
In the area regarded as El Diablo's zone
SHE WAS RIDING ON THAT LONESOME LONG FORGOTTEN TRACK
She was travelling along that isolated, disregarded path
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EMIL OLIVER BALSGAARD, HANS NYBO, KASPER MICHAEL WAGNER, MARTIN SEIDELIN, PETER J SKJERNING, PETER WEIENDORP KEHL, SOREN BOJGAARD, THORBJORN RISAGER
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