Since first hitting the national scene with his Alligator Records debut, GEORGIA BLUE, in 1988, Ellis has toured non-stop and continued to release one critically acclaimed album after another. His stellar guitar work, always a staple of his live shows and CDs, is matched by his strong songwriting and powerful, soulful vocals. Tinsley's hometown paper, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, calls his music, "a potent, amazing trip through electric blues-rock."
Ellis made five critically acclaimed albums for Alligator between 1988 and 1997 before recording for the Capricorn and Telarc labels. His high-energy LIVE-HIGHWAYMAN, the long-awaited live album his fans have been demanding for years, marked his return to Alligator records. "Tinsley is one of the finest younger generation blues rockers. He's made great albums for us in the past, and we're excited to have him back in the Alligator family. He's great in the studio, but even better live, so I'm really excited about this recording," said Iglauer.
Ellis' latest release on Alligator, MOMENT OF TRUTH, captures all the power and energy of his legendary live performances. His vocals reach new heights of soulfulness and expressiveness; his guitar playing is ferocious and relentless, but, when the mood calls for it, gentle and moving. What really sets the album apart, though, is the depth of Ellis’ songwriting. The material deals in matters both personal and universal and runs the gamut of human emotions. MOMENT OF TRUTH is Ellis’ most wide-ranging and inspired recording.
Born in Atlanta in 1957, Ellis grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. He found the blues through the backdoor of the British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream, and The Rolling Stones. He especially loved the Kings--Freddie, B.B. and Albert--and spent hours immersing himself in their music. His love for the blues solidified when he was 14. At a B.B. King performance, Tinsley sat mesmerized in the front row. When B.B. broke a string on Lucille, he changed it without missing a beat, and handed the broken string to Ellis. After the show, B.B. came out and talked with fans, further impressing Tinsley with his warmth and down-to-earth attitude. By now Tinsley's fate was sealed; he had to become a blues guitarist. And yes, he still has that string.
Already an accomplished teenaged musician, Ellis left Florida and returned to Atlanta in 1975. He soon joined the Alley Cats, a gritty blues band that included Preston Hubbard (of Fabulous Thunderbirds fame). In 1981, along with veteran blues singer and harpist Chicago Bob Nelson, Tinsley formed The Heartfixers, a group that would become Atlanta's top-drawing blues band. Upon hearing LIVE AT THE MOONSHADOW (Landslide), the band's second release, The Washington Post declared, "Tinsley Ellis is a legitimate guitar hero." After cutting two more Heartfixers albums for Landslide, COOL ON IT (featuring Tinsley's vocal debut) and TORE UP (with vocals by blues shouter Nappy Brown), Ellis was ready to head out on his own. Ellis sent a copy of the master tape for his solo debut to Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Records. "I had heard COOL ON IT," recalls Iglauer, "and I was amazed. I hadn't heard Tinsley before, but he played like the guys with huge international reputations. It wasn't just his raw power; it was his taste and maturity that got to me. It had the power of rock but felt like the blues. I knew I wanted to hear more of this guy."
GEORGIA BLUE, Tinsley's first Alligator release, hit an unprepared public by surprise in 1988. Critics and fans quickly agreed that a new and original guitar hero had emerged. "Dazzling musicianship pitched somewhere between the exhilarating volatility of rock and roll and the passion of urban blues," raved the Los Angeles Times. Before long, Alligator arranged to reissue COOL ON IT and TORE UP, thus exposing Tinsley's blistering earlier music to a growing fan base." The Chicago Tribune celebrated the release by saying, "Ellis takes classic, Southern blues-rock workouts and jolts them to new life with a torrid axe barrage."
Tinsley's next release, 1989's FANNING THE FLAMES, further expanded the guitarist's hero status. By now his talents as a songwriter equaled his guitar prowess. Guitar World shouted, "Ellis stands alongside Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter, and that ain't just hype." 1992's TROUBLE TIME added guests Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and keyboardist Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones), and brought even more critical acclaim Ellis' way. The song >Highwayman received airplay on commercial rock radio stations across the country. "Alive, kicking and drenched in sweat," declared The Washington Post.
1994's STORM WARNING was Ellis' true breakthrough. Recorded live in the studio with his road-savvy band and produced by Eddy Offord (John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Yes), the album was a tour-de-force of smoking guitar workouts and radio-friendly blues rockers. Features and reviews ran in Rolling Stone, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, and in many other national and regional publications. His largest audience by far came when NBC Sports ran a feature on Atlanta's best blues guitarist during their 1996 Summer Olympic Coverage viewed by millions of people all over the world.
FIRE IT UP followed in 1997. Produced by the legendary Tom Dowd (Allman Brothers, Ray Charles), the album featured Ellis' blazing guitar playing and expressive, soulful vocals in better form than ever. With Dowd's deft production touch--along with Tinsley's fiery road band and a host of talented musicians, including famed bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn on seven songs--Ellis reached new heights, coming up with some of the best performances of his career. The Associated Press called the CD, "A solid heaping of blues...a mixture of well-written originals and covers all held together with scorching guitar and a big voice to carry his sharply written lyrics."
A move to Capricorn Records in 2000 saw Ellis revisiting his Southern roots with KINGPIN. Unfortunately, the label folded soon after the CD's release. In 2002, he joined the Telarc label, producing two well-received albums of soul-drenched blues-rock, HELL OR HIGH WATER and THE HARD WAY. All the while, Ellis never stopped touring. "A musician never got famous staying home," he's quick to note.
Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. Whether he's out with his own band or sharing stages with The Allman Brothers, Robert Cray, Koko Taylor or Widespread Panic, he averages over 150 performances a year, bringing his fast-moving, high-energy, guitar-drenched performances to fans all over the world. Live, there's simply no one better at igniting a crowd, jamming with focus and purpose...
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Tinsley Ellis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm never a loser and I'm never a quitter yet, oh, no
'Cause I take what I want, baby, I want you, yeah, you
I've been watchin' you walk by and I haven't said a word, one word
But now I'm ready to get you and I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl
'Cause I take what I want, baby, I want you, yes, you
So you better pack up now, baby, pack a bag today
Here I come, just a big bad man
When I walk away, baby, you'll be holdin' my hand
I take what I want, I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes, I am
I'm never a loser and I'm never a quitter yet, oh, no
'Cause I take what I want, baby, I want you, yeah, you
'Cause I take what I want, baby, I want you, yeah, you
Nobody but you, baby, nobody but you, baby
To be by my side, nobody but you, baby
Tell you what I want, girl, I want you
I'm your lovin' man
I'm your lovin' man
I'm your lovin' man
I'm your lovin' man
In Tinsley Ellis's "I Take What I Want," the singer is confident and assertive in his pursuit of the woman he desires. Through the repetition of the phrase "I take what I want," the singer emphasizes his determination to get what he desires, suggesting that he has a dominant personality. He describes himself as a "bad go-getter" who is never a "loser" or a "quitter," positioning himself as a strong and capable individual. The use of the word "baby" throughout the song suggests that the singer is trying to woo the woman and make her feel special, while also asserting his dominance.
The singer has been watching the woman walk by without saying a word, but now he is ready to make his move and make her his "lovin' girl." He plans to "pick [her] up now, carry [her] away," implying that he wants to take control of the situation and sweep her off her feet. By telling her to "pack a bag today," he is suggesting that he wants to take her away with him and start a new life together. The singer is confident in his approach, declaring himself a "big bad man" who will leave with her holding his hand.
Overall, the song portrays a confident and assertive man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to go after it. While some may perceive his actions as controlling or aggressive, the singer's confidence and determination are what he believes will win him the woman he desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I take what I want, I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes, I am
I am confident and assertive. I go after what I want and I usually get it.
I'm never a loser and I'm never a quitter yet, oh, no
I have a strong will and determination. I never give up and I rarely fail.
'Cause I take what I want, baby, I want you, yeah, you
I am attracted to you and I won't hesitate to pursue you. I want you to be mine.
I've been watchin' you walk by and I haven't said a word, one word
I have been observing you from a distance without speaking to you.
But now I'm ready to get you and I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl
I am now prepared to pursue you and make you my girlfriend.
'Cause I take what I want, baby, I want you, yes, you
I am persistent in my pursuit of you because I am interested in you.
Gonna pick you up now, carry you away
I will physically remove you from your current situation and take you with me.
So you better pack up now, baby, pack a bag today
You should prepare to leave with me immediately by packing a bag.
Here I come, just a big bad man
I am confident in my masculinity and assertiveness.
When I walk away, baby, you'll be holdin' my hand
After I leave with you, we will be holding hands.
Nobody but you, baby, nobody but you, baby
I am focused solely on you and no one else.
To be by my side, nobody but you, baby
I want you to be with me and no one else.
Tell you what I want, girl, I want you
I am being clear about my intentions, which is to have you as my girlfriend.
I'm your lovin' man
I will show you affection and care as your boyfriend.
I'm your lovin' man
I am committed to being your loving partner.
I'm your lovin' man
I want to be your man and show you love and affection.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Mabon Hodges
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@susanbezio1529
Been following Tinsley for 30 yrs. And he only gets better. Excellent musician and a great man. See him every chance I get.
@Littlewing4201
Tinsley Ellis's voice .. his playing.. is a Smokey blade that cuts right to the bone...
Met him and his Amazing band At BB Kings place in Nashville a good while back..
Greatest bunch of Guys.. He was sooo authentic warm and down to Earth..
@davidchaffee4926
Ever since Luther Allison died I have been searching for a new Soul Fixing Man, ... I think Tinsley is that man.
@thegamecatsoutofthegluebag-ger
Thanks for name dropping Luther Allison, damn good stuff!
@rickchristy5822
In my opinion, Tinsley is one of the best blues artists ever and I am a blues aficionado!!! He has tons of material all of which are all fantastic. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person and hearing him live at Knuckleheads in Kansas City, MO in their small (seats 50) Gospel lounge. This was one of my favorite live performances ever! If you ever have a chance to hear Tinsley live don't miss the opportunity.
@MasterOfSparks
I just saw him Friday night. The man is so good its ridiculous. I tried to sell my soul to the devil for guitar chops like this but Ol' Scratch said, "There's only one Tinsley Ellis!"
@toddsiders9256
I couldn't agree more.
@sharonwashburn3515
I have followed Mr. Ellis' for many years and he can surely wrench my heart right through my chest. He is truly a master song craftsman. His delivery is deep and soulful. I wish him only the best from here on out.
@saltyfreddie
Tinsley Ellis is a national treasure. So many great tunes.
@angelalucenti1804
Meravigliosa...
Amo questa musica, il mio cuore batte a ritmo delle sue note...Grazie