Out Now: Joe Bonamassa ‘Royal Tea,’ Inspired by Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin & Cream (Listen)

Renowned blues guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa returned on Friday with a new album — but Royal Tea isn’t just a collection of new music. Rather, it’s a musical love letter from Bonamassa to the musical icons and heroes that shaped his path, a list including Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Cream and John Mayall.

The album was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

(Click here to purchase Royal Tea on CD from our Rock Cellar Store  and click here for 2-LP).

Bonamassa previewed Royal Tea in recent weeks with a few songs, including the title track:

More on the Royal Tea experience, per a news release:

“This whole adventure,” admits Joe, “was a bucket-list thing for me.” This album reconnects the 43-year-old with the guitar-slinging kid from upstate New York, who stumbled across the best of British blues music in his dad’s vinyl collection – whose influences have shaped him to be the player he is today. “I would have been about twelve years old, and it was the sound I heard in my head. Like, ‘OK, I’m in. That’s what I want to be’.”

Friday! Friday! Friday! Tomorrow we finally release our album “Royal Tea” recorded at the legendary @abbeyroadstudios in London. I am personally very excited for all of you to hear it. I think it is the best work we have done in awhile. Enjoy!!😎👍 pic.twitter.com/TqGbcMVO2D

— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) October 22, 2020

The end result is a listen that blends what came before (Bonamassa’s musical heroes) and what is now (Joe Bonamassa himself), an encompassing album that bridges the gap between generations and makes for a strong addition to Joe’s acclaimed career.

Listen to Royal Tea below, via Spotify.