Stuck In The Middle With You

Zoo Freaks, you’re groovin’ with the Zoo Crew at THE ZOO, where we’re spinnin’ the righteous vibes of Stuck In The Middle With You by The Jeff Healey Band from their 1995 album Cover To Cover. This track is a smokin’ cover of the 1972 Stealers Wheel classic, written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan, and Jeff Healey makes it his own with a bluesy swagger. Did you know this song got a gritty boost from its use in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 film Reservoir Dogs? The iconic torture scene with Mr. Blonde dancin’ to the tune made it a cultural staple, and Healey’s version cranks up the guitar heat, perfect for our Zoo Crew vibe. Fans on Reddit have geeked out over the song’s key, debating whether it’s in C or F major, with some sayin’ the C minor pentatonic solo gives it that bluesy edge we love.

Here’s a cool tidbit: Healey’s take on Stuck In The Middle With You was a standout on the Cover To Cover album, which is all about the band puttin’ their stamp on classics. According to The Official Jeff Healey Site, the track features Dennis Keldi on keyboards and Pat Rush on additional guitar, addin’ layers to that infectious groove. Healey’s soulful vocals and wild guitar riffs—played flat on his lap, his signature style—turn this into a blues-rock anthem. A fan site, The Pocket Rockers, notes that Healey’s version stays true to the original’s spirit but leans harder into the blues, makin’ it a favorite for live jams at places like Tony’s Birthday Party. It’s the kinda track that makes you wanna crank the volume and let the Zoo Freak flag fly!

Let’s talk about how Jeff Healey got his start, Zoo Freaks. Born Norman Jeffrey Healey in Toronto, Canada, on March 25, 1966, he was a musical prodigy who picked up the guitar at age three, despite losin’ his sight to retinoblastoma at one. His bio on Wikipedia tells us he developed his unique lap-style guitar playin’, inspired by legends but totally his own. By nine, he was showcasin’ his skills on TVOntario’s Cucumber. At 15, he formed Blue Direction, a cover band rockin’ Toronto clubs like the Colonial Tavern. Healey’s big break came when he formed The Jeff Healey Band in 1985 with bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen. Their debut album, See The Light, dropped in 1988, and the single Angel Eyes hit number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementin’ Healey as a blues-rock force.

Healey’s career wasn’t just about the stage; he was a music nerd with a collection of over 30,000 vintage 78 rpm records, as noted on Last.fm. He hosted a jazz and blues show on CIUT-FM, spinnin’ those old-school gems. His work in the 1989 film Road House, where his band played the house act, gave him screen time alongside Patrick Swayze. Healey’s passion for music extended to jazz with his side project, Jeff Healey’s Jazz Wizards, and he even played trumpet live. Sadly, Healey passed in 2008, but his legacy lives on through fans and posthumous releases like Heal My Soul.

Want more Jeff Healey in your life, Zoo Freaks? Check out The Official Jeff Healey Site for news and merch. Connect with the vibe on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Join the fan love at the Jeff Healey Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks like you share stories and rare tracks. Keep it locked to THE ZOO for more righteous tunes!