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Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Expands Speed of Heat

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Expands Speed of Heat
Photo by Jay Gilbert

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter expands his acclaimed first-ever solo album, Speed of Heat, with a brand new Storytellers Edition, featuring brand-new commentary tracks.


For over five decades, audiences worldwide have marveled at Baxterā€™s inimitable and instantly recognizable guitar playing and generational songcraft. His output spans classic records as a founding member of Steely Dan and member of the Doobie Brothers in addition to hundreds of recordings with the likes of Donna Summer, Cher, Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and many more. During 2022, he initially unveiled Speed of Heat, showcasing yet another side of his creative identity and introducing himself as a solo artist.

On the Storytellers Edition, his fascinating commentary pulls the curtain back on both the process and the message of the music. This version traces the journey to Speed of Heat and its core inspirations as shared directly by Baxter in the form of detailed anecdotes, candid stories, and insightful commentary on every track.

The 12-songalbum, co-produced by Baxter and CJ Vanston, is a riveting and rewarding musical experience that features a host of brilliantly crafted originals co-written by the guitarist and Vanston, as well as inspired versions of some of the great classics. Along the way, Baxter is joined by guest vocalists and songwriters Michael McDonald, Clint Black, Jonny Lang and Rick Livingstone. Baxter notably handled lead vocals on his rendition of Steely Danā€™s ā€œMy Old School.ā€ Other standouts include "Bad Move" co-written by Baxter, Clint Black, and CJ Vanston, and ā€œMy Place In The Sunā€, sung by Michael McDonald and co-authored by McDonald, Baxter and Vanston.

As one of the most recorded guitarists of his generation, Baxterā€™s creative and versatile playing has been heard on some of the most iconic songs in music history, including ā€œ9 to 5ā€ by Dolly Parton and ā€œHot Stuffā€ by Donna Summer.

The stunningly diverse collection of material on Speed of Heat presents a 360-degree view of the uniquely gifted musician.


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