Roy Buchanan - Deluxe Edition

Artist:

Buchanan, Roy

UPC:

014551560821

See Also:

Roy Buchanan - Buch And The Snake Stretchers

Description:

Personnel: Roy Buchanan (vocals, guitar); Johnny Sayles, Otis Clay, Delbert McClinton, Kanika Kress (vocals); Criss Johnson, Donald Kinsey (guitar); Bill Heid, Stan Szelest (keyboards); Larry Exum (bass); Morris Jennings (drums).
Producers: Roy Buchanan, Bruce Iglauer, Dick Shurman, Justin Niebank.
Compilation producers: Bruce Iglauer, Bob DePugh, David Forte.
Recorded at Streeterview Studios, Chicago, Illinois between 1985 & 1987. Includes liner notes by Bruce Iglauer.
Digitally remastered by Brian Jensen & Bruce Iglauer (MonsterDisc, Chicago, Illinois).
Personnel: Roy Buchanan (vocals, guitar); Delbert McClinton, Kanika Kress, Johnny Sayles, Otis Clay (vocals); Criss Johnson, Donald Kinsey (guitar); Stan Szelest, Bill Heid (keyboards); Morris Jennings (drums).
Audio Mixers: David Axelbaum; Tim Hale.
Recording information: Streeterville Studios, Chicago, IL.
Photographer: Larry Kodani.
The third non-crossed licensed anthology from the master guitarist focuses on his three-album stint at Chicago`s blues-based Alligator Records. The artist considered the music he made during his 1985-1987 association with the label the most honest of his career. Since he received complete creative control on these discs, his 1988 suicide, a short year after Hot Wires -- one of Roy Buchanan`s best albums ever -- was released, makes his untimely death even more shocking. With its 16 tracks -- two previously unreleased -- almost evenly divided between instrumentals and (predominantly) guest vocals shared by Otis Clay, Delbert McClinton, and Johnny Sayles (Buchanan tentatively and gruffly talks/sings three selections), this is not only a terrific overview of the musician`s astounding guitar virtuosity, but a sad coda to a short yet intense career that never broke him through to a wide audience. "You know I ain`t broke, but I`m badly bent" are not only lyrics to "Ain`t No Business," but also the sad state of affairs the artist found himself in as he was recording his final disc. With a completely unique guitar style that effortlessly shifted from a crying moan (as in the opening bars) to his cover of Otis Redding`s "These Arms of Mine" to a raging howl -- exemplified by the thumping take on Willie Dixon`s "You Can`t Judge a Book by the Cover" -- Buchanan effectively covered all the blues-soul-rock bases with passion, integrity, and class. His economy of style is obvious in the concentrated 2:29 track (and appropriately titled) instrumental "Whiplash." Although the guitarist`s material was often subpar on his two previous labels, the music he recorded during these three years was top-notch, and consistently throbbed with his trademarked rugged, steely tone. While he occasionally stooped to slinging out a wild flurry of fret-shredding cacophony, as in the middle of "Peter Gunn," just to provide proof of his jaw-dropping abilities, Buchanan more frequently kept those more ostentatious impulses in check. There`s none of the gospel and low-key country he often dipped into during his Polydor years, yet the essence of those genres is imbedded in his blues and R&B work here. This Alligator Deluxe Edition features rare photos, adequate track information, and a heartfelt remembrance penned by label boss Bruce Iglauer. At 61 minutes, only its playing time is questionable, since there easily could have been another quarter-hour of music added. Still, for those who need a concise compilation of Roy Buchanan`s phenomenal skills with no filler, this handy disc fits the bill. ~ Hal Horowitz

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Peter Gunn
2. That Did It
3. Chicago Smokeshop
4. Mrs. Pressure
5. Ain`t No Business
6. Blues for Jimmy Nolen - (previously unreleased)
7. Nickel and a Nail, A
8. Matthew
9. You Can`t Judge a Book by the Cover
10. Beer Drinking Woman
11. Flash Chordin`
12. These Arms of Mine
13. Whiplash
14. When a Guitar Plays the Blues
15. Hawaiian Punch
16. Last Word, The - (previously unreleased)

Album Information

Release Date:

01/30/2001

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Label:

Alligator Records

Catalog Number:

ALCD 5608

Original Release Year:

2001

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

60 : 55

Guest Artist:

Otis Clay

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