Steve Vai - The Elusive Light And Sound Vol. 1

Artist:

Vai, Steve

UPC:

690897222021

See Also:

Living Colour Squier, Billy Extreme Whitesnake Public Image Ltd. - Compact Disc Alcatrazz - Disturbing the Peace [Digipak] Joe Satriani - G3: Live in Concert

Description:

Personnel includes: Steve Vai (vocals, various instruments, guitar); Shuggie Otis (guitar); Ry Cooder (slide guitar); Sonny Terry (harmonica); CJ Vanston, Michael Keneally (keyboards); Bryan Beller, Jorge Calderon (bass); Chris Frazier, Robin Dimmagio, Jim Celtner (drums).
Recorded between 1972 & 2002. Includes liner notes by Steve Vai.
Personnel: Steve Vai (vocals, guitar); Roy Brocksmith, Bill Sadler, Alex Winter, Terry Finn, Joss Ackland w/ Peter Bayliss, Keanu Reeves (vocals); Shuggie Otis (guitar); Ry Cooder (slide guitar); Sonny Terry (harmonica); Jeffrey "C.J." Vanston, Mike Keneally (keyboards); Gregg Bissonette, Robin Dimaggio, Chris Frazier (drums); Kimberly Evans, C.C. White (background vocals).
Recording information: The Mothership, Hollywood, CA.
Arrangers: Steve Vai; William Kanengiser .
Steve Vai fans are a dedicated lot, eager to hear the entirety of the guitarist`s work (in that sense, he is very similar to his mentor, Frank Zappa, whose fans would buy collections of just his guitar solos). Given his fan base, Vai had the opportunity to release an album like The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1 -- the first installment of an archival series, capturing all the music he`s written and recorded for film, television, and theater. A brilliant idea, actually, since an album like this disproves the antiquated notion that Vai`s music is all technique and skill, without much regard for tone, texture, or the big picture. By isolating his soundtrack work -- music that he made to accentuate a particular passage in a film -- he reveals himself as both the master guitarist that he is, and his capacity to use that skill to create and enhance moods. And that`s even more impressive when you realize that this is all early work, ranging from 1986`s Crossroads to 1994`s David Spade comedy PCU. After two opening fanfares that aren`t in the movies (both featuring vocals by Vai), an elegiac cover of the Kinks` "Celluloid Heroes" sets the mood, followed by "Love Blood," a song Vai wrote with the intention of it being part of an adaptation of Interview With the Vampire, or any film starring the Vampire Lestat, but later abandoned once the project wound up with David Geffen (it might not sound too vampirey, but it`s better than anything Jonathan Davis cooked up for the Queen of the Damned soundtrack). The compilation proceeds to go through every bit of music he`s written for the featured films (aside from the previously mentioned pair, he also played for Dudes, Bill & Ted`s Bogus Journey, and Encino Man). This includes brief, brief cues (some as short as 20 seconds); full pieces; and, best of all, the complete, legendary "Head Cuttin` Duel" from Crossroads, which features Vai and Ry Cooder in a shredding contest. Since this is deliberately an archival piece, it doesn`t make for the easiest listening, but as an archival piece, it`s first-rate. It`s hard to imagine any serious Vai fan, or modern guitar aficianado, not wanting to hear this. No doubt, the next installment is eagerly awaited. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine O

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Celluloid Heroes
2. Love Blood
3. Fried Chicken
4. Butler`s Bag
5. Head-Cuttin` Duel
6. Eugene`s Trick Bag
7. Amazing Grace
8. Louisiana Swamp Swank
9. Air Guitar Hell
10. Reaper, The
11. Introducing the Wylde Stallions
12. Girls Mature Faster Than Guys
13. Battle, The
14. Meet the Reaper
15. Final Guitar Solo
16. Reaper Rap, The
17. Drive the Hell Out of Here
18. Get the Hell Out of Here
19. Welcome Pre-Frosh
20. Dark Hallway, The
21. Dead Band Ends, The
22. Cause Heads, The
23. Find the Meat
24. Ax Will Fall, The
25. Now We Run
26. Hey Jack
27. What!
28. Still Running
29. Dead Heads
30. Blow Me Where the Pampers Is
31. Pins and Needles
32. Plug My Ass In
33. Loose Keg Sightings
34. Don`t Sweat It
35. How Hidge
36. Beer Beer
37. We`re Not Gonna Protest
38. Initiation
39. See Ya Next Year
40. Now We Run

Album Information

Release Date:

06/03/2002

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Hard Rock

Label:

Favored Nations Records (USA)

Producer:

Ry Cooder; Steve Vai

Catalog Number:

FN 22202

Original Release Year:

2002

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

68 : 48

Guest Artist:

Ry Cooder; Shuggie Otis; Sonny Terry

Portions copyright 2005 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.