Various Artists - Crucial Guitar Blues

Artist:

Various Artists

UPC:

014551011422

Description:

Performers include: Luther Allison, Albert Collins, Lonnie Mack, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, Coco Montoya, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, "Gatemouth" Brown.
Personnel: Bob DePugh, Bruce Iglauer (sampler).
Photographer: Dave Leucinger.
One of three simultaneously released, budget-priced Alligator blues compilations (the other two are Crucial Chicago Blues and Crucial Harmonica Blues), Crucial Guitar Blues is a 12-track, hour-long anthology of some of the hottest guitarists in the label`s extensive catalog. Although the word "electric" is not featured in the title, this is definitely a plugged-in affair. Kicking off with Luther Allison`s intense "All the King`s Horses," the track list of Albert Collins ("Lights Are on but Nobody`s Home"), Johnny Winter ("I Smell Trouble"), Roy Buchanan ("Country Boogie"), and Son Seals ("I Can`t Hear Nothing but the Blues") is a roller-coaster ride through Alligator`s marquee names. Lonnie Mack with Stevie Ray Vaughan charging through a breathless, self-explanatory "Double Whammy" adds even more firepower, and even the pace-changing, jaunty swing of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown`s instrumental "Pressure Cooker" that closes the disc maintains the fast-fret theme that is the album`s calling card. Little Charlie & the Nightcats add some West Coast groove with their instrumental "Percolatin`," but generally tougher blues like Tinsley Ellis` "The Devil for a Dime" dominate. Oddly, there are no tracks from Alligator`s two most celebrated guitar albums, Lone Star Shootout and the Grammy-winning Showdown with Albert Collins, Robert Cray, and Johnny Copeland slinging it out. Unfortunately, liner notes are MIA, as are detailed personnel listings for each track. Blurbs describing the albums the songs are picked from are more advertisements than informative, but that doesn`t diminish the non-stop power and excitement of this excellent set. ~ Hal Horowitz

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. All the King`s Horses - Luther Allison
2. Heartless - Michael Burks
3. Same Old Thing - Coco Montoya
4. Lights Are on But Nobody`s Home - Albert Collins
5. Percolatin` - Little Charlie & the Nightcats
6. To the Devil for a Dime - Tinsley Ellis
7. Country Boogie - Roy Buchanan
8. I Can`t Hear Nothing But the Blues - Son Seals
9. Phone Line - Dave Hole
10. Double Whammy - Lonnie Mack/Stevie Ray Vaughan
11. I Smell Trouble - Johnny Winter
12. Pressure Cooker - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

Album Information

Release Date:

01/21/2003

Type:

Collection

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Chicago Blues

Label:

Alligator Records

Catalog Number:

114

Original Release Year:

2003

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

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