Search - Ray Bailey :: Satan's Horn

Can't understand why

M. Bernocchi | Old Windsor, Berkshire United Kingdom | 06/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not a musician myself therefore I am not really an expert of the music business. However what I can tell is that it is absolutely amazing, from my point of view, that talented artists like Ray Bailey struggle to reach the notoriety and the "status" in the music business that they deserve. I bought this CD many years ago in Italy were it was (amazingly!) available without knowing anything about this guy. Since my first listening I was blown away by the quality of these blues. This is an absolutely stunning "all blues" album played with the right feeling and emotion. Ray's voice and guitar playing are both at the top of the range, and all the other musicians involved in this recording are playing equally well. Real blues with no intents to show-off but played with feeling and passion, with sincerity I would like to say. It is really nice to see that the deep essence of the blues is well preserved and still alive. I have rated this CD only "5 stars" because the rate of "6" is not available (what a shame!)."

Rough but Soulful to the max

David Michaelson | Brooklyn, NY USA | 09/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I used to go to hear this guy live at a blues club in LA and always loved his stuff. But at the club he played exclusively BB King covers and did them well. Playing a great guitar riff with one hand while downing a beer was one of his tricks that always impressed me despite myself. Good guitar, good voice. Then I heard this CD (actually first came across it in Japan!). This is his own stuff. He sounds great doing BB King but this is blues from so deep down in the soul it almost hurts to listen. You're hearing deeply personal stuff here and it's sometimes pretty rough. But even if the lyrics are sometimes more than you want to hear, the guitar is pure, perfect blues. Bad Times, Sad Times is maybe one of the most perfect blues songs I've heard. It is the best song on the CD without a doubt. If it was all like this song, I'd give the CD 5 stars and wish I could give it 6. The rest of the songs are great, but they are rough songs with difficuly lyrics that tell the story of a tough life in South Central. Ray Bailey probably will never be a legendary blues man, but not because he doesn't have the skill and soul, but simply because what he sings about is hard to market. But for nearly perfect guitar, a great voice and words that play to your soul, this is the the stuff you need."

An unkown classic

Mykal Banta | Boynton Beach, FL USA | 07/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a blues lover and have an extensive collection spanning all styles and eras of blues; from Charlie Patton to Melvin Taylor. I have easily 300 CD's, and this is still one of my favorite blues recordings of all time. I can think of no similar instance where a major and exciting talent has been so completely ignored. There must be a great, great story behind Ray Bailey, but I guess he is lost in time. I picked up this CD back in the days when I was still buying CD's at a "record store." I bought it on a whim. Suffice to say that Ray Bailey's guitar playing is incredibly powerful and subtle all at once, and he had something on this first (and only) release that guitar players sometimes work their whole lives for and never find: a completely unique sound. B.B. King has it. T Bone Walker had it - that quality that you can immediately spot the artist by the sound of his instrument. The song writing is excellent throughout.I am not exaggerating when I say that "Bad Times, Sad Times" is one of the greatest blues songs of all time. It should have been a classic, and is as far as I am concerned. I can't tell you the number of times I have been playing this trac and other blues fans/friends have said "Who the hell is that?" I tell them, and they always say "who?"What a damn shame."