Culled from several mid-1980s albums--Dancing on the Edge, Hot Wires, and When a Guitar Plays the Blues--this deluxe edition of guitarist Roy Buchanan's work highlights his formidable skills and wide stylistic range. Meldi... more »ng blues, rock, country, R&B, and even Hawaiian influences, Buchanan plays with a showman's flamboyance, combining lightning-quick fingering with controlled feedback to give his sound a fiery edge and an unmistakable "cry." His pyrotechnical displays on "Flash Chordin," "Whiplash," "Mrs. Pressure," and "When a Guitar Plays the Blues" offer ample evidence of his blues prowess, while his slide work on "Hawaiian Punch," complete with bent tones and skittering harmonics, rocks out with technical bravura. Though Buchanan remained relatively obscure to the public, his skills were widely known among blues aficionados and musicians. Let's hope this well-chosen compilation will spread the word, introducing his distinctive sound and technical wizardry to a new crop of admirers. --Wally Shoup« less
Culled from several mid-1980s albums--Dancing on the Edge, Hot Wires, and When a Guitar Plays the Blues--this deluxe edition of guitarist Roy Buchanan's work highlights his formidable skills and wide stylistic range. Melding blues, rock, country, R&B, and even Hawaiian influences, Buchanan plays with a showman's flamboyance, combining lightning-quick fingering with controlled feedback to give his sound a fiery edge and an unmistakable "cry." His pyrotechnical displays on "Flash Chordin," "Whiplash," "Mrs. Pressure," and "When a Guitar Plays the Blues" offer ample evidence of his blues prowess, while his slide work on "Hawaiian Punch," complete with bent tones and skittering harmonics, rocks out with technical bravura. Though Buchanan remained relatively obscure to the public, his skills were widely known among blues aficionados and musicians. Let's hope this well-chosen compilation will spread the word, introducing his distinctive sound and technical wizardry to a new crop of admirers. --Wally Shoup
CD Reviews
"THAT DID IT BABY"
Bluematter | Colorado | 02/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a huge fan of Roy Buchanan since the seventies. I was lucky enough to see him perform at the old Rainbow Music Hall in Denver during his Atlantic years. The man was unbelievable! So cool on stage and the playing was superior to anything else at that time. Joe Walsh and Jeff Beck were talking him up at the time and for the guitar worshiping faithfull that was enough of an endorsement to seek him out. Sadly, he was unable to put it all together for a serious run to the masses before his death. However, for those who were experienced there were offerings out there to become mesmerized with. This past decade there has been now three compilations released. "Guitar on Fire-the Atlantic Sessions", the essential "Sweet Dreams", and this fantastic offering from Alligator. Roy deserves to be listened to as often as possible, but if you can't get hold of all his individual offerings then these three are must haves. This Deluxe Edition showcases all of Roy's styles while including some previously unreleased tracks. "When a Guitar plays the Blues" is arguably Roy's best track from these final years in the Studio. Now if Alligator would only release some of Roy's live cuts from his tenure with them on CD all would be right in my "Sweet Dreams". Bottom line on this offering is you need to order it now and remember what all the fuss was about. The man could make that guitar cry."
No one else could touch him
Mitchell Lopate | Silverdale, WA | 11/06/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Buchanan could lay down an aerial concussion that could rival the 15,000-pound nightmares that were dropped on the Taliban--and when he felt like slowing the tempo ("Mrs. Pressure"), you felt like your feet were in quicksand-while a raging fire trapped you in a circle. He also had a delicate touch that was almost angelic ("Matthew") and a love for overdrive power {"Whiplash" and "Hawaiian Punch"). Like his friend Jeff Beck, he had an unbelievable technique on the volume control knob, whipping up unholy cries of pain. Sorry, Eddie Van Halen, but I don't think you could carry Roy's guitar case, let alone play his Telecaster."
Great compilation of one of the great guitarists
James H. Bradford | Hagerstown, MD United States | 03/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Simply put if this album doesn't grab your soul your dead! This latest offering by Alligator Records has a great selection of tunes and the sound quality is great. If you love great bules/rock guitar this album will fully satisfy."
A great blues rock compilation
Rohit R | india | 05/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Deluxe edition a Roy compilation on the alligator records label has been taken from three of his best albums on that label HOT WIRES,DANCING ON THE EDGE and WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS.Roy was a very much underated guitarist like the late RORY GALLAGHER another fine guitarist from Ireland.This compilation features some of his finest material in PETER GUNN,FLASH CHORDIN,CHICAGO SMOKESHOP,WHIPLASH and WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS.Very highly recommended."
DeLuxe guitarist
Mur29 | Finland | 03/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"They say that he is the best unknown guitarist in the world.
I Think he also could be the best wellknown guitarist in the world!
Quite good booklet and small poster with extra information."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1