Search - Shuggie Otis :: Shuggie's Boogie: Shuggie Otis Plays the Blues

Things That Could Have Been!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 01/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Shuggie Otis or Johnny Otis Jr. is somewhat of an anomaly. Shuggie's dad, Johnny Otis senior played guitar and sang with the best of them for many, many years. In 1968 Johnny introduced his 13 year old son to the world on Johnny's comeback CD, "Cold Shot" and the kid was hot. So hot in fact that he was courted by the Rolling Stones and hailed by fans and media alike as a new guitar hero. But it seems Shuggie had other plans and, after releasing a couple of CD's and playing with Frank Zappa on a couple of tracks on Frank's "Hot Rats" CD, Shuggie just quit playing. He retired from the music world at the ripe old age of 22. This compilation pulls from the blues songs he actually recorded and shows us what might have been. The guitar playing is fantastic although the recordings seem a little weak causing you to turn up the volume just to get a decent tone. The material is a little dated but it's a valuable addition to any collection."

THREE AND A HALF STARS

COMPUTERJAZZMAN | Cliffside Park, New Jersey United States | 08/30/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Shuggie Otis was/is a great guitar player, and this CD showcases a lot of what he has to offer, HOWEVER, that being said the only fault I can find with him is that he truly did not have a "style' of his own. He is emulating other guitar player's styles on this CD and the cuts are good, but nothing original. Kind of reminds me in a way of Wynton Marsalis, a great trumpet player but someone who does not have his own "sound". Given he was only a kid when he made this record, but still. I think he sells vitamins and health food now."