Thursday 25 February 2016

Someday He May Get Smart


Every time I listen to Johnny Winter’s Be Careful With A Fool, I smile and think, oh yeah, that’s why I like Stevie Ray Vaughan so much.

Thursday 18 February 2016

Sweet Dreams And Flying Machines


They may not all rock in a kick-ass kinda way, but the songs listed in Guitar Player’s Top 10 Acoustic Riffs of All Time nicely remind us that you don’t need a wall of Marshalls and a dozen stomp boxes to deliver 6-string joy.

The list is ostensibly about riffs, and every song listed has a signature riff indelibly stamped into our collective consciousness.  But the article actually focuses more on the tunes themselves, so you might question whether More Than A Feeling, or Hotel California, or Stairway To Heaven are acoustic or electric tunes – especially as compared to Fire And Rain, Angie or Tears In Heaven.

Then again, what’s to question?  They’re all awesome songs masterfully delivered.

Thursday 4 February 2016

Anything You Want We Got It Right Here …


That driving backbeat.  A relentless series of piano filigrees.  The unmistakable Chuck Berry guitar licks.  Some well placed harmony.  A gifted singer delivering simple lyrics that practically everyone can identify with – even if you’re not American.  Oh, and delivered with attitude.

Linda Ronstadt’s cover of Back in the U.S.A. just might be the perfect rock ‘n’ roll record.