[.ca] Livestock

The Best Of The Best:
I was 16 when I first heard this album in the back of a friends car. I was a budding guitar player who thought he had a grasp of the medium... Man, was I wrong. I was in tears after listening to the first solo on 'Roys's Bluz', especially coming out of it hearing "you ought to be ashamed"... The first time you hear it you will feel ashamed that you have waited so long to buy this album. My all-time favorite Roy song is 'Can I Change My Mind', a sweet cover of an old Alton/Hortense Ellis Ska number... I cannot recommed this CD highly enough. You will not be disappointed. My number ONE Stranded Island CD.

Sorry Roy:
My problem with this one isn't the music itself, it's lead vocalist Billy Price. He's just embarrassingly bad. If you can imagine Bill Murray's SNL character trying to sing the blues, well, this is almost that bad. As good as Roy was, he couldn't make up for this shortcoming. Not coincidently, my favorite track by far is the instrumental "Hot Cha".

Roy was the Master:
I will never forget the first time I saw Roy Buchanan live. In 1976, at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom in Atlanta GA, Roy played 4 nights in a row,Wed. thru Sat. There were 2 sets each night. Roy played his first sets from about 10 until midnight, and the 2d from 2 to 4a.m. Bugs Henderson (!) was the opening act. I was there for every string-bending, chicken-picking, volume-swelling, steel-imitating, tube-frying minute. I was dumbfounded. I have been a serious guitar player for 30 years. Let me tell you, there are very few electric players in his league. As much as I love Eric Clapton, Roy was in a different category. His technique and unbelieveable depth of emotion were astonishing. More comparable players who were influenced by Roy are people like Arlen Roth, Danny Gatton, Eric Johnson and David Grissom. "Live Stock" is a great-sounding record that captures the essence of Roy. Favorite tracks are the sweet-soul "Can I Change My Mind", and instrumental "Hot-Cha". Don't worry about Billy Price's singing, he sounds great. If you like ANY kind of emotional electric guitar playing, you will be in bliss when you hear Roy. Thank me later.

Live Is the Proof:
The test of any great artist is their ability to perform live. If you can't sound as good live as on your studio work, then get another career. Roy Buchanan was a great musician either way. This CD is a good example of his work, by the way I like Billy Price on this CD because he has an old rock n roll sound to his voice. I saw Roy perform four times between the late 70's and early 80's in places like Carnegie Hall. I was always amazed at how easy it was to get tickets to see "The Greatest Unknown Guitar Player in the World" as he was titled by people like Jeff Beck. He was a pure blues player and writer who could hold his own with Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, B.B. King or Eric Clapton. There are some rock n roll songs on this album like "Reelin and Rockin" and "Can I Change My Mind". Any one who loves blues or rock n roll or any of the artists I previously mentioned will love this CD. Buy this one first, then you will want more of Roy's work, I promise. It's a shame Roy committed suicide, he was truly a master. God rest his soul.

How 10 dollars can change your life.:
As a longtime blues enthusiast and player, I cannot say enough about the awesome experience this album is. I challenge anyone to come up with a more gut-wrenching blues performance ever than Roy's Bluz. I have listened to this track countless times, and I am still amazed by the dark emotional, indeed disturbing, aura of this performance. The personal tragedy of Roy's life only serves to magnify the reality of his blues. In summary: if you don't know this album, then you don't know the blues.

• Reelin' and Rockin'
• Hot Cha
• Further on up the Road
• Roy's Bluz
• Can I Change My Mind
• I'm a Ram
• I'm Evil