Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: The Guitar Album
Company: Polydor
Catalog: PD 2-3008
Year: 1974
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments: double album; gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
Price: $20.00
Guitar compilation LPs are a dime a dozen; most comprised of cast off tunes dragged up in the hopes of scoring a couple of quick bucks from gullible consumers. 1974's
"The Guitar Album" is a major exception, and stands as one of our favorite compilation sets. A double album, 18 track
compilation, the collection sports a killer line up with material from Eric Clapton (3 selections), Roy Buchanan (5 tracks), Rory Gallagher (2 tracks), Ellen McIlwaine (a new name to us) and others. With a couple of exceptions, the material leans towards blusier offerings (the inclusion of Clapton's top-40 hit "Let It Rain" is one of the notable exceptions). All bulllsh*t aside, the set simply blazes from start to finish. It'a an album we continually play. Talk about air guitar heaven !!! Highlights abound, but include Gallagher's "Walk On Hot Coals", T-Bone Walker's take-no-prisoners "Every Day I Have the Blues", McIlwaine's slide guitar solo on "We the People" and Link Wray's "Lawdy Miss Crawdy". (Clapton may have been the marquee name, but artist Richard
Hernandez got it right, his cover illustration showing Buchanan and Gallagher leading the pack - sad to realize both of these talented artists have passed on ...) The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve which included detailed track listing information and some nice career overview information on the individual artists.
"The Guitar Album" track listing:
1.) Eric Clapton - Slunky (instrumental) (Bonnie Bramlett - Eric Clapton) - 3:34
2.) Roy Buchanan - Sweet Dreams (instrumental) (D. Gibson) - 3:33
3.) Rory Gallagher - Walk On Hot Coals (Rory Gallager) - 7:01
4.) T-Bone Walker - Every Day I Have the Blues (P. Chatman) - 2:47
5.) Ellen McIlwaine - Sliding (Ellen McIlwaine) - 2:52
6.) Link Wray - Lawdy Miss Crawdy (Lloyd Price) - 2:40
7.) Roy Buchanan - Tribute To Elmore James (Roy Buchanan) - 3:25
8.) Eric Clapton - Have You Ever Loved a Woman (B. Myles) - 6:54
9.) Rory Gallagher - Tattoo'd Lady (Rory Gallager) - 4:40
10.) Ellen McIlwaine - We the People (instrumental) (Ellen McIlwaine) - 3:21
11.) Stone the Crows - I May Right I May Be Wrong (Stone the Crows) - 5:02
12.) Roy Buchanan - After Hours (instrumental) (A. Parrish) - 6:13
13.) Eric Clapton - Let It Rain (Eric Clapton - Bonnie Bramlett) - 5:03
14.) John McLaughin - Extrapolation (John McLaughin) - 3:54
15.) Roy Buchanan - The Messiah Will Come Again (Roy Buchanan) - 5:53
16.) Area Code 615 - Sligo (Buttrey - Moss) - 2:23
17.) Ellen McIlwaine - Losing You (Ellen McIlwaine) - 2:20
18.) Roy Buchanan - Filthy Teddy (Roy Buchanan) - 3:11