A Tribute to Great Blues Guitarists

Like I did with the "Who's the Greatest Rhythm Guitarist?" poll, I have decided to put in an extra thought between the years of my metal history tour. So, since I have finished with 1980 and before heading into 1981, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on some of the great blues based guitarists I have come to know and love over the years. Now, I have always been a sucker for a good long guitar solo played in the mentioned fashion. Even when they were performed by guitarists who may not have been known for such a style. That is probably why my all time favourite Jimi Hendrix song is "Hey Joe," although the lyrics may have something to do with it as well. Then the other day, I was listening to the Rainbow "Anthology" album and I must say that I was relatively blown away by Ritchie Blackmore on the final song, "Difficult to Cure." 

Jimi Hendrix

One guitarist who many have considered one of the all time greats was old slow hand himself Eric Clapton. I had the pleasure of seeing him live in 1985 and despite the fact that the record company was trying to get him to go new wave, that night he played many of his classic guitar jams. In fact, I thought it was an act of sacrilege when the other guitarist in his band played a solo on "Cocaine." Still, Eric showed why he is one of the all time greats.

Eric Clapton

Rory Gallagher

Pat Travers

Robin Trower

True most the guitarists I have featured here were from the years I have been visiting here on 80smetalman's Blog but these were the ones who I have first come to know and appreciate. By the late 1980s, there were some who claimed that the blues guitarist was buried dead in the past. I can see their argument as so many great metal lead guitarists were stepping into the limelight. The blues guitarist may have been pushed to the side but they weren't totally gone and then in the mid 90s, a new guitarist would take his place in the spotlight. His name was Kenny Wayne Shepherd. His album "Trouble Is" took me back to those days of listening and playing along to long bluesy guitar solos and the world was balanced once again.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

I could go on naming more great guitarist from this style, Jimmy Page was known to lay down a killer blues riff or two and right now Mark Knopfler's efforts on "Sultans of Swing" comes to mind. For me, these were the pioneers of great guitarists. I loved their style and still do. That doesn't mean I'm not open to a good ripping solo from one of today's metal giants. It's just I like to reflect back on some of the blues guitarist that first got me into rock and then metal. I hope you've enjoyed the ride too.

Next post: 1981- The Dam Continues to Break

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: Pat Travers- Crash and Burn

Back in this year, I used to belong to one of those mail order record clubs. You know, you join by buying six albums for a penny and then you have to buy a certain amount of albums in two years. I think RCA ran the one I belonged to. They had an album of the month and if you didn't say that you didn't want that album in time, they would send it to you. I always got my no response in time, especially after my friend who didn't and got sent an album by KC and the Sunshine Band. I bought a number of albums this way: Alice Cooper- "From the Inside," Van Halen II, ZZ Top- "Eliminator" and I know for a fact that the very last album I purchased this way was Black Sabbath- "Live Evil." Whenever, I would go through the booklet of albums to buy, this album "Crash and Burn" by Pat Travers was always in it. I never bought it, even after listening to his great previous live album, "Live! Go For What You Know." Having finally heard this album, I regret never buying it all those years ago.

Pat Travers is responsible for rekindling my love for blues based guitar rock. I love the slow but hard riffs accompanied by a long guitar solo in the middle. His talents shine on the fore mentioned live album and they continue to do so on his 1980 effort, "Crash And Burn." Saying that, you might be fooled by the opening title track as it's more of a progressive rock song. However, the second track, "(Your Love) Can't Be Right) goes back to the style Mr Travers has been best known for. Then comes the very famous "Snortin Whiskey" and you know that all is well. This is probably the most mind blowing song he's done, at least in my limited experience of Pat. A great hard rocker with a just as amazing guitar solo. It bears all the trademarks associated with this great musician. The pace is then set for the rest of the album after that but I do love his take on the Bob Marley written "Is This Love" which is done with total pinache. The album goes well all the way down to its exciting closer, "Material Eyes" and sends the album out on a very definite high.

Pat Travers

Track Listing:
1. Crash And Burn
2. (Your Love) Can't Be Right
3. Snortin Whiskey
4. Born Under a Bad Sign
5. Is This Love
6. The Big Event
7. Love Will Make You Strong
8. Material Eyes

Pat Travers- lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards
Pat Thrall- lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Peter Mars Cowling- bass
Tommy Aldridge- drums/percussion
Additional Musicians
Dawn Shahan- backing vocals
Michael Shrieve- percussion
First of all, I apologise for the lack of photos on this post. I don't know what the problem is here but it's not letting me do so at the moment. If I can sort it, then I will add them. Still, you don't need photos to know what a great rocking album "Crash and Burn" is. I bet that Pat Travers hasn't gotten anywhere near a nomination for the Rock Hall of Fame, sad.

Next post: 1980- Tragedy and Triumph

To Buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1979: Pat Travers- Live, Go For What You Know

Raise your hand if there has been a musical artist you like who you hadn't t listened to in many years where when you finally do get around listening to them again, you remember how much you really liked them. I put up my hand to Pat Travers. He was another musical great who never made it onto being played on the old AM clock radio. I first heard about him when I saw this album advertised in a music catalog. Back in the late seventies, they use to have these record clubs where you get an initial offer of buying six albums for a penny to join but you had to buy so many albums in two years. It was such a catalog where I discovered Pat Travers.

Once again, it was my military experiences of widening my musical horizons where I finally got to listen to this great artist and it was this live album. "Live! Go For What You Know" was the perfect album to showcase all of his great songs and guitar talents. The most noted song from this album is "Boom Boom, Out Go the Lights" which many of the bands playing to bars and clubs in North Carolina seemed to play. I also really like "Hooked on Music," "Go All Night" and "Heat in the Street" but all of the songs here are some powerful, blues based, kick ass rock and roll.

Often have I mentioned the ever growing list of underrated guitarists from the seventies and recently, I have consciously been more picky about who I add to the list. However, Pat Travers is one guitarist who definitely belongs on the list. I might even go as far as to equate him with the likes of some I've already mentioned like Gary Richrath, Craig Chaquico and Rory Gallagher, ok I can't leave out Brian May. Travers can definitely bend the six string to his will and a listen to this great live album will confirm it.

Track Listing:

1. Hooked on Music

2. Gettin' Betta

3. Go All Night

4. Boom Boom, Out Go the Lights

5. Stevie

6. Makin' Magic

7. Heat in the Streets

8. Makes No Difference

Pat Travers

Pat Travers- guitar, vocals

Mars Cowling- bass

Pat Thrall- guitar, backing vocals

Tommy Aldridge- drums

The moral of the story here is don't go a long time without listening to someone you know is good. I made that mistake here with Pat Travers and my excuse of not owning any of his material doesn't cut it. So, I'm going to have to go out and buy this fantastic live album. Praise the Lord for Amazon! I think you should give it a listen too, I guarantee you won't regret it. I am wondering and my buddy Stone started my mind rolling on this one, if Pat Travers is yet another great artist the numpties at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have ignored.

Next post: Olivia Newton John- Totally Hot

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London