Topic: A Hard Road
Having recently run across John Mayall and Bluesbreakers A Hard Road with bonus tracks and bonus CD it comes increasingly apparent how much Joe is a student of the British masters. Of course we all know Joe’s nod to Clapton with Steppin Out-Rice Pudding from the Bluesbreaker album.
With the release of You and Me. Joe gives equal time to my favorite British blues player Peter Green. So Many Roads recorded during the Hard Road sessions and released as a single in 1966. The tone of Peter’s guitar with a similar reverb effect has been reproduced pretty faithfully. Also on the bonus disc is Your Funeral My Trial the Sonny Boy Williamson song Mayall covered and Green guested on also is on You and Me. Young LD Miller of course plays rings around Mayall on Joe’s version.
Another observation. Joe seems to of drifted away from the predominate Stratocaster sound we have grown accustomed to for the Gibson Les Paul which was used frequently by the British Bluesmen. At a recent show here he played nothing but G guitars. Gibson’s and Gigliotti’s with the exception of the gold sparkle Strat for the encore. This made for a unique show where even Blues Deluxe was approached in a much different manner. Not as much Violin but amazingly enough Joe can pull that off even on a Paul. What drew me to Joe at the first live performance was his clarity of sound out of a Strat even with effects. He amazes me even more with what he does with a Les Paul. I think it is a much harder guitar to get a clear defined sound out of. He manages to accomplish this like few others can.
Jane we may not of gotten Green Manalishi but I feel I got my Green tribute from You and Me. Thanks Joe.
jim m
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