Topic: Classic Rock 209 May 2015 - Buyers guide - JB
Regular feature in CR and JB gets the honour in the latest issue.
Interestingly, NOTHING is featured from his output before the Kevin Shirley era, which I am sure would disappoint many fans, although 2 tracks from BD do feature in the 'Essential Playlist'. There is no doubting the Shirley era has clearly taken JB to a world class level, nevertheless I feel at the very least Blues Deluxe could have, at least, featured in the 'Good - worth exploring' section (don't flame me anybody - I'm just the messenger). 'Black Rock' features here and whilst I have always appreciated its slight change of style and pace I'm not sure it is entirely deserving of its place at the cost of one of his earlier issues.
Sloe Gin and Different Shades... are deemed 'Essential Classics' as in 'must haves'. I wouldn't disagree. SG was a breakthrough album and DFOB is original material which showed songwriting chops are in his amoury (like we didn't really know...).
BCC (2) and 'Don't explain' with Beth Hart get in, which I guess just goes to show his diversity. I am pleased at BCC being in there as I think history will prove he did some of his finest work on these albums.
I'm not sure CR really 'get' Rock Candy Funk Party as the 'We Want Groove' album is shown as the one album to 'avoid'. I think that tip should be taken with a pinch of salt.
View the man and the music fully in the round. Yes both feet are firmly planted in the blues but whatever he does outside of that all attains a certain level of musical and tonal consistency and quality that most other artists can only dream about. RCFP is a good demonstration of that.
Looking at the list of albums featured here the man has come a long way but as the fans know the pre-Shirley albums actually mean the journey has been a good bit longer.
Maybe the best is yet to come...........that might be a tough act though. He already set the bar pretty high...........Personally I fancy there is another artist hook up to come which blow everything else he's done into the weeds. I wonder who that could be? Need another thread for that...............