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Fabulous Thunderbirds "Girls Go Wild"

Music, Man! | Brooklyn | 04/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ask any working professional blues guitarist or any other blues musician, including his younger brother Stevie Ray Vaughan, and he will probably say that Jimmie Vaughan is one of the greatest blues guitarists of the last 40 years, perhaps longer. Vaughan probably had as much of an impact with this, the Fab T'Birds first album, as Eric Clapton had back in 1966 with John Mayall (The Beano Album). In effect, Jimmie Vaughan helped convert millions of guitar wanking/noodling blooze players (myself included!) into more serious rootsy players. He succeeded in distilling Jimmie Reed, Jimmie Rogers, T-Bone Walker,, a young B.B. King, Lightning Hopkins, Slim Harpo, John Lee Hooker, and several others into an unbeatable blend-- himself. Problem is (well it isn't really a problem)-- there is only one Jimmie Vaughan, meaning that he is the original and can never be duplicated, let alone imitated. Nobody in recent memory has been able to "tell a story" with every solo the way he has. (This is no doubt the reason Stevie Ray considered his older brother Jimmie the better player.) As a rhythm player nobody has come close. Believe me, many have tried. Seeing him play live was overwhelming. And that's just the guitar player on this debut!



Kim Wilson has been and remains the most sought after harp player in the world, and he is a complete master of every style from Little Walter to Sonny Boy Williamson-- whether he's blowing through a Green Bullet or a regular mike. On this album he does an excellent job of singing in a vocal range of styles from BB King to Lazy Lester, but retains his own identity throughout.



Keith Ferguson? The tone he gets from that Fender Telecaster bass is monstrous, enveloping, profound-- but it is his sense of swing and groove, and his ears that set his playing head and shoulders above other blues bassists.



Finally there is Mike Buck on drums. Somebody else has written a review here saying that this is "the Shuffles album" for drummers. Two-fisted rub-shuffles to be exact.



The album's greatness is due in no small part to the fact that each of the four musicians offers an eternal lesson-- a clinic-- in how the blues should be played-- with deep focus, deep restraint, deep tension, deep communication-- the result of which is an incredibly erotic ferment-- no wonder it is called "Girls Go Wild"! But for students of the blues, it offers instruction and inspiration for individual instrumentation and ensemble playing. It creates an atmosphere that lends continuity to the entire album.



Among their fans were Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Ronnie Earl and the Roomful of Blues band, and even Jackson Browne!



You can imagine that the Fabulous Thunderbirds' "Girls Go Wild," similar to the Beatles' "Please Please Me" first album and John Mayall/Eric Clapton Bluesbreakers' "Beano," were itching to lay down their best club material on tape, and to my ears the results are in their own way just as astonishing.



One never tires of hearing this timeless document.



A final piece of advice-- play it LOUD!"

An American Rarity in Import Disguise !

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 01/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This '79 release showcases the band before they would become mainstream pop material with their hit Ain't That Tuff Enuff in the 80's! Here, they are raw and rebellious with their unique sound and blend of the blues meets rock n' soul. From Wilson's deep R&B (almost like, but better than Michael Bolton by a very longshot) vocals to Vaughan's electric guitar playin' and the harmonica demonstrates the T-Birds sheer gift and talent for bringing out some true grit at a time when the airwaves were stale with either the notorious disco era or the heavy rock head bangin' era of pop music (take your pick). This is not just a valuable project based on nostalgic value; It is a timeless piece of the American pop music scene of the late 70's revitalizing and paying homage to other eras of great musical styles and genres; This in itself makes this recording timeless and priceless."

You'll Go Wild Over This CD!!!

chris meesey Food Czar | The Colony, TX United States | 10/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the first and best CD in the long and storied career of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. I've enjoyed the pleasure of seeing them live many times, from opening for Muddy Waters to closing down famed Austin neighborhood joint Rome Inn (which billed itself as the home of "C-Boy Blues".) Yes, the concert slow-dance classic "Scratch My Back" is included, as well as "She's Tuff," which was their finest, toughest number ever recorded. (Great harp breaks by Kim Wilson on these numbers; in fact, you could say that about almost any T-Birds song!) Jimmie Vaughan (you know him as Stevie Ray's guitar-slingin' older brother) really cooks on the slow blues "Full Time Lover" and shines on "Wait On Time". Keith Ferguson's great bass opener leads into great crooning by Kim on "Rich Girl", while "Rock With Me" gives the full band a chance to unwind, particularly drummer Mike Buck. And, to top it off, three bonus cuts show off the bands raw, danceable groove. (You'll see more people dancing at a T-Birds show than just about anywhere else!) A fabulous CD, one which gives the opportunity for both girls and guys to go wild!"