Search - Jose Feliciano :: Selection of

Amazing Vocals and Brilliant Guitar

Carlos Rodriguez | 01/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is (again) one of the many releases of some of Jose's biggest hits. You would think that enough is enough from all the various Best Of and Greatest Hits compilations that different labels continue to release from this amazing and gifted artist only to capitalize for their own financial well being. You can bet that Jose isn't making a dime from any of these unathorized releases yet I like to review them because of the fantastic music that Feliciano is always been known for. This collection once again does include the Feliciano classics like "Light My Fire", "California Dreamin", "Chico And The Man" and "Angela" to name a few but I would really like to comment on the four instrumentals that are included on this CD. "Pegao" is one that Jose wrote and recorded in 1970 for a magnificent album called FIREWORKS (sadly unavailable on CD up to now, you can still find this masterpiece recording on LP usually on Ebay). "Affirmation" a long time favorite of mine and one that shows once again why Jose Feliciano is considered by many to be the greatest living guitarist today. "Malaguena" and "La Entrada De Bilbao" in English is "Entrance To Bilbao" both were recorded for Jose's amazing and long out of print ALIVE-ALIVE-O album which was recorded live at the London Palladium in 1969. Up to now Feliciano's only live album. These two instrumentals are incredibly performed by Jose and when you listen to them you will realize that you haven't heard anyone play the guitar with so much love and passion as Feliciano does. "La Entrada De Bilbao" is a masterpiece within itself because you can hear Feliciano's amazing skill and genius in every note that he plays. In this particular track he makes the guitar sound like for one a team of wild horses galloping fast and also you can hear horns, trumpets and drums and all of this he does on his guitar. No other musician before or after him has been able to accomplish and frankly speaking no one ever will. If you only get this CD just for this masterpiece alone it will have been well worth your time and money. Although the entire album is fantastic and Jose's voice as usual is top notch. You will enjoy this CD a lot and especially for those people that are learning or want to learn how to play guitar, listen to the master first and hear how he does it. Except I don't recommend anyone that is starting out to learn this beautiful instrument to even attempt to learn the pieces on this album because you would never be able to pull it off. Only players with many years of experience and practice can maybe and I say maybe because even if you're a good guitarist
it takes more than just being good to achieve Feliciano's level of playing. In other words don't dream that you will one day get to be as good as him because I'm sorry to dissapoint you is not going to happen. He is in a class on his own and absolutely no one can touch him. Listen to this amazing CD and discover the fantastic and unique sounds of the legendary Jose Feliciano."