Search - Roy Buchanan :: Sweet Dreams: Anthology

Ivan P. from WICHITA, KS
Reviewed on 10/7/2006...

Some great tracks, most don't do anything for me.

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The Telecaster Blues Master

J. E FELL | Carterville, Illinois United States | 10/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a 2 cd anthology which compiles Roy Buchanan's Polgram output with a few tracks from Atlantic thrown in for good measure. The time period represented is from 1969-78. No tracks from his later Alligator output are included. Roy Buchanan was from the excellent technique but weak singing line of white blues/rock/jazz guitar heroes which include Jeff Beck, Harvey Mandel and Mike Bloomfield. Roy Buchanan was a master of many styles from rock to blues to jazz. This compilation concentrates on his earlier output. He gained recognition after being named as one of the best "unknown" guitarists alive in the early seventies. He reportedly was being sought as a replacement in the "Rolling Stones" at one point. However his alcohol problems eventually led to his downfall and eventual suicide. This compilation contains no less than 7 unissued tracks with an additional 2 tracks from an ultra rare live Japanese only release. Roy Buchanan's guitar playing mostly resembles that of Jeff Beck among current guitarists. Beck supposedly was influenced by Roy Buchanan's technically masterful guitar playing. This set contains many live tracks which gave Buchanan more room to develop songs and solos. Among his more famous cuts are "The Messiah Will Come Again", and his version of Neil Young's "Down By The River". Buchanan is a weak singer and the better cuts are either fully or mostly instrumental or feature another vocalist. Most of the music is blues or blues related. However by the time of his later Atlantic material he become more jazz influenced. Some of my favorite cuts include "Tribute To Elmore James", and covers of Cannonball Adderley's "Country Preacher" and Booker T. & the MGs "Green Onions" and "Soul Dressing". Perhaps the most revealing cut is unissued jaw dropping 12 minutes plus Buchanan solo "Dual Soliloquy". Buchanan solos in a vast array of styles and unleashes all his tricks. A fitting coda to a tragic figure. A few cuts I like were missed such as "Roy's Bluz", "Further On Up The Road" and "Filthy Teddy". Most of the musicians who appear are relatively unknown, however Charlie Daniels appears on a few of the earlier cuts while Steve Cropper and "Duck" Dunn from Booker T. & the MGs appear on the cover of their "Green Onions" while jazz guitarist Ray Gomez appears on some of the later Atlantic recordings. I found this to be the best Roy Buchanan anthology available as it omits some of the weaker cuts. I also recommend the single disc "Guitar On Fire" a single disc anthology of the currently out of print Atlantic Recordings and "Deluxe Edition" which compiles his last recordings with a few unissed tracks added."

Producer needed some help

Tyler Smith | Denver, CO United States | 02/23/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Five stars, obviously on Roy's playing, which always managed to rise above the material, no matter how mediocre. But this collection mystifies me in the selection of material. The first four selections of disc 1, "previously unreleased," put Roy in a strange, psychedelicized place that is difficult to listen to. Roy was a power, electric blues player, and these pieces simply do him no favor at all.By the fifth cut, we have his great version of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams," from his first Polydor album, and we also have the first taste of his muscular lyricism. The remainder of the first disc is nearly flawless, the highlight for me being the inclusion of the "Second Album"'s "The Messiah Will Come Again." Roy couldn't sing -- at all -- yet somehow he was able to add something when he decided to vocalize, perhaps because he believed in the tune.As for Disc 2, I saw Roy live, and because of that I'm confident in expressing my disappointment in the choices here. Other than "Soul Dressing," none of the tracks are memorable (apologies to vocalist Billy Price, who was capable of some great vocal performances), and Polydor would have produced a much better disc by including more from the overlooked "A Street Called Straight" or from "Loading Zone." My advice? If you buy this set, pay little attention to the first four cuts on each disc. If you decide you love Roy's sound, as may of us did, listen to cuts 5 and on and then seek out the individual albums, which contain many gems the producer failed to include."