Johnny Guitar

The disco period in Johnny "Guitar" Watson's catalog was spotty at best. You I first heard Johnny while stationed in Australia, of all places. Luckily, we had a D.J. who was really up on his music - especially Funk and Soul. As soon as I heard Mr. Watson coming from the speakers, I just HAD to know who was making that driving, funky sound. I had to wait for the next supply ship to make it to our "out-in-the-bush-on-the-edge-of-the-world" Naval base (about two months) before I got my own copy of this album, but it was worth the wait. Between Rick James, Parliament, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson, it is a toss-up as to who is the funkiest. But, while the music is great, it is only half of the goods. Johnny's lyrics are the other half, and they are witty, funny, sometimes a social commentary (even then they are still funny and witty).

This installment of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's sojourn into 1970s' style funk incorporates Funkadelic-style chants and sophisticated grooves as well as the blues and R&B master's trademark hoarse vocalizing; but, as always, his prickly, jazzy guitar soloing is the main attraction, displayed to its best advantage on burning funk tracks like "Barn Door" and "It's About the Dollar Bill."

Culled from Johnny's 3 '80s Alligator albums (Guitar Slinger-Serious Business-Third Degree) these 12 tracks prove that after the guitar slingers CBS years he still had the fire to burn the fingerboard! Back by top notch Chicago blues players and the occassional guest's Dr. John & Tommy Shannon (ex Stevie Ray Vaughan bassist) during his Alligator years, these recordings show Johnny at his best with no confetti or studio razzle dazzle. These raw to the bone blues tracks boil red hot. If you don't own any of the guitar legends Alligator albums, you must get this one.

Although Johnny "Guitar" Watson had already recorded some sides for Federal (including the astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar"), the majority of those tunes featured the piano-playing Young John Watson. It was when he began recording for the Bihari Brothers' RPM subsidiary of Modern Records that he "became" Johnny "Guitar" Watson and his amazing legacy really began. The songs are solid West Coast blues, but they're brought to the next level by Watson's impassioned vocals and his incredible biting, staccato guitar solos. Watson's tenure at RPM was short-lived (as were most of his label relationships) and all these tracks were recorded in 1955, but they were wildly influential on a number of great guitarists and still hold their power 50 years down the road…

Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Untouchable! The Classic 1959-1966 Recordings (2007) {Ace Records CDCHD 1180}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 235 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 158 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 24 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1959-66, 2007 Ace Records | CDCHD 1180
Rhythm & Blues / Blues / Electric Blues / Early R&B

Veteran photographer Brian Smith has good reason to remember the night of 3 April 1965 that R&B legend Johnny “Guitar”’ Watson played Manchester’s Twisted Wheel club, with sidekick- Larry Williams, “It was the first time I took out my wife [39 years married, last June] - though I still stuck to the job in hand and buggered off to the ‘Wheel All-Nighter’ after I had put her on the bus home. I got a few decent black and whites on at Twisted Wheel, and then a couple at the Princess Club, same week: on stage, and some posed too.”

Although Johnny "Guitar" Watson had already recorded some sides for Federal (including the astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar"), the majority of those tunes featured the piano-playing Young John Watson. It was when he began recording for the Bihari Brothers' RPM subsidiary of Modern Records that he "became" Johnny "Guitar" Watson and his amazing legacy really began.