Live Stock Agritech

The U.K. based Beat Goes On label continues their series of Roy Buchanan two-fers. This one finds the artist at a distinct professional crossroads. After his ultimately discordant relationship with Polydor came to an end, the label finally showed the good sense to issue Live Stock (1975) – which was primarily documented at Town Hall in New York City on November 27, 1974. The notable exception being the six-plus minute take of "I'm Evil" – recorded the following March at the Amazing Grace club in Evanston, IN. Supporting Buchanan's consummate strings during the Town Hall appearance are Billy Price (vocals), John Harrison (bass), Malcolm Lukens (keyboards), and Byrd Foster (drums/vocals).

Roy Buchanan is the guitarist's guitar hero. Singularly uninterested in rock stardom and the trappings of fame that go with it, Buchanan never achieved the popularity of his six-string peers; yet his unfathomable technique and ferocious Telecaster tone put him near the top of any serious listing of the greatest guitarists of all time. Stories abound about the regard with which other musicians held Roy (and the indifference with which he greeted their esteem); for example, legend has it he turned down the Rolling Stones for the job Mick Taylor got, and blew off playing with John Lennon, while Jeff Beck dedicated "'Cause We've Ended as Lovers" from Blow by Blow to him. These days, his ability to create the sounds he did without the use of any effects, often from his patented "pinch harmonic" method of playing, continue to astound players both casual and professional. Buchanan recorded a number of commendable studio albums, but on stage was where the magic happened; that's why most listeners deem the 1974 Live Stock album to be his best.