Showdown!
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Free Music Notes for Showdown!
Free Music Review: Pure Stratcats and Telecats
Hit: 5 Stars
I cut out and kept a magazine review of Showdown! for about 6 years before I finally picked it up. To (loosely) quote the reviewer, "Whoever got these three guys together in the same studio, at the same time, deserves a goddam medal."
Right on.
Free Music Review: Blues Guitar at it's very best
Hit: 5 Stars
A wonderful mix of two old Texas slingers and a youngin',sharing, stomping' and blastin' the blues like nobody else.
This could have been an absolute disaster, what with this much talent in one room.
Fortunately, the classy side of these giants prevails and we are left with a remarkable gift. The mutual respect just pours out of the speakers as you hear these guys compliment each other not attempting to out gun each other.
This could arguably be called the best modern blues collaboration ever....
B.B. & Bobby???
Stevie Ray & Albert???
Clapton & King???
Albert & Moore???
I'm open for suggestions 'cause there are none I know of.
Wrap yer head around this Blues Summit and be prepared to witness some of the sweetest sounds ever wrung out of Fenders!
Free Music Review: Grammy Award Winning All-Star Blues Guitar Review
Hit: 5 Stars
Showdown is one of the top two or three blues guitar collaborations of all time. Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Robert Cray, all on one record? Unbelievable. But that's what happened, and the result was magic.
All three get a chance to show their chops, and all three were on top of their blues guitar game recording this record. The energy, skill, and unbridled joy at performing with talented musicians always brings the best out from other talented musicians. Every cut is excellent.
It's a shame that Showdown could have been repeated more often than twice. Both Collins and Copeland are gone, leaving Cray to find other blues greats to jam with, but we will always have Showdown to remember when.
Free Music Review: Three times as Good!
Hit: 4 Stars
Man this is one great blues guitar album! It may be listed under Albert Collins, but this is a true collaboration. Robert Cray really shines here and is much bluesier then you will find him on his own albums. All three share in the vocal duties and the guitar solos. No one plays over each other - it's a great collaboration that results in a great album. Just listen to the first cut and you will get a good taste of what is in store. Buy it and enjoy.Free Music Review: A Must-Have in Any Blues Collection - Simply Stellar
Hit: 5 Stars
I just came across this disc recently, while I was doing searches on Johnny Copeland's records. When this record came up, I was surprised to see Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Robert Cray play together, but now I know that both Copeland and Cray were Albert Collins' proteges when they were starting out.
So in other words, it's kind of like a blues family reunion, and that is exactly how this CD feels. It's a meeting of the blues admiration society. You can hear it from the respect each musician pays to one another on record and how they talk and respond to each other.
Collins, Copeland, and Cray work incredibly well together. The tunes they put out are nothing short of stellar - intense, soulful, masterful, emotional Chicago blues from guitar virtuosos.
-"Hey Albert!"
-"Hey, yea, what's happening Johnny?"
-"You got your harmonica with you today, man?"
-"Yea, I brought it with me today, man."
-"I think we better get on down, you know, because I got the bluuuuues."
-"You know I got 'em too."
-"Here it is...."
-"Here it is, man..."
With those words, the bluesmen start playing "Bring your fine self home." Albert is playing harmonica in a way that's just so ornate and beautiful, it will send tingles down your spine. Johnny is growling on the vocals, while Albert keeps blowing that fine harmonica, and what a fine tune they make. Slow rolling blues that's is as soulful as it gets.
"The Dream" is a beautiful song where Robert Cray gets to show everyone his beautiful vocals. I agree with other reviewers that Cray adds certain touch of sophistication to this record. His style is quite a bit different from the two other men, but when he sings and Albert plays his guitar in that icy hot trademark way of his, you just have to hold your breath and listen to every note.
"Blackjack" is probably my personal favorite on this record. It's a slow-rolling blues tune with a strong beat, excellent vocals, and intense guitar solos by each of the three. It's mostly Johnny Copeland that's doing the singing on this record with his trademark growl, but on this track, Albert is doing the singing, which is pure delight. When Albert calls out on each man to solo, you can see just how different the sounds and styles are between the three guitar players. Albert's guitar is unmistakable - it cuts your ear real sharp. Johnny's sound is also stinging but in a different sense. His style, to me, is sort of a hybrid of Albert Collins and Albert King school of sound, squeezing the notes and yet keeping the icy electrical edge. Robert Cray's style was highly reminiscent of his guitar work on his disc "I Was Warned", a more aggressive rock-flavored battering that he played back in the day. What a unique track!
I can't believe I didn't find out about this disc sooner. It's any electrical blues fan's dream.