Roy Buchanan – Roy Buchanan (1972)

The Fender Telecaster wielding bluesman Roy Buchanan never truly achieved fame or stardom like other Rock contemporaries of the time. However, his work over the years until his tragic death in 1988 under unusual circumstances is now a staple of highly influential work that is highly rated amongst professional guitarists to this day. This is actually not his first album, given its self-titled nature. All the same, it is seen as a classic of its kind, so let’s take a listen to it and see how it sounds.

We begin with Sweet Dreams which has a very quiet violining intro that sounds quite awesome. Before long, the song kicks in, and we get underway with a track that sounds great from the start. The guitar playing here is amazing and beautiful, with some awesome string bending and melodic phrasing. There is a slow but good rhythm section here as well, along with an organ. Fender Telecasters were back, baby, and they would never leave the stage again. There is no singing here, but it is not really necessary for music such as this. A fantastic listen, particularly with the guitar playing here. A great piece of artistry, and a fine start to this album. Wicked and awesome, all the way to the fade out.

Next is I Am A Lonesome Fugitive which begins with a clean Fender Tele intro, before singing emerges that is mellow and beautiful. Good to hear a classic Rock style song that is interesting and from a more traditional Country/Blues feel about it. This sort of music is rare today to hear, but this piece has stood the test of time due to its sheer good quality about it. It has a piercing and excellently played guitar solo that is really cool. This is not a melancholy piece, but an incredibly good tale of sorts. A true gem of music, all the way back from 1972. Excellent to hear, a gentle, cruisy Country Rock styled listen.

Cajun is a very short piece with some upbeat guitar playing, along with some cool piano playing and a rather quick beat joining in. This is the musical equivalent of a Cajun Chili Pepper: short; quick and hot. A very good listen from start to finish, and a nice short one and a half minute piece. Great to hear.

John’s Blues is a really awesome piece, led with a solo electric guitar intro with an excellent Blues feel to it. A lot like if Eric Clapton played his Fender Telecaster in his solo career rather than his Fender Stratocasters, it quickly goes into a marvelous piece of music. This is definitely a standout from this album, and just sounds really cool and amazing. Fender Telecasters are sometimes seen as outdated Country Music instruments. This rips that sort of argument apart, it is in fact a legendary and fine piece of music. The searing sound and playing both are top here, Roy Buchanan knew how to play very well here. A really excellent instrumental, and not a dull moment here, it is a great piece of background sort of music that is really fine. The guitar playing gets really awesome towards the end here, and our main man Roy Buchanan proves his worth hear. An excellent five minute long song, top stuff.

Next is Haunted House is a great song from the start, with some decent singing about the unusual circumstances that one can experience if they enter a haunted house to liv in. Musically, it is a joy to hear, with cool Fender Telecaster playing, a decent backing band and some excellent guitar soloing here. The piano solo then kicks in, which sounds just as good. A really top and wacky lyrical listen. It sounds very cheerful and upbeat about such a subject, proving that troublesome need not be downbeat or melancholy. The outro is cool.

Following is the longer piece Pete’s Blue which begins with some crunchy guitar playing, before going into a very awesome piece of guitar playing that will melt your mind and blow you away. Roy Buchanan is definitely an underrated guitarist, and just simply the way he plays the instrument is absolutely incredible. A really cool piece that you should put onto a stereo and crank it to annoy your neighbours is no doubt a good idea. This is a really fine piece of music, some of the pinch harmonics and string bending here in the guitar playing are usually brilliantly and effectively. A really cool kind of music, this is just amazing sounding. Not bad for a seven minute instrumental, it is awesome and inspirational for all listeners to pick up a musical instrumental, most likely guitar, and play it. There is some great palm muting techniques being utilized in the middle here. In the second half, some crazy and inspired playing continues through the instrumental. Some amazing string bending goes on here, before going very quiet and subtle right towards the end. It is a bit like Jazz music here towards the end, think Miles Davis’s In A Silent Way in a Rock format and you are kind of there. It ends gradually and gently.

The Messiah Will Come Again begins with a nice mixture of 1970s organ and beautiful guitar playing that is slow, yet gentle and soulful. The playing and licks here are emotional, and really amazing. Some spoken words then emerge, they are not sung, about religious ideals, over a simple organ patch. The spoken word lyrics here have a different feel to it and is based upon Christian beliefs. After that, the music comes crashing in and we get underway. This is a really cool and soulful piece of music that has a great style and playing sense in it. In the second half, some incredible and more frenetic guitar playing lights up the scene. Roy Buchanan could play! This is deep and emotional sounding playing and performing, a great and dramatic piece of musical artistry. No doubt hugely influential, Roy Buchanan delivers very well. Nice to hear, all the way to the gradual fade out.

Hey, Good Lookin’ begins with some Jazz like playing, and goes into a short two minute song dedicated to a lover who is sweet and lovely. This is a nice, short Pop/Rock piece that goes very well. The guitar solo is summery and breezy sounding. Another excellent song from an excellent album, this finishes off a great listen, and a very great album. Fun and fresh, a nice way to end an excellent recording.

This is an excellent album, and given its very underrated status, must be checked out by Rock fans in particular. If you dig a Fender Telecaster sound in an original and decent setup, this is for you. Roy Buchanan had a semi-successful career until his suicide in 1988 under unusual circumstances. Give this man a chance, check this album out.

Awesome and fresh.

9/10