Trying to produce an original concept CD album is rather difficult these days because just about everything has been done since albums were first introduced around 1947. Therefore, this CD is an eclectic indie compilation of 23 lead singers and 24 tunes that have either blues roots or “bluesy” subject matter but are also uniquely different from one or other. The only common thread that ties all the various tunes and genres together on this CD is the bass that Big Al Jano provides on each of the tracks. Considered an indie producer and a bassist first and a satirical songster on occasion, the only tune that Big Al is actually featured on for this collection is the broadcast version (or politically correct version) of The Condom Man, his 1987 college cult classic. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other 50-year compilation of indie tunes with this unifying concept. If there is one, Hottrax Records condolences to the producer for the stress endured while restoring old master tapes and deciding which tracks were to be used.
The tunes selected are Big Al's fave picks for each singer that seem to work together for this quasi-blues compilation. Some tracks were produced in world class, multi-track studios and some were simply caught live to tape with no remixing. Long ago Al realized that an attempt to achieve “perfection” in a recording can be quite boring and sterile. As quoted, "I ‘ve always preferred the ‘feel' of a track over its preciseness and picked the selections for this compilation with that in mind.” Included with the CD is a 20 page, full color booklet with information and pix on each lead singer and a credit list of supporting musicians. Also included for the collector is a complete 50-year discography of his works. Vinyl collectors know that his 1968 psychedelic album “The Square Root of Two” by The Night Shadows is the most valuable album ever produced in the state of Georgia and currently sells for over $1600 per copy. This LP is among those listed.
Big Al Jano (vocals); Butch Cooper (vocals, guitar, drums); Charlie "Adam Charles" Adams, Scott Marks, Mike Lorenz, Bill Sheffield (vocals, guitar); Danny Deese, Judy Argo (vocals); Kenny Kilgore, Ronnie Farmer, Aleck Janoulis (guitar); John J. Moore (saxophone); Nick Longo (alto saxophone); Bob Bevins, John Longo (tenor saxophone); Stan Henley (trumpet); Rod Henley (trombone); Bob Page, Joe Neal, Mike Moore, Allen Collay (keyboards); Lee Goodness, Ray Massey (drums); Sal Padillo (congas, percussion). Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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