Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute

Performer: Various Artists
Engineer: David Axelbaum; Gus Mossler; Joe Johnson; John Hampton; John Nagy; Julian Herzfeld; Mark Williams; Neal Ward; Tony Daigle; Bill Thompson; Brian Young
Producer: Cub Koda; Dave Hole; Elvin Bishop; George Thorogood; Gov't Mule; Jim Gaines; Kaz Kazanoff; Michael Hill; Ronnie Earl; Son Seals; Sonny Landreth; Vernon Reid; Bob Margolin; Brian Young; Bruce Iglauer
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Includes liner notes by Bruce Iglauer. Personnel: Cub Koda, George Thorogood, Lil' Ed Williams, Magic Slim, Michael Hill, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Son Seals, Warren Haynes (vocals, guitar); Luther Allison (vocals, slide guitar); Dave Hole, John Randolph, Mike Garrett, Elvin Bishop, James Solberg, John Primer, Ronnie Earl, Sonny Landreth, Vernon Reid, Bob Margolin (guitar); Annie Raines (harmonica); Red Groetzinger (tenor saxophone); Dan Rabinovitz (trumpet); Ernest Williamson, Tony Z (piano); Curtis Watts, Earl Howell, David Russell , Chuck Cotton, James Young , Matt Abts, Per Hanson, Steve Potts , Ted Harvey, Tony Lewis, Ray Allison, Larry Vann, Jeff Simon (drums). Audio Mixers: David Axelbaum; Gus Mossler; Joe Johnson ; John Hampton; Julian Herzfeld; Mark Williams ; Neal Ward; Tony Daigle; Bill Thompson; Brian Young . Audio Remixer: Terry Manning. Liner Note Author: Bruce Iglauer. Recording information: 315 Beale Studios, Memphis, TN (1996-1997); Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN (1996-1997); Dockside Studios, MA (1996-1997); Streeterville Studios, Chicago, IL (1996-1997). Photographers: Jack Lardomita; Diane Allmen; Peter Amft; Marc PoKempner; Jeff Nield. In many respects, you could call Hound Dog Taylor a cult artist. Respected by bluesmen and critics alike, he built a small, devoted following across America simply by constently touring. There were no hits and very few covers of hs songs, but his rowdy concerts and incendiary records on Alligator convinced any who heard him. In the process, he put Alligator Records on the blues map, so it only makes sense that the label return the favor with Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute, one of the few blues tributes that really works. Taylor's wild, careening slide guitar became one of more influential sounds in contemporary blues, as evidenced by this quality-packed record. Out of the 14 tracks, only George Thorogood's thuggish, sluggish "I Just Can't Make It" falls flat, but the quality of the remaining cuts is so high that it's forgivable. Luther Allison's "Give Me Back My Wig" rocks, Gov't Mule's "Gonna Send You Back to Georgia" is tough, Vernon Reid and Alvin Youngblood Hart do a nice acoutic reading of "It's Alright," Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin turns "See Me in the Evening" into an appealing, straightforward blues-rocker and Cub Koda tears through "Take Five" with the help of Hound Dog's backing band, the Houserockers. Moments like these are what elevates this tribute album above the average. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Down Beat (4/98, p.54) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...Bruce Iglaur and Alligator salute their first roster artist by assembling a platoon of ace musicians...for this rough-and-rude romp through the Taylor set list..."

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