I just finished listening to several Roy Buchanan albums. His version of Hey Joe brought back this memory of my early 20's.
Back in the day - early 70's, I was the audio manager at the best music store in the area. We carried Marantz, Fisher, Pioneer, Sansui, AR, Eastman Sound- Martin (which was very good, Magnificats come to mind) ESS, TSS, Janszen, Elac, Dual, Lenco, Garrard, and other brands like Julliete, Sanyo, Superscope, and others. I would play demo albums all day long, and the piano delivery guys would stop by, and enjoy the blues with me, even more than the Motown music I would play.
One day the head of the Piano delivery crew asked if I could help deliver a piano, which was very unusual. He said that if I liked Jimi, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Albert King, and Charlie Parker, I would love what the guy we would deliver the piano to could do with a Fender Telecaster. Turns out it was Roy Buchanan.
Since I had several of his albums, I was eager to hold the doors for them, or anything else I could do, and he was just a regular guy taking delivery of a piano. I slipped in a tape of his music on the way back to the store, and we raved at his talent all the way back. He was to all concerned not white or black just a great bluesman. No one was a different race as we enjoyed the music. We interacted differently after that day and I have very fond memories of it from that very troubled time. Blues is a great genre, and it will always have a special place in my music library. :thmbsp: :thmbsp:

Great story,IMHO he was a remarkable musician,who never received the accolades he deserved


A

I agree, and a real down to earth guy.

I saw Roy Buchanan play live couple of times at the Armadillo in Austin, TX in the '70s. The guy's guitar sonics made Eric Johnson look like a warm-up. He could make it express anything. The crowd loved him and you could tell he really appreciated the response. The real deal.

Back in the early to mid 70's, Roy Buchanan was a fixture at the Crossroads, A bar in Bladensburg MD. We used to pop in there at least once a week. Just thinking about it still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. :rockon: He was someone we never tired of going to see. Drinking age was 18 and enforcement was lax to non-existant. Life was good then.:smoke:

note: He lived the blues. Wound up hanging himself in a jail cell in Manassas Va. after wife had him arrested on a domestic. RIP

Great story, ehoove.

Around here Blues is always a big part of our listening sessions. Sometimes the only part and Roy Buchanan is always a part of it.:music:

Terry

His live versions of "I'm a ram" & "Down by the river" still give me goosebumps....

Try "Blues For Gary" on the '81 LP My Babe. http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/1237.gif

Mike Koste
Gobs of Knobs
Ambler, PA

More than anything blues is an expression of joy. Some people just don't get it.

cubdog

Amen to that!

More than anything blues is an expression of joy. Some people just don't get it.

cubdog

Anyone who can't hear the joy in blues music, the exuberance of just being alive... They're deaf. Mebbe not physically, but definantly emotionally.

BTW - I think Roy's version of "Hey Joe" is without a doubt in the top-ten greatest pieces of music I have ever heard. His guitar shouts, shoots, weeps, is remorseful, and eventually even escapes across the border in the live recording... UNBELIEVABLE! I've been playing guitar for over 20 years, I can't even begin to wrap my head around what he's doing there or how he's doing it.

As Rolling Stone stated-Roy Buchanan was the best unknown guitarist in the world. Shame he is not still crankin out riffs on stage that could make your ears bleed ."Home is where I lost her" has always been one of my favorites. Great tune from the man who played blues in his very own way,no copy of anyone's style,just Roy pouring himself out through his guitar!

I just recently discovered Roy and was absolutely blown away. Heard of him for years, just never got exposed somehow. Within a month, at different thrift stores, I found his first two albums. Un-be-frickin-lieveable player. Poor guy.
Dan

Nice to see his music is appreciated here. I agree his "Hey Joe" rendition is a great piece, as is his duet with Stanley Clark "Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby" It really shows a different side of both musicians. Find a copy of his "Loading Zone" Album featuring Jan Hammer, Stanley Clarke, and Steve Cropper trading solo's with Roy.(Ramon's Blues is Great stuff):banana: :banana: :banana:

Nice to see his music is appreciated here. I agree his "Hey Joe" rendition is a great piece, as is his duet with Stanley Clark "Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby" It really shows a different side of both musicians. Find a copy of his "Loading Zone" Album featuring Jan Hammer, Stanley Clarke, and Steve Cropper trading solo's with Roy.(Ramon's Blues is Great stuff):banana: :banana: :banana:
Picked up a copy of this LP a while back - great album.

Alan