Rating:
Genre:
Country
Release Date: 03/22/2005
Run Time: 32:28
Along with partner and guitarist
Jimmy Bryant, pedal steel virtuoso
Speedy West played on several thousand sides and worked with hundreds of vocalists including
Ernest Tubb,
Loretta Lynn,
Frank Sinatra,
Jim Reeves,
Tennessee Ernie Ford, and
Bing Crosby.
West's sometimes histrionic and cartoon-like playing is easily recognizable and comes out of his total command of the instrument. In fact, due to their wild flights and seamless interplay, many observers have labeled
West and
Bryant the
Charlie Parker and
Dizzy Gillespie of
country.
West's innovative use of
bebop licks and phrasing is certainly heard often on this 1960 solo record for
Capitol. In particular, cuts like
"Caffeine Patrol" and
"Flippin' the Lid" find him in a briskly swinging mood and even trading fours with his guitarist (no credits are listed for the album). Of course, considering his vast studio resume,
West delves into a variety of genres and styles here, including
western swing, Hawaiian music, sentimental cowboy
ballads, and
blues. And thankfully,
West never overdoes the guitar pyrotechnics; his occasional zinger and slinky-toy flourishes are always dropped strategically. Maybe not as crucial a first disc purchase as one of the two fine compilations on
Razor & Tie (which also feature
Bryant), but still a very fine album.
~Stephen Cook, All Music Guide
;)
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