I am currently and have been a Rolling Stone subscriber for years, and years. I was a subscriber in England from their second year, I think. I've lapsed a few times between moves around Europe and across the Atlantic. But it has always been, and still is, my favorite magazine.
But every so often they come out with an issue for the top 100 this or that and they always seem to miss out a bit. I understand that the "best" of anything is often in the mind of the beholder, but this time they have overstepped the mark.
Their current issue is the 100 Greatest Guitar Player issue.
We could argue for hours of the placing within the hundred of the various artists included.
And I have no quarrel with the top two at all. I think Carlos Santana was way lower than he should be. And obviously because this is Rock guitar there is no place for the likes of Segovia or Django. But the egregious omission is Roy Buchanan. Come on Rolling Stone, you ignored one of the greatest rock / blues guitarists of all time. Listen in a bit and see what you overlooked.
Live from Austin Texas
One of the pioneers of the telecaster sound, he was noted for his use of note bending, volume swells, staccato runs and "pinch" harmonics. He is considered by many to be one of America's most soulful guitar masters, and even 20 years after his death, he maintains an army of devoted fans, including some of rock guitar's greatest (just ask Jeff Beck, Robbie Robertson or Billy Gibbons). This performance, captured on the ACL stage on November 15, 1976, shows Roy Buchanan in his prime at the age of 37. Indeed, it may well be the best high-quality audio/video recording of his complete performance known to exist.
Green Onions
From the Rockpalast at Hamburg 1985. Brilliant cover of the Booker T and the MG's classic.
At least the Germans appreciated him.
Not sure where this one took place, but hold on to your hats everyone.
When A Guitar Plays The Blues
A guitar master class. How to play guitar in a mellow mood.
Misty
OK, I think we proved our point. But just in case here is the complete performance from Austin Texas.
Probably the best high-quality video of Roy's performance, recorded live on November 15, 1976
Track list:
1. Roy's Blues
2. Soul Dressing
3. Sweet Dreams
4. Hey Joe
5. The Messiah Will Come Again
n3ph3sh
When David Fricke picked 'em he was number 57 and that was way too low!!
In 1971, a documentary about Roy Buchanan aired on public TV; it was called The Best Unknown Guitarist in the World. The title remains apt today. Buchanan's gritty blues-rock playing entranced other guitarists such as Jeff Beck. But the Washington, D.C., virtuoso never caught the break he deserved, and in 1988, at age forty-eight, he took his own life while in jail for public drunkenness.
