Advantages: Great blues! Disadvantages: None. Whatsoever.
I have to admit I found Johnny Winter totally by chance. I was in a record shop and saw a CD in a round, metal case. "Johnny Winter? The TexasTornado? I'll buy that!" So I did.
What I found was a musician, Johnny Winter, who is a hard rocking bluesman of consummate skill. Johnny Winter is such a accomplished bluesman that I have to admit that it came as something of a shock to discover that Johnny Winter is a white Texan. Though he reveals that he hung out in the black part of his hometown in Texas, such was his fever for the blues. And, Winter maintains that it was his sincerity about his passion for the blues that meant that he was safe there. Even though Beaumont had not long before suffered form some terrible racially-inspired riots.
Winter's blue's sound as if they were recorded in the 1940s or 1950s. Actually, I was ...
Advantages: Tuneful,classic pop-rock,best of the 90s.Lyrically,musically and vocally chairming and catchy Disadvantages: If you dont like pop/rock then you might not enjoy this blast from the past.
Right so today I am really on one with bands/albums ranging from the mid 80s to the late 90s and seeing as I am, what sort of reviewer would I be if I didn't at least give a quick mention to Texas?
Southside by Texas is one of their most acclaimed albums. Released in 1995 with timeless classics like 'I dont want a lover', the album still rings true with audiences today.
Although they have taken their name from an american state, they are essentially a Scottish pop/rock band. Their music does seem to adopt some of the texan stealy guitar sound and although singer and rhythm guiatris Sharleen Spiter has a lovely Scottish accent, she sings with an american accent (which is a shame but common of the era).
This album has some really great pop songs, I dont Want a Lover being one of many. The overal quality of the vocals is really ...
Advantages: cheap, good location, friendly staff Disadvantages: minimal kitchen facilities, no big socialising area
stairs, past other businesses or residences. On the first floor is the door to Ace itself. This is opened almost immediately by the owner, a very friendly middle-aged Czech man.
We walk through the front door onto the main room. This is a fairly small room, say 5m x 5m, and has a dining room table and a couple of sofas, as well as a television. Part of the room is walled off to be the manager's office, complete with serving hatch. Off this room are bedrooms 1-4, and a corridor to the kitchen, another dining room, a smoking room/conservatory (all fairly small too), and rooms 5 and 6.
6 of us had the dormitory style bedroom, with was a nine bed room, whilst the other 2 of us had a double bedroom. The dormitory was very big, with all beds being singles (no bunkbeds) with ample room around them. These beds open up to become lockers (you lift ...
Product Information for "4 Aces - Texas Tornados (The)" »
Product details
Title
4 Aces
Performer
Texas Tornados (The)
Genre
World Music
Sub Genre
Tejano
Release Date
08/1996
Original Release Year
1996
Label / Distributor
WEA / Cinram Logistics
Engineer
Stuart Sullivan
Producer
Jim Dickinson
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
93624619727
Catalogue Number
9362461972
Additional notes
Album Notes
The Texas Tornados: Doug Sahm (vocals, 6- and 12-string guitars, maracas); Augie Meyers (vocals, accordion, piano, Vox organ); Flaco Jimenez (vocals, accordion); Freddy Fender (vocals). Additional personnel: Derek O'Brien (electric guitar); Louie Ortega (guitar, background vocals); Joe "King" Carrasco, John X. Reed (guitar); Ry Cooder (slide guitar); Vern Monnett (steel guitar); Jim Dickinson (piano); Allan Rich (keyboards, synthesizer); Max Baca (bajo sexto); Jack Barber, Chris Jurado, M. "Speedy" Sparks (bass); Ernie Durawa, Clay Meyers, George Rains, Barry "Frosty" Smith (drums); Rosie Flores (background vocals). The West Side Horn Section: Rocky Morales, Cullen Offer (tenor saxophone); Louis Bustos (baritone saxophone); Al Gomez (trumpet). Recorded at Arlyn Recording Studio, Austin, Texas. Includes liner notes by Doug Sahm. "Little Bit Is Better Than Nada" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. Working within the confines of a style as singular as Tex-Mex, one of the greatest difficulties is finding a way to keep the music sounding fresh. Year after year, the Texas Tornados manage to do just that, serving up spicy slabs of south-of-the-border soul. Their music brings together rock and roll, R&B, country and traditional Mexican folk music (represented in the norteno accordion of Flaco Jimenez and the stirring, romantic voice of Freddy Fender). On 4 ACES, the mutant charm of this musical hybrid is exemplified by the mysterious, Del Shannon-esque title cut, the country-flavored torch ballad "In My Mind" and the 6/8 New Orleans stroll of "Tell Me." On those and other tunes, the Tornados prove themselves adept at working endlessly appealing variations on the style that is their foundation.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (8/8/96, p.62) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...This time the Tornados have tilted their Tex-Mex balance more in the Mex direction, with gorgeous Spanish-language love songs sung by [Freddy] Fender..." Option (11-12/97, pp.133-134) - "Border radio tuned in by four geezers who actually remember border radio....produced by a man with a Midas touch who channels 'em into sonic gold....that such a band can make such breathtakingly gorgeous, emotional music for a major label in 1996 is astounding."
