Steel Guitar Rag - Jimmie Tarlton

Advantages: Good, solid intro to the band, heavy rock at its finest.
Disadvantages: Bit of a 'quiet' production.

... This band don't just 'rock,' they ''wrowkk!'' I still have vivid memories of waking one Christmas morn to see that the big white bearded guy in the red outfit had left me this album in my Christmas stocking, along with another ''Rush'' album, 'All the world's a Stage.' I must admit that at the time I was more impressed with the latter of the two. I found 'Caress of Steel' a big fat disappointment. I had heard the opening track before and loved it, but the rest just seemed a bit lame. Before I continue, I will just say a few words about Rush because there are always going to be people out there who wonder, ''Rush''? Who the heck are they then?' They were formed in Toronto in 1969 by Geddy Lee on Bass, Alex Lifeson on Guitars and John Rutsey on Drums. They started life as Led Zeppelin wannabes but soon developed their own sound... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fabulous story excellently told
Disadvantages: None

...what was related to what, as the author kept the cards firmly against his chest. As a result I had to read more to see what was going to happen and learn the truth. Some of the excellent links I did not anticipate at all. I could not see how his family were really involved with the Steel Witches and what had happened during the war that was so important. There was so much to enjoy, take in and digest in the story, but at the same time because it was well told and laid out you never got lost at all. The author was skilfully running two different stories simultaneously. You had the current investigation with Fletcher but you also had the story of the Witchfinder back in the 17th Century. It looked into the ways he tried to prove they were witches but written through one of the women?s eyes from what had been passed down to her. I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Lightweight, cheap, unique
Disadvantages: Lipstick pickups can produce a thin tone

...I would never have known about these guitars if not for the fact that Jimmy Page owned one. Well, strictly speaking he owned two which he canabalised to create the one used on such famous tracks as Kashmir. The 56-DC has a number of features which also make it a great guitar for the studio. Firstly its light weight construction means its good for extended periods of seated playing. The lipstick pickups are also unique to the Danelectro brand and offer a quality of sound removed from the usual thinness of Fender-style pickups. The Ying-Yang design of the scratchplate is also eye-catching. These guitars are also very cheap, although Dabelectro does suffer from limited production runs - I had to make do with a U2 for many years before they re-issued this guitar. Now its one alongside my Les Paul that I would never be without.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful