CD
Review
"Life
In The Jungle"
by
the
Walter Trout Band
WALTER TROUT BAND
LIFE IN THE JUNGLE
Ruf Records
1990/2002
Well, What can I say that I haven't said a hundred
times before about the talent, the man, the person; Walter Trout.
The blues man, from New Jersey who moved to California, only to
become a legend in Europe. This is his European debut album from 1990.
If you were lucky enough to have this “import” in you
collection already, consider yourself fortunate.
Twelve years is a long time to wait for an import to be released
domestically here in the USA. Was it worth the wait? HELL, YES! This is the album that
kicked it all off. A live CD that was recorded in the summer of ’89.
Some of it in a Stockholm studio and some of it in front of
thousands of Fans in Denmark. Let
me tell you, more than a decade later, those crowds aren’t getting any
smaller. Hell, the smallest
crowds he plays to are right here in America.
Thanks a lot Corporate Radio.
Every single live show is played like it’s his last concert.
This cooker of a CD is half originals & half
covers. Who the hell kicks off their solo career with a live album? Walter
does! If you think he sounded good in 1989, you can imagine what he sounds
like now. His chops have gone
nowhere but way beyond most of his contemporaries, today.
The dynamics of the first few songs are utterly fantastic.
He rips it up one minute then slows it down the next.
He has one of the most passionate blues voices in the genre.
Don’t forget, he’s singing and playing lead and all parts in
between.
Listen, the guys a great storyteller.
He tells it with his voice and through his Strat.
How about going from the title track “Life in the Jungle”,
which is based on a true story, to a guitar solo, he calls “Space
Fish” that leads right into the Hendrix penned blues classic “Redhouse”.
Who does a solo before doing a tribute to Hendrix? Walter does! This was a
sign of things to come, as Walter would go on to headline a European Jimi
Hendrix Festival. If you don’t think this version kicks ass, well then
you might want to get some tests done.
This is raw, no outboard gear, in your face, listen to what I’m
doing, watch and learn guitar playing.
He shoots you like a machine gun with bullets of sweat &
emotion. Wow! Now back to
where we were on this CD, before he has his way with us.
On Buddy Guy’s “She’s Out There Somewhere”,
we are blessed with some fine harmonica, courtesy of one Walter
Trout. He then tops it off with a guitar solo through to the outro. After
a couple of well written originals, well fit for any rock station, we have
two more covers. The closing
song is the John Lee Hooker classic “Serves You Right to Suffer”.
Here, with a couple of changes, it becomes his own. Who can do this
to a blues classic? Walter can! This recording was the start of a
legendary career from the Walter Trout Band.
Thanks to Ruff Records for re-releasing this to the American
markert, A MUST own.
The Rocker
