Johnny "Guitar" Watson - The Best of the Modern Years

Title: The Best of the Modern Years Artist: Johnny "Guitar" Watson Release Date: 1/11/2005 Label: Metro Blue Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPC: 724386471420 Genre: Blues Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Texas Blues, West Coast Blues, Regional Blues Moods: Bravado, Confident, Rollicking, Swaggering, Boisterous, Energetic, Hedonistic, Humorous, Irreverent, Party/Celebratory, Street-Smart, Playful, Rambunctious, Rowdy, Sleazy, Sexual Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Hot Little Mama
2. I Love to Love You
3. Don't Touch Me
4. Too Tired
5. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights
6. Someone Cares for Me
7. Oh Baby
8. Give a Little
9. Three Hours Past Midnight
10. Ruben
11. Love Me, Baby
12. She Moves Me
13. Love Bandit (aka Gangster of Love)
14. Lonely Girl
15. Ain't Gonna Hush
16. Hot Little Mama No. 2 [Take 1]
17. I Love to Love You [Take 1]
18. Three Hours Past Midnight [Take 2][Take]

Year Type Label Catalog # 2005 CD Metro Blue 64714

No other editions were found for this album.

Although Johnny "Guitar" Watson had already recorded some sides for Federal (including the astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar"), the majority of those tunes featured the piano-playing Young John Watson. It was when he began recording for the Bihari Brothers' RPM subsidiary of Modern Records that he "became" Johnny "Guitar" Watson and his amazing legacy really began. The songs are solid west coast blues, but they're brought to the next level by Watson's impassioned vocals and his incredible biting, staccato guitar solos. Watson's tenure at RPM was short-lived (as were most of his label relationships) and all these tracks were recorded in 1955, but they were wildly influential on a number of great guitarists and still hold their power 50 years down the road. This material has been released umpteen times over the years, but the remastering of this compilation has more clarity and warmth than the others. Johnny "Guitar" Watson recorded some great material for a variety of labels, but the real meat of his blues legacy is on these RPM sides. Fans of tough '50s blues and great blues guitar owe it to themselves to check this stuff out. Recommended. ~ Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide

Name Credits Billy Vera Compilation, Liner Notes, Reissue Producer, Compilation Producer Cordella De Milo Vocals Cordella DeMilo Vocals James Parr Trumpet Jesse Price Drums Jesse Sailes Drums Jewell L. Grant Sax (Baritone) Jim Wynn Sax (Baritone) Johnny "Guitar" Watson Vocals, Guitar Maxwell Davis Sax (Tenor) Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis Sax (Tenor), Arranger Ralph Hamilton Bass Rene Hall Guitar Willard McDaniel Piano William K. "Billy" Hadnott Bass