Search - Roy Buchanan :: Street Called Straight

Roy Changes Labels And Re-Records His Signature Tune

Eric R. Last | San Bruno, CA United States | 07/27/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Since nobody else has seen fit to review Roy's 6th album "A Street Called Straight", I'll put in my 2 cents worth. This album was my introduction to Roy's music, some 25 years ago. My friends were raving about a song called "The Messiah Will Come Again", and I picked up this album, not realizing the version of that song contained herein was a remake, not the original that my friends had fallen in love with. Not that it really matters, as both versions are pretty similar and either will do just fine. (I like this version better, probably because I heard this version first). "Messiah..." remains a favorite after all these years, and any lover of Blues-Rock guitar playing will find much to enjoy on any Roy Buchanan album. But like most of his albums, "A Street Called Straight" also suffers from some weak songs, and the vocals are so-so. In other words, it's all about the guitar playing. This was Roy's first album for Atlantic after recording five for Polydor. Die hard fans will want to own everything, but for those of us who are content to just have the highlights, a better choice than this is the Rhino collection "Guitar On Fire: The Atlantic Sessions", which compiles tracks from Roy's three Atlantic albums. 6 of the 11 tracks on "a Steet Called Straight" are on the Rhino CD, including "Messiah...". By the way, I should mention that this review is really a review of the original LP rather than this CD reissue. I don't know if the CD has any bonus tracks, or is remastered, or has great liner notes, etc. Perhaps another reviewer will come along to provide that information."

Roy is amazing but the mastering is as bad as it gets!

Eric R. Last | 09/29/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"How could anyone do such a poor job on the mastering with todays technology?! . Roy Buchanan's great album "A Street Called Straight"
The album is great, the playing is great, but it is so muddy, and the volume so low that it doesn't even represent 1980's cd technology well...never mind 2003!!! Beware. Hold off on buying if you can and wait for someone to do it right!
Sorry to seem negative but it is true."

Worth owning

Anon | Australia | 09/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Each to their own, but I feel this is the best Roy Buchanan CD available. There are no weak tracks on this and the version of 'The Messiah Will Come Again' is better here. Some blues fans would be upset purely on the basis it tends to be more of a pop than blues CD. Probably not for those with blinkered music tastes, but definitely for those who like a variety of music."