Lost Combination To Casehard Lock

Roy Buchanan: A Street Called Straight (1976)

"Le meilleur guitariste inconnu au monde"






















1. Running Out 2:51
2. Keep What You Got 3:17
3. Man On The Floor 3:28
4. Good God Have Mercy 4:09
5. Okay 2:40
6. Caruso 3:24
7. My Friend Jeff 4:03
8. If Six Was Nine 4:09
9. Guitar Cadenza 3:47
10. The Messiah Will Come Again 4:09
11. I Still Think About Ida Mae 3:44


long unknown to the general public, as a sideman Roy Buchanan made his name in the Blues circuit in the early 60's.
With the experience he acquires in the studio and on stage, he then developed a game based on very personal descent of high-pitched staccato notes he carries on his Telecaster.

Soon his performance earned him among the contenders to replace Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones in 1969. Buchanan declined the offer, preferring to concentrate on a solo career.
But it's a documentary called "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World" (The best unknown guitarist the world) that allows Buchanan to emerge from anonymity and sign a contract for a major label in stride. His first album

testifies at once to his talent, even if commercial success is mixed, the critics, it is unanimous.
With "A Street Called Straight" Buchanan adds a huge stone in his musical work.

From the first title Running Out of Buchanan's signature sound is noticeable. Roy made her scream like never Telecaster no other guitarist had done before him.
If his previous albums gave mostly in the Heavy Blues / Blues Rock songs here are some color Soul / Funk quite confusing at first. But whether in a register calm Good God Have Mercy, or more rhythmic Keep What You Got, the shrill sound of the Telecaster Roy Buchanan easily finds its place.

But it's more than anywhere else on his guitar instrumentals that Roy took all its glory like My Friend Jeff where Buchanan returned the favor to his old lifelong friends Jeff Beck (who was dedicating the song "Cause We've Ended as Lovers "on the album Blow by Blow for Roy) by dedicating this title.

Another tribute, this time to Jimi Hendrix with the resumption of the famous Left If Six Was Nine where Buchanan instead of paying in the cartoon (as is often the case in times of Hendrix) appropriates the title literally. The instrumental Guitar Cadenza in a very hendrix allows Buchanan to present his guitar technique in a flood of sound that contrasts completely with the serenity of the following title: The Messiah Will Come Again. A title that was already on the album Roy Buchanan (1972) but takes on its full splendor thanks to a prod 'more responsive and modern.

More than a blues album or guitar, A Street Called Straight is the masterpiece of an artist original despite obvious talent recognized by his peers, still today, years after his death "The best unknown guitarist in the world."

(1939 - 1988)