496 – Boz Scaggs – Boz Scaggs

Boz

Time for a bit of Boz..

I only really know the ‘Silk Degrees’ album having been introduced to it by a good friend of mine (cheers Anton). I am looking forward to exploring a little more Boz.

OK, have to agree with the comment by ‘Blog Connoisseur’ here, it washed over me a bit to start with. Not any single track that grabbed me like the oft-played ‘Lido Shuffle’, however (and there seems to be a bit of theme so far), this is another real grower with some fabulous soulful songs.

‘I’ll be long gone’, is a real slow-burner and I have found myself returning to this a few sneaky extra times.

‘Another day, another letter’ is another cracker and I can definitely see myself returning to this – I just wish it was a bit longer and the fade at the end a bit more subtle!

Actually I think that the ‘fader master’ was a bit heavy handed on a few of them.

‘Now that you’re gone’  for some reason makes me think of ‘Goodnight ladies’ by Lou Reed, no idea why – just does.

‘Finding Her’ is also just a really ‘good’ song, arrangement and delivery, which also reminds me of something else I cant quite put my finger on – somebody also obviously has had a word about the fades on this one and went the other way.

‘Sweet release’ is fabulous, the song and arrangement are also very reminiscent of Van Morrison – not a bad thing in my book.

I would put the album at 14/20, not really sure about a favourite, probably ‘Finding Her’, ‘I’ll be long gone’ or ‘Sweet Release’  all 14/20 ish. But there are no ‘potato peelings’ on the album, to steal a phrase from Phil B.

My least favourite is ‘Loan Me a Dime’ but that is probably because I have never coped particularly well with 12 minute tracks in general and because its style and delivery just aren’t my favourite. The track is well done, just not really my thing – even though it was the most popular on the album at the time apparently.

One major issue though…

For me, there is a time and a place for yodelling, and  I am not sure this (or any album for that matter) is it. Happy to be put right on the subject of suitably high quality yodelling tunes though, by more knowledgeable people than I. Every time I hear ‘Waiting for a Train’ I am lulled into a false sense of security thinking to myself I really like this one and then, bang! – …. ‘slam the box car door – Yodel eehee’.

Update, having listened again, maybe Boz is even managing to turn me into an appreciator of yodelling !

 

One thought on “496 – Boz Scaggs – Boz Scaggs”

  1. Wot no blogging, Blogster?? You’ll be 90 by the time you reach album 500. Quite liking Boz…washed over me to start with…but even found myself yodelling along on walk to work this morning…elements of Americana, Van Morrison, Billy Joel…some bits I’m not so keen on…Lend Me a Dime…goes on a bit…

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