Buddy Whittington – Six String Svengali

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For Texan bluesman Whittington Six String Svengali is actually his first commercial release, with both of his previous efforts from 2007 and 2010 being self-published and only readily available from his own website, remarkably for the UK only, where both albums were recorded. The ex-Bluesbreakers player certainly seems to be both popular and influenced by England, and on opening two tracks Back When The Beano Was Boss and Deadwood And Wire he spends his time bringing all of his influences together, name-dropping classic blues players, and pairing very-English lyrics about blues music and guitars to ZZ Top blues riffs. Entirely produced, engineered and mixed by his drummer Mike Gage, and released via Eric Bibb‘s Manhaton Records, the sound of the disc is basically perfect for gritty Texas blues. The tracks with the big riffs work best, leaving things like and in the dark a bit, and repeating the same pun-filled-poem vocal style on both Deadwood And Wire and upbeat boogie I Had To Go See Alice probably wasn’t wise (it gives the latter a been-there-done-feel immediately), but otherwise this is a fun blues record full of good playing and enjoyable songs. There’s nothing too serious, but a lyrical edge which prevents anything from being too silly either. For most this will be their first introduction to Whittington as a solo artist, and it’s certainly as good a place as any to start. His guitar playing quality is there for all to hear.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Albums, Blues, Quick.Play Reviews, Buddy Whittington