Customer Reviews

Albert Lee: Country Legend

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This DVD is comprised of a full length concert given by Albert Lee with segments interspersed between the songs in which Albert discusses the guitarists he admired and emulated during his formative years.

The concert performance is first rate. He plays several of the classic songs which showcase his awesome guitar playing, such as "Luxury Liner," "Tear It Up," and, of course "Country Boy." Although I still have to give the nod to the performances on Albert's instructional DVD "Highlights" as his best ever, anyone who wanted to argue with me that the concert on "Country Legend" is as good as, or better, than the perfomances on "Highlights" would have a strong case. I must admit, the version of "Country Boy" on this "Country Legend" DVD might be the best ever.

For me, Albert's discourse about his boyhood guitar heroes is a real bonus. It's reasonable to assume anyone interested in this DVD is a hot country guitar fan in general. If so, they'll probably find it fascinating to listen to Albert's anecdotes about James Burton's light gauge guitar strings, the diffculty of finding Chet Atkins records in England back in the '60's, and the monumental impact Cliff Gallup and Scotty Moore had on him.

Albert demonstrates one or two signature licks from each guitarist, and the DVD includes a booklet showing you how to play each of them (at least it did when I bought back in 2003.) Be aware, though, Albert's main objective is to give you general background information on guitarists who helped form his style, not to teach the viewer how to play.

The DVD includes other little bonuses such as a video of Chet Atkins playing a fantastic version of "The Black Mountain Rag" and Hank Garland playing an equally enjoyable version of "Sugarfoot Rag." You can also watch the concert straight through without Albert's lecture on his favorite guitarists, if you so choose.

Overall, this video is the best representation of Albert's playing. Although I like his performances on the "Highlights" DVD, the overall flow of "Country Legends" is smoother and probably more entertaining to watch. If you're a die-hard fan like me, get them both. Otherwise, I'd probably recommend this one over the other.

Either way, I highly recommend adding some Albert Lee to your collection. The man is as important to his genre as Clapton, Vaughan, and Page are to theirs. If you want a product that defines what hot country guitar playing is all about, well this is it.

This is a wonderful DVD, offering a few things you don't often see a "concert disc." For example, you can watch and listen to Albert Lee discuss his history, his guitar-playing idols as a kid and see some flim clips of legendary greats like Chuck Atkins and Hank Garland, in between peformances of his band...... or you can just watch the hour-long concert. There are several options on this disc.

Actually, you can't lose no matter what option you pick because Lee is an interesting artist, a good speaker and such a likable guy he's fun to hear talk. However, you can beat him as a guitar player and singer. I "discovered" this guy only a handful of years ago, but "better-late-than-never" is how I look at it because Lee is a gem. Nobody quite sounds like Albert, and nobody quite gets the respect from other professional guitarists like Mr. Lee.