Customer Reviews

Boz Scaggs

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3 star:		(1)
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The rhythm section that propelled the great Atlantic soul singers like Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding...the legendary lead guitarist Duane Allman just as he was forming his great band...the keys to the kingdom were handed to the former Steve Miller Band guitarist and aspiring singer Boz Scaggs for his debut solo album in 1969...and boy oh boy did Boz ever deliver!

"Boz Scaggs" is another candidate for the greatest overlooked, unjustly forgotten album of the classic rock era. It wasn't overlooked in its own day. Back when FM radio was "free form" and could play 10 minute-long cuts, the amazing "Loan Me a Dime," a delicately soulful blues wail that evolves into a monstrous Allman guitar workout, was a staple, especially at night. But the whole album is as good as that climactic moment. "I'll Be Long Gone," which Tracey Nelson also memorably covered, is an emotional inspiration. There are many other highlights--"Look What I Got" has the emotional directness of the Band; "Sweet Release" is heavenly soul. The album is sequenced beautifully; it is almost flawless.

A lot of fans of this album like to bemoan the fact that Boz Scaggs seemed to "go commercial" in later years, especially with "Silk Degrees." I think this is the wrong way to look at his career. This album is so complete, so rich, and so thoroughly occupies the territory, what else could he have done with it? Scaggs obviously loves the whole wide expanse of soul, blues and R & B, and feels no need to settle into a single groove within that broad category. So, with each album, he explores a sound as thoroughly, creatively and thoughtfully as he can, and then, on his subsequent album, moves on to explore another aspect. "Silk Degrees" happened to be very successful, but it's just as fresh as this album, a classy, creative take on the dance music of its time. "Middle Man" went even further uptown; it is the only Steely Dan-influenced album that belongs on the same shelf with them.

Some day, a label like Rhino is going to do the kind of comprehensive job on Scaggs' career that they have done with other artists of this period, finally releasing the albums that have sunk out of sight like "Moments," unearthing some unreleased and obscure tracks that show his work with his consistently great array of sidemen, remastering (although this disk, old as it is, sounds just fine), maybe digging out some live performances (Scaggs has never released a full live album), and finally get this great artist the credit he is due.

This is surely one of the two or three most underrated albums of the 1970's. Featuring the deft Muscle Shoals session players, Roger Hawkins, (drums) David Hood, (bass) and Barry Beckett, (keyboards) the overall feel of this recording is something along the lines of Booker T meets JJ Cale. Maybe that's a bit of a stretch but there is an undeniable downhome groove mixed with a rich Hammond B3 flavor and rounded out by the stunning background vocals of three fine young ladies, whose names completely escape me.

The opening track is a beauitully crafted version of the Jimmy Rogers classic, "Waiting For A Train", that sets the tone for what's to come. "Now Your Gone" features Duane Allman on dobro, in a virtuoso performance on an instrument he played far too seldom. By most accounts "Loan Me A Dime" is the albums standout. Perhaps that's because it was featured in the first Duane Allman anthology. No doubt this is an inspired performance by all and showcases Duane's incomprable prowess on electric slide guitar.

On a personel note, I first listened to this album on the day I learned of Duane's passing and felt compelled to play it over and over again. I remember holding the album cover and looking at that great picture of Duane, standing .... and covering up his genitles, wearing nothing but those outrageous mutton chops and a huge smile. Along with the album cover, I had tickets in hand for an Allman Brothers concert at Carnegie Hall on Thanksgiving Day 1971, (it was the first concert performed by the ABB without Duane). This wonderful album by Boz Scaggs is further testment to the enormous talent that was Duane Allman. There's hidden beauty here and another side of Duane and Boz, many have never heard. Like two good ole' country boys sittin' back with some great musicians pickin' and singin' just for the fun of it.

This was Boz's first record, produced by Jann Wenner (Of Rolling Stone fame) with a shortlived stay at Atlantic Records. Bozz would go on to create that blusey, sassy, "Silk Degrees" personna on later albums that cemented his Armani-suited Guitar-Man image of the mid 70's. But at this stage in his career , Boz -- like Kenny Loggins -- and that whole Doobie Bros crowd, indulged in a roots-rock-country hybred that was the stuff of the period. And Boz pulls it off with aplomb and clarity. First of all, the songs are terrific. The arrangements are spare and effecting, and Wenner's lack of production skill works for this music. "I'll Be Long Gone" is still one of my favorite songs in the Boz Scaggs catalogue. In fact, if you pick up a copy of the rock film "Fillmore" (about the closing of the Fillmore West), you can see him perform the song . The very country-ish "Another Day (Another Letter)" , and the haunting "Finding Her" (on which guitar legend Duane Allman plays) are both solid. The centerpiece of the record however, is the now-famous "Loan Me A Dime" ... the epic blues cut that yields standing ovations when Boz does it in his live show. This may not be my favorite Boz album ... But it might be my second favorite ... One thing for certain, if you like the artist, and you like much of what you've heard over the years, then you will be absolutely pleased with this classic album

You don't hear songs from this CD on the radio any more (even on the classic rock stations). As with some other "forgotten classics" from that era (examples would be "Forever Changes" by Love, "East-West" by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Rod Stewart's first album), this album received rave reviews and got a fair amount of airplay on the cutting-edge FM stations of the late 60s and early 70s. However, it didn't generate any "hits" and is now easily overlooked in the CD racks at the music stores.

That's a shame, because this is Boz at his best - soulful, expressive, at times joyous and playful, at other times blue to the point of tears. "Loan Me a Dime" is the centerpiece of the album. Boz' voice, the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, and Duane Allman's no-holds-barred guitar combine to make the song soar and cry. "Finding Her" is a quiet, romantic contrast to the mournful pyrotechnics of "Loan Me a Dime", it's a little gem that gives Duane a chance to swoop and soar (turn the volume up at the end to hear his trademark "twitter"). "Waiting for a Train" is a lovely tribute to Jimmy Rodgers, Boz sings it with a woeful, resigned tone while Duane inserts little dobro fills and echoes; Barry Beckett does a nice little saloon-piano break in the middle.

The rest of the songs are good to excellent. No "filler" and not a "clinker" in the bunch, they're all worth listening to.

Don't pass this CD up when browsing the racks or surfing thru this web site. If you were listening to FM radio during the era when this came out, you'll be nodding your head and flashing back as you hear each song. If you weren't, this CD will give you a sense of what was being played in those days.

P. S. If you have the Duane Allman Anthology Vol 1 CD, you HAVE to get this CD. The Anthology album has "Loan Me a Dime", but the mix of the song puts the volume of Duane's guitar so low that you have to strain to hear it. You really need Boz' CD to fully hear and appreciate Duane's performance.

I have this album on vinyl, bootleg 8 Track, have copied it onto countless cassettes and now I have 2 CDs. In fact the 1st vinyl LP I had literally wore out, so I bought another one. This is one of the best "unknown" albums that I can think of. "Loan Me A Dime" still brings a tear to my eye every single time I play it. I was lucky enough to actually see Boz Scaggs perform "Dime" back in the 70's. The entire album is just so classy and well performed. Duane Allman and that fat horn section are completely solid. It is like the planets aligned just for a special moment. I especially like the version of "I'll Be Long Gone" which is sad, but sweet. (Cold Blood does a nice version of this song too). Every track worthwhile. I cannot reccomend this enough to fans of early classic rock.

A Bit John Hammond,Eric Burdon and Paul Butterfield (better solo work) is what Boz came out with his first lp. With help from the Muscle Shoals Musicians, plus barry Beckett, Duane Allman ,Boz put out an excellent lp/cd of blues and r&B . Some of the blues are jams like"Loan Me A Dime" (which alone is worth the price of the cd kinda like a Muddy Waters meets Paul Butterfield blues band .Think of the song East/West and you have an idea of what's happening here add Duane Allman on lead guitar and you get a fuller picture. Some of the songs are country blues Waiting for a Train, think of John Hammond here.The rest of the cd has more of an Eric Burdon post Animals post War sound. All in all not a lemon to be found. One great and highly overlooked cd by Boz. There is no Lido Shuffle or anything that comes close to that period of Boz which I also like ,I just would like to see what would have happened if he stuck with the blues. He has a great voice and is an underappreciated guitarist. He was Steve Miller's oringinal lead guitarist.

While I like the entire album, as it shows Boz Scaggs range - this album alone is worthy of 4 stars for Loan me a dime. If you have never heard it - buy it for this - the blues of the song will knock you out and Duane Allman's guitar rivals his work on Layla and The Filmore East albums. I am hoping everyone my age has heard it, but perhaps some of you who are my children's age -late teens and early twenties - might not have. This is worthy of being named to a list of top twenty songs of all time !

This is actually Boz' SECOND ALBUM...He recorded an accustic album in Stockholm in 1965!!

This is a classic album, recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and was originally Produced by Jann Werner. Issued 1969, it sold poorly and in 1977, somebody at Atlantic had the bright idea of completely remixed the original album (it was done in Los Angeles), bringing up Duane Allman's guitar and drowning other aspects of the original mix. On "Finding Her", for example, the volume level of the music drops down way low for the last 40 (or so) seconds....something the original mix never had.

Apparently, the original mix is only available on the original vinyl LP (SD-8239). Lord knows if Atlantic still has both mixes in their vaults (they did not renumber the 1977 mix).

I wish someone would reissue the original mix...it's SOOOOOOOOO much better.

This first album by Boz Scaggs is a gem. It is a mellow blend of country and blues with a soulfulness that sucks this listener right in. Scaggs' vocals are superb--guitar riffs by the late great Duane Allman are restrained but masterful. Other greats on the pressing are David Hood (bass), Barry Beckett (keyboards), and Roger Hawkins (drums). Check out the slow blues of "I'll be Long Gone" or the loping "Now You're Gone." "Loan Me a Dime" and "Sweet Release" are not to be missed either. Give it a listen. If you're a Scaggs fan but have missed this album, you owe it to yourself.

Boz Scaggs' first album takes a shotgun approach to material. He's a little bit country, a little bit blues, a little bit rock and roll, and a little bit gospel. He even yodels on one track!

This CD is worth the price simply for the cut "Loan Me A Dime." After this album he hit his stride with pop-dance tunes, segued into the blues with his Some Change CD, and then returned to his first love, the blues, with Coming Home, a CD whose success was foretold by "Loan Me A Dime."

He tours every couple of years; don't miss him!