Fire Wire

Larry Carlton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 28, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B000EBGF0Y
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,331 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #70 in Music > R&B > Funk > Jazz Funk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LC's Blow by Blow, May 30, 2006

By 

Ty Slothrop (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Wire (Audio CD)

LC is many things to many people. For all, he is a consummate guitarist with tone, phrasing, and note choice to die for. So you know where I'm coming from, my introduction to LC was with "Last Nite" which is still my favorite and is the standard by which I judge (subconsciously and consciously) his other albums. If you like "Last Nite" you should also like "Fire Wire." Similarly, if you're a Beck fan (Jeff Beck, of couse, who else??) from the Wired, Truth, Blow by Blow era you will like this album. Although not as twisted as Beck, it has the same cool vibe and the touch that only LC can bring to the table.

Fire Wire is rock oriented with elements of blues, jazz, and funk fused and sprinkled throughout. He also has a top notch horn section (sapphire blue) backing him, which is too cool for school. If you're a tone connoissuer this album has the magic. Maybe its the Dumble amplification. Maybe its the touch. Maybe its the Gibson ES-335. Either way, this album has the goods when its comes to tone and production. In this respect, the song "Naked Truth" is worth the price of admission. Although LC will sound like LC no matter what equipment he uses, there just is a richness to the sound on Fire Wire.

This is not, however, the smooth jazz that some may expect from LC from times more recent. It has rough and ready R&R, softer contemplative moments, and get up and dance grooves. For ME, this is the second step in his comeback that commenced with Sapphire Blue (a great blues based album with horns!). LC garnered quite a following with his smooth jazz explorations, but they never quite delivered for ME. I always wanted something more because I've seen him tear down the house in concert and wanted that vibe back in his studio efforts. This is it. Run don't walk to buy this one!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Larry Gets Produced, and That Ain't A Bad Thing, April 5, 2006

By 

Len Scaffidi "Scafeets" (NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fire Wire (Audio CD)

I don't know what the other reviewer was listening to, but this is a new CD of new songs. Unlike recent self-produced efforts, Larry turned over the production to veteran producer Csaba Petocz, who has dozens of platinum albums to his credit. Having worked with artists as diverse as Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Etta James, Elvis Costello and Aaron Neville, you can expect Petocz to encourage Carlton to wade into his rock and roll roots.

This isn't your father's Smooth Jazz Larry -- but "Sunrise" will appeal to all, with a quiet, soulful acoustic minor blues.

"Surrender" is Larry at his best, introducing the melody with with signature 335 tone, followed by a searing solo that is classic Carlton.

"Inkblot" is a throwback in some respects, featuring a horn section, strong unison riffs and some Zappa-like turnarounds.

"Big Trouble" probably shows more of Petocz' hand in the project. If you ever wondered what Carlton's tone would sound like if he were in say, Black Sabbath, here's your chance.

As you would expect for a major label with big-time producer, this is a more polished version of Larry Carlton. Keeping to his pattern of recent years of alternating "smooth jazz" releases with items that tend to be more aggressive, Fire Wire shows his more uptempo side with the rough edges polished to a commercial rock standard -- all without sacrificing the thing that makes Larry Carlton a guitar player's guitar player. His choice of notes and unique tone make him a living legend and Fire Wire just reaffirms Mr. 335's status as one of the greats.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Fusion of Rock, Jazz, Blues, December 6, 2006

By 

William Cook (Dripping Springs, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fire Wire (Audio CD)

If you want smooth jazz don't buy this CD. If you want to get down 'n dirty then buy this CD and crank up the volume! I was not expecting such a straight-ahead hard driving set of tunes from Larry Carlton and I too relish Sapphire Blue, however as a rocker from the 60's and 70's I am so throughly enjoying this CD with it's mix of rock, jazz and blues that I'm buying copies for many of my friends on my Christmas list. Get Down - Get Funky - Get Fire Wired!!!!