Customer Reviews

Hell to Pay

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a good effort by The Jeff Healey Band to try to capture the essence of the band continuing from their first cd/album.

Mark Knopfler's guest appearance on "I Think I Love You Too Much" is excellent as well as the late George Harrison's guesting on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" which he originally did as a member of The Beatles. Healey's style is his own but you can see shades of Eric Clapton's original "Gently Weeps" licks on this version.

"How Long Can a Man Be Strong" is this cd's "Angel Eyes" and although his singing is not as passionate the guitar playing certainly is.

A much better effort than his next album would be.

HELL TO PAY is Jeff Healey's best album ever. There are numerous great cuts here, including "Full Circle", "I Think I Love You Too Much", "Can't Get My Hands On You", the title song, "Highway Of Dreams, and numerous others. The one that cuts deepest is a remake of John Hiatt's "Let It All Go", which talks about how people can mess up their lives by staying angry at friends and family for years, and how it doesn't get you anywhere. The closer, "Life Beyond The Sky", describes the decay of modern society as seen through the eyes of a frequent exercise walker, and, overall, most of this album seems to be about life's lessons learned the hard way. If SEE THE LIGHT proved that disabilities don't have to prevent you from living a full life, HELL TO PAY makes that even more clear.

When this came out(based on what I'd heard on "See The Light") I had to give it a listen. And I wasn't disappointed. He and
his band have the fire and passion that I heard on the first album.
Great music should be shared with the rest of the world and this definitely fits into that category. Music of this caliber belongs up there with the other greats. And so far, people I have shared this music with have all agreed. Give this one a listen once and you'll be coming back for more.

Now that Jeff Healey has passed, his recordings are sure to get some attention that they may have not enjoyed while he was among the living - what an absolute pity - the man had talent to spare, and although his recording career proved inconsistent, it was more a testimony to his diverse muse than to a lack of vision. If you are curious about his work, "Hell To Pay" is probably the best place to start - blues/rock done right, with cutting guitar sympathizing perfectly with a broken heart. Hints of Clapton, shades of Jimmy Ray, soul brother of Johnny Winter, Jeff's style was still unique and does what a consistently strong blues/rock release does best - it "brings it on home to me". If blues/rock is your bag, this release ought to be in it - it is that good.

Rest easy, Jeff - you made the trip much better for a lot of us.

This is by far the best Jeff healey album ever, and it's incredible that almost none of the songs are presented in his complitation "THE VERY BEST OF JEFF HEALEY". This fact alone killed the compilation.

This is one of my all time favorite albums. So many great songs. From his great cover of Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', to the smokin' 'I Can't Get My Hands On You'. Every song on this disc is a gem. GET IT!!

I REMEMBER SEEING HIM PLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN I SAW HIM IN ROADHOUSE THE MOVIE,AND THOUGHT I WANT TO GO OUT AND BUY HIS CD'S HE IS GREAT,THIS WAS MY FIRST CD I GOT OF HIS,AND I LOVED IT,"HELL TO PAY" THE SONG IS GREAT,"I THINK I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH" EVEN GOT PLAYED ON THE RADIO,BUT MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SONG ON THIS CD IS "HOW LONG CAN A MAN BE STRONG"ITS A SLOW SONG(SOMETHING I NORMALLY DON'T LIKE)BUT HE SINGS IT WITH HEART,I WOULD SAY OUT OF ALL HIS CD'S OVERALL IF YOU WANTED THE MOST QUALITY SONGS ON ONE ALBUM,THEN THIS IS THE ONE FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO BUY ONE OF HIS CD'S,WHAT A SHAME HE DIED AT 41 OF CANCER.HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE ON FOR YEARS TO COME,BUY THIS CD YOU WON'T REGRET IT

Great musician that we lost too young. Rock on my friend and say hey to Stevie Ray for me.
Thanks for making such great music

I discoverd Jeff in "Roadhouse". I was impressed. I picked up "See the Light" and "Hell To Pay". I am more impressed. A fine blues guitar and a good strong voice to back it up. Good strong ballads with a blues touch and good rock and roll. You should give this a spin. I am not saying I liked everything on the albums BUT I did like 7 or 8 songs on each one. This is better than many other CD's I own. I have bought on the basis of one song and found that that one song was it.

The best CD that the Jeff Healy Band has ever made! A must for those that like Rock with a strong blues influence. Seven or eight very strong cuts on this album. imdocrock@prodigy.net