Showdown

Johnny Copeland, Robert Cray, Albert Collins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B0000009YB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,998 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Electric Blues Guitar
  • #30 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Texas Blues
  • #41 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Contemporary Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Call it three for the price of one. Far from engaging in a guitar-playing shootout, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, and Johnny Copeland work together incredibly well, achieving a kind of musical synergy that's rarely heard. Copeland and Cray handle most of the vocal duties, and Cray's smooth, soul-tinged voice (positively shiver-eliciting on "The Dream," as is Collins's lead guitar work) complements Copeland's growl perfectly. Collins doesn't get to sing as much, but he more than makes up for it with his harmonica on the slow blues "Bring Your Fine Self Home." And of course, all three turn in stellar guitar work, trading solos and rhythm parts with the greatest of ease; Cray was a relative newcomer at the time of this recording, but he more than holds his own. One would be hard pressed to find a better blues collaboration anywhere. --Genevieve Williams

Product Description

180 gram vinyl reissue of this Grammy Award-winning, all-time best-selling masterpiece from Alligator Records. Remastered with bonus track "Something To Remember You By," this title has been out of print on vinyl for 20 years. It's a celebrated cutting contest between three legendary blues guitarists. Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland are sadly no longer with us, but Robert Cray continues to record and tour, and is one of the best-selling blues artists in history! --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blues guitar heaven, June 28, 2000

By 

FairiesWearBoots8272 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Showdown (Audio CD)

It's nothing short of awesome to hear these three guitar greats come together. Albert Collins was one of the BEST blues guitarists in the world. Any recording which features him is going to be worthwhile. Robert Cray is very good too and has a wonderful voice. Johnny Copeland contributes some nice vocals and guitar licks, but I'm not as familiar with him as I am Albert and Robert. There are only two downsides to this wonderful CD. First, the sound quality isn't as good as it could be. It definitely sounds its age. I know that Alligator is not a huge record label, but it would be nice if they could remaster and rerelease some of their titles such as this one. Second drawback is that the album is too short! It's so good that you don't want it to end. It's not much longer than half an hour. But it is good stuff. If you like guitar-based blues, BUY this CD!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Old Pros and an Upcoming Star, November 13, 2003

By 

Mark R. Van Wagenen "viagracat" (Elgin, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Showdown (Audio CD)

Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland were two of the pioneers of Texas blues, and major influences to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. These two guys work their magic on this CD, and bring on a young bluesman named Robert Cray. These guys just seem to have fun with this CD, never trying to outdo each other. Great riffs in the leadoff track "T-Bone Shuffle", harmonica on "Bring Your Fine Self Home", lyrics in "Black Cat Bone" (hear Johnny Copeland yelling "Hey Albert!") and the last track "Blackjack" where each does a tremendous guitar solo. Cray, of course, is now a major talent in his own right, and Johnny Copeland lives on in a way in his daughter Shemekia Copeland's music, but here is a playful, low-key yet powerful, piece of work from some of the masters of electric blues. Highly recommended for serious blues fans.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Love the Blues this CD is a MUST HAVE!!!!, July 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Showdown (Audio CD)

One word, EMOTION, just listen to Blackjack I felt what Albert was trying to say. All other tracks on this CD are a diverse showing of each guitarist's talents. I've had it for years & I still crank it now & then. This is the real deal.