Customer Reviews

Skyboat/Hymn To The Seeker

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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Very simple to say, even the Amazon description of this great recording, (just now avaliable to the cd format), Mac Gayden is a "Nashville musician",and even the two cover art designs also not tell the tale.

Nashville has also a R&B tradition, as it is a USA river town, but "Opry USA" has been the stereotype for a long time, no?

Mac Gayden, fame for his "wha-slide" guitarristics, and was stalwart of JJ Cale's languid recordings..well, for lack of better way to say, "hippi white guy" (which pre-date the hippie redneck look of the country musics idioma which still exists today) give no indication of the musical styles contained within. A unique guitarrista, both with the medicine bottle slide , and fluid single line frasing (atrange enough, NOT a "bluesy" style of tipico southern rock guitarristas, but very thoughtful and melodic frasings!).

This is a cd 2X1, the first recording , "Skyboat" with the incredible abstract flying "buda" defines Mac gayden's "R&B" roots, and is my less favourite of the two recordings, it is an accomplished "southern rock/R&B" style that features his "hits", ~Everlasting Love, and the less known ~Morning Glory, and strange ineffective versions of Smokey Robinson (Dont Look Back) and Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions (It's Allright).

Solid, but for me, too much rock/R&B. Fans of Southern rock can love it, and I think he just as good with guitar as the famous Duane Allman, or that Marshall Tucker fellow, for ex.

The gem, in every sense of the word,is the second recording ~Hymn to the Seeker, a jazz/soul/spiritual excursion, with soaring vocals, (including Mac's sincere falsetto ,one of my favourite tracks, ~Standing in the Background is a more distinct homage to the post doowop styles of the Intruders, Chi Lites, etc).

The band is what they call "tight", a solid unit soaring to the stratosfere with inspiration.

Other tracks feature beautiful flute-istics and sassofone , along with well placed guitarra, solo and 'wha-slide', much more jazz influenced, even sounding at times in the "jazz fusion" moda, how the record label missed this fine musician and relegated him to quase-obscurity from labeling this as "country musics" is a travesty.

~The Minstrel is Free at Last might be the cornerstone of this release, from uptempo funk to introspective falsetto harmony bridge,, finishing with a ripping fusion-style guitar solo that seems a combination of southern rock style mix with the "jazzy", 10000 stars this track alone.

Heavily recommend, 10000 estrelas no ceu, starbound and inspired, and even some avante-guard banjo and more traditional "Nashville", but that far between the Muscle Shoals ritmo guitars, almost Jaco=like bass lines, and Mac Gayden's passionate vocals. (actually, the basslines are very close style to the syncopations of legend session musician Jerry Jemmott, or Rocco Prestia from Tower of Power.

Time for something "old", time to find it "New", a recording that could note even be made today, by tipico "record industry" standards, adventurous and diverse! Get this while you can !!

The Music contained on these 2 CD's may not be your cup of tea, it certainly is mine.
Mac Gayden and Skyboat are completely unique from any Music that I've ever heard. The level of Mac's artistry is very HIGH. It is Rock, it is Blues, it is Soul. It is Grand! I can't honestly compare it to anyone else sound wise, it's just too unique. He writes lyrics that touch your soul, plays Slide guitar and Banjo like God is in the audience, and has a singing voice that is as pure as sweet honey.
These albums are very close to being my favorites of any Music ever released so I'm very biased. You feel really good after hearing this Music. The Music is also of a healing quality if you are in any way depressed. Seek out Mac's fine 1995 release "Nirvana Blues" as well. I hear that there is more on the way in 2010 as well. God Bless Mac for all of the Beautiful Love that he has shared. This Music will make you cry tears of joy, they don't make music this good anymore!
The Slide guitar playing is absolutely amazing on these songs! The Banjo is from another World! The sound quality is excellent! The lyrics are pure joy.

Mac Gayden's solo work, especially Skyboat (one of the two cd's available in this set), is some of the finest rock 'n roll relatively few people have ever heard. It's hard to understand how albums like this could be mishandled so poorly by any reasonably reputable and able record company. When Skyboat was released in 1975, I was working my way through graduate school as a DJ at a "progressive" country station in Athens, GA. We received the album, listened to it, and were blown away by it. But it wasn't country -- far from it. So how could ABC Records be pushing the record as a country release? Beats me. Still, however, we played the dickens out of songs like "Morning Glory" (still one of my all-time favorites with a guitar lead unsurpassed anywhere), "Southwind", "Appalachian Fever", and Mac's own rendition (the best version of many that have been recorded, in my opinion) of "Everlasting Love", a hit for Robert Knight and others. Gradually, however, Skyboat and Mac's next release, Hymm to the Seeker (interesting and well done but not, to my taste, the equal of Skyboat) faded into obscurity, the victim of record company suits who didn't know how to promote a truly exceptional musician, songwriter, and singer. Mac's still around -- working with other musicians, promoting his daughter's musical career, and occasionally releasing some fine solo work of his own (e.g., Nirvana Blues, a late 90's release). But he's never made the big time, which is a crying shame. However, the richness of his music can once again be enjoyed, thanks to this excellent two-fer package by Big Beat. Five stars all the way -- no if's, and's, and but's.

Back in 1975 while working on staff at a meditation retreat center in New York State, I stumbled into a small room by accident where Mac was playing a few tunes for friends. I was immediately floored by his soulful voice and incredible guitar playing! I had no clue who this guy was but I had to find out. Later that same week, he did a free concert for everyone on campus. While chatting between songs, we learned a little bit of his history and who this mysterious musician was.

Mac was from Nashville, a session musician, songwriter, and he had just released the album "Hymn To The Seeker". Checking my record collection, I realized that Mac played on many great recordings with Bob Dylan, JJ Cale, Barefoot Jerry, and others. Needless to say, I wore out two copies of "Hymn To The Seeker" over the years.

Years later, while talking with my friend (session bassist extraordinaire) Tim Drummond (CS&N, Dylan, Clapton, Miles Davis, James Brown, Ry Cooder, JJ Cale, Lonnie Mack, Don Henly, SRV, etc...), I recounted my chance meeting with Mac back in the mid-'70's. Tim lite up like a Christmas tree: "Who, Mac?! He's the nicest guy in the music biz! I've done alot of work with him!".

I've been waiting a long time for Mac's older recordings to make it to CD. His "Nirvana Blues" (1996) is an incredible CD from start to finish, but it only had me wanting more of Mac's music - old and new. I hope there's more to be released soon too. Yes, I will be buying this CD!

This isn't strictly country . R & B, soul, rock give it a blend. Closer to Barefoot Jerry & Bobby Charles. Morning Glory, Goin Down the Road are the winners. Southwind is pleasant and the rest are mongrels. But those 2 winners are well worth getting on MP3 or taken from the album.