Customer Reviews

Sometime Tuesday Morning

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I heard Johnny A's version of "You Don't Love Me" on the radio here in Boston, I knew I had to buy this disc. I wound up buying 4 more and giving them away to friends because he was doing self-indie distribution before he got on Steve Vai's label. Johnny's tone and taste drew me right in - and if you are looking for a guitar PLAYER, instead of wanna-be's, here's your guy. Put this disc in your player and you won't be taking it out anytime soon - it's addictive!

A plus for me is that Johnny plays Gibson guitars through Marshall amps (gets me out of my Fender rut!), and his great tone ranges from clean to snarly effortlessly. I caught him live a couple weeks ago at the Acton Jazz cafe, and he brings the goods into the club, too - no studio tricks. (He's also a cool guy and a pro...)

Johnny is unabashed in his influences, and he brings them all in, from Atkins to Wes (Montgomery), with taste and originality. His original songs are great ("Oh Yeah" is a standout, but all of the originals here are strong, no filler), and his treatment of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" and Lennon/McCartney's "Yes It Is" are great in taking the emotion of the originals and taking it to the next level with style. I'm already looking forward to his next release....

Rare is it to find an artist that defies all the comparisons and genre typecasting, but Johnny A. does just that with his release "Sometime Tuesday Morning". It is obvious that Johnny A. has an eclectic taste of music, as this album samples across the boards. He plays what he wants to play. His style is slow and soulful, without wasting notes. And his sound! Nothing sounds a sweet as a clean guitar. Johnny A. doesn't hide behind a wall of distortion, delays or massive overdrives. When he does use effects to crunch it up a bit, it is with style and taste that compliments the music.

The thing that disappoints me the most about this album is the fact that it took me so long to discover it. Thanks to my local radio stations "Studio C" program of bringing touring musicians in and recording live cuts, I first heard "Oh Yeah" live (and if you think that the album version is great, try finding this live version). After hearing that, I had to have this album. The only other disappointment is the fact that it's so short, just over 48 minutes of music, but you'll enjoy all of it.

This album is full of gems, and you won't be skipping over any tracks. Each song has a slightly different flavor. From the soulful and slow "Wichita Lineman" to the more upbeat "Up In the Attic" Johnny A. knows exactly how to play to stir emotions and feeling. His cover of "Walk Don't Run" is a slowed down swing version of the original surf tune that shows how he can take a song and make it his own. Johnny A. doesn't fill his solos with notes, but says more in between the notes, and although he can play fast, he prefers to keep it slow giving his notes more power.

If you love guitar, swing, jazz, country, or just plain old rock, then look no further than this excellent album. Johnny A. is a master of guitar and tone, and proves it to us all on this well-done album.

After years of forming and playing with little known bands, Johnny A. opted to become a sideman or session player for various artists which included a six year stint with Peter Wolf, former frontman of the J. Geils band. Coming full circle, Johnny is back at center stage with this release. However, rather than to make his comeback with another rock band, Johnny chose to improvise somewhat and let his guitar do the singing for him. The result is an exceptional instrumental that hints at various styles, including country and rock, and yet remains true to jazz. This is truly one of those can't miss CD's.

This is a great debut instrumental album by Johhny A, who heavy metal artist Steve Vai thought enough of to put him on his own Favored Nations record label. But don't mistake this for heavy metal, it's far from it. It's a cool mix of different styles including rock, r&b, jazz, country, and everything in between. He plays with a beautiful tone that I haven't heard played this good since the days of Danny Gatton. I noticed he's being compared alot to Gatton, and after hearing this cd, I think they may not be far off. He definitly plays with his style on songs like "Two Wheel Horse" and "Up In The Attic", where he shows he's capable of playing with some great speed and controlled fury. But as much as I like this Gatton-like stuff, it's the slower, jazzier type material where I think he really comes into his own and shines. The opener "Sometime Tuesday Morning", is a very catchy tune with a mid-tempo jazz feel to it. But the one that really gets to me here is "Wichita Lineman". This is a very melodic version that has such a beautiful, expansive tone to it that you can just lay back and feel this music travel over the telephone lines and way beyond the lonely horizon. Needless to say, I loved this cd. The music he presents here varies so much, and he uses so many different styles and tones, that sometimes I wonder if it's the same guitar player playing all these songs. In my opinion, that's the mark of a true master. I can't wait to hear what he comes with next, because this guy is definitly going places.

One of the most satisfying, original, guitar albums to come along in years. This guy has abilities and creativity to spare. As soon as you think you know what his next phrase will sound like, he does a turn-around that completely surprises and delights you at the same time. Every time I play this CD I hear it again for the first time. There is a lot in there. I am so glad I took a chance and bought this disk. I, too, am anxiously awaiting Johnny A.'s next CD. I hope this one catches on like wildfire. This album is a jewel, a diamond. [...], here is guy giving us real, generative, music. This is the kind of music that inspires other musicians and composers. If you love American guitar, you will love this recording. If you play the guitar, listening to this music will make you a better player.

Namely, delivered a CD with guitar playing that is so fresh, so technically adept, and so moving that I was left slack-jawed in awe and beaming in delight. If this were an LP, I would play it so much the grooves would be white from wear.

Johnny's playing is incredibly efficient -- he never fills or distorts to be showy -- each riff, modulation, or effect is used for a welcome musical communication. Don't think that is a product of an inability to smoke the strings, he can and will do that when the music calls for it. And, when he does, you are left shaking your head thinking 'Did I just hear him play that?'

The musical styles on this CD defy classification, but you will definitely find hints of blues, rock, funk, rockabilly, country and jazz. Rather than make one track follow one style, Johnny masterfully blends styles on a single track to form his own, unique form of guitar expression. The comparisons to Danny Gatton are inevitable, but, I think, off-base. Johnny chooses to play with far less gain, allowing you to experience the subtle tricks he plays with the strings. He has a way of making a truly impossible-to-play riff sound effortless (more like Freddie King in that regard). Bottom line is that any comparison will be fun to make for the sake of discussion, but will be off the mark. This guy is a unique talent.

As far as tone goes, guitar fans will love this disc. If you think that Les Paul himself doesn't have a copy of this CD, you'd probably be wrong. The sound of the humbuckers through that Marshall is pure, throaty and fluid.

I enjoy listening to every track on this CD, and have listened to it over and over again.

Every once in a while, an authentic guitar hero rises up from the miasma of pedestrian players that saturate live music circuits across America. In recent times, there have been some shining stars: Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, Danny Gatton, Eric Johnson, Brian Setzer, and Junior Brown. The guitar hero's appeal stretches across many layers of the spectrum.

With the release of 'Sometime Tuesday Morning,' we can now include Boston's Johnny A. in this exclusive club. This album will attract both enthusiasts who struck gold with Gatton's '88 Elmira Street' and casual listeners who enjoyed the most popular works of Johnson and Setzer.

But classifying Johnny A. as just a blues player would be uncharitable, and comparing him to other guitarists is a futile, apples-and-oranges exercise. So let's talk about why Johnny A. is unique.

First, there is his attention to tone and phrasing. Johnny strikes the right balance between pure and mellow and rough and raunchy. No overkill here. He can be bluesy without sounding gutbucket, rockabilly without sounding retro, contemporary without sounding atonal, and country without sounding hillbilly. Make any sense? Purchase the disc and it will.

Johnny A. tells an original story with each composition. He doesn't play notes for their own sake; melodies fit as snugly as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Johnny seems to understand something that all great musicians know: sometimes one note speaks louder than ten. While the song 'Oh Yeah' is a toe-tapping, turn-up-the-volume classic, overall this disc falls somewhere between Marvin Gaye and Wes Montgomery in the third date, bring the girl back to the apartment mix. In fact, the songs on 'Sometime Tuesday Morning' are so recognizable it seems certain that they will be used for film soundtracks and television commercials. All the more reason to pick this disc up while it's still new and fresh.

I first heard the song"Oh Yeah" on the radio about 2 months ago. A couple of weeks later I decided to buy the CD "Sometime Tuesday Morning". The truth must be told my friends, this is one of the best instrumental recording's that I have ever heard! Man, this guy can play. Johnny A. is a guitar player that sounds like other great players, yet has a style that is all his own. There is not ONE bad song on this recording. All 12 songs are Top Shelf . My 3 favorites are "Oh Yeah",( which is the only one that I've heard on the airwaves)," Wichita Lineman", (absolutley beautiful), and "Walkin' West Ave".( Smokey,Bluesy and Spooky). I can honestly say that this CD is so good, it would be ruined if it HAD vocals on it. If you like smooth, clean and tasty music, then this CD is for you!

If you are a lover of GREAT guitar albums...then get Johnny A. 'Sometime Tuesday Morning' NOW! Filled with beautiful melodies, fantastic playing, and a few stellar cover tunes (Beatles, Jimmy Webb, Ventures, etc.) this CD is a must have! There are no clunkers on this one folks! Pure, clean guitar sounds that will cause you to listen to it over and over again! I can't seem to pull this one out of the player! Johnny A. is a master and in a perfect world would be heard by millions. Nuff said.

This guy just blew me away during his live performance at the Gibson Custom Shop party in Nashville during NAMM. I am telling you this was a jaded crowd of musical pro's, who have seen & know everbody so one tough crowd. Forget the sweltering heat and bugs Johnny A. just smoked winning us over. This guy sat on a stool with DI via Marshall head playing only to his monitor with a BEAUTIFUL new Johnny A. signature Gibson Custom Shop guitar and rolled meticulously through virtually every guitar style of the last 50 years.

Johnny's ebb and flow, feel and touch bring you gently all the way in and then erupt in powerful emotional solo's I haven't heard in years-And I was stone cold sober! About 20 guys, me include, looked over at his pedal board searching for some magic box to account for his golden tone but came up empty when they were all standard looking pedals. How about it was maybe in his hands? Yeah-Correct.

I ran to my computer to buy this record. Johnny A. is the future of instumental performances that work and "Sometime Tuesday Morning" is brillant. Nothing boring, self indulgent or too notey here and this from a guy who loved the Lee Roy Parnell and Ted Nugent performances that followed. My teenage kids even like this guy! If thats not an endorsement to buy this record and have a little family time without parental warnings I don't know what is in these days of uneven releases.

I need to buy his signature guitar maybe I'll sound like Johnny!!

(Nah, I forgot-I play bass)

Brent
Nashville