Customer Reviews

Strike Like Lightning

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

 

 

Fourteen years before the release of "In Session" (but, it was two years after the "In Session" recording took place), SRV sat in with another one of his heroes, Lonnie Mack. Stevie co-produced Mack's come back album as well as providing guitar work for half the tracks. If you're thinking this is an SRV album under a different name don't get too excited. Stevie had great respect for his heroes and he would never step on their toes. This is definitely Mack's album and when SRV's not playing, Mack's younger brother, Bill McIntosh, steps up to the plate (a fine guitarist in his own right).

Mack is most noted for his ability to play melody and rhythm simultaneously. His powerful country-blues sound has a good feel to it, and he is flawless at giving us good-old music. "Double Whammy" is a remake of "Wham!" with Stevie on the second guitar (this was SRV's first record that he owned as a kid and he played it so much his father broke it - it's understandable why he played so much). Mack duets vocally with SRV on "If You Have to Know". All of the songs on this album are keepers.

Overall, this is a great album. You can hear from these tracks how Mack has been such a commodity to guitar music and the blues. The Allman Brothers, Bugs Henderson, The Vaughan brothers, Eric Clapton and countless others have been influenced by this man. If you like the blues, especially Southern blues, then you owe it to yourself to check out Lonnie Mack.

As one would expect a guitarist who was an idol to Stevie Ray Vaughan, has a great deal of skill on the strings and Lonnie Mack has been known to heat up his Gibson Flying V guitar. Strike Like Lightning is a find for blues and guitar lovers, with the combined sound of two great guitarists, Lonnie Mack and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Lonnie Mack made the rounds in juke joints in his home state Indiana, scorching the strings of his Flying V. In 1958 he cut a instrumental version of Chuck Berry's Memphis that impresses guitarist to this day. Among his followers was a young man known as Stevie Ray Vaughan. After they connected Stevie talked Mack into moving to Texas to restart his career and co-produced this cd.

It is not surprising that Strike Like Lightning certainly has some sizzling guitar work with both Lonnie Mack and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie plays on Hound Dog Man, Satisfy Susie, Double Whammy and Oreo Cookie Blues and plays guitar and sings on If You Want to Know.

Often those with a great deal of talent do not feel the necessity of flaunting it. This is definitely true of Lonnie Mack on Strike Like Lightning. Mack a greatly talented man does not feature lengthy endless guitar solos on this cd. It is nice tasty blues which balances vocals with the instrumentals. Mack who claims his influences to be George Jones and Bobby Blue Bland, Has a pleasant voice that does strain or torture itself or listeners.

Mack is a skilled song writer and wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on Strike Like Lightning except Hound Dog Man. All of the songs are honest, tasty blues. Among my favorites are Hound Dog Man, Satisfy Susie, If You Have to Know and the tongue in cheek, Oreo Cookie Blues.

Released in 1985, it is apparent when listening to this that sound technology has made great leaps and bounds in a few short years. It doesn't quite match up to some newer cd sound quality. A remastering may be in order to make this a cd stand out more.

For those who have to own everything with Stevie Ray Vaughan on it be sure to add this to your collection. Add Lonnie Mack as a guitarist of note to listen to.

"STRIKE THE LIGHTNING" IS A STRONG ALBUM PUT TOGETHER BY LONNIE MACK AND STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN. MACK AND VAUGHAN SHOWCASE THEIR DIFFERENT BLUES-BASED GUITAR STYLES IN SEVERAL OF THE TRACKS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS CD JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ADDING TO YOUR S.R.V. COLLECTION, BY ALL MEANS GO AND GET IT! ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU EXPECT TO GET THE USUAL S.R.V. MIND BLOWING GUITAR WORK, YOU HAD BETTER LOOK ELSEWHERE. STEVIE IS NOT A MAJOR PART OF THE SONGWRITING OR LEAD GUITAR SOLOS... LONNIE MACK IS A PLEASANT SURPRISE TO THOSE WHO ARE HEARING HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS CD.

I would Have given it five stars but they could have made it longer and more Vaughanified. You know what I mean. Anyway, I thought since Stevie was here and Lonnie was one of his heroes, how could I go wrong? Man am I impressed. Mack is one of the greatest guitarists I think I've ever heard. [ far under Stevie of course.] But this guys speed and ability is amazing. Not only that but I've been a fan of country and blues as well as rock for years and to have the lyrics of a country or blues song set to down home rock and roll with a little blues and a little country picking mixed in is a dream come true. Mack's humor pops up here and there then makes a hilarious run through Oreo cookie Blues. This guys a pretty fine vocalist too. I'm extremely happy with this one. If you like SRV's stomping guitar like his version of wham or rude mood or scuttlebuttin' you'll love songs like Double Whammy! Stevie plays on four tracks and there is another guitarist somewhere in there who's also pretty good. This is just great- stevie really knew how to bring out the best in one of his far away mentors. You'll love it, so buy it!

I first heard of Lonnie in a Guitar plyer Magazine review saying this is a must have. So I bought it and have since worn out two copies of it and presently I am working on my third. If you want some fire in the hole rocking blues with style and substance you've found it. from Stevie ray/Lonnie duets to trading guitar licks then rounding it off with an acoustic blues tune to end on a humorous note with "Oreo Cookie Blues". "Falling Back In Love With You" should be the anniversary anthem. That song works great for my band in just that situation.

We have more Stevie Ray and Eric Clapton cd's than I can count; but this cd ranks as one of our all time favorites. This guy is a master at the guitar. If you play this cd and don't sing at the top of your lungs or feel great while listening to it, you must be d-e-d-dead! We bought this because Stevie Ray was on one of the tracks, boy did we get a deal, this album is a must have for anyone who enjoys feel good, rockin, guitar playing. The man is a true blues guitarist and I promise you, you will let the cd player keep playing it over and over. Give this guy a try, he is well worth the listening time. Great road trip music. Put the top down, turn the volume full throttle and let Lonnie wail! You won't regret it.

I bought this of course for the SRV legend aura.. but I quickly changed my mind , though the power and fury in "Double Whammy " can't be beat , Mack shows that he isn't done yet . He still can show us all a thing or two .. this one is a must for Blues fans . Period .

I have immensely enjoyed this Lonnie Mack CD, "Strike Like Lightning". I had the great pleasure of first experiencing his music during the great '50s and early '60s. Blues guitar players of this caliber don't come along every day, he has it all--amazing voice and vocal delivery, the 'killer V guitar' that he made his own, and the righteous respect of Blues greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughn. To quote Dickie Betts -- "he came right down the middle of it all" and scattered the others with something astonishingly new and different -- how true that was!!!!! This remastered CD's is one of my very favorites!!!

After just a couple of times through this album, I think it is safe to say that any blues fan who enjoys fine guitar playing will be delighted with what Lonnie Mack delivers on Strike Like Lightning. Whether it's the retro sound of Hound Dog Man, the driving speed of Double Whammy,the soulful backing of the piano in Falling Back In Love With You or the great slide guitar work of Stevie Ray Vaughn on the playful Oreo Cookie Blues, the chemistry is there through and through. Lonnie's vocals solidly support his stellar guitar playing and Vaughn joins in on vocals in If You Have To Know in addition to his guitar work on several songs. Lonnie Mack delivers toe-tappin', guitar-laden blues that beg for another listen.

Lonnie Mack made a spectacular comeback to the music recording world with Strike Like Lightning. Stevie Ray Vaughan coaxed his hero back into the recording studio, and blues lovers can be glad that he did.

On cuts like the title cut, "Double Whammy," "Satisfy Suzie," and others, Mack shows the blues and gospel influences that have made him into a legend. His unmistakable vibrato is still powerful as ever, and his voice has the strength it always had, plus the aged timber of someone who lived lots of life and is able to tell the tale.

Strike Like Lightning makes us grateful for all of Lonnie Mack's contributions to blues music, and even more grateful that he came back to recording his great music.