Customer Reviews

We Got It

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

 

 

Thackery's latest release is a tribute CD of sorts to the late Eddie Hinton whose songs, 8 of 11, are covered by Thackery. Hinton, who has been called the white Otis Redding, has composed R&B hits for Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett and the Staple Singers and has performed with the Allman Brothers in addition to releasing four solo CD's. The title of Thackery's CD, like some of the other songs contained here, comes from a song on Hinton's 1978 release "Very Extremely Dangerous". Other songs on this release can be found on import copies of "Dear Y' All" and "Letters From Mississippi". Thackery's guitar playing and gritty vocals brings a new dimension to these often overlooked tunes. Listen for example to the hard driving title song or the foot tapping boogie number "Big Fat Woman". While you're at it, don't miss the fantastic, surf induced, Thackery original "Blues Dog Prowl". I have said in prior reviews and I will say it again, former Nighthawk frontman, Jimmy Thackery, is one outstanding guitarist. This CD continues to prove that point and at the same time bring a little attention to Mr. R&B himself, Eddie Hinton.

Love his guitar work on his songs. But....this CD is not his best. It is not what you would expect from his previous CD's. He sounds tired. But....if you are a fan you will still buy it and listen to the songs. You will play the older CD's again to see the difference.

Although his guitarwork is nice on this release, it seems to be over produced. Not raw enough for me. I still find it hard to get past his vocals too. Wild night out gives a better taste of what Jimmy is all about; In your face guitar. Jimmy, no need to sing my brotha, just jam on it!

I am a big Jimmy Thackery fan, but this album is disappointing by his very high standards. His worst album by a long way. The best tracks on it are the ones he wrote, especially "Blues Dog Prowl" - worth the cost of the CD on its own.

If you're new to Jimmy Thackery, don't start here - try "Wild Night Out" or "Drive to Survive".

I can't think of anybody more qualified than Jimmy Thackery to pay tribute to his old friend the late Eddie Hinton, who in my opinion was the best white southern soul singer of our time. Thackery even sings a lot like Hinton here, with a small nod to Joe Tex and Otis Redding too. Man, the difference between this album and his last one, Sinner Street is like night and day. His last was weighted down with just too many heavy horn arrangements that drowned out Thackery's true strength, his guitar playing. On this one though, his guitar is no longer taking a back seat to anybody. It's defintely some of his best playing in years. His guitar on songs like "Dangerous Highway" and especially "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right", where the last 3 minutes and change is dedicated to one of the best solos that I've ever heard Thackery burn on record. With it's 2 guitar sound, it actually reminds me a little of the beautiful guitar workout that Eric Clapton and Duane Allman did on the last half of that classic tune Layla. But it's not only his guitar that shines. His vocals are the best I've ever heard him perform. Truely inspired by Hinton in every way. Hinton was one incredible songwriter too. 8 out of these 11 songs are Hinton originals, including the wonderful "Get Off In It", the title track "We Got It", and the great closer "Big Fat Woman", which is a certified great dance song. I wish he would have included my favorite Hinton song "Rock Of My Soul" as a 12th song, which I think would have fit Thackery like a glove. But I can't gripe. This is an excellent selection of covers. Thackery wrote the other 3 songs, the best one in which he dedicates to Hinton called "Where'd My Good Friend Go", which rivals anything written here. What would a Jimmy Thackery album be without at least one instrumental tune, and that would be "Dangerous Highway", a kind of spy themed song that seems very out of place here, but neverthless it's a great excuse for a Thackery solo or two, and it has some great sax work by Jimmy Carpenter to boot. This is Thackery's first recording for Telarc, which is starting to sign the best blues acts in the business, including Tinsley Ellis and Tab Benoit. But they really hit the pick 6 when they signed this artist and album. I think it's Thackery's best work since "Empty Arms Motel". And that's saying alot. But this album just smokes! But enough superlatives already. Jimmy Thackery fans, run don't walk to pick this up. Non-converts, give this one a try. But be warned. It could make you rockin' soul/blues addict. But more important, it will surely make you a Jimmy Thackery fan, guaranteed.

First of all, there are alot of working guitarists today that may be better known than Jimmy Thackery, yet the vast majority of them couldn't carry his guitar case, much less play as good as this man. But I buy Jimmy's Cd's to HEAR his phenomenal gut-wrenching blues playing; this one gives me alot of (too much of) horns, vocals, r&b arrangements, and very little of what this fan wants! A couple of the songs (I understand it's a tribute to the late Eddie Hinton) let Jimmy play, yet just when's he's getting into the "groove", here comes the abrupt "fade-out"! What's up with that? Check out "Dangerous Highway" and "Super Lover". And if I read another reviewer describe Jimmy's vocals as "gritty", I'll SCREAM! Ronnie Earl's best efforts are WITHOUT vocals; Jimmy CAN sing with the best of them, but NOT on any given song! Ever hear "If You Go" from "Wild Night Out"? Stunning. There's nothing on this CD that COMES CLOSE, even allowing that the effort is there. There are cuts you'll play over and over: i.e. "Super Lover"!), but Jimmy! I'll wait for your next CD - take me back to the EMPTY ARMS MOTEL & the WILD NIGHT('S)OUT!!

Jimmy Thackery is one of the BEST Blues Guitarist around. I had the pleasure of attending the record release party for this album at the Eureka Springs Blues Festival. If you ever get the oppportunity to see Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers Live, you will want to own every CD that they have released. A Great BLUES experience.

Jimmy Thackery - We Got It

It's terrific that Jimmy Thackery decided to pay tribute to one of the greatest southern soul artists ever. Eddie Hinton was so talented and yet never recognized for what he could do with a lyric. What a great singer and songwriter. Hopefully this recording will draw new listeners to Eddie Hinton's music. This is where I have an issue with this CD. While it is well played by quality musicians and Eddie's songs are top notch, after I listened to this all I could think of was why listen to this again when I can listen to Eddie do it better?

Summary: kudos to Mr. Thackery for the tribute to Eddie Hinton but you cannot outdo the master. Eddie Hinton should be required listening for any fan of the southern soul-blues genre. Get the originals!

I totally agree with all the reviews who give this item three stars or less. The first cd I bought from Jimmy Thackery was "Trouble Man". If this had been the first, I probably would have taken him off my list of artist to purchase. Everything else I've heard or purchased by him is far better!

Hinton was not only a fine guitarist and a superb songwriter but his vocals were uniquely his own. Though he draws much comparison to Otis Redding, Eddie was one of a kind as only a few minutes listening will reveal. And while this cd is a nice tribute to Eddie, (who earned as much and more) and Thackery is one fine, fine, VERY fine guitarist -- vocals are not his forte. They're not awful, they're ok - but Thackery's voice just doesn't carry the fire and verve and joy and all out suffering that Hinton lived and conveyed effortlessly. Listen to these same songs done by Hinton -- most of them are on his "Dear Y'all" cd -- and the difference is more than glaring. Most of the reviews I've read seem to lean heavily on 'Big Fat Woman' as the best cut on this cd, and I have to agree. Maybe because it's more of a party tune, and doesn't really need a sterling vocal performance to carry it -- Thackery's excellent guitar work provides all the necessary support. If you're looking for that sort of cd, heavy on the blues guitar, this one probably isn't for you. But if (like me) you want to hear every possible rendition of Eddie Hinton's songs you can find, then this is a 'nice to have' cd, and it will grow on you with repeated listenings...(But it will never replace Hinton's "Dear Y'all" in my iPod playlist.)