When Lightnin' Struck the Pine

Cedell Davis (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 20, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fast Horse
• ASIN: B00006EXDU
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,612 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pay to Play

2. Come On and Ride with Me

3. Woke Up This Morning

4. So Long, I Hate to See You Go

5. Give Me That Look

6. Love Me a Little While

7. Cold Chills

8. One of These Days

9. Propaganda

10. Rub Me Baby

11. Hold Me Baby

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The ragged-but-righteous slide-guitar work of Arkansas eccentric CeDell Davis gets some star-studded accompaniment on When Lightnin' Struck the Pine, but it's the man's primal power and undeniable authenticity that shine brightest. The 76-year-old Davis, who creates a unique blues hue by using a knife blade as a slide, is the most idiosyncratic of veteran bluesmen. His metallic-toned guitar lines explode in all manner of unpredictable directions, while his vocals are raw, gritty, and well-seasoned. A diverse supporting cast, including R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, former Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin, and Brave Combo hornman Jeffrey Barnes, embellishes the rudimentary rhythmic foundation of Davis's working band without getting in the leader's way. Yes, it's a concerted effort to attract some rock attention to Davis in the manner of similar R.L. Burnside projects, though the result is good work for a very good cause. Davis, seemingly oblivious to all the sonic assistance, just rolls on as usual, slashing out angular solos and singing the blues like he invented them. When Lightnin' Struck the Pine expands Davis's sound, and, let's hope, his audience, but make no mistake, Davis is the real deal--a pure and potent bluesman who effortlessly transcends trends as he creatively carries the classic tradition into a new century. --Michael Point

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superstars take a back seat to a genius, March 24, 2006

By	T. McCool "old married guy" (Lafayette, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Considering that Cedell Davis is confined to a wheelchair and has limited use of his arms and hands, due to childhood polio, makes him and his music even more incredible. Using a common butter knife and playing left-handed, Cedell creates a slide guitar sound like no other blues guitarist. The uneven pressure of the knife against the fretboard creates a sometimes haunting metallic whine, that for a moment seems out of tune, but at the same time melodic. There's really no words to describe this.

The "superstars" behind CeDell stay behind CeDell, Oh, did I mention the man can sing the blues with the best of them? His gruff vocals are just as enigmatic as his guitar playing. Rough and smooth, howling and melodic, his voice is the perfect accompaniment to his guitar, and both link CeDell to the early Delta blues of his native Mississippi.

If you're looking for something unsual and special in blues music, this is it.