Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It doesn't happen too often..., September 9, 2003
It doesn't happen too often to me to be fascinated and carried away by a new CD at the first listening. Well, it has happened this time! What a master this guy is! And what a milestone in the history of modern blues this CD is already! After two solid blues-rock releases Joe turns straight into the blues and the final result is so amazing that the first reaction a common human being could only have after have been listening to it, it is about half an hour of silence simply because this CD leaves you speechless!
I quite like Joe's first two efforts, however from my point of view this one is much, much better than the previous two. Joe demonstrates beyond any doubts that he is at this moment in time maybe the best guitar player, or in the worst case scenario one of the three bests, alive. It is absolutely pointless to try to work out which one is the best cut on this album, all the 12 "12 bars" songs here are equally good. Joe is able to cover all the spectrum of the blues reinterpreting (be aware not covering) B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker and even Robert Johnson with such a great taste and personality that you will not believe to your own ears! He plays slide and acoustic with the same intensity and feeling he usually plays traditional electric guitar and his playing in the three slow blues included here is so wonderful that you can't avoid having shivers going up and down your spine. In my personal opinion this is by far the best electric, guitar driven blues album of at least the last twenty years. I would be really surprised and flabbergasted if he will not have the W.C. Handy Blues Award as best guitarist when time will come. More than highly recommended I would say that Blues Deluxe is simply an essential addition to everyone collection. Much more than 5 stars!
PS. I have been lucky enough to have the chance to see Joe playing live on the 22nd of May 2005 in a small club in north London. He played a lot of songs from Blues Deluxe and the live version of the title track was just mind blowing! I am old enough to have seen live on stage such greats like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Albert Collins, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, Little Milton, Johnny Winter, Ronnie Earl, Hubert Sumlin, Robben Ford, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Kid Ramos, Alvin Lee, Mick Taylor and many more...however with all the due respect for such great musicians, Joe is by far the best I've ever seen! Don't miss him live, it will be the greatest experience of your life!
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46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
And To Add Some More..., October 12, 2004
M. Bernocchi's review from Old Windsor is bang on: "Blues Deluxe" is fantastic! That the title track is an old Rod Stewart tune from back when he mattered makes the British review all the more tasty. And about that track: in the midst of an album packed wall-to-wall with excellence, Bonamassa's guitar work in "Blues Deluxe" takes the back seat to no player. When you hit the 4 minute mark, your hair will light on fire and your synapses will melt as Joe explodes into incendiary brilliance. Be careful if you play it in your car. Hide the children if you crank it up at home. Joe Bonamassa now has a chair at the table of the masters and that smile in your soul is testiment to his excellence.
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Blues As You Can Get..., September 24, 2003
"Blues Deluxe," the new CD from Joe Bonamassa, is promoted as his first 'official' blues CD. His former discs "So, It's Like That" and "A New Day Yesterday" are more classic rock (with a blues influence).I came across this disc at a listening station in Barnes And Noble - and was immediately taken in by a rousing rendition of BB King's "You Upset Me Baby" followed by a foot-stompin' rendition of John Lee Hooker's "Burning Hell." You could immediately tell that Joe Bonamassa was not here to pay tribute to the blues, he was here to bring it to a new level. This is not entirely a covers disc, "Woke Up Dreaming" is a blistering acoustic track (yes blistering -- the guitar is almost set on fire in the intro), and "I Don't Live Anywhere" is a dreamy-heartfelt ballad that shows Bonamassa can write with the best of them. It is here where I can say this CD is a great listening experience. The song where Bonamassa brings "Blues Deluxe" to level above great, is in fact, the title track (a cover of the great Jeff Beck). The solo in this song is comparable to some of the best of the best (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton). The raw emotion that filters through the guitar solo is enough to channel into anyone's soul, and make them nod in appreciation for what has been 'said'. I, in fact, am one of those souls.
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~ Joe Bonamassa
~ Joe Bonamassa
~ Joe Bonamassa
~ Joe Bonamassa
~ Joe Bonamassa
by Joe Bonamassa 
