Release the Hound

Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers, Hound Dog Taylor

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 27, 2004)
• Original Release Date: April 27, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B0001XAMSQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,813 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As the first artist on Chicago's esteemed Alligator imprint (and the reason owner Bruce Iglauer started the company), wild-man slide guitarist Hound Dog Taylor has attained legendary status. His crude, propulsive sound even inspired the label's "Genuine Houserockin' Music" motto. Taylor left behind only two studio releases and a live disc when he died in 1975, but Iglauer has now unearthed more previously unreleased material. Recorded between 1971 and 1975, Release the Hound contains a mix of studio and live material that is every bit the equal of Taylor's existing catalog--and even more raw and primitive. The six-fingered six-stringer explodes through a volatile collection of boogie, blues, and good-time shuffles that makes Elmore James sound like Keb' Mo' in comparison. Hound Dog and his riotous bass-free backing duo of guitar and near-tribal drums were not technical perfectionists, but they could sure fire up a party thanks to Taylor's combustive mix of scorching slide playing and magnetic personality. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Hound Dog Live -- It's Alright!, December 3, 2004

By	Michael Strom (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The late, great Hound Dog Taylor was one of the best live acts ever. This CD brings him back in all his ragged, raunchy live glory. Hound Dog's appeal had nothing to do with his modest abilities as a guitarist or singer. His self-assessment was: "They'll say he couldn't play s___, but he made it sound good." Amen. Don't let any references to "sound quality" deter you here -- the plain truth is that Hound Dog's "sound quality" was never that much to begin with, so this CD is a pretty fair representation of what he sounded like live. He never had good equipment, and it wouldn't have mattered if he did. He just wanted everybody to have as good a time as he was having. We did. He had the most fun of any musician I ever saw. Also the most alcohol.

For the uninitiated, the most obvious comparison is Elmore James. The comparison used to annoy Hound Dog, who insisted "I don't sound like no ___ ____ Elmore James!" Well, musically he did, but Elmore James never sounded anywhere near as joyful. `Dog played the same style loud electric slide boogie, but never had a horn section or bass player. Given the low-tech, stripped-down nature of Hound Dog's act, if a bass part was needed, it got played by whoever wasn't playing lead. At times, it sounded like rhythm guitarist Brewer Phillips was playing bass, even though he apparently didn't have a bass guitar. If Phillips was playing lead on one of his songs, `Dog played a passable bass line on his legendarily cheap Silvertone guitar.

It's hard to be fully objective if you ever saw Hound Dog live, because it is impossible to hear this CD without strong visual memories of just how much joy he had and gave. Hound Dog had an impossibly large grin that remained in place no matter how low-down, sad or abused the subject matter of the song was. He was the happiest looking man on earth, despite (or because of?) the fact that The HouseRockers gigged constantly for peanuts.

At times, it seemed that `Dog might be the most easily amused man, too, although again the level of his alcohol consumption might explain it. I recall a show where Blind Jim Brewer was the opening act. `Dog was absolutely beside himself about the fact that the warm-up dude and his rhythm guitarist shared the name Brewer. He kept saying: "We got two Brew' tonight. We got Blind Jim Brew' and ..." By then he was in hysterics. He tried at least three times, but just couldn't get through it without falling out laughing. When he couldn't even say "two Brew" without cracking up, he just went on with the show. You probably had to see it to appreciate it. I wish I could go see him tonight, but I'll treasure this great live CD to remember the good times.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unreleased and raucous!, June 8, 2004

By	J. E FELL "boogaloojef" (Carterville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was chomping at the bit when I heard this was going to be released. This new release of vault material contains 3 studio recordings and 11 live tracks. My appetite was whetted by the 2 unissued live tracks from these concerts included on the Hound Dog Taylor Deluxe Edition. For the uninitiated Taylor's band which featured Brewer Phillips on second guitar and Ted Harvey on drums (Levi Warren deputizes for Harvey on 3 tracks)is the blues equivalent of a garage rock band. Hound Dog's combination of a cheap Japanese guitar and his frenetic slide playing is unforgettable. Most of the tracks are live and although the sound may not be up to current standards, it sounds as good as most bootlegs and the energy of the performances makes up for any sound deficiencies. The live tracks are a mixture of outtakes from the live "Beware Of The Dog" album and various radio broadcasts. Among the unissued tracks is the energetic studio instrumental "Phillip's Screwdriver", a cover of Freddie King's "Sen-Sa-Shun" and the Howlin' Wolf tribute "The Dog Meets The Wolf". Taylor wrenches emotion from his cover of Elmore James' "It Hurts Me Too" and Taylor's autobiographical slow blues "Things Don't Work Out Right". Strong versions of Taylor classics like "She's Gone", "Sadie" , "Walking The Ceiling" and "See Me In The Evening/It's Alright" are among the other highlights. Every track whether an original or cover contains the distinctive stamp of the Houserockers. Taylor's slashing slide guitar and infectious sense of humor shine through making this one of the best vault reissues of the year. Highly recommended!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars god damn!!! this is raw and furious!!! god bless hound dog.., June 7, 2004

By A Customer

god bless hound dog taylor. that's all. just god bless his guitar, his voice, his soul and his blues...
I'm a younger blues fan(25) from Chicagoland, and while I'd heard OF Hound Dog Taylor for the longest time, I'd never HEARD Hound Dog Taylor, y'know what I mean?
I read a review in the Illinois Entertainer about this album coming out and they described him as a cross between the blues and punk. That got my attention real quick, as I've also dug on punk rock my whole life...
went out to my local record shop, they had the promo, listened...and holy f&*^% s*^&^!!!! I immediately fell in love!!! It moved me in ways I love to be moved. it touched my heart. I wished to god I had been at the shows on the record. I wished I had gotten to see him play!! why hadn't I known earlier how INCREDIBLE Hound Dog was/is?
Hound Dog's slide is absolutely BLISTERING. his voice is raw and strained. the band(the houserockers), comprised of a drum kit and another guitar(yes, a 3 piece) is unreal. The album cover is a great painting by another favorite musician of mine and Chicago-via-Wales local Jon Langford(ex-Mekons). Inside the album tells some great anecdotal info on Hound Dog and the band and how they played for practically nothing and Hound Dog on a cheap Japanese guitar with a slide made from a brass kitchen table leg! hell yes! Hound Dog is raw and vicious and touxhes your heart all at once. If you dig slide, boogie, roadhouse-juke joint, punk and or blues...hell...just get it and be done with it. get bit by the hound dog and you'll never be the same again...
cheers hound dog