or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
40 used & new from $3.46
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Available to Download Now
 
Buy the MP3 album for $8.99
  
 
 
 
Definition of a Circle
 
See larger image 
See all product images
See 1 customer image
Share your own customer images

Definition of a Circle

Otis Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews) | More about this product
Price: $17.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 3 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Monday, November 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Ordering for Christmas? To ensure delivery by December 24, choose Standard Shipping at checkout. Read more about holiday shipping.

32 new from $3.99 8 used from $3.46
Buy the MP3 album for $8.99 at the Amazon MP3 Downloads store.

Black Friday Deals in Music
Black Friday Deals in Music
Shop our Black Friday Store for smoking hot deals on popular titles and box sets. Plus, check out our calendar of amazingly low-priced lightning deals being featured through Monday, 11/30. Restrictions apply.

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Samples
Song Title Time Price
listen  1. Little Betty 4:13$0.99 Buy Track
listen  2. Black's Mandolin Boogie 4:01$0.99 Buy Track
listen  3. Looking Over Your Fence 4:06$0.99 Buy Track
listen  4. They Wore Blue 7:11$0.99 Buy Track
listen  5. Few Feet Away 4:15$0.99 Buy Track
listen  6. Something In Your Back Pocket 4:57$0.99 Buy Track
listen  7. My Name Is General Jackson 4:22$0.99 Buy Track
listen  8. Love And Hesitation 4:04$0.99 Buy Track
listen  9. Maharaja Daughter 4:04$0.99 Buy Track
listen10. Long Long Life 3:47$0.99 Buy Track
listen11. Mexican Cowboy 3:53$0.99 Buy Track
listen12. Lifetime Of Freedom 5:05$0.99 Buy Track

Amazon's Otis Taylor Store

Otis Taylor
Find all the CDs, MP3s, and vinyl, plus photos, videos, biographies, discussions, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Otis Taylor Store

Frequently Bought Together

Definition of a Circle + Recapturing the Banjo + Truth Is Not Fiction
Price For All Three: $46.96

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Definition of a Circle ~ Otis Taylor

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Recapturing the Banjo ~ Otis Taylor

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Truth Is Not Fiction ~ Otis Taylor

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Get $1 worth of MP3 downloads from Amazon MP3 after you order your item. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Recapturing the Banjo

Recapturing the Banjo

~ Otis Taylor
4.3 out of 5 stars (13)  $13.99
Double V

Double V

~ Otis Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  $17.98
Truth Is Not Fiction

Truth Is Not Fiction

~ Otis Taylor
4.6 out of 5 stars (8)  $14.99
Respect the Dead

Respect the Dead

~ Otis Taylor
3.9 out of 5 stars (10)  $15.98
White African

White African

~ Otis Taylor
4.8 out of 5 stars (12)  $15.98
› Explore similar items

Product Details

  • Audio CD (February 27, 2007)
  • Original Release Date: February 27, 2007
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Telarc
  • ASIN: B000MGVCLI
  • In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,262 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Crackling with hypnotic energy, Otis Taylor's eighth album infuses his cutting-edge blues with a dose of rock'n'roll exuberance. The blasting opener "Little Betty" gets some rocket fuel from blues-rock legend Gary Moore's marvelously expressive, raw guest guitar as well as from drummer John Kelly, whose propulsion ignites several of these dozen tunes. Ultimately, though, Taylor's one-chord magic comes from his knack for repeating catchy riffs until they become a seductive blur--a hip-shaking platform for his colorful explorations of love, war, joy, deprivation, and racial struggle. He's also got a way with textures, spinning dirty guitar, prickly electric mandolin, his daughter Cassie's haunting alto singing, and his own appealingly hoarse baritone into mesmeric arrangements for tunes like the Hurricane Katrina contemplation "They Wore Blue" that owe as much to Pink Floyd as to Muddy Waters. Taylor also pushes the envelope hard with "Long Long Life," which blends jazz star Hiromi Uchara's manic piano improvisations with Ron Miles's free-form cornet as Taylor intones a curse on a disdainful lover. It's a brilliant collision of styles and yet another fiery testimonial to Taylor's unique artistic vision. --Ted Drozdowski
Related Artists on Tour(What's this?)
Product Ads

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(2)
(1)
(1)
Agree with these tags?

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Blues for the 21st Century, July 16, 2007
By Joe Kessler "Joe K" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
Otis Taylor, on this recording in particular, seems to combine vast influences that come from around the globe and across time. All of this is funneled through his soul and into his music.

Now what does that mean? Otis does not follow convention. Consider the instruments used here, many from the past: electric cello; cornet; mandolin; lap steel and banjo - not your typical blues band!

Do you like more modern blues and rock, that's mixed in here too and is my favorite part of the new CD. European rock and blues guitar master Gary Moore (former Thin Lizzy member and now bluesman supreme, though not well known in the states) on overdriven electric guitar.

No one that I listen to except for Otis Taylor mixes these elements together, then Otis adds his deeply felt lyrics and vocals (with background by daughter Cassie and "Operatic Vocals" by others - see, there's another examples of far ranging influences).

Otis Taylor Band - part Jam Band, part Trance, part history lesson, part World Music, all BLUES. This compelling music gets better with each listen. Thanks to XM radio, I heard a few cuts repeated before buying the CD. Love it.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars at least it's different, April 10, 2007
By MPQ (San Diego, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews
I am a big fan of blues but not so much the acoustic type. I've liked Otis Taylor's music but not enough to buy an entire disc. That said, after hearing "Definition Of A Circle", I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. His songs are personal and from the heart. The band is great, and the trumpet is a nice touch on some songs. This is a different type of blues and it really takes a few listens to digest and understand where Taylor is coming from. He is making music on his own terms, not for mass consumption. If you are looking for something different from the "she done me wrong" blues, this is it.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3.0 out of 5 stars Another Otis session, October 24, 2008
This outing seems uninspired, and left me cold. I really like Otis, and he is like no other. It feels like he telephoned this performance in. Not so much.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of The Best Albums This Year!
I was so impressed with this album - especially "A Few Feet Away From You"; "Mexican Cowboy"; and "Maharaja's Daughter". Read more
Published 18 months ago by John W. Mitchell

5.0 out of 5 stars always fresh
Otis' albums are all defferent. They all sound like Otis, but each new one has a special feel. Defintion of a Circle is no exception, I just can't wait to hear what he does next.
Published on May 23, 2007 by J. Linder

2.0 out of 5 stars a nice try...BUT
sometimes 'tries' are best left in the studio....I found it, however 'daring', repetitive and droning...
Published on March 29, 2007 by Dr. T. L. Jones, GED

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   

SoundUnwound Says...

Defintion of a Circle opens new browser window is Otis Taylor's opens new browser window 4th studio release. Browse Otis Taylor's Discography opens new browser window and watch Otis Taylor videos opens new browser window on SoundUnwound.

View your Amazon music library opens new browser window, recommendations and new releases on SoundUnwound opens new browser window - the personal music encyclopedia.

SoundUnwound Logo

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Definition of a Circle
54% buy the item featured on this page:
Definition of a Circle 4.0 out of 5 stars (6)
$17.98
Recapturing the Banjo
17% buy
Recapturing the Banjo 4.3 out of 5 stars (13)
$13.99
Truth Is Not Fiction
14% buy
Truth Is Not Fiction 4.6 out of 5 stars (8)
$14.99
White African
9% buy
White African 4.8 out of 5 stars (12)
$15.98
Explore similar items

Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Music by subject:










i.e., each title must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.