The Jeff Healey Band- Hell to pay
The band:
Jeff Healey- Guitar, Vocals.
Joe Rockman- Bass, Backing vocals.
Tom Stephen- Drums.
Washington Savage- Keyboards (not on every song)
Released in 1990
Track list:
1. Full Circle
2. I Think I Love You Too Much
3. I Can't Get My Hands On You
4. How Long Can A Man Be Strong
5. Let It All Go
6. Hell To Pay
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8. Something To Hold On To
9. How Much
10. Highway Of Dreams
11. Life Beyond The Sky
Background info: This the band's second album and in my opinon their best. After their moderatly succesful album See The Light the band spent a whole year writing for this album and it shows once you actually heard it.
Best Parts
Obviously the guitar playing drives the album. Jeff's voice is very good and it perfect for the overall sound of the album. Though not paid attention to as much as the guitar the bass and drums do a great job and it can be heard between poweful guitar fills and solos in the more bluesy songs.
Worst parts
There is little not to like about this album. I guess the only bad part is Jeff's Mullet on the front cover :p
Track by track
Full Circle
Starts out with a catchy fast paced riff and a short opening solo (like 6 seconds if you even want to call it a solo). Throught the song a catchy poerchord riff and many guitar fills. Great bluesy vocals, clever lyrics and superb drumming. About a minute long fast paced guitar solo and then the verse, course and a final guitar solo until a fade out. More of a hard rock song than anything.
5/5
I think I love you too much
A cover of a Dire Straights' song. Jeff and the guitarist from Dire Straighs, Mark Knopfler do duel solos, seperate fills and Mark does some backup vocals. Great bluesy mood to the song and solid basslines due to to the fact there is no real main riff. Just a ton of bitchin' fills and solos. Two of my favorite guitarist on one track, what more could a person ask for?
5/5 (credit to Dire Straights for writing the song.
I Can't Get My Hands On You
Starts off with a great sounding opening riff and into an opening solo. A good sounding verse with no guitar but a solid bass line and great drums. The opening riff repeated in between verse and course for extra effect and a fast bluesy main solo. Another solo near the end and an awesome drum solo near the end. A a fast bass, drums and guitar breakdown and it ends very quickly after.
4.5/5
How Long Can A Man Be Strong
Proving that the band isn't just flashy solos and blues this song is a beautiful emotional ballad. Starts off with an acoutsic backing and a beautiful meldoy. A great sounding course followed by an inspired melody for the bridge. A passionate, emotional guitar solo. And another one near the end of the song.
5/5
Let it all go
Another great opening riff which goes through the verses. Very good singing and a great bass and keyboard backing. A perfectly fitting meldoy for the course which is made up of repetition "let it all go..." could possibly be better but it's still a great song. (by this point the "great guitar solo" comments should just apply to every song).
4/5
Hell to Pay
The title track of the album. Fast paced and guitar driven. This is the kind of song that just makes you want to get up and dance. Backup vocals at some points by Sass Jordan and Kat Dyson.
5/5
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Cover time! The band covers one of the beatles' best songs (in my opinon). George Harrsion plays acoustic guitar and does some vocals on it. Other than a better guitar solo and more fills plus a different voice this is basicly the original (just better).
5/5 (credit to the beatles)
Something to hold onto
An upbeat powerchord intro and a tight vocal meldoy. Quickly into the course. Some of my favorite lyrics on the album. Upbeat yet not lacking blues elements.
4/5
How Much
Laid back and a bit boring at times. A great course that pulls the song together, again backing vocals from Sass Jordan and Kat Dyson during the course.
3.5/5
Highway Of Dreams
An interesting opening riff. A good build to the course and sort of droning vocals at times. A nice tone and mood to the whole song.
3.5/5
Life Beyond The Sky
Almost instantly hooks the listener with a great melody and clean picking on guitar. Pretty good song, pretty good writing. Pretty good!
4/5
Overall: This is a great album. A few sort of boring yet still good and solid songs near the end but many power tracks and brilliant guitar work.
4.5/5
w00t my first review.
, meh it was worth it, I got Feel This and Cover to cover for $6 each though).
