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Number of Blue Jug (1975) Reviews: 1
Reviewer: John Fitzgerald, Human resources staff database assistant June 05, 2003 There is a "Bill Burnet" listed on this record as playing bass and strangely there are no writing credits for a Burnette (of any spelling) on this album (considering Billy is known as a strong writing presence). However, one of our Billy's writing partners back in those days was Larry Henley who co-produced this album and as little is know about this odd time in our Billy's career, I guess we'll have to assume it is our Billy Burnette playing on this album for now but hopefully the full story behind this mystery can be solved soon. As
for the songs here, I was somewhat impressed by the mixing of country and rock elements here making this album's sound what southern rock should sound like as it seems to me many latter day southern rockers tend to overlook their country influences and end up sounding more metallic and, as a result, faceless. The album opens with the best track, the no nonsense punching southern hard rock of "Hard luck Jimmy", then comes "Education" which is a slow to mid tempo piano led tune with clunky rhythms. "It's a fact" comes next which is rather upbeat but the fiddles and enclosed bounce give it a more country sound and then this is followed by the mid tempo steel guitar yawner "Poor Virginia" which features strong vocals and a good hook. "Sugar man" is another attention grabbing rocker. Though the funk undertones don't work on this song, the rest of it does. "When the moon rises" is homespun uplifting country and "A miner's song" has a dramatic feel which will hit home with the blue collar community and it's the most adventurous track here, weaving in and out of slow/fast & loud/quiet episodes, keeps you nicely guessing.
"Come on to town Ned" is another good rock song though watered down by the usually likable electric piano, it even has a better hook than "Sugar man". "Take a little time" is an
unfortunately bland chunky closer. I do concede though that the country elements here can get a little tiring but at least the music included here is a good reminder to other southern rock acts to remember where their roots supposedly are.
Album cover provided by John Fitzgerald. Transcribed to HTML by Jeff Kenney and Marty Adelson.
