category: instrumental country / blues / pop / rock

Album review:
"If you love this guys work with every one from Dale Hawkins, Ricky Nelson, Elvis's Costello and of course Presley, Johnny Cash (Johnny 99 album) Roy Orbison (A Black & White Night), Emmylou Harris, Frank Sinatra, The Byrds you name it. As he said himself he's worked with everyone...except Barbara Streisand, you will need to buy this one.

Obviously this genius has been so busy with all of the above he has forgotten to make any more solo recordings and as such this is pretty much it, execpt for his album Corn Pickin' & Slick Slidin' with Ralph Mooney. Recorded during Elvis's absense from a studio session around 1971, The Guitar Sounds of James Burton, utilizes Elvis's TCB band to full effect on such standards as "Hound Dog" and "Mystery Train" which is my favorite track with some howling Telecaster licks which will blow your head off!

He also touches on Tony Joe White's "Polk Salad Annie" in a similar version to the one that the King was doing live and he puts the tele down for James Taylor's "Fire and Rain". Other highlights for me are "Johnny B. Goode" and his reclaimation of "Susie-Q", an almost note for note reworking of the Dale Hawkins hit which he co-wrote but was never given credit for.

But the greatest highlight has to be the fact that this is the only recording I know of with the great man in front of a band showing off a great many of his incredible skills." -- Jeremy Parkinson (Auckland, New Zealand)

CD Track Listing

  1. Polk Salad Annie (Tony Joe White) (3:36)
  2. Suzie-Q (Hawkins / Lewis / Broadwater) (2:25)
  3. Fire and Rain (James Taylor) (3:30)
  4. Fools Rush In (Bloom / Mercer) (2:38)
  5. Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) (2:21)
  6. I Know (You Don't Want Me No More) (Barbara George) (2:35)
  7. Delta Lady (Leon Russell) (2:51)
  8. Mystery Train (Phillips / Parker) (3:22)
  9. Rock and Raunch (James Burton) (2:25)
10. Hound Dog (Leiber / Stoller) (2:24)
11. Hi-Heel Sneakers (Robert Higginbotham) (2:39)
12. Long Peach (James Burton) (2:03)

Total timing: 32:55

Label/No: River Records 050 (UK import)

Release date: (c)1971, 1997 reissue