Music : Mess of Blues

Rating: - Jeff Healey's Sensational Swan Song
'Mess Of Blues' is an absolutely sensational collection of live, predominantly blues recordings from the sadly departed guitar virtuoso and his brilliant band. If you like blues guitar played with passion and feeling, coupled with a tight, jumping rhythm section then this album is for you. Jeff Healey, in the liner notes, describes his band as "the very best bar band that anyone could ask for" and he wasn't wrong - they're tremendous.

The choices of songs are interesting and varied and make for a rich, eclectic, engaging listen, including tracks such as The Band's 'The Weight', Neil Young's 'Like A Hurricane' and Hank Williams' 'Jambalaya', all performed brilliantly. Standards such as 'I'm Torn Down', 'Mess O' Blues' and 'Shake, Rattle And Roll' are executed as if they're being played for the very first time - no tired run-throughs here. The sound is exceptional and the performances absolutely scintillating, in fact it is difficult to believe that these are live recordings sometimes, they're so incredibly good.

It is an absolute tragedy that Jeff has been taken from us so early in his life, denying the world any more of these solid gold blues albums. This isn't just one of the best albums Jeff has released, this is one of the best modern blues albums ever. Animated, vital, stirring stuff - get yourself a copy and listen to a real legend having the time of his life and sharing it with the rest of the world.

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Rating: - This is more like it
Having recently listened to some pretty poor stuff I was delighted to hear this album by the legendary Jeff Healey. Outstanding renditions of blues classics. His playing is full of life and brings each track alive through his own inimitable style. Sadly missed.
I've been air guitaring ever since.

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Rating: - A Great Talent as been lost!
This is a great blues album from him and what a way to end and go out on!
This is a must for any Jeff Healey fans out there!
As to all of us who have come to know his music and is way of playing the guitar, which there is no doubt that he will be always known as the most distinctive guitar player, since Jimi Hendrix.

He was a Light to us all in his music!
Thanks Jeff

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Rating: - Healey marvellous!
A pleasure to listen to! Ok, quite a few cover versions, but this is the only guy I know(knew) who sounds better than the original artist!
Hopefully his sad demise will receive new listeners to his music.

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Rating: - Another loss but heavens gain
Sorry to hear of another fallen guitar hero. But lets be honest if all us Healey freaks had to chose tracks for this album. Positively the selections would differ all over due to our love for his work. Awestruck with his talent having seen him several times. This is a fitting compilation of a guy whose catalog for the newly iniated is well worth checking out and look at him on you tube. Admiration will take you over as it did all us Jeff fans. Sure he will be gigging up there already. Thanks to the Jeff Healey Band for all your work and hang in there boys.