Show of Strength

Show of Strength

by Michael Burks
Show of Strength

Show of Strength

by Michael Burks

CD

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Overview

The sudden passing of 54-year-old guitarist Michael Burks in 2012, between the recording and release of this, his final album, casts an undeniable shadow over it. Burks was prepared to approve the final mixes and track order when he was struck by a fatal heart attack when arriving stateside after a European tour. It's a tragic and untimely end to a bluesman who was in his prime, as evidenced by the impassioned performance and superior songs on his fourth Alligator studio waxing. Burks' husky build was mirrored in his similarly styled vocals and meaty guitar tone, all of which are in full force throughout these dozen tracks. Like his previous disc, this features his road band whose keyboard player, Wayne Sharp, is a major component of Burks' soulful sound. From the funky bassline and sly lyrics of "Can You Read Between the Lines?" to the slide-guitar rock thump of "Cross Eyed Woman" (perhaps a nod to Free, whose music Burks has covered in the past) and the straight-ahead shuffle of "What Does It Take to Please You?," he navigates a lot of musical territory. Both covers and originals boast strong melodies, which Burks does justice to with tough vocals and full-bodied, often thunderous guitar solos from which his "ironman" nickname was derived. The closing version of Charlie Rich's classic gospel "Feel Like Going Home" ends this set on a somber note, made all the more melancholy by Burks' demise. The album's extended length is its only detriment (it would be more potent trimmed by a few tracks), but since there will be no more music from the guitarist, that criticism is mitigated by the unfortunate circumstances. Burks is truly at the top of his game here, which makes Show of Strength such a bittersweet finale from one of contemporary blues' most magnetic, powerful, and committed artists. ~ Hal Horowitz

Product Details

Release Date: 08/21/2012
Label: Alligator Records
UPC: 0014551495123
Rank: 126587

Tracks

  1. Count on You
  2. Take a Chance on Me, Baby
  3. Storm Warning
  4. Can You Read Between the Lines?
  5. Cross Eyed Woman
  6. Little Juke Joint
  7. 24 Hour Blues
  8. Valley of Tears
  9. Since I Been Loving You
  10. I Want to Get You Back
  11. What Does It Take to Please You?
  12. Feel Like Going Home

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michael Burks   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Terrence Grayson   Vocals (Background),Bass
Wayne Sharp   Organ,Piano,Vocals (Background)
Scott Dirks   Harmonica
Chuck "Popcorn" Louden   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Roosevelt Purifoy   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Michael Trossman   Logo Design
Blaise Barton   Mixing,Engineer
Michael Burks   Composer,Producer
Brian Leach   Engineer
Bruce Iglauer   Producer,Mastering,Liner Notes
Paul Natkin   Photography
Kevin Niemiec   Package Design
Collin Jordan   Mastering
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