Whiskey Store by Jimmy Thackery (CD, Sep-2002, Telarc)

This cd COOK"S. This cd SMOKES. This cd has some of the greatest guitar work you will ever hear and damn few people know it. Why you ask? Because it does not fit into any of rock radio's "formats" that's why.If this cd had been played on classic rock radio I honestly believe this cd would have gone multi platinum.I'd like to know how this cd got by rock radio programmers. The fact that Stevie Ray Vaughn's back up band, Double Trouble is handling the drums, bass and keyboards should have gave somebody a clue. Charlie Musselwhite is on the harmonica and no he is not a household name but if you are in the music business you should have known something special was going on. Jimmy Thackery is a world class guitarist. I paid 10 bucks to see him in a bar in Cleveland on 2 or 3 occaisons. I couldn't believe it. My buddy told me he was a cross between Hendrix and Stevie Ray.I've been to over 200 shows since 1974 and I consider his 10 dollar shows in the late 1990's some of my all time favorites. This cd was my introduction to Tab Benoit and he outdid himself on this cd. Nice and Warm is one of his tunes and I consider it a absolute classic. I mean, literaly a classic. It stands right up there with any rock or blues classic you can name. It doesn't say so in the liner notes but I believe that is Mr. Thackery on the guitar and it just doesn't get any better than this. The song just cooks and I mean cooks! You listen to classic rock on the radio for an hour and then listen to this song and you wonder what in the hell is going on! How could they not play it! We've been listening to the same tunes on classic rock radio for 20 or 30 years And they couldn't find a spot for this one?! What is there excuse? And this isn't the only great song on this cd either. Bad Luck Blues is a great tune. The title track Whiskey Store is a great tune. Away Too Long and Strange Things Happen are both great songs.They do a cover of Bob Dylans Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat that is damn good. And hardly anybody knows it. This cd proves beyond reasonable doubt that FM radio is basicaly worthless. They have no imaginiation and apparently they don't care. On classic rock radio we listen to the same songs over and over and over again.And I don't believe it will ever change. In the mid 1970's WMMS in Cleveland became famous for helping to put Bruce Springsteen over the top. I don't believe radio will ever make that claim again. At least not with artist's that play musical instruments.I honestly believe that this cd could have went multi platinum. The cd has been out for five years now and if it's sold 250,000 copies it has done well for a blues cd with very limited airplay and no MTV. The talent on this cd is major league,Jimmy Thackery is in my top five as far as lead guitarist's go. I'm talking about ones who I have seen personaly.Clapton.Page,Buddy Guy and Jimmy Thackery lead my hit parade as far as live performances go. SRV's band Double Trouble play's on this cd and little or no airplay? And this band made this cd, toured a little and broke up. If the cd had sold well and gotten some airplay they might have stayed together. This was one hell of a band. My one and only hobby since high school has been going to shows and buying records and cd's. I have never seen a recording of this quality ignored like this. If you like ass kicking blues guitar work and the vocals and lyrics to go with it this cd is for you. 641simpson