Gatton, Danny

Band members               Related acts

- Jon Carroll - keyboards (1987-)
- Dave Elliott - drums (1987)
- Manny Fishman - drums (1987-)
- Shannon Ford - drums (1990)
- Danny Gatton - guitar
- Bill Hollman - keybaords (1990)
- Robbue MaGruder - drums (1984)
- Roger McDuffle - sax (1987-)
- Tom Previti - bass (1984-87)
- Tom Principato - guitar vocals (1984)
- Mike Suchei - keyboards (1984)
- Brooks Tegler - drums (1987-)
- Billy Windsor - vocals, guitar (1990)

 

 

 - none known

 

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Unfinished Business

Company: NRG

Catalog: NLP-02497

Year: 1987

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor ringer and corner wear

Available: 1

Price: $30.00

 

 Rock is full of so called guitar heroes; many overblown by media hype and undeserving of their reputations. That's not the case for Washington D.C.'s late Danny Gatton. A quiet, self-effacing man who was never comfortable with the praise and admiration that followed him, Gatton's low-keyed career never generated much in the way of sales, not did he attract much public attention. Even in his native Washington, Gatton remained little more than a cult figure. That said, luminaries including Buddy Emmons, the late Lowell George, Les Paul and Guitar Player magazine (which repeatedly named him Best Guitarist), all acknowledged his technical virtuosity and verve.

Recorded in Wheaton Maryland and released by the small Georgia-based NRG Records, 1987's "Unfinished Business" was dedicated to Gatton's late father Daniel W. Gatton Sr. Perhaps our favorite Gatton release, the all-instrumental set served as a perfect introduction to the artist's musical diversity, as well as a reflection of his wide ranging musical influences. Check out the Les Paul-styled runs on "Cherokee", Gatton's cover of Charlie Byrd's "Homage To Charlie Christian", the insane "Fingers On Fire" (Gatton-meets-Monty Python) and his cover of Jackie Gleason's "Melancholy Serenade" (easily one of his prettiest melodies). Elsewhere, Gatton's own "Lappin It Up" was stunning - even more so when you realize that Gatton was playing both the Telecaster and Fender steel guitar solos. Anyone who didn't think Gatton could hack it in a rock or blues setting need only listen to the closer "Notcho Blues". Sadly, like his earlier releases, sales proved miniscule. (We always smile when reading the liner notes crediting Gatton's song-by-song guitar and amp choices.) (In 1994 NRG reissued the set on CD. The CD included two bonus tracks: "Nit Pickin'" and "Georgia On My Mind".)

"Unfinished Business" track listing:
1.) Cherokee (instrumental) (R. Noble) - 3:12
2.) Lappin It Up (instrumental) (Danny Gatton) - 3:21
2.) Melancholy Serenade (instrumental) (Jackie Gleason - D. Enston) - 3:54
4.) Sky King (instrumental) (Danny Gatton) - 7:46
5.) Homage To Charlie Christian (instrumental) (Charlie Byrd) - 1:53
6.) Sleepwalk (instrumental) (J. Farina - S. Farina - A. Farina) - 6:58
7.) Fingers On Fire (instrumental) (A. Smith ) - 2:57
8.) Notcho Blues (instrumental) (Danny Gatton) - 7:36 

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Blazing Telecasters

Company: Powerhouse

Catalog: P-108

Year: 1990

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

Price: $30.00

 

 With Gatton signing to a major label, it was only natural that the market would see a flood of Gatton material. One of the first to appear was "Blazing Telecasters". Originally recorded during an April 1984 concert at Washington D.C.'s Adams Rib restaurant, the set was actually a full blown collaboration with Washington guitarist Tom Principato (another act well worth checking out). A largely instrumental set, there was no doubting the duo's technical chops, but with a couple of exceptions ("Been 'n Gone" and the pretty "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"), the set didn't really click for us.

"Blazing Telecasters" track listing:
1.) Honey Hush (Talkin' Woman) (Washington - Fulson) - 10:39
2.) Blue Mood (Tom Principato) - 3:20
3.) Quiet Village (Les Baxter) - 11:30
4.) Cherokee (instrumental) (Noble) - 5:40
5.) If You Only Knew (instrumental) (Tom Principato) - 6:53
6.) Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (instrumental) (Bob Dylan) - 6:09
7.) Been 'n Gone (Tom Principato) - 6:17

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