Gary Lucas - 2021 - The Essential Gary Lucas

(120:32; Knitting Factory Records)

Although Lucas has released more than 30 albums in his own right, and has performed on at least 50 more, he is probably always going to be associated with two performers in particular, namely Captain Beefheart and Jeff Buckley. He was featured soloist and later full Magic Band member on the last two Captain Beefheart albums, “Doc at the Radar Station” (1980) and “Ice Cream for Crow” (1982), while he formed psychedelic art-rock group Gods and Monsters, whose members have included Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) and most famously Jeff Buckley (Gary co-wrote and performed Jeff’s anthems “Grace” and "Mojo Pin”). This double CD set is broken in two, with the first disc being by Gods and Monsters and the second a combination of solo, rarities and collaborations. This is a vast collection, with 36 songs lasting more than 150 minutes, and shows the sheer diversity of his style. The only real constant through all the music is the superb guitar playing, which is exactly what one would expect from someone with his pedigree.

I mean, just look at this list of some of the people involved, Jeff Buckley, Alan Vega (Suicide), David Johansen (New York Dolls), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), Ernie Brooks (Modern Lovers), Billy Ficca (Television), Nona Hendryx (Labelle), Chinese pop star Feifei Yang, French-punk diva Elli Medeiros, avant-legend Mary Margaret O’Hara, Cuba’s #1 dance band Los Van Van fronted by Cuban stars Haydee and Suylen Milanes, UK dub-master Adrian Sherwood, avant composer/ keyboardist Walter Horn, vocalist Rolo McGinty (from England’s quirky pop band The Woodentops), the 65-piece Metropole Orkestra, and others. One would never imagine some of these artists ever featuring on the same album together, yet Lucas is happy with all of them.

One of my favourites is the gypsy-style deconstructed version of “All Along The Watchtower”, which has far more in common with Dylan’s original than the Hendrix take, although I have no idea what language this is being sung in, or who by. All I know is that her voice is amazing, and the riffing acoustic and picked electric combine with a screaming fiddle to create something very special indeed. There is a vitality with all these songs, but the second disc in particular shows Lucas going in whatever direction he wants, so one never knows what direction, culture or style the next song is going to be performed in. The result is something which is incredibly deep and diverse, showing just what a consummate performer he is. It is a great introduction and is well worthy of investigation.

Kev Rowland, November 2021

Links:
http://www.garylucas.com/
https://store.partisanrecords.com/knitting-factory-records