Butt Naked Free

by Guy Davis

Overview

Making sure that country-blues starts the 21st century off on the right foot, Guy Davis' Butt Naked Free, whose title was inspired by the comments of Davis' young son, is one of the most accomplished statements the genre has offered in a few years. Picking up where 1998's You Don't Know My Mind left off, Davis once again has decided to fill out his sound, but this time adding touches of mandolin, organ and accordion, with the results being altogether more satisfying and never sounding even slightly overproduced. Where Davis on his previous album sounded, at times, unsure of his new direction, Butt Naked Free rocks with a loose liveliness, still allowing Davis' derivative yet idiosyncratic sound to shine through. "Waiting on the Cards to Fall" and "Never Met No Woman Treats Me Like You Do," the latter with Levon Helm contributing drums and mandolin, showcase how well Davis' sound fills out and offers the unique experience of hearing what it might have sounded like if Mance Lipscomb or Reverend Gary Davis had ever recorded with full-band accompaniment. Ballads like "Let Me Stay a While" and the narrative "Sugar Belle Blue" are some of the strongest Davis has written and, if anything, benefit considerably from the more filled out sound. Of course, Davis still delivers more than a few of his stripped-down solo country-blues tunes with the humorous "High Flying Rocket," the mean slide playing on "Come On Sally Hitch a Ride," and the gorgeous instrumental "The Place Where I'm From (Butt Naked Free)." More than anything, Butt Naked Free shows that Guy Davis is still more than happy to carry the banner of country-blues, yet remains able to add to the dialogue of the genre and put his own stamp on it in the process. ~ Matt Fink

Product Details

Release Date:	03/14/2000
Label:	Red House Records
UPC:	0033651014225
Rank:	182200

Tracks

1. Talkin' 'Bout Wings 'N' Brew
2. Waiting on the Cards to Fall
3. Let Me Stay Awhile
4. Writing Paper Blues
5. Sometimes I Wish
6. High Flying Rocket
7. Never Met No Woman Treats Me Like You Do
8. Sugarbelle Blue
9. Meet Me Where the River Turns
10. My Rambling Ways
11. Come on Sally Hitch a Ride
12. Ain't No Bluesman
13. The Place Where I Come from (Butt Naked Free)
14. Raining in My Soul

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Guy Davis   Primary Artist,Dobro,Vocals,Harmonica,Tambourine,Guitar (12 String),12-String Bass Guitar,National Steel Guitar
Levon Helm   Guest Artist,Mandolin,Drums (Snare)
Gary Burke   Harmonica,Percussion,Drums (Snare),Vocals
T-Bone Wolk   Mandolin,Accordion,Bass (Electric),Organ (Hammond)
John Platania   Percussion
Mark Murphy   Double Bass,Bass (Upright)

Technical Credits

John Platania   Producer
David Glasser   Mastering
Paul Antonell   Engineer
Rev. Gary Davis   Composer
Guy Davis   Composer
Eric Peltoniemi   Executive Producer
Michael Wrycraft   Design,Layout Design