The Guitar Album

The Guitar Album

The Guitar Album is a guitar-led compilation bringing together ten tracks from some of the most distinctive players in blues, rock and jazz-rock. Featuring B.B. King, Shuggie Otis, Link Wray, Roy Buchanan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Harvey Mandel and Jan Akkerman, this collection explores the instrument's remarkable range, from expressive electric blues and hard-edged rock to more adventurous, technically accomplished playing.

Originally issued in the UK by Polydor in 1977, this edition captures a period when the electric guitar occupied a central place in popular music, with blues traditions feeding directly into the development of rock, psychedelic music and progressive styles. Rather than focusing on a single genre, The Guitar Album draws together artists with contrasting approaches, making it an engaging overview of the many directions guitar music took during the 1960s and 1970s.

The collection opens with B.B. King's Sweet Sixteen, showcasing the expressive phrasing and soulful blues guitar that helped establish him as one of the instrument's defining voices. Shuggie Otis brings a different character to Shuggie's Chittlin Blues, reflecting the imaginative musicianship of a guitarist who blended blues foundations with a more individual, exploratory sensibility. Link Wray's Trail Dragger adds his raw, forceful approach, while Roy Buchanan's After Hours highlights the expressive possibilities of electric blues guitar.

Eric Clapton appears twice, with Let It Rain and Tell The Truth, the latter featuring Duane Allman. The inclusion of Jimi Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower brings one of rock's most celebrated guitar performances into the mix, while John McLaughlin's Extrapolation introduces the more exploratory side of jazz-influenced guitar playing. Harvey Mandel's Unanswered Questions and Jan Akkerman's Hocus Pocus further broaden the collection, bringing together musicians whose styles extend well beyond conventional blues-rock.

The appeal of The Guitar Album lies in this diversity. Across its ten tracks, the compilation connects blues heritage, instrumental virtuosity, psychedelic rock and progressive experimentation without losing sight of the guitar itself. It offers an enjoyable listen for fans of classic electric guitar, blues-rock enthusiasts and collectors interested in the musicians who helped shape the sound of the late 1960s and 1970s.

A strong choice for listeners exploring the roots and evolution of electric guitar music, this Polydor compilation brings together an impressive selection of influential players in one varied, guitar-focused collection.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. B.B. King – Sweet Sixteen
A2. Shuggie Otis – Shuggie's Chittlin Blues
A3. Link Wray – Trail Dragger
A4. Roy Buchanan – After Hours
A5. Eric Clapton – Let It Rain

Side B
B1. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
B2. John McLaughlin – Extrapolation
B3. Harvey Mandel – Unanswered Questions
B4. Eric Clapton and Duane Allman – Tell The Truth
B5. Jan Akkerman – Hocus Pocus