The Jeff
Healey Band Legacy: Volume One [album+DVD]
“From
a local Canadian Blues-Rock
trio to global stardom and an impressive
array of awards, The Jeff Healey Band
was popular during the 1980s and 1990s
and, judging from the recently-released
CD album Legacy: Volume One, the
band’s own legacy is here to stay...”
THE JEFF HEALEY BAND RECEIVED MANY RAVE REVIEWS, and here is another! The
band's terrific album Legacy: Volume One is now available in a
wonderful and extensive package containing two CDs and one DVD —
a superb musical outing for Jeff's great vocals that is laden with many
melodic treats. The DVD is a visual delight that gets you closer to the man
and the band. Jeff Healey is one of the world's most celebrated guitarists
and he had to be seen in action to be believed.
Formed in 1985 when bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen joined Toronto-born
Jeff, The Jeff Healey Band saw a debut album See The Light released in
1988 on Arista. Featuring impressive hit single Angel Eyes, this first
album was a stepping stone to a success endorsed with a Grammy nomination, Juno
Award, platinum records and a prediction from Stevie Ray Vaughan that Jeff Healey
would "revolutionize the way the guitar can be played". The rest, of course,
is history — and it is a history that is still continuing after
Jeff's tragically early death from cancer last year (2008), twenty-three days
before his 42nd birthday.
The Jeff Healey Band's Legacy: Volume One is an absolute gem of a presentation
with an extensive mix of singles, unreleased live recordings and live video,
interviews and candid shots documenting the amazing career and accomplishments
of the Jeff Healey Band. What a tribute to Jeff's astounding talent and incredible
musical accomplishments! His sell-out concerts included performances in front
of Prime Ministers and Presidents and HM Queen Elizabeth of England.
It is not surprising that the band was seen as one of Canada's most successful
exports. Each track on the first disc (the Hits, the Best and the Rarities)
is notable for its own merit but Confidence Man and Angel Eyes
are particularly pleasing. While My Guitar Gently Weeps is poignantly
beautiful, with Jeff wringing out every morsel of emotion; Cruel Little Number
is a great little number; and Full Circle makes you realise what this
brand of rock is all about. Although we liked Lost In Your Eyes very
much, Angel shines brilliantly and Stuck In The Middle With You
is an old favourite that everyone likes to sing along to.
Moving onto the second disc that features live performances that have never
been released, I Think I Love You Too Much could never get enough of
an airing and Life Beyond The Sky is really wonderful rock and a truly
memorable track. Particularly impressive is the Jeff Healey Band's version of
All Along The Watchtower, Bob Dylan's fine creation that was also magnificently
covered by the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience. Love it and, of course, How
Long Can A Man Be Strong, which is a fine example of Jeff's art.
The third disc, the DVD, is a collective 'Rock-u-mentary' of rare footage, interviews,
intimate behind-the-scenes moments and unseen live performances around the world
from the eighteen-year career of the Jeff Healey Band — including
collaborations and jams with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton,
The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Keith Richards, Sheila E, Clarence Clemons
(Bruce Springsteen), Paul Shaffer and Dave Edmonds as well as select music videos
featuring the not previously released I Tried.
Both the album and the DVD really get under your skin. It is a real pleasure
to watch the highlights on screen and feel part of the musical experience. How
such a 'together' kind of band could almost have slipped through the music net
is beyond belief.
If Jeff Healey was missing from my collection, it would not be complete. Jeff
was a charismatic and talented musician who, along with the band, much deserves
his place in music history.
• The
Jeff Healey Band's Legacy: Volume One, on earMUSIC via Absolute, is available
now (released 1 June, 2009).
Tracklisting
CD1 (Singles)
1 See The Light | 2 Confidence Man | 3 Angel Eyes | 4 While
My Guitar Gently Weeps |
5 I Think I Love You Too Much | 6 Full Circle | 7 Cruel Little
Number | 8 Heart Of An
Angel | 9 Lost In Your Eyes | 10 It Could All Get Blown Away
| 11 Leave The Light On |
12 You're Coming Home | 13 I Got A Line On You | 14 Angel
| 15 Stuck In The Middle With You | 16 I Tried
CD 2 (Live/Unreleased)
1 I Think I Love You Too Much | 2 Confidence Man | 3 Full Circle
| 4 Life Beyond The Sky | 5 Angel | 6 See The Light | 7
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Live at Electric Ladyland, NYC) | 8 Further
On Up The Road | 9 Billie Jean Blues | 10 I Need To Be Loved
| 11 White Room (Live in New York) | 12 Don't Let Your Chance Go By
(Live in Toronto's Diamond Club) | 13 All Along The Watchtower (featuring
Tom Cochrane, Live in Toronto's Massey Hall) | 14 My Little Girl | 15
How Long Can A Man Be Strong | 16 Can't Get My Hands On You (Live
in London's Hammersmith Odeon).
"The Jeff Healey Band's terrific album Legacy: Volume One… a superb musical
outing for Jeff's great vocals that is laden with many melodic treats" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
"Jeff's merely gone off to play at another venue" — Jeff
Healey Official Site
Check out jeffhealeyband.com.
Jeff Healey
It was at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto when Jeff played guitar with drummer
Tom Stephen that the Jeff Healey Band was born. The Jazz and Blues-Rock guitarist
and vocalist just had to be noticed and when his native Canada failed to recognise
his talent he took his band to the US, where the seeds of success were sown.
During his nearly two-decade long career, he also discovered and helped other
artistes in their development.
Born on 25 March, 1966, Jeff began his musical journey at an early age. Although
he lost his sight to a rare cancer of the eyes when he was just eight months
old, he saw his blindness as being part of him and courageously accepted it.
At the age of three he was handed a guitar and his musical capabilities quickly
emerged.
Jeff Healey died on 2 March, 2008, after a lifelong battle with cancer, leaving
his wife, Cristie, and two children. One month later, the Mess Of Blues
album was released — Jeff's first rock/blues album for eight years.
He will be sadly missed.
