Stratosphere Boogie: The Flaming guitars Of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant

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These 16 sides were selected from the more than 50 that guitarist Bryant and pedal steel player West cut in Los Angeles between 1951 and 1956, when they were also most in demand as country--and occasionally pop--session men. Forty years later, these are still considered the hottest, most fully realized, most musical instrumentals in the history of country. West's slashing, muscular steel lines send out sparks, while Bryant's bop-influenced, breakneck guitar cuts clean as a scalpel. Using the guitar-steel pairings of Western swing as a jumping-off point, these guys created a jazzy body of work that many guitarists are still trying to decipher. --John Morthland

Stratosphere Boogie: The Flaming guitars Of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant,Speedy West,Jimmy Bryant,Razor & Tie,Country,Country Traditional,Pop,Popular Music

Average customer rating:

Ahead of their time!!!

The epitome of pickin' and grinnin'

Just get it and hold onto your seat !!!!!!

Where's Mary?

Speedy West mediocre?

Stratosphere Boogie: The Flaming guitars Of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant
Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant
Manufacturer: Razor & Tie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music
General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002Z93
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

Stratosphere Boogie
Blue Bonnet Rag
Cotton Pickin'
Old Joe Clark
Sleepwalker's Lullaby
Arkansas Traveler
The Night Rider
Low Man On A Totem Pole
Speedin' West
Comin' On
Bryant's Bounce
Midnight Ramble
Pickin' Peppers
Shuffleboard Rag
Bustin' Thru
Flippin' The Lid

Amazon.com

These 16 sides were selected from the more than 50 that guitarist Bryant and pedal steel player West cut in Los Angeles between 1951 and 1956, when they were also most in demand as country--and occasionally pop--session men. Forty years later, these are still considered the hottest, most fully realized, most musical instrumentals in the history of country. West's slashing, muscular steel lines send out sparks, while Bryant's bop-influenced, breakneck guitar cuts clean as a scalpel. Using the guitar-steel pairings of Western swing as a jumping-off point, these guys created a jazzy body of work that many guitarists are still trying to decipher. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

Ahead of their time!!!.......2004-06-25

HOT, HOT, HOT!!! One of the best instumental albums you'll ever hear. Inventive, creative, original. As Jimmy's son points out, he was Leo's torchbearer with the tele. According to George Fullerton, Mr. Fender's right-hand man, he and Leo were at a club in Riverside, CA, looking for guitarists to "test drive" this new invention. During a set break they approached Jimmy, who took it, sat on the edge of the stage and began picking. As George related the story, all in attendance stopped what they were doing, gathered around and watched Bryant pick away. It, I'm sure, was an historic moment.

Thankfully, the combination of Mr. Bryant and Mr. Fender's invention can be heard in its purist form. Teamed up with Speedy (and that name is accurate) West, you have an album that cooks. Remember, this is the 1950s, and there are no tricks here. As pure and clean as it gets.

Be prepared to be sent into the stratosphere!

The epitome of pickin' and grinnin'.......2003-11-29

Originals and souped up country standards, played at warp speed, with sock rhythm and bop lines. My favorite is "Arkansas Traveler" as a I-vi-ii-V song instead of the traditional I-IV-I-V.

Just get it and hold onto your seat !!!!!!.......2003-03-25

My father, Jimmy Bryant, played the heck out of his Telecasters - in fact, he was the first artist to play a Fender guitar for Leo Fender. If you play guitar and have never heard him play, this may scare you to grasp the thought of him doing this in the early to mid 50's - just think about being the first to play a solid body electric guitar without having someone else to copy chops from - and it sounding like this! Hope you like it - you can read more about my dad at ...
Kind regards,
John Bryant

Where's Mary?.......2002-05-22

To those of us coming from a more Pop point of view this CD sounds like a ruralized Les Paul--lots of flash and a 2/2 beat.

The never-ending debate about which cubby hole to stuff Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant into (are they Country? C&W? Jazz? Country Jazz? Pop Country? yadda yadda yadda?) is less than interesting to me. Whatever it is they're playing, I like it.

"Stratosphere Boogie," "Arkansas Traveler" and "Flippin' The Lid" are the highlights for me. West/Bryant understood the difference between showing off by picking at 1000 miles an hour and delivering a tune with a pit of flash and panache.

Speedy West mediocre?.......2002-01-08

I saw the comments of some here about speedy west not being very good. I just wanted to say the cuts on this album are not very representative of some of his best work. There is a CD put out by a european company of about 30 tracks of stuff from his days on the tennesee ernie ford show that are hands down much better than this material.

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Music Album