When it comes to being a guitarist’s guitarist, then Steve ‘The Deacon’ Hunter would probably top many lists, having worked with the likes of Gabriel, Mitch Ryder, Lou Reed, Aerosmith and many others, including a very long running relationship with producer Bob Ezrin. But for me the name Steve Hunter takes me to one album in particular, ‘The Alice Cooper Show’, recorded in 1977 where he spars with Dick Wagner, showing the relationship they developed through touring with Lou Reed.

Born in 1948, Hunter has now somewhat slowed down, and like many guitarists before him has returned to what first got him interested in music, the blues. It has been nearly 50 years since he last sang on record, but here he provides the vocals to eight songs, with the other two being instrumentals. His voice is reminiscent of Tom Waits or Dr. John, broad and breathy, packed with emotion with his guitar providing just the right amount of cut through. It sounds as if it was recorded in a smoky nightclub, with a bassist, drummer (often on brushes) and a keyboard player, but this must have taken place in a brightly lit studio as apart from some backing vocals from Karen Hunter and an acoustic guitar solo from Paco Passman, Steve provides everything on the album. I have not previously come across any of Steve’s solo albums, I think this is his eighth, and this is an absolute revelation as this is classic old-school blues as it should be played, not 5 million notes to the bar but living every note. I saw Hunter play, 40 odd years ago, when he was with Meatloaf, but I never imagined I would ever hear him like this as he moves from one blues style to another (the slide on “Annabel’s Blues” is classic Fleetwood Mac). This is a modern album which is taking all its influences from times gone by, as well as half of the songs (Willie Dixon, Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Bill Withers, Lou Reed), and is a delight from the first note to the very last.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
http://www.stevehunter.com/