Fantasias For Guitar and Banjo

Sandy Bull should be a household name, as he was a true musical visionary who was clearly ahead of his time. This, his first album, is a truly auspicious debut. Blending Eastern, gospel, folk, and blues styles (and that's just a start), he gave a musical preview of what were to become commonplace forms (in rock and pop music) several years ahead of their time. This album could also be accurately described as one of the very first psychedelic records. The album is primarily Bull alone, aided only by jazz drummer Billy Higgins. The side-long "Blend" is a virtual travelogue of styles done in a then revolutionary modal tuning. The second half of the record features several cuts of different styles. Bull performs the gospel classic "Little Maggie" superbly on banjo, his first instrument. His electric guitar proves excellent as well on "Gospel Tune," an original done very well in the Pop Staples, tremolo-laden style. Bull didn't make another record for a couple of years after this, but with such an incredible debut, it took the audience at least that much time to catch up. ~ Matthew Greenwald