Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers
"We Got It"
Telarc Records CD-83540
It doesn't get much better than this. Jimmy Thackery, formerly of the Nighthawks, deserves much more attention and respect than he's received outside of guitar afficionado circles. Although he's won more awards for blues-rock guitar playing than most non-blues guitarists can name, he's remained in the second line shadows for most of us . . . Jimmy Thackery . . . he's one of those guys.
Furthermore, even among those few people with the ears and interests to listen to him, he has been branded as a guitarist; no one's paid much attention to his singing voice. That, too, has held him out of the limelight he long ago earned. Well, maybe We Got It will get it for Jimmy Thackery. It is a great album.
Liner notes state the opinion that three things are needed "to make a successful record: a great artist, great material and an inspired band. Jimmy Thackery has put all three together on this album" In truth, this reviewer can't add much to that excerpt. This is pure, distilled blues, songs crafted by human experience into something so vivid, so close to my own experience and yours that they seem to follow you home, to work and everywhere else after you hear them a couple of times.
Buy two copies of this one, because you'll wear the first one out.
by Arthur "LoveWhip" Shuey