Sweet Dreams: Anthology

Dunno why this double-disc retrospective isn't out in the States, because it's the reigning champ of Roy Buchanan comps, which is to say it has some of the sweetest licks known to man! Includes his unbelievable version of Neil Young's Down by the River, which is exclusive to this collection, plus Green Onions; After Hours; Pete's Blues; Messiah Will Come Again; Five String Blues; Turn to Stone ; four unissued collaborations with Charlie Daniels and the unreleased instrumental Dual Soliloquy; If Six Were Nine; Wayfaring Pilgrim, and more. 26 smokin' sides!

One of the tragic figures in blues-rock, Roy Buchanan possessed chops that matched those of any of his more acclaimed contemporaries, including Eric Clapton. His recording accomplishments, however, were problematic. Despite forecasts of stardom that corresponded with his 1972 solo debut (the Arkansas- born virtuoso made his debut as a sideman 15 years earlier), Buchanan never found the perfect forum for instrumental expression. After years of frustration, he hung himself in a jail cell in 1986 after being arrested for drunk driving. This 2 CD anthology stands as the definitive overview of Buchanan's career, mixing the best of his '70s and '80s records with a generous assortment of unreleased tracks. --Steve Stolder