Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog by Alan Wright

It's really greasy with lots of hot sauce on it. He is a great guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His guitar playing is pure and powerful. He plays his tail off on that thing. He also plays soulful and powerful harmonica. When he gets buried in the music it's a treat to watch him point his seafoam-green Stratocaster down at the floor, almost as if he's tapping directly down into the very roots of the music he loves.

And tap into it he does. Not only are his original rockers on his Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog CD strong, but when he plays live performances he also covers with tremendous humility and depth many of the old blues greats and soulful rock artist's. Such as Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Sly and the family Stone, Al Green and Boz Scaggs, all get covered with the respect and seasoning and talent that they deserve.

With the release of his new CD, Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog, in May of 2003, it is clear that Alan Wright is a blues-rock talent to be reckoned with. There are eleven strong tracks on his CD, all of them written, performed, sung, and produced by Alan, with the exception of Come To Me, which was co-written with Jay Spell. Alan is a gifted songwriter. All of the tracks on the new CD are cool rootsy rockers, with the notable exception of Po' Ol Bluesman, which is pure traditional-style electric blues. Traditional blues fans will love it.

My personal favorite song on the CD and the one that's a favorite with many of Alan's fans is the crossover hit, I'd Rather Be Fishin'. It's a beautiful blend of musical styles ... blues, rock, and country-rock, and is chock full of clever lyrics. Fans of the blues, rock and roll, and country music all love and request this song. In addition, make certain to give a listen to his hardest-driving rockers, Come On In This House, Don't Turn Around, and the title track especially, Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog. They're awesome. Very strong. Also, in the more traditional electric blues style, make sure to listen to Po' Ol Bluesman. It is personal and passionate and will move you. As always, live or in studio, Jay Spell plays keyboards and fiddle with Alan. And as a special treat on this CD, especially for you Jimmy Buffett Parrot Heads out there, Greg "Fingers" Taylor plays harmonica. Regardless of which songs on the CD become your favorite, they're all soulful passionate songs that are sure to make you pay attention and unable to sit still.

Alan Wright began playing guitar when he was 9 years old. At the age of 13, while still living in Illinois, he began playing clubs, eventually touring a six-state area. Next, Alan played with Kool Ray and the Polaroidz, which was sponsored by Miller Beer, Shure Microphones, Hammer Guitars, Ernie Ball Strings, Ensonic Keyboards, and Remo Drums. They were a favorite for nightclubs, festivals, and corporate functions in the Midwest. After that, Alan shared the stage with many greats such as, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mitch Ryder, Bruce Hornsby & The Range, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Otis Day and the Nights, and The Bus Boys. Six years ago, Alan formed his own band and relocated to the Southeast where he thrilled audiences and then teamed with the incredible talent of Jay Spell on keyboards and fiddle. Now Alan has brought his sought-after sound to Southern California.

Greg "Fingers" Taylor, Jimmy Buffett's harp man for 28 years, and the harpist on Alan's CD, is the best blues harmonica player I have ever heard. Period. Amazing amazing blues harmonica. He's not good. He's great. He's a wild man on stage too, as most Parrot Heads already know. Fingers gets totally buried in the music and the live performance. Not only does Fingers play the harp on Alan's new CD, but he occasionally flies out from Detroit and plays with Alan in his live shows too. Watch for future special appearences.

Jay Spell plays amazing keyboards and blues fiddle, as so many successful entertainers and bands have discovered over the years. There's nobody out there that can touch him on either instrument. It's as simple as that. He'll also blow you away with talent. It's so fun to watch his unique keyboard and fiddle style. He's truly amazing. Although he's been blind since birth, he was blessed with a gift in his heart, soul, ears, and hands.

Jay Spell's awesome talent is backed by an impressive history of working closely with some of the world's most talented entertainers. To list all of Jay's accomplishments would require more space than is available here and would surely succeed in embarrassing this humble musician. However, to name a few, Jay has toured and recorded with John Mayall, Canned Heat, Eddie Floyd, Tony Joe White, David Clayton Thomas, Greg "Fingers" Taylor, Tower of Power, The Impressions, The Clovers, Ronnie Milsap, Clifford Curry, Big Joe Mayor, Kip Anderson, and last but not least, Jimmy Buffett. Jay can also be found on the Tractors CD and Video. In addition, perhaps you might be old enough to recall seeing Jay performing with John Mayall on In Concert and The Midnight Special, or performing with Jose Feliciano on The Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson. For a kick, type Jay's name into your browser's search engine, click Go, and watch what comes up! Jay's a truly gifted and talented musician who is thrilled to entertain you as Alan Wright rocks the house!

Greg Sherrow

October 14, 2003

Average Customer Review: 5