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Johnny Guitar Watson – Funk Beyond the call of Duty

Johnny Guitar Watson – Giant

Released on 14 July 2003

Track listing and comments from the label below. From my perspective both of these are typical of Johnny's output in the late 70's. If you know that then you'll recognise this. There really isn't an awful lot to add to that. JGW hit a groove, had some success with it, was kind of Ok at the better end of it, but became pretty formulaic and uninspiring.

'Funk' was the follow up to 'Ain't that a bitch' and 'A real mutha for ya'. The title track follows that popular funk groove and recognisable guitar licks and vocal. There's also a typical humour to his lyrics on things like It's about the Dollar bill. The title track and It's a Damn shame are the best tracks of the disco funk variety.

The variations, ballads, blues etc on the other tracks do not particularly excite save for Love that will not die which is a mid tempo smoother groovier thing that stands the test of time over and above all the other tracks on both of these albums.

Giant seems to be held in slightly higher critical acclaim, but pretty much the same comments as above could be applied to it.

Built heavily around the disco items Miss Frisco and Gangster of Love. They are of a higer quality to the previous set. On the former JGW bringing on board a slightly pacier and less harsh vocal. More I suspect a change in the genre than anything driven by the artist itself. Gangster of course became a bit of a title for JGW, a track which merges a driving Blues rhythm into a disco arena.

I would have thought also that it would have been possible to include both of these in one set, on one CD even.

I would have though

Funk Beyond the call of Duty

Giant

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