Guitar Shorty
Get Wise To Yourself
Black Top - 1126
Recorded 1995
Guitar Shorty on intrepid artists
This gem of a disc shows Guitar Shorty (David Kearney) off at one of the highlights of his too limited recorded efforts. He is one of the most flamboyant guitar players you will ever have the chance to see. His stage act was inspired by Guitar Slim, and he in turn inspired and influenced his stepbrother in law, a fellow by the name of Jimi Hendrix. This disc is filled with his searing blues guitar work. The only exception is the bouncy Kaz Kasanoff tune, “A Fool Who Wants To Stay”, though Kaz is an Associate Producer of this disc, maybe that says enough. The rest will give you more than your fill of his brand of inflammatory and slashing style of guitar licks, and a very tight horn section arranged by Kaz Kazanoff augments him and the solid band of musicians that are backing him. The best way to experience him is live, but this is one of his best recorded efforts with fine production and a good clean sound that shows his abilities off in the best light. I don’t know that he has ever recorded a live disc, but if you get a chance don’t miss his show. He is now moving up the years he still makes sure you get a good show, because he is a showman as well as being one hell of a guitar player.
Produced by Hammond Scott
Songs, times, writers
1 I’m The Clean Up Man – 3:43 – D. Kearney
2 You Better Get Wise To Yourself – 5:24 – Swamp Dogg, Bob Jones
3 I Don’t Know Why – 5:27 – W. Mitchell, E. Randall
4 You Don’t Treat Me Right – 2:42 – D. Kearney
5 My Baby Loves To Do The Bump – 4:23 - D. Kearney
6 Hard To Stay Above The Ground – 5:09 D. Kearney
7 You Left Me Dreaming – 4:25 - D. Kearney, H. Scott, M. Kazanoff, L. Zeno
8 She’s Built, She’s Built To Kill – 3:35 – Swamp Dogg
9 A Fool Who Wants To Stay - 4:07 – M. Kazanoff
10 The Blues Done Got Me – 5:19 - D. Kearney
11 Ways Of Man – 3:32 – C. Reynolds
12 Smells Good – 6:43 - D. Kearney
Personnel
Guitar Shorty – guitar, vocals
Riley Osborne – organ, piano
Sammy Berfect – organ (2, 5)
Lee Allen Zeno – bass
Raymond Weber – drums and percussion
Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff – tenor and baritone – saxophones
Ward Smith – alto, tenor and baritone saxophone and solo (8)
Ernest Youngblood Jr. – tenor saxophone
Steve Howard – trumpet, flugelhorn
Mark Mullins – trombone and solo (9)
Phillip Manuel and Charles Elam – background vocals