Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
The sudden passing of 54-year-old guitarist Michael Burks in 2012, between the recording and release of this, his final album, casts an undeniable shadow over it. Burks was prepared to approve the final mixes and track order when he was struck by a fatal heart attack when arriving stateside after a European tour. It's a tragic and untimely end to a bluesman who was in his prime, as evidenced by the impassioned performance and superior songs on his fourth Alligator studio waxing. Burks' husky build was mirrored in his similarly styled vocals and meaty guitar tone, all of which are in full force throughout these dozen tracks. Like his previous disc, this features his road band whose keyboard player, Wayne Sharp, is a major component of Burks' soulful sound. From the funky bassline and sly lyrics of "Can You Read Between the Lines?" to the slide-guitar rock thump of "Cross Eyed Woman" (perhaps a nod to Free, whose music Burks has covered in the past) and the straight-ahead shuffle of "What Does It Take to Please You?," he navigates a lot of musical territory. Both covers and originals boast strong melodies, which Burks does justice to with tough vocals and full-bodied, often thunderous guitar solos from which his "ironman" nickname was derived. The closing version of Charlie Rich's classic gospel "Feel Like Going Home" ends this set on a somber note, made all the more melancholy by Burks' demise. The album's extended length is its only detriment (it would be more potent trimmed by a few tracks), but since there will be no more music from the guitarist, that criticism is mitigated by the unfortunate circumstances. Burks is truly at the top of his game here, which makes Show of Strength such a bittersweet finale from one of contemporary blues' most magnetic, powerful, and committed artists.
© Hal Horowitz /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 13,50€/month
Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - Charles Mabrey, Composer, Lyricist - Terry Vieregge, Composer, Lyricist - CSP Publishing Co., MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, MainArtist - Eyeball Music, MusicPublisher - Harrison Sumner, Composer, Lyricist
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Jon Tiven, Composer, Lyricist - Roger Reale, Composer, Lyricist - Jimmy Vivino, Composer, Lyricist - Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - Terminal Zone Music, MusicPublisher - Uncontrolled Compositions, MusicPublisher - Vivino Brothers Music, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Willie Clarke, Composer, Lyricist - Clarence Reid, Composer, Lyricist - Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - Henstone Publ., MusicPublisher - Lottsamama Music, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, MainArtist - Eyeball Music, MusicPublisher - Harrison Sumner, Composer, Lyricist - Jerome Louden, Composer, Lyricist
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, MainArtist - Eyeball Music, MusicPublisher - Harrison Sumner, Composer, Lyricist
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Daniel Walsh, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Barri, Composer, Lyricist - Harvey Price, Composer, Lyricist - Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - Golden Clover Music, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Chris Cameron, Composer, Lyricist - Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - Chi-Bone Music, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, MainArtist - Eyeball Music, MusicPublisher - Harrison Sumner, Composer, Lyricist - Tim Wilkin, Composer, Lyricist
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Gary Nicholson, Composer, Lyricist - Tom Hambridge, Composer, Lyricist - Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - tom Hambridge Tunes, MusicPublisher - SONY/ATV CROSS KEYS PUBLISHING, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, MainArtist - Eyeball Music, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Charlie Rich, Composer, Lyricist - Bruce Iglauer, Producer - Michael Burks, Producer, MainArtist - Double R Music Corp. c/o Casablanca Media Songs, MusicPublisher
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Albumbeschreibung
The sudden passing of 54-year-old guitarist Michael Burks in 2012, between the recording and release of this, his final album, casts an undeniable shadow over it. Burks was prepared to approve the final mixes and track order when he was struck by a fatal heart attack when arriving stateside after a European tour. It's a tragic and untimely end to a bluesman who was in his prime, as evidenced by the impassioned performance and superior songs on his fourth Alligator studio waxing. Burks' husky build was mirrored in his similarly styled vocals and meaty guitar tone, all of which are in full force throughout these dozen tracks. Like his previous disc, this features his road band whose keyboard player, Wayne Sharp, is a major component of Burks' soulful sound. From the funky bassline and sly lyrics of "Can You Read Between the Lines?" to the slide-guitar rock thump of "Cross Eyed Woman" (perhaps a nod to Free, whose music Burks has covered in the past) and the straight-ahead shuffle of "What Does It Take to Please You?," he navigates a lot of musical territory. Both covers and originals boast strong melodies, which Burks does justice to with tough vocals and full-bodied, often thunderous guitar solos from which his "ironman" nickname was derived. The closing version of Charlie Rich's classic gospel "Feel Like Going Home" ends this set on a somber note, made all the more melancholy by Burks' demise. The album's extended length is its only detriment (it would be more potent trimmed by a few tracks), but since there will be no more music from the guitarist, that criticism is mitigated by the unfortunate circumstances. Burks is truly at the top of his game here, which makes Show of Strength such a bittersweet finale from one of contemporary blues' most magnetic, powerful, and committed artists.
© Hal Horowitz /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:04
- Main artists: Michael Burks
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Alligator Records
- Genre: Blues/country/folk Blues
2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc. 2012 Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.