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Various Artists: Magna Carta Guitar Greats Vol. 1
 Magna Carta's efforts to repackage previously released material in compilation format continues with what is said to be the first volume of guitar-oriented songs from the pioneering progressive-rock label's vast catalog, which reaches back to the early Nineties. But contrary to the title, Guitar Greats Vol. 1 is not exclusively an instrumental album; rather, tracks from a variety of all-star projects (Explorers Club, Niacin, Bozzio Levin Stevens), tribute albums (Jethro Tull, Rush) and solo records (Jordan Rudess, Steve Morse) fill the disc's 65 minutes but barely scratch the surface. Maybe that's what future volumes will do …
Every track here is a keeper. After all, these 11 complex and engrossing songs — encompassing rock, prog, metal and blues - were chosen from a deep pool of material mostly from the Nineties and include players like George Lynch, Alex Skolnick, Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Toto's Steve Lukather, Symphony X's Michael Romeo and The Allman Brothers' Derek Trucks. You know this stuff has got to sizzle when Joe Satriani can help an unrelentingly heavy track by maestro keyboardist Jordan Rudess ("Screaming Head") land on an album honoring guitarists. But most impressive is "Roadside America Medley," a mind-blowing, previously unreleased track from the Black Light Syndrome sessions by the power trio of Steve Stevens on guitar, Terry Bozzio on drums and Tony Levin on bass.
As with titles in Magna Carta's Prime Cuts series, Modern Drummer scribe T. Bruce Wittet has penned musician-geek liner notes and referenced time-elapsed highlights — such as the 4:43 mark of Moore's solo in yet another Rudess piece, "Time Crunch." Guitar Greats offers a brief but effective introduction to a small portion of Magna Carta's back-catalog. Longtime fans, though, may wonder why exec producers Peter Morticelli and Mike Varney limited their scope to only eight albums.
Track Listing:
1) Fate Speaks-Explorers Club (Solo: John Petrucci)
2) Cat's Squirrel-To Cry You A Song Tribute to Jethro Tull (Solo: Derek Trucks)
3) Analog Kid-Working Man Tribute to Rush (Solo: Michael Romeo)
4) Roadside America Medley-Bozzio Levin Stevens (Unreleased) (Solo: Steve Stevens)
5) Screaming Head-Jordan Rudess (Solo: Joe Satriani)
6) Things Ain't What They Used To Be-Niacin (Solo: Steve Lukather
7) Working Man-Working Man Tribute to Rush (Solo: Jake E. Lee)
8) Cool Wind, Green Hills-Steve Morse (Solo: Steve Morse)
9) Time Crunch-Jordan Rudess (Solo: Vinnie Moore)
10) Anthem-Working Man Tribute to Rush (Solo: George Lynch)
11) Western Sabbath Stomp-Alex Skolnick Trio (Solo: Alex Skolnick)
Added: August 12th 2007
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score: 
Related Link: Magna Carta
Hits: 4574
Language: english
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Various Artists: Magna Carta Guitar Greats Vol. 1
Posted by Butch Jones, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-08-12 19:34:27
My Score:
Magna Carta records, the home of Progressive Metal/Rock has delivered a great guitar fan compilation CD, simply titled "Magna Carta Guitar Greats-Vol.1". The CD Featuring 11 tracks from all facets of today's Rock & Metal players including; Joe Satriani, Derek Trucks, Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Jake E.Lee, Steve Lukather, George Lynch, Steve Stevens, Symphony X's Michael Romeo and more. This really is a, "who's who" of amazing players and a very interesting mix of them as well. Most of the tracks contained within are available on other Magna Carta releases, with one lone exception.
Dream Theater's John Petrucci starts things off with a song called "Fate Speaks", from the Explorer's Club CD, featuring Billy Sheehan and drum god, Terry Bozzio. This is a cool lead off track for this CD with it fading in and getting up to speed. Petrucci doesn't disappoint and when the vocals actually kick in, it's very DT like. Next up is the always tasty Derek Trucks doing the blues standard, "Cat's Squirrel". Trucks' slide guitar is unmatched and part of the rhythm section on this song are 2 ex-Jethro Tull members, Clive Bunker and Mick Abrahams. When this track was recorded, Derek Trucks was only 19 years old! NINETEEN!! Unreal. Trucks owns this song and displays some of the best playing on this CD.
Rush is well represented on this compilation, with 3 songs. Working Man featuring Jake E.Lee, Anthem featuring George Lynch and Analog Kid, featuring Michael Romeo of Symphony X. And all three songs are done with the respect that Rush deserves, but out of these three tracks, George Lynch misses the mark. His constant "noodling" throughout is down right annoying, and I'm a huge fan of Lynch! But he completely overplays on the song from the first few seconds 'til the very end. He just doesn't shut up!! Michael Romeo does his neo Classical shredding best during the solo on Analog Kid. A great player, but a bit much for the song. I wish that he pulled it back a bit. But Jake E.Lee does the best job on Working Man, keeping it close to the vest of Mr. Lifeson. Jake gets to riff it up, but plays for the song and not just to show what he can do. Another highlight is from Joe Satriani. The very unlike Satch, "Screaming Head". This is from keyboard hero Jordan Rudess's CD, "Rhythm of Time", featuring Dave LaRue on Bass and ex-Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein. This is much more reminiscent of Satch's, "Not of This Earth" off the wall era, than the radio friendly material we have become familiar with. To be honest, you might not even know it was Satriani if you didn't read who played on the song. Satch is interesting and NOT at all predictable, which is a nice breath of fresh air.
The lone unreleased track of the bunch is from one of the most under rated, under appreciated, over looked and just simply one of the best guitarists on the planet....Steve Stevens. The song is called "Roadside America Medley" and is from Bozzio, bassist extraordinaire Tony Levin & Stevens. A free form jam for sure, but Stevens shines. Steve Morse and Vinnie Moore also provide some great instrumental highlights, but the show is stolen by Steve Lukather and Testament's own, Alex Skolnick. Skolnick's, "Western Sabbath Stomp" invokes imagery of the backwoods of the old West, complete with tumbleweed and Doc Holiday. Not the lickity split, fingers flying virtuosity that you have come to expect from Alex, but just the opposite. Slow hand slide guitar with single note phrasing. The taste he shows in the lack of notes provides the heaviness. Brilliant! Now Steve Lukather, what can be said about this guy? Lukather provides the best performance on this Volume 1 of Magna Carta's Guitar Greats. His "Things Aren't What They Used To Be" is from the band Niacin's CD "Deep". Niacin is bassist unequalled, Billy Sheehan, Hammond B3 player, John Novello and drum freak, Dennis Chambers baby and this track also features vocals by "The Voice" one Mr. Glenn Hughes. A soulful, breathy blues track that Lukather just makes his own. His chording and soloing is just simply awesome. He adds color and flavor through the entire song, a very dramatic and soulful performance and the best on this CD.
Any Prog Rock/Metal/Guitar fan should love what Magna Carta records stands for. They have given a home to some of the best bands and musicians in the world and have continued to wave the flag for great music. This Guitar Greats-Vol.1 is just that, a way to feature some of the great guitar players and their performances on a compilation CD. It should be a hard job to figure out who will be on Vol.2, but a fun listen, I'm sure!
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