Guitararama
Encyclopedia
Guitararama is the first studio album by Stephen Dale Petit
released on June 2, 2008.
The enthusiasm of the public's response inspired Petit to independently compose and release debut album Guitararama, financed entirely by busking. The album's first pressing was initially available only on the Underground, before being taken on by major UK commercial retailers and online outlets. This rare original has sold out and is a soughtafter collectors item to any hardcore blues fan. Guitarama was re-packaged and re-released on 2 June 2008, under 333 Records, with 3 extra bonus tracks added ("Blues Fom Mars", "Bad Road Blues" and "A Better Answer"). The album is in a Digipak
format with 16 page colour booklet featuring photography from street photographer John Gladdy
Guitararama is predominantly instrumental, and appeals to “both the mature, Arts-appreciative audience and the younger, guitar inquisitive end of the market.”. On it, Stephen showcases an advanced technical guitar playing ability as well as exemplifying the diverse range of musical styles the blues can span. According to a review by Propaganda Magazine, tracks such as “7 Cent Cotton” and “Percy’s Thumb”, have a distinctly old school sound and a Jimmy Page influence, and others have a heightened emotional feel due to a sound which is “humbucker fat, rich in harmonic distortion and overdriven sustain.”. Classic Rock (magazine)
reviewed the album giving it eight stars, it stated: "Petit occupies a stunning middle ground between the fire of Freddy King, the instinct of Jimmy Page and the soul of Clapton." In addition, it goes on to say: "It’s difficult these days to put a new spin on such an old genre as the blues but Petit has managed it".
Petit states that in creating the album, his “guiding principle was to honour the music that had floored me throughout my life, to do it justice, to try and create the magic, mystery and excitement I’d heard in that music in my own songs and to capture it in the recordings”.
The first incarnation of “Guitararama” entered the Top 10 HMV
Blues Album Chart in the UK (between two Robert Johnson albums), as well as the ITunes
Top 10 Chart in both Norway
and Sweden
. Guitar Magazine also placed it in the top 10 albums of the year. Mike Andrews, a former EMI Records
managing director, is leading ”Guitarama’s" re-release and distribution on 333 Records with Absolute Marketing and Distribution(AMD) through Universal Music Group
. Andrews says: “Petit is a major talent and the New Blues scene is set to explode”.
Preceding the album is the three track single with "7 Cent Cotton", "Told You So", and "Alexis Korner Says" with "7 Cent Cotton" video.
, except where noted.
Stephen Dale Petit
Stephen Dale Petit is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and New Blues musician.Petit’s blues guitar experience started at a young age in California, and continued through drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, and subsequent recovery...
released on June 2, 2008.
The enthusiasm of the public's response inspired Petit to independently compose and release debut album Guitararama, financed entirely by busking. The album's first pressing was initially available only on the Underground, before being taken on by major UK commercial retailers and online outlets. This rare original has sold out and is a soughtafter collectors item to any hardcore blues fan. Guitarama was re-packaged and re-released on 2 June 2008, under 333 Records, with 3 extra bonus tracks added ("Blues Fom Mars", "Bad Road Blues" and "A Better Answer"). The album is in a Digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
format with 16 page colour booklet featuring photography from street photographer John Gladdy
Guitararama is predominantly instrumental, and appeals to “both the mature, Arts-appreciative audience and the younger, guitar inquisitive end of the market.”. On it, Stephen showcases an advanced technical guitar playing ability as well as exemplifying the diverse range of musical styles the blues can span. According to a review by Propaganda Magazine, tracks such as “7 Cent Cotton” and “Percy’s Thumb”, have a distinctly old school sound and a Jimmy Page influence, and others have a heightened emotional feel due to a sound which is “humbucker fat, rich in harmonic distortion and overdriven sustain.”. Classic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
reviewed the album giving it eight stars, it stated: "Petit occupies a stunning middle ground between the fire of Freddy King, the instinct of Jimmy Page and the soul of Clapton." In addition, it goes on to say: "It’s difficult these days to put a new spin on such an old genre as the blues but Petit has managed it".
Petit states that in creating the album, his “guiding principle was to honour the music that had floored me throughout my life, to do it justice, to try and create the magic, mystery and excitement I’d heard in that music in my own songs and to capture it in the recordings”.
The first incarnation of “Guitararama” entered the Top 10 HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
Blues Album Chart in the UK (between two Robert Johnson albums), as well as the ITunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Top 10 Chart in both Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Guitar Magazine also placed it in the top 10 albums of the year. Mike Andrews, a former EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
managing director, is leading ”Guitarama’s" re-release and distribution on 333 Records with Absolute Marketing and Distribution(AMD) through Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. Andrews says: “Petit is a major talent and the New Blues scene is set to explode”.
Preceding the album is the three track single with "7 Cent Cotton", "Told You So", and "Alexis Korner Says" with "7 Cent Cotton" video.
Track listing
All songs were written by Stephen Dale PetitStephen Dale Petit
Stephen Dale Petit is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and New Blues musician.Petit’s blues guitar experience started at a young age in California, and continued through drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, and subsequent recovery...
, except where noted.
- "Sacramento" – 4:55
- "Intro" – 0:14
- "Alexis Korner Says" – 5:31
- "Intro" – 0:19
- "Crack Whore" (SDP, Niles) – 4:49
- "Aint No Sunshine" – 3:23
- "Surf City W10" (SDP, Niles – 3:36
- "10 Year Reflections" – 8:54
- "Percy's Thumb" – 4:57
- "69 Duke Street" – 1:43
- "Told You So" – 5:40
- "7 Cent Cotton" – 3:38
- "Pure" – 2:56
- "10 Year Blues" – 4:58
- "Blues From Mars" – 3:02
- "Bad Road Blues" (SDP, Federico Ariano, Franz Piombino) – 6:04
- "A Better Answer" (SDP, Baxter, Cripps) – 2:48
Musicians
- Stephen Dale Petit - Guitar and vocals
- Additional instruments - Bass and keyboards)
- Phil Spalding and Franz Piombino - Bass
- Gary Wallis, Chuck Sabo, Federico Ariano, Ron Petit and Rick Walsh - Drums
- Laurent Mouflier - Harp
- Paul Spong and Roberto ManzinRoberto ManzinRoberto Manzin is a London UK based Alto, Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet, Piano player and composer.- Biography :Roberto Manzin was born the 8th of July 1966 in Rome, Italy of Eastern European refugees who were also musicians...
- Horns - Anouska Di Giorgio - Backing vocals