Audio CD review:
Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang - Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang Smokin'

Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang - Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang Smokin'

Band: Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang Title: Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang Smokin' Rating: Release Date: 30 September, 1997 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Louise 2: Changes 3: Lovin My Baby 4: I Love You The Best 5: Nice & Warm 6: It's Obdacious 7: Sugarman 8: 'E' Train 9: Too Tired 10: Smokin 11: Malted Milk

Customer Reviews Jonny Lang - Early Independent Release That Is As Good If Not Better Than His Later More Well Known Stuff At the time Lang was only in his mid teens and became a blues sensation almost overnight. Jonny Lang is a blues guitarist / vocalist who burst on to the scene in 1996 with his major label debut "Lie To Me". The album's title track even produced a top 40 single that had the kid playing large venues as a headliner and he was not even 18 yet. . What a lot of people who discovered Lang since that time do not realize is that prior to the "Lie To Me" album Lang had been a member of Ted Larson's Big Bang Band and had produced this excellent album "Smokin". Lang started taking guitar lessons at the age of 13 from Larson. Within 6 months the kid was outplaying the teacher. The kid also possessed an incredible blues voice that sounded years older than it actually was. Larson formed a band around Lang and recorded this album. Lang was only 14 at the time, but wrote or co-wrote 11 of the albums songs. Listening to this disc one would have no clue that this kid was as young as he was. The album is mostly up tempo blues with plenty of great guitar from both Lang and Larson (who is no slouch himself), and Lang's killer vocals over the top. Along with the originals the band do some great covers including Tab Benoit's "Nice And Warm", Robert Johnson's "Malted Milk" and Albert Collins "Too Tired". The album is a bit on the raw side compared to Langs more polished major label recordings that would come later, but I find it refreshing and honestly think that this early independent release ranks right up with the best stuff Lang has put out since. If you are a Lang fan and have never picked this one up, run out and get it. The beginning I got this CD when he appeared in my small town at the beginning of his career and saw him very recently too. I have several of Jonny Lang's CD's and enjoy them all but this one is an exciting begining to an even more exciting career. Although he is more of a polished performer, this music is still blues at it's best. . . even if he would have been 30, 40 or 50, the soulful sound is there along with the fantastic guitar licks. . . I love it !!. young gun cd is from 1995 originally and the cd contains great electric blues ,the cd is mostly uptempo blues from the opening of louise to the great cover of albert collins "im tired" to my fav a great slow blues tune nice and warm with some of the best guitar licks i ever heard. . You can see a complete list of all Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang discography, or go back to the Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang tabs