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Boz Scaggs - Middle Man Audio CD

A fair review of the Boz Scaggs "Middle Man" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Boz Scaggs reviews here, or go back to the Boz Scaggs tabs.

Boz Scaggs Band: Boz Scaggs
Title: Middle Man
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-10-13
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Jojo 2: Breakdown Dead Ahead 3: Simone 4: You Can Have Me Anytime 5: Middle Man 6: Do Like You Do in New York 7: Angel You 8: Isn't It Time 9: You Got Some Imagination

3 and 1/2 Stars
Highlights:

Jojo
Breakdown Dead Ahead
Simone
You Can Have Me Anytime
Angel You
Isn't It Time

This one sounds like a continuation of Scaggs' Silk Degrees. This one is fun to listen to, but it isn't as good as some of his other stuff. The songs mentioned are amongst his best. Jojo is one of the best he ever wrote, but the other songs on the album are not as good. The ones I didn't consider highlights are the songs that are more rock and less signature Scaggs blue-eyed soul. The guitar sounds kind of sterile and formulated on those. It sounds like it needed more inspiration. This comes as a surprise because Steve Lukather from Toto is manning that instrument on this release.

The production on those songs sounds like they were trying to bring Scaggs into the 80s and although the ideas were good, they didn't materialize as well as past efforts in the rock style. David Foster was the producer and his influence is apparent in Scaggs' sound. In this case it wasn't a good thing. Foster has a very distinctive style that tends to mark music and push it into 80s Chicago territory. This sometimes works very well, but sometimes it clashes with the work in question. If the rock section of this album had been produced more in the vein of Lido Shuffle, or Lowdown from Silk Degrees, I think that it would have worked better, even though at the time of production it would have sounded a bit dated. It's hard to say whether the problem came from Lukather, Scaggs or from Foster. The rock songs aren't bad, but you can hear an unrealized potential in them that sinks the album and brings it down from stellar to average. The highlights mentioned are first-rate and make the album by themselves.

If you are new to Scaggs, then start with his My Time: Anthology collection. It has all the essential tracks from this album and most of his other greatest hits. .


He's the "BOZ"
The music,vocals and production are flawless. Not much I can add that has not already been said. Having members from TOTO and also David Foster and Carlos Santana pushes this album into classic status.

Boz must have been really busy in 1980, after releasing this gem he recorded "Look What Yo've Done To Me" for the Urban Cowboy Soundtrack and later that year released his "Hits" collection which included the new track "Miss Sun" (my favorite Boz Scaggs song) Though that song may have been left over from the "Middle Man" sessions.

Another thing to take note is the different verions of "Look What You've Done To Me" from Urban Cowboy compared to Hits. The version in Hits features backing vocals from The Eagles and added guitar work as well.

To have all these great artists and producers to work with him in one year is just amazing.


A personal favorite
"JoJo" and "Do Like you Do in New York" showcase that the man can really rock. This is the edgiest Scaggs there was and IMHO, the peak of his performance. Doesn't hurt to have a chunk of Toto working behind the scenes, too.

I hear Scaggs is on tour and is rocking the house. Very good news. .


Boz 2006
Let me just inform everyone I just concluded a concert on Friday August 18, 2006 headlined by a one Mr. Boz's Middle Man when released was the ever present joy in my life the follow up and smash that I felt superceded Silk Degrees and the players that what made Toto the group that they were and as a huge fan, still is today. William Royce "Boz" Scaggs himself, let's just say everyone there's still a breakdown dead ahead, and Jojo stil has those Broadway lights below him, and absolutley superb concert showcasing Boz at this best and he has lost nothing today, tomorrow, or yesterday.


One of Music's Best Voices
I've been a Boz Scaggs fan ever since Lowdown and he's never let me down since. I agree with most of those who reviewed this great album. Middle Man is Boz at the top of his game with some great singles along with that beautiful "jewel in the crown" Simone; what a wonderful surprise that was and it remains one of my favorite Boz Scaggs songs today. All in all an excellent album that's managed to keep its freshness even 26 years later! I'd love to see music today go back to this sound, it was feel good music for all ages that I'll love forever.


You can see a complete list of all Boz Scaggs discography, or go back to the Boz Scaggs tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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