Two Sides of If

Product Description
Super talented heavy rock guitarist Vivian Campbell burst onto the Irish rock scene in a band called Sweet Savage. Soon thereafter in 1982 Ronnie James Dio recruited the young prodigy as the lead guitarist for the then brand new band Dio, and Vivian is featured on the first three legendary Dio albums. Via stints in David Coverdale’s Whitesnake and Lou Gramm’s Shadow King, Vivian joined mega band Def Leppard in 1992 and remains one of the 2 lead guitarists of Def Leppard, touring and recording with them to this day. A long time fan of the blues, Vivian Campbell was determined to one day record his interpretations of great American blues songs. In April 2005, Vivian and 5 fellow musicians, including the great drummer Terry Bozzio (Mothers Of Invention, Missing Persons), recorded this great electric blues album. Two Sides Of If features classics originally recorded by blues legends like Muddy Waters, Albert King and Robert Johnson as well as songs from the likes of Rory Gallagher and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. The album closes with an original by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and last but not least the great Joan Osborne performs sizzling lead vocals on a great cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s classic song "Spoonful."

Two Sides of If,Vivian Campbell,Sanctuary Records,Contemporary Blues,Modern Electric Blues,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Two Sides of If

Average customer rating:

I really wanted to like this CD
Way to go Viv!
Who decides?
Vivian is out of his element--total waste of money
I agree...boring!

Two Sides of If
Vivian Campbell
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music

Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Def Leppard - Rock of Ages: Definitive Collection DVD
Retraced
Rapture of the Deep
Crystal Vision
Skin Crawl

ASIN: B000AMWIYE
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Messin With The Kid
Im Ready
Calling Card
Come On In My Kitchen
The Hunter
Like It This Way
I Aint Superstitious
Spoonful
Reconsider Baby
Good Or Bad Times
32/20 Blues
Willin For Satisfaction

Album Description

Super talented heavy rock guitarist Vivian Campbell burst onto the Irish rock scene in a band called Sweet Savage. Soon thereafter in 1982 Ronnie James Dio recruited the young prodigy as the lead guitarist for the then brand new band Dio, and Vivian is featured on the first three legendary Dio albums. Via stints in David Coverdale's Whitesnake and Lou Gramm's Shadow King, Vivian joined mega band Def Leppard in 1992 and remains one of the 2 lead guitarists of Def Leppard, touring and recording with them to this day. A long time fan of the blues, Vivian Campbell was determined to one day record his interpretations of great American blues songs. In April 2005, Vivian and 5 fellow musicians, including the great drummer Terry Bozzio (Mothers Of Invention, Missing Persons), recorded this great electric blues album. Two Sides Of If features classics originally recorded by blues legends like Muddy Waters, Albert King and Robert Johnson as well as songs from the likes of Rory Gallagher and Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. The album closes with an original by ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and last but not least the great Joan Osborne performs sizzling lead vocals on a great cover of Howlin' Wolf's classic song "Spoonful."

Customer Reviews:

I really wanted to like this CD.......2006-12-10

... but I don't. And it's a shame, given Campbell's former talents. Take his passionate, melodic shredding in Dio, factor in his potential to escape the grasp of mainstream metal with 1990's "Riverdogs," then lose all hope as he joins Def Leppard and takes a backseat to Phil Collen. (My congrats to Campbell for climbing the rock 'n' roll corporate ladder and retaining the title of "guitar player" minus the usual responsibilities associated therewith).

I'd have to say that "Spoonful" is the only righteous tune on this "guitar is my hobby now" release, thanks entirely to Joan Osborne's kickass vocal. Too bad Campbell doesn't back up Osborne by burning up the fretboard with his fingers (like he used to do, you know, back in the good old days). Instead, he insists on showing off his barely adequate slide playing skills. My advice? Go back to the boardroom. Play some golf. Keep singing along with Bon Jovi in the shower (that is who you're trying to sound like, right?) ... who knows ... you might be a star again someday.

Way to go Viv!.......2006-11-23

First off, I don't need to know the blues to know when I hear good music. You can say all you want but Vivian Campbell is a great guitar player and even though I don't know how the original recordings sound, I don't care. What I got was a CD that I enjoyed listening too at work and at home.

As far as his voice, it does take an adjustment but to be honest I love it! The blues are gritty and raw sometimes and considering he recorded the album in just 3 days you get a good feel for the energy.

I'm glad this CD is part of my collection.

Who decides?.......2006-01-23

Who decides what Vivian likes? I find it humorous that the reviewers that gave this CD a poor review are stating what Vivian is. I could have sworn that Vivian decides what he is and what he likes. If Vivian says he likes blues, then let him play the blues. I guess that is the advantage of being somebody that is somebody or compared to just another pickle laying in the gutter wishing they could play guitar or sing (like a few reviewers I have read about).

Vivian is out of his element--total waste of money.......2005-12-22

I wish I had seen the previous two reviews before buying this CD--I totally agree with them. It's obvious Vivian is a guitar player, not a singer. This "producer" that encouraged him to record a blues album as told in the liner notes is crazy. He has great tone in his guitar, and his respect for blues music is evident by his restraint in his playing, but this is clearly not his forte--shredding is. He displays a solid vibrato in his soloing, but apart from that his blues guitar work is nothing special. And his vocal style is no good at all, especially for blues. Vivian is a great guitar player, but he needs to stick to what he does best--shredding with Def Leppard--sorry, Vivian.

I agree...boring!.......2005-12-15

First off, let me say that I have admired viv's playing since his Dio days. He is truly a gifted player. However, I don't understand the praise that is being thrown at this album. Yes, the backing band is excellent. In fact, the backing band is about the only redeeming quality of this album. I think what I find most annoying about this album are the vocals. People describe them as gritty, or soulful, but I just don't see it. His voice is thin and unconvincing and not at all bluesy. Further, he pronounces the words in that 80s hair metal style, similar to John Bon Jovi. the guitar tone that he uses on the first five or six tracks sounds just like the tone that he used on the dio albums 20 years ago which would be fine if he was redoing "Holy Diver", but not when covering willie Dickson. The tone does improve as the album moves along with the tone on "Reconsider Baby" being absolutely stellar, but even then his wispy vocals ruin it. The album as a whole comes across as being emotionless, almost like a glass of warm milk, which is never what you want in a bluesy record. I agree with the other reviewer that Dave Meniketti's "On the blue Side" is a far better choice if you are looking for a blues rock album.

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