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"Fine Electric Instruments Since 1946."
"Fine" is an understatement, considering how many and especially which names have wielded a guitar produced by Fender. Sound is sometimes everything for an artist, and if their instrument is not worthy of representing what they want, then it's not a good instrument; every guitarist knows what Fender means: originality and versatility at the same time, along with notable aesthetic taste and meticulous development in component production. All things that in a product of this kind contribute to a certain success; and how to celebrate such success, for a musical instruments company, if not with a compilation of hit records by artists who have made Fender not only their preferred instrument but also a lifestyle? Time passes for everyone, as we know, but only the best prove they can continue over time. Thus, in its fiftieth year, Fender has put together this compilation, released punctually in 1996, and celebrates the golden anniversary with a group of artists who have made rock history, thanks to these guitars.
Seventeen famous tracks, some more and some less, that span the history of Fender electric guitars, without neglecting any musical era of this half-century, in a record to be listened to in the order preferred, but here we follow the original tracklist: it opens with Buddy Holly and his band, the Crickets (also for Keith Richards and Albert Collins, the tendency in the titles is to show who plays and not exclusively the solo artist), in a classic from the '50s, "That'll Be The Day", a rock 'n' roll with retro sounds, the first steps of Fender in the music world. At no. 2, a piece that couldn't be missing, the most famous by the Dire Straits, a "Sultans Of Swing" that revealed to the world who Mark Knopfler was; it moves on to Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, the Vaughan Brothers, for the blues of the '80s, with a stunning song, "The Telephone Song", but they too need no great introductions, as does the early Eric Clapton with "Let It Rain". The first and only woman, Bonnie Raitt with "Something to Talk About". To avoid including the usual tracks, now in every compilation, and not to fall in originality, of Jimi Hendrix here we find "Spanish Castle Magic", which undeniably conveys who this artist was, followed by a blues giant, Buddy Guy, whose vocal talents are also greatly appreciated in "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues". Another rock classic, the quintessential rock song, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, leading up to Nirvana with Cobain, who bring Fender into the '90s with "Come As You Are".
We're only halfway through the album, and Fender's life could already be well described in these few tracks, but there's more to say, and even more than that.
No.10 Keith Richards and his group, The XPensive Winos, with the first live track of the album, "Take it so Hard", which recalls the Rolling Stones in every way, making clear what a cornerstone of the group is, then we have a classic, adopted by Tarantino in "Pulp Fiction" as the official soundtrack, which perhaps not everyone knows as "Misirlou" by Dick Dale. It seems easy to repeat, but it's not. Again the '50s, this time with the country of Waylon Jennings and his "Rainy Day Woman". Jeff Beck stands out with "Where Were You", an instrumental of his with incredible vibrato, which wonderfully introduces Ritchie Sambora, with great vocal abilities, already demonstrated in Bon Jovi, but he establishes himself with the beautiful "Stranger in This Town". The Beach Boys couldn't be missing, "Surfin' U.S.A.", a historic piece. It ends with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, considered by many to be Vaughan's musical heir, with another live track, "While We Cry", an artist of excellent talent; the collection concludes with Albert Collins and the Ice Breakers with "Frosty".
A worthy gift for rock lovers from the mid-century onward, and for fans of this brand, which over the years (now more than 60) has proven its quality and authenticity, always keeping up with the times.
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