Thank God for retrospective CD albums! It was back in 1999 that I heard my first blues-rock album and a year later saw Doyle Bramhall II play in London. The best blues-rock is hard to beat from many perspectives. But while I had heard of Jeff Healey for some unknown reason I had never acquired any of his records, until this one came along. Canadian Healey was adopted as an infant and shortly thereafter lost his sight through cancer. He started playing guitar at the tender age of three and ultimately became one of its greatest exponents, admired by many of his peers. During his career he played with all the greats but it was in the late 80’s that he formed his final band with drummer Tom Stephens and bassist Joe Rockman.

The Jeff Healey Band went on to sell millions and secure several award nominations. In the late 90’s Healey returned to his first love American Hot Jazz and played guitar and trumpet with several bands before returning to rock to record his final rock album MESS OF BLUES completed just a month before his death. Cancer returned and at the age of 41 on the 2nd March 2008 Healey died leaving a wife and two children. Healey was a fine vocalist, appeared in the ROADHOUSE movie alongside Patrick Swayze (he also plays on the soundtrack) and was a jazz radio DJ (he had a massive record collection of over 35,000 vinyls), and was booked to appear on Jools Holland’s Later TV show here in the UK when he died.

LEGACY VOLUME I is an extraordinay 3 disc collection which includes a Live DVD, Singles CD and a Live CD. For me it has brought home just how good he was and I find it incredible that I had not taken a greater interest before now. Healey was an unconventional guitarist in that he played the instrument on his lap, something I was able to witness first-hand through the DVD.

The DVD is in effect a ‘rockumentary’ including rare footage, interviews, intimate behind-the-scenes moments, and previously unseen live performances from around the world covering spanning the band’s 18 year career. The performance footage includes collaborations with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Keith Richards, Sheila E, Clarence Clemons (Bruce Springsteen), Paul Shaffer and Dave Edmonds. Also included are some music videos.

The Singles CD is amazing! It includes 16 of his hits together with a version of ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ which is a new mix featuring guest appearances by George Harrison, Paul Shaffer and Jeff Lynne. ‘I Love You Too Much’ is also a new mix featuring a guest appearance by Mark Knopler. Other songs include ‘See The Light’, Angel Eyes’, ‘Full Circle’, ‘Cruel Little Number’, ‘Heart Of An Angel’, ‘Lost In Your Eyes’, ‘It Could All Get Blown Away’, ‘Leave The Light On’, ‘You’re Coming Home’, ‘I Got A Line On You’, ‘Angel’ and ‘Stuck In The Middle With You.’ The CD concludes with the previously unseen music video for the slow and very moving ‘I Tried’ (written by Dianne Warren) which was the last the band completed. Sound quality is right up there with the very best and it’s the sort of record one ends up replaying endlessly.

Then there’s the Live CD which of course includes some of the band’s hits plus ‘Further On Up The Road’, ‘Blue jeans Blues’ ‘I Need To Be Loved’, ‘White Room’, Don’t Let Your Chances Go By’, ‘All Along The Watchtower’ (featuring Tom Cochrane), ‘My Little Girl’, and ‘How Long Can A Man Be Strong.’ It’s a vibrant, exciting series of recordings taken from performances in New York, Toronto, and London.

If you, like me, love rock and especially blues-rock this 3 Disc collection is hugely entertaining, inspiring, AND TOTALLY ESSENTIAL.

5/5