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Some great playing, but no direction
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This review first appeared in the February 12, 1988 issue of the San Diego Evening Tribune.
Roy Rogers earned his chops from the best school – experience. The talented slide guitarist has toured with both John Lee Hooker and New Orleans pianist Allen Toussaint.
But on his second recording as leader, Rogers is probably closest to the styles of George Thorogood and Stevie Ray Vaughan, in that he doesn't so much play blues as bring a strong dose of the blues to a rock format.
There are two Robert Johnson covers here, "Walkin' Blues" and "Terraplane Blues." He is assisted by Hooker on the latter, and Toussaint joins him for two of Rogers' own pieces.
Overall, though, the album seems to lack a sense of direction – it is on the three songs where he is joined by his teachers that Rogers shines brightest. He is a brilliant instrumentalist, but seems not to have yet found his own voice.