Jeff Healey Band - See the Light (1988)

Magic

Woman of the World
Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Posts
24,780
Reaction score
4,519
Location
Ohio, USA
Artist: Jeff Healey Band
Album: See the Light (1988)
Genre: Blues, Blues-Rock

jeffhealeyseethelight1.jpg


Jeff Healey revolutionized the way a guitar can be played. He played guitar with such fire and soul, placing his Strat in his lap, then cranking up the sound and cutting loose some amazing chops that even the best of the bluesmen sat up and took notice. His techniques gave him the use of all 5 fingers on his left hand allowing him to reach notes that the conventional methods could not achieve.

“See the Light “ is the debut album from the Jeff Healey Band. Jeff was also busy with the filming of “Road House” while this album was in recording and production, but this didn’t affect the quality of the album one bit. This album is one of the most amazing blues/ blues-rock albums ever recorded, IMO. B. B. King, a fan of Jeff, had this to say to Jeff Healey; “ Your execution is the best I have ever seen, stick with it and you will be bigger than Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stanley Jordan, and B. B. King” ( quote courtesy of album insert)

:tl:

Confidence Man – The opening song on the album is Jeff’s tribute to himself, showing he did have confidence and could play the blues.

My Little Girl – Writen by Jeff, this song shows his abilities as a songwriter and his solo is hard-rocking style and pretty amazing. Raw talent in the making.

River of No Return – A very powerful song, the lyrics speak about life being so fluid and the lessons there are to learn, and Jeff sings these lyrics with a gruff, but soulful blues style. This song was written by the lyricist of Procol Harum and composer Jon Tiven, and Jeff brings the tune home!

Don’t Let Your Chance Go By – This song is pure honkeytonk, highlighting his guitar work and harmonica. His guitar work is grungy and dirty, and the soul of boogie woogie tossed in.

Angel Eyes – One of Jeff’s best love ballads ever written and recorded. This song always brings chills down my spine. This song has been covered by many artists since Jeff released it.

Nice Problem to Have- An instrumental song. Jeff gets downright funky in a southern blues fashion. A great guitarist in his finest moment.

Someday, Someway – A fast paced song, showing that Jeff truly had a love for the older style blues-rock. A foot tapping, get up and boogie song.

I Need to be Loved – Another love ballad written by Jeff. Very sad song, showing that Jeff really lived in the blues he wrote about. His guitar solo in this song shows how he can hit the high notes on his Strat.

Blue Jean Blues – A cover of the ZZ Top song, done in slow Jeff Healey fashion. I love how he took this song and made it his own. Very powerful, in-your-face guitar work.

That’s What They Say – Another song written by Jeff. Not one of his best, but it shows he does have abilities and talent .

Hideaway – A cover song of Freddie King and Sonny Thompson. Jeff nails it, too. Very fun and catchy instrumental song.

See the Light – Title track of the album, written and composed by Jeff. A true bar room honkeytonk song. He shows off some of his best guitar work from the album in this song.

Anyone who is a Jeff Healey fan should have his debut album. It is raw , but shows how much potential he had not only as a composer and songwriter, but how well he could play guitar for a man with a major handicap of blindness. To fully experience this album, I recommend getting the VHS live version (not sure if it is on DVD) which shows how passionate and wild Jeff Healey is when playing live.

front.jpg


My rating for listening pleasure 3.5/5 and my rating of the Live in London version 4/5.
 

0000

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Posts
5,316
Reaction score
10
Location
I
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

was he the one that was blind also?

I love his playing, I was watching One Hit Wonders of the 80s on tv yesterday and I think that song "Angel Eyes" was on the list, they asked him how he got to playing guitar in his lap and he replied "It just fell" with a laugh
 

LG

Fade To Black
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Posts
36,862
Reaction score
71
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

Yeah he was blind Eberg, but that didn't stop him from becoming a legendary guitarist. Sadly he passed away a few months ago. I saw a small story on the news about him, and he had one of the largest old vinyl blues album collections ever, he just loved spinning the old wax for hours everyday.
 

0000

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Posts
5,316
Reaction score
10
Location
I
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

Yeah he was blind Eberg, but that didn't stop him from becoming a legendary guitarist. Sadly he passed away a few months ago. I saw a small story on the news about him, and he had one of the largest old vinyl blues album collections ever, he just loved spinning the old wax for hours everyday.

damn... they just keep dropping, we're not going to have anyone left soon...:wa:
 

LG

Fade To Black
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Posts
36,862
Reaction score
71
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

Yeah he was young too, he was sick for two years before he passed away, finally cancer claimed him.
 

0000

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Posts
5,316
Reaction score
10
Location
I
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

Yeah he was young too, he was sick for two years before he passed away, finally cancer claimed him.

I'm guessing that's what made him blind too.... jesus why can't someone obnoxious have cancer....
 

LG

Fade To Black
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Posts
36,862
Reaction score
71
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

He had cancer when he was very young, and had both eyes surgically removed, so I guess it was a constant battle for him. I agree it seems tragic that a great guy who did nothing but make beautiful music should pass on while so many more deserving bleeps will keep on living.
 

0000

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Posts
5,316
Reaction score
10
Location
I
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

He had cancer when he was very young, and had both eyes surgically removed, so I guess it was a constant battle for him. I agree it seems tragic that a great guy who did nothing but make beautiful music should pass on while so many more deserving bleeps will keep on living.

yeah, I'll have to check out the whole album though, I've only heard a few of those songs
 

Magic

Woman of the World
Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Posts
24,780
Reaction score
4,519
Location
Ohio, USA
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

I saw a small story on the news about him, and he had one of the largest old vinyl blues album collections ever, he just loved spinning the old wax for hours everyday.

Jeff Healey had over 3000 vinyl albums in his collection. Amazing guy. He loved the old style blues and jazz, and had around 300 old 78's of old timey blues singers.
 

rtbuck

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Posts
2,385
Reaction score
69
Location
I live in Buffalo, NY
Re: Jeff Healey Band ~ See the Light (1988)

Great Review of a Great album! I also have Cover to Cover which is great. It has a great instumental of "Communication Breakdown"(My favorite Zeppelin Song) which I love cranking up & screaming out my worst Robert Plant to it. I don't know who hates it worse...the cats or the wife!!! What the heck I have fun!!

I wasn't at the show so I can't say for sure but my physical therapist who's a blues freak went to see him a few years ago & he said that Healy said that he'd had it with the blues & he did a whole set of Dixieland Jazz where he played a clarinet.
 

Find member

Forum statistics

Threads
30,654
Posts
1,064,705
Members
6,354
Latest member
edmerka

Members online

Top