BUGS HENDERSON - Still Flyin'

“Still Flyin’”, the first studio disc by legendary Texas blues/rock axeslinger Bugs Henderson, features 14 songs (68 minutes) of top-shelf, premium blend, bluesy 70s inspired heavy guitar rock that stands tall in a class all its own. Re-mastered and re-issued for the first time on CD complete with 3 unreleased Bonus Tracks, “Still Flyin’” is a classic, timeless, essential, worthy musical document from this amazing, seasoned guitar veteran.

When it comes down to Real guitar playing, Bugs Henderson is a true guitar master and is highly respected amongst serious guitar circles and people in the know. Guitar Player Magazine said that Bugs should be declared a national treasure and that ain’t no lie. The man is a walking encyclopdia of awesome, inventive, creative blues guitar licks & chops that he pulls from his back pocket with style & class. On top of being a first rate guitar slinger, Bugs Henderson is an excellent songwriter & storyteller, complete with outstanding, distinctive, soul-powered vocals. Bugs Henderson is the man. The Grooveyard is proud & honored to be working with and representing the high caliber of this classic Texas guitar legend.

Originally released in 1981 on Flying High Records, “Still Flyin’” features strong songs and excellent playing. Complete with a stand-out production & “sonic delivery”, this awesome disc has a timeless beauty to it. Recorded “old school” on 2 inch analog tape with love & care and by people who knew what they were doing, the tracks have an incredible, dynamic earthy vibe. The remastered tracks sound as fresh and exciting as the day they were recorded. They just don’t make music like this anymore. Bugs Henderson absolutely shines on the “Still Flyin’” disc. With a huge catalog of 20 albums under his belt, the “Still Flyin’” disc is one of his best/strongest discs to date. Thanks to the fine folks @ Grooveyard Records, this essential disc finally finds new life and re-birth in all of its digital glory on compact disc. It is about time and long over-due. As an added bonus, the “Still Flyin’” disc features three awesome, unreleased Bonus Studio tracks plus up close & personal Audio Liner Notes where Bugs digs deep and raps about “Still Flyin’” with a track by track description and what the disc means to him in his own words, complete with accompaning solo guitar riffage. This is a beautiful & fitting end to this amazing bluesy heavy guitar document.

The Bugs Henderson: “Still Flyin’” disc is highly recommended to fans of Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan, Eric Clapton, Freddie King, SRV, Billy Gibbons, Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Nitzinger, Texas Guitar Rock and new school guitar slingers like Craig Erickson, Tony Spinner, Chris Aaron, Buddaheads, Walter Trout & Joe Bonamassa to name a few. Fans of Bugs’ previous prolific musical output & various discs will heavily dig the awesome “Still Flyin’” disc. If you love serious bluesy heavy guitar music, you owe it to yourself to tune into this superb guitar disc. “Still Flyin’” is all about the Guitar and will surely satisfy even the most hard-core, axe lovin’ music hound. Find out why Bugs Henderson is definitely “Still Flyin’” his heavy guitar freak flag high with a ton of Texas Attitude on this awesome, essential disc.

CHECK OUT THE AWESOME MP3 SAMPLES FOR: STILL FLYIN'

Henderson’s claim to fame is his love of blues, years of noteworthy session work and association with Texas guitar slinger John Nitzinger. Both were hot shots in the early ‘70s Dallas scene playing a bar called “The Cellar” where the waitress wore just bra and panties – the smaller the panties, the bigger the tip. Quotes Henderson, “They ran three or four bands a night through there and everybody played original music. We usually didn't leave until four in the morning.” Henderson cut his teeth opening for the Allman Brothers, BB King and Leon Russell. He played on two Nitzinger LPs and later formed his own band “At Last.” Still Flyin’ is his first solo record and proudly displays his Texas blues mix with a deafening punch. The original album (released in 1981) is here in its entirety and extended by three bonus tracks including “Funky Beatrice,” “Louisiana Women,” and “Sixty Five.” A fourteenth track is an enlightening and humorous narrative as Bugs walks through the writing and recording of each track with stories, insight and nearly forgotten history.
The band at the time were a kick-ass three piece that consisted of Henderson, Bobby Chitwood (bass) and Ron Thompson (drums) with Tom Morrell and Ron Mason brought in to the session for lap steel and organ respectively. The songs were part of the band’s live set so the recording was basically plug and play. The record has long been a favorite with its spontaneous bursts and two-step swagger. Henderson’s voice is similar to Nugent but with more twang and his guitar work in “Heart (Hard) Attack” and “Baby Ruth” is absolutely scorching. Based around a blues structure, tracks like “Judi Likes the Blues” the boogie “Hideaway” and “Funky Beatrice” build the foundation while the metal prowess of “Not Guilty,” “Drugstore Blues” and title track “Still Flyin’” keep the rock up front and center. Slower tracks “Thirteen Ways.” “Please Have Mercy” and the autobiographical “Little Brother” are stone-cold chillers soaked in soul and emotion. Sonically, the disc sounds amazing considering the tapes had to be baked and remastered while the additional artwork adds a classic touch to an aging gem. Essential.
Todd K. Smith (The Cutting Edge) (2.08)
www.thecutting-edge.net