Phil Keaggy

Item: Crimson and Blue
Author: Beth Blinn

Crimson and Blue

(1993)

Reviewed by Beth Blinn

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label MyrrhThe LighthouseApril 1993

blues rock celtic rock hard rock

Keaggy fans are usually split into two camps-while all admire his skill with a guitar, there is usually a preference for either electric or acoustic. I happen to be one of the former, which is why I was itching to get this recording into my CD player. Having gotten a taste of what was to come during his performance last summer at the Creation festival, and hearing rumors that this was going to be his most rocking recording to date, my expectations were high. I wasn't disappointed.

The album kicks off with "Shouts of Joy," a Scottish-flavored song that rocks, nevertheless. The next several songs are his homage to The Beatles, the best being "Love Divine."

One of the album's highlights is "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God," a tune written and recorded a few years ago by Van Morrison, the Irish singer and poet. Keaggy's version is a gem. His singing and playing evoke Celtic images, and the song offers a mellow interlude.

The last part of the album shows Keaggy really cutting loose, with some of the best material. "John the Revelator" and "Doin' Nothin'" show him at his best, drawing out some incredible riffs and guitar work, with a slight nod to Eric Clapton.

Keaggy is backed by drummer John Sferra (whom Keaggy has known since grade school), Wade James, Lynn Nichols from Chagall Guevara, and Phil Madeira on keyboards.

The whole album is a little longer than 70 minutes. And if that wasn't enough, there is also a specially-priced EP entitled Revelator. This offers another 40 minutes of Keaggy, featuring remixes of a few of the songs, as well as a jam session between Keaggy and Sferra. At $5.99, it's a steal.

Since it is unlikely that Keaggy will be doing another album like this anytime soon, these 110 minutes will have to suffice, and for me-they will.