Sun and the Earth, Vol. 1

• Artist: Stevie Salas
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 10, 2007
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

Since he's spent most of his career as either a hired gun or a session guitarist for a large and impressive list of renowned artists, Stevie Salas never truly got the recognition he deserves. But as evidenced throughout his first ever compilation, 2007's Sun and the Earth, Vol. 1, Salas is indeed one of the more versatile guitarists on the rock scene. For proof of this, all you have to do is take a look at the special guests who drop by: Jerry Cantrell, Bootsy Collins, Mike Garson, Sass Jordan, Ivan Neville, and Ronnie Wood, among others. Expectedly, the music is a smorgasbord of styles -- "Tell Your Story Walkin" encompasses both funk and pop, "Cover Me in Noise" features some Jon Bon Jovi-esque vocals, "Hoochie Toad" would fit on a Red Hot Chili Peppers album, while "A Dedication to You" is a psychedelia-tinged tune. Elsewhere, you'll find a faithful cover of one of Led Zeppelin's most underrated rockers, "Hots on for Nowhere," while Cantrell's guest spot on "Soul Ecstasy" is a surprise (as it's a clean, laid-back Prince-esque pop ditty, not the detuned metal riffing you'd expect from the Alice in Chains' guitarist). Instead of having to sift through Salas' extensive discography, Sun and the Earth, Vol. 1 is a fine sampler/taster of this oft-overlooked guitarist. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Tell Your Story Walkin		Stevie Salas	(4:03)
Pumpin It Up		Bernard Fowler, Stevie Salas, Koshi Inaba, Rob Lamoth	(3:47)
The Grooveline		Bernard Fowler, Stevie Salas	(4:11)
The Harder They Come		Stevie Salas	(4:54)
Cover Me in Noise		Stevie Salas	(3:34)
Kickback		Stevie Salas	(2:52)
Two Bullets and a Gun		Bootsy Collins, Stevie Salas	(4:30)
Start Again		Stevie Salas	(4:25)
Free Up		Stevie Salas	(3:20)
Crackstar		Stevie Salas	(4:18)
Hots on for Nowhere		Bernard Fowler, Stevie Salas, Nicklebag, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Woods	(3:56)
Hoochie Toad		Stevie Salas	(2:54)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
I Once Was There		Stevie Salas	(4:37)
Blind		Stevie Salas	(4:48)
May God Bless You		Stevie Salas	(4:35)
Just Like That		Stevie Salas	(3:48)
Amelia		Stevie Salas	(4:30)
I'm Missing You		Stevie Salas	(2:31)
You and I		Stevie Salas	(4:33)
Soul Ecstacy		Jerry Cantrell, Stevie Salas	(5:12)
I Was Made to Love Her		Glenn Hughes, Stevie Salas	(5:57)
Indian Chief		Stevie Salas	(3:38)
A Dedication to You		Mike Garson, Stevie Salas	(5:10)
Trail of Tears		Stevie Salas	(2:24)
Shake This Town [*]		Ivan Neville, Sass Jordan, Stevie Salas	(4:27)
Indian Friends [*]		Stevie Salas	(4:12)

Credits

Mike Garson (Guest Appearance), Dave Abbruzzese (Producer), Stevie Salas (Composer), Stevie Salas (Producer), Ivan Neville (Guest Appearance), Bootsy Collins (Guest Appearance), Bill Laswell (Producer), Koshi Inaba (Guest Appearance), Jerry Cantrell (Guest Appearance), Ronnie Wood (Guest Appearance), Jean-Marie Horvat (Remastering), Sass Jordan (Guest Appearance), Brandon Friesen (Executive Producer), Rob Lamoth (Guest Appearance), Bernard Fowler (Guest Appearance)