Crazy for You

by Andrew HamiltonEarl Klugh's music is as refreshing as a cool breeze on a muggy summer day. This set produced by Klugh and co-produced by Roland Wilson displays Earl's guitar virtuosity and his composing skills. A grand orchestra used on some cuts never overshadows the tight rhythm section comprising various players, with Phil Upchurch and Greg Phillingames being the most prominent. The different musicians give each tune a subtle difference so the LP never gets mundane. Louis Johnson's bass propels "Twinkle" along at a finger-popping pace, with Phillingames adding a sweet electric piano solo that's polished off by some draping synthesizer runs. "Broadway Ramble" features Hubie Crawford's emoting harmonica filling in spaces on a cowboy-ish rhythm. Donald Griffin, Billy Griffin's brother, adds some electric guitar on "Calypso Getaway" and the title track. "The Rainmaker" has elaborate orchestration that meshes with the intense drumming, Gary King's bassing, and Klugh's feathery touch; percussionists Sammy Figueroa and Manola Badbena add flashy fills to Dave Matthews' masterful arrangement. The album closes with the upbeat title track, which is the most direct and most forgettable tune on the disc. This was originally released on Liberty Records in 1981 but was reissued by Blue Note in 1996.