BOZ SCAGGS — Dig (review)

Album · 2001 · RnB

4/5 · 2012-02-27
Matt

Number seven was the number of albums that Boz Scaggs recorded when his biggest and most famous album "Silk Degrees" was released in 1976 and another seven studio albums and twenty five years later Boz releases "Dig". Not only do we seem to have a numbers coincidence but one other more important matter is that Boz Scaggs is back with David Paich who is more well known in Toto but another little point is that David Paich was also was one of the main contributers to "Silk Degrees" and here on "Dig" provides keyboards, synths as well being involved with the song writing in six of the albums compositions. There is another main man contributing being none other than Danny Kortchmar on guitar who also is contributing with some of the song writing for the album as well. Danny goes a long way back in the music business and he has performed, as many of the other musicians have used in the albums construction, with a list of the top names in music going around but suffice to say that Danny Kortchmar's contribution to the one of the biggest selling albums of all time being Carole King's, "Tapestry" should be enough. These three gentleman are the album's back bone with Boz and David on all of the compositions except for Danny Kortchmar who particapates in only eight. Recorded in three sessions with some other musicians being used but more so in a guest spot manner with Steve Lukather on guitar who has been on three other Boz Scaggs albums as well being another Toto member popping up quite a bit as Roy Hargrove does on the odd track providing trumpet with some of the others being Nathan East on bass, Ray Parker Jr, yes "Ghostbusters" provides guitar, Greg Phillanganes, Michael Rodriguez more keyboards and Steve Jordan with a bass contribution but all appear mostly on just the one or two tunes. The backing vocals are done by Monet and she does a wonderful job but who is she?

"PayDay" is the commencent of the cool which is what the albums vibe is straight from the start with a great beat and Boz's laid back vocals with Ray Parker Jr and Danny Kortchmar providing some guitar great licks throughout with Roy Hargrove applying more of that cool with his trumpet. "Sarah" that follows is a ballad and delivered superbly with Monet's backing vocals, beautifully assisting Boz Scaggs in the lead with a lovely bridge used within the song making it quite catchy as the previous "PayDay"is. The quality though just keeps coming with the slow funk underlay of "Miss Riddle" or "I Just Go" that follows with Boz's lyrics concerning why he left her but he sure leaves us with one great slow beautiful guitar solo, ala' Mark Knoppler style. Many say that the next is a rap by Boz, but "Get On The Natch" is more so a narration for me as many old sixties tunes were with spoken word delivery but still right on the melody and Monet once again really lays down great backing vocals and with the addition of Steve Lukather's crunchy guitar, it has brought good results to this lively number played over one great back beat. Another great ballad being "Desire" is next with the more uptempo "Call That Love" following containing more of that funk underlay. "King Of El Paso" has more of a Country/Rock feel to the song with great guitars from Boz and Danny Kortchmar and provides the variety right at the perfect spot within the album's track listing as the next "You're Not" also contains just a straight Rock approach and the last two songs to finish off the album "Vanishing" and "Thanks To You" is more of that Boz Scaggs cool applied in a liberal dose.

Wonderful album and not a copy of "Silk Degrees" but one that stands on it's own but that David Paich influence mixed with Boz does harken back due more to the quality than any similarity. Danny Kortchmar provides a great counter balance having a more Folk/Rock approach with his input and writing. Great production which was done by David and Danny bringing two slightly different influences to the albums construction but also a little variety keeping things nice and interesting throughout. Came out in 1991and disappeared fairly quick which is a shame for the album's quality.