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3122 - The Best of JON BUTCHER: ...Dreamers Would Ride (1998) (By Request)

JON BUTCHER
''THE BEST OF JON BUTCHER: ...DREAMERS WOULD RIDE''
JUNE 30 1998
65:52

1/Might as Well Be Free
Jon Butcher/4:32
2/Life Takes a Life
Jon Butcher / Christopher Martin/3:54
3/Goodbye Saving Grace
Jon Butcher/4:16
4/Holy War
Jon Butcher/4:11
5/Don't Say Goodnight
Jon Butcher Axis/3:23
6/Stop
Jon Butcher/4:11
7/Sounds of Your Voice
Jon Butcher/3:41
8/Waiting for a Miracle
Glen Ballard / Jon Butcher/5:19
9/May This Be Love
Jimi Hendrix/3:08
10/Wishes
Jon Butcher/4:01
11/The Ritual
Jon Butcher / Thom Gimbel/2:57
12/Whiskey River
Jon Butcher/3:47
13/If I Love You
Jon Butcher/1:42
14/Send Me Somebody
Jon Butcher / Ronnie Lee Sage/4:07
15/This Raging Fire
Bob Halligan Jr./4:10
16/It's Only Words
Jon Butcher Axis/3:48
17/Division Street
Jon Butcher/4:45

REVIEW
by Tom Demalon
A fixture on the live scene in his native Boston, guitarist Jon Butcher never quite broke through on a national level, although he did attract a following with a string of moderate AOR hits during the '80s. Dreamers Would Ride is highlighted by Butcher's accomplished playing and, although it's all relatively straightforward blues-based rock, there's more attention to the songs as a whole than on most guitar-hero records. "Might As Well Be Free" is surging and anthemic and "Holy War" has a Middle Eastern boogie feel to it. Other highlights include the urban narrative "Life Takes a Life," the lovely, understated "Wishes," and the scorching "Whiskey River." There's also a solid cover of "May This Be Love" which reveals the Hendrix comparisons that he often received, although his bluesy growl of a voice is reminiscent of Phil Lynott. With extensive, well-written liner notes, a balanced sampling of material from throughout his career, and several perks for collectors (including the stripped-down ballad "If I Love You," an unreleased track), Dreamers Would Ride is a well-done collection that will please fans.

BIOGRAPHY
by Greg Prato
Jimi Hendrix disciple Jon Butcher achieved some moderate chart success in the mid-'80s as the singer/guitarist for the Jon Butcher Axis. Coming out of the Boston club scene in the early '80s, the Butcher Axis (which also included members Chris Mann on bass and Derek Blevins on drums), issued such albums as 1983's self-titled debut, 1984's Stare at the Sun, and 1985's Along the Axis (Butcher dropped the Axis for such releases as 1986's Wishes and 1989's Pictures From the Front), opened for local Boston heroes the J. Geils Band in addition to other harder-edged bands, and issued a few singles that enjoyed some success on radio and MTV -- "Wishes," "Goodbye Saving Grace," and "Life Takes a Life." Butcher continued issuing solo albums in the '90s -- Positively the Blues (1995) and Electric Factory (1996) -- while a hits compilation (1998's The Best Of: Dreamers Would Ride) and an archival concert (1999's King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents) were also issued. In addition to his musical career, Butcher founded the Electric Factory Recording Studio, which focuses primarily on film, TV, and multimedia work.

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