Various Artists - 1992 "Guitars That Rule the World"

Guitars That Rule the World may be a dubious title -- no matter how talented they are, it's hard to imagine Richie Kotzen or Reb Beach reigning surpreme over anything -- but for guitar fanatics, the budget-line collection may be worth a look. Each of the guitarists are given leeway to run free, performing their own compositions. Naturally, each takes the opportunity to play as much as possible -- these aren't really songs, they're excuses fo lengthy solos. Each of the guitarists acquits themselves well and the record is surprisingly diverse, ranging from uncontrollable metal and frazzled hard-rock, to blues and lyrical pop. If you're not a guitarist or guitar fanatic, Guitars That Rule the World is bound to sound a little tedious -- after all, it's nothing but a guitar showcase -- but for fans of hard-rock and lite-metal guitarists, this certainly offers some intriguing moments.

 This album rules. There are so many great guitar players on it. It's also cool because whoever was on it had total creative freedom, so they could play however they wanted to. This album really has everything from metal to funk to blues.
Former Winger, current Dokken guitar player Reb Beach opens the album with Black Magic. This song is pure metal, and Reb's smokin'. This is my favorite song on the album. Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi is next performing Mr. Sambo. It also features Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres and bass player Hugh McDonald. It is another metal song. It really shows Richie's talent. Next up is Yngwie Malmsteen. Every serious guitar player knows he's amazing so there's no need for me to elaborate on this song. Let me just say that you won't be disappointed. Next up is Paul Gilbert of Racer X and Mr. Big. His playing is amazing. The song I Understand Completely is a primarily acoustic but is filled with sound effects and electric overtones. At the end of the song he comes in full electric. Paul Gilbert's great because he plays with amazing speed and precision. Zakk Wylde does something totally unexpected for his song, Farm Fiddlin'. Being Ozzy's former guitar player and fromntman for the ultra heavy Black Label Society you expect a country intro for his song on this album but that's exactly what you get. He starts off with a lightning speed country piece before kicking into the metal style that he's known for. He like pretty much everyone else on the album plays with amazing speed. This song is also great because it shows all of his influences. In the middle of the song it goes into this whole blues piece before kicking back into metal which ends the song. Next up is Nuno Bettancourt former Extreme guitar player. His song Bumble Bee (Crash Landing) is excellent. He is an amazing guitar player. His playing on this song is no exception. It is however very short. Alex Skolnick is up next. He is the former guitar player in Testament and Savatage. He is also a very underrated guitar player. On Filet of Soul he serves up a very funky type song. It also features Les Claypool of Primus on bass. He is amazing as usual. The middle of the song slows down to display Alex's style. It also shows what a great guitarist he really is. Next up is former Poison current Mr. Big guitarist Richie Kotzen. His song Chype Fluxx shows his talent as a musician because he played all of the instruments on it. The song is successful in showing his guitar playing skill as well as his bass playing which sounds pretty decent. Next up is bluesman Albert Collins. His song "Blues for Stevie" is a tribute to the late master Stevie Ray Vaughan. It features amazing blues playing in the style of Stevie. Next up is former Allman Brothers Band guitar player current Gov't Mule frontman Warren Haynes and Allman Brothers guitar player Dickey Betts. The song Willie and Poor Bob is very different, if I had to describe it I'd say it was country blues. It features impressive slide and harmonica work. Next up is David Bowie's sidekick Reeves Gabrels. His song "Why Do I Feel Like I'm Bleeding" is an excellent song. It shows that he can play fast as well as slow. The song is very hard to describe. There is a drum machine that starts it off then some slow guitar. It doesn't kick in to the fast playing until about the midlle of the song. This album is great, but I only recommend this to guitar players or serious fans of guitar playing. If you like this album I also have a few suggestions such as Joe Satriani-Crystal Planet, Dokken-Erase the Slate, Back for the Attack, Extreme-Pornograffiti, Yngwie Malmsteen-Rising Force,Trilogy, Ozzy-No Rest for the Wicked, Racer X-Street Lethal, and Steve Vai-Passion and Warfare, Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone, Alien Love Secrets.

Well, everyone is correct by saying this album is AMAZING, but I just wanted to make a little side comment. I saw the release date here at Amazon, and it says 1998... well, that's the "commercial" release date, because this album was recorded and "released" actually in 1993 or 1994, and it was sent as a gift to suscribers of a guitar magazine, I forgot which one. I first heard this album in 1994 and was blown away by it. By the way, on the first song, Reb Beach plays all instruments if I'm not mistaken.

Unbelievable! This is one of my cds that I'm surprised isn't worn out. If I had the cassette, it would have been in a week. I love all the songs on this cd, but Zakk Wylde's "Farm Fiddlin'," in my opinion, is one of the best songs ever written by anyone in the history of life on this planet! It is absolutely perfect. As a whole, so is this cd. If you're into guitar music, then you will kick yourself until the day you die if you don't buy this. Then after you're dead, your friends will kick your body. I kid you not. 

3 words - BUY THIS CD. Its quite possibly the greatest guitar album of all time..well, its up there with Rising Force, IMO. It has something in there for every amateur guitarist out there. If you're just picking up the guitar, that intro on the first song will haunt you till you master it. You won't find these tracks anywhere else, even the Leviathan track is a "special edit" just for this CD. Anyways, I feel stupid I'm writing a review for this...bottomline - every guitar player should own this.

This is a fun guitar album which features a lot of big names playing solo material and experimenting with new ideas. Most of the songs have all the instrumentation done by the one guitarist, including a drum machine, but a few of the tracks have other players. Some cool tracks are "Black Magic" by Reb Beach, Leviathan by "Yngwie Malmsteen", and Zakk Wylde's chicken pickin' "Farm Fiddlin'". Nothing really breathtaking here, just a lot of skilled players showing their chops.

 Track Listings

  1. Black Magic - Reb Beach
  2. Mr. Sambo - Richie Sambora
  3. Leviathan - Yngwie Malmsteen
  4. I Understand Completely - Paul Gilbert
  5. Walk On Walden - Elliot Easton
  6. Farm Fiddlin' - Zakk Wylde
  7. Bumble Bee (Crash Landing) - Nuno Bettencourt
  8. Fielt Of SOul - Alex Skolnick
  9. Chype Fluxx - Richie Kotzen
  10. Blues For Stevie - Albert Collins
  11. Wille And Poor Bob - Dickey Betts & Warren Hayes
  12. Why Do I Feel LIke I'm Bleeding? - Reeves Gabrels
  13. Surfer Junkie Dude - Earl Slick