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Dig
Home > Complete List of "s" Artists > Boz Scaggs > Item 16
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Dig
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by Boz Scaggs
Sales Rank: 43679
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$18.98
At Amazon
on 10-2-2008.
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1. Payday
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2. Sarah
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3. Miss Riddle
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4. I Just Go
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5. Desire
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6. Call That Love
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7. King Of El Paso
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8. You're Not
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9. Vanishing Point
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10. Thanks to You
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Co-produced by Boz Scaggs, David Paich (Member of Toto and collaborator on Silk Degrees) and Danny Kortchmar (guitarist for Don Henley and James Taylor)
Dig, originally released in 2001 on Virgin Records, is now available on Gray Cat Records. The critically-acclaimed album features contributions by Roy Hargrove (D'Angelo) on trumpet, Ray Parker Jr. and Steve Lukather on guitars, Nathan East on bass and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards.
Dig, in sum, is an album that both reaches back to the essential elements of Boz Scaggs' artistry as it points the way to a fresh installment in a lifetime dedicated to music. The result is ten original tracks that together comprise the artist's most assured and accessible collection since his 1976 landmark Silk Degrees.
Boz Scaggs is one of the rare artists whose solo career has been enough to rival that of the band he once (if briefly) called home. He recorded two albums with childhood friend Steve Miller & his band, CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE & SAILOR (both 1968), before apparently growing disillusioned with the band's move away from blues into psychedelia & going solo. His 1969 self-titled debut was produced by none other ROLLING STONE founder Jann Wenner & is known primarily for the 10-minute-plus jam "Loan Me A Dime", containing some of the finest guitar work Duane Allman ever played. After that album failed to sell, Boz moved over to Columbia Records where he recorded 4 more dismal-selling albums (although 1972's MY TIME & 1974's SLOW DANCER were actually pretty solid sellers). Then in 1976, Boz recorded SILK DEGREES, a polished, sophisticated record that peaked at #2 on the charts, spawned 3 hit singles & encouraged his studio band to try their hand in the spotlight as well (Toto). Since then, Boz has gone the way of his former bandmate Steve Miller & recording only when the spirit moved him. After 1980's MIDDLE MAN, Boz retired to open a nightclub in San Francisco & only performing at the club's New Years' Eve bashes. He then came back in 1988 with OTHER ROADS, providing him with his last top 40 hit "Heart Of Mine". Boz left Columbia after a 2-decade assocation & signed with Virgin to record 1994's SOME CHANGE, by far his best work since SILK DEGREES. After a slight return to the raw blues & soul of his youth with 1997's mostly-covers COME ON HOME, Boz recorded his official sequel to SILK DEGREES in 2001's DIG. Using most of the same musicians that played on DEGREES (especially co-producer David Paich), DIG isn't exactly a straight sequel to DEGREES, but rather a worthy successor. Boz may be in his late 50s now, but he still knows how to keep up with the times, for DIG is more rooted in the R&B of the last 10-15 years, including a fair share of hip-hop in its overall sound. No, he doesn't do any actual rapping, but it's great to know the modern sound fits Boz like a glove. There's the requisite uptempo grooves on the opening "Payday", "Ms. Riddle" (could have topped the AC charts with enough airplay), the Tom Waits-derived "Get On The Natch", "King Of El Paso" (the roughest tune on here) & "You're Not". While DIG is certainly a much softer, slower piece of work, that actually makes sense with Boz's age & what might be considered sluggishness by some is actually classy & gently grooving. But overall, DIG seems to find Boz in a more reflective mood, which can be understood with the then-recent death of his son Oscar from a drug overdose. "Sarah", my favorite "I Just Go", "Desire", "Call That Love", "Vanishing Point" & "Thanks To You" are appropriately slow & romantic, but they have an added tinge of weariness to them, lending them an added poignancy. If your heart feels heavy or your eyes get watery after listening to these songs, you're not alone. While his compatriot Steve Miller may be on an extended hiatus from the music business (it's been 10 years since WIDE RIVER), Boz Scaggs apparently regained his momentum after SOME CHANGE & has began recording somewhat regularly again. His time as a front-level pop star may be long over, but that doesn't mean he should be content with being an elder statesman of sophisticated pop. If anything, DIG shows Boz's talents to still be as sharp & full as they have always been. Hopefully, as Boz hits his 60s, he'll be continuing to improve rather than stagnate like most of his colleagues. It's great to still have a legend like Boz around & even better to know that he's not willing to simply record SILK DEGREES, PART 12.
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Dig
Available from Amazon
Price: $18.98
Updated on 10-2-2008.
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