Crazy Like Me
The opener, “Tear It Up,” is straight from the Trio’s playlist, and rocks with suitable abandon. Burnette trades licks with Kenny Vaughn, and the fretwork is dazzling.
Billy’s no slouch on guitar; he can unreel driving doublestops with the best. But mixing his picking with Vaughn – as well as additional guitar from Rick Vito, Shawn Camp, and Dennis Morgan – makes this a powerhouse album of playing. A sole complaint is that the liner notes don’t specify who’s who, where and when.
Burnette’s corresponding autobiography is a good read, with tales of growing up among the Trio, Elvis, and the like. Parts are of great historical interest, including cutting his debut single as Billy Beau at age seven, in 1960; the track was the Christmas tune “Hey Daddy,” with Ricky Nelson’s band featuring James Burton.
This article originally appeared in VG February 2018 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.