Blues Busters Volume 2: Black Top Sampler – A Wild Ride Through Funk, Soul, and Everything In Between
Alright, let’s talk about Blues Busters Volume 2: Black Top Sampler. Released way back in '93 (yes, the year Jurassic Park scared everyone), this album is like that one friend who shows up to a party wearing five different hats—they just can’t pick one vibe. It’s got funk, soul, blues, rock—you name it. And if you’re into electric blues with a side of pop-rock swagger, well, buddy, you’ve hit the jackpot.
The tracks are all over the place—in the best possible way. One minute you’re grooving to “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” and the next thing you know, you’re knee-deep in the gritty goodness of “Levtronic Blues.” But hey, I’m not here to list every song; that’d be boring as watching paint dry. Instead, let me tell ya why two tunes stuck in my head like gum on a shoe.
First up: “Sugar Ray Featuring The Bluetones - Fast Boogie.” Oh man, where do I even start? This track hits harder than your first cup of coffee on a Monday morning. The guitar riffs are sharp enough to cut glass, and Sugar Ray’s vocals? Pure fire. You can practically feel the sweat dripping off the band while they jam out. If this doesn’t make you wanna tap your feet or air-guitar like nobody’s watching, then maybe check your pulse—you might be dead.
Then there’s “Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom - Levtronic Blues.” Now, this one feels like sneaking into a secret club where everyone knows the password except you. It’s smooth but edgy, kinda like leather jackets paired with silk scarves. Ron Levy brings this hypnotic energy that pulls you in deep. By the time the sax kicks in, you’ll forget what day it is. Honestly, it’s the kind of song that makes you want to drive real fast down an empty highway at night—even if you don’t have a car.
What really stands out about this sampler is how unapologetically chaotic it is. There are moments when it feels like someone threw a bunch of genres into a blender and hit "puree." Yet somehow, it works. Maybe it’s because the artists involved—folks like Lowell Fulson, Ann Peebles, and Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson—are legends in their own right. Or maybe it’s just dumb luck. Either way, it’s a wild ride worth taking.
So yeah, Blues Busters Volume 2 isn’t perfect. Some songs blend together like mismatched socks, and others stand out so much you wonder why they didn’t get their own solo albums. But honestly? That’s part of its charm. It’s messy, raw, and packed full of soul—a reminder that music doesn’t always need to fit neatly into boxes labeled "genre."
And now for the unexpected remark: Listening to this album feels like finding a dusty old VHS tape at a garage sale—it’s nostalgic, slightly rough around the edges, and yet totally irresistible. Just don’t blame me if you end up buying a leather jacket after listening to “Fast Boogie.”
