88 Elmira St. is a 1991 album by guitarist Danny Gatton. The album was Gatton’s fifth, but his first on a major record label—Elektra. The instrumental album covers a number of genres, including jazz, country, rockabilly, and blues.
When Gatton signed to Elektra, their only stipulation for his first album on the label was that it should be solely instrumental. On presenting his ideas for the album to the label, they suggested he cut his version of the Simpsons theme tune. The manualist flatulence at the end of the recording may have been Gatton’s response to the label’s suggestion.
The album’s title, 88 Elmira St., is a reference to Gatton’s home as a child. Gatton stated that at the time of producing the album, he “was playing Scotty Moore’s original guitar […] It’s a Gibson ES-295, and I bought it trashed out twelve years ago. It sounded incredibly good; it had some magic in it, but I didn’t know it was Scotty’s. Then Billy Hancock kept offering me all kinds of money for it, way more than it should have been worth, so I said, ‘What’s the deal?’ He said, ‘I think you’ve got Scotty Moore’s guitar there.'” Similarities to Moore, Al Casey and James Burton can be heard on the album.
The album was produced by Gatton, Billy Windsor and Ian Kimmet, mixed by George Cowan and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk. The album was recorded at Bearsville Studios, New York and Big Mo Studio, Maryland. (by wikipedia)
After years of knocking around the Washington, D.C.-area circuit, local guitar legend Danny Gatton finally got to cut his first album for a major label. It was indeed worth the wait, spot-welding blinding speed and immaculate chops that went in a million different directions (jazz, country, rockabilly, blues, you name it) to a musical sensibility that made this all-instrumental album a whole lot more than just yer average fretboard wanking jam-fest. Gatton’s Telecaster really shines on diverse material ranging from Martin Denny’s “Quiet Village” to the roadhouse shuffle “Funky Mama” to the off-the-wall rendition of the theme to The Simpsons. Kudos to Elektra for having the corporate balls to put this out; short, chunky, and middle-aged, Danny Gatton was a bona fide guitar hero for the ’90s, putting the lie to the hard canard that only speedburner metal mega-hair dudes can make the front covers of the guitar mags. (by Cub Koda)
Personnel:
Shannon Ford (drums, percussion)
Danny Gatton (guitar)
Bill Holloman (saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, trombone, keyboards, vibraphone)
John Previti (bass)
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Tommy Lepson (organ on 04.)
Tracklist:
01. Funky Mama (Patton) 5.41
02. Elmira St. Boogie (Gatton) 4.03
03. Blues Newburg (Gatton) 4.10
04. Quiet Village (Baxter) 4.49
05. Red Label (Battistone/Gatton 5.05
06. In My Room (Usher/Wilson) 4.53
07. The Simpsons (Elfman) 3.17
08. Muthaship (Gatton/B.Windsor/S.Windsor) 4.39
09. Pretty Blue (Gatton) 6.07
10. Fandangus (Gatton) 3.06
11. Slidin’ Home (Gatton) 4.54
Danny Gatton (September 4, 1945 – October 4, 1994)
On October 4, 1994, Gatton locked himself in his garage in Newburg, Maryland and shot himself. He left behind no explanation.[3] Members of his family and close friends believe Danny had silently suffered from depression for many years
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