The Gazette reviews Solo Recordings Vol. 1

When I think great Canadian blues-rock guitarists, I think Frank Marino, Colin James and Montreal’s very own Steve Hill, who right now is the meanest guitar player in Canada.

Hill returns to his blues roots on Solo Recordings – Volume 1 (No Label Records), his terrtific brand-new 12-track album that showcases eight original songs and four covers, including Muddy Waters’ Honey Bee.

But the biggest studio workout – on the stripped-down album where Hill plays every instrument – was recording the Cream song Politician.

“Before it was just foot-stomping with my left foot, but on Politican I’m playing [guitar] standing up while playing the bass drum and the high hat at the same time,” Hill says. “I [also] wanted some type of percussion. I tried a shaker but it didn’t work. So my tech guy took a coffee cup, put change in it and gaffer-taped it to my boot. [Working] both feet at the same time took a while to get right. I did it a whole day for about 12 hours and the next day 15 hours in the studio until it sounded totally natural. But after that it took me a week-and-a-half to walk right! It took a month before my leg wasn’t sore anymore!”When I think great Canadian blues-rock guitarists, I think Frank Marino, Colin James and Montreal’s very own Steve Hill, who right now is the meanest guitar player in Canada.

Hill returns to his blues roots on Solo Recordings – Volume 1 (No Label Records), his terrtific brand-new 12-track album that showcases eight original songs and four covers, including Muddy Waters’ Honey Bee.

But the biggest studio workout – on the stripped-down album where Hill plays every instrument – was recording the Cream song Politician.

“Before it was just foot-stomping with my left foot, but on Politican I’m playing [guitar] standing up while playing the bass drum and the high hat at the same time,” Hill says. “I [also] wanted some type of percussion. I tried a shaker but it didn’t work. So my tech guy took a coffee cup, put change in it and gaffer-taped it to my boot. [Working] both feet at the same time took a while to get right. I did it a whole day for about 12 hours and the next day 15 hours in the studio until it sounded totally natural. But after that it took me a week-and-a-half to walk right! It took a month before my leg wasn’t sore anymore!” Continue reading