Isaac Guillory - Isaac Guillory (1974)

The late Isaac Guillory's first album was recorded after the Chicago native had moved to England and established himself as an impressive young gun on the singer/songwriter scene of the early '70s. Most notable was his slick fingerpicking, evident from the opening cut "St. Peter" onward. With spare accompaniment (a little bass and drums here and there, touches of electric guitar, and even tablas), it's very much Guillory's show and he presents it with aplomb. His voice was as strong as his fretwork, and his songs could veer from flowing verse to a halt before taking off into a chorus. "Staying Awhile" is reminiscent of James Taylor, but without any saccharine factor in the road song (and a lovely piece of electric guitar work from Guillory). There's a melancholic quality to much of the material, and a constant sense of travel and looking back at his homeland ("Sidewalks of America" remains as relevant as it was when first written). He can be flashy on the acoustic -- the blues-based "Carbondale Strut" is an exercise in how to pick -- but it's generally in the service of the song, although "El Jadida" (whose inflections are more Indian than Middle Eastern) gives him a chance to try a few tricks. Where there's a sense of adventure it's very much in tune with the period, all patchouli and pot smoke. But there's still a relentless New World energy about the disc that means it holds up very well.