Richie Kotzen really should be more famous!

[Lev]

Great singer,
phenomenal guitarist,
and can write a decent tune or two!

 

[Eric]

I've never had an album by him or anything, but I usually like the songs I hear from him on youtube. What's a good entry point for getting a taste for his music?

 

[Lev]

I've never had an album by him or anything, but I usually like the songs I hear from him on youtube. What's a good entry point for getting a taste for his music?

I'm in the same boat as you Eric, I watch him quite a bit on youtube but I don't own an album yet. I think many folks might be put off by his previous associations with Poison and Mr Big but his solo work is definitly more soulful and edgy. He has a live CD from 2008 which might be a good starting point, there's also Best Of collection and and Ballads collection that might be worth checking out.

 

[Eric]

Oh, I forgot he was in Mr. Big! Too funny. Replacing Paul Gilbert is definitely not an enviable position to be in.

 

[Spudman]

I've never had an album by him or anything, but I usually like the songs I hear from him on youtube. What's a good entry point for getting a taste for his music?

Both of the Mother's Head albums are really good...as well as all the other solo albums he's put out. Check out the fusion album "The Inner Galactic Fusion Experiment". It's awesome with tons of amazing guitar parts. I've got everything he's done...except the Poison days. "Get Up" and "Something To Say" are good pleaser albums.

 

[Robert]

I have Get Up, it's pretty cool. I don't like the production of his albums that much though - it sounds very compressed and too much loudness. Not enough dynamics come through. I guess I am old school.

I find his songwriting is not on par with his guitar playing and singing. He's a great vocalist, and he's one of the most gifted guitar players on the planet.

This video sounds much more natural than the album tunes I have heard. Maybe he's upgrading his producer?