Emmanuel, Tommy / Little By Little
Album: Little By Little   Collection:General
Artist:Emmanuel, Tommy   Added:Feb 2011
Label:Favored Nations  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2011-05-30 Pull Date: 2011-08-01
Week Ending: Jun 5
Airplays: 1

Recent Airplay
1. Aug 19, 2021: Tree Talk (rebroadcast from Jul 23, 2019)
The Fingerlakes
4. May 18, 2018: Traditions
Tears For Jerusalem
2. Jul 23, 2019: Tree Talk
Smokey Mountain Lullabye, The Fingerlakes
5. Oct 06, 2017: Magic Mix
Tears For Jerusalem
3. Jun 29, 2018: Traditions
The Tennessee Waltz
6. May 31, 2011: Bisous Bijoux
Guitar Boogie, Mighty Mouse

Album Review
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2011-05-22
This 2-CD set by Australian acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel has original compositions, some folky stuff, and a few old pop songs. About half the tracks are performed solo, the rest with small combos. Emmanuel is especially known for his fingerstyle technique (RIYL John Fahey, Leo Kottke, and Chet Atkins with whom Emmanuel has worked), but he does use a pick as well. Emmanuel’s playing is often astonishing, but the music can be New Age-ish or “easy listening” at times. This would be excellent background music at a cocktail party. (Take that with both the good and bad it implies.) The notes insert tells you what guitar he uses on each track. Kinda cool.

No FCC issues.


1.1. * Solo acoustic. Mid-tempo finger picking. Folk-song-like melody. (3:13)
1.2. ** Solo acoustic. This one is faster and more country than the previous. Like a Lester Flatt or Doc Watson thing. Nice sampling of “Waltzing Matilda” toward the end. (3:04)
1,3. ** Solo acoustic. Technical tour de force. Quite fast with frequent changes of pace. Picking, strumming, plucked overtones, percussive effects. Very Kottke-ish. (3:16)
1,4. Same song as #2.3. This version with instruments and choral singing, but no lead singers. (4:07)
1,5. Guitar backed by strings. Mournful melody. Semi-classical(-ish) (4:16)
1.6. Guitar with drums and bass. Fast with perhaps a bit of Latin swing. Half a star. (2:44)
1.7. ** Solo acoustic. Very fast finger picking with a Celtic-folk feel. Several amazing runs using overtones sound somewhat like a dulcimer. (3:21)
1.8. * Solo acoustic. Lightning fast. Chet Atkins on speed. (2:41)
1.9. Acoustic guitar duet. Slow reading of the 1969 Hollies hit. Elevator music. (3:50)
1.10. Solo. Very fast finger picking extravaganza. OMG virtuosity, but that’s all. (1:57)
1.11. Solo. Mid-tempo w a pretty melody. Sounds like a song rather than an exercise. (3:30)
1.12. Guitar with bass and drums. Pop hit covered with a slightly jazzy feel. (4:06)


2.1. Solo acoustic. Mix of arpeggios, strums, and runs. (1:58)
2.2. * Solo acoustic. Similarly showy, but more melodic than the last. (1:50)
2.3. Emmanuel plays lead electric guitar for a change. Title means “little by little” in Swahili. Male & female vocal duet is pleasant, but Lion King comes to mind. (4:29)
2,4. Acoustic guitar duet. Nice, easy take on Carol King’s beautiful song. (4:57)
2.5. * Solo acoustic. Slow, swinging folk-like tune by Chet Atkins & Pat Bergeson. (3:28)
2.6. * Acoustic guitar duet. Gorgeous, old country melody. They make it sound easy. (2:36)
2.7. ** Solo acoustic. Part country and part classical. Think of Mason Williams crossed with Chet Atkins. (2:38)
2.8. Schmaltzy cover of Andy Williams hit. Breathy male vocal. Yuck. (3:46)
2.9. * Here’s one with some soul: mellow, blues-rock with Tommy on a strat. (5:37)
2.10. ** Faithful take on a Chet Atkins tune. Countrypolitan sound with real class. (3:58)
2.11. ** Amazing, lightening fast guitar. Cool bass solo & some funky scat singing. (4:12)
2.12. Solo acoustic. Mid-tempo. Improvisational sounding. Nice ending to the set. (4:08)



Track Listing
1. Half Way Home   13. Jack Magic
2. The Jolly Swagman   14. Papa George
3. Locomotivation   15. Haba Na Haba (Vocal)
4. Haba Na Haba (Instrumental)   16. Tapestry
5. Tears For Jerusalem   17. The Mountains Of Illinois
6. Waiting For A Plane   18. The Tennessee Waltz
7. The Fingerlakes   19. Countrywide
8. The Welch Tornado   20. Moon River (Vocal)
9. He Aint Heavy, He's My Brother   21. Willie's Shades
10. Mighty Mouse   22. Smokey Mountain Lullabye
11. Ruby's Eyes   23. Guitar Boogie
12. Moon River (Instrumental)   24. The Trails