*** Roy Buchanan

MALAGUEÑA: THE COLLECTOR'S EDITION

(Annecillo)

A strictly-for-fans set of what's essentially authorized bootlegs: jam tapes, old club recordings, snips lifted from the radio, all dating from the mid '60s to 1988. What shows through the rough sound is the late guitarist's genius and passion. On "My Baby Is Sweeter," "Peace Cross," "Park Boulevard Blues," and the title track, Buchanan's knack for squeezing out soulful melodies in even the most casual circumstances (like sitting in a friend's living room) and with the gnarliest equipment (a Marshall Lead 12 amp) emerges. It's fun hearing him take an early stab at the "Peter Gunn" theme, squeezing out the pinch-harmonic dizzbusters that later became one of his trademarks, or comping and filling his way through a teenage reading of "Let's Twist Again." It's also sad, because Buchanan's playing -- regardless of the quality of his almost always shabby backing groups -- was one of the greatest spiritual instrumental voices of rock, perhaps second only to Hendrix in its emotional depth. And this world is less for lacking his presence. (Write to Annecillo at 14807 April Street, Accokeek, Maryland 20607.)

-- Ted Drozdowski