Full Circle is the ninth studio album by American blues rock musician Walter Trout, credited to Walter Trout and Friends. Recorded between January and March 2006 in Canada and California, it was self-produced by Trout and released on June 20, 2006, by Ruf Records and Provogue Records. Alongside the main lineup of Trout, bassist Rick Knapp and drummer Richie Hayward, the album features guest performers on every track, including Trout's former bandmates John Mayall and Coco Montoya. Full Circle reached number 2 on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart and number 16 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart.
Background
Recording for Walter Trout's ninth album took place at Liquid Recording Studio in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, California, between January 21 and March 8, 2006.[1] According to its announcement press release, the album is intended to be "a celebration of the diverse styles within the blues genre", and represents "the realization of [Trout's] long held dream to invite musician-friends from his 35+ year career to compose and play together with him".[2] Alongside a core band lineup of Trout, bassist Rick Knapp and drummer Richie Hayward, Full Circle includes guest performers on every song, including former John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers bandmates John Mayall and Coco Montoya, Provogue labelmate Joe Bonamassa, and former bandleader Melvyn "Deacon" Jones.[2]
Walter Trout and the Radicals (including Knapp, drummer Joey Pafumi and keyboardist Sammy Avila) toured in promotion of Full Circle during late 2006 and early 2007.[3] During the touring cycle, the band also completed a short tour in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany under the name of the Walter Trout Power Trio, with Avila stepping back from the lineup for a limited time during March and April 2007.[4] In July 2007, the band self-released Hardcore, featuring recordings from the tour as a trio.[5]
Reception
Commercial
Following its release on June 20, 2006, Full Circle debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart – Trout's first release to break into the top ten.[6] Outside the US, it registered at number 16 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart – Trout's first release since Positively Beale St. in 1997 to reach the top 20.[7]
Critical
Media response to Full Circle was positive. AllMusic writer Hal Horowitz suggested that "Deep blues fans will still probably shy away due to the album's guitar heavy appeal and Trout's tendency to overextend his furious solos. But for the blues-rocker who loves a rugged blast of electricity and barrages of notes played with no-frills intensity, this is arguably Trout's most listenable, impressive, and diverse album yet."[1] The Norwegian blues magazine Blues Music Club selected it as its record of the month for March 2006, proclaiming that "This is not just a blues/rock album. It's a celebration of blues music as Walter Trout sees it. It has been about honestly sharing this genre of music that he loves with the audience and with musician friends delivered with an open mind and delivered straight from the heart."[8]
