Album Notes

SKIFFLEDOG IS HILTON VALENTINE.

Hilton Valentine is best known for his work as the guitarist with the sixties British Invasion group, The Animals: most notably, his opening arpeggios in 'House of the Rising Sun.' To quote the book Fuzz and Feedback - Classic Guitar Music of the '60s, ''Undoubtedly what sold 'The House Of The Rising Sun' was an arresting arpeggiated solo guitar introduction that traced a brooding Am/C/D/F/Am/E/Am chord sequence. The intricacies of the performance were dissected by guitar students the world over. Even today the riff still occupies a place, somewhere around stage three, in the great 12-Step Mastering The Guitar programme.''

Hilton made his name in rock and roll, earning himself a world wide number one hit, nine additional top 40 hits, gold records, a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his handprint in Hollywood's Rock Walk of Fame, but his beginnings were based on folk.

He fronted his very first skiffle band at the age of 13. This is the music he would always return to. Even when he was touring the world playing rock and roll, at home he'd take out his acoustic and revisit the old skiffle music and write folk songs.

He's back to his roots again with a new studio recording of original acoustic music with some old skiffle thrown in. Having received airplay from several BBC Radio stations in the UK and in his home state of CT it has been well received by their listeners and fans all over the world. BBC Radio Scotland's senior producer, Stewart Cruickshank has this to say: ''Genius Animals guitarist returns to roots in fine style. A fine selection of material, which we'll be playing frequently in weeks and months to come. His own songs more than stand up to Mr. Lennon's and Mr. Leitch's.''