Personnel: Walter Trout (vocals, guitars, mandolin, harmonica); Martin Gerschwitz (keyboards); Jimmy Trapp (bass guitar); Charles Elliott (drums); William Brown, Bertram Brown (background vocals).

Walter Trout's eponymous debut for Ruf finds the former Canned Heat and John Mayall guitarist at the top of his game, tearing through a number of original contemporary blues songs. The songwriting occasionally is a little undistinguished, but Trout sounds dynamic throughout the album, capable of fiery leads and sensitive, lyrical solos. It was made for aficionados of blues guitar, and it won't disappoint anyone looking for that kind of record. ~ Thom Owens

Q (8/99, p.115) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...could be Trout's strongest release to date."