The Hot Fives & Sevens [JSP] [Box]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 October, 1999)
list price: $28.98 -- our price: $25.99
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Editorial Review

Between 1925 and 1929, Louis Armstrong created one of the first great bodies of work in jazz. While he worked regularly as a soloist with big bands, he began his career as a leader with the first all-star studio group in jazz, the Hot Five. The other four musicians were Armstrong's wife, Lil Hardin Armstrong, on piano; Johnny Dodds on clarinet; Kid Ory on trombone; and Johnny St. Cyr on banjo. The music's first great soloist, Armstrong was reshaping jazz by sheer improvisational magic, gradually diminishing the role of the traditional New Orleans ensemble with the clarion brilliance of his trumpet. Possessing an uncanny blend of exuberance and creativity, he combined virtuosic declarations with a talent for the subtlest shifts in phrasing and melodic variation, creating rich emotional statements that could hint at loss in the midst of joy or the promise of better things in the most sorrowful blues. The band expands here, to the Hot Seven and larger ensembles, and it gains soloists who applied Armstrong's lessons to their own instruments--musicians such as pianist Earl Hines and trombonist Jack Teagarden--but all come under the imprint of Armstrong's flowering genius, as both trumpeter and singer.

It's almost impossible to overrate this material. It may be the most influential music in jazz history, establishing standards for originality and sustained invention that have rarely been matched. The JSP set is a superb reissue of Armstrong's essential work. The remastering is by John R.T. Davies, widely acknowledged as the dean of engineers in the field of early jazz, and the resultant sound is simply the best this work has ever enjoyed. There are alternate takes of the later material on Columbia Legacy (including Louis in New York and St. Louis Blues), so collectors will want both. But this recording is superior listening, at a price that also makes it an ideal introduction to one of the few titans of jazz. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (40)

Leaves me cold
I love twenties and thirties music and have a large collection of it. While I know that Louis Armstong is very important to the history of jazz, there is very little of his music that I enjoy. I recognize the technical virtuosity and the improvisational inventiveness. I can hear how tight these two groups were - they really became an organic whole, a unit with one mind performing several instruments. I like "Potato Head Blues." I find myself skipping through most of the other pieces, however. It could be the very strong New Orleans style that rules here. I prefer my twenties jazz sweetened up with the melody prominent, not simply a starting point for improvisation and jamming. Much of New Orleans Jazz wears on me the way those twenty minute guitar or bass or drum solos from the late sixties wore on me. Yes, I can hear that you can do incredible things with your instrument. Fine. You have my admiration, but not my love. This album is not going to be played every month (or year) the way my Six Jumping Jacks albums are played. Sure, Armstrong and his bands are the better musicians but the SJJ's have my love the way that The Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie," is my favorite version of that song. I'm glad I have this but it won't get played much.

THREE CHEARS FOR THE BOOTLEGGERS!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!
Do you believe this guy below?

This is far superior sounding and budgeted than the Columbia issue of these recordings. I know, I own the Columbia versions. Let's hear it for JSP who have given us a reasonably priced alternative to the greedy SONY Company. Armstrong is long gone and I doubt his estate gets anything in the way of reasonable royalties from these greedy record companies. They take all the profit. And their profit is probably 500 to 900 %. It probably costs them 80 cents to put out a single CD, but they charge, on average almost 12 to 20 dollars for that single music CD. I bet a shiny new penny goes to the artist. If the record companies weren't so greedy maybe JSP and PROPER wouldn't need to spend time cleaning up this old material and putting out their great product. Let it be a lesson to these corporate jerks. Think of the fans and maybe Import Companies will stop making and selling these great compilations. I would image that all of this material is public domain by now, anyway. I'm surprised they're not knocking on people's doors with their hands out everytime someone sings Happy Birthday To You. I know they charge TV Producers for that little pleasure. Boo Hoo, Jeff Jones. I'm crying in my beer for the poor record companies. Music fans have probably payed the mortgage on your house three times over, my friend. And Armstrong was probably strong-armed (no pun intended) into signing over the publishing rights to his music long ago. That's the way they treated artists in Armstrong's day and his estate probably gets zilch!! So get over it!! Man, the audacity!!

I'll tell you what. Why don't you give us the name and address of Satchmo's estate and I'll send them a couple of bucks for buying this. I've saved more than that by buying from JSP and I'm sure it's more than SONY would give them.

By the way, this is a stunning remaster of Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven Legacy. BUY THIS NOW!!

Also check out JSP's Django Reinhardt Box Sets. Both are also reasonably priced and stunningly remastered.

I hope JSP and PROPER are getting rich from their generosity. I know I'm feeding their kitty. Thanks guys!! Keep up the great work!!

ENJOY.

This record is a BOOTLEG - Do Not Buy it.
I work for Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings and I know that this company whoever they are has no right to be selling this set in the US. Perhaps it is an import.In Europe this classic material is Public Domain. No royalties are being paid to the artist estate.
While the price is right, the artist and record company is being ripped off. ... Read more

Asin: B00001ZWLP
Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Classic Jazz    3. Dixieland    4. Jazz    5. New Orleans Jazz    6. Pop   

The Swan Silvertones/Saviour Pass Me Not
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 July, 2001)
list price: $14.97
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Reviews (2)

Swans
I first became formiliar with the Swan Silvertones as a young boy about ten or eleven years old. My father being a member of a local gospel quartet would by their records so I guest you could I grew up listening to this group of fine singers. Those records are long lost or are now in the worst condition. Thats why anytime theirs a chance for me to purchase any of these collectables that I was so fund of as a young boy I won't hesitate. This is great music great songs. Their are several gospel groups I like but Swans have aways been my favorite.

One of the BEST GOSPEL CD'S EVER !
This is a compilation of two lp's - one from 1959 and one from 1962. Each in itself is a masterpiece, and the combination of both on one CD is almost too much !
The first time I heard this cd I was alone at home, a little tired. It was raining outside but it was not too cold.
It was almost overwhelming. The emotional power of the music swept me away, and I felt the music to be the sweetest thing I have ever experienced. Whether in slow tunes such as Carry Me Home, Jesus Remembers, or Amazing Grace, or the faster tempos of Marry Don't You Weep or My Rock - every sound is perfection.
The ability of this group to create musical drama is outstanding, and the harmonies are at once smooth and interesting.
Every song is great - my favorites are the slow ones such as Carry me Home and Jesus Remembers, but it depends on the mood. This is necessary music. ... Read more

Asin: B00005J9U3
Sales Rank: 107268
Subjects:  1. Black Gospel    2. Gospel    3. Pop    4. R&B    5. Southern Gospel    6. Traditional Gospel   

His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (08 April, 1997)
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Editorial Review

Chester Burnett's ferocious growl was a staple of Chicago's electric-blues heyday. This 20-song compilation ranges from his 1951 debut "Moanin' at Midnight" with Willie Johnson on guitar to 1964's "Killing Floor" with Buddy Guy on guitar. His scratchy, sawed-off vocal approach and his energetic harmonica grace original classics such as "How Many More Years" and "Smokestack Lightnin'." By 1960, he became, along with Muddy Waters, the foremost interpreter of Willie Dixon's songs, lending his coarse voice to legendary Dixon cuts such as "Wang Dang Doodle," "Back Door Man," "Spoonful," "The Red Rooster," and "I Ain't Superstitious." Wolf's style was based on primal raw power, and he ranks among the genre's most distinctive performers. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (34)

SOME GREAT CLASSIC BLUES
Howlin' Wolf has the got one of the most incredible voices ever. This is a great single disc comptilation of his work. He was obviously highly inspiring too many of the english guitarists and musicians. He (like muddy waters) has an all star band with some of the greatest bluesman ever. Track Listing-
1. Moanin' At Midnight- 10/10
2. How Many More Years- 10/10
3. Evil- 10/10
4. Forty-Four 10/10
5. Smokestack Lightnin'- 10/10
6. I Asked For Water- 8.5/10
7. Who's Been Talkin'- 10/10
8. Sitting On Top of the World- 10/10
9. Howlin' For My Darling- 9/10
10. Wang Dang Doodle- 10/10
11. Back Door Man- 9.5/10
12. Spoonful- 10/10
13. Shake For Me- 10/10
14. The Red Rooster- 10/10
15. I Ain't Superstitious- 10/10
16. Goin' Down Slow- 10/10
17. Three Hunder Pounds of Joy- 10/10
18. Hidden Charms- 10/10
19. Built for Comfort- 10/10
20. Killing Floor- 10/10

This album is phenomenal. Some of the greatest blues you will ever hear, buy it!

20 classics from the Wolf!
Opening with "Moanin' at Midnight", Howlin' Wolf (Chester Burnett) uses a low hum filled with overtones that distorts the microphone for eight seconds until the guitar and drums enter. The Wolf then does a distorting howl and then goes on the harmonica and the tempo gradually increases to become the instant Delta blues classic that it is. It is one of the strangest yet one of the neatest sounds that was ever part of a song. When you hear it, don't worry because your speakers aren't broken. The song sounds pretty good from something from 1951. That song and its B-side "How Many More Years" were recorded for Sam Phillips in Memphis. The masters were sold to Chess when the Wolf was signed to Chess, too. The 18 other songs are pure, raw blues. The Chess musicians were a fine group of musicians and really knew how to crank out the blues especially with people like Howlin' Wolf. "Smokestack Lightning", "I Asked for Water", "Hidden Charms", and "Killing Floor" have hot guitar licks. Listen for "Spoonful"; yeah! That's another hot one. The entire song is flawless and there's a neat rhythm and a drive to it. My favorite! I've suddenly taken an interest in blues music and this is indeed a sheer example of what the blues was all about. I was more into the rock'n'roll of those days and not necessarily straight and pure blues. Man, they had some real good stuff then. If you're just discovering Howlin' Wolf, this is the one to really lend an ear to. You'll be glad you did. WOO-OO!

epitomized the blues for me
and why not? more than any other blues singer, Howlin Wolf has had a major influence on a lot of very important bands.I recognized songs covered by Cream, The Doors, and the Steve Miller Band, among others on this disc.These are blues standards for one reason; Wolf speaks directly and has few pretensions.The hooks are also really good, just listen to the bone crunching bass line on "backdoor man" to see why it is so much better than the Doors version.Classic song after classic song is included here, for all to enjoy.You need this in your collection to have a complete blues collection.It might even be the best introduction to the blues that there is! ... Read more

Asin: B000005KQM
Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Chicago Blues    3. Electric Blues    4. Electric Chicago Blues    5. Pop   

The Ultimate Otis Redding
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

One Redding greatest-hits is pretty much as good as another--his work as the king of soul spanned barely five years, and the big issue is how you want to hear his hits sequenced. Ultimate leads off with a few signature songs, then concentrates on the very similar 6/8 deep-soul ballads that he specialized in early on. Redding, with his gritty-as-cornmeal drawl, could communicate the depths of romantic despair better than anyone of his era, but he was also a great uptempo soul shouter. It's not until the second half of Ultimate that a few more of the faster, more joyful numbers that he got to sing later on show up, as well as "Tramp," a priceless bit of Southern humor he sang with Carla Thomas. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The one and only king of Memphis Soul.
Otis Redding was truly the one and only King of Memphis Soul and this excellent compilation includes most of his big hits. Otis was great with both uptempo numbers and ballads and this CD offers a good sampling of both worlds. The liner notes are also very informative and this package is (as a whole) anice tribute to one of R&B's most important and influential male vocalists. Otis' music remains timeless and while I strongly recommend all of his original albums (all of which are now available on CD) this CD still a fine sampler of his music.

Good Songs, Poor Quality
I agree with bigtimemusic lover: the sound quality of "The Ultimate Otis Redding" is sub-par. Although the choice of tracks is admirable, the mushy audio does not do Otis justice. If you still have your turntable hooked up, compare a hit track from an Otis LP (such as Atco's "The Best of Otis Redding") to the same track on this CD. You will be amazed at the difference.
If I were to own just one Otis Redding recording, it would have to be "Live in Europe". The energy, the crowd and - most especially - Otis' electric performance - make "Live in Europe" indispensable.

So Much Soul!
You can hear straight out that Otis sings with all his heart and soul. What a talented man he was. His voice is something you can't ignore, and why would you? This cd is full of his best songs and it comes with the story of how much of a great artist he was and how tragic his death was. My favorite song is "Try A Little Tenderness". If you like this song and you haven't seen "Pretty In Pink" yet, you need to. There is a great scene where Jon Cryer is lip synching and dancing to this song. It's too bad he's not still around. His music will always be remembered. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LV6
Subjects:  1. Deep Soul    2. Pop    3. R&B    4. Soul    5. Southern Soul   

Aretha Franklin - 30 Greatest Hits
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Aretha Franklin's voice is an instrument of such exquisite expression that it has been matched but a few times in the 20th century. Borrowing from jazz, soul, R&B, rock, pop, and, of course, gospel--and accompanying herself on piano--she created an artistic vision that was wholly realized. Hits includes most of her chart singles from those incomparable Atlantic years, from "Respect" in 1967 well into the '70s, as well as noncharting classics like "Do Right Woman" and "Dr. Feelgood." This is the definitive introduction to Franklin's artistry, but be warned: get this and you're going to want more. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Queen of soul
Aretha's best work, showcased here, proves that she has justly earned her title as Queen of soul despite some ups downs in her long career. Aretha took a long time to establish herself but once signed to Atlantic, she found a producer (Jerry Wexler) who was able to make the most of her distinctive talents.

Aretha has had many major hits in America although she has not been particularly successful in the British singles charts. During her time with Atlantic, Aretha had two UK top ten hits (Respect, I say a little prayer) and two other UK top twenty hits (Don't play that song, Spanish Harlem). All those hits are included here, together with many of Aretha's other classic recordings for Atlantic, some of which were minor UK hits but all of which did much better as singles in America. These classics include Think, You make me feel like a natural woman, I never loved a man they way I loved you, Chain of fools, Do right woman do right man, Angel, Since you've been gone and Until you come back to me.

With Aretha's distinctive voice and delivery, her cover versions are always interesting. Surprisingly, Satisfaction (Rolling Stones) is omitted, but Bridge over troubled water (Simon and Garfunkel) and Eleanor Rigby (Beatles) are among those included.

This compilation, limited to Aretha's music for Atlantic (her best years), clearly shows why she is regarded as the Queen of soul.

Queen of Soul did it AGAIN!!!!
All i cans ay is thank you Aretha. Thank You!!

Incredible Overview of Aretha's career
First of all, I've owned 30 Greatest Hits for a long time and always thought it was an incredible collection. But after Amazon put song samples out for practically all of Aretha's material, I realized that practically everything Aretha recorded from '67 to '74 was great, so I picked up all the available cds. After having listened to all her work from the period, I'm even more impressed with 30 Greatest Hits. The compilers have accomplished the seemingly impossible: boiling down a decade of sustained brilliance to two cds. Contrary to what another reviewer writes, the producers of this collection have chosen superior and more representative non-charting material over the safer charting choices, which was incredibly brave and astute of them. Surely this is one of the best compilations in any genre, ever. For casual fans of Aretha, 30 Greatest Hits is all you'll ever need. For diehard fans, get EVERYTHING from '67 to '74. ... Read more

Asin: B000002IJG
Subjects:  1. Deep Soul    2. Memphis Soul    3. Pop    4. R&B    5. Rock    6. Soul    7. Southern Soul    8. United States of America    9. Urban   

Legend
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (31 May, 1990)
list price: $18.98
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Editorial Review

Even as greatest hits packages go, this is an utter gem. Every song is inspired, in a class of its own, whether the real version of "I Shot the Sheriff," the hymnlike "No Woman, No Cry," or the sheer joy of "Jamming." Even allowing that Marley never wrote any bad material, then Legend is still the crème de la crème, the heart and soul of the Jamaican people packed into one five-inch compact disc. He was unique, and the message of this record, more than any other, is that he died far too soon. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (159)

you should probably own this
Chances are, if you have heard a Bob Marley and the Wailers cd playing it is probably Legend. This set is a nice casual introduction to the band that started the worldwide reggae movement. it was released in 1984 3 years after Bob Marley died, and includes many hits that you are probably familiar with. Songs from all the albums are not included here which is the only downfall of this disc. The booklet that comes with the cd is a good way to learn about this legendary man and his band the Wailers. The Wailers are one of the most talented groups of musicians ever, and the instrumentation and variety on this disc proves it.

Buy 2 copies... one of the best selling CDs of all time!
Pick this one up for the car and pick up either the extended or the CD/combo pack for home. Pick up "Natural Mystic" (which is more or less "Legend II") once you find yourself singing these songs in your sleep. Then pick up "Live" and "Babylon By Bus" to hear how amazing they were in a live setting. Pick up all the Island/Tuff Gong-era releases and the "Songs of Freedom" box set which covers a lot of territory. The pre-Island era material (Soul Rebels is actually their first album although there are an almost infinite number of compilations of Bob's 60s era output) is a lot more difficult to go through, but still enjoyable.

What's to say that hasn't been said? Essential from beginning to end.

Dreadlocks 101
Even if you're only dreaming of a Jamaican vacation, this Bob Marley album should be a part of your play list.Who knows? Your music choice might just inspire that lotto win, and then off you go to Mo Bay and Ochie, sunning yourself (with sunscreen on of course) and sipping rum-laced drinks in Paradise....but I digress.

Brother Bob has many other great songs, but to the credit of this album, they've picked some of the best - a great selection to start you on your reggae explosion.The next step would be "Songs of Freedom", which is a four disc set, but by then you'd already be hooked on Bob.

If you've ventured into the water to watch "Shark Tale", you would have heard Sean Paul and Ziggy Marley doing their version of "Three Little Birds", the original of which is right here on this album.And if you thought that "I Shot the Sheriff" was an Eric Clapton thing - think again.

Songs like "Stir It Up", "Buffalo Soldier" and "Jammin'" are guaranteed to have you up and skanking in no time (no relation to "skanky" which is a bad thing) and the slower and insightful "No Woman, No Cry", "Waiting in Vain" and "Redemption Song" will have you quietly contemplating your tropical island dream.

See you in Jamaica mon - irie?

Amanda Richards, November 17, 2004
... Read more

Asin: B000001FY9
Subjects:  1. Jamaica    2. Political Reggae    3. Pop    4. Reggae    5. Roots Reggae   

The River
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 July, 1991)
list price: $16.98
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Editorial Review

This 1990 recording contains one of the best African blues tunes ever recorded, and a classic Ali Farka Toure moment. As the electric guitar roars in at the opening, punctured by a darting harmonica line, "Heygana" lays out the roots and branches of the blues in its journey from west Africa to the Americas, and more importantly, back again. Sung in the Songhai language, pushed by a vaguely reggae groove and pulled along by a sometimes idiosyncratic percussion line on a calabash, it pretty well epitomizes what Toure is about. The sound is stripped down, with the guitar and voice working a bare minimum groove. The calabash clicks, a thick stringed ngoni adds some punch, and a few tracks feature Toure on the njarka (fiddle). In addition to Rory McLeod's harmonica, there is one piece with The Chieftains' Seane Keane and Kevin Conneff on fiddle and bodhran (Irish goatskin drum), and a marvelous duet with saxophonist Steve Williamson that adds a little sideways R&B. The River is one of Toure's most straightforward recordings made in the decade after the light of his international fame had first shone. --Louis Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of my all time favorites...
Although I have owned this album for almost ten years now, I haven't gotten a chance to write a review for it, partly because it's so good and so much a part of my life that I didn't think about it.For those who don't know him, Ali Farka is a "blues" guitarist from Timbuktu, Mali, who has created one of the most unique sounds in music.One critic once described his guitar stylings as "listening to John Lee Hooker played backwards", and in a way, he was right.The rhythms are different --African, Arabic-- and the melodies unforgettable.Toure sings in a variety of languages; while I can understand the occasional French he uses, the majority are local dialects, adding a wonderful dimension to his music.I put blues in quotations marks because it isn't really blues, but that's the closest music we have to Toure's works.It's happy, melancholy, energetic, sentimental and fervently passionate all at once.This is in my opinion his best album, followed by "Talking Timbuktu" which he recorded with Ry Cooder.Check him out!

An Amazing Journey
Ali Farka Toure is one of the most prolific contemporary African guitarists.His subtle fingerpicking, complex rhythm, and soulful voice are a perfect combination for not only his original tunes but also his renditions of traditional Mali folksongs.His energy flows throughout the album, and the sometimes sparse arrangements nevertheless radiate a home-like warmth.Within Toure's playing, one can hear the origins of both the Mississippi Delta Blues and Rock n' Roll; his followers span from John Lee Hooker to Ry Cooder.Even though his past four albums have been superb, Toure's "The River" has a wisdom, spirit, and depth that you won't want to miss.

my personal soundtrack
I listen to this cd for hours on a continuous loop at work. It's hypnotic yet complex with the African version of the sounds of the American south combined with his haunting voice. (Unfortunately I am a musical illiteratein terms of describing similar genres.) Beautiful twanging tunes andmelodies. I bought it on a whim and am a complete devotee. ... Read more

Asin: B000003QKH
Subjects:  1. Africa    2. African Folk    3. Int'l & World Music    4. Mali    5. Pop    6. World Fusion   

Guerillas in tha Mist
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 September, 1992)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Reviews (10)

DISCOMFORTING
Listening to GUERRILLAS IN THA MIST is like getting a never-ending series of swift kicks to the gut, or being trapped alive in a coffin squirming in a fit of claustrophobia.The production is chaotic and dense with thick bass and punishing percussion, and the lyrics are virtually hateful and tactless in delivery, with whites bashed to no end (e.g. "Buck Tha Devil"), including white cultural figures being maligned ("You and Your Heroes"), and the only hope of salvation from racial strife resolved with violence (e.g. "Freedom Got An A.K.," "Ankle Blues").There is no room to breathe--figuratively--when listening to this record, which is perhaps the atmosphere the Lench Mob and Ice Cube (who played the role of producer and mentor here) wanted to achieve, since what they are rapping about is anything but friendly and peaceful.The main problem with GUERRILLAS IN THE MIST, though, is that there are few moments when the Lench Mob point to solutions (in "Ain't Got No Class," negligent parents are encouraged--albeit in a threatening tone--to take care of their children) or confront the blight of urban America head-on (they take care of a drug dealer played by Ice Cube in "All On My Nut Sac"--permanently).Discounting those moments, they merely react to the dire situations they are placed in with unrestrained reactionary rage.Expect to suffocate.

Dope album
This is a very good album from the era that it is from. If this album is offensive to your ears then don't listen to it. Racism is very alive then and is very alive now. The previous reviewer is upset over the lyrics against white people, but what about the REAL violence that has been committed against Africans for hundreds of years? If Amazon needs to stop selling the album then you need to leave the planet.

COMPLETE GARBAGE
This album contains lyrics which praise horrific violent acts to white people.

Little devils don't go to heaven. . . . the AK forty . . . hold a fifty clip, and I'll shoot until it's empty. . . . I'm killing only seven million civilians. . . . one dead devil";

"Buck the devil; boom. . . . shoot you with my .22; I got plenty of crew; I TAKE OUT WHITE BOYS. . . . we got big toys with the one-mile scope, TAKING WHITEY'S THROAT";

I WANT AMAZON TO STOP SELLING THIS RECORD ... Read more

Asin: B000002JPY
Sales Rank: 89016
Subjects:  1. Gangsta Rap    2. Hardcore Rap    3. Political Rap    4. Pop    5. Rap    6. Rap & Hip-Hop   

In a Soulful Mood
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 November, 1996)
list price: $12.98
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Reviews (3)

The soul of a giant
I first heard this album when I was thirteen and it was the first jazz album I owned. At the time, my saxophone teacher had given me a transcription of the Parker tune, Yardbird Suite, to practice. I wanted to find a record with that number on it and this was the first I saw. I cannot remember my specific reaction to it, but I think it went somewhere along the lines of 'god this guy can play real fast'. At the time I had no real appreciation of the soul and uncomparable style that he played with, I just liked his fast licks. But the more I listened, and as I collected some more recordings of him, I began to fully appreciate the greatness of this man. The recordings on this album are taken from his 'middle period', around 1946, when he was, in my opinion at his peak. However, some of these recordings can be quite difficult to appreciate for the unseasoned listener. The slower numbers seem, on general consensus, to be easier to listen to. I have always found the ballads on this album, which number quite a few, the most beautiful music Parker ever recorded. However some of the faster tunes, such as Moose the Mooche and Ornithology, show a style of playing that could be classified as avant garde even by contemporary standards. Parker's attack and phrasing was like no other in the history of jazz, even though many have tried to imitate it. Therefore, this album is not the best introduction to jazz (I can't believe it was my first jazz album), or even Charlie Parker. The sound quality is likely to put some people off, as will the somewhat drab solos of the then 19 year old Miles Davis. For the best introduction to the music of this genius, I would direct you to Charlie Parker Plays Standards, a Verve album, which features Parker on some familiar material, making his style a lot easier to listen to. That is not to say that this album should not be listened to. It is a comprehensive account of some of the best playing of Parker, and if pursued can open your soul up to one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. Listen to the ballad 'My Old Flame' carefully and you will hear, as the critic Nat Hentoff remarked, 'the soul of a giant'.

AWESOME
This is an awesome collection of recordings.Charlie Parker and Miles Davis are an incredible duo, and the entire group is great.Even if you are only looking for one good track, it is well worth the money to buy thisCD just to hear "A Night in Tunisia".

Outstanding collection of Charlie Parker
This is a very impressive collection of Charlie Parker music, withparticularly well-produced, high-quality cuts. It's the best Parker collection I've heard, and it's a great introduction to his music. Reallyreally good. ... Read more

Asin: B000003QF3
Sales Rank: 159827
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop   

James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 October, 1991)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

A towering figure in postwar American music, for over 40 years James Brown has written, produced, and performed some of the most compelling R&B ever recorded. 20 All Time Greatest Hits! distills Startime!, itself a four-CD set that barely scratched the surface of Brown's prodigious output. As such, this collection concentrates on Brown's best-known records: "I Feel Good," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and "Cold Sweat." The propulsive one- or two-chord vamps with Brown's hoarse, declamatory vocals laid the groundwork for modern funk. It's a perfect starter set for anyone unfamiliar with Brown's work. But be warned--Brown is addictive. Like peanuts and potato chips, it's impossible to stop with just one. Buy this and don't be surprised if one day you find yourself scouring used record bins for a rare copy of Grits and Cornbread. --Steven Mirkin ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Raw Funk
All the Godfather needed was a groove and he had a song.The man simply ticked to his own clock and wasn't influenced by the changes that were going on in music all around him.He knew his strengths and he stayed with it throughout his career.There will never be another one quite like him and the word "pioneer" has his picture all over it.This collection displays the loose but ever-so-funky band that he commanded with his no holds barred vocals.When you are looking for something completely different to slap into the player this should be at the very top of your list.

pretty funky
This is pretty cool funky music by some dude from the 50s. Not quite as funky as the Dave Mathews Band or Phish, but along those lines. Strictly speaking, I prefer the more classic funk like early Red Hot Chilli Peppers, but this has a unique enough flavor to warrant continued inclusion in my cd collection, plus chicks seem to dig it.

JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMES BROWN!!!
JAMES BROWN has got to be my all-time favorite artist. He's got all the soul you'd ever need, he writes good songs, and I saw him live and thought, "Holy Stuff!"

If you like JAMES BROWN, this is a must-have record. It's packed with SOUL CLASSICS like "I Feel Good", "Lovin' Machine", "Make it Funky", "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "Cold Sweat", "Superbad", "I'm Black and I'm Proud", "Try Me", "Please Please Please", "Get Up Offa That Thing", "Hot Pants", and every other song here.

One complaint, though; "the Payback" should've been tossed for "Soul Power". Still, you need this, paired with Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits (the two-disc package) and the Temptations Millenium Collection.

JAAAAAAAAAAAMES BROWN!!! ... Read more

Asin: B000001DUP
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. R&B   

John Coltrane's legendary 1961 stint at the Village Vanguard marked one of many watersheds in his career. For the first time on record, Coltrane was delving into extended solos, featuring another saxophonist in his front line and extending the rhythmic palette of his group to include East Indian tinges. Eric Dolphy stands out in the Village Vanguard sessions, both for his poingnant bass clarinet work on "India" and for his dragon-like alto sax elsewhere. As usual with the "classic" Coltrane Quartet, pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones create a storm of crisp chords and torrential rhythms. This creates an ideal foil for Coltrane's irrepressible saxophone creativity. Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Features

• Live

Asin: B0000065KK
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop    3. Post-Bop   

One of the best recordings in Chess Records' 50th Anniverary series is the first of two bookend Muddy Waters collections, His Best 1947-55. Documenting Waters's most creatively and commercially successful years at Aristocrat/Chess, this CD begins with his formative years and ends with Waters at his peak. So you're in for a lot of terrific bottleneck slide guitar work as well as electric Chicago blues. What's to criticize? Superb remasterings of "I Can't Be Satisfied," "Rollin' and Tumblin'," "I'm Ready," and "Mannish Boy" are simply beyond reproach. With simple bass accompaniment from Ernest "Big" Crawford, Waters's bottleneck tracks are spare, haunting and, quite frankly, perfect country blues. And listening to Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, and Jimmy Rogers piece together (and perfect very quickly) the classic Chicago sound is pure blues epiphany. At the very least, this collection shows you why Waters's rollicking stop-time classics like "Mannish Boy" and "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" have sparked endless imitations over the years--and why nobody has played them better since. --Ken Hohman ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Asin: B000005KQH
Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Revival    3. Chicago Blues    4. Delta Blues    5. Electric Blues    6. Electric Chicago Blues    7. Pop    8. Slide Guitar Blues   

If the bazillion packagings and repackagings of Mahalia Jackson's music confound you and you don't know where to start, this expertly compiled, carefully annotated double-disc box set is for you. Jackson wasn't just gospel music's first international superstar--she was among its earliest adherents and inventors. Working with the great composer and former blues singer Thomas A. Dorsey in the late 1930s, Jackson gave a distinctly blues-trained, jazzy sass and grace to Dorsey's material and the other hymns and spirituals she sang. More than any other performer, she helped to define gospel music itself as a transcendent, rootsy, melismatic, and heady spiritual sound. Culled from her sides for Columbia in the 1950s and 1960s, some of the arrangements in the set are not ideal and may sound quite a bit dated, but that voice shines and soars and dives straight to the center of your heart. Whether backed by a simple organ or piano or with full studio accompaniment, Jackson's booming, instantly recognizable contralto is indescribable, exciting, and forever a wonder to behold. And if you think that's an exaggeration, you don't own this record. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Asin: B000009RB9
Subjects:  1. Black Gospel    2. Gospel    3. Pop    4. Spirituals    5. Traditional Gospel    6. United States of America    7. Vocals   

One of the must-own soul albums, Greatest Hits is fattened with five extra tracks in this reissue. Al Green brought the Memphis Sound into the '70s by slightly softening it, melding smooth funkiness with his miraculous voice and innate sensitivity: his love songs, while perfect for the bedroom, are as conversational as they are blatantly seductive. By adding the likes of "Belle," a 1977 single that's a near-goodbye to the pop life, to the original lineup of "Let's Stay Together," "Look What You Done for Me," "Call Me," and the others, this edition of Greatest Hits also intriguingly fills out the story. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Asin: B000002TTP
Subjects:  1. Contemporary Gospel    2. Memphis Soul    3. Pop    4. Pop-Soul    5. R&B    6. Rock    7. Smooth Soul    8. Soul    9. United States of America   

Zawose can perform magic with his voice. He and his son--armed only with voices, thumb pianos, a Tanzanian violin, and ankle bells--create a landscape that takes you far away from the wherever you reside. So you don't understand a word? Who cares? The meaning and joy seep into your mind. This is music for the love of making music--something we seem to have largely forgotten in the rush of industry, biz, and hype. This is simply beauty on a stick. And it doesn't hurt that Zawose has one of the world's most mesmerizing voices. It grabs you and won't let go, like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and perhaps one or two others. So listen to this, and then try to claim there's no magic in the world anymore. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Asin: B000000HPN
Subjects:  1. Africa    2. African Folk    3. Int'l & World Music    4. Pop    5. Tanzania   

This 1963 recording occupies a special place in Mingus's work, his most brilliantly realized extended composition. The six-part suite is a broad canvas for the bassist's tumultuous passions, ranging from islands of serenity for solo guitar and piano to waves of contrapuntal conflict and accelerating rhythms that pull the listener into the musical psychodrama. It seems to mingle and transform both the heights and clichés of jazz orchestration, from Mingus's master, Duke Ellington, to film noir soundtracks.The result is a masterpiece of sounds and textures, from the astonishing vocal effects of the plunger-muted trumpets and trombone (seeming to speak messages just beyond the range of understanding) to the soaring romantic alto of Charlie Mariano. Boiling beneath it all are the teeming, congested rhythms of Mingus and drummer Dannie Richmond and the deep morass of tuba and baritone saxophone. This is one of the greatest works in jazz composition, and it's remarkable that Mingus dredged this much emotional power from a group of just 11 musicians. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Asin: B000003N81
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop