Reviews (2)

great stuff
As soon as I heard this CD once I just have to go back to it again and again, in my home, in my car, and everywhere else I can take it with me. If you are a fan of classic blues with lots of fine guitar jamming this is the album for you.

Smooth Listening with a Kick
This album contains some of the finest blues hits on a single CD.A DJ was playing this album at one of my favorite clubs, and it truly set the mood for an enjoyable evening.If you love to hear guitars sing like I do,then this album is a must for your collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 60's    2. 70's    3. Album Rock    4. Americana    5. Blues    6. Blues Collections    7. Blues Music    8. Blues-Rock    9. Boogie Rock    10. Contemporary Blues    11. Country-Rock    12. Electric Blues    13. Electric Texas Blues    14. Funk    15. Hard Rock    16. Instrumental Rock    17. Memphis Soul    18. Modern Electric Blues    19. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    20. Modern Electric Texas Blues   

Features

• Live

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Jump Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. R&B   

Reviews (2)

A Lot of Jive
This is an excellent collection of blues tunes done with classic renditions.The pace is slow & easy with blues that makes you shake your head back & forth an inch at 4 a.m. when you feel low & the bottle's hitting fumes.John Lee Hooker smokes on "The Right Time," "Come on, baby, Hold my hand tight as you can, squeeze me & tell me I'm the one you love."Dinah Washington recorded "Blues for a Day" in 1945.It sounds great with this 1997 release and Washington packing each phrase with feeling, "Don't drift too far, daddy, Stick around so that you'll be near.You don't need to go out, daddy cause I got everything you need right here."The track has some luscious sax dripping wet with emotion.Blues guitarist Pee Wee Crayton cut the smoking instrumental "Blues After Dark" that sizzles with his dreamy guitar in 1948.Pinetop Perkins' recorded "After Hours" for the Blind Pig label in 1988 with his piano crying soulfully.Big Maybelle recorded "You'll Never Know" in 1954 for the OKeh label and aches convincingly.Saxman Jimmy Coe with James Palmer on an insurgent piano does his party talk over the 1953 recording of "After Hours Joint."Memphis Slim's "Mother Earth" from 1950 touted death as the great equalizer, "Don't care how great you are, don't care how much you're worth, when it all ends up you got to go back to Mother Earth."Big Joe Turner cut "Nobody In Mind" in 1947, "Give a chick a dollar, next time you got to give her 5; See the chicks ain't out for nothin', boy, but a lot of jive."This is an excellent blues collection!Enjoy!

great stuff
Not a losing track. Top of our rotation for several weeks ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Blues    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Revival    7. Boogie-Woogie    8. Chicago Blues    9. Electric Blues    10. Jump Blues    11. Piano Blues    12. Pop    13. R&B    14. Texas Blues   

Editorial Review

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Features

• Box set

Reviews (1)

An absolute must for R&B fans!!
This INCREDIBLE 8-CD set covers all of the Mercury blues, R&B and jump music from post-WWII -- the music that laid the foundation for the rock 'n roll revolution of the late '50's. The set is divided by geographic styles;West Coast, Southwest, East Coast and Midwest. There are many artistsfeatured who are all but unknown today, but were popular in the clubsub-culture and with returning GI's. I love the small orchestralarrangements of fast, jumpin' blues, boogie, and R&B tunes. The lyricsin many songs are hilarious, and demonstrate the subconscious relief ofending the world wars. Anyone who is remotely interested in R&B and thefoundations of rock HAS to get this set. It's expensive, but worth everysingle penny. I've been listening non-stop since the set arrived, and Iwalk around all day with the jumpin' and jivin' tunes in my head! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 40's    2. 50's    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Acoustic Chicago Blues    5. Ballads    6. Blues Music    7. Bop    8. Box Sets (Audio Only)    9. Classic Female Blues    10. Cool    11. Country Blues    12. Electric Blues    13. Electric Chicago Blues    14. Electric Texas Blues    15. Jazz Blues    16. Jump Blues    17. New York Blues    18. Piano Blues    19. Pop    20. R&B   

Subjects:  1. Blues Collections    2. Progressive Bluegrass   

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Blues    4. Blues Music    5. Blues Revival    6. Chicago Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Electric Blues    9. Electric Chicago Blues    10. Electric Memphis Blues    11. Harmonica Blues    12. Piano Blues    13. Pop    14. R&B    15. Rock & Roll    16. Rockabilly    17. Slide Guitar Blues    18. V/a Compilations   

Reviews (7)

Great swing
The reviewer who put down Robillard's playing on this has got to have his head up his you know what! Duke Robillard really demonstrates his swing chops on this one - Duke is a master of many styles including blues in the style of the likes of T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Magic Sam, you name it - and jazz in the style of Charlie Christian - He has a very hard hitting swinging style and he comes up with interesting musical ideas in each of his solos. Herb, of course, is a terrefic soft-spoken jazz guitarist. Like Jim Hall he always has subtle tricks up his sleeve. This is by no means a perfect cd - but my rage at the other review has pushed it from a 4 to a 5. It is a fun listen!

Total mood enhancer
This is one of the greatest swing albums of all time.I'm not exactly sure who played what parts (someone said that the channel credits were reversed), but Ellis and Robillard both sound great.They seem to have a bottomless well of creative and melodic swing phrases that they can throw around at will.This album will put you in a good mood quick.Make sure to check out the sequel album too - it's just as good.

Love da stuff
I can't pick up my own guitar without trying to play some of the linesDuke puts together on these numbers!He really smokes on "Easin'In".Unlike what some others may say, I think his swing chops areawreet and that the major problem here is that Herb Ellis is a little staleand staccato, but that's only compared with the Herb of yesteryear.Thisalbum is a fine excursion into this genre of jazz/blues and will beappreciated by more than just a purist jazz or blues oriented audience. Buy it and enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Contemporary Blues    4. Pop   

Editorial Review

This thing is huge. At 18 discs (that's nine two-disc sets, each of which has been previously released individually), the sheer size of this anthology is a little intimidating. But when you consider this set barely even scratches the surface of all the great blues that's ever been recorded, the sheer volume of the genre really hits home. Still, this definitely isn't a bad introduction for those unfamiliar with the blues; it boasts an array of regional styles and artists--one might find John Lee Hooker, Clifton Chenier, Buddy Guy, and Lonnie Brooks all featured on the same CD, for instance--as well as some necessary classics, making a solid guided tour for the neophyte. A die-hard blues fan probably has this stuff already (on vinyl, natch); the mix is about what you'd encounter on a really good blues-radio program. Included are Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (4)

House of Dan!!!
Dan Aykroyd, stellar comedian, actor, and musician, is the guiding genius behind the House of Blues phenomenon, which now includes books, restaurant/clubs, a radio hour, and, of course, music. This prodigeous box set (9 individual compilations of two discs each) represents one of the finest collection of blues ever assembled on the face of the Earth. Virtually every genre and aspect of this American art form has been assembled and presented with loving care--as near-perfect as one could wish, particularly considering it's size. However, in the interest of better informing the consumer, some comments are in order. One: It's obvious that the compilers of these collections share Dan's non-purist views of Blues; therefore, you will find several soul, r and b, rock, and even jazz cuts mixed in with the more hardcore material. Unless you are an ultra-hardcore purist, don't sweat it. My guess is that the non-blues cuts only add up to maybe two CD's worth of material. Two: Yes, there is some very good audio commentary on ONE of the compilations (Essential, Volume One), but it's informative and very well done. Three: Some buyers may be put off by the "Devil" imagery used on the packaging. However, as it is done in a cartoon fashion and only serves to visually relate a bit of Black history, you probably won't find it too offensive.Essential Volumes One, Two, and Three are, track for track, the best compilations in the box, and standout tracks include several reinterpretations of Rolling Stones songs (particularly "Satisfaction," performed by Junior Wells using the melody of "Smokestack Lightning") on Volume Three, not to mention Clifton Chenier's wonderful "I'm a Hog for You, Baby," performed partially in French on Volume Two. Chicago Blues is excellent, and features such stalwart artists as Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, and Howlin' Wolf, not to mention Muddy's pianist Pinetop Perkins and Wolf's guitarist Hubert Sumlin on standout tracks. Texas Blues is a fantastic compilation of the state's best artists, old and new, Johnny Winter to Lou Ann Barton. Kim Wilson and his Fabulous Thunderbirds have two of the best tracks, "Baby Please Don't Lie to Me" and "How Do You Spell Love?" Essential Women is very good, but be prepared for a LOT of early blues tracks from the twenties: Ida Cox, Bessie Smith, and of course, Ruth Brown are the best artists here.Essential Guitar is probably the most disappointing collection; sure, such fabulous axemen as Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan, and BB King are well represented, but why pass over such giants as Stevie Ray Vaughan in favor of some of the lesser lights represented here?By contrast, Essential Harmonica is thoroughly satisfying, with Little Walter, Sonny Terry, and Rice Miller all providing standout tracks, along with Sugar Ray Norcia, former lead singer of Roomful of Blues, with the heartfelt "My Home is a Prison." Finally, Essential Piano wraps up the collection in fine style, with Amos Milburn, Otis Spann, and Professor Longhair doing the honors here. One final thought: The price may be prohibitive for many of you to get the entire collection at once, so here's a quick rundown of my choices from best to worst: Essential Two, One, Three, Harmonica, Texas, Chicago, Piano, Guitar, and Women. In any case, you will have HUNDREDS of hours of top-quality blues, made possible by the Dan in shades. Please visit the House of Dan at once!!!

Annoying Commentary Warning
There isn't a bad track in the entire set, and the mastering is superb. These may be the highest quality versions of these classics you'll hear. Blues purists may argue that vinyl is the only "true" way to listen to these, but who among us has pristine vinyl and the equipment to do it justice? From my perspective, this may well be the quintessential Blues collection. The booklets accompanying volumes 1 through 3 of Essential Blues are well done and provide context for each of the artists that appear and the box has room for some additional CD's as well.
Excellent Compilation!
This House of Blues compilation is mainly a blues primer for those looking to explore the many select and talented blues musicians.The set contains 9 discs consisting first of three volumes of "essentials" in no particular order.These disc's mix all aspects of the genre and feature such artists as Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Little Milton, Luther Allison, Magic Sam, Jimmy Reed and even a little James Brown.The next two disc's break the blues down into two of the more better known and easily recognized styles, Chicago Blues--featuring the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter-and Texas Blues-featuring Smokin' Joe Kubek, Lou Ann Barton, Gatemouth Brown and Lightnin' Hopkins.Then there are three discs each dedicated to a traditional blues instruments.You get Blues Guitar, Blues Harmonica and Blues Piano.Each of these three discs features individuals that have made those instruments popular among blues aficionados such as Elmore James, Muddy Waters, BB King and Bo Diddley on guitar, Charlie Musselwhite, Frank Frost and Junior Wells on harp and Pinetop Perkins, Roosevelt Sykes and Katie Webster on piano.Finally, you have one disc dedicated solely to the Woman of the Blues featuring, Marcia Ball, Nina Simone, Francine Reed and Ruth Brown.While there are many aspects of the blues not covered here, such as Mississippi Blues, Delta Blues, Country Blues, Acoustic Blues and many others, House of Blues did an exceptional job at collecting songs that will encourage listeners to seek out various performers and, ultimately new performers that have been influenced by the artists featured here. If you don't want to spring for the whole box, many of these discs are available for purchase individually in the House of Blues Series including one not in this box set, the excellent Smokey Blues featuring Mitch Woods, Charles Brown and Pee Wee Crayton. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Box Sets (Audio Only)    4. Pop   

Reviews (1)

BEST OF THE DOWN HOME BLUES
NO BEATIN' AROUND THE BUSH IN THIS GREAT BLUES CD! FROM FAT POSSUM ,ONE OF THE GREAT BLUES RECORDS COMPANIES, COMES A CD THAT CAPTURES THE RAW GRITTY SONGS OF RAW-BONED HARD WORKIN'PEOPLE PARTYING ON A SATURDAY NIGHT ! AFTER A 60 HOUR PLUS WORK WEEK OF WORKING IN THE FIELDS YOU CAN HEARAND FEEL THE HONEST EMOTION OF TRUE DOWN HOME BLUES IN SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED BLUES MUSICIANS EVER TO TOUCH AN INSTRUMENT! CAPPING OFF THE PERFECTIONIST PRODUCTION OF THIS OUTSTANDING CD ARE ROBERT PALMER AND CEDELL DAVIS TWO OUTSTANDING MUSICIANS WHO NEED NO INTRODUCTION.LISTEN AND ENJOY. YOU'LL NEVER TIRE OF LISTENING TO THIS MUST HAVE CD FOR YOUR BLUES COLLECTION! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Blues    3. Blues Collections    4. Blues Music    5. Electric Blues    6. Electric Country Blues    7. Electric Delta Blues    8. Juke Joint Blues    9. Modern Delta Blues    10. Modern Electric Blues   

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Acoustic Texas Blues    3. Blues    4. Blues Collections    5. Country Blues    6. Louisiana Blues    7. Pop    8. Prewar Blues    9. Prewar Country Blues    10. Slide Guitar Blues    11. Songster    12. Texas Blues    13. V/A Compilations   

Editorial Review

This blues tribute to one of the Beatles's most important recordings has little to commend. The one truly outstanding cut is Joe Louis Walker's slow, soulful squeeze through "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," where his voice and lead guitar cry and moan, bringing the song's deep currents of pain to the surface. T-Bone Wolk and Anders Osborne stick to the original arrangements of "Don't Pass Me By" and "Happiness Is a Warm Gun," coming up with suitably amiable and dark results, respectively. Singer Maria Muldaur, joined by guitarist Chris Duarte, gives "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" a blithe Memphis soul treatment. But the rest suffers from a lack of time and imagination. A generic funk take on "Revolution" with guitarist-singers Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, and Tab Benoit sounds rushed and lazy. And Peterson's "Yer Blues" is riddled with phony vocal hyperventilation. "Blackbird" and "Dear Prudence" have been covered to death by everyone from new-wavers to wedding bands, so it's hard to fault singer-guitarist Colin Linden for failing to bring excitement to the former. Sadly, when he teams with harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite for an instrumental "Dear Prudence," it just sounds like Muzak. Read more

Reviews (2)

I don't agree with the reviewer either
I think the reviewer was just having a bad day.This album is great fun (though I must admit:I really don't need this -- or ANY -- version of "Don't Pass Me By") and a whole new way of thinking about these classic songs.

Great Covers
I don't agree with the reviewer. I think this is a greatcover album, by great artists, having fun. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Blues Music    4. Blues-Rock    5. Contemporary Blues    6. Modern Electric Blues    7. Pop    8. Retro-Soul    9. Swamp Blues    10. Tribute Albums   

Reviews (1)

****1/2. Fine sampler
This 1992 CD is one of the best installments in Rhino's generally excellent "Blues Masters" series.
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Subjects:  1. 40's    2. 50's    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Blues    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Revival    7. Blues Traditional Collections    8. Chicago Blues    9. Delta Blues    10. Electric Blues    11. Electric Chicago Blues    12. Electric Delta Blues    13. Electric Harmonica Blues    14. Electric Memphis Blues    15. Harmonica Blues    16. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    17. Piano Blues    18. Pop    19. R&B    20. Slide Guitar Blues   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Blues Music    4. Blues-Rock    5. Electric Blues    6. Pop   

Features

• Import

Reviews (2)

Lost Treasures
Westside records sifts through the vaults of Johnny Vincent's Ace Records and come up with this classic. Of perhaps most interest to collectors are both the Jerry McCain numbers; She's Tough (later covered by the Fabulous T-Birds) and Steady a blues harp tour de force. And the sides by Sammy Myers (of late with Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets) including Sleeping in the Ground perhaps best known by Blind Faith. The real surprise are the truly obscure artists on this set, Al Collins and his Orchestra in particular are outstanding. Everyone (I think there are four now) of the Ace Records collections by Westside are fantastic and should be a part of every blues fans collection

Lost Treasures
Westside records sifts through the vaults of Johnny Vincent's Ace Records and come up with this classic. Of perhaps most interest to collectors are both the Jerry McCain numbers; She's Tough (later covered by the Fabulous T-Birds) and Steady a blues harp tour de force. And the sides by Sammy Myers (of late with Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets) including Sleeping in the Ground perhaps best known by Blind Faith. The real surprise are the truly obscure artists on this set, Al Collins and his Orchestra in particular are outstanding. Everyone (I think there are four now) of the Ace Records collections by Westside are fantastic and should be a part of every blues fans collection ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electric Harmonica Blues    2. Harmonica Blues    3. Louisiana Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. New Orleans R&B    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Swamp Blues   

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Blues Music    4. Chicago Blues    5. Contemporary Blues    6. Electric Blues    7. Electric Chicago Blues    8. Electric Texas Blues    9. Jump Blues    10. Louisiana Blues    11. Modern Electric Blues    12. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    13. Modern Electric Texas Blues    14. Pop    15. R&B    16. Swing    17. Texas Blues   

Editorial Review

Environmentalism isn't exactly a common subject in the blues, where material tends to be more personal than political. Nor does every song on Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (5)

ONE OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS RELEASED!
Earthjustice, which put together the Fish Tree Water Blues CD, is a nonprofit group whose goal is to provide free legal assistance to organizations fighting for environmental causes.The proceeds from this CD will go to Earthjustice to help fund their projects.If you like protecting clean water, preserving rain forests, protecting endangered species or just like good blues music, this might be a disc that interests you.The disc features 14 songs from a diverse field of musicians.For the most part, and with only a couple of notable exceptions, the compilation sticks to the discs earthy theme.Five of the songs have never been released or qualify for that first new recording in many years category.For example, J.J. Cale's"Stone River", Alvin Youngblood Hart's banjo heavy "Rollin' River", Robert Cray's live "The Forecast (Calls For Pain)", Mavis Staple's "I'll Fly Away", and the Charlie Musselwhite with Bob Weir's Ratdog performing "Take Me To The River", all great stuff.This is a really good compilation from start to finish and definetly a worthwhile acquisition.

The Real Deal
In a market glutted with pointless compilations, this CD stands out as a must-have.Original tunes from some fabulous blues artists designed to remind us of how vital, and threatened, our natural resources are.Thenumbers by J.J. Cale and Robert Cray alone are worth the price ofadmission, a portion of which goes to one of the country's most impressiveenvironmental organizations, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund.Trust me onthis one.

excellent blues for working to or relaxing with
A great listening album.Not too heavy for working to and just light enough to relax with. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Anti-Folk    4. Blues    5. Blues-Rock    6. Contemporary Blues    7. Contemporary Folk    8. Contemporary Gospel    9. Delta Blues    10. Electric Chicago Blues    11. Folk-Rock    12. Hard Bop    13. Indie Rock    14. Jump Blues    15. Modern Acoustic Blues    16. Pop    17. Popular Music    18. Post-Bop    19. Retro-Soul    20. Rock/Pop Collections   

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues-Rock    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. Slide Guitar Blues   

Features

• Import

Subjects:  1. Blues Collections   

Editorial Review

Well into the 1930s, music crossed racial barriers casually through much of the rural South. This Read more

Reviews (3)

Black timey music
Too much of the general view of socalled old time music comes from the suburban, middle class people, who retreat to it thinking they are getting to something so white, so "celtic" that culturally they are making the same flight from Black people musically that they have made residentially.
wonderful, but for specialists only
I like the Lomax disks, I like real folk, country, and bluegrass music, and I usually like less polished music by early, uncommercial artists.Nevertheless, I don't listen to this disk much.The problem isn't the quality of the music, which is high. But it's not just less polished, it's totally unpolished.I think you really have to be searching for the roots of just this type of music to appreciate this disk.

A Treasure Of American Music
This Cd represents a treasure of american music and lets one know thatwhat this music really is is a mixture of european and african influences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Appalachia    2. Blues    3. Blues Revival    4. Blues Traditional Collections    5. Country Blues    6. East Coast Blues    7. Field Recordings    8. Folk-Blues    9. Italian Folk    10. Piedmont Blues    11. Pop    12. Prewar Country Blues    13. Traditional Folk    14. Work Songs    15. World Music   

Editorial Review

Superb sound quality and sheer entertainment value make this a series by which other musical retrospectives should be measured. Over four discs (available individually as well as in this limited-edition set), the expansive selection of blues-based music from the RCA-Bluebird vaults celebrates artistry that still sounds vital 50 years after it was recorded. Among the highlights are such seminal recordings as "Catfish Blues" by Robert Petway (which Muddy Waters would transform into "Rolling Stone"), "Canned Heat Blues" by Tommy Johnson, "Sweet Little Angel" by Tampa Red (later a signature tune for B.B. King), and "That's All Right" by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (which ignited a rock & roll revolution in Elvis Presley's hands). Every cut seems to have been chosen with care, and some of the more obscure rank with the greatest delights: "Memphis" Minnie McCoy's "Selling My Pork Chops" and Washboard Sam's "Soap and Water Blues." As a blues anthology that surveys the roots of rock & roll, the set omits many of the biggest names (who recorded for other labels) and goes lightly on the 12-bar, guitar-driven style that flourished in Chicago after World War II. Yet the variety and vigor of the offerings should strike a responsive chord with casual fan and blues aficionado alike. Read more

Features

• Box set
• Limited Edition
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

The best overview of the blues transition I've ever found!
I got into the blues the way a lot of folks in my generation did: through covers by Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and other rock bands. I know "modern" blues well -- B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin' Hopkins (who I was lucky enough to see in a tiny club in Dallas before he died). But the transition of the blues from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago and other points north has always been kind of hazy. I've read numerous books on the history of the blues, and I've bought MANY compilations, but I never came across anything that provided a seamless transition from Delta blues to the dawn of rock 'n' roll. This series is phenomenal. The sound quality is uniformly excellent, especially considering the age and source material of some of these tunes. My favorites are Discs 3 and 4 because they contain the essence of the blues and blues-to-rock that I know. But put these four CDs in your CD player and play them sequentially and you will get a phenomenal sonic history of the evolution of the blues. There's another When the Sun Goes Down that covers the Piedmont blues, which, combined with Delta-to-Chicago blues truly came together and gave birth to rock. Someone gave this one star because of sonic quality. I suggest they have their CD player checked, since I found the quality to be excellent on all four CDs. If you are like me and "kind of know blues" but want a better understanding of the blues' evolution, then buy this!
Some People Are Stupid - REALLY STUPID
This review is a direct response to the person who has given it a solitary star. Well I fit into the category of people who "dont know better" Fine retrospective for the devoted blues fan
"The Secret History Of Rock And Roll" brings together a hundred original blues classics on four discs.
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Subjects:  1. Blues Collections    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Pop    4. V/a Compilations