Reviews (4)

Wish I Was At These Sessions!
This CD is fantastic. The music is passionate, with a fun, loose"back porch" sound and ambience (a few songs remind me stronglyof the infamous Basement Tapes sessions by The Band & Bob Dylan, whichI adore as well). It's saying something when Mathus' new originals rivalthe great blues standards on this disc...I would even say I prefer the newsongs. Don't Make Me Wait, Turkey Buzzard, Who'll Sop My Gravy and othersare fun and truly infectious. Any blues fan or Zippers fan or fan of anykind of high-energy music will love this one...don't pass it by.

Great Music
I listen to this CD over and over.They were great live.The turkey buzzard song is the best!

great cd,great band, SEE THEM LIVE!!
Man, I love this cd, especially Mississippi Moan, Memphis Bound, andTurkey Buzzard in a Pork Pie Hat.These are some of the coolest guys youcould ever hope to meet, and they have some great music, too.Here'shoping they make it back to P-cola. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Delta Blues    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Retro Swing   

Editorial Review

It's seems strange now to think of Muddy Waters's having to make a "comeback," but that's what the 1977 Read more

Reviews (29)

Fantastic!Fantastic!Fantastic!
The title says it all.If you love electric blues, BUY IT.If you are into Muddy Waters BUY IT.What a shame he is no longer with us...

One of Muddy's Best
"Hard Again" is one of Muddy's greatest works. This album is one of several that is produced by Johnny Winter and features Johnny on the guitar and James Cotton on the harp. The opening song "Mannish Boy" is packed with that great swagger that i always loved about him and Johnny howls in the backround. The best tracks are "Mannish Boy", "Bus Driver" and "I Can't Be Satisfied". "I can't be satisfied" has Winter doing some impressive guitar solos on his steel-bodied National guitar. "The Blues Had A Baby...." is also another impressive song with Muddy telling is version of the story of Rock and Roll.
Bus driver...
Muddy Waters sounds looser here than I've ever heard him. This sounds like some friends getting together for a jam session at someone's home, with dialogue around some of the tracks, spontaneous-sounding vocal contributions from some of the musicians, and just a general laid-back feel. It's loud and raw, great jamming all around, and shows us that not only the young make great music. Waters IS the blues, and this is THE blues record. See if you can find it on vinyl if you're of that persuasion (I liek some thinsg better that way), otherwise it's damn cheap on CD. My local indie record shop was selling it for $8, and amazon's price is great too. Any price would be good for this one. Roll on, Muddy, wherever you are. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Chicago Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Electric Blues    7. Electric Chicago Blues    8. Pop    9. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (3)

****1/2 - one of the best in the series
Not five straight stars, though...partly because the authentic Mississippi Delta stuff is interspersed with much more urban sounds from B.B. King and Albert King. And (very) electric Chicago-sides by Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, and Robert Nighthawk do much to blur the distinctiveness of this package.
Good Compilation, Two by Tommy Johnson
Still one of the best intro CDs to the blues.I'm knocked out byTommy Johnson; he's the first two selections here. Charley Patton, but hey - what about that pivotal Willie Brown doing "Future Blues"? The liner notes are not circumspect in describing Louise Johnson's "performance" on "On the Wall". Another treat is two by Elmore James - 'specially "Something Inside Me" which floats along like Jimi Hendrix. Weird and Wonderful
Any Mississippi Delta Blues fan would have an awful time picking just 15 representative entries.This album does a great job, falling just short by including too much new material - by new, I mean after 1940.Still, you can't argue with Robert Johnson's "Crossroad Blues" or even Robert Nighthawk's superlative "Going Down to Eli's."This captures the individuality, roughness, and anti-spritiuality of Delta Blues really well and a couple of non-obvious inclusions like Robert Petway's Catfish Blues make it a good catch.Of the Blues Master Series, this is one of my favorites. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 30's    2. 40's    3. Acoustic Chicago Blues    4. Blues    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Traditional Collections    7. Chicago Blues    8. Country Blues    9. Delta Blues    10. Electric Chicago Blues    11. Electric Delta Blues    12. Pop    13. Prewar Blues    14. Prewar Country Blues    15. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (6)

Not your father's blues
I bought this CD from Amazon because it was shockingly inexpensive and I wanted to pad out an order.I wasn't expecting great things; I hoped merely that I hadn't wasted the meager amount of money I'd spend.Boy, was I happy when I finally played this.This is great! Nicely off-mainline
I'm a fan of Mr. Burnside, so getting this was easy, and enjoying it easier even.This is not revolutionary music by any means, but it is refreshingly wild and iconoclastic.Get it, it is fun

Just plain crap
As a long time blues fan and blues musician I have heard lots of blues, but rarely have I heard a steaming pile of unlistenable rubbish like this collection.As if the back cover art of some old fool wearing a nazi hat, smoking a plastic cigar and wearing a dog collar wasn't warning enough- the front cover art of someone wearing a gas mask should have been. Perhaps he got a whiff of the contents of this cd. Even at [price] it is grossly over-priced. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Blues    3. Blues Collections    4. Blues Music    5. Electric Delta Blues    6. Modern Delta Blues    7. Modern Electric Blues    8. Pop   

Features

• Live
• Original recording remastered
• Import

Reviews (2)

MUDDY LIVE , AS YOUWANT IT
BOUGHT THIS CD BASED ON THE PREVIOUS REVIEW, AND WAS NOT DISAPOINTED. THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING RELEASE, BOTH IN CONTENT AND SOUND QUALITY, AND IS RECOMENDED TO ALL BLUES FANS--LETS HOPE THE UPCOMING CLASSIC CONCERT DVD IS OF SAME STANDARD--MUDDY DESERVES THE BEST.

Some of the best live Muddy ever
This album is subtitled "The Live Collection", and while that may sound a little ominous, "Mojo" is certainly not a second-rate collection of hap-hazardly chosen live performances. On the contrary, these are some of the very best live recordings of Muddy Waters ever available.
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Subjects:  1. Arranger    2. Blues    3. Blues Revival    4. Blues Traditional    5. Chicago Blues    6. Delta Blues    7. Electric Blues    8. Electric Chicago Blues    9. Leader    10. Slide Guitar Blues   

Editorial Review

One of his finest '90s recordings, Read more

Reviews (10)

Chill Out
This is a very good album from one of the greatest men in all of music history, John Lee Hooker. This album has a mellow mood to it that makes it perfect to listen too when you want to Chill Out. The title track, is a collaboration with Carlos Santana, a long-time fan of JLH. That song is a classic and was the reason I bought the album in the first place. Other stand out songs here are KIDDIO, ANNIE MAE, TOO YOUNG, ONE BOURBON ONE SCOTCH ONE BEER, and MEDLEY: SERVES ME RIGHT TO SUFFER/SYNDICATOR. Many songs here are updated classics that will sound fresh to new fans. I think that some of the songs on this album where it is JLH and his guitar are without a doubt, the songs that we are able to see how great his talent really voice. He had that perfect voice for his storytelling type of blues music that kept the listener hooked.

Hooker's best contemporary blues recording
CHILL OUT was Hooker's fourth album since his triumphant comeback began in 1989 with THE HEALER.CHILL OUT also won a Grammy in 1995 for the Best Traditional Blues Album.The title track features long time supporter Carlos Santana and his band. Van Morrison further cements their long-standing friendship with a duet on" Medley: Serves Me Right To Suffer/Syndicator." Charles Brown and his band join in on "Kiddio" and "Annie Mae."Unlike some blues CDs filled with guest performers, the guests on this CD do not dominate the songs.John Lee certainly is the front man.In fact, of all the Hooker albums I have heard, and there are hundreds, I would have to say the best display of his vocal talents of all his contemporary recordings. Take Your Shoes off and Sit a Spell
Though true JLH fans probably have found some of his earlier CDs to be abetter reflection of his talents, this is a fun blues CD for those who arejust getting into Blues.After just a few plays, you'll be humming"Kiddio" as if you've known it for years.Hooker's rendition of"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" is more likely to get youdoing "air-band" than George Thorogood's version.Finally, thetitle cut ("Chill Out") is a great piece that should havereceived substantially greater attention.Much of the CD is just Hooker'svoice, a guitar and a tapping shoe, with an occassional piano thrown in,but a few cuts have a bit more.Don't let that scare you... this is a goodbuy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues Traditional    6. Country Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Detroit Blues    9. Electric Blues    10. Electric Delta Blues    11. Leader    12. Pop    13. Songwriter   

Subjects:  1. 60's    2. Acoustic Blues    3. Blues    4. Blues Music    5. Blues Revival    6. Blues Traditional Collections    7. Chicago Blues    8. Country Blues    9. Delta Blues    10. Electric Blues    11. Electric Chicago Blues    12. Electric Harmonica Blues    13. Field Recordings    14. Modern Electric Blues    15. Pop    16. Prewar Country Blues    17. R&B   

Editorial Review

Although the title of founder might not be exactly accurate, Patton does cast a giant shadow over Mississippi blues. His background as a medicine show entertainer made him more than the typical brooding bluesman. Much of his repertoire was upbeat and just plain fun. Take, for instance, his rendition of "Shake It and Break It": the gravelly voiced Patton snaps his strings and taps out the rhythm on his guitar while not missing a beat. His slide numbers like "High Sheriff" and "When Your Way Gets Dark" are beautiful melodic pieces seldom matched by his peers. He was also an early mentor of Robert Johnson, who probably picked up his trademark descending bass run from Patton. Charley was one of the true greats and is required listening for Delta blues fans. Read more

Reviews (13)

If you can only have one Charlie Patton CD....
This must be the best single disk collection of Patton's music I've heard, and the 'historic recording' sound has mostly been refurbished with much loving care.Most of his signature tunes are here.Patton's recorded legacy catches a unique musical personality at work, perhaps the best example of 'primitive genius' that the pre-war Delta region produced. Son House and many other blues playing Delta contemporaries didn't care much for Patton as a person and denigrated his talent as a blues performer.OK, he was a truly rotten guy, a jerk at best, his music expresses this perfectly and with a level of inspiration that generally outclasses that of his detractors.I can hear where Son House might be envious, and this CD lets you hear it, too.If money is not an issue, for only a little more, used, go for the JSP box, with good sound, and which just about has it all.

The best of best pre-war blues recording artist
If you are looking to begin a pre-war blues collection, this should be one of the first cd's (if not the first) you should buy.There are many other great pre-war blues artists, but Charlie Patton is one notch above them all."Founder of the Delta Blues" collects all of Patton's best recordings, and unlike many of his contempories who created new songs by simply changing the lyrics of a recycled melody, most of Patton's work was varied, giving the listener something new to hear on each track.
A classic album, but not the best available sound quality
This one was considered THE Charlie Patton-compilaton for many long years. And they spell his name right, too!
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Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Traditional    5. Country Blues    6. Delta Blues    7. Pop    8. Prewar Blues    9. Prewar Country Blues    10. Prewar Gospel Blues    11. Slide Guitar Blues    12. United States of America   

Reviews (2)

A Great Introduction to a Great Blues Artist
This CD makes the perfect introduction to Mississippi Fred. He was a fine, interesting blues artist and it is easily worth the money.

Mighty Mississippi
This is my first Fred McDowell CD, and it's more than satisfying. His influence on rock music is obvious and significant despite his claim that he don't play no rock'n roll.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Country Blues    4. Delta Blues    5. Pop    6. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (4)

Not John Lee Hooker
Well, of course it is John Lee Hooker, but these slick, mushy recordings are very, very far from Hooker's gritty 40s, 50s and 60s waxings, and songs like the saccahrine, string-laden "Six-Page Letter" are even wussier than the worst of his late 80s/early 90s guest star recordings. Hooker obviously didn't have a chance to listen to the final mixes.
Amazing!
This is one of the most beautiful collections of John Lee's works. As a former employee of the Man himself, it is great to hear some recordings that were never released. "Six Page Letter" is breathtakingly beautiful, and "Funky Mabel" isas soulful as it is funky. "Dimples" is a real treasure. The CD has great sound quality and is now among my favorites. A real treat
I'm more a jazz lover than a blues lover, but this album was a gem.I especially liked "6 page letter." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Traditional    4. Electric Delta Blues    5. Pop    6. Soul-Blues   

Editorial Review

With the rise of another generation of English folk musicians like Eliza Carthy reviving again the interest in traditional English music, there's always a need to look back a few generations to see where the songs come from. In the seemingly endless reissues of the Alan Lomax recordings from the '50s and '60s there are treasures to be found, and his field trips to England, Ireland, and Scotland offer a lot of musical bounty. This set was made in cooperation with Peter Kennedy and the BBC, and offers a wealth of songs that were on the verge of being lost to the very mediums that preserved them, the gramophone and the radio. Lomax and Kennedy scoured the nation in 1951, finding the singers, accordionists, and fiddlers who still played the old songs, informally at home and professionally at dances and clubs, and made sure they were not forgotten. While the songs are familiar to fans of revivalists like Carthy and the previous generation like Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, here we get the pure, unadulterated tales of country life and love. --Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Music!
I love this CD.It has a fantastic collection of classics, sung by unique voices never to be heard from again.Have a few beers and sing along. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. British    2. Celtic/Irish    3. England    4. Field Recordings    5. Folk Revival    6. Folksongs    7. Int'l & World Music    8. Italian Folk    9. Pop    10. Traditional Folk    11. Work Songs    12. World Music   

Reviews (2)

The thin end of the blues wedge...
"Malted Milk" and "Walkin' Blues" from Eric Clapton's Grammy-winning "Unplugged" (1992) were both Robert Johnson originals. His recent "Me and Mr. Johnson" and "Sessions for Robert J" prompted me to try this disc and I am thoroughly satisfied with my purchase. It feels great to listen to the original "Hellhound on my Trail", "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day", "From Four Until Late", "Crossroad Blues", "Milkcow Blues", "Queen of Spades", "Sweet Home Chicago", "Me and the Devil Blues", "They're Red Hot" etc after falling in love with Eric Clapton's high-fidelity renditions. If you liked "Sessions for Robert J", you will most likely like this original with all of Robert Johnson's (29) songs.

This is a really good deal.
Robert Johnson only recorded 29 songs.Sony would like you to think that you should either get the complete recordings (with many alternate takes back to back with the master takes) or one of their "historically important" single disc comps.Proper gives you all the songs on a single disc.Sure Robert Johnson doesn't get a dime from this, but he sold his soul to the devil, who sold it to Sony.The art is a bit cheesy, but it's got every one of his songs on a single disc.That's a proper deal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Traditional    3. Country Blues    4. Delta Blues    5. Pop    6. Prewar Blues    7. Prewar Country Blues    8. Slide Guitar Blues    9. Songwriter   

Reviews (3)

Classic performances by the true masters of the genre
"A rare collection of performances by America's premier bluesmen at the peak of their artistry" proclaims the cover of this disc, and that's no idle boast. Culled from 33 tracks on the two simultaneously released and similarly titled DVDs, these 16 tunes were performed live in German TV studios between 1962 and 1966, and thought lost until recently discovered.
Lost Gold!
Some of the greatest and most influential music this country has ever created was the blues- but the artists were just not given the apreciation in this country they deserved. It took the interest in Blues music by young musicians in Europe- especially in Britain- from the Rolling Stones to Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix (who actually played with B. B. King at one point) to bring them back to America. Kids hearing this music then began to search out the originators of this music and finally these Blues pioneers started to gain recognition in their own country. This DVD (and the others in the series) captures where it all got started in Europe. "America's premiere Bluesmen at their peak"
Some of the most celebrated "Blues Singers" perform on this one-of-a-kind release "The American folk Blues Festival 1962-1966".With an all-star cast of Eddie Boyd, Willie Dixon, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lonnie Johnson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Memphis Slim, Otis Rush, Victoria Spivey, T-Bone Walker, Sippie Wallace, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin Wolf clearly having a ball sharing their God-given talent.This is one of the top blues rivals to come along in many a moon.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Collections    4. Blues Music    5. Blues Revival    6. Chicago Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Electric Blues    9. Electric Chicago Blues    10. Electric Harmonica Blues    11. Electric Texas Blues    12. Harmonica Blues    13. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    14. Piano Blues    15. Pop    16. Prewar Country Blues    17. Slide Guitar Blues    18. Texas Blues    19. Urban Blues    20. V/A Compilations   

Reviews (4)

Best 60 minutes of Blues Guitar you'll ever hear
Mississippi Fred McDowell is unsurpaced as a blues guitarist.His transitions from note to note are fluid, smooth, and without error.Often we think of blues as free-form and improvisitional yet McDowell defies this truism because his rhythm are perfect.Were we to substitute one note differences it would ruin perfection.In this case there is only one right note, Fred's.Fred McDowell often finishes his lyrics with his guitar as opposed to his voice.This creates a call and response reminicent of revival preaching yet Fred is the preacher and his guitar, the parishoners.

Just what the doctor ordered - a dose of raw blues
While the songs performed on this album may not be unique to Patton, in all cases he makes them his own: I Shall Not Be Moved begins slowly with a varient of the known melody only to break into the standard melody at a lively clip.He uses a variety of guitar techniques including some excellent bottleneck blues.In contrast to one reviewer, I find Patton's lyrics understandable - with a bit of improvisation (or faulty memory).His style blends well into the duets with his wife ... which illustrate well the breadth of musicianship Patton demonstrates. Solid
Now, if you made it this far, don't stop reading quite yet. You are lucky to have stumbled upon the absolute cream of delta blues artists (and perhaps the best blues slide guitarist of all time). I came upon an oldrecord of McDowell in a used record store and have been hooked ever since.That said, this is a solid record, but not his best. For an introduction toMcDowell's beautiful, soulful acoustic guitar pieces, try his "YouGotta Move". Not only are the performances better, you get almost 30more minutes of music on "You Gotta Move". Good listening! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues Revival    4. Delta Blues    5. Electric Delta Blues    6. Pop   

Features

• Live

Reviews (2)

Full of emotion
This CD is great.I can't quit listening to it.Chris Thomas King's voice is haunting at times it is so good, and the guitar work is excellent as well.He is a great musician who is somewhat undiscovered.The tracks by Blind Mississppi add a different style, but are also very good.If you like blues or roots music, buy this CD!

"King & Morris take us to the Festivals ~ Blues is alive"
Every so often there is an album that just jumps out at you ~ "Along the Blues Highway", is a wonderful return to those days when our parents and grandparents enjoyed the music of times ~ BLUES!A CD that gives you the roots of America then, right up to the present time.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Modern Delta Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop   

Editorial Review

Having achieved success with his landmark 1941 recordings for John and Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress (released under his given name, McKinley Morganfield), Muddy Waters moved to Chicago two years later--and took the future of American popular music with him. In 1947, he began recording for Aristocrat Records with piano wizard Sunnyland Slim and band, then alone with bassist Ernest "Big" Crawford and sometimes two or three more sidemen, turning out a body of work unmatched by any other postwar bluesman. This brilliant compilation, produced by Andy McKaie, spans the five years during which Aristocrat became the legendary Chess Records and Muddy emerged as a preeminent blues master known for his raw vocals and vital guitar. Showcased here are such seminal gems as "I Can't Be Satisfied," "Feel Like Goin' Home," "Mean Red Spider," "All Night Long," and "Long Distance Call," plus two takes of the cultural cornerstone "Rollin' Stone." Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (4)

Very good, but not the place for newcomers to start
This excellently remastered MCA compilation presents every known track Muddy Waters recorded for the Aristocrat and Chess labels between 1947 to 1952, which means that "Rollin' Stone" is a find for serious Muddy scholars, but not a good choice for those who are just looking for a comprehensive career overview. Genius of Muddy Waters
not many Artists can say that the first time they Recorded that it was truly a Ground-Breaking Experience but then again not many can claim to having the Impact of Muddy Waters.His Guitar Playing&Tone have such a Strong Sonic force that you can't get it out of your system.His Vocals hit you as well without missing a beat."I Can't Be Satisfied"&"Rolling Stone are two Cuts that you will have buzzing in your Head for days&Nights easily.when the Blues is doen truly right you can feel the Whole World vibe of it&Muddy Waters gave you the World&thensome.once you hear these Songs you will be come Hooked on the Genius that is Muddy Waters.

The Genesis of Muddy's Career at Chess
Not counting his 1941-42 field recordings for the Library of Congress (available on The Complete Plantation Recordings) and a few tracks he recorded for Columbia in 1946, this two-disc collection represents the beginning of Muddy Waters' recorded legacy on the Aristocat (later to become Chess)label between 1947 and 1952.Read more

Subjects:  1. Arranger    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues Traditional    6. Chicago Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Electric Blues    9. Electric Chicago Blues    10. Leader    11. Pop    12. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (2)

FINALLY!!!!Some new Blood and innovation in the Blues!
I first heard the Burnside Exploration in 2003, when they were still getting their act together;had the pleasure of performing on the same bill with them.In Them,You hear the NEXT NEW THING IN THE BLUES;rooted in the North Mississippi Hill Country Boogie of Daddy RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough;but with strong roots in Jimi Hendrix,Cream and classic rock,Modern R&B and Soul. all they need now is to get some strong Hip hop related feel in their mix and you HAVE THE NEXT NEW THING IN THE BLUES!

Release the badasses!!
If you were wondering where rhythm comes from, you've just found the source.These guys have it.And they have tone, too.Yep.And... oh yeah, they rock!!
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Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Electric Delta Blues    3. Modern Electric Blues    4. Pop   

Reviews (6)

Good Songs, but the sound quality SUCKS!
The colletion of the songs is a good selection but the sound quality of many of this is very poor, with a lot of noise in the background. You can't enjoy this cd with volume because the noise is very annoying. If you like Son House i recommend you a remastered CD.

Great Collection of songs
Eddie James "Son" House is one of the founding fathers of the blues, and by extension, American music.And yet he does not receive the credit due him nor the accolades such that Robert Johnson does.Son House was actually one of the people who played with, and inspired, Robert Johnson.In fact, he was reported to have been Johnson's favorite mentor.
You can't go wrong with Son
This Cd is actually really good.however a good chunk of it is from his Father of the Delta Blues Cd set, and the recording quality of the other tracks is extreamly poor, so you would probable be a little better off with The Father of the Delta Blues. Even though some of the tracks are really badly recorded, it is entirly worth buying and is my favorite out of all the Martin scorsese individual artist Cds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Country Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Pop    7. Prewar Country Blues    8. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (5)

A good starter
AS far as one disc compilatioh go, this is pretty good. It can be a fine starter to Muddy, as you get his earlz one man /duo recordings -acoustic as well as electric featuring Muddy�s excellent raw slide guitar as well as his mid fifties and early sixties track with a gret fullband with Muddy's vocals getting even better and many of the best musicians Chicago blues had to offer. However, this is just a starter, as it does not feature gems like Honey bee, Streamline Women, Blow wind blow,or You need love to name a few and it has nothing from his post Chess recordings, which means you willmiss all material of the three great records made with Johnny Winter, not to talk about live recordings, which Muddy made plenty of also in his Chess days and that aren't represented at all too.

Get It.Love It.
This is a very well chosen set for a single disc Muddy comp.Kudos to the compilers for including a couple pre-Chess cuts as well as a track from his highly underrated recordings on the Blue Sky label.The thought of a new blues fan picking up this disc and discovering Muddy for the first time quite frankly gives me goosebumps.

More low-key than I would've liked
I only had one Muddy Waters album before this (simply called "Muddy Waters In Cocnert") and rather than buy a 2-disc collection, I wanted a real basic primer on his career, something to start off with so I can pick up more discs.This disc covers Muddy's Chess years, sticking to versions of some of his better known, studio-recorded songs.I only gave this four-stars because I was hoping for a little more punch when it came towards the end of the disc, but the studio recordings lack in comparison to Muddy Waters live.It covers a lot of ground and there is some great music here, but it seems more tame then what you'd get seeing, hearing it live. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arranger    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues Traditional    6. Chicago Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Electric Blues    9. Electric Chicago Blues    10. Leader    11. Pop    12. Slide Guitar Blues   

Reviews (4)

Acoustic John Lee Hooker...
I picked this up because I was interested to hear how John Lee's music translated with an acoustic guitar. I own at least twenty of his CD's and they are all electric, even the live CD's of him playing solo. The acoustic sound really makes his slow blues songs that much more intimate. He also covers songs by Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Big Bill Broonzy on this one and its interesting to hear his take on these songs. While I wouldn't rate this as essential listening for the uninitiated, this CD is one that I would recommend to any fan of John Lee Hooker.

The Country Blues of John Lee HookerVol 2
This album was recorded at the same April 1959 session that produced Hooker's more famous LP THE COUNTRY BLUES OF JOHN LEE HOOKER. For some reason it was unreleased until 1964 (UK only) and didn't see the light of day in the US until the early 90's. Which is odd because it is identical in style, sound and theme to the COUNTRY BLUES LP, featuring the same acoustic back porch feel.
John Lee Hooker
Real Blues An American ICON Of The Blues A Perfect Album HookerRead more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Revival    4. Blues Traditional    5. Country Blues    6. Delta Blues    7. Detroit Blues    8. Electric Blues    9. Electric Delta Blues    10. Leader    11. Pop    12. Songwriter    13. Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues