Editorial Review

Although propulsive classics such as "Boogie Chillen" and "Dimples" had already established John Lee Hooker among the most electrifying artists within the blues community, his performances at the Newport Folk Festival in 1960 and '63 found him catering to the biases of a broader, younger (and whiter) audience: folk-revival fans who preferred acoustic to electric and country blues to the modern urban strain. Thus, the Detroit-based Hooker did his best to approximate the styles he'd left behind in his native Mississippi a couple of decades earlier. The brooding narrative balladry of "Tupelo" and "Great Fire of Natchez" benefits from this stripped-down approach, and Hooker feels more at liberty to change tempos and keys throughout. But the unplugged versions of staples such as "Boom Boom" barely approach the sensual swagger of Hooker at his most musically potent. This 17-cut reissue includes three previously unreleased tracks, plus another appearing for the first time on CD. Read more

Features

• Live
• Original recording remastered

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. Juke Joint Blues    12. Pop    13. United States of America   

Reviews (3)

NOT HIS BEST, STILL BETTER THAN MOST
Some outstanding tracks, a few average ones and one or two duds. It is still an excellent CD with a wide variety of musik to entertain you. Even the RAP / BLUES /POP hybrids are accessible and are the only such hybrids I have heard and liked. His URBAN / RAP / BLUES cds are also some of the cleverest applications of RAP by a predominently BLUES artist. KING swings between so many styles that it is refreshing not to be able to pidgeonhole him. Whatever he does, he does really well and besides his undoubted talent as a guitarist, he is an excellent singer and song writer. This is just further prove of the width of this mans talent. If you like his other stuff, you will not be dissapointed.

A Do It Yourself Project
Some critics say that King doesn't know what he wants to be--a Robert Johnson practitioner, a rapper, or Jimi Hendrix.I think what it does is shows he's versatile.
Well...maybe start with one of his other albums.
I was pretty disappointed with this album.It's not horrible, but it sure isn't really good.CTK's guitar sounds thin, angry, and buzzy - not at all what I expected from a 'bluesman' of any mark.The songs are OK, but the standout track is a cover of Prince's 'Kiss'.I might try one of his more acoustic-oriented albums next, but $14 doesn't just grow on trees, you know! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Modern Acoustic Blues    3. Modern Delta Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. Soul   

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Country Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Pop    7. Prewar Country Blues    8. Prewar Gospel Blues    9. Slide Guitar Blues   

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Country Blues    4. Delta Blues    5. Pop    6. Prewar Country Blues    7. Prewar Gospel Blues   

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Electric Country Blues    3. Electric Delta Blues    4. Juke Joint Blues    5. Modern Delta Blues   

Editorial Review

A budget-priced box set, Read more

Features

• Box set
• Import

Reviews (2)

Buy it With Confidence
This boxed set provides an excellent opportunity to add breadth to any blues collection. It's also an oustanding bargain at the price.
What A Treasure
This Box set is a treasure.Great collection of early recorded blues.Fantastic! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Acoustic Chicago Blues    3. Acoustic Memphis Blues    4. Blues    5. Blues Collections    6. Blues Revival    7. Boogie-Woogie    8. Box Sets (Audio Only)    9. Classic Female Blues    10. Country Blues    11. Delta Blues    12. East Coast Blues    13. Electric Blues    14. Piano Blues    15. Piedmont Blues    16. Pop    17. Prewar Blues    18. Prewar Country Blues    19. Slide Guitar Blues    20. Stride   

Reviews (1)

shakin all over
There are some great surprises on this compilation. Some of the tracks are classic blues tunes but are not played by the same old artists you hear doing them every time. My favorite cut is a fine renditionof "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" by Alvin Youngblood Hart. There's lots of great archieval stuff on here but some sweet tunes by newer artists as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Contemporary Blues    5. Country Blues    6. Delta Blues    7. Electric Blues    8. Modern Acoustic Blues    9. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    10. Pop   

Reviews (1)

Guitar blues at it's best.
This is a must have for anyone with a love of the blues and the guitar artist who made it great. The last track on the CD is a live recording of Texas Flood by S. R. Vaugn, the best live track of his I have ever heard. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Album Rock    5. Blues    6. Blues Collections    7. Blues Music    8. Blues Revival    9. Blues-Rock    10. Bop    11. Country Blues    12. Delta Blues    13. East Coast Blues    14. Electric Blues    15. Electric Texas Blues    16. Hard Bop    17. Jazz Blues    18. Jazz-Funk    19. Jump Blues    20. Modern Electric Blues   

Editorial Review

Made in recording sessions by Alan Lomaz and Seamus Ennis in 1951, this was one of the first comprehensive surveys of the folk music of Ireland. Lomax and Ennis went from village to town in western Ireland, recording professional and amateur singers and musicians in their homes and community places. The songs are familiar, since so many of them have been learned by more generations via these recordings, and include classics like "I'll Go No More A' Rovin," "Whiskey in the Jar," "The Lark in the Morning," and dozens of others. Aside from Ennis, who contributes a fair number of songs himself, the names of the performers will not be too familiar. It's a straightforward, honest brand of Read more

Reviews (2)

A rare find for Irish music enthusiasts
This is Irish music BEFORE all the Riverdance hype came about, this is Irish music in its realest and rawest from. Hearing performers sing and speak native Gaelic is a real treat, and the songs are a real challenge to listen to. This is NOT pub music by any means, but rather true music with real stories behind it. The only thing I would have liked to see on this album is more diversity: most of the songs were recorded in Co. Cork or Co. Donegahy, however I can't complain since my family are Corkers themselves... If you like this album I would STRONGLY recommend Alan Lomax's Primitive Music album from Spain as there are stark similarities between the two types of music (ever hear the thoery that the Celts were originally from Spain?... Wink.)

Wonderful Singing
Fantastic traditional unaccompanied singing from Johnny McDonagh, Colm Keane and Sean Jeaic McDonagh. Johnny McDonagh's version of "Morrissey and the Russian Sailor" is the finest "come all ye" I have ever heard recorded and Colm Keane singing "Soldier, Soldier" is amazing. ... Read more

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

Reviews (5)

Like some sort of hallucinogenic chemical acting on slow release
James Mathus and the Knockdown Society have quite a pithy little recording on their hands with "Stop and Let the Devil Ride." This is the kind of music that enters the brain and takes control like some sort of hallucinogenic chemical acting on slow release. It's not just the damn funky, fuzzy, fat guitar--though it all starts and ends here--but the whole burgoo bubbles with flavors and seasonings: evil drum and bass lines; background voices that seem to be coming from out of nowhere; slurred, mumbled lead vocal; and some guttural blues organ.
Mathus Serves Up Some Down-Home Blues
Like a good novel or movie, Jimbo Mathus' third CD, "Stop & Let the Devil Ride," transports you to another time and place.It is near last call and Mathus and his Knockdown Society have a the crowd in a Mississippi juke-joint boogieing on a rickety plank floor under a haze of smoke and the mingled smells of fried catfish and stale, spilled beer.Mathus soaked up the music of his native Mississippi and stays as true to his roots as any living blues legend.From the infectious cover of Roosevelt Barnes' "How Long Must This Go On?" to the hypnotic sway of "Get Back to You", this CD delivers throughout and can easily be listened to over and over again."Stop & Let the Devil Ride" is the perfect soundtrack for a keg party or cleaning the bathroom. It grows on you until it seems to follow you from the car to your home stereo, your Walkman, wherever you can get your fix for some country-fried blues."Stop & Let the Devil Ride" should establish this former Squirrel Nut Zipper as one of the true authors of modern Mississippi blues and one who will be remembered in a long lineage of legends.

Scoot over Baby, Stop and Let the Devil Ride
James (Jimbo) Mathus, probably best known as the ex-frontman of the popular hot jazz band, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, is quickly making a name for himself as one of the leading interpreters of north Mississippi hill country blues. Hill country blues is raw, electric, juke-joint boogie that entices audiences to get up and dance rather than sit and listen passively. Mathus, a native of north Mississippi, become enthralled with hill country blues during the summer of 2000 when he was working as a session musician on Buddy Guy's "Sweet Tea." Mathus was selected by producer Dennis Herring of Sweet Tea studios in Oxford, Miss. to serve as the musical director, arranger, as well as the rhythm guitarist, for the Buddy Guy sessions. In preparation for introducing hill country blues to Guy, who was unfamiliar with the genre, Mathus immersed himself in the music and held 12-hour rehearsals with the band. He was also responsible arranging the eight hill country tunes on "Sweet Tea", including Junior Kimbrough's "Done Got Old", T-Model Ford's "Look What All You Got", and Cedell Davis' "She Got the Devil in Her".Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Delta Blues    3. Indie Rock    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. Rock/Pop    7. Swamp Blues   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (1)

Saving the Best for Last
Back in the late 70's Johnnie Winters pulled Muddy Waters out of semi-retirement to record three great CD's on the Blue Sky label.When back in the studio Muddy noted that it made him feel so good that it made him 'Hard Again', hence the title for the first and best CD of the series. All are recordings using a live to tape method, which suites the blues and in particular Muddy extremely well.The backing band is excellent, sound quality is outstanding and Muddy is top of form.Each CD has a slightly different feel and each in the set gets a little weaker then the previous.This is relatively speaking given that Hard Again is easily one Muddy's best albums and one of the top ten blues CD's ever made- seriously good stuff.If you can only afford one, buy Hard Again, otherwise just by the set and enjoy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Revival    3. Blues Traditional    4. Chicago Blues    5. Delta Blues    6. Electric Blues    7. Electric Chicago Blues    8. Pop    9. Slide Guitar Blues    10. United States of America   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (4)

Good Listening, Blues at its best
Even if he hadn't influenced anyone, even if historically he was a 19 year old kid from Shirley, Long Island, even if this recording at just been waxed last night, this is good, essential blues listening, you won't want to stop listening, you wont stop seeing the scenes of the blues that the songs make, you won't stop swaying at the power and swing of his guitar playing and singing. On here, my song is Preachin the Blues. I know you will have yours. A fine purchase for fans
This is not the place to start if you're new to Eddie "Son" House, but if you're already a fan, this double CD, which brings together live recordings from two different concerts, is a very nice addition.
Be forewarned- this is a weak live recording
I wish I had checked the reviews out at Amazon before I bought this at a record store because the labeling on the CD is very deceiving.Nowhere on the outside does it explain that the 2 CDs are each live recordings, and not very good-quality ones at that (either in sound or performance quality).I figured from the title that they were from his comeback period, so at least that was not a surprise.But a sticker on the package referred to these as "The Seminal Son House recordings", which these are clearly not.When I listened I got very angry at the record company for taking my money with false advertising.Son House sounds drunk and his guitar playing often off-key.The recording of Death Letter Blues shown in the videotaped performance on Scorcese's program was way better, with excellent playing, so I know how great he can be, which makes this set so disappointing.His voice redeems the CDs somewhat because it is still very strong (though still occasionally drunk-sounding), but his too-frequent grunting gets annoying.Also, both CDs are rather short.The talking tracks on the first CD are mildly interesting from a scholarly point of view but I mainly want to hear the music, which could have been combined on one CD.Read more

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

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

Features

• Live

Reviews (2)

A fine collection of recordings
In short: I am on Amazon right now, shopping for this CD because my first one is worn out.Good stuff.
A must-have for Stonesphiles...
A very nice collection of songs from late 50's to early 60's at the NFF...most of these are on the 3-cd set that was recently released. However a handful are not on that set - including a powerful 9:30 rendition of Rev.Robert Wilkins classic Prodigal Son, which of course was covered by the Stones on Beggar's Banquet.Here you find the inspiration for the Stones version, which included only a handful of the many verses that Wilkins' had...also, you hear how Charlie and Keith appropriated the guitar and percussion (Wilkins' foot, here) parts for the Stones' version. A must-hear experience! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 60's    2. 70's    3. Acoustic Blues    4. Blues    5. Blues Music    6. Blues Revival    7. Blues Traditional Collections    8. Country Blues    9. Delta Blues    10. Folk Revival    11. Folk-Blues    12. Piedmont Blues    13. Pop    14. Prewar Blues    15. Prewar Country Blues    16. West Coast Blues   

Reviews (1)

Old ,live stuff.
All live recordings (probably 1950's and some early 1960's).So there are some distortions involved with sound quality.Typical Muddy Waters blues with slide guitar.Outstanding background piano by Otis Spahn.Too bad he died so young (he was just getting started). Not a must have cd, but if anything it does possess that sense of blues heritage (for historical value). ... Read more

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   

Reviews (3)

HILL COUNTRY BLUES AT ITS FINEST
Jessie Mae Hemphill hails from the North Missisipi hill country and grew up in a famous musical family that no doubt nurtured her great talents. Her grandfather was none other than Sid Hemphill, the "drum and fife" master who was recorded by the Library of Congress half a century ago. Rockin' Fun
Great blues party music to which you you can't help pat your feet and shake your hips.The first six tracks feature complementary second guitar by musicologist David Evans, who once taught a University Of Memphis course on Merle Haggard, and drums by R.L. Boyce.Among those, "Tell Me You Love Me" is a wonderful rendering of soul music coated in traditional delta blues.Playing guitar and percussion one-person band style, Jessie Me rocks out on the other ten tunes with some of the most rhythmically hypnotic blues you're likely to ever hear.

Dem dirty blues
Jesse Mae Hemphill ain't no wannabe she's the real deal, the kind of blues singer you hear in the joints with dried blood on the floor. The place yOU go too hear authentic gut-bucket blues, no cross over pap from Ms Hemphill.This and other Jesse Mae recordings are a must for anyone SERIOUS about theblues. ... Read more

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

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

Reviews (4)

Intimate John Lee...
This CD is one that I always end up coming back to when the hard times hit. John Lee bares his soul on this one and his vocals are delivered with conviction and pure emotion. The CD consists of 19 tracks and are just Hooker and his electric guitar. The setting sounds like a small club or coffee house (every once in a while you can hear dishes or glasses clink) and the applause is sometimes edited out at the end of some songs, making it seem as if Hooker is playing without an audience. John Lee really knows how to deliver when it comes to singing about a relationship gone bad. Songs like "I'm Gonna Keep On Walking" and "You Gonna Miss Me" perfectly articulate feelings on lost love. He also sings of the effects of depression on "I Just Can't Hold On Much Longer". Although it sounds bleak, this is John Lee Hooker at his most intimate. With the exception of a few faster songs, the majority of the music is mellow blues with soulful vocals, actually pretty relaxing. Overall, the amount that I've played this disc in the years since I bought it has made this a worthwhile purchase, and to me it remains one of the best examples of the incredible blues of John Lee Hooker.

Good old blues, great stuff!!
This is a great "mood" blues cd. That guy below talking about how bad the guitar playing is doesn't get it. It's not how hard something is to play, it's what the songs do for you. I can't stand these technical snobs always talking about how hard and fast they can play....they only play with there brains, this comes from the heart.

This is The Real John Lee Hooker!
I don't know what the previous reviewer is talking about!Primitive! You don't understand the true relationship betweenthe African music culture and Delta Blues if you don't get this!Hooker is at HIS BEST WHEN HE'S ALONE! This is the stuff that makes him a legend;not his band CD's. This is one of John Lee Hooker's greatest Cd's,EVER!If you don't feel this, you got a Hole in your Soul! ... 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   

Reviews (4)

stick around...
Entrance will hopefully stick around to prove his haunting tenor falsetto and unique competence on guitar has the staying power it deserves.He won't be mistaken for a black musician, but I believe he's nodding to the influence of Robert Johnson much more credibly than Clapton's recent effort.

From the Delta to Baltimore
Entrance has the spirit. He howls, yelps, shakes, and slings his guitar through spiritual plains.He sings with the power of the early delta blues musicians, but doesn't milk it down like Eric Clapton or Jack White. Mostly, his music is misunderstood.no one knows what to think of a man who sings with his eyes closed and can create a song like "please be careful in new orleans".Probably one of the most unique and truly special musicians today.He is seemlingly out of this world, but never be afraid...

a genius
I saw Entrance play with Devendra Banhart two years ago when they both release their first records. They did a big tour together. Some thought they were creating the same vibe. Entrance was Dylan to Devendra's Donovan. Entrance was Marc Bolan to Devendra's David Bowie. They were both based in the folk tradition. Devendra was more exotic and more accessible for some reason. Entrance was mysterious and equally inaccessible, for some reason or other. Devendra has gone on to great success, while Entrance has baffled people for some reason. I have seen Entrance play to colitions of the unwilling. On record, he has always been worthwhile (I hate that word). Wandering Stranger is his most successful album. For this album he has drawn inspiration from Townes Van Zandt and Blind Willie McTell. It is an excellent recording. Entrance should be given careful consideration. He is a personal favorite.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Indie Rock    3. Modern Delta Blues    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (4)

Hooker Plus Canned Heat Equals Sterno!!!
Hooker 'N Heat is almost universally considered the greatest album in the long and storied careers of both Delta bluesman John Lee Hooker and California boogeymen Canned Heat. These wonderful songs are as improvisational as any jazz session: Hooker finds a beat, starts off, and lets the boys in the band play catch-up until they run out of musical ideas and the song ends. Hook has special praise for Alan Wilson, the Heat's wunderkid harpist, noting that Wilson is the best harmonica player ever: "I don't know how he follow me, but he do." In this best of the best compilation from those sessions (a great idea for us budget-minded listeners), standout songs include "Burning Hell," which is the Hook's rockin' and rollin' take on the afterlife, "The World Today," a talking piece circa 1970, in which the fiftysomething Hooker identifies with young people and is glad "the old coots are gone," and "Boogie Chillen' 2," an 11-minute jamfest of Hooker's first hit that will have you jumping out of your seat. For their part, the Heat add outstanding instrumental support (singer Bob "the Bear" Hite adds no vocals, but aids in production duties); as noted above, Wilson's harp work is fabulous, and this record must be seen as the crowning achievement of his career. (Sadly, he died while waiting for the record to be released; thats his picture on the wall in the album photos.) In short, a thrilling offering from two of the rockingest, boogieingest (is that a word?) artists ever, and one to surely lift you out of your seat. Get this disc and turn up the heat!!!

one of his best
i rarely rate anything 5 stars, but this one makes it.when john lee plays "peavine" i can hear it coming down the tracks.and the 11 minute version of "boogie chillen" is excellent.the version of "burnin' hell" is my fav of all time - the harp is excellent (like john lee said, "i don't know how he follow me but he do.").i've got at least a half dozen of his cds and this one may be the best.

Hero and Worshippers = +
This recording for those of you that weren't around, was a meeting of a giant bluesman and some of the best original 60's hippie bluesmen. Hooker at the time was only known to bluesheads or ghetto dwellers.The CannedHeat, well what more to say. No frills, no wah wah's, just Gibson guitarsplaying mean mean ol blues. There was no SUPERSTAR "Hooker", justa bunch of guys that felt the music and laid it down as it was for them atthe moment. Very little production or editing, just live blues in thestudio. A seminal recording, have owned it since it was released. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues Music    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. Rock    13. Songwriter