Editorial Review

In this 2003 performance from the Read more

Features

• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (11)

Not Perfect, but VERY Good!
Ms Tedeschi's rendition of "Angel From Montgomery" is worth the price of this CD.WONDERFUL!!!As great as Bonie Raitt does with the old John Prine tune, Tedeschi does better.Soulful and full of emotion.You feel the emptiness and the desire for that reprive. Just great!

Like a live best of
With material from all her earlier CDs and a Sly and Family Stone cover not previously available, this serves as a live greatest hits or best of. I've seen her a few times live and this is very represenataive of her concert work also. The guitar work is fine but you can see the later material is emphasizing her vocals more than her playing.

Susan Tedeski Rocks!
This is a fabulous CD of some of Susan's best songs!GREAT music with GREAT vocals as well as GREAT "jammin"!!!When you play it in your car, play it loud with the windows down to really appreciate it!!!!You'll be "jammin", too!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Contemporary Blues    3. Modern Electric Blues    4. Pop    5. R&B    6. Roots Rock   

Reviews (5)

Great Canned Heat Compilation and Great Sound
This CD is great!It contains the very best and most comprehensive collection of Canned Heat singles.And, the recorded sound is extraordinary...much better than the original releases in most cases.If you like Canned Heat, whose legend continues to grow, then you will LOVE this CD.

The Bear is There
This album is by far the best compilation out there, if you wish a good solid concise overview of one of maybe a half-dozen bands who could make po bedevilled blues lovers like me and my friends git down on our knees and cry! real tears! because they were (and remain, dead or alive) one of the absolute best blues bands ever. The respect these guys had for their material is evident in every song, and they practiced long and hard, obviously, to get the sound they wanted. Buy this, at any price between ten and fifteen bucks, I'd say, it's worth it. You might want to pick up "Future Blues" as well. Contrary to what some revisionists now say, that was the LP we decided was the ultimate blues album, back in the day. Noone would never top that.(After awhile on our knees, weeping again)...I've haven't heard any better since.

The Very Best of Canned Heat
For fans of Canned Heat this is the best!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. Boogie Rock    3. Electric Blues    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Live

Reviews (3)

Production Bogs Down the Master
If you're a die-hard SRV fan of course you have to have this and all existing SRV music, because let's face it, the hunger for more SRV recordings never goes away, but personally I don't find this to be one of his best. To me, the production is very bass-bottom-heavy. The guitar has too much whammy in it. And that Hammond organ in the foreground drives me crazy. These elements combine to make the sound of the tracks too much the same, despite his stellar performance. But live performances are like fine wines, each has its own character and some you like more, some less.

Stevie was the best, and this is a great early show.
Where did this come from, and how did I miss that they were releasing this?Anyway, I've seen this show (a VHS copy of the Japanese comercal Laser Disc), and it's good stuff, so when I found this at the record store I picked it up right away.
stevie ray vaughan is the master of the stratocaster
stevie is to me, the greatest ive yet to hear... its talent alright, but its got lots and lots of soul with it... his music is the best of the best, all i can say.... i would love to have this album...srv will never die ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Electric Texas Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Modern Electric Texas Blues    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Texas Blues    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Although Alligator Records no longer exclusively traffics in "genuine houserockin' music," as long as the label continues releasing albums from Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials it won't have to change slogans anytime soon. The sixth release from the veteran foursome is another rollicking, electrified romp through old-school Chicago boogie blues. Lil' Ed Williams is the nephew of, and was schooled by, slide guitar legend J.B. Hutto, so it's no surprise that the Blues Imperials' sound is driven by the high-octane, raw, bottleneck attack popularized by Hutto and the great Elmore James. Both are covered here, and even though Williams's originals adhere to the standard blues format, the energy generated by this live-in-the-studio recording could power a small city. You can practically see the sweat dripping down Ed's fez-covered head as he charges through the humorous yet driving "Icicles in My Meatloaf" and the fast shuffle of "Broken Promises." Slow blues such as "You Just Weren't There" and "Nobody's Fault But My Own" maintain a tough edge while providing a change of pace to the party-hearty rave-ups that dominate the album. The no-frills production is crisp and crackling. It captures the excitement of the opening version of Holland/Dozier's rocking soul shouter "Leaving Here" as well as the heartfelt emotions in the country-influenced cover of Billy Joe Shaver's "Tramp on Your Street," the disc's most surprising track. The blurred shot of the band in action on the cover perfectly represents the music inside--which, as the album's title accurately suggests, rattles, shakes, and rolls. Read more

Reviews (4)

Is Awesome!
This is the first CD that I got from this band, I must say is great. This is the best blues CD that I ever bought in months. It has a lot of energy on it and a great sound. So great job for Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials. I can't wait to see the playing live.

Your basic raw, Chicago Blues cd
This is enjoyable but nothing special. It is raucous, raw, electric blues played by artists having a good time. Saw them on Conan, loved how Lil Ed jumped on the table. They are probably a fun band to see in an intimate setting. This is what the White Stripes wish they souded like...having a legit, blues creedo

Alligator Records Does it Again
I received my copy of Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, Rattleshake. Man it blows me out of my seat. I have so far played it through three times. It keeps on getting better and better. The play listis superb; a mixture of jump, some slow classic delta, Hank Williams style country, a little bit of Texas Gulf Coast and Chicago style blues.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Modern Electric Blues    3. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    4. Pop   

Editorial Review

"I've been to hell and back, I'm still looking good / I've found the fountain of youth, I've got the blues in my blood," sings Guitar Shorty on "Blues in My Blood"--one of the more autobiographical tracks, albeit one he didn't write, on his second Alligator album in three years. After working for decades with little to show for it, Shorty makes up for lost time, charging through unapologetically tough blues rockers such as "Sonic Boom," "Can't Get Enough" (not the Bad Company tune), and "What Good Is Life?" with the rough-and-tumble enthusiasm of someone half his 67 years. There are few surprises here--Shorty's throaty voice pummels through these tunes, pausing only long enough to make room for his fat, fluid leads to slice into the powerhouse rhythm section. Subtlety is not Shorty's strong point, and even when he accompanies himself on "Cost of Livin'" with just guitar and a tapping foot, it sounds like he's a caged tiger before feeding time. The title track concerns the average laborer's tough life, but this is primarily a blues album tied to the usual subjects of nefarious women doing Shorty wrong. In fact, his ex's phone prefix in "I Got Your Number" is 666. But nobody need look for profound lyrical insights when Shorty slings his molten guitar, pouring his psychedelicized solos like lava over anything in his path. Just push play and get out of the way. Read more

Reviews (3)

He is what he is.
GS is what he is. Either you like him or you don't. Or you think he's ok. That's my point. If you like his previous music, buy this disc right now, you won't be disappointed. If you don't like his previous work, don't buy this disc. If you think he's ok, wait until someone puts up a used copy on Amazon for half price. Follow my advice and you will be happy whichever group you are in.

Where'd the blues go?
Somewhere along the line Guitar Shorty lost the meaning of the word 'subtle" when he hooked up with Alligator records. He just pummels through just about every song - loud singing, guitar playing, smashing drums, etc. Where's the blues? This is a rock CD.He has had some fine releases this past decade that mixed blues and rock but now he's moved to almost all rock. This is not his forte and this big change in his sound might gain him some new fans but leaves old fans like me puzzled.GET BACK TO THE BLUES!

Shorty Stands Tall Among Blues Guitar Gunslingers
I stumbled upon Guitar Shorty's previous release 'Watch Your Back' and I have been hooked on him ever since. Couldn't wait to get my hands on his new CD 'We the People' and a 1st listen confirmed my urgency. If you like testosterone drenched blues guitar, this recording won't disappoint. The cuts are raw, the musicianship stellar and the lyrics are contemporary to the difficult times we find oursleves in. I saw him lives at Buddy Guy's club in Chicago this past April and was blown away by Shorty's Guitar playing and the talent of his band mates. An interesting note on Guitary Shorty, he helped school Jimmy Hendrix in his early days. This CD won't disappoint, you'll get more than your money's worth. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Electric Blues    3. Modern Electric Blues    4. Pop    5. Soul-Blues    6. Texas Blues    7. United States of America   

Reviews (3)

great, but...
This smells like a "She's left our record company so we'll put out a best of" package.Fortunately, Susan Tedeschi has done so much quality material on Wait for Me and Just Won't Burn that this disc is a blinder.The two bonus tracks are really nice. This could have been great with a little digging, but...
A 5 Star collection...but where are the extras?
Looking over the song list, this is a fine CD capturing most of her high points in one place. It would be nice to get some early demos, outtakes, rarities, for those of us that have been with her from the outset.
The BEST from the BEST!
I first heard Susan on public radio KPLU in Washington state (www.kplu.org) on their weekend blues shows a few months ago.I was intrigued by her voice and guitar talent and quickly added her "Just Won't Burn" CD to my blues collection.This CD (The Best of Susan Tedeschi - Episode One") picks the cream from "Just Won't Burn", and adds more great tracks from other albums (which I am in the process of ordering now).Every track on this CD is great.Great variety too -- hard rocking blues, covers of old standards (Don't Think Twice, It's Alright ), fantastic slide guitar on "Looking for Answers", incredible vocals on "It Hurts So Bad", "Gonna Move" - a catchy tune that brings a smile to your face, and a sweet tender song (In the Garden).I have listened to this CD over and over on a just-ending week-long driving trip and it's just great every time I listen.This CD has now joined my "desert island CD collection" as one of my top three picks (other two are "Kind of Blue" and "Time Out").I'd hate to have to pick just one of these three - I can listen to all of them over and over and over! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Contemporary Blues    3. Modern Electric Blues    4. Pop    5. United States of America   

Features

• Live

Reviews (31)

Worthy of Dylan
The problem with these 2 disc multi-artist concerts is that they're often bloated with lesser performers and lesser performances.Here, not so, KK says at the beginning of the concert that "backstage we have assembled one of the greatest group of perfoming artists ever" or something like that, and it's no exaggeration.George Harrison, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Wonder and on and on...
One of the Greatest Concerts of all time
Bob Dylan over the years has influenced many people, and now its time for those people to give something back.
3 and a half stars
Not bad.The definite highlight is "My Back Pages" where Harrison, Clapton, Dylan, Neil Young, McGuinn, and Petty all take a verse.McGuinn sounds even better on "Mr Tamborine Man" and overall a great effort by all the artist covering some well known and not so well know Dylan songs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Album Rock    3. Bar Band    4. Blues-Rock    5. Contemporary Country    6. Contemporary Folk    7. Country-Folk    8. Country-Pop    9. Country-Rock    10. Folk-Rock    11. Funk    12. Hard Rock    13. Heartland Rock    14. Modern Electric Blues    15. Motown    16. Outlaw Country    17. Political Folk    18. Pop    19. Pop-Soul    20. Pop/Rock   

Editorial Review

Keb' Mo's 1995 Grammy-winning eponymous debut firmly lodged the Los Angeles-born singer-guitarist in the contemporary blues pantheon. His sophomore effort, Read more

Reviews (36)

review of a few reviewers
while not all of hardly any album or submission by an artist can be expected to please 100%, some of the negative i'm picking up in some reviews seems to come from the fact that Keb' doesn't sound like he "did," or "should."an artist is just that, and should be reaching out and pushing their limits, style and range.that doesn't always work out at the "box office," but it should be recognized for what it is and considered within that context, not some preconceived narrow definition based on art in the past.it's ok to dislike a piece or to feel indifferently about it.i think it's important to dig inside ourselves in order to have a meaningful sense of why and/or how we are affected by a piece.that is our responsibility as the viewer or listener of any art form. keep reaching, stretching and trying Keb'----i'll be there for the exploration.
Keb PLEASE NO Mo Like This Again!
His 1st disc was full of promise for a great future, but like MANY other supposed talents this is a typical "I've already used all my good stuff" discs. Don't waste your hard earned cash on this! (I did and I sure wish I had 1 more wish, so I wouldn't have bought this!) If this is "Just Like You" then You should go back to where you were!
A Great Blues Album
Keb' Mo' is one of those musicians who hits you like a punch to the solar plexus.The first time I heard him, I was absolutely floored.Obviously a student of the great Delta Blues masters, Keb' Mo' also is a child of our times as well and he effortlessly blends older styles of Blues with modern production and arranging.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Contemporary Blues    4. Modern Acoustic Blues    5. Modern Electric Blues    6. Pop   

Editorial Review

When Robert Cray and the Fabulous Thunderbirds turned their similar combinations of Texas blues and Memphis soul into hit records in 1986, bar bands all across this land thought they had glimpsed the promised land of a long-awaited blues revival. There has been a flood of soul-blues releases since then, many of which have been respectable, even admirable, but they have lacked the two essential ingredients that gave the genre its artistic peak 30 years ago, as well as its brief resurgence 20 years later--terrific songs and outstanding singers. Delbert McClinton's Read more

Reviews (27)

Delbert always fun to listen to, here is no different
Delbert McClinton has one of those great bluesy voices that sounds so "regular" that you think you could do it, but in reality its got a depth and quality that is hard to match.On this album he really has some fun, and that howl is unmistakable.Sending Me Angels is a personal fave with him getting help from country greats Vince Gill on vocals and Lee Roy Parnell on slide guitar.Old Weakness calls to mind the fun lovin Stones classic honkytonk woman. and Leap of Faith cheesy as it might sound can perk up a dreary day with no problem.

Journeyman Texas/country rhythm and blues
Delbert has been around since forever, doing the same type of music and doing it better than anyone else.He's almost a musical genre of his own.This is as solid a collection of songs as he has ever he has made.Does it get any better than this? Grab a beer, pull up a chair and start singing along and tapping your toes.

good sutff
Trust me, if you are a music lover, you will dig this CD. This CD has extremely good song writing and a fine array of special guests.From the uplifing "Leap of Faith" to the classic "Sending me Angels" this album is sure to be a classic. This is Delbert at his best...buy it now ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Rock    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

As the title implies, Read more

Reviews (5)

Great album, with a notable exception
Overall, a wonderful comtemporary blues album, although more in the "blues light" vein than anything real down and dirty.
Give Duke a Handy Award for this one
I have several discs from this guitar musicologist but I have never seen him live until this year at Chrome in Las Vegas. What a treat. When he debuted "Sunday Mornin'" from his latest, I was hooked on this one. This disc allows the listener to sample a wide range of styles from the greats of blues, so students....a perfect contemporary primer. Start groovin'!

Duke hits on all cylinders
I remember seeing Duke play at the old Lone Star Club on 5th Avenue in Manhattan about twenty years ago. He was opening for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and it was an unforgettable night. He opened with a perfect rendition of "Honky Tonk". You could see and feel the love in his playing that night. I have been a fan of his ever since. He put out a couple of albums with his great trio, and I still own both on LP.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Contemporary Blues    3. Jazz Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. Swing    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

This career-spanning box of three CDs and a DVD celebrates a legacy that looms larger than that of any blues-rocking guitarist since Jimi Hendrix.Despite fears that a series of posthumous releases had depleted the Stevie Ray Vaughan vaults, previously unreleased gems dominate the selection. Highlights extend from Vaughan's swaggering apprenticeship with Paul Ray and the Cobras to slash-and-burn concert performances from the final month of his life. There are obligatory dips into the songbooks of Hendrix and Buddy Guy, appearances on Read more

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (62)

SOLO SEIS CUERDAS PARA ATRAPAR EL HURACAN!
TALENTO, ARROGANCIA, BELLEZA, FUERZA..LA DESCOMUNAL GUITARRA DE STEVIE SE PUEDE PALPAR EN CADA TEMA..EXCELENTE BOX QUE RECORRE TODO EL CAMINO DE ESTE VENERADO MUSICO, QUE EN MUY POCOS AÑOS DERRAMO SOBRE EL BLUES UN HALITO DE JUVENTUD Y ESPERANZA.

I guess there is profit to be had!
I'd like to be clear that the lower score has nothing to do with Stevie and the guy's five star quality playing.The lower score is the product it's self. Another essential SRV set for collectors
I own most of the SRV catalog including this set and I must say that this is a marvelous compilation but it may not be the best set to buy if you are a novice or just beginning to "get into" his work. "The Essential SRV" (2 disc set) or "Greatest Hits V-I & II" (separately packaged single discs) may be the best way to go, IMO. The 3 CD, 1 DVD boxed set is beautifully packaged and presents a lot of live cuts and previously unreleased material to fill gaps in his catalog collection but by no means represents all of his well known titles. The DVD consists of a shortened version of his "One Night In Texas" DVD and gives a fine overview of the raw talent he presented on stage. Like Hendrix, SRV belonged on stage where his work excelled. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Box Sets (Audio Only)    4. Electric Blues    5. Electric Texas Blues    6. Guitar Virtuoso    7. Modern Electric Blues    8. Modern Electric Texas Blues    9. Pop    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop    12. Texas Blues   

Editorial Review

Adelmo Fornaciari, aka Zuccero (Sugar), was born in 1955 near Reggio, Italy and grew up fascinated by American blues and R&B. Like so many of his countrymen and women, he exhibits a rare knack for fortunate and widely diverse collaborations. He has worked with Randy Jackson, Narada Michael Walden, Eric Clapton, Brian Auger, Luciano Pavarotti, the New Orleans Gospel Choir, Johnnie Johnson, Pat MacDonald of Timbuk 3, Jeff Beck, Stewart Copeland and Sting, among others. Given this background, it is thus not surprising that the present album, an international multi-million seller, is a star-studded affair guided by the motto "United in diversity, in blues we trust." More comfortable in English than most European singers, the headliner easily holds his own with a roster that includes Sheryl Crow, Macy Gray, Miles Davis, Vanessa Carlton, B.B. King, plus Sting-sponsored Algerian Rai idol Cheb Mami and Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries. From the opening, fate-haunted duet with blues legend John Lee Hooker to the closing classically-influenced, heavily orchestrated flight of fantasy sung with both Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, Zucchero keeps the hits coming. --Read more

Reviews (16)

God said, Let Zucchero be! (and there was light)
I picked up this CD, "Zucchero & Co." from the Los Angeles public library by chance, mainly because I saw names such as Sting, Pavarotti, BB King, Miles Davis and Cheb Mami etc. on it. I have remained a devout fanatic of Zucchero ever since.
Hauntingly beautiful!
Musical tastes are so different that it is hard, if not impossible, to give a definite opinion about a particular record. If you enjoy light jazzy groovy tunes with some good vocals in English, Spanish and Italian with occasional stronger percussion you will LOVE this record! The big American names accompanying the Italian artist should be a good indication of the quality of the music. Fortunately, Amazon allows us to listen to bits of every track on the CD, so one can make their own mind about it before buying.
Soothing and relaxing CD!
I heard about this CD, along with a few excerpts, on NPR, and purchased it a few weeks later. I was very touched by Zucchero's story. If American musicians from Eric Clapton to BB King are fans, I had to hear him myself.And now I am a fan, too. I love having music like this in my collection. The sounds are relaxing and engaging without being overwhelming, and the collaborations with people like Sheryl Crow, Sting, and Mile Davis have a great mix of classic and new.I love it, and I hope it eventually gets the attention that it deserves! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Int'l & World Music    2. Italian Pop    3. Italy    4. Latin Pop/Rock    5. Modern Electric Blues    6. Political Folk    7. Pop   

Editorial Review

Yes, Read more

Reviews (17)

Great CD!
I loved this CD!I've only had it for a few days and have already about worn it out.Anyone who loves the blues will more than likely love this album!Keep them coming, Mr. Seagal!

Mojo Priest
This is a surprise from Steven Seagal, who would have thought that he could produce such wonderful music. Thank-you
Bluesmaster
One of the best blues I've heard in a long time. It is very powerful and soft at the same time. It is much feeling in it. More of that kind of music, thank you.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Blues    3. Modern Electric Blues    4. Pop   

Editorial Review

Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl are among blues guitar's hottest pistols, but their first studio union is no showdown. Although Robillard is steeped in all aspects of technique and Earl is a pure "soul" player, their styles overlap in the Texas and Chicago schools, which grant both giants plenty of space for elegant and biting single-note solos, daredevil string-bending, and chugging rhythms. Robillard sings two numbers and "Mighty" Sam McClain, whose red-clay voice is the perfect foil for their emotional fretwork, guests on Earl's heartbroken epic "A Soul That's Been Abused." The real mojo, however, is in the instrumentals, where these virtuosos who emerged from the New England scene to achieve worldwide acclaim maintain a beatific dialogue. They both swing like T-Bone Walker on "Two Bones and a Pick" and trade sliding chords and slide guitar licks on "Zeb's Thing," which dips into down-home Mississippi grit. The highlight is "My Tears," on which Robillard sings sad and dirty, Earl turns sustained notes into Zen koans, and both players stretch their flair for dynamics and brilliant, unhurried, lyrical playing to its limit. Fans of blues guitar need to hear this album. Read more

Reviews (18)

T-Bone's Spiritual Sons
If you've ever liked the T-Bone Walker style, or drooled over the pure T-Bone licks that both Ronnie and Duke have graced us with over the years, "Two Bones and a Pick" is eight minutes of pure jump-blues-guitar-heaven.I can, and do listen to this for hours on end.If any two white guys have got that jump-blues-guitar-thang down, it's these two.T-Bone is grinning like a Cheshire cat.

A guitar duel with production and quality music to back it up
Unlike some artists who get together and try not to outplay each other, i.e. not show each other up, these two planned the session well ahead that allows each to show their virtousity against each other without the latter.
Royal Rhapsody
This disc combines the considerable talents of two premier guitar players within the Blues genre. The Duke (Robillard) and the (Ronnie) Earl demonstrate why they are deserving members of Blues guitar royalty. It has been well documented that this effort is not a showdown between rivals or a stage to demonstrate one-up-manship but rather two friends kicking back to jam back and forth and effectively intertwine their extensive expertise. I can only offer that this fine effort is seamless, seeming to be an overall masterpiece versus a collection of individual songs. The instrumental flow and sequencing of the songs is superb. The songs don't seem as lengthy as they are, avoiding the tediousness that sometimes befalls such efforts. Quite to the contrary, the hour plus of excellent music contained within seems to fly by leaving the listener wanting more. The two players pass the baton back and forth in an effortless manner, almost overly conscious as to not dominate the other's time. Ronnie and Duke demonstrate they are passionate craftsmen and worthy members of the upper class. Mighty Sam McClain's plaintive plea on "A Soul That's Been Abused" will only leave you wanting more. Ronnie Earl's slide guitar work on "Zeb's Thing" is also worth special mention. This is a can't miss addition to anyone's collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues-Rock    3. Contemporary Blues    4. Electric Blues    5. Guitar    6. Jazz Blues    7. Modern Electric Blues    8. Pop    9. Slide Guitar Blues    10. Soul-Blues   

Reviews (48)

Great Album
The two opening cuts are great!Deja Voodoo sold me on this album it's self.Kenny was a lot younger at this time, and you can tell he was still trying to find his identity as a picker (he found it on the Live On album IMO).
BUY IT!
You will love every song on this album.It could be a greatest hits, except I don't beleive we've seen all the greatest from Kenny...yet.He plays, you listen, pure perfection!

Change can be good
Okay everyone before you go slamming someone for making changes in their style and sound I suggest that you strap on a guitar yourself and try playing the same thing over and over and over again and try to remain enthusiastic about it..
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Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. Contemporary Blues    3. Modern Electric Blues    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Heralded as one of the greatest live blues albums ever recorded, this set catches the singer-guitarist as his star was in ascent: in 1964 playing Chicago's answer to Harlem's Apollo Theater--the Regal. King's performance is visceral. He sings so hard that gravel flies even in his clearest high notes. And his trademark single-note guitar lines are sharp and steely, matching his voice with trembling vigor. He offers early hits like "How Blue Can You Get," "Worry, Worry," and "You Upset Me Baby" to what's essentially his adopted hometown crowd (by his own account, King had already played the theater hundreds of times). They give him a hero's welcome. In fact, the audience's screaming enthusiasm is distracting. But rarely has a love-fest of this magnitude between a performer and fans been documented. --Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (41)

Regally Overrated
I can't believe the touch of B.B. King. I enjoy his playing immensely. I know this album gets buried in accolades. But I don't like it. The quality is poor and, differing from other's opinions, the crowd noise takes away from the music. B.B. said, in so many words, that Live at the Regal was far from his choice as his best recording. Typically, he said he wouldn't argue with success--and left it at that. There are so many good albums by B.B. You can't go wrong for $4.65 for the "Ultimate Collection". Sure it doesn't have them all--but it has quite a few of his great songs, including a few from Live at the Regal. I would steer clear of this selection. Or I'll send you mine for free!

You Really Have To Hate Music To Not Like This
One of the first things people notice when listening to B.B. King's Live At The Regal album is that the response of the audience is rapturous, almost like the congregation at a Pentecostal church. There's a reason for this. This is simply the natural response of anyone hearing the King of the Blues at the peak of his powers.
A Blues Timemachine
Absolutely one of the finest live albums of all times.I bought this album because it was listed as one of the top 100 guitar albums of all time in Guitar Player Magazine.You get lightning in a bottle here with BB King at the height of his powers.The audience is alive and you can feel the young woman hyperventilating and swooning to BB King's rendition of some blues classics.His voice is flawless, still velvety smooth, especially when compared with later live albums by BB King.There is the perfect mixture of BB King's introductions or setups for each tune, guitar, vocals and audience reaction.The sound is immaculate, balanced and clear. His guitar playing is efficient and his timing is perfect.It makes you wonder why more recent "live albums" lack the spontaneity and quality found in this recording.The only regret is the album is not longer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Electric Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. R&B    7. Soul-Blues    8. United States of America    9. Urban Blues   

Editorial Review

This stalwart independent label, headquartered in San Francisco, began in a small Ann Arbor club and grew into one of the most important imprints in blues. Thirty-three tunes ricochet between the potent old-school Chicago stylings of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells's classic "Hoodoo Man Blues" and Big Walter Horton'ss swinging shuffle "Put the Kettle On" to the intriguing pop-folk hybrid of Roy Rogers and Norton Buffalo and the dashing retro-nuevo guitarisms of Nick Curran & the Niteflies to the brawny Texas-schooled sounds of Omar & the Howlers and Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King. The label's Delta blues side is underrepresented, although James Cotton and Elvin Bishop offer two great flavors of cottonland grind. But what's truly perplexing is that Blind Pig's historic recordings by Luther Allison, Johnny Shines, Jimmy Rogers, Charlie Musselwhite, Boogie Woogie Red (the label's first artist), and other significant musicians are omitted, while ham-fisted blues-rockers Tommy Castro and Albert Cummings and the mediocre Deanna Bogart and Duke Tumatoe get entries. Which makes this retrospective decidedly hit-and-miss. Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Collections    3. Blues-Rock    4. Contemporary Blues    5. Harmonica Blues    6. Modern Electric Blues    7. Pop    8. Soul-Blues    9. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

The title's baloney. Sure, some of Buddy Guy's most blistering guitar playing has been captured on his '90s recordings for Silvertone, but with albums like Muddy Waters's 1964 Read more

Reviews (17)

The Master of the Blues
Buddy Guy is "The Master of the Blues." He glides his fingers over his guitar like the wind showing his expertise with every note. I've seen him once in person and he made a lifetime impression on me. Buddy's Baddest will fill you with the energetic life force of a Buddy Guy concert.

nothing succeeds like success
Buddy is loved by all, from Eric Clapton to the man on the street. Why is that? Well, he used to be great, at some point previous to 1970. I guess Clapton is deafened by history. And everyone else?, well, it's a 'fun' show, I guess. To my ears, Guy sounds out of control. His vibrato, his intonation, his timing, all grating and amateurish. I know only his fans come here, andI'll get all 'no help' votes, but maybe somebody can be saved by the truth.

The #3 bestblues guitarist?
buddy guy always seems to get third billing behind eric clapton and b.b. king, but this collection of songs is certainlyan excellent sampler of why he is always mentioned in the same breath with those other 2 lads !!!!! it is an excellent introduction to one very exciting and inventive blues guitarist (go visit his nightclub in chicago and check out all the autographed guitars on the walls)
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Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Chicago Blues    4. Electric Blues    5. Electric Chicago Blues    6. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    7. Pop   

Reviews (2)

2 Years & Only 10 Songs
Let me get this out of the way right away I have been a fan of the man since the 70's (yes that makes me old)and I run to the store the moment I hear of a new disc coming out. That said this disc is just way to short on new songs and in length. I could have done without the new versions of "Midnight Blues" and "All your Love" There was nothing wrong with the originals. As for the rest of the disc I rated it only four stars because he is leaning to much on remaking other people tunes and not enough of his own originals. I know I should be grateful that they still let him make music but coming from a guy who has released so much great music in the last 25 - 30 years this would of been a whole lot better if he had "Moore" originals. Don't get me wrong this is still a killer CD just give me more "Moore" next time, and how about touring the US of A we haven't seen you over hear since '91. The best songs on the disc are Flesh and Blood, Cut It Out, & No Reason to Cry. Thanks for the music now get back in the studio and release some more tunes. Even the non-originals are good but just way to many
Gary Moore!

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Subjects:  1. Arena Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Guitar Virtuoso    4. Hard Rock    5. Modern Electric Blues    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop