Features

• Live

Reviews (10)

Stinky Blues
I own quite a few Mayall albums over the years and I must say that this one is a stinker. The tunes are wornout and sour-pussed. Mayall is 70 going on 99. His armpits are too sweaty to play properly. Upon hearing this lame attempt at music I wondered how this old man even managed to stand up for the entire performance. My bet is that it was two or three or maybe even five nights of performances whittled down to this gunk. Sometimes I wondered if Mayall was even on the album. Just [...]

Clapton a Disappointment
Eric Clapton is either the most hard headed guitarist on the face of the planet....or he just doesn't have a clue! What a fantastic opportunity, on Mayall's 70th birthday celebration, for him to break out his Gibson Les Paul and let us hear some ofthe old guitar tones and songs from the old Bluesbreakers LP that changed the face of blues/rock guitar back in the late 60's! This CD is ok, but could have been a milestone in blues/rock history.. Any Mayall fan will know what I mean. This was a great opportunity missed.

Best live performance I have ever seen
Let's make a long story short--yes I definetely am a BIG John Mayall fan--this is the best Live Show I have ever seen- think of how complex Mayalls Music is, --more then just Jazz--Thanks for all, DR. John Mayall ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Blues-Rock    4. British Blues    5. Electric Harmonica Blues    6. Modern Electric Blues    7. Pop    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (6)

An American Treasure
What can I say? Elizabeth Cotten was one of the best guitar players of all time and almost no one knows about her.I have enormous respect for all the great guitarists from all genres of modern music and to my ears no one comes close,except maybe Mississippi John Hurt, to her fluid and gentle approach to the guitar.
Gotta love it.
Elizabeth does a wonderful job here.Don't expect a lot from the recording itself but the songs are great American History.Great background music.

Freight Train and other songs
When I first heard this CD I was astounded not just by the Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues Revival    2. Folk    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Folksongs    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Traditional Folk   

Reviews (13)

Mad about Jerry
This album is a great collection of his best songs. It reflects his earlier music and later when he worked on the sound track for Smoky and the Bandit. His soulful voice and upbeat lyrics are amazing.

SON!-SATIONAL
The so called Alabama Wild Man was a triple threat talent in the seventies, playing hotshot session guitar for everyone from Elvis (who covered both his GUITAR MAN and U.S. MALE) on down, scoring charismatic smashes of his own including the swampy ode AMOS MOSES and the catch-phrase classic WHEN YOU'RE HOT YOU'RE HOT, and serving as Burt Reynolds' motion picture makin' cronie in GATOR and SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT. THE ESSENTIAL JERRY REED is exactly what the title suggests: all the witty, gritty good ole boy antics you could ever ask for, and probably more. From the autobiographical GUITAR MAN to the introspective SMELL THE FLOWERS to the sprightly instrumental THE CLAW, Reed adroitly covers all the bases. Still, it's the novelty numbers he's best known for, and he hardly disappoints in that category. LORD, MR. FORD is one of the wittiest "car-tunes" since Chuck Berry wrote NO MONEY DOWN, while SHE GOT THE GOLDMINE (I GOT THE SHAFT) is as much fun as divorce songs get, and ANOTHER PUFF is the SMOKE, SMOKE, SMOKE THAT CIGARETTE of its era. Toss in SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT trucker favorite EAST BOUND AND DOWN, and THE BIRD, about a biped that imitates George Jones and Willie Nelson, and you've got yourself an album that's both funny AND funky. Make no mistake son, this is the BEST "best of" Jerry Reed that your dollar can buy. RATING: FOUR GUITAR PICKS
Surprisingly good--and what a picker!
Jerry Reed has good chops on the guitar, a great singing voice, and nice songs to sing. Sure it's "country," but it's more like Willie Nelson country, i.e., it cuts across musical boundaries. He sings with great personality; I like the man. A real good time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Instrumental Country    5. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    6. Pop    7. Progressive Country    8. Rockabilly    9. Session Musician    10. Traditional Country   

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Pop   

Editorial Review

The title owes to a Joni Mitchell composition, which is appropriate, as Rush has been one of Mitchell's best interpreters--his languorous, sweet version of "Urge for Going," (included here) case in point. This '60s folk classic is also notable for the haunting originals, particularly "No Regrets" (covered later by Emmylou Harris), with its matching of dark guitar lines and Rush's hushed baritone. Read more

Reviews (13)

5 Stars Ditto
Magical Lp (or CD now) -- just wonderful --- dont miss this one!

a must have.....

Nostalgic Music
I attended a small college in southern Maine in the late sixties. Some of my friends listened to this record, Circle Game (vinyl discs existed then). I remember the cold winds in the Maine woods announcing the arrival of winter. There is no song in my mind that conveys that feeling better than "Urge for Going". My other favorite from this collection of songs is "No Regrets". Tom Rush's music has such an evocative, plain elegance that always makes me think of the late 60's and all the experiences of being in the eastern U.S. during turbulent and challenging times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Folk    2. Folk    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (35)

Great Debut Proves How Disabilities Can Be Overcome
Blind guitar hero Jeff Healey's debut album, SEE THE LIGHT, is a great debut which proves that a handicap doesn't have to be a handicap. Healey's guitar work is hot, recalling Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Johnny Winter, and Billy Gibbons, and his rhythm section of bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen is one of the tightest since Double Trouble. He does a great job with the rocker "Confidence Man", and his version of "Angel Eyes" is actually better than John Hiatt's exceptional original. Unlike some blues singers, Healey knows not to overemote, making this the best white blues debut since TEXAS FLOOD.

This Album is Beyond Belief
I am 60 and have been listening to music since doowop in the 50s. Running across Jeff Healey in "Roadhouse" was a revelation. I just loved that music & recently ordered 3 JH CDS, all very good, but this is BEYOND belief. Every track is stellar. If I look with all my might for flaws, I cant find any. What a talent! Some people are handicapped, by their infirmity, not JEFF, he's unbeleivably great & this album proves it. I have nothing more to add that hasnt been said already by the other reviewers. Get this album, then you can die. Page, Clapton, Hendrix all must step aside for Jeff Healey. All Hail!

Shame OnRadio
Forget this man lays his guitar on his lap and CREATED this style of playing the electric guitar. I know of no other guitar player or have heard of one in the world who plays his electric guitar laying across his lap(If there is, please enlighten me). Forget he's blind.Forget he plays with 2 talented, underrated musicians(a bass player and a drummer - a 3 piece).Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues-Rock    3. Canada    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (10)

Straight Ahead - another gem!
Another fantastic remastering of Basie music.Anyone who really knows what Basic sounded like will find this CD most rewarding.

Basie at His Best!!!
When this album was recorded, Basie had just finished about seven years of collaborations with singers, vocal groups, and rock stars, all with varying degrees of success. His orchestra even recorded two albums of Beatle tunes. However, this album put Basie right smack dab in the middle of where he belonged, in the world of straight ahead swing (as the title so aptly discribes). All soloists are high level and very much in the style and tradition. The drumming of Harold Jones isimpeccable, and sparkling. This album has become a classic, for all of the before mentioned reasons. It is stongly recommended for all Basie fans and especially jazz ensemble directors around the world. We should all be indebted to Grover Mitchell, the lead trombone player in the band, for introducing Basie to Sammy Nestico, the composer and arranger for the date and for many others to follow. Their collaborations become the most important and significant since Basie worked with Neal Hefti from the mid-fifties to early sixties. Nestico's compositions are very substantive and his arrangements have never been better. Check out how he developes the arrangement of "It's Oh So Nice" from a four note melody. GREAT, GREAT ALBUM!!FIVE STARS!!!!!
A GREAT BAND!!
This is probably Basie's best band and Nestico the best writer/arranger he ever had. Harold Jones does some fine drumming along with some great musicians like Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Charles Fowlkes, and Freddie Green just to name a few. The Count even playes the organ on "That Warm Feeling". What you hear on this cd is just plain good music played by the best.....Count Basie. Well worth owning! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Big Band    2. Jazz    3. Jazz Music    4. Pop    5. Swing   

Editorial Review

Taj Mahal's been chasing the blues around the world for years, but rarely with the passion, energy, and clarity he brought to his first three albums. Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (8)

Great Place to Get a Taste
This collection focuses on the very early Taj Mahal and contains most of his early classics. For anyone not familiar with this artist this is a great place to start. You get a full taste of "Taj Mahal", "The Natch'l Blues" and "The Real Thing"(with the tuba band), his first 3 excellent albums, and it is obvious from these how eclectic a blues performer he is. Taj Mahal has always been one of my favorites, and he presented one of the best live shows I have ever seen. He is touring this summer so check him out if you get a chance, and delve deeply into the rest of his recorded material, particularly "Senor Blues".

What A Find!
I had heard the name, Taj Mahal over the years but never took the time to investigate his music. Then one day while listening to the radio, the song "Fishing Blues" came on and it sparked my interest. When I saw that he had this "Best Of..." collection I figured it would be a good place to start. Well,I haven't stopped playing it since I recieved it. What a find, this is great music! Every track on this cd touched me in some way. Songs like "Statesboro Blues", "Leaving Trunk", and "She Caught The Katy" are gritty, bluesy, and soulful. Taj sings with a voice that was made for the blues, and plays a mean harmonica to boot.
What a phenominal way to be introduced to Taj
This is a great collection for fans old and new. Taj has such an amazing way of approaching blues and roots music, and this is a great demonstration.Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Contemporary Blues    4. Electric Country Blues    5. Folk-Blues    6. Modern Acoustic Blues    7. Pop   

Editorial Review

Muddy Waters started out playing acoustic blues in the Delta, and it shows on this return to his roots, designed to appeal to the mid-1960s surge of interest in folk music. The back of the CD includes a photo of Waters with bassist and songwriter Willie Dixon, as well as a very young Buddy Guy, gathered around a single microphone. This particular CD reissue includes five bonus tracks, among which are "The Same Thing" and "Short Dress Woman," which take advantage of the longer CD running time. All of the other reasons to hear this one remain--Waters's strong, confident voice, the relaxed smoothness of the material, and the surprisingly clean recording, made even cleaner by the digital remastering. Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (18)

Lousy Title. Fabulous Music
This is not a folk album; it's a blues album. And it's one of the best blues albums anybody ever recorded. I have a lot of Muddy Waters' CDs, and this one makes me stop and listen to how great his voice was, how well he could tell a story, how deeply he could hook you. You get that "back porch blues" feeling, like he's there with you on a hot summer night strummin' and singin' with a couple of friends he brought along.
BLUES EN SU SIMPLE Y MAGISTRAL ESCENCIA
Este album llego a mi por simple curiosidad en el 2000. Nunca imagine que alguien pudiese juntar tal talento en sus manos y voz como lo hizo Muddy para este album. La seccion de musicos que le sirven de soporte son nada mas y nada menos que. Buddy Guy y Willie Dixon. No hay palabras que puedan describir la magia que emanan de estas grabaciones, tan solo blues en su mas puro estado... es como trasladarse al delta de los 1930. Sonido puro y llanamente acustico con un entramado de guitarras magistral entre Muddy y Buddy Guy que sirven de fondo a la ya famosa interpretacion vocal de Muddy y eso sin contar con el solido sonido de Willie Dixon al bajo. Recuerdo que en una vieja revista de blues apuntaba sobre la existencia de este disco como una muestra de musica folk interpretada por quien se supone fue, es y sera la mejor voz y guitarra del blues americano... pero aqui no hay nada de folk, es blues delta en su estado mas primitivo. Maravilloso y dotado de una sencillez total que asombran por el resultado; PURA MAGIA. Se agregan una serie de bonus tracks que no deslucen del contenido inicial de la edicion original...pero los temas grabados en acustico son y seran la parte central de esta obra unica en su genero. Las fotografias que se incluyen en el inserto y enla propia caja del cd demuestran por su elegancia el disfrute de tres maestros del blues que nunca imaginaron que al juntarse para esta sencilla grabacion, crearian una de las mejores muestras del espiritu del blues delta. El album recoje algunos de los temas mas interesantes de la discografia del Mudddy;
Not Only Muddy, also a Great Buddy Guy and Willie Dixon Album
As the other reviewers have already clearly said, this is one of the 25? 10? 5? 3? greatest Albums of all time. I never tire of hearing it and the extension tracksa are nicely chosen. If you like the blues just a little, you'll be happy you bought this.
Read more

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

Reviews (11)

SOUNDS like SRV, doesn't PLAY like him
Some folks have claimed Jimmy sounds just like SRV. Maybe so. This very listenable blues set may have the SRV "sound" but Jimmy just does not have SRV's chops. Hell, who does? All-in-all this is a very average output; pretty good but nothing special.

Disappointed
I had heard that this was a great CD.Unfortunatly I do not find it that great.If you want great blues guitar check out Tab Benoit, Joe Bonamassa, or Nuno Mindelis.

Jimmy's Best
This CD rates as Jimmy D. Lane's best effort to date.Stevie's band Double Trouble brind out the best in Jimmy.The playing is tight and Lane's voice has never sounded better.The sound definetly has a SRV feel to it, but without sounding like a tribute CD to him (my biggest pet peeve with contempory blues guitarist).If your a fan of blues rock this one is worth spending a few $'s on. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Unless you’re a serious student of classic soul music, the name Bettye LaVette might not mean much. Smarten up. On her first domestic album in more than 20 years, the middle-aged singer with Detroit roots offers a strong, raspy, go-for-broke vocal style that locks onto lyrics by original Robert Cray producer Dennis Walker like a death grip. Indeed, the highly emotional tone in her voice taps deep reservoirs of experience. Savor, in particular, the love-gone-cold ballad "Thru the Winter" and a tuneful manifesto for strong women titled "Close as I’ll Get to Heaven. Unfortunately, some of the songs run a bit long, with padded arrangements and blowzy, overbalanced playing from a few of the West Coast studio players (but not her faithful keyboardist Rudy Robinson). LaVette’s outlay of emotion just may be too rough and demonstrative for some listeners, but it's their loss. Read more

Reviews (7)

Betty LaVette is all that and a bag of chips.
I was lloking at Blues Divas, and heard this little bitty women rocking, "It serves him right". I had never heard of her, but am glad that I tuned in to hear her blow. You don't hear voices like hers anymore. We continue to hear what I call the screaming me mes, Mariah, Janet, etc. This wpman can truly sing. If you have never heard this songstress sing, you haven't heard the blues. If you are feeling low, she will make you feel that she understands your pain. Give a sister a listen as this sister can truly sing. Yea.

Best Yet.For Bettye Lavette
This is this best recorded work yet by this veteran artist.Check out the track "Thru the Winter". This gives me goose bumps every time I hear it Most of the songs on the CD were written especially for Bettye by the producer Dennis Walker and they are a perfect fit This album simply oozes SOUL and. I'm so happy that after almost 40 years of recording Bettye is finally getting the recognition she deserves.

Soulful Blues
If you like to listen to blues with lost of electric guitar and a woman with a beautiful soulful voice singing the lyrics. Then you'll probably rate this album 5 stars. Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues Music    3. Pop    4. R&B   

Features

• Extra tracks
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (15)

Rory's Finest Hour
I had never heard of Rory until a bandmate of mine turned me on to this album (thanks Ken Smith). We played it until it wore out and then bought another copy. The band ended up doing 5 songs of this particular LP and we went to see him play at the Colonial Tavern in Toronto, Canada. We went on a Monday night and were so impressed that we went back for the rest of the week. Each night, the buzz got bigger and the audience was at full capacity by Thursday night. He and the band were on fire and we were knocked out. I consider this album to be his best live work and is on par with other "better selling" live works (Humble Pie/Fillmore, Allmans/Fillmore, Muddy Waters/Newport and so on). I've been a fan of Rory's ever since that cold Monday in Toronto back in '75 and on a recent trip to Ireland, I stopped by his gravesite to pay homage and respect to a musician's musician. Live on Rory!

Proof positive of the incredible musical genius of Rory Gallagher
Of the many inanities on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest guitarists that came out with great fanfare a few years ago, the most absurd is this:Rory Gallagher did not make the list.One can argue about where various guitarists should have been placed, but around 65 of the guitarists on the list truly belonged there.But 90 or 95 of the ones on the list must cringe with embarrassment that they were ranked above Rory Gallagher.There is simply no way that one can listen at any length to Rory play one scintillating solo after another and place him outside the top ten guitarists in the history of rock.Yeah, he was never terribly popular and even now is not especially well known to the public at large, but the fact is that he had utter mastery over his primary instrument.And unlike most guitarists, Gallagher was a multi instrumentalist.It is widely reported that when Mick Taylor left the Rolling Stones, the first choice to replace him was Gallagher.It is easy to see why.He was even more of a blues purist than any of the remaining Stones, was a better slide player than Keith Richards, Brian Jones, or Mick Taylor, would have provided far better back up vocals than anyone ever has for the band, would have brought some of the same multi-instrumental mastery that Brian Jones contributed in the sixties, and just generally would have forced everyone else in the band to get better just to keep up.
Rory Gallagher:Live In Europe
For my money, Live In Europe is a lot better than Irish Tour '74.Irish Tour is all electric, played fast and loud, which gets monotonous; also, it consists almost entirely of Rory's own songs.Live In Europe varies the tempo a lot better, and it includes a lot of old blues standards mixed in with his originals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues Music    2. Blues-Rock    3. British Blues    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (2)

This has all of Maria's best songs.
I bought this as a gift for my husband. He is very pleased with the CD, good sound and good content. Most if not all of Maria's most famous songs are on the CD. The only criticism would be that the CD jewel case was quite cheap, and it was especially difficult to remove the CD. He just put the CD in one of my clear jewel cases and works fine now.

Superb overview of her distinguished career
If all you know by Maria is Midnight at the Oasis or if all you have is an album or two, you're in for a treat. This collection collects the cream of her long career and puts it in one package. If you've ever seen her perform live, then you'll know many of these songs, because these are the ones that form the core of her stage act. If you're a fan of the blues, gospel, soul, and country--not to mention straight-up pop--you will love Maria Muldaur, and this CD is the perfect introduction. Get it while you can! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Folk-Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

This 1971 collaboration between primal one-part-Delta/one-part-Detroit singer-guitarist John Lee Hooker and Southern California blues revivalists Canned Heat works in large part because all parties involved are a little off. Hooker, the most unsystematic of the major bluesmen of his generation, isn't a good fit for disciplined players; rather, he requires sidemen who play by feel. In harp player-guitarist Alan Wilson, the Crawling King Snake found a particularly sympathetic foil; sadly, Wilson died shortly after these sessions were completed. Roughly divided into spare, gritty Delta exercises and full-on boogie stomps featuring the full band, Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (12)

A seminal blues album and John Lee's best........
I wore a hole in this vinyl record simply because it was definitive blues at its best.
Hooker n' Heat Boogies, but isn't perfect
Hooker n' Heat is a great collaboration between white blues players and the Hook (in my opinion, the best blues singer of all time).The recording is raw, stripped down and meaty.Reverb wasn't even added to John Lee's vocals or most of the instruments for that matter, which makes me think of After the Goldrush by Neil Young, also a profoundly stripped down record made the same year.Because of its simplicity, this album sounds very different than the Hook's famous late 50's, early 60's work.
This is too intense...
When I first heard it, "Hooker and Heat" blew me away.It still does.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    14. V/a Compilations   

Reviews (1)

Essential American folk music from a wonderful artist
Thank you, Smithsonian Folkways, for reissuing this terrific album!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Appalachian Folk    2. Blues Revival    3. Folk    4. Folk & Traditional    5. Folk Revival    6. Pop    7. Traditional Folk   

Editorial Review

Karen Dalton was one of the ultimate free spirits. Arriving in New York from her native Oklahoma in 1960, she immediately became a part of the rising folk scene there, a hippie before they had a name, someone who lived life completely on her own terms. She was also, as this records shows, a superbly talented singer, eerily reminiscent of Billie Holliday. The only problem was that she disliked performing, and, in fact, had to be coaxed to make this album in the late '60s. Fortunately, the recording went very smoothly, with most of the vocals being first takes. Dalton (who died in the early '90s) had a natural feel for the blues. She could take songs by her contemporaries, even old folk songs, and find the blues inherent in them. It remains a mystery, really, why a record this good was lost among the releases of the time; its power might have been simple, but it was undeniable. Dalton did record again, making one other album. Now that we have the joy of Read more

Reviews (17)

Excellent service
Great - this CD was not available in the UK - swift delivery from the US - well done! Thanks

this woman...she is WOMAN
karen dalton is one of my favorite woman singers.her soulful voice is reminiscent of billie holiday, and her words are true.everyone can understand her perspective, and she will make you cry or smile or both.she is one of those musicians who didn't want the attention--she made this music because she had to.she knew dylan, but she stayed behind the fame she could have easily taken. if you want a new album to make you really happy that music exists, here it is....

Karen Dalton's other album
Her best album was "In My Own Time" released around 1968 by Paramount. The cassette was PAC-6008. It was produced by Harvey Brooks and recorded at Bearsville and Mercury sound studios. The tracks were:
Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Folk & Traditional    3. Folk Revival    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Traditional Folk   

Reviews (4)

Dynamic duo!
An excellent collaboration between two heavyweights. Let me begin by saying that I own virtually everything Tommy has put out; I also own GBV greatest hits, and have heard many of their cd's. Tommy's guitar work shines, and although I would normally prefer his voice to Bob's; this effort really shines. The songs seem so cohesive; as if these 2 had sat down together many a time. Surprisingly, I prefer this cd over Tommy's latest 2 offerings, which although decent, don't impress as much as his previous catalog. I hope to see these two together again; one of the best of 2006 so far.

Gibson Guitars!
I'm sorry, but "Blues and Boogie Shoes" is NOT better than "From a Compound Eye."A couple reviews suggest otherwise, but I beg to differ."FaCE" has immediacy, catchy off the bat from start to finish, whereas "B&BS" takes at least a couple cracks before it hooks you.Granted, I couldn't help spinning side two a few times, especially from the acoustic "That's the Way"-ish instrumental, "The Camouflaged Friend," on through the end, and the last two tracks might be the strongest on the record, but side one didn't quite do it for me, a comparative weak intro.Oh well, I'm not complaining.Unlike 2004's "Fiction Man," which I'm still a little remorseful over, "B&BS" isn't just for Robert Pollard die-hards.Tommy Keene's a breath of fresh air for those who need a break from Todd Tobias as Bob's sidekick, i.e. those unimpressed w/ "FaCE."The liner contains a cool picture---the two w/ their respective guns, an SG and a Les Paul---from the same shoot as the cover photo.

An exciting team
I do not know the collaborative process between Pollard and Keene, but I love the results.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Pop    3. Rock   

Editorial Review

Ry Cooder has long had an interest in other people's music, from the blues and gospel of black America through classic jazz and the music of Cuba. Even by this standard, his meeting with Mohan Vishwa Bhatt is certainly a departure. He is neither a serious student of Indian music nor in any way a master of its intricacies. Yet on his improvised session (this album was recorded without rehearsal in one evening), he and Bhatt truly collided musically and created moments worthy of the world-music Grammy they received for it. Bhatt is an iconoclastic character himself. He plays a modified box he calls the mohan vina that is a hybrid of a classical Indian instrument and slide guitar. He is long trained in the arduous classical style, yet his work has always demanded a lot of freedom. His duets here with Cooder are completely unique, liberating both artists from the usual constraints and creating a new musical style that is unlikely to be repeated or imitated. Read more

Reviews (23)

Do your ears a favor! Get this one!
if you;re anyway involved with slide guitar playing, then get this one. cos it's one of the most outstanding slide-blues-fusion albums ever made. even if you have never heard indian music, it'll still grown on you, pretty soon. VM Bhatt is a master at his music & his instrument. And Ry Cooder is no less. i love both these guys' playing. But be warned that this is a VM Bhatt album featuring Ry cooder and not the otherway round. So apart from the fact that Ry's playing is always minimalistic, there's pretty little of Ry's sound on this album. But it still manages to keep me riveted for some reason. but his blues licks are so well timed and phrased, there's no words to describe what he does. and the chords he uses to accompany VM Bhatts passages, are so colorful. and for the real hardcore blues fans theres atleast one tune ' ganges delta blues' . man it's just awesome, with all the precussion and stuff. it amazing. i got more than i expected.

In the true spirit of confluence
The album truly encompasses the spirit of the confluence, of different worlds, different music, different thoughts, united in harmony, in the cool shade of the banks of the ganges.
Cooder aint up to par...
Its a good cd, if you like the music. It may not be what you are used to. Listen to the audio clips. Nice slide guitar playing. Personally, i think Ry Cooder gets killed on this one, the blues licks just seem a little crude and basic compared to V.M. Bhatts licks...granted, he's more used to the style of music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Ethnic Fusion    3. Modern Delta Blues    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Slide Guitar Blues    9. Worldbeat   

Reviews (3)

an amazing talent
After hearing a sample of Free as a Bird, I was instantly drawn in and extemely impressed. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this cd. Omar's music is beautiful, romantic, and brings a sense of peace and calm. It's music that you can't get tired of. I highly recommend it to all music lovers.

Dreamy, Romantic, Exotic
I sampled omar free as a bird album and i bought it instantly, the music is so much dreamy , the piano sound seems like he is playing in front of me and its flawless, my favourite tracks are all of them,now im listening to beauty unveiled, all i can say is wow,it takes you to a different world, i cant skip any,its that good, if you are a fan of yanni, chris spheeris buy this album, cant wait for his next album, keep it up Omar.

leavingYANNIto dust!!!!!
First time i heard omar's music,i was captivated and moved!!!.This is a must have CD for all music lovers.His powerfull melodies and elegant music is incredible. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Contemporary Instrumental    3. New Age / Meditation    4. Pop    5. Smooth Jazz   

Editorial Review

This is the infamous "somebody-put-something-in-the-Waters" LP from 1968. A relative hit for Chess, it features the exalted bluesman bellowing over psychedelicized arrangements that owe more to Steppenwolf than Willie Dixon. Waters himself complained that the drums were too busy and the lead guitar sounded like a cat's meow. Not a bad critique. Read more

Reviews (31)

If you like Electric Mud, watch the film!
It's funny how when it comes to the products that Amazon sells, company reviewers just happen to always write glowing reviews -except in this case. Here, Steven Stolder really picked the wrong recording to knock. "Electric Mud" isn't for everybody, but it's great for what it is. It sounds like the spirit of Jimi Hendrix possessed Muddy Waters for a session at Chess Records. This important album turned new generations of listeners onto the Blues. If you dig this album, then you must watch "Godfathers and Sons," a film which is the fifth disc in Martin Scorsese's "The Blues: A Musical Journey." In this documentary, Marshall Chess (the producer for "Electric Mud") explains the history of the project to none other than Chuck D.Furthermore, the film captures the reunion of the Electric Mud band with the addition of a DJ and rapper. If you've been able to put aside the negative reviews and find a place in your heart for "Electric Mud," the film is essential. As for me, I picked the disc up after watching the film. I am happy that the film turned me onto such a unique recording.

Dylan Blew Off the Folk Purists, Muddy Blew Off the Blues Purists
I bought this LP a year or two after it came out, and to my Hendrix/Cream/Page 'energized' ears, Muddy Waters never sounded better!
WHERE IS THE CAT?
I bought this lp in 1968,(for $1.77) It was in the bargain bins at JC PENNY. I was 14, and this was my introduction to muddy.OK I am very happy they released this on cd. It brings back a lot of fond memories. A lot of people slammed this album but I think it rocks. The sound quality of the cd is very good, but they edited out the cat screaming at the start of "tom cat" Anyway dont expect a traditional muddy waters album, but this is a lot of fun with the fuzz guitar, and driving drums. Now maybe they will release "after the rain" marshall chess's other cadet concept muddy waters album. ... Read more

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