Editorial Review

This Columbia Legacy reissue of the 1965 release is one of the few recordings available of one of the blues' founding fathers. It contains some of his best songs, which have unsurprisingly become classics of the Delta blues genre: "Death Letter," "Preachin' Blues," "Levee Camp Moan," "Pony Blues," and "Downhearted Blues" are all here. Though not as comprehensive as Read more

Reviews (14)

Mississipi blues by the master
When the Mississippi blues giant, Eddie 'Son' House was rediscovered in 1964 he was 62 years old and had given up music some 16 years previously. Practice soon restored much of his original mastery and he was signed up the following year by John Hammond for a Columbia Records session. The LP that emerged comprised the first nine of these tracks, and represented a powerful come-back, with stand-out numbers 'Death Letter', 'Empire State Express', and 'Levee Camp Moan', as well as the unaccompanied 'John The Revelator'.
Review of this CD by a non-Blues-fan.
I say I'm not a Blues fan because I'm not. I don't consider myself a fan of any particular style or genre of music because the overwhelming majority of artists representing the different genres are, in my opinion, totally dispensable and not at all interesting or compelling. I pick and choose like a connissuer among all of the artists the music world has and has had to offer.
This Is The BLUES!!!
When you listen to this you feel like you have been transported to the Mississippi Delta.So many great songs and Death Letter gets it started perfectly.Everytime I hear Louise Mcgee I can almost picture Son riding in a box car down a lonely railroad track in the dead of night with his guitar pining for Louise.That may sound corny but that just gives you an idea of how powerful these songs are.John the Revelator, Levee Camp Moan, Sundown, Pony Blues are also great.Hell, there all great.If you are just getting into the blues, specifically the delta blues you have to have this.This and Robert Johnsons King of the Delta Blues Singers vol.1 & 2(I say these volumes because I think the sound quality is superior on these two as compared to the set)is mandatory. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Unlike many men, Alligator Records never forgets an anniversary. "The country's largest contemporary blues label," as it rightly bills itself, has released multidisc compilations celebrating its 20th, 25th, 30th, and now 35th years. For reasons that aren't entirely clear, only tracks recorded for an artist's first Alligator disc are chosen for this chronologically presented summary of music that stretches from Hound Dog Taylor's electrifying 1971 label debut to Mavis Staples's in 2004. Although the imprint made a tentative stab at reggae in the mid '80s, its roster generally upholds the "genuine houserocking music" credo Alligator has boasted as a tagline since the early days. Whether reviving the careers of blues rockers (Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, Lonnie Mack, Elvin Bishop) or ageing icons with plenty of gas left in their tanks (Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Katie Webster, Mavis Staples, James Cotton, Guitar Shorty) or finding new blood to carry on the traditions (Michael Burks, Corey Harris, Dave Hole, Tinsley Ellis, Shemekia Copeland), Alligator sets the standard for what an independent label can achieve. These 35 nuggets extracted from a catalog of 225 albums only begin to tell the label's story, but there's not a weak one in the lot. Founder Bruce Iglauer's intriguing and insightful liner notes for each act add depth to the tunes, making Read more

Reviews (3)

Genuine Soul Rockin' Music
Even though this package only compiles material from Alligator Records, you probably won't find a more fascinating tour through the history of the Blues over the last 35 years. Of course, Alligator has a knack for signing up the most interesting Blues maestros. This compilation shows the development of cutting-edge Blues over the namesake era, ever since Alligator's inaugural release with Hound Dog Taylor in 1971. During much of this era, the Blues was still progressing, before settling into the respectful revivalism of recent years. In the 70s, Alligator was at the forefront with new artists who added flavor to tried-and-true styles, like the sinister Son Seals or the groovy Lonnie Brooks. Also during that decade, Alligator brought several veteran masters back into prominence, with powerful new material by the likes of Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, and Professor Longhair (noteworthy for his authoritative New Orleans style). As this compilation rumbles along, we hear a surprising amount of experimentation and progression in the 1980s, as interesting new artists expanded the basic template of the Blues, including some great finds like Lil' Mo & the Blues Imperials and Little Charlie & the Nightcats. The songs here from the 90s and 00s show that even the genius artists at Alligator followed the trend in Blues to solidify the classic template, with technical chops becoming more important than innovation - notwithstanding intriguing gospel-inflected works from the Holmes Brothers and the queenly Mavis Staples. But thanks to the impeccable expertise and taste exercised by Alligator when signing masters both new and old, this compilation is a must for any fan or historian of modern Blues. [~doomsdayer520~]

A great range of great artists
This double-CD set has great artists, great selections from the artists, and a killer set of liner packaging.You get some choice information and showings by legendary cats as well as non-household names, with explanations as to why they were great (as if the music wasn't doing that job already).And at the price, you can't beat the value.

A great collection for anyone
If you're just getting into contemporary blues or you've been listening for awhile, you're going to love this collection.Alligator has been one of the class acts of the indie labels for a long time and these discs give you an idea why they are so well thought of.35 artists doing the first track from their first Alligator release.Marica Ball, Coco Montoya, Lonnie Mack, Johnny Winter, William Clarke and the list goes on with not a weak cut in the carload.These type of samplers are great if you're just getting into this type of music since you do get a wide selection of artists and styles.Alligator has released double disc anniversary sets in honor of yeas 20, 25, 30 and now, 35.They're all great to listen to, so grab one or all of them and have yourself a party with genuine houserocking music from people who know how to do it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues    3. Blues Collections    4. Blues-Rock    5. Contemporary Blues    6. Electric Chicago Blues    7. Electric Harmonica Blues    8. Electric Texas Blues    9. Harmonica Blues    10. Modern Acoustic Blues    11. Modern Electric Blues    12. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    13. Modern Electric Texas Blues    14. New Orleans Blues    15. Piano Blues    16. Pop    17. R&B    18. Slide Guitar Blues    19. Soul-Blues    20. Swamp Blues   

Editorial Review

Released after Vaughan's death in a 1990 helicopter accident, Read more

Reviews (41)

The Sky is Falling
Music triggers memories for me and this disk brought back some wonderful memories about where my life was at that time.

My Favorite Stevie Ray Album
I love all of Stevie Ray Vaughan's music, but this album is my personal favorite. Maybe it's because he really shows his blues roots here more than on any previous album. All of the cuts on this album are great, but if I had to pick my favorites it would probably be "Wham!", "Boot Hill" and "Life By The Drop" for my top 3. Stevie's guitar playing is amazing as always and listening to this album (which was released after his death) only makes it more agonizing to think how much more great music this man could have put out if he were still alive. As far as I'm concerned, Stevie is right up there with Jimi Hendrix as the best rock/blues guitarist of all time. I remember reading an issue of a guitar magazine that showed results for people's votes on the greatest (rock/blues) guitarists of all time. Stevie was all the way down at number 13 and if that isn't bad enough Kurt Cobain was higher than Stevie at number 11! Saying that Kurt Cobain was a better guitar player than Stevie Ray Vaughan is like saying that Kenny G is a better saxophone player than Charlie Parker! Give me a break!

Lovingly Produced Tribute
All these years later, this is still a difficult disc to listen to.Read the liner notes, which include comments by Stevie's brother Jimmy, Double Trouble bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton - as well as Stevie himself.In sum, these comments and other historical tidbits provided by Dan Forte make for a poignent backdrop to these excellent outtakes.The tunes work just fine as an album, pointing towards Stevie's own inspirations, including Elmore James, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters and Lonnie Mack.
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. Popular Music    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Texas Blues   

Editorial Review

Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (20)

Not a bad song on here
A lot of Albert King's stuff has been turned into dull blues-rock cliches, but you can't blame him for that.This album is an incredibly satisfying experience.The songs are all well-written and arranged perfectly.Albert King may not have been the most versatile guitarist, but his playing always sounds good and he knew what to play and when to play it.Crosscut Saw and Personal Manager have two of the greatest guitar solos I've ever heard (I also like Albert's habit of saying things like "Watch this", "heads up", and "Woo!" during his solos).The Hunter is catchy like the flu.I Almost Lost My Mind is one of the prettiest blues songs you'll ever hear.If you like blues you will love this album.

Albert King: Born Under a Bad Sign
A great introduction to Albert King, this is a collection of Stax hits for release on the radio, so all the tracks are short, not much stretching out!I am a blues guitar player who is having a ball learning these songs.This great bluesman had a unique style that influenced Clapton and SRV.I didn't care for tracks #'s 7, 10, 11.I highly recommend this CD!

Excellent, though tracks are very short
Albert absolutely wails on both guitar and vocals. Not a single moment is wasted, though the opportunity to waste moments isn't really allowed. The album, especially Albert's playing, is truly breathtaking and thus the only complaint is, as another reviewer said, that they fade the tracks out right when it sounds like Albert is heating up. Still, this album is very highly recommended and it's influence on rockers/blues-rockers can be heard more clearly than that of nearly any other blues album. If you are familiar with Cream's seminal Disraeli Gears, then you will especially enjoy this, as Clapton's work on that album is heavily inspired by this album. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

While it didn't do for Louisiana music what the film Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (19)

One Of The Best
We loved the movie and discovered the sound track. As a New Orleans regular this CD just adds to the mood when we are back home. I predict you'all will jus' love it.

the best single disc intro to the music of new orleans
the keyword here is single disc.the whole album clocks in just under 47 minutes.don't know why, but back then the standard running time for a cd is about 45 minutes, so that's at least 20 some odd minutes worth of music they could have put into this cd.of course, at additional right fee.perhaps that was why we couldn't tap into the music of new orleans a little deeper.
Fabulous!
I have seen this movie several times over the years and it never fails to delight me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Cajun    3. Film Music    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Soundtrack    7. Soundtracks    8. Soundtracks & Film Scores    9. Traditional Cajun    10. Zydeco   

Reviews (15)

Great Seasonal Album
This is one of the most impressive period albums I own.Wonderful for the holiday season.Will miss it during the rest of the year.

The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard
A fluid and seamless piece of heaven that transcends all classical and holiday music. This is an OUTSTANDING non-traditional Holiday CD!!!Many voices come together as one in these enchanting verses sung in languages other than English. It is just enough language mix to appease and intrigue the soul but not too much so that the listener does not understand the lyrics.For example, the English verse is sung then a verse in German and then back to English.Emmanuel is written this way.Other languages include French (Angels we Have Heard on High) and even Catalan which is a dialect of Spain. Beautiful and Precise
When I was a kid, we used to listen to this album every Christmas (on vinyl).We often contrasted it with a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas album we also had, the Mormons good for rousing anthems, Robert Shaw for more intimate and moving and, I think, more beautiful evocations of the Spirit of Christmas.Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Christmas    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Christmas Music    5. Classical    6. Easy Pop    7. Holiday    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Piano Blues    12. Sacred Choral Music    13. Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo)    14. Vocal    15. Xmas Classical Vocal   

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   

Editorial Review

Mississippi John Hurt recorded 13 country-blues songs for the Okeh Electric Records company in 1928. Then he vanished. Actually, he never went anywhere. Indeed, he never strayed from his hometown of Avalon, Mississippi. He simply put the guitar down. It was the Great Depression, times were tough, money was scarce, and he needed to work. Nearly 30 years later, a blues enthusiast tracked him down, took him back to Washington, D.C., and suddenly Mississippi John's musical career resumed as quickly as it had finished. He recorded again, but these first songs from the late 1920s--with John's melancholy voice and hypnotic guitar playing at its most inspired--are his greatest musical accomplishments. Read more

Reviews (26)

Mellifluous early blues recordings!
Mississippi John Hurt recorded only 13 songs before returning to a life of obscurity and hard work on a farm.Of these 13 songs recorded in 1928, 11 were penned by John Hurt with the other two being traditional spiritual numbers ("Blessed be the name" and "Praying on the old camp ground").The recording quality of these Okeh recordings is simply fantastic, and have the best recording quality I have heard from this era.A little hiss is heard (very little) and not much else.
Avalon Blues; Complete 1928 okeh recordings
If you like to hear Mississippi John Hurt, this is a very good
sweet sweet blues
This is simply the smoothest blues i've ever heard. His incredibly fluid and smooth playing style is like a steady flow of water. Im also amazed at how one man could create such a sound with a guitar and sing at the same time. This music is also incredibly happy sounding for blues, the lyrics are rather sad, but the pretty way he sings them makes it very sweet sounding. This music reminds me less of the old delta blues (even though thats what it is) but sounds more like music from the hills, almost as if there is a folky feel to it. This is definately a great addition to anybodies blues collection, and i thoroughly suggest anybody who is interested in the blues to check this out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Blues    3. Blues Music    4. Blues Revival    5. Blues Traditional    6. Country Blues    7. Delta Blues    8. Pop    9. Prewar Blues    10. Prewar Country Blues    11. United States of America   

Reviews (2)

More of the songs that got our parents through the war years
Agreed, this second volume of "Songs That Got Us Through WW2" is not as strong as the first effort.However this one does have the virtue of featuring the world's most popular song of the war, namely the German version of "Lili Marlene" by Marlene Dietrich.Again, the mix is of songs that actually referenced the war, such as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Ration Blues" and "When My Man Comes Home," as well as those that came to have deeper meanings for the greatest generation.On this album that means catchy songs like "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" and "Mairzy Doats."Even if most of these songs are new to your ears you will certainly find this collection representative of the times, especially if you pick up both albums.Besides, if you have never heard Jo Stafford sing, this is your chance to be introduced to one of the best singers of her generation who has pretty much been forgotten these days.

Heavens to Betsy
Another great collection to follow up on volume one, although this doesn�t quite measure up to the first. However, owning this second volume is a necessity to complement the first volume! Read more

Subjects:  1. 40's    2. Ballads    3. Big Band    4. Classic Female Blues    5. East Coast Blues    6. Easy Listening    7. Harmony Vocal Group    8. Jazz    9. Jump Blues    10. Pop    11. Popular Music    12. Standards    13. Swing    14. Torch Songs    15. Traditional Pop    16. Vocal Collections    17. Vocal Jazz    18. Vocal Pop   

Reviews (12)

The quintessential Christmas recording
This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise.Who am I to dispute that?The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.
A Top List Christmas CD
I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year.It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection.The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements.Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best
I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers.I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony.This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite.The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control.Buy and enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Christmas    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Christmas Music    5. Classical    6. Easy Pop    7. Miscellaneous    8. Miscellaneous Music    9. Piano Blues    10. Sacred Choral Music    11. Texas Blues    12. Xmas Classical Vocal   

Editorial Review

This impressive--and frankly, fun--musical document is still sending out shock waves almost 50 years after its original 1952 vinyl release. The Smithsonian's six-CD reissue is painstakingly researched, annotated, and packaged (even boasting an enhanced disc for the techno-capable). Unlike field recorders, eccentric filmmaker/collector/musicologist Harry Smith assembled the Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (25)

The grandfather of the reissue records
This collection led to the "re-discovery" of many artistswho had dissapeared after when the depression crippled the recording industry. Mississippi John Hurt is probably the most famous as of now, but others, like Clarence Ashley were major finds at the time - and when Folkways sent a field crew to do a new record by Ashley he requested some assist from a young friend named Doc Watson. Watson was unknown outside his home town at the time but went on to become a major star in a field which has very few stars.
Necessary.
I dont think there is a need to go into to much detail about this *6 CD* set.If you can fork over the cash, just buy it. If you have any interest in roots music, just buy it. If you thought ol' Bobby Dylan and the Band made some great weird music in the basement of big pink in '67 .. for the love of god, BUY THIS!strange, unadorned, raw music , just buy it.

Essential
Much ink & many electrons have been devoted to explaining both Harry Smith (and a lot of explanation is necessary -- very interesting man) and this wonderful collection of recordings from the 1920's and 30's, so I won't go into too much detail here.If you'd like a good treatise on the work itself as a cultural object, and how it relates to other thematically similar items, I would reccomend Griel Marcus' book Invisible Republic.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustic Blues    2. Acoustic Memphis Blues    3. Acoustic Texas Blues    4. Appalachian Folk    5. Blues Revival    6. Country Blues    7. Cowboy    8. Field Recordings    9. Folk    10. Folk & Traditional    11. Folk Collections    12. Folk-Rock    13. Folksongs    14. Gospel Choir    15. Jug Band    16. Old-Timey    17. Piedmont Blues    18. Pop    19. Prewar Country Blues    20. Prewar Gospel Blues   

Editorial Review

In the history of recorded blues and spirituals, there is no greater singer and songwriter than Blind Willie Johnson. With a vocal delivery ranging from raw rage to tenderness wedded to his talking guitar, Blind Willie's recordings are as powerful today as when he made them, from 1927 to 1930. Listen to monuments "Motherless Children Have a Hard Time," "I Just Can't Keep from Crying," "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine," and the otherworldly "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground," and try to find equally visceral conviction any other place or time. His "If I Had My Way I'd Tear The Building Down" which got him arrested when Blind Willie unknowingly sang it in front of a U.S. government building in Dallas, became a '60s icon. Years later, he caught pneumonia, but when treatment was sought, he was told the hospital did not treat blind people, so he returned home and died. Read more

Reviews (29)

Most Excellent, But . . .
First of all, I now know who Bob Dylan's been trying to sound like for the past 10 years!Now back to Blind Willie: This double CD set is excellent and I give 5 stars to Willie and his songs and the way he pulls them off.His phrasing and his guitar playing is outstanding, but the overall recorded sound quality is horrible.Yes I know, these songs were recorded around the 20's so I wasn't expecting a surround sound experience by any means.I own a number of CD's by early blues players, all recorded around the same era and I must admit that nearly all of those were cleaned up to a great degree with an enhanced sound quality before being released.I wish they would have done the same with this.The hissing and scratching and static becomes nerve racking after awhile.It sounds like they took an old "78", played it and recorded it by holding a hand-held mic in front of the speakers.What a shame to have such great songs by such a great artist take a back seat to the static and hissing of an unrefined sound.However, after saying that, I'd still purchase the CD again if got damaged.The Blind Willie experience is priceless.

makes me want to go to church
well, not really, but if blind willie johnson was preaching, i'd be there. this man had such unbelievable depth in his music, the first time i heard "soul of a man" i listening to it 15 times in a row! i just couldn't believe what i was hearing, such conviction and emotion. if everyone listened to his complete recordings the world would be a better, more beautiful place. i can't fail to mention the unknown female vocalist who adds extra depth to some of his most profound pieces.

Unbelievably beautiful
Every fan of slide guitar, or the blues, or old-time gospel, should own this. At times I wonder why people think of Robert Johnson as the greatest of his generation; Blind Willie wouldn't have considered himself a blues singer but he was a greater composer, guitarist, and singer. He was simply amazing. The world is poorer for his tragic loss. ... Read more

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

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (25)

A great soundtrack with noticable omissions
La Bamba (1987.) The soundtrack to the Ritchie Valens biopic of the same name.
OLDE REVIEW.La Bamba
Sound track other than the primary cut, LaBamba .Did not seem the same as the movie.Would not recommened the sound track.Was purchased as a gift.

Yo no soy marinero.
This is a solid soundtrack.Los Lobos do a good job of duplicating Ritchie Valens' old songs (although there was no accordion on the original versions).The other cover songs, by Howard Huntsberry, Marshall Crenshaw and Brian Setzer, are also well done.Bo Diddley does a great remake of his classic "Who Do You Love".The last two songs by Los Lobos are not Ritchie Valens songs, but they are okay.If you liked the movie, you will probably like the soundtrack, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 80's    2. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Americana    4. College Rock    5. Electric Chicago Blues    6. Heartland Rock    7. New Wave    8. Pop    9. Rock & Roll    10. Rockabilly Revival    11. Roots Rock    12. Soundtrack    13. Soundtracks & Film Scores    14. Tex-Mex   

Editorial Review

If the Butterfield Blues Band's groundbreaking debut earned the respect of the group's elder influences, this one won over (and guided) the blues boys' psychedelic peers. Highlighted by the 13-minute-plus title track (an Eastern-influenced jam cowritten by guitarist Mike Bloomfield), Read more

Reviews (24)

Seminal Blues-Rock-Jazz Fusion
The Jazz-Rock fusion movement of the late 70's (Weather Report, Spyro Gyra, Tony Williams) was born on this album.If I could only keep one record in my collection, this would probably be the main contender for that position.This album is a musical safari including a remarkable variety of musical idioms in a Blues context that goes way beyond Blues.Obviously, the East-West track is the pinnacle of this exploration.Listen closely and you will hear East Indian, Calypso, New Orleans Jazz, Bluegrass, and 4 or 5 other distinct musical styles each in a separate movement with very striking transitions.When I first got this album as a sophmore in college in 1966, I used to put on the East-West title track in the late afternoon and drift off into a wonderful, dreamy nap carried off in a magical concoction of World music as I think no one had ever heard before.
The Greatest Album of All Time
Simply, It's The Greatest Album of All Time. Ciao, /jtm/

blues at its best
In my opinion there has never been a finer blues band than Paul Butterfield. I had East-West back when it first came out on vinyl and now (finally) have it on CD. If you can find a better blues track than East-West, buy it. If you haven't heard it, treat yourself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Blues-Rock    3. Chicago Blues    4. Electric Chicago Blues    5. Electric Harmonica Blues    6. Harmonica Blues    7. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    8. Pop    9. Popular Music    10. Rock    11. United States of America   

Editorial Review

This is Sonny Boy Williamson II, whose 1940s Mississippi Delta radio broadcasts for Read more

Reviews (13)

Sweet purchase!
I was looking for an intro to the man that all of my favourite artists looked up to, and i found it in this album.20 something tracks of pure old school blues and soulful harmonica.A must for any old bl