Amazon.com essential recording

Whether she sings string-laden pop ballads, lively soul, or gritty electric blues, James's high-powered, enormously expressive voice displays a knack for passionate blues inflections. Emotionally charged ballads including "At Last" and "All I Could Do is Cry" find James blasting through the orchestra with unearthly wails and moans. "If I Can't Have You," a duet with Harvey Fuqua, drops the orchestra in favor of horn-driven R&B and "Something's Got a Hold On Me" is a gospel-flavored romp reminiscent of Ray Charles. A live version of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" shows her raunchiest Chicago-blues style, and "In the Basement," with Sugar Pie DeSanto, is a funky workout. Also here are three classics from her soul-drenched 1967 Muscle Shoals sessions.--Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Great selection (but oh those abrupt fade-outs)
There are numerous repackagings of Etta James' Chess recordings and they all have something to recommend them. As an intro to this great singer's work, however, this collection is hard to beat. All her classics, from the elegant "At Last" to the soulfully rocking "Tell Mama" are included here. No doubt some listeners will prefer one side of her musical personality to another, but her versatility is genuine, and it's impossible to imagine her limiting herself to just one genre. A live version of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me To Do" prefigures her more recent forays into rootsier blues. And "All the Way Down," produced by Gabriel Mekler, has all the funk of a Sly & the Family Stone track. Etta can and does do it all. The only problem with this collection--as one other reviewer has pointed out--is the fact that too many tracks come to an abrupt ending. (You can't even really call them fade-outs: they just stop.) Still it's wonderful to have so much great Etta on one disk, that's something of a quibble. Very good, informative liner notes by Peter Grendysa.

Not only a Drag Queen, but a tremendously gifted singer!
Etta James was born, Joshua James Etters, in Atlanta, Georgia on May 23, 1930. The world now knows him as Etta James, the soulful and powerful voice behind the legendary "background song", AT LAST. When I first heard this beautiful song I was watching television in my Manhattan apartment. It was, as I recall, a commercial for Jaguar Motors. I leaned forward in my chair, stared at my TV and said, "WOW!" It was then and there that I set out to learn all I could about the overweight, poor little farmer's son who grew up to be one of the world's greatest female impersonators...a true drag diva before the word and genre was fashionable. This CD says it all. Lean back and imagine that you are driving your '62 Buick to the Jersey Shore... Kennedy's is President and..."LIFE IS LIKE A SONG".

Miss Peaches Stands Apart From The Crowd
When songwriters Harry Warren and Mack Gordon had their composition At Last become the B-side to the 1942 Glenn Miller # 1 hit (I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo, they probably thought they had died and gone to Heaven. Especially when it too charted at a respectable # 14 with Ray Eberle doing the vocals. A decade later they struck paydirt again when the song was resurrected in the movie Orchestra Wives and then taken to # 2 by Ray Anthony & his orchestra.

But the best was yet to come, and when a 23-year-old from Los Angeles by the name of Jamesetta Hawkins decided to record it in 1961 under her stage name Etta James, from that point on it became HER song. It may not have done as well on the pop charts as the earlier versions [# 47] but it did become a # 2 R&B and is, by any standard, the best version of that enduring love song.

Her career had actually commenced in 1955 when, at age 17, she recorded an "answer" song to the 1954 # 1 R&B hit Work With Me Annie by The Midnighters [Hank Ballard and crew]. Also known as Roll With Me Henry, and with Richard Berry providing the bass male vocal, it too reached # 1 R&B early in 1955 as The Wallflower as by Etta James and "The Peaches" [hence the later nickname]. That same year Georgia Gibbs would have a # 1 pop with it as Dance With Me Henry.

Later that year she would have her second hit single when Good Rockin' Daddy climbed to # 8 R&B with the backing of The Dreamers, a group that included the great Jesse Belvin, and Maxwell Davis & His Orchestra.

Personal problems then set in, and Etta would be off the charts until early 1960 when she returned with the stirring ballad All I Could Do Was Cry, which scored on both the R&B [# 2] and pop [# 33] charts. And from there right through to 1976 she would be seldom off the charts, racking up another 27 R&B hits and putting 26 more on the pop charts.

This CD gives you the best of those along with nine pages of liner notes by Peter Grendysa of Words On Music Ltd., a partial discography of the contents [no chart information], and two more nice photographs of Etta, who was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1993.

Just 65 years old, Etta is still wowing them in personal appearances. This is a must-have compilation for any true R&B fan.

The place to start
This is the bare essentials. For those wishing to sample Etta James Hawkins' classic period at Chess Records without going for the box set anthology, this single-disc is the perfect purchase.

Featuring 20 of the tracks that appear on the double-disc "The Essential Etta James", without anything literally essential left off, this is the one-stop, first-time purchase for those who wish to sample Etta's mixture of soul, R&B, blues and, well, pop.
4 1/2 stars. There is no better starting place than this.

Etta rocks!!
This Cd is great.Etta can really wail out a tune and put so much emotion into every song.All the songs on this disc are great.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Excellent value for the newcomer...
Yeah, I read the review below by a 'music fan' who says there are an overabundance of Vaughan comps and while that's true, this one has one thing that the earlier Greatest Hits doesn't have: VALUE.

This two CD set comes in at a price considerably cheaper than if you bought the two earlier Greatest Hits CDs, separately.

And unless you are a Vaughan completist who HAS to have the four studio albums, the 'live' stuff plus "Family Style" with Jimmie or the SRV box, then this one is a pretty good value, price-wise for a beginner new to Vaughan's work.

This is all a part of Sony's 'Essential' series that's coming out during 2002-2003 year and for them not to do an 'Essential comp on SRV would, I believe, be quite noticed by SOME fans out there. After all, SRV was an important artist for Columbia/Epic in the 1980s and that's what this series is about.

Excellent for Newcomers to SRV/DT
The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan is an outstanding introduction to the greatest guitarist of the last 30 years. Being an SRV/DT completist, I already have these songs in one form or another, so I would have liked to have seen some additional, previously unreleased tracks. If you're new to SRV, pick up this collection first, then work your way backwards from In Step (his masterpiece) to Texas Flood for some incredible album tracks not included on The Essential SRV. Then get Live at Montreaux 1982-1985 for a pair of absolutely blistering live sets.
Just ensure that Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) is played at MAXIMUM volume for greatest enjoyment!
RIP, SRV - there will NEVER be another musician of your calibre.

I'm not too big on live performances over studio cuts
The one thing that disappointed me on this collection was that they opted for the excessively long 12 minute live version of Hendrix's Voodoo Child. Why not the superior 8 minute studio version found on the Greatest Hits 2 collection? It seriously rocks and was one of the reasons I purchased this set. Wished I had just opted for Greatest Hits 1 & 2 instead of this bloated collection. Most of the other songs on this collection are the same versions found on the others. Why the change-up on this one song? I thought I was getting a better deal by going with this double-disc set. Greatest Hits and "Best of" collections are for the casual listener, like myself, not the hard-core fan who likely has the individual albums to begin with and has little use for a compilation. Why throw in alternate takes of the hits? Just one man's opinion. Still, I'm disappointed I spent this much on a CD with which I'm not entirely happy.

The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan REMASTERED
I own every SRV CD I did not buy this one but a friend lended it to me. This CD sounds better than the orginal the sound quality is out of this world. This is a must have for an SRV fan who does not own that much of him. If your looking to buy a SRV Cd this one if for you. This includes all his hits like Texas Flood, Pride And Joy, The Things We Used To Do, Change It, Voodoo Chile, and some rare recordings of some live stuff. This is a must have buy this on amazon and you will love it!!!!!

Solid Overview Of Influential Guitarist's Career
Arguably the greatest blues guitarist of the last quarter century, this is two-and-a-half hours of his best work. The 33 tracks are presented essentially in chronological order beginning with a 1980 live performance of Willie Dixon's "Shake for Me" and ending with the stark performance of the autobiographical "Life By the Drop" taken from 1991's posthumous release THE SKY IS CRYING. Also included are a couple of tracks ("Telephone Song" and "Long Way from Home") from FAMILY STYLE, an album he cut with his older brother Jimmie just months before his death.

While there are no previoulsy unreleased tracks on this compilation, this is a solid overview of the most influential guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. If you can't afford his entire catalog, this is an excellent alternative. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Amazon.com

While it kicked considerable butt to see Robert Plant reunite with his old Led Zeppelin sidekick Jimmy Page, we all knew he would rather put on his skintight "Nurses Do It Better" T-shirt than have to sing "Kashmir" one more time. Over the last few years, the man perplexingly called Percy by his close friends immersed himself in his massive collection of '60s psych-folk records, put together a new band, and made a gorgeous solo album. Comprising mostly lush readings of little-known hits, it includes a heartbreaking take of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren," a supremely affecting run-through of Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee," and, best of all, a rarefied version of Tim Rose's "Morning Dew." And his version of the Youngbloods' "Darkness, Darkness" is the sexiest thing this side of Jeff Buckley's "Everybody Here Wants You." --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Plant gets the Led out
Dreamland is fast becoming my favorite album in years. It has the occasional feel of The Principle of Moments and Shaken 'n Stirred, but is still new and exciting. I was in from the first notes of Funny In My Mind, a great, fast-paced blues tune set off with a touch of zydeco. He has taken soulful possession of the old classic, Morning Dew. And I'm sure the song is happy with the arrangement. One More Cup of Coffee, Song to the Siren, Darkness Darkness and Red Dress are full of surprises and all of them very pleasant. His arrangement of Hey Joe is strange and wonderful, almost [Asian], but also a bit futuristic. And for the Zeppelin fans, there is Skip's Song, which is reminiscent of some of the good old tunes from the good old days. Altogether, I would give this album a sky full of stars because it is obviously a labor of love. I am curious about one thing, however, and that is the meaning of the cryptic words printed on the liner. Elvish? There are a lot of consonants involved. I'm sure someone will enlighten me eventually.

Robert Plant covers the 60s folk scene
Some aging classic rockers whose muses are not currently tending to them are smart enough to realize it (although evidently not many). A number of these artists responded by recording collections of cover songs while waiting for inspiration to return. While these releases are certainly not ambiguous and almost never on par with the said artists' top work, they are definitely better than hearing one's favorites stumbling at composing new originals. Bob Dylan, for example, followed 1990's mediocre Under the Red Sky, with two admirable collections of traditional folk songs, 1992's Good as I Been to You and 1993's World Gone Wrong. Metallica, who gravely upset fans with their MTV-conforming 1996 and 1997 albums, Load and Reload, regained some esteem with their 1998 covers album, Garage Inc. Paul McCartney concluded a decade of baffling creative decisions with 1999's Run Devil Run, a very fun collection of fifties pop songs. Robert Plant, who has not been heard from since Walking Into Clarksdale, his ploddingly boring 1998 collaboration with his former Led Zeppelin band-mate Jimmy Page, is the latest veteran rocker to release an album of (mostly) covers, this year's Dreamland.

Dreamland consists mainly of songs from the American folk-rock scene of the nineteen-sixties. This is no new territory for Mr. Plant whose live repertoire has always included a few nods to Spirit, Love and Moby Grape. He understands the sonic textures and emotional atmospheres that make these songs tick and that is evident on each of Dreamland's ontarget renditions. He delivers a subtle, lush and ominous take on The Youngblood's "Darkness, Darkness," a gently lulling performance of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren," an excellent, epic and urgent-sounding version of Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee" and a forceful and combative performance of Skip Spence's' chilling account of his self-destruction, "Skip's Song." The decision to write only scarcely (The album contains just two originals) was a good one for Mr. Plant, only because it clearly allowed him to focus more on vocals and instrumentation. On Dreamland, his vocals are delightfully airy and emotive and the instrumentation is always completely appropriate, warm and encompassing (without ever becoming mushy) on the dreamier songs and twinkling and eerie (without ever becoming sluggish) on the downbeaten ones. Dreamland is obviously a well-planned and proficiently constructed LP. Mr. Plant had likely maintained a thorough understanding of these tunes for years and knew precisely what he wanted when it came time to record them. Likewise, Dreamland is a pleasure to listen to. As mentioned earlier, such latter-day cover collections from classic rockers are unlikely to be great, but they often do make for very pleasing listening experiences. Dreamland is one of the most enjoyable to date.

This CD is one of his best solo efforts in MANY years!
The music is rich in sound and makes you want to wear headphones at night with no distractions. I recently started playing all my older Plant CDs and then found this one at the store and was BLOWN AWAY. Yes it's mainly cover songs but the production values are well worth the listen, and he does justice to Dylan's One More Cup of Coffee from the Desire album (my fave Dylan album). Morning Dew is a sad but beautifully done song, and Plant's interpretation of Hey Joe is quite different from the one we're used to ala Hendrix but if listened to on its own merits it is still very good, relying more on Plant's voice to build it up with the music mainly keeping the beat and rhythm until the lengthy bridge section then it goes very Led Zeppelin. All in all an excellent CD well worth taking time away from everyone and dusting off that big old set of headphones you may have laying around somewhere.

Surviving the Peak . . .
Robert Plant continues to climb by building his own stairway upon Monsalvat! The air's very thin and the climb strewn with failed expeditions. Few endevors outside of the very best classical music can bring about such an emotional upheaval. Pure grace glides from the speakers and takes you on a journey to distant realms.

I agree the disc centers on death, but it is the celebration of a life well lived, not the regrets of unfulfilled potential. I caught the Austin City Limits repeat several months ago and was so engaged, it never occurred to me to make a copy until after the credits had roled. So be it, a sacred event is only intensified by it's passing.

They say that genius fades with time, but there's always exceptions. Here's one of them.

Sibilance and harshness ruin terrific content
This is a review of Robert Plant's "Dreamland" CD, which I purchased after watching Plant's performance during the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

A lot has already been said about the content of this CD and I am equally positive about it. What has me bewildered is the recording quality - the entire CD is overly bright. I mean, bright to the point of harshness that makes it painful to listen to. I have to turn the treble down quite a bit and it still can't compensate for the brightness and excessive sibilance in Plant's vocals (without upsetting the tonal balance).

My audio system is reasonably high-end. I have also tried this CD on two other music systems, with similar results. I am tempted to pursue the matter with the recording company but hold no illusions that something will come of it.

A shame, really, given how much I like Plant's performance. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

This legendary 1983 debut by the fallen torchbearer of the '80s-'90s blues revival sounds even more dramatic in its remixed and expanded edition. Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar and vocals are a bit brighter and more present on this 14-track CD. And the newly included bonus numbers (an incendiary studio version of the slow blues "Tin Pan Alley" that was left off the original release, and live takes of "Testify," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and the instrumental "Wham!" from a 1983 Hollywood concert) illuminate the raw soul and passion that propelled his artistry even when he was under the spell of drug addiction. Texas Flood captures Vaughan as rockin' blues purist, paying tribute in his inspired six-string diction to his influences Larry Davis (who wrote the title track), Buddy Guy, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix. His own contemplative "Lenny," a tribute to his wife at the time, also suggests a jazz-fueled complexity that would infuse his later work. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (66)

A MASTERPIECE
TEXAS FLOOD is STEVIE RAY VAUGHN'S first album and every song on this album is a hit. Now that it is remastered, the songs are fresher and sound better, and we have some bonus live tracks that show where SRV really earned his reputation, and that is by playing live back in Austin. We have classic tracks such as LOVE STRUCK BABY, PRIDE AND JOY, MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,I'M CRYIN, which are uptempo blues rockers, and we also have the slower tempo blues classics TEXAS FLOOD,and DIRTY POOL. LENNY, TELL ME, and RUDE MOOD are classic blues instrumentals that are a must listen to. This remastered and reissued album is great and we be enjoyed by all fans of the blues and will be a great way for new fans to be introduced to SRV music

RIP SRV
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble blew us all away with the blues debut Texas Flood. Blues-rock was never any better- not when the Rolling Stones had their glory years or even when Led Zeppelin released their amazing debut. This is an essential blues-rock album, and the key to enjoying it is the guitar. Stevie rips through each song with a long solo or addictive riff while howling into the mike. The best song would be Texas Flood, a song that was amazing on stage. The entire album is his most consistent with not a single mediocre song, and blistering instrumentals, including the soulful Lenny that will turn your heart blue. This is blues rock done better than ever. If this doesn't convince you that Stevie Ray Vaughan is, next to Jimi Hendrix, the greatest guitarist ever, nothing will. If you have a thirst for Texas blues rock buy this right NOW!

One of the few truly magnificent blues records of the 80s
Rarely does a year go by without some new artist being proclaimed the greatest thing since music's birth, and when I first heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan, I was a bit weary. With so many people talking about him as if he was the second coming of Jimi Hendrix, something had to be amiss.

Well, it isn't. The late Stevie Ray Vaughan was actually every bit as great as he was made out to be, and his debut album is by far the best collection of blues-rock and contemporary blues of the first half of the 80s, holding up wonderfully more than twenty years later.

This record brought the blues back into the limelight. It spent some seven months on the American charts (an extremely rare feat for what is essentially a blues record), and it includes several of Stevie Ray Vaughan's very best songs:
The blistering rockers "Love Struck Baby" and "I'm Cryin'" are here, as well as the magnificent slow blues "Texas Flood" and "Dirty Pool", an excellent rendition of Buddy Guy's blues-slash-nursery rhyme "Mary Had A Little Lamb", and of course Stevie Ray's most famous song, the sublime "Pride And Joy".

And the guitar playing is masterful. Vaughan had an incredibly ability to keep his solos sounding fresh and innovative, even when they went on for several minutes at a time, and he was a more than adequate singer as well, switching effortlessly between rock n' roll and slow, soulful blues tunes.

This CD reissue adds five bonus tracks, one of which is a short interview snippet. The other four include a very good live take on "Mary Had A Little Lamb", and the otherwise unreleased instrumental "Wham" (unreleased except on compilations, that is).
And everything here, rockers, blues, instrumentals and bonus cuts, is worth a listen. Many listens. "Texas Flood" is a magnificent blues record, probably Vaughan's finest original album, and it should appeal to fans of both blues and rock.

Bow down to the master
It's very simple: SRV was the greatest electric blues guitarist ever, and one hell of a singer too. This was one of his masterpieces. Buy it, or I'll be forced to hunt you down.....

Want To Here Some Talent?
Texas Flood is Stevie Ray Vaughan's first debut album including the opening track Love Struck Baby with a beautiful texas tone. Then their is the songs that most guitarist never forget including Stevie Ray Vaughan's greatest hit Pride And Joy, and Texas Flood. Lenny is the softer track on the album dedicated to his wife Lenny. I think one of the coolest Blues Shuffles is on Rude Mood. I think Stevie Ray Vaughan had a wonderful talent doing what he did he was one of the greatest guitarist the ever lived. Their are some old great blues songs on here like the Lonnie Mack orginal Wham. The greatest guitar song on the album is Texas Flood. This album has got plenty of radio play that it deserved. Any guitarist should buy this you will not be disapointed. Highly Recomened! Only The Best ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A "Politically Correct" Compilation?
A 2-CD "best of" compilation for Billie Holiday without "Strange Fruit" doesn't make sense, but historically record labels have been reluctant to include this song. I wonder whether their reasoning is that the song's lyrics, about the lynching and hanging of a black from a tree, are unsuitable for mainstream audiences, which implies that they thought Holiday had crossed the line from blues or jazz (I think she's a blues singer through and through) to pop. After all, many blues recordings contain lyrics just as if not more gruesome than "Strange Fruit", but that doesn't result in their getting left off the compilation disks. If we can't hear the Holiday version of "Strange Fruit", then the soundtrack to "Lady Sings the Blues" by Diana Ross has a version of the song that is pretty convincing.

regarding the absence "Strange Fruit"
A couple reviewers remarked about the absence of "Strange Fruit" from this compilation. The reason for its absence is very simple: Billie did not record the song for Columbia. If you want "Strange Fruit," get _The Commodore Master Takes_ or the Verve compilation _Lady in Autumn_.

"Strange Fruit" is missing because Columbia was afraid to touch it in the late 30s, not because of any current "political correctness." I'm pretty sure they'd love to have the song now.

Most major jazz artists recorded for many different labels, so "best of" and "greatest hits" compilations usually aren't as comprehensive as we might wish them to be. Usually you have to buy two or three different sets to touch on all the major bases.

Descent Compilation
Apart from the fact that some of my favorite Billie Holiday songs are missing...its still a very good intro to those first timers. I first heart HOliday when I was 18 years old..and 5 years later...I still can't get enough of her ...she's such a great singer...along with Ella Fitzgerald she is the only one who can bring me to tears.

Incomplete Sampler
Far from being a jazz buff, I'd still take issue with the other recommendations of this set to be a sufficient Billie Holiday sampler for the general public. The single most important reason - it's missing "STRANGE FRUIT".

It is Jazz's "Guernica", and therefore belongs in *any* Billie Holiday collection.

The Ultimate Billie Holiday collection!!!
I have so enjoyed this album! All the favorite jazz songs sung by the beautiful crooning voice of Holiday! If you are a jazz fan, you don't want to miss this CD! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every few years, an acoustic guitar player decides he wants to be the next Robert Johnson and endears himself to the blues world--Rory Block, John Hammond Jr., and Taj Mahal have crossed this road in the past. Veteran backup guitarist Kevin "Keb' Mo'" Moore has the freshest approach to pulling it off, turning Johnson's devil-obsessed classics "Come on in My Kitchen" and "Kindhearted Woman Blues" into friendly folk music on this 1994 debut. Unlike many of the great bluesmen, the personable Moore doesn't aspire to be evil or even rebellious; he writes terrific songs (most notably the opening "Every Morning" and "Dirty Low Down and Bad") and performs them with talent and charisma. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (48)

Blues the way I like it....
This is a very enjoyable disc. I learned of Keb Mo' from the "Austin City Limits: Big Blues Extravaganza" CD. He plays "Tell Everybody I Know" on that compilation. I liked it so much I bought this CD. His folky, blues sound is very refreshing to the typical blues that I have heard. The music on this CD runs from the light and fun of "Tell Everybody I Know", to the serious "Victims of Comfort", to the lonely "Anybody Seen My Girl". Even when he does a traditional blues tune("Am I Wrong"), it's got a brightness to it that you don't see in other blues music. The sound quality is superb, and the music is even better.

Enjoy!

Superb country-blues debut
Though Mo' released an earlier R&B-flavored album under his birth name, Kevin Moore, this delta-inspired acoustic-blues release is really his artistic debut. Playing guitar, banjo, and harmonica, Mo' shows a heavy influence from Robert Johnson (whose "Come On In My Kitchen" and "Kindhearted Woman Blues" he covers alongside eleven originals). At the same time, he displays a playful, gregarious side that brings to mind Taj Mahal (with a touch of Bobby McFerrin and Lyle Lovett), and expands his songs to encompass modern folk and jazz ideas.

Mo's expressive singing and penetrating lyrics are highlighted on spare ballads, backed by the sharp fingerpicked twang of steel strings and the harmonica's mournful wail. Mid-tempo tracks retain the acoustic innocence even as the band kicks up the energy with backing organ, bass and drums. The result is an album steeped in classic blues but not enslaved by it; a recording that finds new avenues for the blues without losing any sense of its history.

Mo Better
There's something about acoustic blues, the idea of playing on a street corner deep in the Delta, running a bottle over a National Steel. Keb' Mo' is one of the best acoustic blues players today. Sometimes it's just him and his guitar, other times he's backed by drums and keyboards. Moore's playing is full and you rarely notice that there is no one else playing but him. His solo guitar work brings visions of Robert Johnson, and he pays tribute to the Master with two of his cuts. The rest of the tracks are penned by Moore with some collaboration from others.

Every tune on this album is good. Moore's playing adjusts between strumming, fingerpicking and slide. He also adds in banjo and harmonica, but his great asset is his voice. Smooth and sweat, it lacks the gravel sound we've become accustomed to for the blues, but his voice is perfect for solo guitar, almost as if it matches the sound of the guitar. "Victims of Comfort" is my favorite off the album with his strumming and voice interaction. The song is just him and his guitar, almost slow and sad sounding. "Angelina" throws in drums to keep the beat and Moore's fingers pluck the strings with an upbeat tempo. "Come On In My Kitchen" is the first of the Johnson covers, and he plays with a slide, and belts out some on the harmonica, with a little help from an organ and drums. Another great cut. More of the straight blues shuffle is heard on "Love Blues" again a solo guitar bit.

Each track is good on this album, and proves that Keb' Mo' is a name to be recognized with his unique sound of yesterday. Anyone who likes the original blues players like Johnson, will love this album, as will many people who don't love the blues. Moore's voice is soothing, and his playing has a relaxed feel to it. A pure joy to listen to.

keb mo- magic man
Keb Mo is the magic man of blues. His voice is pure and rich. He awed me at The Fort Lauderdale Blues Festival. I have a band that appreared there as well, Heidi and The El Cats and I went backstage and sat with Keb Mo. He is a fabulous singer. Everyone should buy his records!!!We love you Keb!!!

Keb' Mo': Blues Energy Transducer
As a "strong hearted" listener myself I've come to realize that there are people out there who just don't "get" the soulful essence of a rare performer like Keb' Mo' and there are no words that can explain it to them.
Its gives me much optimism when I realize the Music industry has recognized the God given talent of someone like Keb' Mo' with a grammy award. Usually you expect a commercially exploited sound to win that honor. However, here the intrinsic abliliies of a future blues phenom are noted by the grammy award. A huge step in the right direction for an otherwise shallow tin cup honor.
This CD captures the essence of Keb's voice where that undescribable energy emminates from the soul. For Keb it's an extremely rare feel-good energy that transcends all sound barriers. It originates from the depths of soul and for most blues artist it rarely leaves its imprint on the vocal recordings.
Keb is the exception to the rule, much the way BB King or Muddy Waters carries such a rare gift. However, I feel that some of Keb's more recent recorded CD i.e. "Slow Dow" are more masterfully produced, with all around crisper recording sessions. But as a recognized "debut" CD this album should not be omitted from any serious blues fan's collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jonny Lang cut his debut album in Memphis when he was just 15, and, upon its release in 1996, the guitar prodigy from Minneapolis instantly became one of the leading lights of modern blues. He's a fast and flashy player whose approach rests equally on technical assurance and musical intelligence. Sizing up a dozen songs, he gets a pleasing, razor-sharp sound out of his ax while building excitement in his lead lines--thankfully, he steers clear of cliché and bombast. As a fledging singer, he acts out the lyrics of Ike Turner's age-old shuffle "Matchbox" and his own romantic ballad "Missing Your Love" with surprising poise and believability. Kudos to producer David Z for surrounding Lang with alert, first-rate sidemen and for helping select good material from Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson, Tinsley Ellis, and others. --Frank-John Hadley ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Jonny "Lie To Me" Anytime
When I first heard this CD I could not believe that it was a 15 yr old singing and playing guitar. Jonny's voice and guitar playing is amazing. The CD is great! The more you listen, the more you like. With a mix of songs like "Lie to Me" and "Hit the Ground Running" which are blues based rock songs, to "I Wonder" and "When I Come To You" where you can feel the emotion in his voice. It's amazing to think that this kid could even understand that kind of emotion at his age. Jonny Lang has made me a believer that "age means nothing" when it comes to the blues.

What does age have to do with it anyway?
I recently read through all the reviews, both editorial and customer, and offer the following thoughts. First of all, anyone who believes this kid lacks talent, either as a guitarist or a vocalist, is simply living in an alternate reality. As I read the negative reviews, what came through loud and clear was jealousy. How dare a mere "kid" try to be good?......Well, guess what?.....He is.... The kind of raw power Jonny demonstrates at the tender age of 16 on "Lie To Me" is nothing short of truly amazing. And while it is certainly true that you can hear the influences of bluesmen like Albert King, Albert Collins, and Luther Allison (I don't hear much Stevie) on "Lie To Me", it is also true that his own unique style is emerging. This is most noticable on the tracks, Missing Your Love and When I Come To You. His follow-up release "Wander This World", reaches down into the soul and literally drags the listener through an emotional rolley coaster ride. For the record, he plays a telecaster, not a Strat, a totally different sound. And would everyone PLEASE get off of this thing about his age! For God's sake,...who cares? Everybody's gotta start somewhere. Talent is talent, and the fact that he is so young only makes him that much more special. Think about where he will go with his music in the next 20 or 30 years....... Way to go Jonny! You will be in San Antonio on January 19 at the Majestic Theater, and I can't wait!

He's the Real Thing
This kid is the real deal. A natural talent if there ever was one. The maturity in this album is amazing, since it was recorded when he was only 15-16! Are his guitar solos melodic and well phrased? You bet. Some very nice work in that regard. But for me, the real magic of Jonny is those vocals - tortured, rich, raw, real and - dare I say it? - SEXY. His voice as an instrument is a very sensual sound. I love the blues - but I ADORE the sound of this kid's voice. If I had to take one album to a deserted island, this might be it.

Hey Jonny Lang... please do a dvd?
Just hoping my wish will come to reality.... check the reviews, beg borrow or steal a copy of this cd.... it's awsome..... I'd love to see Mr. Lang do a dvd. Being a father of two very young kids, I don't have the time to breath, yet alone see him in concert..... A dvd would surely be appreciated by more than just myself..... anybody reading this, and agree that the man should do a dvd, please find a way to let Mr. Lang know.

Jonny Lang
Lany is a master 6 string player no doubt. This recording documents the facts. His voice is young and his age leads one to wonder if he has had time to feel that pain. Jonny Lang and the Big Bang is a much better compliation of his abilities. ... Read more

Amazon.com

She's no stranger to the towering highs and lows of the heart, and Etta James's soaring, gospel-tinged pipes match up well with the rigors of unabashed bliss. Happily, the good people at Chess Records recognize this, and they have thoughtfully collected some of the best examples into one tidy record. Kicking off with her classic treatment of "At Last," the collection moves through the lilting strings of "My Dearest Darling" on into the expressive tones of "I Want to Be Loved (But Only by You)" with grace and emotional candor. James can be simultaneously tender and deeply honest and her ability to express the desperate joy that is the soul of love remains one of life's marvelous pleasures. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Whether you¿re in or out of love, At Last...
If I could have bought it for only one song, it would be "At Last." I've heard it all of my life. I've heard the voice all of my life. I've known the song all of my life... but Etta James, until recently, has been that mysterious and familiar voice whose identity is not mine to know.

I accidentally pushed the wrong button on a bar-room jukebox and heard the song... AGAIN. The luxury of this accident afforded me the privilege of knowing just who this mysterious voice is and I shall admit that AT LAST I know, and it pleases me.

James has this silky, nonchalant voice that sings of love and sometimes heartache. The music would be the best medicine for dear listener who requires sad love songs for the misery-loves-company-of-the-broken-hearted or the very same song for the couple in love. It is versatile entertainment, and very much enjoyable for just the right audience.

the soulful Miss Peaches
Etta James' big, brassy and bold voice sings some great love songs in this bluesy, R & B collection, starting with her 1961 hit of the Warren/Gordon "At Last", which is one of the standouts. Others include another hit from 1961, "Trust in Me", and an earthy, scrumptious duet with Harvey Fuqua (lead and founder of the Moonglows), "If I Can't Have You". I also like her take on the Gershwin brothers' "Someone to Watch Over Me", with Ira's terrific lyrics; I always appreciate his split phrases, like "Although he may not be the man some / girls think of as handsome"

With the exception of "Lovin' Arms" which was recorded in 1974, and the cover of The Association's "Never My Love" (1973), these recordings are from the '60s, but Etta is a classic singer, and never sounds dated. Digitally remastered, they did a good job of the audio quality, with crisp highs and nice depth. there are no liner notes in the foldout insert which only includes a song list, and the total time is 45'48.
Fondly known as Miss Peaches, one wonders if Etta's huge voice, with it's powerful, slightly abrasive top notes, would have become more famous had she not been shadowed and hindered by personal problems; Etta is a major song stylist, appealing to listeners of jazz, R & B, soul, and blues, and this is a fine compilation for fans of this splendid artist.

Soul Stirring
Miss Peaches is her nick name huh? Well her music is certainly sweet. When I purchased this CD a few years ago, I was really in a bluesy state of mind and remembering feeling very mellow and encouraged when listening to Etta's very soulfoul voice. She is so intense on the song Trust in Me and sweet as ever on I Want to Be Loved. Her version of Someone to Watch over me will bring you to tears (it did for me anyway, music is my therapy!). I loved this Cd and have since purchased The Chess Box-a 3cd set of her greatests songs. Wonderful. I love Jamesetta...

Fabulous Etta!
Buy it. Don't even hesitate. Every song is great,
the best. "At Last" gave me chills in 1958 as a young
teenager falling in love for the first time. Now, over
40 years later, I'm still getting chills every time I
listen to it. "How Do You Speak To An Angel" and "Again"
are two more that I have discovered and move me beyond
words. I love this CD!

Etta James a true jazz women....
I have been a fan of miss james for a long time since as far as i can rememeber........
This woman's voice is incredible...her barritone is so sultry and sexy...the way she sings is like velvet it's so smooth and sexy...
Miss james signature song is one of the greatest love songs of all time" AT LAST" beautiful love song...
this album is a collection of love songs that miss james has recording hense the albums name Love songs...
this is a stunning collection...
This is a must for any Etta james fan.. ... Read more

Album Description

The Place You're In, Kenny Wayne Shepherd's long-awaited fourth album, marks a stunning stylistic shift for an artist who almost single-handedly introduced blues-rock to a new audience. One of the most acclaimed guitarists of his generation not only leans more heavily toward rock,but also releases his first album featuring his vocals. Says Shepherd, whose first three albums went gold or platinum and who has earned seven Top 10 Mainstream Rock cuts and three Grammy® nominations: "We're all growing and changing....We might as well get behind it and enjoy the ride." And enjoy The Place You're In. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Fade-outs detract
Leslie West continues to release gutsy albums. This is no exception. My only gripe, along with the recently released Johnny Winter CD, is why have fade-outs? There is plenty of room on a cd to have powerful endings!

In the Top 3 best blues works
After hearing this CD, you'll be asking "how could they make this CD so inexpensively?" This is w/o a doubt one of the best electric blues albums you'll ever hear. I'm a life long Clapton fan, but Eric can't touch this. I GOT THE BLUES should have been the first track. BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN has just West and his guitar showing all his true inner talent. This is a must have...

Crunch...Bite...Wow
The best blues I have heard from anyone in years, perhaps ever. If you like blues with an attitude, you will not be disappointed. Those humbuckers do crunch and so does Leslie's voice.

Refreshing to hear Leslie in fine form.
What a novel idea here. The great Leslie West knocking off 11 blues standards like only he can. I first listened to this CD on the drive home from work and I didn't want to get out of the car when I got there. At last LW is not put upon to create new music and lyrics for a new release, it's already been done for him with these titles and he's free to let it rip. No wories here about ending up with another cheesey offering such as his last effort "Sea Of Fire." The concept behind this CD is simple and satisfying and I've enjoyed this more than any Mountain or solo effort since the end of the Pappalardi era. Leslie shines with crunching, biting tone enveloping his tasteful riffs. His band on this is smooth and unubtrusive and a real enjojment to listen to as they grind out the backing melodies. I wish he would take this group on the road and hang up the tired Mountain nostalgia act for awhile.

Die For? Hardly. Maybe A Bad Cold Though.....
Leslie pumps out some of his best guitar playing in years. Too bad it's being produced at the hands of Mike Varney. Just like Schenker's "Arachnophobiac" album, this ones sounds like the guitars are plugged straight into the same transistor amp.
Normally you can say, "Yeah, that's Leslie West playing his Les Paul Jr straight thru a Marshall stack" or "That's a Single Coil Strat cranked thru a Fender Twin"; but as with any Varney produced Shrapnel/Blues Bureau release every guitarist sounds the same. As a listener you can't tell what type of guitar rig or amp they're using. There is no "air", openess or tone to any of Varney's productions.
Speakers work by causing vibrations and moving air in real space, there's no sense of any of those physical principals at work here. The sound if very artificial and generic. Liek I've written before, it is "anti-live" in the studio.
The saving grace in this record is West's guitar. Although it's not his classic Les Paul Jr. tone, it's closer to the truth than his playing on Mountain's brutal "Sea Of Fire". West's vocals are also in fine form. For any Leslie West fan this album is a buy. But for any guitarist out there who has listened to the other Varney produced "Shrapnel" & "Blues Bureau" releases this is really "album" by numbers or plug in your favorite guitarist here. BTW, you want great blues guitar? Get the Mayall's 70th birthday album and listen to Mick Taylor, Buddy Whitington & Clapton really play the blues, tone baby! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Braille Blues Daddy!
I didn't really know Bryan Lee before this album. Amazon just kept his name in front of me till I gave in and bought it. I guess suggestive selling really does work. Born in Wisconsin, Lee lives in New Orleans and has recorded for the past 14 years. for a Montreal label. No one can say he doesn't get around. Recorded in Montreal, "Live and Dangerous" is a smokin set from a talented blues singer and guitarist who flew under my radar for far too long. By the way, I liked the album well enough to buy two more of his. Just thought you should know. Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Greatest Blues Album Ever?
Junior Wells isn't my personal favorite as a harpist (Sonny Boy is), but this album is one of my absolute favorites in the blooze. This album is really HOT, with Junior struttin' his stuff with his mates from Chicago, including the one & only Buddy Guy. Buddy really gels with Wells on this album, not by taking solos, but by accompanying him & the actual song being played. His presence really steps up Junior, & brings out the best in him here.

While Junior is a terrific blues harpist & singer, he has a real funky style that resembles James Brown. You can really hear it from the get go in "Snatch back & Hold It". The cover of "You Don't Love Me" from this album will influence a bunch of guys in Macon, GA. a few years later.

I believe this was also one of the earliest "full" blues albums released, rather than a collection of singles from vinyl. Hence, the greatest blues "album" ever recorded. Yes, that is my personal opinion, but the Chicago blues rarely gets better than this. Essential for any blues collection!

Junior Wells' Showcase
I have been hearing about this album for 20 years, but only got it recently. So naturally I compare it with what I have listened to in the past 20 years.
Earlier Wells albums featured a larger group - with horns, piano etc... The sound was heavy and I loved it. This CD has Wells, Buddy Guy on guitar, plus bass and drums. The sound is lighter, and the band goes for jumping, funky kind of blues. Wells' harmonica gets much more room here than it did before.
As a Chicago harpist, I rate Wells second only to Little Walter, but Wells is a better singer ! Wells is a great singer and performer, and deserves the showcase this CD affords him. He was young and fresh, and felt like jumping much more than laying back. As a result, the best tracks are the fast ones - Chilli Con Carne, Snatch It Back etc...
I love Buddy Guy's playing on the CD - he lets Wells have the main stage, and behaves like a true friend and musician - thinking only about the overall result.
To conclude - this is a great blues CD, worth having to any blues fan.

As good as an album can be.
Listening to this album with the lights out puts me "there" more than just about any album I've heard. In a smoky room where musicians and audience are connected. This album is real.

The Greatest
In case there's any confusion, this isn't just the greatest blues album of all time, this is the greatest album of all time. Don't doubt it. It's perfect. As good as it will ever get.

must have blues album
The greatest blues album ever recorded.. A must have!
B.B. King at the Regal has nothin on this, a classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Yeah, it’s been a long time coming, never thought it’d take so long," moans Jonny Lang on the seemingly autobiographical title track to his first release in five years. But its stark acoustic, near demo quality is in contrast to the preceding 12 songs, which are buffed to an arena-rock sheen. The youngster has shifted from an up-and-coming bluesman into a tough, journeyman melodic rocker with a dab of R&B. He has also honed his songwriting skills, resulting in the majority of this album (except a rugged bonus live cover of Stevie Wonder’s "Livin’ for the City" and the first single "Red Light") being self-penned. Aiming for the back rows, Long Time Coming boasts booming, sing-along mid-tempo choruses in "Save Yourself" and "Goodbye Letter," perfect for the lighter-waving crowd. He has also transformed into a soulman of sorts, evidenced by the Prince/ Michael McDonald influences on "Touch," "Beautiful One," "The One I Got," and the funky "If We Try." Once a burgeoning guitar hero, Lang’s solos are now integrated into the material, further bolstering the hard rock/soul approach. Leaving the blues, Lang has moved towards the mainstream on his most polished and radio-ready album yet. --Hal Horowitz ... Read more

Reviews (246)

Jonny Lang's Coming of Age
I still think this guy's just a kid, but lose that thought quickly when I listen to him sing. I enjoyed his earlier stuff, but this album displays him as a true musician, not just a kid with a manly singing voice. The whole album is excellent, but a couple of tracks stick in your head and make you want to press repeat over and over again. "Red Light" immediately grabs a hold of you as the 2nd track. He didn't write it, but puts enough soul into it to make you think he did. I heard the song on XM radio a week before release, and after hearing it once,I had to buy the album, so that I could hear it again. The title track is a tune that makes you think of older blues superheroes. (Too many come to mind to even start listing them) The best lyrics on the album are in the song "Dying to live". Creative and catchy, with an R&B feel, definitely one of the best tracks on the album. All in all, the album was definitely worth the 9.99 that i spent on it, and definitely worth the time that I spent listening through it. Jonny Lang is no longer a boy playing the blues, he's a man making great music.

Different but still awesome!!
I was messing around on CDNOW and saw that this CD only had an average rating of 3 stars and proceeded to read some of the reviews and was astonished to say the least.

No, this is not the typical "blues-rock raspy-voice" Jonny Lang album that we're all used to but it's still awesome! It's great the he can step outside of that and experiment a little and still create an amazing album. We already know Jonny can play the guitar but this album even further displays how talented he is as a singer as well.

Props to Jonny for trying something different and being able to be so versatile. This is one of the best albums of the year, there's not a song that you will want to skip over! Go out and buy it!!!!

Great CD
Best CD I ever bought. I thought I loved Jonny before, well he made me love him even more with this CD. Others may think he's gone bad, but just because he isn't exactly the same as he has been does not mean it's a bad thing. I fell in love with this CD before I even bought it and when I found out that Jonny became a Christian before making this album it made it that much better for me. Jonny showed some changes in his life in a subtle way and I loved it!

An Old Soul with a Unique Voice
I love this album. Lang's voice is like none other I've ever heard. At once raw, anguished, and beautiful, it would draw you in if he was singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Instead, he sings some lovely and fresh songs. My personal favorites are the powerful "Dying to Live" and the reflective "Red Light." I recommend this album to someone who likes a bluesy, soul sound and is looking for something different from everyday radio singers.

Great songs - great ballads
I think all of the songs are high quality. My recommendation is to copy all of the torch ballads (tracks 1,5,6,8,10,12). Light some candles and fetch your partner for some very romantic slow dances. You never know what might happen later! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's not hard to understand the appeal of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, currently being hailed as the heir to Stevie Ray Vaughan. He's young (an increasing rarity in blues and blues-related genres), he writes catchy songs, and his "Blue on Black" is widely played on rock radio. Trouble Is . . . is an enjoyable listen, from rockers like "Slow Ride" and "Chase the Rainbow," to swingy mid-tempo songs like "True Lies" and "(Long) Gone," to slower almost-ballads such as "Nothing to Do with Love" and the all-pervasive "Blue on Black". Expect to start hearing "I Found Love (When I Found You)" at high school proms and homecoming dances. It remains to be seen how Shepherd will develop, but he's among the most promising young guitarists out there today. -- Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (78)

Pretty good, but the Trouble Is......
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is a great guitarist, no doubt, and that's ultimately the appeal of his music. If you do not like guitar-based music, you'd do well to stay away from this CD. It's basically only for fans of guitar-heavy blues rock. On that level, it's a success. The songs are adequate, but mostly forgettable, and serve as little more than a backdrop for Shepherd's guitar. The lyrics are sometimes painfully derivative, and pretty uninteresting overall. However, the music is so good that the lyrics hardly matter. Vocalist Noah Hunt has a good voice, and sings with conviction but the words he sings just seem to be empty words. The songs about love and women just seem kind of phony coming from such young guys.

The best songs are Slow Ride, Blue On Black (a rock radio favorite), Chase The Rainbow and Somehow, Somewhere, Someway. The Hendrix cover I Don't Live Today is also fun.

Trouble Is... is a fine album for fans of blues-rock. If you like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and other bluesy guitarists, then I would recommend this CD as well as Kenny Wayne's debut, Ledbetter Heights.

It starts out great but...
Trouble Is... is the followup to Kenny Wayne Shepherd's killer debut Ledbetter Heights. While the band clearly sounds tighter and Shepherd's playing continues to impress, several tracks from the album's second half are mediocre, making it an uneven followup.

The first seven tracks on this album are all top notch whether it's the blues of "(Long) Gone" and "Somehow, Somewhere, Someway", the driving rock of "Slow Ride", the boogie of "True Lies", or the excellent hit single "Blue On Black". The versions of Jimi Hendrix's "I Don't Live Today" and Bob Dylan's "Everything Is Broken" are also excellent, with the band truly making the Dylan track their own.

Then the album starts to drag with the bluesy "King's Highway" and the closing instrumental title track being the only decent tracks. The remaining tracks "I Found Love (When I Found You)", "Nothing To Do With Love", and "Chase The Rainbow" are unmemorable and lack a strong hook. If you removed these tracks, you can argue that it's as strong as Ledbetter Heights. Still it's worth checking out for tracks 1-7.

A true talent! Unbelievable!!
It is so great to hear a talent like this is rising through the scene. He is so young and so talented! Love the sound. If you get a chance to see him live don't walk....RUN!!! I saw SRV twice and this guy's fingers burn on that guitar. Keep up the great work Kenny Wayne. We need your music!!

The Next Best Young Guitarist
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is without a doubt a great guitarist with alot of potenital, but he copies Stevie Ray Vaughan too much. I think he is the next best young guitarist out their proving his skills with the debut album Trouble Is. He is a great blues guitarist with a style of both himself, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I will not knock him down for having influences such as Jimi Hendrix, and Steive Ray Vaughan I think every guitarist should carry on the guitar trait but I dont agree with copying anybody's style. This album is full of blues/rock including songs such as (Long Gone), hendrix's cover I Dont Live Today, and True Lies. This album will soothe any guitarist weither you like Hendrix, or Steive Ray Vaughan this one is most defiently for you. The only reason I gave this a 4 is because his copying of Steive Ray Vaughan other than that he is the next best guitarist. My favorite song on the album is Somehow,Somewhere,Someway. Other than that go buy this album and enjoy. Highly Recomened!

Not bad, i've enjoyed it
I really liked the album, I understand all the critizm for sounding to much like SRV. But it does have its strong points.
The guitar is amazing, wonderful rock and blues. I love Slow Ride, True Lies, and Blue On Black. But, it has all been heard before. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Recorded for a television program of the same name back in 1983, In Session bills itself as the only known recording of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King, who was Vaughan's idol and mentor, playing together. That leads to some heavy expectations, which fortunately aren't disappointed, at least if you aren't expecting the customary over-the-top performances Vaughan was famous for. His playing here is much more laid-back and controlled, which is actually a recommendation--the stylistic similarities between teacher and student are that much more pronounced. The songs are mostly King concert staples, with the exception of "Pride and Joy"; highlights include the T-Bone Walker classic "Call It Stormy Monday" and one of King's own, "Overall Junction," which features some excellent guitar solo work. The snippets of recorded conversation between songs are interesting curiosities as well. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (97)

Sublime
If you're even remotely interested in the blues or guitars then you need to add this CD to your shopping cart immediately.

Rarely is such an energetic and explosive combination of guitar legends captured on tape so well. I just listen in awe whenever I play this CD. Stevie's playing is incredible - listen to Albert King's exclamations throughout the session. It's as though Stevie is channeling Robert Johnson, Jimi Hendrix and, yes, Albert King, all at once and those spirits are just flowing through his fingers. His improvisation is simply astounding. Albert King is content to sit back and let Stevie dominate while accenting the songs with his own trademark licks and riffs. But don't be fooled, Albert is still very much in charge here. It's clearly his session and Stevie's content to follow his idol's lead while blowing him away all at the same time.

I could write all day about how great this CD, but I won't. Just buy it. And when "Blues At Sunrise" comes on you can send me a little mental thank you.

This is an awesome CD!
This wonderfully recorded CD sheds light on the warm relationship SRV had with Albert King. This kinship comes across throughout the entire recording. SRV plays great guitar and takes many powerful and colorful solos. Here, we find a little known aspect of Albert King's guitar playing. He was also a fantastic rhythm player when he backs up Stevie! We should be grateful that this session has surfaced because it's as if the blues master passes the torch to the student. If you are a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Albert King then this CD should be in your collection because it cooks from start to finish.

A blues lesson as told from father to son.
This is great stuff!! Two legendary blues guitarists which have a tremendous time together playing the blues. The CD contains fast rock/blues tracks but also long tracks of awsome slow blues. Sit down on your chair with a glass of beer and a cigarette and relax: this is some of the best blues you'll ever will get!

Respect!

in session albert king stevie ray vaughn
this is a great cd,albert was at his best and so was stevie ray.i was amazed how much albert king admired stevie's playing.all i can say outstanding.i always tell new blues fans to search this cd out.because it is so wonderful

The Best of Two Worlds-Then and Now
Two generations of blues masters come together in one dynamite CD...Austin's Stevie Ray and the Chicago Master, Albert King. Both left this life too quickly, King at 69 and Stevie Ray at 35 but their music will live on for future generations. You will love this one! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Never Trendy, Always in Style
If he was never a 1950s superstar on par with, say, Elvis Presley, nor has Fats Domino ever really gone out of style. At its best, his music is direct and unpretentious in a way that always sounds fresh. This compilation, part of EMI/Capitol's Crescent City Soul Series, includes all his essential sides, from 1950's "The Fat Man" ("They call me the fat man/Because I weigh 200 pounds") to his 1962 take on Hank Williams' "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)." Pretty much every song is a winner, with the possible exception of "Valley of Tears," which would have worked better without the sappy female chorus. Domino's voice was appealing enough on its own that he didn't need any kind of back-up to get his message across. "It's You I Love," B-side to the same 1957 single, also incorporates background singers, but less extensively and is all the more successful for it. Over the years, Domino's music has gotten a new lease on life through TV shows, like "Happy Days" (Ron Howard's Richie Cunningham had a thing for "Blueberry Hill"), and covers, like Cheap Trick's hard rockin'--yet reverential--cover of "Aint That a Shame" on their bestselling 1979 live album, At Budokan. The CD booklet includes liner notes by John Broven, author of Rhythm & Blues in New Orleans.

A total of 9 #1 Hits for Antoine
If you listen to Johnny Dark on Big 100, the Oldies station in DC,you might hear him say that Antoine "Fats" Domino never had a #1 hit. That's totally false information. Fats hit #1 on Billboards R&B chart a total of 9 times and each one of those 9 #1's is on this great cd. Two of Fats #1's were there for 11 weeks a piece,1955's "Ain't It A Shame" and 1956's "Blue Berry Hill" and both were million sellers. Don't believe everything you hear your local dj says on the air. Check with me first.

Hit After Hit After Hit
You will listen, you will find introspection, you will dance, you will sing inside your heart, you will dance some more. Fats Domino had such an incredible string of hits, you cannot simply describe this album (errr, CD) as anything other than GREAT. The only downside is that a couple of the songs were not of the highest recording quality. Still, what would you expect of such treasures and the technology of the time? A mino trade-off for the collection of music you will get.

This album is essential if you are going to round out your collection of American music.

Classics
Fats Domino's Musical Impact goes way beyond the 50's.alot of that has to do with the range&tone that Fats Domino plays with.yeah "BlueBerry Hill"&"Ain't that a Shame" were big on TV,Films,etc.. but the Music doesn't sound like it's stuck in a time warp you can still do so much with it to this day.His overall Music Depth is Rarely given the Respect it truly deserves.this a CoolSet Highlighting His Impact on Many Styles of Music.

20 Greatest Hits The Way You Originally Heard Them
1. The Fat Man
2. Goin' Home
3. Going To The River
4. Ain't It A Shame (Ain't That A Shame)
5. All By Myself
6. Poor Me
7. I'm In Love Again
8. Blueberry Hill
9. Blue Monday
10. I'm Walkin'
11. It's You I Love
12. Valley Of Tears
13. Whole Lotta Loving
14. I Want To Walk You Home
15. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday
16. Be My Guest
17. Walking To New Orleans
18. My Girl Josephine
19. Let The Four Winds Blow
20. Jambalaya (On The Bayou) ... Read more

Album Description

Robert Randolph is one of the most talented pedal steelguitarists of his generation, picking up comparisons toStevie Ray Vaughan, Duane Allman and Jimi Hendrix. Live AtThe Wetlands is the debut from Randolph and The FamilyBand. Dare Records. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Like the sparks from Vulcan's Forge
Remember how music used to be fun to listen to before the incursion of stance and attitude and angst shoved its way to the forefront during the musical hell of the '90s? Well, Robert Randolph makes music fun to listen to again, playing pedal steel like he was Vulcan hammering on his forge intently creating armor for Zeus.

"Live at the Wetlands" is a breathtaking live set is gritty and focused. This magical outing could not have been replicated or captured in a studio. The four-piece ensemble rocks the house with measured, joyous playing. Randolph tears it up on pedal steel like no one else and Ginty flat out wrings the Hammond organ for all its worth. Let's not forgot the crisp, solid drums and bass that anchor and propel each cut, holding the whole jam together.

If you aren't in motion by the time the finale Tears of Joy gets in high gear, then you are not conscious. Randolph and company ascend to another plane, and if you turn up the volume, they will bring you along for the joy ride.

If you liked "The Word" (and who didn't?), you will want to snatch this CD, too. Though there are only six tracks, this recording, like Streetwalker's excellent "Live at the BBC," should be judged on the quality not the quantity.

A Cd you MUST own!
I saw Robert Randolph and his Family Band in Charleston (SC) and Charlotte last winter where they played most of the songs on this CD. This was the most exciting show and the most exciting new music I've heard in some time! The crowd (myself included) was in awe as we watched the most exciting new live act since James Brown, Elvis, or Jimi Hendrix! Brother Randolph makes his steel guitar sing with support form John Ginty, who makes his organ sound if he poured kerosene on it and lit a match and his cousins on bass and drums. I had a friendly chat with Randoplh afterwards and bought this CD. I have to play it sparingly to avoid overplay. "The March" is a very well-crafted jam. "Ted's Jam" is phenomenal, as the bluesy ballad "Pressing My Way." I told Robert Randolph after his Charleston show, "If you guys aren't the next big thing by next year this time, then there is TRULY no justice in this land!" Everyone I've played this CD to loves it! Buy this (and "THE WORD" as an excellent companion piece) and you'll see what I mean. The future of REAL (non-synthetic) music is in great hands with these guys!

Robert Randolph blew Eric Clapton offstage!!!!!!
Hi everyone. I'm an EC fan since 1967, and for me he can do no wrong. The man is an accomplished musician of the very highest order. I went to the EC 40-year celebration concert at the Manchester MEN Arena. Eric and the band were simply fabulous.

....Robert Randolph and his band were the support. OUCH!! WHERE THE HELL DID THESE GUYS COME FROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????
Robert and his band simply blew everyone away!!! What an incredible experience. I've not been genuinely as excited about a band for many many years. Robert and the boys - thank you. It was an education in guitar virtuosity. I bought the 'Live at the Wetlands' CD immediately following the concert and have played a hole in it already. Word to the world audiences in 2004 - go and see EC you will NOT be disappointed! But the sheer joy of listening to Robert Randolph and the Family Band will completely frazzle your brain. This man & his band are going to be a huge stars - and the world better watch out & be ready for them! They are absolutely FABULOUS!!

If you can't feel this you're not listening
I first heard of Robert Randolph and the Family band on some MTV2 special spotlight, and my jaw dropped to the ground when this funk/jazz/blues music hit my ears. For too long now I've been looking for music that so plucks the central chord of life as Robert and the family band do. This live cd flows seamlessly, and there's no way you can sit still if this cd comes on. A great cd, that instantly hit my top 10.

Absolutely outstanding!
WHEW! With so much musical mediocrity being released these days, I was getting a bit worried there for a second. Then, I picked up "Live at the Wetlands," which is one of the smartest purchases I've made in my life. Randolph doesn't have much to say lyrically, but he doesn't have to. His steel guitar does all the talking for him. Only six jams on the album, but it's over an hour in length. When it's all over, you'll wonder where the time went and you'll reach for that PLAY button again. And again.

"Unclassified" is alright, but the band is much better live. Run, don't walk, to get this. The "Band of Gypsys" for the new millenium.

HIGHLY recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Culled from the Columbia Records reissue packages, variously released under the multivolume Quintessential Billie Holiday umbrella, this package goes straight for the love songs, the heart of Holiday. Ranging from such playful lyrics as "Let's Do It" and "Them There Eyes" to such essential Holiday as "You Go to My Head," "The Very Thought of You," and "Easy Living," this set is guaranteed to keep the home fires burning brightly. Lay this one on your lover next Valentine's Day. As was so frequently the case with Holiday, the ensemble support is impeccable, including many of the swingers from Columbia's Greatest Hits package. The bonus here is Count Basie on piano, leading his swinging big band on "They Can't Take That Away from Me." --Willard Jenkins ... Read more

Reviews (18)

You ain't heard these songs 'til you hear Billie singin' em
It's one of those names that e'ybody's heard, but lotsa people, 'specially my age group (the under-25 category), have yet to truly embrace. But, lemme tell y'all that Lady Day was one of a kind. There's been certain vocalists over the past century that have an alluring quality about them and who's impact has etched them into history, allowing them to constantly be re-discovered by a new generation. It's when music becomes more than music. It's when it becomes a part of our collective conscious and everyday lives. Billie Holiday is an artist that my ol' grandmother used to listen to, and she probably woulda never thought that I would be comin' home from work, sittin' back in my easy chair, and listenin' to these old songs from the 30s and 40s crackle out of my stereo speakers. As with all the great singers, I feel every word she sings. While there are many legendary jazz musicians that are providing her with her backdrop, including Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, Lester Young, and others, Holiday's delivery is the real showcase. She sang straight from her gut. Her voice is smooth and rough, rich and gritty, raw and lovely, all at the same time. These are all sweet, romantic and cherishable love songs that are absolutely timeless in appeal. The story of her life is certainly a tragic one, but hearing her sing these wistful and almost-innocent numbers you'd never know it. If you've never listened to Ms. Holiday, don't deprive yourself of such great music any longer. This is a great place to get started. Chances are, once you hear this, you'll want to hear more. As for me, I think I'm gonna go crack a few brews, sit in my easy chair, put my feet up, and put this in my stereo. Ahhh, yeah, it doesn't get much better than this.

Excellent Billie Holiday primer w/best sound possible
This compilation collects the very love songs from what is probably Billie's best records, the early Columbia (Brunswick/Vocalion) records. Those records do not equal her later records in terms of recording quality nor does it match the nuanced phrasing of her Verve records. What they have going is a young and fresh sounding Billie fronting unbeatable arrangements and performances. They also have some great upbeat material that would become increasingly absent towards the end of Billie's recording career, showing just how much she could do (as her voice faded, she became less capable of handling such material convincingly).

All the Columbia material was collected on the 9 volume "Quintessential" set, but unfortunately, while half of the stuff is pure gold, there's also a lot of dreck. Furthermore, all 9 volumes have poor, compressed sound, and some great stuff comes off limp and lifeless. "Love Songs" rectifies this, and it's just amazing how much better everything is once it's been put through Sony's 20-bit fairy dust. Now if they would only go back and re-do it all in a tightly packaged 6 CD set...

Some of the finest from Billie Holiday 1935-1941
"Love Songs" is, along with "Lady Day Swings", the best compilation of Billie Holiday's recordings. This is one of those definate essential CDs that everyone must have. These recordings date from 1935-1941.

The best songs on this disc for me are: "The Very Thought of You", which is one of the all time great Billie Holiday recordings, "All of Me", "Me, Myself And I", "Them There Eyes", "The Way You Look Tonight". The songs on this album, are absolutely the best, and it does not include a single bad one here. This is absolutely classic Billie Holiday.

Then just look at the great musicians that are here to accompany her on these recordings. Leslie Johnakins, Eddie Barefield, Hymie Schertzer (alto saxophone), Lester Young (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Ben Webster, Chu Berry, Babe Russin, Vido Musso (tenor saxophone), Roy Eldridge, Buck Clayton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jonah Jones, Charlie Shavers, Shad Collins, Emmet Berry (trumpet), George Hunt, Benny Morton (trombone), Buster Bailey, Jimmy Hamilton, Prince Robinson (clarinet), Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Claude Thornhill, Eddie Heywood, Margaret Johnson (piano), Freddie Green, John Collins, Al Casey, Allan Reuss (guitar), Walter Page, Milt Hinton, John Kirby, Ted Sturgis, John Williams (bass), Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Cozy Cole, Kenny Clarke, J.C. Heard (drums).

The recordings have been digitally remastered by Mark Wilder, and he has done such an excellent job at it. These recordings sound brilliant. There are also good liner notes by Delfeayo Marsalis. I always think a CD should come with liner notes. Billie Holiday beats all of the other jazz singers by far, and this CD is a great choice to add to the collection. This is one of my most listened to CDs. Its a must own. Very highly recommended.

Billie is Wonderful BY DARA TILLERY
BILLIE WAS AN INSPIRATIONAL AND CONTREVERSIAL SINGER.Her singing is beautiful when she sings she touches others heart. this c.d is most definetely beautiful.

My favorite single album.
When my boyfriend bought this for me I was so happy and I remember I would play this music and sing for him in the car on cool dark, starry nights and I would be mesmerized not only by the intensity of those nights, but by the music she sang and how she deeply, richly portrayed those songs. She really knew how to set the mood for any lover or lonely lover as well. I totally recommend this CD to start if you have not heard much of her music...SHe truly is addicting once you hear these songs...These songs will definetly put you in an enchanting and romantic journey. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The stage of Tennessee jam band festival Bonnaroo is an unlikely setting for the year's most important blues recording, but young firebrands North Mississippi Allstars pulled off a creative coup in June of 2004 with their Hill Country Revue. The concert teamed patriarch R.L. Burnside and his guitarist and rapper sons, the late Othar Turner's fife and drum band, the Black Crowes' Chris Robinson, and eccentric producer-pianist Jim Dickinson, the father of Allstars Luther and Cody Dickinson, with the wiry trio. The historic results handily blend all the racial, geographic, and cultural elements of the genre with adventurous musicality. Burnside is present more for his inspiration than his musical contribution. But his sons carry on the tradition while pushing its borders into hip-hop and six-string psychedelia. If there’s a star here, though, it's guitarist Luther Dickinson, who playfully quotes Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and the elder Burnside, and then adds a level of tonal and textural exploration to his performance that makes him a one-man defibrillator for the genre--insurance that the heart of the blues will keep pumping into the future. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Amazon.com

This Boston-bred blueswoman's follow-up to Just Won't Burn, which earned her a Best New Artist Grammy nomination in 2000, trades its predecessor's bar-band bluster for a sensual, soulful approach. By slowing the tempos, Tedeschi is able to make the most of the warm, middle range of her voice, pouring honey all over sweet ballads and making the Memphis funker "Alone" jump like a lost Hi Records nugget. Although her guitar-star husband, Derek Trucks, adds fire to two numbers, including Paul Pena's classic "Gonna Move," Tedeschi herself dishes out some fat-toned, terse solos that sting with the style of the late Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

Also here is a haunting take on Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice," which fits perfectly with Tedeschi's own songs about mature romance. And she teams with Handy Award-winning country-blues duo Paul Rishell and Annie Raines for the spare and touching acoustic tune "Blues on a Holiday." Wait for Me may not win Tedeschi the attention her last album drew, but it's far better, and it marks her arrival as a full-grown artist. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (57)

AWSOME, Simply awsome!!
DO YOU LIKE THOSE ROCKING SOULFUL BLUES SONGS THAT JUST OOZE LOVE?

If you answered yes.

BUY THIS DISK!!

If you like songs that sound like they belong in a hot sweaty blues bar where everyone is dancing, drinking, and having a great time, well, this disk has those too.

For the party animal in you, Susan rocks hard on "I Fell in Love", "Gonna Move" and the funky "Hampmotized" which features a rhythm that would make Bootsy Collins groove.
"The Feeling Music Brings" is a straight up boogie blues guitar tune that has some of the hottest guitar playing of the disk. Accompanied by Susan's sultry vocals cooing along with the extended solo. It's so hot that it will bring up the temperature of the room it's being listened to in.

Susan's voice never sounded stronger then it does on the title track "Wait For Me" where she channels Etta James in a "belt it out" slow building blues number that had me dancing on the sofa.

Oh, it's not all Bar-Room-Sweat-Soaked-Blues.

There's the sweet spring morning of a song "In The Garden" that has an amazingly heart stirring violin solo mid way through it. "Blues On A Holiday" sounds just like the tile suggests, a song that you might hear Susan singing in front of her fireplace on a family holiday.

I'm Thankful For The Feeling This Music Brings!
Susan Tedeschi is one of the great artists in music today - blues, pop, rock, folk whatever you want to call her. Her 2nd album garnered her a best new artist nomination that she deserved to win. That album, Just Won't Burn, is her best! It combines blues, rock, folk, and a bit of country tinged blues for a kickin' record. Her first album, Better Days, is very rough-hewn and more akin to Just Won't Burn. Here on Wait for Me we see a more subdued Susan Tedeschi. She's seems to be staying strictly with the blues here and focusing less on pop, rock, etc. Whereas earlier we heard some of Janis Joplin in those vocals now we see more of Bonnie Raitt which isn't bad but one longs for an artist who can't be confined by genre. Still, this album is a major success for any fan of real music - blues or otherwise. Highlights here are Alone, Gonna Move, Wrapped in the Arms of Another (really more of a ballad)and The Feeling Music Brings and I Fell in Love which are really the only two songs where Susan rocks and she succeeds in spades. Blues on Holiday is the best track on this record though. It's simple guitar and harmonica accompaniment and Susan's sweet vocals make it one of Susan's best ever.

Susan Tedeschi is a phenom. I hope she gets the recognition in the music world she deserves. Still, something tells me she is just fine singing the blues in blues cafe in front of a small crowd of fans and selling 10 records. She's in the business for the music and that's what I call a true artist. Don't make us wait to long for another album and please folks if you get a chance to see Susan perform live - DO SO!

Still waiting
Susan Tedeschi has one of the most astonishing voices in the current musical landscape, and sadly, there's nothing on Wait For Me that stretches it to the extent the best moments from Just Won't Burn did.. That isn't to say it isn't worthwhile - Tedeschi spent the record going into more classic soul and r/b territory than finding the blues, which is absolutely her right, and with songs as fun as "I Fell in Love" or as lovely as "Alone" and "In the Garden", you'll certainly understand why. But for the most part, the record doesn't leave you with much of an impression, or, as in the case of "Hampmotized," it can get downright annoying. Tedeschi certainly hasn't lost any talent, but this record is a subpar showcase for it.

Wait For Me
I think Susan Tedeschi is one of the best Blues singer's I've ever heard and I am looking so forward to hearing her live this Friday, April 2, 2004 at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival. Go Susan!!! YOU ROCK!!!

wait for me
Several months ago I saw Susan preform in Charlotte,North Carolina.Her show was fantastic for the begining to the end.I only wish that after the show I could have stayed and had a chance to speak with her and have her sign an autograph.After the show my wife an I were leaving so that I could get a few hours sleep befor having to go to work (4 am).We spoke only for a minute with her and a band member on the back steeps.They were trying to enter just after we had shut the door.I wanted to ask her where she grow up and went to school.My former home town in upstate New York (Endicott) has several family by the name Tedeschi.By any chance did she once live there.

I would enjoy hearing her again and again in person,I play her cd's almost daily.Looking forward to her new release's

Bill Lambrinos ... Read more