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This collection in the ever-expanding Blues Masters series is the second to feature slide guitar work, and it picks up quite a few essential tunes that were missed on the first go-round. Among others, this includes Muddy Waters performing a low-key version of "I Can't Be Satisfied," Elmore James going nice and slow on "The Sky Is Crying," Blind Willie Johnson's fire-and-brimstone voice (which at times overwhelms his guitar playing) on "I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole," and Son House's excellent "Death Letter." And there are plenty of other artists represented here as well; Hound Dog Taylor with "Take Five," Earl Hooker with "Wah Wah Blues," Johnny Winter with "Dallas," and even Chuck Berry makes an appearance with "Blues for Hawaiians." There's probably nothing here that the die-hard blues fan hasn't heard before, but it's an excellent cross-section of the blues in general and slide guitar in particular, a technique that's almost unrivalled in terms of its sheer expressive power. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Album Description

New Hampshire is home to a variety of time-honored music and dance traditions. This 1999 studio recording is a collection of dance tunes played by six New Hampshire groups. Built upon a blend of English, French, and Celtic influences, the music features fiddle, guitar, flute, piano, mandolin, and hammered dulcimer. Some of New Hampshire's renowned dance callers invite you to "choose your partners" and join in New England contra dancing, barn dancing, and singing squares. Produced in collaboration with the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

music good - calls unusable
I'm from NH and have danced to these guys. Great music! The recording of the calls, however, is so poorly done that I am unable to use it in my classes. I have ended up stringing the music and recording my own calls. "Let's all Square Dance" does the job better and gives intro and instruction as well.

Best Contra Dance/Listening CD
I just love this CD. Clear calls, great music. I always play it to put me in a good.Makes you want to tap your feet and balance and swing, do-si-do, and allemende anyway you can!

Great Stuff
I suppose I am not very sophisticated musically. And my attitude is badly distorted by an extreme fondness for New Hampshire. (I am condemned to life in the flatlands of Illinois). But Iknow of no CD or record I have heardthat I have enjoyed more. The music is a selection of traditional music andfresh compositions in a traditional mode. All the music is presented in anextremely refreshing way.I strongly recommend it. My only regret is thatthe groups on this CD do not seem to be otherwise available. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

wonderful, but for specialists only
I like the Lomax disks, I like real folk, country, and bluegrass music, and I usually like less polished music by early, uncommercial artists. Nevertheless, I don't listen to this disk much. The problem isn't the quality of the music, which is high. But it's not just less polished, it's totally unpolished. I think you really have to be searching for the roots of just this type of music to appreciate this disk.

A Treasure Of American Music
This Cd represents a treasure of american music and lets one know that what this music really is is a mixture of european and african influences. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I do believe I shall join a jug band
I admit, this album has a lot of weak tracks and nearly all of the tracks sound alike in some way or the other, but it's simply too much fun to ignore. Even though the instrumentation is as basic as possible (take guitar(s), washboard, perhaps a piano), these varied early early blues men could create some damn smooth rags, stomps, and shuffles. These men died of old age you say, or maybe cancer? No, coolness killed them, one and all. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great sampler
What more to say - see the cuts included.

Blues sampler
This is a great CD for someone who is getting to know the blues for the first time. All types of blues are represented. It includes some of the great masters of the art like Muddy Waters and Koko Taylor. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A fine collection!
These may not be the greatest boogie-woogie and blues piano performances you've ever heard, but this album makes a more than respectable addition to the collection of any lover of those musical forms. Jack Dupree demonstrates his usual mastery of the blues, while performances by such less-celebrated talents as Deryck Sampson, Gene Rodgers, and Beverly White prove that great talent rarely receives the broad recognition it deserves. These 22 tracks deserve to be heard and are sure not to disappoint aficionados of boogie-woogie and blues piano. ... Read more

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On Sunday mornings at Chicago's famous Maxwell Street open-air market, busking bluesmen would battle with hawkers, preachers, and dancers for coveted space. In 1964 filmmaker Mike Shea chronicled this bubbling scene for his landmark documentary And This is Free; in the process, he preserved stunning examples of raw, informal, gritty, undeniably urban blues, the best of which is included on these two revelatory CDs. Amazingly, legendary figures like Robert Nighthawk and Carey Bell were as likely to show up as any number of local gospel singers and blues pickers. Nighthawk's tenacious saw-toothed guitar work and Bell's swooping harp are well documented here, as is the work of lesser-known Chicago players like Johnny Young and Big John Wrencher. However, in this setting, the songs of obscure players like Arvella Gray, who performed solo with a Dobro, and the James Brewer gospel singers seem nearly as important. Rooster Blues's superb package includes incredibly detailed annotation, which does an admirable job in trying to sort out the correct players and songwriters, and crisp remastering--two things that the unauthorized Rounder single-disc issue lacks--plus a bonus third disc featuring young Mike Bloomfield's interview with Nighthawk. Like field recordings are to country blues, these street recordings are much more than mere music--they are compelling historical documents. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (3)

So, Arvella Gray,This IS Maxwell Street!!
I am grateful that, in my lifetime, fate has given me the opportunity to discover the pure talent and outstanding blues recordings in AND THIS IS MAXWELL STREET. In researching my family's history, I am overwhelmed by Arvella Gray 's (my father's only male sibling) significant contribution to this genre.

No suprise this was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award
At last! What a pleasure it is finally to see the original recordings from Mike Shea's 1964 Maxwell Street documentary "And this Is Free" available in the North American market (also now in Europe on the Catfish label as KAT3D1) with its in-depth liner notes in English for the first time-more than 60 pages! (these recordings first appeared in 1999 in Japan as P-Vine PCD 5527/28). Both this set from Rooster and the Catfish release are identical to the P-Vine release with the exception of the language of the liner notes and the addition of a third bonus disc, which contains the entirety of the 44-minute interview of Robert Nighthawk conducted by guitarist Michael Bloomfield as part of the "And This Is Free" documentary project.

And what extraordinary music it is. This disc contains the first known recordings of Carey Bell (who was about 28 in 1964). It contains one of the very few glimpses we have of Robert Nighthawk on the street. Highlights include his growling guitar work on "Cheating and Lying Blues;" some of the most extraordinary electric blues guitar playing ever recorded on "I Need Love So Bad;" Nighthawk doing the two songs that brought him his first real fame--"Annie Lee" and "Sweet Black Angel;" and a lively rendition of "Take It Easy, Baby." Not to be overlooked is fine harp work by Carey Bell, and perhaps the most dynamic and moving performances by one-armed harpist Big John Wrencher that were ever recorded. Here we also get gospel performances by James Brewer, a fine "John Henry" from Arvella Gray (so much livelier than the stiff version on the Swedish Radio tapes also recently issued), and rousing, raw gospel shouting from Carrie Robinson and other performers. Another highlight is two fine songs from Johnny Young. In short, this music captures the excitement of raw, live blues on Chicago's Maxwell Street in its heyday.

Interspersed between the songs are snippets of street preachers, hawkers, hucksters, and the voices of the musicians between numbers. We also hear car horns, conversations, street noise, and the enthusiastic shouting and clapping of the audience on tracks such as "Dust my Broom" and two jams that are perhaps the wildest, most spirited live blues performances ever captured on tape. The producers have attempted (and succeeded, in my view) to recreate the experience of a Sunday on Maxwell Street in the 1960s. Revel in it.

(...) "And This Is Maxwell Street" is the real thing. Don't confuse it with the Rounder disc. My advice is to take your Rounder version to the used record store and replace it with this one.

While this raw, raucous, record of the blues in the streets of Chicago will not appeal to casual listeners who want to turn on some easy background music and relax, it should make any serious blues fan sit up straight and listen hard. This is a slice of what the blues was really about during this period. The interview disc is icing on a very fine cake.

Highly recommended. Nominated this year for a W.C. Handy Award and surely the right choice for best historical release.

Maxwell Street Blues Box a Must
While efforts continue (bluesman Jimmie Lee Robinson has been on a hunger strike) to preserve the remaining portions of the historic Maxwell Street market area, Rooster Blues has released a three disc compilation, And This is Maxwell Street that presents music that was recorded as part of the making of the film, And This is Free. Some of the music from here was issued on Rounder on lp and cd as Robert Nighthawk, Live on Maxwell Street, which has been repackaged and reconfigured with a some previously unissued selections and including tracks attributed to J.B. Lenoir, Carey Bell and Johnny Young, The Rooster Blues has a full two hours of music and includes also selections from Little Arthur (Red Top/Ornithology which is deleted from the latest version of the Rounder); Big John Wrencher; Arvella Gray, Carrie Robinson; and James and Fannie Brewer. Additionally, Mama Talk To Your Daughter, credited to JB Lenoir on the Rounder is credited to Big Mojo Elem here. And there are several Nighthawk performances here that are not on the Rounder including a Dust My Broom that includes Mike Bloomfield on guitar (possibly being Bloomfield's earliest recordings). The full range of music here is quite powerful and entertaining including such selections as Nighthawk's updating of Dr. Clayton's Cheatin' and Lyin' Blues, the fervent gospel singing of Carrie Robinson as well as James and Fannie Brewer, street singer Arvella Gray's vigorous renditions of Corinna, Corinna and John Henry, and one armed harp wizard Big John Wrencher's Lucille. Several tracks spotlight Carey Bell, with I'm Ready perhaps being his first recorded vocal. Portions of vendors' sales pitches and street preachers' sermons are heard here as well. Providing some context to the recording. The Rounder has a portion of Mike Bloomfield's interview with Robert Nighthawk which is heard in its entirety (nearly 50 minutes) on the third disc of the Rooster Blues. My advance copy of the Rooster Blues lacks the booklet that should be accompanying it so I cannot comment on this aspect of the package, but because of the more complete reissue of this historic material, clearly is preferable, and a contender for vintage reissue of the year. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Gift You Weren't Expecting
These days, it's easy to forget that folk music is made by ... well, folks. And not folks in Greenwich Village. These field recordings are stunning in their breadth, clarity, and subtlety. The singers have played these songs for years and have a homey, bright feel to them. "God's Unchanging Hand" is beautiful, slow, deliberate gospel, and "Fred McDowell's Blues" is earthy and transcendent at once. This is my favorite field recording EVER. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

modern blues
This is my FAVORITE blues cd! It has all the flavor of traditional blues music, but with a very contemporary sound. This is going to be one of YOUR favorites too. I have loaned this cd out many, many times, the last time it didn't come back. This is the ONLY site I could find it on. I will be re-purchasing it. Forget the music stores, You won't find it. If you buy it and DON'T like it, contact me, I will buy it from you! Then when everyone asks to use it, I'll just give them a copy for themselves. DON'T forget to listen to the demos! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Edward Chmelewski just couldn't wait to sling the good blues slop around, so he's kicked off the quarter-century celebration of his label's founding a few months early with this blockbuster label overview: two audio discs and an all-video CD-ROM. Some longtime Pig followers will grouse because dependable old albums by Chicago blues gents like Otis Rush and Mighty Joe Young are slighted, and this reviewer will keep kosher rather than hear the songs of Bill Perry, John Mooney, and Chris Cain again, but there's much to enjoy here. Among the worthies representing the contemporary-blues camp are Deborah Coleman, Popa Chubby, Chris Thomas King, and Tommy Castro. The older generation is well represented well by Snooky Pryor, Magic Slim, George Harmonica Smith, and Muddy Waters.--Frank-John Hadley ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hog heaven
I bought this as a sampler for potential purchases of the musicians on the discs. This is a very fine collection of foot stompin jumpin dancin blues. very enjoyable to listen to. Great sound quality as well. A bargain...with plenty of ideas for other purchases.

A Fantastic Compilation!
Five years after its last anniversary release, the pig is back and this year, its phat! This compilation features Blind Pig recording artists, mainly with an emphasis on releases over the last 5 years. The exception being some older material from the likes of Muddy Water--"Honey Bee", George "Harmonica" Smith's--"Last Chance", Pinetop Perkins--"Ida B" and a couple of other notable legends. These artists are blended nicely with some outstanding contemporary musicians like Muddy Waters guitarist--Bob Margolin, Steve Miller's harpman--Norton Buffalo, Tommy Castro, former Nighthawk guitarist--Jimmy Thackery, O'Brother Were Art Thou's--Chris Thomas King, The son of Muddy Waters--Big Bill Morganfield and scores of others. Too many stanout tracks to list but check out the duet by Tommy Castro and Delbert McClinton "Don't Turn Your Heater Down" or John Mooney's "Gone To Hell" to get a taste of what this CD is about. As if this allstar cast were not enough, the Pig has included a CD-ROM that contains some very interesting material including off the cuff interviews with Muddy Water's and Snooky Pryor as well as gritty performance by Popa Chubby. I have not come across a finer compilation. I wonder what the Pig has in store for it's 30th anniversary?

Incredible collection at a superb price!
The history of Blind Pig really comes out on this collection. You can tell where the blues has been -- and where it's headed!
There are some of the great blues musicians - BB King with Arthur Adams, Tommy Castro (solo and with Delbert McClinton), Muddy Waters, Jimmy Thackery, and Coco Montoya. There are soon-to-be blues legends - Deborah Coleman, Popa Chubby, EC Scott, and Chris Cain. Each disc sounds like a radio show, with great transitions and flow. There are even out-of-print tunes by the Vipers and the Memphis Rockabilly Band.
This cd is great for people looking for an introduction -- and great for folks just looking to have all the greats on one collection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fine sampler
This is one of the best installments in the "Blues Masters" series, showcasing a wide scope of late-40s-to-mid-60s electric blues by some of the best and most renowned artists on the Chicago blues scene.
Not every selection is perfect...they could have done better by Muddy Waters and Junior Wells in particular, and where the heck are Elmore James and John Lee Hooker?

But what is here is mostly great, from Buddy Guy's slow, anguished "First Time I Met The Blues" to J.B. Lenoir's upbeat "Mama Talk To Your Daughter", and Rhino have included excellent songs by Eddie Boyd (the slow blues "Five Long Years"), Howlin' Wolf (the menacing "Smokestack Lightnin'"), Jimmy Reed (the swinging, lethargic boogie of "Bright Lights, Big City"), Sonny Boy Williamson II (the magnificent, harp-driven "Don't Start Me to Talkin'"), Otis Rush (the fiery "All Your Love"), and several others.
"Blues Masters vol. 2" ranks alongside MCA/Chess' "Chess Blues Classics: 1947 To 1956", "Chess Blues Classics: 1957 To 1967", and "Chess Blues Guitar" as the best "various artists"-compilations available. A really good place to start. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Blues to the Very Core
We're all pretty sure we knew where the blues came from - the delta, right? The streets of Chicago? But the songs here prove that the blues is the people's music, invented and crafted by working folks. At first my interest was historical, but these songs are so close to the emotional bone that they slip under the skin and stay there. "Russia Let That Moon Alone", for example, is hilarious on first listen, prophestic afterwards. ("Time done change" she sings over and over, until you friggin' believe it!) Or One String, a homeless man who uses a tin can and a one string guitar, but is harsh and melodic at the same time. This is my favorite Blue Masters album, and I own them all. Buy for the education - stay for the fun! ... Read more

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Before the blues? If you take Webster's first definition--"Low spirits: melancholy"--well, then we're not talking pre-W.C. Handy. We're going back to Eve and the Apple. But, for Yazoo's three-disc Before the Blues series, it's safe to assume the anthologists worked off of the second definition: "A song of lamentation characterized by 12-bar phrases [and] 3-line stanzas in which the words of the second stanza repeat those of the first, and continual occurrence of blues hones in melody and harmony." That works. The 23-song first set in the series offers up a vastly entertaining assortment of rags, breakdowns, and shuffles. Some names may ring a bell with noncollectors (Henry Thomas, Mississippi John Hurt), and a few tunes have become a part of America's musical landscape (notably the eerie "Pretty Polly"). Most of what's found here, however, is unfamiliar, and fascinating. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER!!
In their usual meticulous way, the good people at Yazoo have brought to light a (mostly) forgotten collection of old tunes that shine a light on where we've been.

What we get is a generous, thought-provoking mosaic of our musical heritage. As has been stated before, in the early days, there wasn't much discernible difference between how blacks and whites presented their music. This three-volume set of CD's stuffed near to overflowing with carefully restored songs, takes us back to that time and in doing so reminds us that no matter how richly varied the branches may be our roots are the same. Musical variety is truly a spice of life, which can best be appreciated when the universal foundation of our brother- and sisterhood is kept squarely in sight. A very grateful thank you to Yazoo for tending the flame.

A Great Introduction to VERY Old-School Blues
This collection is almost more folk than blues, or perhaps it is a collection of blues songs when the genre was defined differently; in either case, it's something that anyone really interested in the history and progression of blues music should check out. Maybe listen to old-school John Lee Hooker (The Complete 50's Chess Recordings, for example) or a Lead Belly album to get more of an idea what this is like, much more Delta-blues-sounding than Chicago. If for no other reason, pick this up for the great track buy Mississippi John Hurt, one of my personal favorites. ... Read more

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There's no way you can squeeze four decades' worth of music onto two CDs and make it exhaustive; nonetheless, Men Are Like Streetcars provides an overview of an important and vibrant subgenre within the blues: female blues singers. This CD is an excellent sample of some of the blues' greatest divas, from pioneer belters like Billie Holiday and Victoria Spivey; to guitarist Memphis Minnie, who was more than capable of keeping up with the boys; to reigning queens like Koko Taylor and Etta James, who have continued recording and performing well into the '90s. Other highlights include Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog," Margie Day's "Take Out Your False Teeth Daddy," and Irma Thomas's "Good to Me." --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must-have item for any blues lover
While this is certainly not an exhaustive collection of women blues singers, I was impressed by the selection. Given that the time period covers more than forty years (on only 2 discs!), this compilation is much better than expected. The liner notes are fantastic and the art work is great. An essential item to add to your collection. Also, a great gift ... I have bought several copies for friends. ... Read more

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An entry in the blues-as-cultural-documentation archive, this recording, made in 1960, has been dusted off by Fuel 2000, although with little explanation. The CD booklet retains the original liner notes by Dr. Harry Oster, who recorded these performances by inmates at the Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana. The notes themselves are interesting, not only for their anachronistic language, but for Oster's peculiar perception on the material. He tells you what the songs are about but not where they came from, despite the presence on this recording of several standards, like "They'll Miss Me When I'm Gone" and "Boll Weevil Blues." As those titles imply, the music is mostly country blues in the Mississippi Delta vein. The performances themselves are heartfelt and frequently of very high quality, although this particular album does not contain any discoveries (as opposed to Angola Prisoners' Blues, made at the same time, and featuring early performances by Robert Pete Williams).--Genevieve Williams ... Read more