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Kindred spirits from different countries, Canada's Rick Danko, Norway'sJonas Fjeld, and America's Eric Andersen connect across all sorts of borders onthese 1991 recordings. The reedy-voiced Andersen shares Scandinavian roots withFjeld (introduced as "a Norwegian national treasure") and New York andBob Dylan connectionswith former Band memberDanko, and all three steep their material in the American mythos. This two-discset pairs a reissue of the troubadour trio's studio debut (an award winner inNorway) with the first issue of a live recording from a 1991 Norwegian festival.On the studio sessions, the harmonies are richer than some of the song craft,with Danko's vocals at their soulful best on "Driftin' Away" and Andersen's"Blue River." The live performance elicits an enthusiastic reception from thefestival fans, with each of the three artists showcased solo before joiningforces. Listening to Andersen's revival of "Hey Babe, Have You Been Cheatin'"conjures 1960s-era Greenwich Village, where he was one of the first to survivethe "new Dylan" tag. This package serves as a memorial to Danko, who died in1999. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Trio - CSN could learn a lesson here
Taking the last spot in the lineup, nonetheless, Eric Anderson is the architect and musical center for what was one of the truly great trios in modern song in the 90's. This team came about as a result of Eric's move to Norway. He has released several stellar solo recordings based in Norway that are well worth seeking out, and in the course of this endeavour, he began working with Jonas Fjeld. I'm not sure how Rick Danko and the two of them hooked up, but their debut concert in Norway is presented here as a bonus secxond disc to a marvellous recapitulation of their studio work.

This trio is the perfect antedote to the birdchirpy, often off key (especially in concert) harmonics of CSN. What you have are 3 men who can find the notes, expand upon them, provoke interesting twists on the harmonies, and introduce their personal idiosyncrasies in a magnificent tapestry. Pull Crosby out of the other trio, and you have a sheer mess.

The studio songs are extremely well executed, beautifully orchestrated. In concert, Danko flubs a bit of "It makes no difference" but flubs with enormous passion. It is an arresting example of how getting it wrong gets it totally right. Fjeld is the surprise in both the studio and in concert. He is both American raconteur and Scandanavian mystic. His tones are all Norse inflected, and his baritone delivery has a worn in quality that makes him seem part of your interior's history. That brings us to Anderson, perhaps the most underappreciated writer ever to have emerged from the same scene that spit out Dylan and Baez and Paxton and loads of other very essential writers. He writes from the heart, and his songs can leave you devastated, exhilarated, reflective, and so much more. He is a brilliant musician. Well, they all are, and the backup bands in both contexts are superlative.

Go out on a limb, here, if you are unfamiliar with these men. This was a great band that you should listen to, and with Danko's unfortunate passing, a final testament to one of Canada's greatest musicians, one of popular song's greatest interpreters.

Nice old-fashioned roots music
An expanded, 2-CD reissue of an unusual and unlikely collaboration between former Band member Rick Danko, Scandinavian roots rocker Jonas Fjeld and Greenwich Village singer-songwriter Eric Andersen. This is a pleasantly diverse outing, ranging from quieter, folkie numbers to electric jam-band tunes. The new version also includes a second disc of live concert recordings that may include a few pleasant surprises. Accomplished, confident rootsy material by an interesting trio of hippie-era old-timers. ... Read more

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In the decade following Stevie Ray Vaughan’s passing in 1990, hordes of guitarists savaged their instruments in rank emulation of the Texan. These days, have mercy, the vast majority of those firebrands have faded away, leaving the hot blues-rock guitar field largely to slide specialist Dave Hole. Not that this Aussie is some SRV-fixated holdout, mind you. Rather, he was scalding his strings as far back as the '70s, initially getting noticed on this side of the world in the early '90s. On his first concert album ever, Hole proves that his musical intelligence and his emotional honesty are as formidable as his technical skills. "Demolition Man" lives up to its title, as does "Short Fuse Blues." "Take Me to Chicago" is so good it suggests he spent his formative years in the outback studying under some Aussie Elmore James. Hole can chill too, wringing sweet truths out of "Berwick Road." --Frank-John Hadley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sizzling, Electrifying, Astounding.
Finally, the live one has hit the racks. As one of the most prolific bluesmen in Australia, Dave Hole has gained a large following with his unique method of playing slide guitar "upside down". Hole effortlessly punches through the 12-bar progression, flying over his fretboard like a hummingbird on amphetamines. The album was recorded over three separate dates in 2002: July 26 at House of Blues Chicago, July 27 at Chord on Blues in St. Charles, and December 17 at The Charles Hotel in Perth, Australia. The transitions from key to key and erratic volume changes provide an accurate glimpse of the onstage furor that Dave Hole Projects through his guitar. The album includes technically perfect covers of Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix, and Bullfrog Blues by Canned Heat.His band consists of Roy Daniel on Bass, J Mattes & Ric Eastman on Drums, and Bob Patient on Keyboards. Brett Lemke

WOW!
Reckless, gritty, unforgettable.Dave Hole, Australian for Blues.

Great from beginning to end!
I thought Dave Hole and Johnny Winter were the two greatest living electric blues guitarists, but with this album Dave Hole has shown a range that leaves Winter behind and places him beside the late Roy Buchanan on the pinnacle. The playing here is simply incredible and you have to hear it to believe it. We've heard all these songs before on his six previous albums, but some of the performances here transcend those. So if you want to hear the real thing, electric blues far eclipsing that of the overrated Stevie Ray Vaughan, grab The Live One right away and hold on to your hat!

Pure Explosion!
Dave Hole is a hard rockin' blues man from Australia.If you haven't heard Hole yet, be prepared for no holds barred grating slide guitar not unlike that played by Eric Sardinas.No subtleties here, just chalkboard grating, hair raising, nerve crunchingslide guitar. Hole slows down slightly for his cover of "How Long?" and "Berwick Road" but that's about it.The rest is all pedal to the metal.The cover's of Hendrix' "Purple Haze" and the 12 minute "Bullfrog Blues", done best by Rory Gallagher with his band Taste, are interesting at best.If you like to "rawk", this is your CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The great soul singer in London
The soul you find here is both classic, enduring and a revelation to hear, played live in front of a receptive audience. Ted Hawkins was living in England when these songs was recorded live in 1988 in London, and many fans were eager to see and hear him after hearing his records. This live set has not been released until now, and it's another classic from this magnificent soul artist. Ted Hawkins had the most singular voice in soul music in modern years, and he was especially liked in England in the first years after his redicovery(1985-1990). He then hit big in US with the 1994 album 'The Next Hundred Years'. This album is the newest with Ted Hawkins' wonderful music and you can hear some songs not available on other CDs, most notable 'Please come to Boston' and 'Golden Sun'. My favourite songs are 'That's heaven to me', done originally by Sam Cooke and 'I got what I wanted'. This is a solo performance that shines from start to end, and it must have been a joy to have been there that night at the Mean Fiddler Room in London. I think you should treat yourself with this one, and you will feel happy you did. ... Read more

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Getting his start in the same coffeehouse scene as Dylan, Andersen is the rare '60s folkie whose work can match Dylan for lyrical and vocal complexity.If that seems like an overstatement, a close listen to this album--recorded shortly after 1972's eloquent Blue River but which was lost and not released until 1991--is in order.Andersen sings every line with emotional consequence, and rather than rely on the quaint or precious impressions of most confessional writers, he mines a harder poetry of human choice and fate."Time Runs Like a Freight Train" is simply beyond summary.And the whole velvety sound of his record--featuring backup from Leon Russel and Dan Fogelberg--is as sensuous and spiritual as Andersen's songs.--Roy Francis Kasten ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Here Is The Fabled "Lost Album" Rediscovered After 20 Years!
The master tapes of this classic album originally recorded in the early 1970s was actually lost by the record company for over twenty years before finally being released in the early 1990s. It shows with stunning brilliance just how powerful a poet, song writer, and performer legendary folk stalwart Eric Andersen really is. Like his fabled best-selling album "Blue River", the picture portrayed here is one of a folk artist at the peak of his creative powers, with wondrously complex, perverse, and intimate lyrics that reveal the depths of Andersen's interior vision. Also as with the former album, this "lost album " provides the listener a glimpse at a number of thoughtful, poignant, and philosophic views into both Andersen himself and the world as he saw it during a period of personal difficulty and inner turmoil. Eric Andersen is nothing if not a consummate writer, performer, and interpreter of classic folk melodies and subjects, and he delivers on his considerable promise. Certainly both earlier and later professional efforts by Andersen indicate just how talented and durable his abilities as a writer and performer he is.

Here he is in superb form, with original songs ranging from the stunning "Moonchild River Song" to the evocative and mysterious "Time Runs Like A Freight Train". The whole song cycle is wonderful, but the listener needs to be take the time to begin to appreciate it in its full complexity and subtle qualities. My personal favorites are "Lie With Me", one of the most lovely and unforgettable love songs I have yet heard, and also "Woman, She Was Gentle". I also like the final cut, "Soul of My Song" a haunting and evocative song about Andersen's ideas of a life well lived. One often hears albums described as a collection of songs, but this is truly a song cycle that has a special mood, atmosphere, and timbre of its own. This is a special album by a monumental talent who has never gotten the wide acclaim and popular recognition his unusually gifted abilities seem to deserve. Buy this CD and I guarantee you will soon find yourself referring to Andersen's "lost album" reverently, as most "folkies" do

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This.
There's a reason for the enormous amount of stars for Eric Andersen's albums: each album reflects the passion, intelligence and integrity of this gifted artist. Stages: The Lost Album is a true masterpiece, and I would rank it with Blue River as the best representation of Eric's earlier work. It is a great starting place if you are unfamiliar with his work (it was the first album I heard of his, and got me hooked), as the two sets of tracks (early 70s and late 80s/early 90s) span a good section of his career. The story behind the album is riveting, too...the liner notes alone are almost worth the price. Any fan of folk or rock will connect intimately with the songs on this album.

Perhaps his most interesting collection of eloquent songs
"Stages" is not only for the most avid Eric Andersen fan, but for those not very acquantied with his work. The newer tracks, written in early 90's, are wonderful... very lyrical and reminescent of his work from "Blue River". The other tracks, recorded in the early 70's and incredibly were lost until located a few years ago, include the original production of "Time Run Like A Freight Train". Kudo's for Eric, whose music remains fresh and provided me with a CD a really treasure.

So glad they found it in the vaults!
I believe it is also worth noting that the last four tracks on the disc were recorded in 1990 with help from Rick Danko and Shawn Colvin, and are among the standout tracks on the album! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Perfect
Perfect from the first note to the last note she sings. I especially like her selection of songs for the medley that she does. She is such a powerful performer that you feel like you are there at the Kerville Folk Festival back 1996 listening to her. Magnificent. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

SMOKIN!!!!
This is one of the sweetest sounding Johnny Lee live CD's I have ever heard. The sound quality is excellent, and Hooker's voice is so great it scares me. This is a must for anyone who likes down home smokin & drinkin blues to the bone. Damnnn!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My first Duke
This is the first Duke Robillard CD I've purchased. I bought it after hearing "Dyin Flu" on the radio. A couple of the songs have kind of a big bad bluesy sound to them. Not my favorite. And there must of been a problem recording live because at the end of "Dyin Flu" the Duke's mike drops out for like about a minute. You can hear him in the background (very faintly) but mainly just the instruments. Not good. It's a great song and the dead space at the end of the song kind of ruins it. There's some other good songs on the CD, but "Dyin Flu" is why I bought the CD. I might try to by another CD with the song on it and hopefully the sound engineer will not be sleeping at the switch.

The long-awaited LIVE Robillard!
This album is proof of what Duke's fans have known for a long time - as good as his recordings are, he's even better in person. The material here is very representative of a live show, recorded in late 1995, on a VERY good night. There's really not much more I can say here: if you like modern blues (T-Bone, Roomful, et al) then this is a keeper. I'd have rated it 4-1/2 stars, but the button doesn't allow that. ... Read more

Album Description

Captured back in 1988 within the intimate setting of London's legendary West End jazz haunt, Ronnie Scott's in Soho, TAJ MAHAL delivers his unique fusion of blues, soul, and world music - topped by some stunning guitar work. The album includes reworkings of classics from his past like 'Mail Box Blues' and 'Statesboro Blues' alongside his inimitable interpretations of blues standards like 'Come On In My Kitchen'.

A DualDisc is a two-sided disc made up of a CD on one side and a DVD on the other, DualDisc’s breakthrough technology allows one disc to have it all. A full album on the CD side. All sorts of special material on the DVD side, including the full album in a 5.1 Surround Sound, exclusive video content and lyrics. DualDisc work wherever you play CD’s and DVD’s, including car stereos, PC’s DVD Players, game consoles and CD players. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

After accurately documenting Buddy Guy's talent on the great A Man & the Blues, producer Samuel Charters set out to prove that the Chicago legend was also one of the music's best live entertainers. This album's not only packed with fanciful guitar solos and fervent singing, it shows Guy's full range as an artist. His powerful testifying on "Fever" and "Knock On Wood" nail his credentials as a soul singer. "I Had a Dream Last Night" captures the sensitivity and emotional depth of his blues. And the charging "I Got My Eyes On You" nips at Jimi Hendrix's boots as it reveals Guy as a source of sonic inspiration to that Voodoo Chile. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I feel bad about this one
Don't get me wrong okay? Good music is here. 40 minutes of show. First off there are many kinds of buddy guy music. The great Delta Bluesman Son House once was asked to comment on a Buddy Guy show he watched live the night him and buddy jammed together alone. House called it '' Monkey Junk''. Well that show was probably similar to this. I like it, others may not. It is not straight blues and there is probably only two or three real blues here straight up if you have a narrow scope.[ I got my eyes on you, is really just Let Me Love you baby.] And if you do, okay it is all up to taste. This isn't the Buddy guy Guitar show either. This is buddy Guy the showman. He does play some mean solos here [few] and it is really more about having a show- a performance. The loud horns the funk rythms. The showy vocals. This isn't really a blues record. The three stars comes from the fact that he really didn't give a great guitar performance which I think is what his fans want. This is not a bad record to stress, but a different record. It is like James Brown [ only not as good ] when it hits those funky jams like I'm not the Best. Fever is great but barely any or, now that I think about it maybe no solo Guitar playing at all on that one. This album just isn't essential to me anyway. It is good and I know how versatile Buddy is so this isn't about pigeon holing him. I just wouldn't buy it twice. It doesn't seem that Brilliant. I'm a fan of Buddy in many ways, but not really this one. I like Rock Buddy, Electric Blues Buddy, Extremely electric blues buddy, and acoustic buddy. But Funk soul show-little guitar not high on lyrics buddy is not my favorite side of his incredible talents. Besides, right now Amazon[.com] doesn't even give it a discount price, It's not really a deal if you ask me.

the REAL Real Deal!
This is what it sounded like to hear Buddy play live in the late 80s and early 90s (when,he peaked, IMO). The first half of this CD is the best, peaking with "Fever" and "Knock on Wood", a song he used to play as he walked through the audience, up balcomies, and even one in NJ outside in the rain to fans who didn't have tickets! Buy this disk BEFORE "Live, The Real Deal". "Live, The Real Deal" is NOT the real deal, as Buddy NEVER sounds that way (or has the SNL Band back him up). "Live - This Is Buddy Guy" is the REAL Real Deal! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Just listen....
This albumn is creative and shows the wonderful guitar style of Son House as well as other bluesmen that Rory has melded into her own unique sound. She brings new thought into the blues community by both being female and telling "Mama's Blues" from that perspective. (A song that unfortunately I think a lot of women can relate to-that's what the blues are all about! everyday ) In addition "Got to Shine" can lift even the most depressed soul up. Please have a listen to this CD-you won't regret it!

Wonderful acoustic folk/blues
This is one of Rory's best releases. (Hey, any CD that starts with a train whistle has got to be great!)

All of the songs have Rory's trademark passionate singing and acoustic guitar playing. Terraplane Blues, The Spirit Returns, and the title cut are standouts. Got To Shine and Do Your Duty have a gospel flavor. Weepin' Willow Blues is also great.

Liner notes written by Rory, talking about her musical influences and some stories behind some of the songs on this CD. (Even explain the train!)

If you're looking for more Rory, Confessions of a Blues Singer is another great release. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Don't Forget to Boogie
This was one of my best live cassettes, almost worn out to transparent. Happily enough I got the Cd.
Well, Canned Heat certainly knew how to boogie, I reckon; although we are missing the Blind Owl, the Bear was still there fronting the proceedings. The whole set is great but I prefer the boogie ones with the Chamber Brothers supplying backing vocals and The Hook himself, what can it be said, just that's too sad he just sang on three tunes. Vintage blues and boogie. Don't think twice it's alright! buy it the now.

Only the JLH songs are special
This CD is a fair representation of a live concert in the mid-seventies when JLH sat in for a few songs at the end of the night. The crowd is enthusiastic and the energy from the band is high, but the only really standout tracks are the last three, featuring John Lee Hooker. Canned Heat plays a decent back-up role to a true legend and they swing and groove and growl well enough. Nothing earth-shattering, but there are some very enjoyable moments. The best aspect of this disc is the very palpable sense of atmosphere conveyed through a pretty well recorded gig. Simple, party type blues/rock, but JLH adds some magic. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Gems Make it Worthwhile for Hardcore Fans
If you like Taj Mahal, you probably don't need much convincing to buy his live reggae album. That being said, the steel drum work on this album sounds a bit like that you'd hear on the deck of a Carnival cruise ship and the "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" tease on track three will make anyone under the age of 35 blush in shame (say it ain't so, Taj!). Frankly some of the cuts are downright silly (#7 and the aforementioned #3, especially).
Cavilling aside, tracks two and five are stellar cuts. #2 is an instrumental which exhales restrained funky breaths -- as hard as you'd be able to shake it while surfeited on beer-and-spliff under a 100-degree tropical sun. #5 is thicker, starting as a lullaby and dropping into a slow, earthy groove. The backup singers do their best work here, as well.

Not a fan of the steel drums
I love Taj Mahal. He is a brilliant artist and a charismatic performer. HOWEVER, I can't stand this album. Steel drums are nice and all, but for an entire album, it was a bit much for me. If you LOVE steel drums, then buy this.

Simple lovely!
This album by Taj is simple great, timeless, full of lovely and relaxed music. You will get a really nice feeling by listening to that outstanding stuff. I would say a benchmark. Buy it, you will never sell it!

Taj in his element
Live albums can be a risky venture; the recording can be poor, the pressing can be cheap, the concert may be bad. None of these are a concern with this album, it is superior on all counts and reggae flows out of Taj Mahal as easily as the blues do.

Taj and steel drums; an excellent adventure
Taj Mahal with a steel drum band. What else could anyone want on a warm summer night? I picked up this album while in college (early 80's). Loved it then, and I highly recommend the CD. The soundtracks Reggae No. 1 and Suva Serenade are added to the CD (they were not on the original album), which is a nice touch when one must buy a CD when he/she already has the album. It is one of the more distinct of Taj's outputs; I know I have no other Taj music quite like it. Little Brown Dog is one of my all time favorites. Take a Giant Step, while on several other Taj albums performed in a variety of ways, is truly unique and superb here. It has such a different feel than the other versions. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Cream + Alone = Live in Houston
A 20-plus years old previously unreleased (I think) import live album? Worried? Don't be. This 1979 live Hooker album on the well-established JSP Records label is worth the purchase. "Live in Houston" can be thought of as a combination of two other live albums from the same era, "The Cream" (pretty decent full-band recordings) and "Alone" (very good solo, hushed, menacing recordings.) The first four songs here feature a full band, though it is very restrained on the fourth, yet another version of "Jesse James Blues". The last three songs are nice solo Hooker. Only seven songs? Well, that is a problem, and the 36-plus minutes are over before full momentum can be gained. Other quibbles? The sound is solid overall, but the bass is barely audible. Could have used more bottom. Most of the songs are familiar, including a too-short solo "Boogie Chillun" and "Dead Wagon Blues", which is "TB Sheets" retitled for some reason. Still, if you like the two live albums I previously mentioned, give this one a shot. It's probably one of the latest (1979; "The Cream" and "Alone" were a couple years earlier) Hooker live albums available. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Play it over and over again... you'll never get tired of it!
My library is about 90% blues and R&B. If you like blues like I like blues, this album is a "must have" item. It's been in my CD player in my van for about two weeks now. I listen to it over and over again and never tire of it. CAUTION: Contains some great drivin' road music... watch your speedometer while listeng to this CD or YOU'LL be singin' the blues to "Smokey"! ... Read more

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BBC Radio One host Andy Kershaw was so enthralled by the gripping music of Ted Hawkins that he detoured from a Nashville trip to find Hawkins in Los Angeles. In fact, Kershaw recorded the first two cuts here in 1986 in Hawkins's Inglewood home and the next four were taped at LA's Sunset Marquis hotel two months later. The remainder of these 19 songs are culled from three Kershaw radio shows dating from October 1986 to August 1989. These are all solo-acoustic numbers, and this setting is the best way to appreciate Hawkins's matchless blend of soul, folk, country, and blues. On the whole, this doesn't quite match the intensity of the 1994 recordings collected on The Final Tour, but it offers a few of its own unique charms. Hawkins brings to life the cheatin' song "Daytime Friends," a 1977 No. 1 country hit for Kenny Rogers and revisits Doris Troy's 1963 soul classic "Just One Look." In addition, the final five songs are lesser-known Hawkins originals, including the childlike "Dollar Tree" and a couple of simple but passionately delivered love songs.--Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A unique voice
This album is amazing; simply Ted Hawkins with his very rudimentary solo quitar accompaniment. I gather most cuts were recorded at a residence or in radio studios. Nonetheless, the sound quauty is good and the performances come across as heartfelt and "authentic." This music cannot be easily categorized... blues, pop, soul... who cares. The feeling is there. The enunciation of the lyrics is another real strength. Every word comes through and many will break your heart. I do not know which songs Hawkins wrote. Many of them are familiar to me, but even if they are you feel you've heard them for them first time. I bought some other Ted Hawkins albums, some with musician backup and studio recording, but this one comes closest to what is unique about this performer. A cross between Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Sam Cooke, a capella, if you can imagine that.

Soulful & Stunning
Where do I begin with the praise for this amazing singer? Should i tell you that it brings tears to my eyes? That I get choked up at the sheer beauty, soulfulness, and unparallelled musicality of Ted Hawkins?

If you love soulful singers, you need this album in your life. The comparisons with Sam Cooke are no b.s. Ted Hawkins was touched by God. There are only a small handful of singers in this category. Some of them: Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Nina Simone, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline.

I wish to God I had seen this man sing in person.....he will heal your soul with the honey balm of his voice. ... Read more

Album Description

This 1964 recording taken from the original Vee-Jay tapesincludes Bus Station Blues, Let's Make It, and 11 otherHooker originals. ... Read more