Amazon.com

Bawdy blues belter Kane reaffirms her role as the 21st-century Bessie Smith with another satisfying collection of smart, sexy, and well-sung discourses on the pleasures and pitfalls of physical love. Despite her sexy mama image Kane is no novelty act; she's a first-class singer with enlightened musical sensibilities and that's why she always attracts high-quality help. Longtime guitarist Jeffrey P. Ross, jazz saxophonist Brandon Fields, the infamous Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, and bluesman Charlie Musselwhite, who adds some harp on "Put It All In There" and guitar and vocals on "What's That Smell," offer expert assistance but it's Kane's sly take on the sexes that carries the show. She kicks off things with a testifying rendition of the Etta James classic "Something's Got a Hold On Me" before romping through several witty originals and unexpected covers. The title track, delivered with grownup glee, is indeed the Led Zeppelin song and once you've heard Kane's rendition the boyish bravado of the original will never sound the same again. "Fit, Fat, and Fine," with jumpish horns helping out, is a swinging feminine update of Willie Dixon's "Three Hundred Pounds of Joy" while "Lion in My House," like Kane herself, is simply something that has to be heard to be believed. --Michael Point ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A very versitile jump blues/R&B set!
Candye Kane has had a following of swing dancers for teh last 5 years in the San diego, OC & LA areas, where she often gigs with her combos. She is a powerful blues shouter, who also has a gentle balald side. She can handle everything from 1920's jazz baby to modern rockin' blues, and she covers all those and more here, including swing and jump blues like "Fit, Fine & Fat", there are also some songs that sound Ruth Brown and John Lee Hooker-ish. Cane handles everything with ease and is a true swingin' jumpin' blues mama!

A very versitile set of blues, jump swing, and R&B!!!
I saw Candye Kane, at Martini Blues in Huntington Beach, CA last night. She was wonderful, bawdy, and fun! She performed several songs from this cd including the vivacious jump swing number "Fine, Fit & Fat", (she calls these types of songs "Fat Woman Glorification Songs"). I liked her so much I bought this cd, and went home and listened to it carefully. She shows tromendous versitality as a blues singer, who also sings Ruth Brown style R&B, as well as swing and jump blues.

She performs on this exellent cd Big Bill Broonzy's "what's that I Smell", backed by acoustic guitar, sounding right out of 1929, Delta Blues! There are several mid 40's sounding jump swing songs(including 27 Times), and even a dixieland flavoured tune, and to end things you get to hear Kane with just piano, on another 1920's sounding tune. She covers modern R&B, blues, jump blues, swing, dixieland, and 1920's Delta Blues on this continually enjoyable disc. All with a sultry voice that sounds like 1920's-50's period. A great set, great singer, and great cd!

An entertaining CD that you won't stop playing
Man, this lady can really belt it out. A couple of months ago I had never heard of her, now I'm a huge fan! Everything about this CD is great, and if you love rock and blues you are gonna flip over this collection. Download the free MP3's and you'll see what I mean, that's what sold me.

One thing that I've got to say is, Candye, you're the best female blues vocalist I've ever heard, and I've heard a lot. I sure hope that you decide to do a blues-only CD someday (Ok, I'm biased, I have more blues CD's than rock CD's). You can really rock the house, but I think that the blues is your strength.

Whole Lotta Talent.
As another reviewer has said, Ms. Kane just seems to keep getting better and better, like a fine wine--or a good whiskey ! While she certainly has an eye-catching appearance--( CD cover of the year ? )--there is a lot of terrific music to go with this formidable--looking woman.

The 13 tracks here are all great, primarily in the blues/R & B vein. Her vocals are strong, and a good sense of humour only adds to her appeal--check out "Put It All in There " and "What's That I Smell ? ", for just a couple of examples. She also has an impressive array of musicians on this disc--Charlie Musselwhite ? Larry Taylor ? This lady has some major-league friends !

This is not one of those CDs that you play once, and file away. Ms. Kane has come up with another winner !

If you don't have fun listening to this disc, call the undertaker--you must have checked out !

A fun rock/blues CD
I had never heard of Candye Kane until satellite radio played some of her songs and I decided to give the CD a chance. What a treat! This CD grabs ahold of you and won't let go. From the ballads like "I Got a Secret" and "Going Back Where I Belong" to the power of "Something's Got A Hold On Me" and "27 Times" I just can't stop listening. The CD is like a good steak dinner, it leaves you satisfied but wanting more. ... Read more

Album Description

Take two critically acclaimed bluesmen, team them up in a recording studio, hit the ‘Record’ button, and listen as the magic begins to flow. Case in point: Kenny Neal and Billy Branch’s new Alligator album, DOUBLE TAKE. Kenny Neal is a critically acclaimed triple-threat bluesman, whose guitar and harmonica prowess are matched note for note by his soulful singing and passionate performances. Billy Branch is among the best blues harmonica players in the world. He is a gruff and potent vocalist, a groundbreaking solo artist, a valued session player and leader of the venerable Sons Of Blues. Neal and Branch got together in a studio in France in 1998 and recorded a magnificent acoustic album (released only in Europe), paying tribute to past musicians and laying the path for a bright and uncompromising future for the blues. Now that album—DOUBLE TAKE—is finally seeing the light of day in the United States. From St. Louis Jimmy’s Goin’ Down Slow to the Little Walter gems My Babe (written by Willie Dixon) and I Just Keep Loving Her to Sonny Boy Williamson’s Don’t Start Me Talking to the originals Billy and Kenny’s Stomp and Northern Man Blues, the two trade vocals in a relaxed and warm meeting of styles, riffs, whoops and hollers. Blending deep blues tradition with a contemporary, pulsating edge, Neal and Branch deliver a foot-stomping and spirited look into the blues through the eyes of two remarkable musicians who will continue to be at the forefront of the blues world for many years to come. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great blues
This is a fantastic piece of work, I am a blues musician and I know good blues. If you buy this disc you will not be sorry. These two go together like butter and toast. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once upon a time (circa 1998), the daughter of a blues legend burst onto the scene with her own potentially legendary debut, Turn the Heat Up. I say "potentially" because, although all the necessary ingredients were there, they didn't quite represent the best of what Shemekia Copeland is obviously capable of. A few more years to hone her voice and allow it to reach its natural maturity, and Copeland could produce an album that would challenge some of the reigning royalty of the blues. Wicked is not that album. It is, however, a stunningly good piece of work, with solid songs (Copeland's contributing more to the songwriting, too), a greater variety of styles, and some serious genre-bending that will turn the heads of those used to the more straight-ahead blues of Copeland's last effort. The album even opens with a rocker, "It's 2 a.m.," and Copeland pokes fun at all those pseudo-R&B true-love ballads littering the airwaves lately with her own "The Fool You're Looking For." The fact that Wicked still represents more potential than realization is actually quite refreshing, too. It gives her growing legions of fans something to look forward to, as we realize that the best is still yet to come. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Take A Chance
I'm not normally a Blues Fan, but I took a chance and bought this CD. WOW. Shemekia blew me away, her powerful voice, expressive arrangements were amazing. I have a few CD's that I would say are in my permanent collection and her's is now in that rank. This is only her second CD and I happily look forward to many others. If you are not a big Blues fan, take a chance with this CD and you just might become one.

The explosion continued!!!!
This second cd from Shemekia is another masterpiece!Her voice is one of the best things that happened to the blues scenery in years!!!What powerfull!What sensual tune!!! We must recognize the great work of Bruce Iglauer specially at the production of recents cds like this one.The cover design is absolutely fantastic! The picture inside,of Shemekia's style in front of a microphone ,is all of her fans needed!!!! A primorous work full of intense moments,for romantic bluesfans!! I only expect for an opportunity to see Shemekia's performance at brazilian stages!! Thanks Shemekia for this another jewel!!!

Masterpiece
This one is a masterpiece. She's a very merry girl, and when I hear her, I wanna jump, and I feel very well ! Her music is very merry, and I don't know any singer, who is as merry as Shemekia Copeland. She plays some good rock-blues. And I really like such rock-blues. The guitarist plays very well. No critisizm to the guitar, this time. The drums are also fine. And the singer is just wonderful !!! If this album wouldn't be released, I still wouldn't know what " rock-blues " means. My favorite songs from this albums are Wild, Wild Woman, Miss Hy Cidity, It's 2 A.M., And The Other Woman. Those four songs are definetly worth five stars. I really really recommend to try this album.

Just plain awesome!
I bought this album for my husband after hearing Shamekia Copeland interviewed on NPR. We did a recent road trip and it was the only CD I wanted to listen to. Her voice is amazing and songs vary from soulful to just plain fun! A must to own.

Fabulous Voice but...
I had the distict pleasure of seeing Shemikia live at the House of Blues. She has a fabulous voice and a tremendous stage presence. While I enjoy this album very much I can only give it three stars because the songs are simply too similar. While Shemikia's voice is amazing on every song I find that I can only make it through 2 or 3 most times before they all sound the same and I move on to something else.

That said she definately has awesome potential and I hope she gets the chance to spread her wings a little. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No musician ever applied a gentler touch to songs of murder, sex, andsalvation than MississippiJohn Hurt. The country bluesman enjoyed a career revival through the folkfestival boom of the early 1960s, and his influence continues to ripple, as thisvaried and vital tribute attests. Produced byPeter Case (who teamswith Dave Alvin on"Monday Morning Blues"), the album's renewal of classic Hurt extends from thedeadpan double entendres of "Candy Man" delivered bySteve Earle and sonJustin to Taj Mahal'strademark lilt on "My Creole Belle" to a surprisingly straightforward "Stagolee"by Beck. Amid a roster ofluminaries ranging from fingerpicking acolytesChris Smither andBill Morrissey toBen Harper,John Hiatt,Lucinda Williams, andGillian Welch, the mostradically disarming interpretation comes fromVictoria Williams. Herbreathless "Since I've Laid My Burden Down" sounds like a preschooler on helium,yet somehow taps into the subconscious of the song. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Incredible bargain for under $3
As I write this, new copies of this wonderful album are available for less than $3 (through recommended Amazon sellers - check the 'new and used' link). That, my friends, is an exceptional bargain! I paid about $20 (including postage and handling) for this album around 18 months ago and considered it great value for money at the time, since every track (even the much maligned Victoria Williams cover of 'Since I Laid My Burden Down') is at least listenable, if not a veritable aural treat.

If you're a fan of the late Mississippi John Hurt (like myself), you'll find the contributions by Ben Harper and John Hiatt to be most reminiscent of his original recordings. Although these two modern artists come closest in replicating Hurt's distinctive finger-picking style, neither can match the deceptively subtle ease of his guitar playing. This is not to suggest that their versions are any less enjoyable, only that no one on this album can quite match the brilliance of Hurt.

From my perspective, only one track on this album - Gillian Welch's version of 'Beulah Land' - actually surpasses the original. Although the guitar playing is much more subdued on this track, the haunting echoes of Welch's vocals will send shivers down your spine. This track alone makes this $3 album a bargain, but it offers so much more than that. Even if you can't stand the Victoria William's track (it's not that bad, people), this great album is packed with 14 other songs which are hard to skip past. How many other albums for under $3 can you say that about?

Well worth the effort
This tribute to Mississippi John Hurt is one that I keep gravitating back to and giving "nuther listen to". The artists (save perhaps one) are impressive in their interpretation of John's wonderful witty and humorous music. Those last two qualities seem to be the only thing that they just couldn't copy that Mr Hurt seasoned his works with so naturally. My ear always "trips over" Victoria Williams "Since I've Laid My Burden Down". Her performance is done in a style that is more suited to the Bulgarian Womens Choir. I loved the Taj Mahal performance of "My Creole Belle" and Geoff Muldaurs "Chicken".

tepid tap water
A lot of tribute albums trade on the popularity and fame of the "tributee" and fall into the mixed-bag when it comes to quality. This is truly no exception. There are some decent covers that are pleasant enough to listen to in the same way that luke-warm tap water might quench your thirst, but come on...you're interested in John Hurt, listen to his albums. The best song on here doesn't even touch his level of spontaneous genius. I mean its not even in the same room. Hurt himself has an otherworldly, almost angelic quality. Hurt didn't know theory. Hurt picked out a $200 guitar when they told him he could have any one in the place. These are just a bunch of halfway decent, semi-gifted, "folkies" who have wood shedded long enough that their chops aren't half bad. If this was all you heard, you'd dismiss the man himself in a heartbeat like "so what, these are simple, almost childish folk songs...no big deal". Get his Last Sessions album first, and then this if you still want to. Life is too short to listen to mediocre music.

Better than the original
...I hadn't heard of John Hurt before. This CD is now one of my absolute favorites. "Chicken" and "Since I've laid my burdon down" will stay with you for days and you'll be replaying the CD several times so that you can get the lyrics right when you're singing them in your head later. "Sliding Delta" is another laid back personal favorite.
Every song on this album is good. Since all of the performers have trained voices, the singing shows off Hurt's songs like he could not. (Nobody trys to beat his up-and-down melodic guitar however. For this you've got to buy the original.) I also liked the variety that different performers bring to the CD as a whole. Hurt's songs could sound a little too similar with his raspy half-whisper voice after a while.
Mississippi John Hurt is an original, but I truly like this CD better than his Avalon Blues originals or his Complete Studio Recodings.

a worthy tribute
Hurt was a unique bluesman - funny, laid-back, and unassuming. There would be no value in merely imitating him. But at a time when many tribute albums are filled with third-rate performers parasitizing first-rate songwriters, it is a delight to find a tribute that justifies the word. Each artist tranforms a MJH song to fit his/her own style, and the results are memorable, and often outstanding. I especially liked Gillian Welch's spooky version of Beulah Land, but the entire CD is good (how often can you say that). If you like any of these artists, you will probably love this album. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Singer-trumpeter-guitarist Olu Dara has been knocking around New York City's jazz circles for almost 20 years. On "In the World" he embraces Caribbean rhythms, African highlife/socca riffs, and gut-bucket blues. Vaguely reminiscent of Taj Mahal's fanciful integration of world music and the blues, Dara consistently straddles urban and rural artistry. Sophisticated yet irresistibly down-home, this collection is festive, tuneful, and engaging. Songs like "Rain Shower" and "Natchez Shopping Blues" are clearly based in the American folk-blues idiom, while "Okra" and "Your Lips" are closer to an Afro-Cuban aesthetic. Dara's warm voice is limited but expressive, and his guitar playing fundamentally percussive. On the other hand, Dara's trumpet is unique and extremely lucid. This album comprises a fascinating tour of several musical cultures. --Mitch Myers ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A great eclectic album from a talented and personal musician
This is Olu Dara's first CD, recorded decades after his reputation as one of the Blues's underground greats was well established. In this work, a lifetime acheivement for Dara, all his roots, from Blues to Jazz to African Tribal to spoken poetry, shine through in a subtle yet breathtaking performance.

The album improves with each listening, so don't expect a collection of raucus pop hits. At times he is mellow and almost subversive, as in Young Mama or Rain Shower. Other times he can be raw and personal, in Father Blues and Natchez Shopping Blues. And his crowd-pleasing, likable songs, like Okra and Your Lips, have shades of meaning that only fully develop after many listenings. This is the kind of album you can grow up with and grow old with. A classic.

My favorite Jazz album after Kind Of Blue.
Olu Dara is one of the greatest musicians out there right now. He is painfully underrated. Every single track on this album is perfect, from the street tales of "Jungle Jay"(featuring Olu's son, rapper Nas), to the funky blues of "Rain Shower". My favorite track on this album, though, is "Harlem Country Girl". On this song, Olu plays beautiful trumpet and sings well. Other great tracks include "Okra", "Natchez Shopping Blues", "Your Lips", "Zora", "Father Blues", and all the other tracks. They are all amazing tracks, and I can't wait for more Olu Dara music.

A classic
The firt time I heard Olu Dara was at a concert at Yoshi's in Oakland, Ca, from that day on, I felt in love with his music, this cd is just a classic, I listen to it at least once a day. My favorite song is Harlem Country Girl...great to listen with lights off and a glass of wine....

Awesome CD
I bought four new CDs today and this is the only one worth while. Every song on this track is great.

like father like son
Im fairly young, so I grew up listening to Nas(olu Dara's son). But, out of curiosity, I bought Olu Dara's album. It was really great. I loved the mood or each song. My favorite song of course is the collaboration with Olu Dara and his son. Listening to this album I see where Nas got all of his musical skills from. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fourth in the family of Celtic Twilight recordings, Celtic Planet is an ambitious, charming, and at times surprising collection of Celtic-inspired music from around the globe. Spain's Celtic-cultured Galician region is represented by the band Fia Na Roca's pipe on "Ou Sube a Terra ou Baixa O Ceo" and by flautist Carlos Nunez's "Two Shores," quite effectively combining Ry Cooder's flavorful guitar playing with soaring flute melody and accordion. Indian singer Sheila Chandra's "Lament of McCrimmon" from Roots and Wings is based on her mastery of drone tones, and "White Wings," an elegant emotive piece utilizing a string quartet and bass recorder is contributed by Norwegian composer Oystein Sevag. Vocalist Kate Power and vocal ensemble Anuna offer more traditional Celtic balladry, and whistler Joanie Madden leads a group including noted accordionist John Whelan in an arrangement of "The Immigrant." Roundly refreshing, Celtic Planet is sure to be enjoyed by those familiar and new to the series. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Nice Music
This is a nice collection of relaxing celtic music. Ones to especially listen to are "THe Drowning Plains" and the one by Aiofe.

The best of the Celtic Twilight series, truly beautiful
I use this deeply touching music as easily to add a peaceful, misty background to my activities as to provide a focus for meditation. It is also one of my favorites for use with my Healing Touch work The selection of songs and mix of artists from different cultural backgrounds is very well done; each piece is uniquely beautiful, evocative of something different, from lingering sunsets over quiet lakes to the mysteries of walking through a heavy, enfolding fog between the hills to the welcome flicker of friendly fires at night. A very worthwhile addition to your music library.

Celtic Twilight Series the greatest
I have purchased all 5 of the celtic twilight series and each one is a 5star for me. This one is as good as all the rest. Soothing and relaxing. Very enjoyable music.

A Lovely "Lament"
I heard "Lament of McCrimmon" on Live365.com and traced its source to this album. If the rest is as good as this, I will definitely buy it. It has real "tooth' unlike alot of "spacey" Celtic music.

Celtic taken to a brighter level
I was introduced to Celtic quite some time ago. This CD has incredible selections. I loved everyone of them. They are calm, soothing, and very relaxing. (track 13 is my favorite accompanied with bag pipes) This is definitely something a Celtic Music lover NEEDS to own. (don't' forget about the first 3) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great, sorry, fantastic guitar playing!
The first time I heard Texas Flood, I was struck by the sheer energy that flowed from the album. I had never heard a guitar played like that before, and proberly never will. Even If the lyrics wont impress a literary critic, the quality of guitar playing makes this album part of my all time top ten.

SRV on SACD?
Plenty of people have written reviews of this album. All I wish to comment on is the quality of the SACD transfer.

I compared the SACD to the original (not the re-mastered) CD of this album, which has been in my collection for many, many years. I had both queued up in two separate players: a Sony DVP-S9000ES for the CD and a Sony SCD-E555ES for the SACD. I used the DACs in the players and used an "analog direct" setup to ensure that no further signal processing occurred. Levels were matched closely enough that we couldn't identify a difference.

With most of the program material we couldn't tell the difference between the two disks. The only difference I noticed with any regularity was a slightly increased sharpness of high transient sounds such as rimshots and cymbals. If there was any difference in guitar, vocals, bass, ambience or spaciousness, we couldn't hear it.

There are other albums that I own both a CD and SACD of where I can identify significant differences. In fact, with the multi-channel SACDs that I've listened to, the sound quality is magnificent. This disk just isn't one of them.

That said, this is one of my all-time favorite albums. This is my third copy (LP, CD and SACD) and even after almost twenty years it gets played frequently. I certainly recommend the album, but I'm not sure it is worth getting in SACD.

SACD is excellent, much better than the CD
I respectfully disagree with A Music Fan from Ellensburg, WA USA - listening both on a friend's Marantz player, and my Esoteric transport / DAC combination, there are distinct differences between the CD release and the SACD on both systems. The SACD provides a delicious sense of depth and dynamics, and 'air' on the live tracks, that is lacking on the Redbook release. In addition, the shimmer of cymbals and the attack and release of SRVs guitar work (whether during ferocious or quiet work) is much more detailed and distinct on the SACD - the leading and trailing edges of notes are much easier to discern and follow.

In any case, you can't go wrong with this disc. Highest recommendation!

Come back SRV
There is nothing new left to say about SRV. This album shows off the best of SRV. Most albums have tracks which show his talent and tracks which you classify with 'you could have done better'. This album has no such deficiency.

The Texas Heart Live On
I think this is the better SRV album ever. A great blues/vintage sound with a lot of funny songs. LOVE STRUCK BABY: it's a Chuck Berry-style song, pure Rock 'n' Roll. PRIDE & JOY: pure texas shuffle, funny! TEXAS FLOOD: it's one of the SRV most famous songs, five minute of strong blues, deep and sad. TELL ME: a classic boogie song. TESTIFY: a powerful instrumental! RUDE MOOD: yeah! This is a Wonderful instrumental, great playing with a strong texas shuffle! MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB: a Buddy Guy tune, again shuffle and again fun. DIRTY POOL: a sad blues, with a clear (stratocaster) sound, it's a "from the heart" tune. I'M CRYIN': similar to Pride And Joy with more ringin' sound. LENNY: do you like jazz? Do you like blues? Do you like Hendrix? Yeah? So you love this wonderful instrumental! The bonus tracks include the live version of Testify and Mary Had A Little Lamb (a lot of energy more), with two others songs. TIN PAN ALLEY: great studio version, a blues stuff similar to Dirty Pool (this track fade out at 7:31). WHAM!: The title is the truth, an aggresive Lonnie Mack song, played live!

This is all... This remastered CD is a MUST HAVE for the Stevie's fan but also for all the blues lover, BUY IT! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

If you love blues or rock, get this album!
Putting an older artist together with younger blood is mostly a gimmick in the record business. The older artist gets an introduction to a new audience, the younger ones get a little reflected glory. But in this case, it is no gimmick, just a lot of terrific musicians who obviously love and respect each other and play beautifully together. John Lee Hooker had one of the most gorgeous, hypnotic voices of all blues singer, and unlike most singers, he did not lose a thing with age. I find his voice one of the most soothing things in the world to listen to (The Healer is a perfect title, HookerÕs voice could heal anything.) And the guest artists on here are incredible. Carlos Santana. Bonnie Raitt. Robert Cray. Los Lobos. George Thorogood. Charlie Musselwhite. In each case, playing with Hooker brings out the best in them. I am not a big Bonnie Raitt fan (I love her early stuff, but not her more recent pop albums), but her duet with Hooker on IÕm In The Mood is just about the bluesiest and deepest I have ever heard her sing. Los Lobos and George Thorogood are as tough as ever. And the Latin tinge that Santana lends to the title song is just gorgeous.
This is a must have album for anyone who loves blues or classic rock.

The historical
Basically from the mid-1970's to the introduction of this fine record, the Blues "died a death"---DISCO was KING, at least up to about 1979--then punk took over.
Great Blues artists were literally scraping an existence...some even had to compromise by doing "funky disco" type nonsense!
(e.g. Johnny "guitar" Watson, Albert King etc...) Most young black artists considered the Blues as being "taboo" ...something that reminded them of nasty, mournful things--blues guitar solos, that tended to go on for half an hour, back in the late 60s/early 70's( Allman bros, Mountain, Ten Years After..etc) were a thing of the past------- Then suddenly, like a phoenix rising fom the ashes, John Lee Hooker went back into a studio and cut THE album that was to pave the way back--opening the door for Robert Cray and Joe Louis Walker..and lots of completely disregarded, talented artists.
I remember the very first time the title track was played on British radio (the very week it came out).
G.L.R Radio sandwiched "The Healer" in between a U2 and Eurythmics track.
The atmospheric intro and Carlos Santana's screaming guitar (which had long been regretably silent)literally stopped everything dead in the radio station.
They didn't know how to follow it!! How can you follow a track like "The Healer"...something so darkly mysterious, earthy, ominous and mystical.
It was done in ONE TAKE...NO REHEARSALS!! Infact Carlos Santana did reveal that this title song commenced well before the studio equipment had even a chance to be set up!! It was completely spontaneous---absolutely unique!
I just wish they would re-release the ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE promotional video that went with this track--just Santana coaxing and bending the most expressive notes and J.L. Hooker looking spine-chillingly cool and evil against a smoky black and white tableau.
It made your hair stand on end!!!

A Different Side of Hooker
If you are a fan of the blues and want to add something unique to your collection, this is a good buy. Even if you are not a big fan of John Lee Hooker, you might find that most of the songs on this album are a refreshing "break" away from his traditional music. The album includes guest artists, such as Robert Cray, Charles Musselwhite, George Thorogood, Roy Rogers, Los Lobos, and Canned Heat. My personal favorites are the first two songs on the album, "The Healer" with Santana and "I'm in the Mood" with Bonnie Raitt. I gave it four stars because it did include three songs (not Hooker's best!) that were just John Lee, one of which is a one-chord song. I was told by local record store managers that this album was out of print for awhile, so if you want it, now's the time!

Hooker Rules
If you want pure John Lee Hooker, he has a ton of material. What makes this cd special is the collaborations with an array of top notch musicians. Over coffee and the Sunday paper works best.

John Lee Hooker The Master of the Blues
It"s been well over ten years since this cd was recorded. It is still is one of my favorites.The first track the Healer with Carlos Santana still sends chills up my spine. The rest is filled with great old Hooker tunes. ... Read more

Album Description

Full title - Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues. From thePBS series produced by filmmaker Martin Scorsese, thisrelease features 16 tracks including 6 live versions andthe previously unreleased 'Leave My Girl Alone'. Sony.2003. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

SRV
I haven't had much exposure to Stevie up until I got this CD for my birthday last November. I didn't even like the blues that much. In fact, from hearing only Texas Floods and The Sky Is Crying, I thought he was black. That's how little I knew about this man. I was almost three when he died, and had missed the SRV craze.
But WOW. Stevie Ray Vaughan is now my idle, thanks to this CD, and I plan on majoring in music theory or composition, then heading south to play the blues. This CD changed my life by exposing me to SRV and a whole new style of music.

MARTIN SCORSESE THE BLUES
Martin Scorsese The Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan is a great way to start your SRV collection. This CD spans SRV's whole career including some of my favorites Pride And Joy, Texas Flood, Come On Pt.3, and Leave My Girl Alone. You can save alot of money and buy this on amazon for $10.99. I enjoyed this CD alot its a great complination of all SRV's greatest recordings of all time. So enjoy!

It's Still SRV, but not enough new material
Everything you can find on this CD somewhere else, except Mary Had A Little Lamb(which I haven't heard yet). Get the El Mocambo DVD, that is the best SRV live!!! This is good music becuase its SRV, but why distribute another CD with the same music. Its not like SRV has many albums. You can buy 5 or 6 albums and you have the whole SRV collection. Don't waste you're time with this CD if you have the original recordings or are familiar with his live material. Go get the El Mocambo DVD, it will blow you're mind.

4 1/2 stars.....a very good single-disc compilation
Not as thorough as "The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan", but much better than the flawed "Greatest Hits" CD, this installment in the "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues"-series focuses on Stevie Ray Vaughan the bluesman rather than Stevie Ray Vaughan the blues-rocker.

Almost all of these songs are blues tunes, and since this is called "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues", that's how it should be.
It features Stevie Ray's (generally excellent) covers of classic 50s and 60s blues tune like Hound Dog Taylor's "Give Me Back My Wig", Otis Rush's "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)", Buddy Guy's "Leave My Girl Alone", and Elmore James' legendary slow burner "The Sky is Crying".
But it's not all covers; several songs are SRV originals, and almost every one of them ranks among Stevie Ray Vaughan's best self-penned material: The slow blues "Texas Flood", "Dirty Pool" and "Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love" are here, as is the swaggering boogie of "Pride and Joy", and the fiery, up-tempo "Empty Arms". I would have liked to see "I'm Cryin'" inluded as well, but that's certainly a minor complaint, and we get a cover of Hank Ballard's "Look At Little Sister", a rare "Hug You, Squeeze You", and the smouldering instrumental "Slide Thing" instead.

This is a very, very fine and varied look at Stevie Ray Vaughan at his bluesiest. It doesn't match "The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan" as far as career overviews go, but it blows "Greatest Hits" out of the water.

"Obscure Stevie Ray Vaughan Tracks & Some Hits"
This is basically a collection of tracks covering Stevie Ray Vaughan's entire career during the 1980's. Starting off with some live tracks from 1980, and ending with a track from his last studio album "In Step (1989)." Some big hits are also featured, including "Pride & Joy", "Texas Flood", "Ain't Gone 'n' Give Up on Love (live)", "Mary Had a Little Lamb (live)", and "The Sky is Crying (live)." For a mere $10, this CD offers lot's of great songs, but most if not all of them have been previously released on SRV's other albums that followed his tragic death in 1990. I still think that "Voodoo Chile" & "Life Without You" should have been on this collection instead of "Give Me Back My Wig" & "Empty Arms." I strongly suggest the Greatest Hits albums released a few years before this, as well as last year's "Essential Collection." ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Best CD I ever heard! Where has Kelley been hiding!!
Enjoyed the enthusiastic blue-sy voice and excellent piano! The quality was amazing and I'd buy this one AGAIN and AGAIN!! I especially enjoyed Queen of the 88's, a great boogie beat! It's an incredible 9 minutes long at least! I hope to see Kelley Live in concert soon.

This Lady ROCKS!
I've seen Kelley Hunt perform several times & she is one I will never tire of seeing. Inspiration is just the album she needed to put out to the fans as anyone who has seen her live knows this is where she truly shines! She gives it all she's got the entire show & never, ever lets up. Queen of the '88s is a real pleaser as it has Kelley telling us a little bit of her history & how she got to be the boogie woogie mama that she is! No one can sing & play that piano like she can - very, very powerful & clear whether it be rock n roll, the blues or gospel. And getting help from the great Mike Finnegan is just an added bonus. Check it out - people from Kansas can rock with the best of them anytime! And go to a concert when she comes to town - you won't regret it for a moment.

Play that boogie-woogie!

I picked up Inspiration after seeing Kelley perform live, she is soooo phenomenal! Recorded live at three different venues between 1998 to 2000, Inspiration keeps the listener hooked by showcasing Kelley's phenomenal range - from blues to gospel to boogie woogie. And while this CD only has nine tracks, only 2 are under 5 minutes, and two of them are over eight.

The CD kicks off with Kelley's 'lusty growl' and killer drum beats in a story of "I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N" (think Aretha Franklin's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T"), thanking an ex-lover for letting her find herself. "Stronger Wings" is a very gospel-feeling tune and Kelley's vocals soar. "Treat Me Right", "Back in the Saddle", and "Forgive and Forget" are all upbeat romps that showcase Kelley's trademark boogie-woogie style of piano playing and show her as a strong woman. The guitar throughout "Just Like Oxygen" is awesome and Kelley's 'bluesy' voice grabs you and tells you a tale of wanting. "Natural Thing" is another great gospel-type tune, heavy on the piano and drums. "Love Never Dies" (Lullaby for Charles) is a soaring ballad which gives me chills when I listen to it. I saved my fave song for last..."Queen of the 88s" is Kelley's tribute to her childhood piano teacher, Mary Burke Norton, also known as the 'last of the red-hot mamas'. Kelley alternates between speaking the story and singing it and while it is over nine minutes in length, it not 'long'. It is an AWESOME song!

If Mary Burke Norton was the Queen of the 88s, than Kelley Hunt is the Princess, ready to ascend the throne. She may not be mainstream, but I have never seen anyone tickle the ivories like her and I don't think the mainstream is ready for such a talented, diverse artist!

What an Inspiration!
After hearing Kelly Hunt perform at Boondocks in Amarillo, TX, I was sold on this lady! Not only can she play the 88's like no one around today, but she can sing as well. Her voice can make you cry or laugh or shout out loud. What a blues singer!

Kelly/Inspiration
Kelley Hunt has one of the most versatile voices I've ever heard. She seems equally at home belting out raucus lowdown blues, crooning like a gospel queen, or torching low and sexy. Her vocals are strong but perceptive, penetrating and sensitive at the same time. And you would be hard pressed to find a keyboardest with a better left hand. Kelley can boogie-woogie with the best. Don't pass up a chance to see her live. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Taj Mahal's been chasing the blues around the world for years, but rarely with the passion, energy, and clarity he brought to his first three albums. Taj Mahal, The Natch'l Blues and The Real Thing are the sound of the artist, who was born in 1942, defining himself and his music. On his self-titled 1967 debut, he not only honors the sound of the Delta masters with his driving National steel guitar and hard vocal shout, but ladles in elements of rock and country with the help of guitarists Ry Cooder and the late Jessie Ed Davis. This approach is reinforced and broadened by The Natch'l Blues. What's most striking is Mahal's way of making even the oldest themes sound as if they're part of a new era. Not just through the vigor of his playing--relentlessly propulsive, yet stripped down compared with the six-string ornamentations of the original masters of country blues--but through his singing, which possesses a knowing insouciance distinct to post-Woodstock counterculture hipsters. It's the voice of an informed young man who knows he's offering something deep to an equally hip and receptive audience.

Soon, Mahal turned his multicultural vision of the blues even further outward. The live 1971 set, The Real Thing, finds him still carrying the Mississippi torch, while adding overt elements of jazz and Afro-Caribbean music to its flame. But it's overreaching. His band sounds under-rehearsed, and the arrangements seem more like rough outlines. Nonetheless, these albums set the stage for Mahal's career. (For a condensed version, try the fine The Best of Taj Mahal.) Today, he continues to make fine fusion albums, like 1999's Kulanjan, with Malian kora master Toumani Diabate, and less exciting but still eclectic recordings with his Phantom Blues Band. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It doesn't get much better than this
I'd been waiting for the CD release to replace two well-worn vinyl copies of this energetic, unique live performance. from the first time I heard this recording nearly 30 years ago, its become a treasure.

Taj Mahal and his back up band perform a variety of "great American folks tunes" with an intensity and ease seldom found in any performance. The music, no matter how old the tunes are, sounds fresh and displays a lack of datedness, pretense or restraint.

The instrumentation and arrangements are unusual (a banjo and tuba duet, for instance) and full of joy.

Great music and great fun---this is "The Real Thing"

Taj Always Had His Own Style
This is an excellent Taj Mahal CD. The album is fun and relaxing and must have been a great show to see. The quality of the music is great considering it was taken from a live performance. Although, a few times on the CD when Taj is talking between songs, the sound drops very quiet for a short time but quickly shoots back up to a good volume. The use of horns is a great change on this album and the other musicians on the stage sound great throughout. This is a good CD which will spice up any blues collection by providing a sound different from most other blues albums.

A-MEN, brother reviewer...
Yeah, man, the "official" reviewer just doesn't get it AT ALL. This is one of the best ROOTS recordings EVER - and I don't say that lightly. Remember...this is 1971...LIVE, a 2 LP recording, at the Fillmore...I mean, the Allman Brothers - WITH DUANE - did their recording that same year. Now, how many acts could have gotten away with playing a tune with nothing but a banjo and a TUBA, for cryin' out loud! ("Tom And Sally Drake")? Taj Mahal, that's who. Taj engages the audience as well as anyone ("Gimme some help...GIMME SOME! - You can do it...if you're jacked up to it...) and standouts here are the norm. "You're Goin' To Need Somebody On Your Bond" is the groover, with Taj 'gettin spiritual' with the blues, and doing the back and forth with the crowd. Also a highlight is "Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie No Mo'", where every band member gets a piece of the action, and my spine tingles at the thought of John Simon groovin' on the piano, and John Hall doing a GREAT guitar solo, and ending, with Taj whistling over the many horns. No, if you don't get it, you don't get it...but I was 15...and I got it. This is Taj's moment in Time, Live - History, I believe it's called - and he grabs on and holds tight. Any fan of blues, jazz, roots, gospel, or African-American music History has to consider this a MUST HAVE CD. Period.

This is it!
The "official" review doesn't take into account the power of this album as a whole. The chemistry is there, and this has the raw energy of the best blues. One of my favorite albums of all time.

BEGstore.com transaction review
BEGstore was perfect! Prompt shipping, clean packaging, and a free shipping upgrade! I'll do business with them again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Imagine Redd Foxx with a dirtier mind and a cleaner mouth, and you’ve got a bead on Bobby Rush. The energetic Jackson, Mississippi-based entertainer has been the King of the Chitlin Circuit for years. It’s a title he’s won with vaudevillian instincts, horny showmanship, spot-on ability as a singer, harpman, guitarist, and bandleader, and a knack for writing tunes that brim with playful down-home wit. This set captures the astonishingly youthful and vigorous Rush in concert for the first time in his 50-year career, strutting like a peacock with his bevy of booty-shaking dancers through crowd-pleasers like the lusty "You, You, You" and hits like the double-entendre laden sexual plea "Chicken Heads." Both discs--one a DVD of this show recorded at the Clarksdale, Mississippi club Ground Zero, the other a music-only CD--cover a strong 11-song set. The music disc has two bonus tracks: the Rush favorites "Sue," a playful tale of sexual initiation, and "That Thang," a slinky funk update of Willie Dixon’s classic "Same Thing." If you’ve never seen Rush’s singular and engaging stage shtick live, there’s now no excuse. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (4)

'Rush' to order
I too first saw Bobby Rush in the PBS series last year, having only heard his name but not his music. His segment was so poignant that I had to get my hands on some of his work. I bought 'Live at Ground Zero' from Amazon last month, and recommend it without reservation. He is an amazing showman, with great soulful vocals, fantastic harp blowing, and some funky guitar licks. He has a fantastic, tight band and you must see his dancers!

Live at Ground Zero
I first saw Bobby Rush on the PBS special on Memphis Blues. If you liked him there, your going to love him here. It was fantastic!! The music was great, starting with SHE'S SO Fine,going through EVIL, 99, many more good ones, and my favorite, Chicken Heads. Bobby can bend those strings!!!
The band was GREAT, the girls were FANTASTIC, and Bobby was full of energy, giving it all he's got. This DVD at Live Ground Zero is a must have, for anyone who likes the Blues and a good time on stage. And the finaly was something special. I am definitely a BOBBY RUSH FAN!!!!!!

Live at Ground Zero
This is a killer dvd that accurately shows what goes on at a Bobby Rush show. Bobby has done the world a public service by releasing this dvd and cd. It is a definate bargain, and I strongly recommend it for all blues fans. Get your copy now, while you can.

Bobby Rush: An American Original?
Bobby Rush's Live At Ground Zero has a collection of all original tunes performed at a club in Mississippi. Mr. Rush delivers a muti-dimensional show that could lift the spirits of a dead man. The DVD companion is a must see: Mr. Rush compliments his musical and singing talents with an ensemble of beautifal dancers whom bring-to-life the stories in Bobby's songs. These songs' messages manage to lift spirits despite the worst circumstances that life offers, in a unique and genuine way. Bobby Rush's originality transcends geographic boundries, he is simply without parallel. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

imagine life without the blues...
I can't... I've heard Kelly Joe Phelps and my life is changed. If you can imagine a voice, at the same time rugged and soaring, a guitar, at the same time familiar and foreign, you are starting to get it.

But don't take my word for it. Buy the album, hear it for yourself.

When a cd like this comes along...
As a person who has spent 37 years making music my number one passion in life, it is rare when an artist, or an album, moves me and speaks to my soul in such a profound way. But when it happens I do everything in my power to share such a find with anyone and everyone who I think might care. Kelly Joe Phelps, and "Roll Away The Stone", is one of those artists and one of those albums. As a recent student of Delta, Country, and Piedmont style blues, I have had the pleasure of listening to many of the the true GREATS of music... Skip James, Joe Callicott, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, Etta Baker, and the likes...Kelly Joe Phelps is in my opinion an example of a contemporary musician who can capture the feel, soul, and beauty of the blues like I'm certain the Masters intended to be. I have yet to turn anyone on to this cd who hasn't immediately been "hooked" on Kelly Joe. If you don't get goose bumps when you listen to "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder", you best get someone to check your pulse. When a cd like this comes along...don't miss it. --tripp

For the benefit of the Earth, I hereby espouse my opinion !
I LIKE this album. It is GOOD to listen to. Unlike other modern players who draw on the blues tradition, Kelly Jo sounds fresh and original. It's just my opinion, and RESPECT to the prodigious talent of guys like Ben Harper and Keb Mo', but I fail to get excited when I hear their stuff. Lots of people do though, I guess I'm just looking for something less stylish ?? (don't know if that's quite the right word really). I love that earthy and raw rural sound, especially with a great singer attached. Kelly Jo is very smooth and polished, yet he seems so steeped in the music of rural America that it still sounds completely in step with that rich musical heritage and very original as well. I'm an Australian but nearly all of my favorite music comes from the USA and Canada. I've gotta thank you guys for giving us so much fantastic music (and also chide you for all the icky soda-pop!) :). Steve Earle gave this guy the thumbs up and I'll bet he doesn't get any kick-back for his endorsement. Here's to you Kelly Jo Phelps! May you live long and prosper!

an open heart
this is, by far, one of the most complete, thoughtful, honest, true works ever recorded. if you have feelings, you should listen.

The Blues aren't dead yet
There are very few acoustic blues musicians around who are capable of doing anything other than rehashing Robert Johnson. One modern master who does not fall prey to that criticism is Kelly Joe Phelps.

Compliments of my parents, I grew up listening to Robert Johnson, Son House, Charley Patton, etc. As I got older, I grew bored with pure blues. Blind Willie Johnson, for example, just used the same melody over and over again with different lyrics. I turned to jazz, blues-influenced folk such as John Fahey, and the occasional blues-based rock of modern geniuses like Chris Whitley and Ben Harper. Occasionally, I listen to jam bands like the Allman Brothers or Widespread Panic, but that's about as close to pure I blues as I usually get these days. The only old blues that still holds my attention comes from the odd-balls like Mississippi John Hurt and Skip James. Then I heard Kelly Joe Phelps' "Shine Eyed Mister Zen" and I had to re-evaluate my position. I immediately went out and bought all three of Phelps' albums, and I am currently collecting other albums on which he makes guest appearances (one to note is Tony Furtado's "Roll My Blues Away"- a wonderful blend of blues, folk, bluegrass, and even some Celtic). Phelps plays with such soul, technical skill and integrity that he has restored my faith in blues. I recently realized that the difference between Phelps and the other blues revivalists (aside from Phelps' preternatural skill) is that Phelps stays true to the sound and the feel of blues, but his compositions are structured more like jazz. Kelly Joe Phelps is simply the best. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unplugged, but electrifying nonetheless, Canada-based blueswoman Sue Foley's first live disc was recorded in one take with a band that hadn't rehearsed the set. Yet, instead of a sloppy, slapdash show, she delivers her most inspired and undoubtedly most intimate album to date. With a sparse three-piece band nimbly following along, Foley digs into personal blues favorites, dusty obscurities, new songs, and even a George Harrison cover. Delta blues, Piedmont-style fingerpicking, boogie-woogie, folk, and even jazz mesh in a set that easily shifts from shyly sensitive to sadly ruminative to unabashedly sexy. Foley's quivering, almost childlike voice perfectly juxtaposes these emotions as she sings with loose-limbed confidence, helping to create an uninhibited feel that jumps out of the grooves. --Hal Horowitz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

They're all here
The reviewer who said that SRV was not on this set obviously did not read the liner notes, which indicate that SRV played on the Lonnie Mack tracks from the Strikes Like Lightening sessions. The other artists the reviewer stated that were not there ARE, but are not the featured artist on the tracks.

I bought this set, and the 25th, when they came out and was really wowed by what I heard. Houndog Taylor is my favorite, followed closely by Koko Taylor and Albert "Master of the Telecaster" Collins. There is some really fine musicianship, great feel, and real respect for the blues displayed on this set.
Higly recommended.

Some good old blues
Amazon keeps inter-mixing the reviews for the 'Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection' album and the similarly named 'Alligator Records 20th Anniversary tour' album. So I will include a review of both here to set the record straight.

The 'Collection' album is by far superior to the 'tour' album. The collection has many artists on show and offers a bit of everything. The best tracks are AC Reed's 'These blues are killing me' with SRV brilliant on guitar, Little Charlie and the Nightcats with 'Rain', Roy Buchanan's classic 'Drowning on dry land', Koko Taylor with 'That's why i'm crying', Katie Webster with 'Pussycat Moan', Son Seal with 'Going back home' and Hound Dog Taylor and the classic 'Give me back my wig'. The album is uneven as you would expect for a label show case but well worth it as a introduction to a variety of blues styles and artists.

The 1993 20th aniversary tour album has only Li' Ed, (the late) Kattie Wester, Elvin Bishop, Lonnie Brooks and Koko Taylor. The album does typify Alligator records music that by my definition is mostly reasonable blues without being great. This live album has plenty of energy and is listenable, but fails to scale the heights I expect of the blues.

I discovered most of my favorite blues artists from this CD
Alligator records has some serious talent on it's label. Many of them are big names that you will recognize if you have been into blues for very long. I have tried samplers from other blues record labels and have been very disappointed with the mediocre talent on their label. Usually there are only one or two people -out of fourteen or fifteen - that stand out on other blues samplers. You will recognize that the vast majority of artists on Alligator Records are true talents - even if you don't like their style. This album is definitely worth the investment.

good,better,best
Alligator has compiled a very good collection of its artists on this CD. It has Iceman , SRV , KOKo , Son Seals, Johnny Winter and many other of the best of the blues. If you buy it, find some storage for the rest of your collection, because you won't remember who they are. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

300 POUNDS OF TROUBLE
Tremendously talented guitar player I first saw at the Texas Blues Festival in 1995. This relativly unknown at the time blues rocker from the east coast came on stage that day and proceeded to blow away every big name Texas blues act. After that live show I immediatly went out and picked up this album. Don't mistake the rapper looking Chubby on the cover and the word Booty in the title. This is the blues, and in my opinion it still remains the best blues rock album of the 90's. This album has some of the tastiest guitar licks in it that I've heard in a long time. Combine that with some great songwriting, and witty and cutting lyrics, it makes for a true blues rock lover's delight that's sure to frost your cake. There are 12 originals and 3 covers here. Some of the best guitar work comes on the cover of Willie Dixon's slow blues burner "Same Old Blues", which eventually builds up to a fierce guitar frenzy that'll have ya pushing the repeat button. Another great song here is "Sweet Goddess Of Love And Beer", which has an almost southern rock feel to it. I also like the slow blues ballad "Trouble", where Popa shows his soulful side and proves he's a pretty darn good singer in the Otis Redding vein when he slows it down. Excellent songwriting here too. Popa plucks a little bit from all types of music. He shows us his funky side on "Lookin' Back", and "Stoop Down Baby", and another favorite of mine "Healing In Her Hands". This is a great on the edge, progressive blues album that, like Stevie Ray Vaughan's music, will hold up very well with time. I've got everything that Popa Chubby has released since this album, and I can tell you he always puts out quality records. I'd have to say though, so far this is his masterpiece. Very highly recommended!

you need this CD
This is the single most exciting and enjoyable disc I've added to my collection in over 10 years--it's packed full of stand out tunes. If this is the shape of the new New York Blues, the future looks really bright. This disc gives a grade A rhythm section performance--these guys are tight enough to hold water and cut a groove deep enough to swim in. Palace of the King drives like no tomorrow with fabulous Hammond organ work to complement Popa's blistering guitar. Do Anything That You Want Me to Do with its tight bass/guitar/keys unison parts is perfection. I Was Lookin Back is another rhythmic tour de force with surprises around every corner. Stoop Down lays a smooth groove. And Same Old Blues takes a slow blues form and transforms it into something exceedingly powerful. Buy this disc.

fun from the fat boy
Never having heard CHUBBY, I ordered this CD after reading a number of write ups. All were positive so a disappointment could easily have arrived, allas not so. Great BLUES/ROCK from a relatively unknown guitarist. Not the best blues CD in my collection but up there and sure to get a lot of play and provide a lot of pleasure. I will order more CHUBBY asap.

By Far the Fat Guy's BEST CD
Blistering in your face guitar work that still oozes with soul. I've got several of Chubby's CDs, and this one is hands down the best. Heavy doses of funk rhythms add energy to this "blues with an attitude." By the way, if you like this CD, dig up Left Hand Brand by the Gales Brothers...

Buy Hit the High Hard One instead
'Hit the High Hard One' is a brilliant live rock/blues album. This studio album of many of the same tracks unfortunately does not come close. A good guitarist regardless, but this album lacks the skill or excitement and occasionally ventures into the vulgar. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great American music
Righteous! The Essential Collection offers a savory taste of the Holmes Brothers, a venerable blues trio with a twist. From the first moments of the disc's opening track, "Got Myself Together," you know that this is not your typical "blues" band: the driving funky shuffle of the first verse is cut by a tight, three-part harmony "Yeah!" that proves these guys would be as comfortable in a sweltering Southern gospel revival as in a smoky Chicago club. Throughout this compilation, drawn from the group's four albums recorded for Rounder (In The Spirit, Where It's At, Soul Street, and Promised Land), the Holmes Brothers-Popsy Dixon and brothers Wendell and Sherman Holmes-offer the mature fruits of their decades of collaboration, and demonstrate their ability to move effortlessly between the blues, gospel, funk, soul and country.

Each member of the Holmes Brothers brings unique qualities to the group. Wendell Holmes offers solid, rhythmic guitar work throughout, reminiscent at times of Jimmy Reed (especially in "A New and Improved Me"), and a cracking, rough-edged voice that's both passionate and pained (a perfect blues combination). Sherman Holmes is steadfast on the bass, and gives smoky, slurred vocal lines, featured best in his gospel-tinged "Promised Land." Wendell and Sherman are the songwriters of the group, and their original works and arrangements are featured on eight of the disc's 17 tracks.

But the Holmes Brothers's shining moments come through the vocal work of drummer Popsy Dixon. On "Train Song," the spare piano and bass support a classic soul tenor straight out of a Stax session. He captures the feelings of loss and hope for redemption of the Tom Waits-penned tune ("It was a train that took me away from here/But a train can bring me home"). However, it is his falsetto-sometimes used in a doo wop fashion ("I Surrender All"), sometimes reminiscent of Philip Bailey ("When Something Is Wrong With My Baby")-that brings an extra degree of emotional depth to the group's performances. The highlight of the album is the devastating gospel lament "Don't Spare Your Sword." Dixon's heart-rending vocals, delivered across his range, express his grief over a wasted life of drugs and despair, and cries for both punishment and mercy.

In addition to "Sword," the Holmeses deliver several other traditional gospel performances ("None But The Righteous," "Please Don't Hurt Me," "Walk In The Light"), and even the one or two otherwise ordinary-sounding tunes on this disc are enhanced by the band's three-part gospel harmonies. Other highlights of the album include a rousing version of the jump blues classic "Fannie Mae," a Subdudes-esque "Dashboard Bar," a straight rendering of the chestnut country waltz "There Goes My Everything" (featuring bluegrass goddess Alison Krauss on fiddle), and a sultry, down-tempo, blues-soaked rendering of the Lennon/McCartney classic "And I Love Her."

Since the late 1990s, the Holmes Brothers have gained some well-deserved fame, including an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and work as Joan Osbourne's backing band during her 1997 tour with Bob Dylan. They have recorded two albums that are not on the Rounder label, and therefore are not included in this collection: Jubilation a 1992 gospel album on Peter Gabriel's Real World label, and the Osbourne-produced Speaking In Tongues, released in 2001 on Alligator Records. While these should also be added to the collection of any discerning blues fan, the heady mix of songs about sinfulness and salvation on Righteous! truly makes this an "essential collection" for lovers of American music. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The blues is a chair," John Lennon once said of the music's primacy. Yet for many artists the genre often seems more like a straightjacket, one that even a modern legend like Robert Cray has struggled to escape during the course of a multi-Grammy career. But the Georgia veteran has pulled off something of a sly escape trick here, taking the freedom offered by a change in record labels to team with keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Jim Pugh on a slate of performances that are by turns looser, funkier, and more far-ranging in their subject matter. Cray wastes no time in boldly staking out that new turf on the pointed, country-gospel-rooted, antiwar "Survivor." From there Cray immediately makes another jarring turn into the psych-pop of "Up in the Sky," trading his trademark Strat for the rare, distinctive tones of an electric sitar. Even Cray's more familiar blues tack is variously tinged with slippery swamp tones ("Back Door Slam"), slinky Memphis grooves ("Your Pal," featuring the Family Stone horns, and "What You Need"), and the propulsive Caribbean inflections of "Distant Shore." Those more adventurous forays only underscore the elegant drama of "Time Makes Two," where Cray dramatically evokes the blues' holy trinity: a broken heart, soulful voice, and lyrical guitar. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (10)