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 (1)

blind boy rules!
Blind Boy Fuller, among the best of the "Blind Bluesmen" (ie Blind WIllie Johnson, Blind Blake, Blind Gary Davis, and Blind Willie McTell), reveals his true talent on this highly reccommended compilation. It contains some of the greatest American music ever to be composed, performed, and recorded! Buy this for the love of God almighty! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the sexiest Saxes around
I'm only 14 years old, but my Grandpa introduced me to the music of Flip Phillips, and I'm so glad he did. this is the sexiest music on the planet. This is makeout music supreme! This cd has lot's of mellow and lightly swinging jazz sax by the great Flip, that will make you flip!

classic flip
good mix of sound. Classic smooth Flip, very listenable. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

ultimate intro to louis jordan
I'm one of those rocknrollers who became interested in traditional jazz via Squirrel Nuts and have become quite a fan of the three Louis' {Prima,Armstrong,and Jordan}This cd is totally addictive with Jordans classic hits.One would need only this cd to really get an introduction to his amazing song styling.Soulful,humorous and ultra cool,it's a must! ... Read more

Album Description

102 slices of prime Jordan are included in this 4 CD setand the 40 page booklet tells the story and providessession detail along with many rare photographs. 4 standard jewel cases in a hardcover slipcase. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The great Big Maybelle
Big Maybelle was a big girl and had a great voice, she inspired Janis Joplin, just to name one, and these recordings are from her second label Savoy, she first recorded for Legacy (I suggest you get her Complete Okeh sessions 1952-55 cd too).
In the Savoy years she was accompanied by the orchestra, but this doesn't make her less blues, cause, boy, we're talkin' bout some real blues here. Some real blues.
So if you're a blues fan this is just an essential.
Go on and listen to her and enjoy some blues power. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fascinating, but not for 1st-time listeners
This fascinating 1956 recording finds Willie sitting on a stool in a pawn shop near the end of his life, drunkenly reminiscing about his life and music, and playing tunes dating back to WWI. He is not quite as sharp as you will find him on my personal favorite Blind Willie Mctell recording, the 1949 session released under the name "Atlanta 12 String" (two tracks from that later session are included here). He hesitates and slurs his way through his classic "Kill it Kid," and his phrasing elsewhere also lacks his characteristic precision.

But what makes this recording a must for anyone who has fallen uder the spell of Willie McTell--a monumentally underappreciated musician and protean virtuoso of American musical forms from ragtime to country--is the glimpse it gives into his character and life. He plays a tune from his days with a traveling Plantation show in 1918, a country tune, and whatever else strikes his fancy. And for me the imperfections only make the record more vivid, almost as if you are sitting in the room with Willie, sharing his bottle of corn whiskey and watching his wrinkled old hands fly over his battered old 12-string.

I recommend you start with one his other records and get this when you have become a full-fledged member of the cult of Willie.

Legacy of Blues
This recording is a real gift and time piece of it's era. McTell was a true genius of the acoustic 12-string. His life story of "blind man goes off to see the world" is incredible enough in it's own rite. The fact that his recording career was stymied by an early "opportunity" to record with Lomax which spawned a deep distrust of record producers makes the existance of this recording all the more significant.

Rediscovered in the 50's as a street musician, his vocal qualities and technical skills were as good or better than his early recordings. His music links country blues, urban blues, gospel, and white audiances of the time.

Politically incorrect lyrics tell it all. It's great to see this recording on a CD! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wild & energetic 50's r&b and jump blues
Great vocals, wailin' guitar, with a houserockin' back up band, the 1950's, and great party songs. You caouldn't ask for more then thsi great r&b jump blues cd, by the Great TARHEEL SLIM!!! One of many great "Slims" in the blues field. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Atlantic's short-lived Blues Originals series brought forth some real gems: not just Professor Longhair's New Orleans Piano, but this 1949 session by singer-guitarist McTell. What Bob Dylan heard in McTell, the title subject of one of his most fabled songs, is both easy and hard to catch, but there's something eerie in the almost cheerful delivery of songs such as "Dying Crapshooter's Blues." A grand album that forms yet another facet of the label's gemlike catalog. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (10)

An old bluesman at the top of his game
It's hard in a way to believe that this disc was recorded in the late 1940's. It sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday and Willie McTell is sitting right there in the room with you. Thank goodness there were some music lovers at Atlantic who captured these great performances.

For anyone who has never owned a Blind Willie McTell record, this is the one I would recommend starting with. The sound is great compared to his 30's era recordings, yet his unmistakeable voice and 12-string playing style are every bit as engaging as any he ever recorded.

I agree with another reviewer that "Dying Crapshooter's Blues" alone is worth the price of admission. In my humble opinion, it is one of the five greatest blues songs ever recorded. Not only does the song contain many of the great blues themes (death, hard-living, lost love), it also captures the milieu of the bluesman's lifestyle (cathouses, deadly policemen, loaded dice); and it's all pulled off with a mixture of humor and pathos that draws you into the song's world.

"Dying Craphsooter's Blues" and other great performances on this disc make it an essential album in any blues/folk collection and a wonderful entree into the repertoire of this one-of-a-kind performer.

A Hidden Gem
In 1948, the year the tracks included on "Atlanta Telve String" were recorded, lone wolf bluesmen weren't exactly the hippest thing in music. Most of the blues records being released and sold during that time featured blues shouters and crooners backed up by horn or piano driven proto R&B combos. Thus, it is a minor miracle that the fledgeling Atlantic label chose to cut a session's worth of material by Blind Willie McTell. Astute businessmen who surely must have realized the limited marketbility of these tracks, the brothers Ehrtegun were clearly either fans of McTell's clasic 20's & 30's sides or were blown away by his audition and just couldn't pass up the opportunity to record him. At any rate, the performances cut during McTell's Atlantic session constitute some of the finest solo blues ever laid to wax. These tracks reflect McTell's highly individualistic style, which was neither entirely urban nor country, nor a product of any particular geographical region. Although folkie academic types like to place him in the artificially concocted "Piedmont Blues" school, McTell was widely traveled and was influenced by all kinds of music. Revelations from this session include his peformances of "Motherless Children," "You Got To Die," and several other gospel blues that betray McTell's musical debt to the equally idiosyncratic (and equally visually impaired)Texan Blind Willie Johnson. More representative of McTell's earlier work are the boisterous ragtime numbers "Kill It Kid" and "Razor Ball"-the only two performances form the session released as singles. The two best performances form the session, however are "Little Delia" and "Dying Crapshooter's Blues." The former is McTell's passionate reworking of an ancient murder ballad, while the former is a Blind Willie McTell original. "Dying Crapshooter," is especially interesting, as it represents something of a deconstruction of the traditional death bed lament song("St. James Infirmary," Streets of Laredo," etc). A darkly comedic masterpiece, this track may very well be the finest McTell performance extant on record. While the inclusion of this track alone would qualify "Atlanta Twelve String" as essential listening for anyone who enjoys blues music(or good music, period), every performance on this disc features powerful, yet nuanced, singing and virtuoso guitar work. (Note:many of the songs on "Atlanta Twelve String" were recorded earlier by McTell for Alan Lomax in 1940, but the performances cut by Atlantic are superior-and feature better sound, to boot)

Listen to the roots of rock
I started llike everyone...Led Zep, Clapton, Rolling Stones,etc. Then i started to get complicated with jazz and prog rock. 20 years passed. When i got to free jazz and avant garde music i felt like i had reached a peak in musical investigation. Now i have come full circle to the beginning...and what a joy it is! Charlie Patton, Skip james, Muddy Waters, Blind Jefferson, Beefheart, Howilin Wolf, Robert Johnson, John Hurt, Leroy Carr, Son House and others are all worth checking out. But Blind Willie Mctell can really hit the soft spot in your soul if you are a real music lover. This and his early stuff are guranteed to send shivers up your spine. Music that seems simple in appearance...but, if you are willing to open up, you will be amazed at the richness of emotions this music can transmit. And this is a joy specially because of the good sound and choice of songs. Highly recommended to all those who love music and blues influenced music.

Great stuff
Fans of his music and the music of this period will enjoy a more mature Blind Willie.

The best all-around McTell album.
I had this album on vinyl, but upgraded it to CD after wearing out that old vinyl copy. Some of the older McTell work (such as 'Doing That Atlanta') might have a little more soul and passion than this latter era recording, but the 12-string playing and quality of the recordings on this record are amazing. The CD remastering is even better than the original. When I am in the mood for a little playful and jazzy Delta blues, Blind Willie McTell is usually not far away. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (1)

Long out of print recordings finally make it to CD
King Curtis' first recording for Atlantic Records, Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow (1959) and his first recording upon returning to Atlantic, Live at Small's Paradise (1966) together on one CD make this a dream come true for King Curtis fans.

The first 11 cuts are from Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow, Atco 33-113 it contains 7 originals and as you would expect lots of great blowing. While there is a taste of the yakety yak that made King Curtis famous it's more R&B, very satisfying! In addition to King Curtis Noble Watts is on 5 tracks which gives a real nice 2 tenor sound. Also featured is the guitar work of Al Casey of Fats Waller fame and Jimmy Spruill and Joe Puma.

The final 10 cuts are from Live at Small's Paradise from 1966 originally released as Atco 33-198. This band features Cornell Dupree on guitar and the recently departed Paul Griffin on keyboards along with Willie Bridges & Melvin Lastie on horns. This is recording reflects what you would have heard if you were lucky to catch King Curtis performing live at Wilt Chamberlain's Harlem club in the mid 60's. There are 3 originals 2 of which (Preach & Pots and Pans) I've never seen on CD prior to this release. Of the covers Blowin' in the Wind is a standout.

It's great to have these just about impossible to find recordings finally released on CD, hats off to the folks at Collectables and lets hope this is just the begining of the King Curtis Atlantic Records being reissued. ... Read more

Album Description

40 CD box set. Artists include John Lee, 'Sonny Boy' Williamson, Leadbilly, Big Bill Broonzy, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, Memphis Minnie, John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Williams and many more. 725 tracks all digitally remastered to enhance the original recordings without manipulating the character of the music. Recorded between 1923 & 1948. 20 double slimline jewel cases housed together in a cardboard box. Measures 8 x 6 x 5 inches approx. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best Boxed Set of its kind?
10 STARS!!! It's like having a huge collection of vintage LPs from the early- to mid-20th century. 10 CDs with an average 17-18 songs per, with superb remastering. There are so many artists -- some big names and some not, but all choices on this set are notable. Lyrics go from the sublime to the hilarious: "I sent my woman a $20 bill ... If that don' bring her back, my shotgun prob'ly will" ... the masterful guitar, piano and voices are as remarkable today as they were then.

Awesome collection!!
Simply one of the best collections of early blues. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jazz greats pay tribute to 'Hemp'
A great collection of jazz tunes. Hemp was truly a part of the burgeoning world of jazz music, and still is to this day. A wonderful CD to play at a BBQ, entertaining geusts, or just relaxing. Buy it before the government outlaws it!

A funky album
This is a fun album to have, a cleverly assembled collection of unusual songs, and always a conversation piece with friends.

Great for when the "Reefer Man" comes a'knocking.
This album introduced me to several groups of jazz musicians with which Iwas heretofore unfamiliar, and did so in a most agreeable way.This albumtransports you back to the day when smokin' that "jive" was apastime of the greats. I wholeheartedly recommend this album to anyone whohas ever seen, heard, or even smelled the Reefer Man coming around thecorner. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great
Every single song is great. All The Things You Are will have you listening to it over and over again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When contemporary swing goes looking for its ancestors, the first one to turn up is Louis Jordan, the alto saxophonist-singer-songwriter who created jump blues around 1940 by emphasizing a boogie beat, simplifying swing riffs, and adding his own hyper-kinetic vocals. This entertaining survey of Jordan's work touches on his 1939 beginnings with "Flat Face" and its unusual tympani effects, but it's concentrated on the period from 1946 to 1953. Adding electric guitar and organ to his original formula, Jordan enjoyed tremendous R&B success while creating what would become early rock & roll. The world of Jordan's lyrics is a party that has just been crashed, is about to be raided, or both, as in "House Party," "Saturday Night Fish Fry," and "They Raided the House." Sometimes the party's at a farm, whether with the animal impressions of "Barnyard Boogie" or the counsel of "That Chick's Too Young to Fry." Whatever the locale, Jordan supplies heated, blues-based alto solos and a very lively band. Among the sidemen are key R&B players like organists Bill Doggett and Wild Bill Davis and guitarist Bill Jennings. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more