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This double CD collects not only Brother Ray's best-known '50s and '60s singles, but some choice semi-obscurities (the 1953 jump blues "Mess Around," his 1959 cover of Louis Jordan's "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'") that earn their places next to "What'd I Say" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." The man's originality and infectious feeling bleed through on each of these 36 tracks, whether he's transforming "One Mint Julep" or "America the Beautiful" or collaborating (separately) with Willie Nelson and Chaka Khan. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (25)

I will get this double CD to remember Ray......
I recently read that Ray Charles had passed away. This collection will be something I will buy soon as a way to remember him. Ray Charles transcended many genres and could sing all of them so very well. He still wanted to continue making albums too. Much credit to the handlers for finding these 36 songs and compiling them all into one collection. I still love Hit The Road Jack, America the Beautiful, A Song for You, I'll Be Good To You and many others. His music still lives!

All Ray, All the Time . . .
What's he say? For black folks, white folks, grey . . . didn't matter to Ray. His gift and talent will be sorely missed. What a voice, what songs! Brother Ray was the inspiration for my starting an R&B group in LA back in '91. We jokingly wished for a radio station to play "all Ray, all the time." We didn't get that wish but we did learn "Shoulda Been Me" and "Let's Get Stoned." My warmest thoughts and prayers go out to Ray up there in that "Big Jam in the Sky," and to Ray's family. What a treasure-trove of sweet music he gave us! God bless Ray Charles!

the reviewer from california needs to check his/her history
Ray Charles was and still is one of the greatest musicians ever existed!!!!!!! He was also a great songwriter, arranger and producer and the person who wrote review from california needs to check his/her history BIG TIME!!!!!! Although I like "some" of todays artists, they can't TOUCH the chops of Ray Charles. Those cats out today aren't even in the same BALL PARK as "THE RAY"!!!!!!(PERIOD) Ray Charles influenced the musician in me that I am today!!!! Thank GOD for the gift of having such GENIUS that he WAS, IS and ALWAYS WILL BE!!!!!

Some People Can't Be Educated
The previous review of this great artist was written by someone who doesn't understand that genius comes in many forms. Interpretation is the source of musical performance. An artist need not write the music he performs. If that were the case, then we shouldn't listen to Mozart. The guy has been dead for centuries! In fact, considering some of the performers the previous reviewer mentioned, I'm not sure they should be writing or "singing" anything.

Ray Charles was a genius in interpretation of so many genres from gospel to country to blues to R&B to old-fashioned big band singing. He is an artist of the highest order and he will be missed.

This collection is outstanding in terms of the breadth of Ray's work. If you own one collection, buy this or the Ray Charles Anthology from Rhino Records

HE WILL BE MISSED
HE WAS A GREAT ARTIST I LOVED ALL HIS SONGS. HE WAS VERY GOOD SINGER SO I WILL MISS HIM VERY MUCH! GODS LOVES YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU RAY CHARLES YOU WILL BE MISSED! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Flawed CD
The VERY BEST of Ray Charles? I don't think so. How can you call it that when you leave off Ray's most beautiful ballad "You Don't Know Me." I'm trying to find a CD by Ray Charles that carries "You Don't Know Me," "Georgia on My Mind," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Hit the Road Jack," "Unchain My Heart," and "Let's Go Get Stoned." Can ANYBODY help me?

It's The Very Best Indeed!
Hats off to Rhino for another winning single disc anthology that more than lives up to its title. There was a time I had about ten Ray Charles CDs and felt that, while all were worthy, it sure would have been great to have all the best key cuts from the length of his career on one convenient disc. And...here it is! Thankfully, Rhino opted to include the full-length version of "What'd I Say". The cool part about this set is the way you go from "I've Got A Woman" to "Georgia On My Mind" to "Hit The Road Jack" to "Unchain My Heart" in one sitting! Solid notes, decent remastering, all the key hits. What more could anyone ask for? The first and best place to get into Brother Ray's genius...

The Very Best of Ray Charles [Rhino]
The Very Best of Ray Charles [Rhino]~ Ray Charles is a tremedous singer, musician and entertainer. I loved every song on this stupendous compilation. 5/5.

Absolutely Essential
This is the Essential Ray Charles collection. A must have for any fan. It has the best of the best of his recordings.

Very Best Of Ray Charles In An 18-track CD? Can't Be Done
I would think that, after putting this together and then releasing it in 2000, the folks at Rhino likely wished they had come up with a better title like, say, "18 Of His Very Best." Because, quite frankly, I don't believe it's possible to squeeze the "very best" of Ray Charles into one 18-track CD.

After all, the man put 76 selections into the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1989, and from 1949 to 1993 added another 26 that scored only on the R&B Top 100 singles charts [most of the others charted on both].

As another reviewer points out, there are far too many notable omissions which, by any definition, would have to be included in anything labelled his "very best." For example, while track 5 was a solid R&B hit in 1959 [# 5], but a low # 95 on the pop charts, songs like You Don't Know Me [# 2 pop/# 5 R&B], Take These Chains From My Heart [# 7 R&B/# 8 pop], Crying Time [# 5 R&B/# 6 pop], Here We Go Again [# 5 R&B/# 15 pop], and Yesterday [# 9 R&B/# 25 pop] were smash hits on both.

However, if you can get past the title and just accept these as 18 of his very best it is a welcome addition to any Ray Charles collection. Five pages of informative background notes written by Bill Dahl, and several more shots of Ray, are augmented by a complete discography of the contents showing label and chart details and the musicians involved on each track. The sound reproduction is flawless. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl are among blues guitar's hottest pistols, but their first studio union is no showdown. Although Robillard is steeped in all aspects of technique and Earl is a pure "soul" player, their styles overlap in the Texas and Chicago schools, which grant both giants plenty of space for elegant and biting single-note solos, daredevil string-bending, and chugging rhythms. Robillard sings two numbers and "Mighty" Sam McClain, whose red-clay voice is the perfect foil for their emotional fretwork, guests on Earl's heartbroken epic "A Soul That's Been Abused." The real mojo, however, is in the instrumentals, where these virtuosos who emerged from the New England scene to achieve worldwide acclaim maintain a beatific dialogue. They both swing like T-Bone Walker on "Two Bones and a Pick" and trade sliding chords and slide guitar licks on "Zeb's Thing," which dips into down-home Mississippi grit. The highlight is "My Tears," on which Robillard sings sad and dirty, Earl turns sustained notes into Zen koans, and both players stretch their flair for dynamics and brilliant, unhurried, lyrical playing to its limit. Fans of blues guitar need to hear this album. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (9)

You must already know
If you're reading this review, chances are you're a fan or one if not both of these men. You know about Roomful of Blues and the Broadcasters and you could even be from New England. Maybe you're just a very astute afficionado of the blues. What you're probably looking for is confirmation that this album is as good as you've made it out to be in your mind. You're in luck, it is. What this is not is two guys calling each other out for a showdown at high noon. What it is is two good friends and two exceptional guitar players jamming together and making exceptional music for the joy of playing together. We're just lucky enough to be able to take home the finished product. If you're a blues fan or a guitar man (or woman), your collection's not complete without this one. It's a dandy!

If you like Blues Guitar, buy this CD
Ok, I love blues guitar playing and these guys are two of the best. Duke Robillard was one of the founders of Room Full Of Blues and and Ronnie Earl was their lead guitar player for a while after Duke left to go out on his own. They play together wonderfully. The recorded tone of their guitars is superb as is their choices of tunes to play. If you like blues guitar playing, but this CD. You will not be sorry. This is a great blues guitar album!

Fun album
This is basically Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard jamming over basic Blues songs. A highlight is Mighty Sam McClain's vocals on "A soul that's been abused." As for the guitar work, there's a lot of repetitiveness and redundancy on both sides. The presence of the two single guitars is so overpowering, there are almost no real intense band moments on the CD. Both play their usual time-tested licks. Maybe the price you pay for success...getting lazier and not pushing the envelope of the genre anymore? We can still be grateful that fine Blues albums like this exist, but I expected more from two modern veterans of the Blues.

I Must Be Dreaming!!!!!
Today I was scanning the blues section and came to my favorite guitarists page (Ronnie Earl)I rubbed my eyes and looked again.Yes!! Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard together at last.This disk will be in your player for a long time.The best guitar,blues,soul whatever you may call it music of the year.Check out Mighty Sam McClain on A Soul thats been abused.Love the opening and Sams voice SPECTACULAR!Guitar players take note-the stakes have been raised.Awesome guitar by two of the best players around.What a Dream indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely a keeper!
Excellent blues guitar with a touch of soul.I lucked into this CD when I heard the track "West Side Shuffle" on the radio, WOW. ... Read more

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Houma homeboy Tab Benoit may have snuck up on some blues fans, but his status as the best and brightest of modern Louisiana bluesmen is now too obvious for any to ignore. His swamp-saturated sound and incisive Telecaster attack, also heard on the Whiskey Store and Whiskey Store Live dueling-guitar albums with Jimmy Thackery, easily personalizes classics, such as Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out," featured here with saxist Jimmy Carpenter. But Benoit's at his best with the bayou beat. As on 2003's The Sea Saint Sessions, Benoit spotlights the musical heritage of New Orleans by using two guest vocalists who are Crescent City icons: Mardi Gras Indian "Big Chief" Monk Boudreaux and dynastic percussionist/vocalist/composer Cyrille Neville. Boudreaux vocally parades through "Golden Crown" at a fittingly funky Mardi Gras tempo, while Neville provides two songs: the percussion-embellished "Little Girl Blues" and the history lesson "The Blues Is Here to Stay," on which he vocally duets with Benoit between some of the album's best guitar work.

Buddy Guy's "I Smell a Rat" is the album's longest track as Benoit, beginning with a tasty intro, takes his most extended guitar workout, conjuring up a late-night blues club feel in the process. Benoit also contributes three originals, including the zydeco-tinged title track, an anthem of Cajun pride that serves him well as a signature song. Also his is the swamp stomper "Night Train," the album opener. At the other end is a surprise finale, a sublime front-porch, finger-picking acoustic rendition of "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It". --Michael Point ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Get The Fever
If you like Tab Benoit, The Blues or Cajun Spiced Music you will LOVE this CD.In fact, buy TWO--- one for yourself and one to impress your friends with your great taste in music!It is worth every cent.

I like this.
I liked this cd from start to finish.It starts out with night train,a song that strangley reminds me of creedence.I also like the blues song i smell a rat.I think tab is one of the finest new blues guitar players today.Get this if your into the blues.

Possibly his best CD yet
Tab quickly became one of my favorite guitarists when I first heard him, and this new CD shows that he is still getting better.He is one of those all-too-rare musicians that can make you stop whatever else you might be doing and just listen."I Smell a Rat" is my favorite Buddy Guy song and I wasn't sure how Tab would do with it, but his version is excellent.Any blues fan should buy this immediately.

Killer
His best CD yet...I've been playing it for several days now....Very few cd's make that cut. Highly recommended.

Blues from the heart
This is great! You could start and finish your review with that simple statement. I always admired Mr. Benoit work, however from my point of view this has to be his best effort to date. This album is one of the best blues CD I have ever came across. Marvellous guitar playing and even better singing throughout the entire work. If you are looking for a true "blues" CD, a blues CD with the capital "B", played the way it meant to be, do not waste your time looking for more, you have found it. More than very highly recommended this is just an essential purchase for all the blues fan around the word. For sure one of the best release so far in 2005 and maybe one of the best ever. Just pick it up and you wont be disappointed. ... Read more

Album Description

For more than 30 years, Ball has been delivering her signature brand of Texas blues, Louisiana R&B and Gulf Coast swamp pop to audiences all over the world. She has earned a huge and intensely loyal following through critically acclaimed albums and continued non-stop touring. Live, she’s simply unbeatable

LIVE! DOWN THE ROAD, a blistering set recorded at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in 2004. The CD mixes songs from throughout her career, including longtime fan favorites like La Ti Da and Crawfishin’ as well as newer material like Louella. Ball gives each song the workout of a lifetime, reinventing and reinvigorating every track with the immediacy and fire only a live show can deliver. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Californian Etta James decided against accepting filmmaker Martin Scorcese's personal invitation to sing at The Blues gala in New York in early 2003. The well-celebrated soul and blues queen makes amends here with what is one of the most blues-centered recordings in her expansive discography, bringing her big, no-nonsense voice and her feisty, proud woman's point of view to bear on classics, many identified with Chicago. The likes of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightnin'," Jimmy Reed's "Hush Hush," and Muddy Waters's "Got My Mojo Working" may be hackneyed choices, but she seizes each of a dozen as her own, and clearly, as she says herself, these are the blues songs that touch her the deepest. No argument here. --Frank-John Hadley ... Read more

Reviews (3)

ETTA JUST KEEPS GETTIN' BETTA'
The legendary Etta James has said that she was inspired to record this album after seeing the PBS TV series "The Blues" produced by Martin Scorcese.

Referring to the series James said, "What I found was so full of what life is about: being born and dying; joy and sorrow; salvation and sin......As I started reaching deeper I realized that most of the blues of that day was done by men. Women just didn't have the nerve. So I thought it was about time to show them what these songs might sound like coming from a whole different point of view."

Surely can't comment on the differences between points of view but I can say this is one terrific album - a must-have for blues aficionados. "Honey Don't Tear My Clothes" is unbelievable, as is "Don't Start Me Talking."

Featured on the album are James's sons Donto James and Sametto James; guitarists Josh Sklair and Bobby Murray plus harmonica player John "Juke" Logan. Liner notes are by Martin Scorcese.

This one's a keeper!

- Gail Cooke

Style and instrumental magic
Etta James oozes style and toughness with grace and her music is all about her perfect tempo timing. This cd is delicious combinations of rhythum and musical magic that is the epitome of Ella the woman but her voice has a rougher texture to it now that you may or may not appreciate compared with her voice from 20 years ago. I love the instrumentals, the arrangements and the emotional intensity of this cd. I have adored many tracks Etta has poured herself into and although this cd is not my favorite, it's still a spectacular gift to the library of recorded music.

Love Etta and love blues to the bone
This is awesome. Everytime she comes out with a cd I think that it's the best she can do and then comes a new one that is even better. I love her voice, I love her style and I love seeing this woman in concert. These songs rock and Little Red Rooster is awesome. I love her jazz stuff too, but when she does a blues cd (like this one) it blows me away. Get this cd and rock out! ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Nobody sings the Blues like "Miss Peaches"!
Etta James shares her devine gift of a voice with millions who appreciate her wonderful music. The heartfelt "At Last" is the definitive wedding song. The rendition of "Stormy Weather" rivals the Lena Horne version, and "A Sunday Kind of Love" proves that Etta James is American Blues Royalty. When you listen to a heartbroken Etta James declaring "All I Could Do Was Cry", you feel the pain of a hurt teenager. -- "Miss Peaches" is one of the great R&B/Jazz singers of our time. This CD covers 14 of her best loved songs. It is a treasured part of my music collection, and I can highly recommend it!

Pure Sexuality!
Wow! If you're looking for a new way to romance the one you love, look no further than At Last by Etta James! Forget Bolero, lite rock and smooth jazz! Her voice is raw and powerful and will reach into the deepest part of your "soul." Most renditions of Stormy Weather try to be Lena Horne sound alikes and it just doesn't work. Etta James takes the song and turns it into pure heaven with her delivery and straightforward style. I knew she sang At Last, but when I heard the Diet Coke Commercial with I Just Want to Make Love to You -- I knew it was her and just had to find out more! This one cut is worth the price of the CD if you like your blues down and dirty. Many Cds engineered from older sources have the scratchy background (just like an LP). At Last is clear and has an excellent quality. I've listened to other Cds of Etta and this one, in my opinion, is her best. Each song showcases her remarkable flexibility and power to take a simple melody and make it memorable! Buy this one NOW.

American Blues = Lady Day, Pearl...and "Miss Peaches"!
Few voices in R&B History rival that of the lovely Etta James. The Blues Legend shares her devine gift of a voice with millions who appreciate her wonderful music. The heartfelt "At Last" is the definitive wedding song. The rendition of "Stormy Weather" rivals the Lena Horne version, and "A Sunday Kind of Love" proves that Etta James is American Blues Royalty. When you listen to a heartbroken Etta James declaring "All I Could Do Was Cry", you feel the pain of a hurt teenager.

"Miss Peaches" is one of the great R&B/Jazz singers of our time. This CD covers 14 of her best loved songs. It is a treasured part of my music collection, and I can highly recommend it!*****

Ms. James Is Exceptional!
My goodness. Etta is a goddess! Her voice sounds like an angel straight from heaven. Although Etta's voice is raw and powerful, it has a beauty to it that is completely unique to her. Not to mention, how can you forget the classic songs on this album, like "At Last" and "Sunday Kind of Love". You must check out this album. Etta's voice is like no other!

wonderful wonderful
I love this CD. I had never heard of Etta James until I heard this CD recently and within an hour I was online ordering it. Very bluesy. Love every song on it. I really recommend it to anyone who loves blues or jazz. ... Read more

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The former Nighthawk opens this set with "Let the Guitar Do the Work," and it's best when his does. The instrumental "Fender Bender" is a rockin' tribute to the Stratocaster. Thackery decorates a sinuous melody with fiery little embellishments, from tasteful dips of the whammy bar and soaring modulations to moaning bends. "Kickin' Chicken" blends roadhouse country with T-Bone Walker swing and Henry Mancini's "A Shot in the Dark" becomes a surf classic under his expert fingers. This album also includes some of Thackery's best vocal performances. He bites hard into the lyrics of the state-of-the-world report "Devil's Toolbox" and goes for soul on the ballad "Had Enough." Muddy Waters gets a nod, too, in "Can't Lose What You Never Had," where Thackery imitates the master's keening, insistent slide. But even when the guitars are in the background, piled up to build tremolo-laden textures or twanging out shuffle rhythms, they have a persistent intensity that keeps this disc lively and kickin'. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Tone!!
If you've never heard of Jimmy Thackery, you've been missing some of the best of modern electric blues. Drive to Survive, Jimmy Thackery Guitar, Wild Night Out were perhaps his best. Now add Healin' Ground to that list. The ole Jimmy Thackery Tone is back and man does that Strat sound sweat. Being a blues affectionato and a strat player as well, I was treated to one heck of a musical experience on this CD. Fender Bender is one of his best cuts(too bad it wasn't around before he completed "Jimmy Thackery Guitar" it would have made that cut). Healin' Ground is the Jimmy Thackery we've all come to know from the past. This CD is a winner!!

Jimmy's "Nashville" album
The pleasures on this album are more subtle than jaw dropping. At first I thought I was going to hold it against Jimmy that he doesn't really let loose with any "thunderbolts" on this album. Then I realized that in stressing technique over firepower, Mr. Thackery may have just come up with the most well rounded album of his career. Overall, a little bit more of a country sound than I'm used to but kudos to J.T. for mixing it up a little. Well done!

What's not to like?
If you aren't already a fan of Jimmy Thackery, then this album should convert you to the fold.This album rocks from the first and the ride keeps going until the bluesy ending at track 11.The only full time Driver on this disc is Mark Stutso who delivers some fine vocal work on two tracks.But Jimmy is the star in every sense on this outing.His guitar work is flawless and his vocals are terrific.Grab this one and you'll be hooked.And as one previous review stated, don't miss a chance to catch Thackery and the Drivers live.It's one heck of a show and you'll be even more impressed with Jimmy as a player live than you are by his recordings and, people that is saying a lot!Great stuff.Put this one on your don't miss list.

I agree, his best yet
This is an excellant release for JT & the Drivers, his guitar sounds as powerful as ever and his vocals are the best he's recorded so far.The Drivers are the as tight as every. I also hear more piano on this that is kinda a change for Thackery.It's Kevin McKendree on the keys along with the records Producer Gary Nickolson, both who play with my all time favorite Delbert McClinton.

Thackery's BestWork!
This is a great disc that doesn't have a bad song on it and is already one of my favorites.Jimmy's guitar playing is awesome, especially on cuts like "Fender Bender" and the tone on "Had Enough" is amazing. "Healin Ground" and "Devils Toolbox" are rockin little numbers that really jump and "Shot In The Dark" is just cool! Jimmy can play any style from blues to rock to jazz to country, and play them as good or better than anyone playing. Jimmy Thackery is as great a live act as any guitar player you will ever see. If you see him one time you will be a fan for life. This disc is an absolute must for anyone who loves great guitar playing. Buy this disc, you wont be sorry. ... Read more

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B.B. King's music has been anthologized and put in box sets many times, but this is the first single-disc collection that truly spans the American icon's career. It starts with his breakthrough 1951 No. 1 R&B hit "Three O'Clock Blues" and ends, chronologically, with 2000's "Ten Long Years" from his platinum-selling, pop-chart-topping smash collaboration with Eric Clapton, Riding with the King. In between there are 19 numbers that trace King's creative peaks (1969's "The Thrill is Gone," 1960's "Rock Me Baby") and valleys (1973's disco-inspired "I Like to Live the Love"). And they all tell the story of his growth as a performer. As the years and tunes tumble by, King's guitar solos become more expansive and adventurous, and his cross-genre experiments, like 1987's "When Love Come to Town" with U2, grow bolder. "I'll Survive," also featured here, has become King's late-career theme song, but as he heads toward his 80th birthday on September 16, 2005--still playing 150 concerts a year with his vastly influential guitar skills sharp and his voice just a bit weathered--King's version of survival contains genuine majesty. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (5)

****1/2 - the finest introduction yet
Finally - a really good single-disc compilation which doesn't exclude King's earliest (and best) material.
Much better than "Greatest Hits" and more affordable than various multi-disc compilations, "The Ultimate Collection" is the place to start for newcomers and curious listeners who want to know what Riley "B.B." King is all about.
"Three O'Clock Blues", "You Upset Me Baby", "Sweet Little Angel"...this is not everything you could ever want from B.B. KIng, but it is a very fine place to start.

B.B.King&Lucille are well served here
B.B.King is a Artist that is timeless to Me on so many levels. His music has always been a fixture in my life.relatives have played His work all through my life.those Great recordings He did with Bobby "Blue" Bland&His Solo Career."the thrill is Gone" is still One of the Freshest Jams Ever.B.B.'s Guitar Lucille has Served the Brother Proper over the years. you feel His spirit&Emotion in his Tone&Vocals as a Musican.this is a Must have.

Single Disc Collection Hits Most of the Highlights
B.B. King is certainly the greatest living ambassador of the blues that we have and this latest anthology--released ahead of his eightieth birthday next September--is a well chosen collection of some of his best and best known songs.However, condensing a 50-plus-year recording career onto a single disc and calling it THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION borders on chutzpah.

However, give the compilers at Geffen Records their due. Through cross licensing they have been able to include some of his early RPM and Kent singles as well as his MCA material. [MCA has been B. B. King's home since the late sixties.] The set begins with his first No. 1 R&B single "Three O'Clock Blues" in 1951 and continues through with the most recent song "Ten Long Years" from 2000's collaboration with Eric Clapton, RIDING WITH THE KING.

Even at twenty-one tracks, there is much that had to be eliminated from this collection.Only the last four tracks represent King's post-seventies output. And over the past half dozen years alone, King has released some powerful albums, including 1999's tribute to the music of Louis Jordan LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL and 2003's collection of standards REFLECTIONS, neither of which is represented here.

What you do get though is classic B.B. King, including his 1964 crossover hit "Rock Me Baby," a couple tracks from1965's LIVE AT THE REGAL "Every Day I Have the Blues and "Sweet Little Angel," his signature song "The Thrill Is Gone" (which at No. 15 was his highest charting pop hit in 1970), and the 7" edit and mix of "When Love Comes to Town" with U2.

Overall, this is a satisfying collection and makes for a nice introduction to the music of B.B. King.If you want a broader overview, consider 2000's 2-disc anthology or 1992's box set KING OF THE BLUES

The Thrill isn't gone after all...The King is back
B.B. plays what he feels in every single song. That's a rarity among all the young blues neophytes out there but the fact that he did from his very first recording says a lot about the man. From the very first chords of "Three O'Clock Blues" to the rock swagger of "When Come Comes To Town" (recorded and written by U2), B.B. energized every note, every word with meaning.

This isn't the best collection of B.B.'s music. For that you'd have to go to the boxed set "King of the Blues" which is now over a decade old. It's missing everything he's recorded since 1992 so isn't quite as complete as it could be either. As a single disc collection, though, you can't go wrong with this outstanding set. Yes, "The Thrill is Gone" also makes another appearence but because it'ssuch an important track (it broke B.B. to a wider audience and became his first crossover hit)it certainly deserves to be included. The extensive liner notes gives us a glimpse of B.B.'s life from the day he entered the world as Riley King the son of a sharecropper (something he himself did briefly as well). It's clear from even these early sides (the first four tracks)he didn't have blood flowing through his veins but the Mississippi Delta's rich water.

Focusing primarily on his singles (although there's a generous helping of album tracks as well), this collection could easily have been doubled or tripled in length (much as Bruce Springsteen's "Ultimate Collection" was). From the plainative fragment "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" (with the sad but witty comment, ..and she could be jiving me") through to B.B.'s collaborations with U2 (the single is featured here with backing vocals that I don't seem to recall on the album version)and England's Mississippi Delta King Eric Clapton, this fine collection captures the King in fine form.

After this you'd do well to pick up the following classic albums; "Live at the Regal", "Lucille" (named after his beloved guitar), "Live in Cook County Jail" (one of his most powerful performances), "Indianola Mississippi Seeds". Dip your toes in the Mississippi Delta and you'll never regret it!

The King
Hey, it's the king. This CD is all encompassing and superbly recorded. If you are new to B.B. King or just want to add to your collection, you will not be dissapointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Ray Charles is the Genius of Soul, but he's always had a bit of country boy in him, too. Between playing hillbilly piano when he was a kid and landing several duets on the country charts in the '80s, Charles released this 1962 classic, taking 12 country standards and proving that great songs can remain great, no matter what the setting.Behind blaring brass and thrilling strings, Brother Ray transforms "Hey, Good Lookin'" and "Bye Bye Love" into big-band swing; "You Win Again" into the Nashville Sound; and "I Love You So Much It Hurts" into the most elegant of pop."I Can't Stop Loving You" was the big hit, but everything else here is just as timeless and beautiful. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (14)

what can you say
that hasnt already been said about Ray Charles' Modern Sounds. Lilting and beautiful melody, poignant and masterful vocal phrasing throughout the album. Can melt the hardest of hearts, and thematically represents some of the more dark aspects of love and heartache as only country and western music can. do you really need the formality of five stars?

Modern Sounds in Country & Western
As ever Ray-the Man is ever flexible. He knows his roots only too well. I first heard Ray sing Country and Western years ago on the Album, "The Volcanic Action of My Soul"....Wichita Line Man..was mind blowing....I recently found the reviewed album contained a lot of the tracks I longed to hear again. Multifaceted band, ever brilliant genius...if ever there was a man whose ISness= music then Ray Charles really defies categorization.

I Know the Vinyl Album Not the CD
I grew up listening to this album that belonged to my late father. When he was "bar-b-queing" on the patio in the backyard, he'd have his speakers outside from the "Hi-Fi" in the den, and one of the albums he'd play was "Ray Charles, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music." As kids, our favorite was my Dad's favorites, "Born To Lose" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." The day they announced "Sir" Ray had died, I pulled out that album and played it three times. It still sounds good today. You can't go wrong with the CD.

A new sad day.
Although I knew that the day would come soon that Brother Ray would pass on, but it still feels like the day came too soon. Ray Charles is one of my most cherished icons on American music. He's done so much! He's taken risks on new ideas even when his advisors were totally against it. This album of "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" proves that. He was told that a black man shouldn't do country music, but Ray said that it was in his heart to do it. And it worked! It ended up being his best selling album ever! It was the Number One album of 1962 for 14 weeks and remained on the pop chart for 101 weeks (according to Billboard, Record Research by Joel Whitburn).

Many of his most cherished hits are here: "I Can't Stop Loving You", "You Don't Know Me", "Born to Lose", and more, plus this CD features three bonus tracks, which were also charted classics: "You Are My Sunshine", "Here We Go Again", and "That Lucky Old Sun". And although "Georgia On my Mind" would have been an excellent additional bonus track, fitting for this collection, you will find that in his box set once you're ready to commit to that purchase. Although, his five disc box set "Genius and Soul" is a great collection, for those of you who are, only now, interested in hearing what Ray Charles has done for pop music, pick up this CD of "Modern Sounds...". Sure, you may want to get one of his many greatest hits CD's that are available. But, you may want to get his box set afterwards while still wanting to keep this one landmark album.

Yes, I am saddened that Ray Charles has passed on. I feel somber just as we all did when Elvis Presley passed away. I hope we're going to see a great documentary on the life of Ray Charles some day. Since I've already mentioned him, it would be nice if they would get around to releasing the Elvis Presley documentary called "This is Elvis" on DVD someday.

Ray, we're all going to miss you. Too bad Ronald Reagan's passing and week-long rememberance and final funeral stole the attention Ray deserves to celebrate his life. I guess they'll get around to it someday afterwards.

you da man, ray charles!
i've known and loved this album since it came out. if music doesn't express the human spirit it's just so much deedly-deedly and ol'ray knows what this music says beyond the words - and expresses it with his natural gifts for phrasing, soulfulness, etc. production is kinda gushy 60's but with vocals like this you hardly notice. should be mandatory listening for the nashville hat acts...show 'em how good country can be! ... Read more

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Mac Rebennack took his stage name from the voodoo healer Dr. John and became a '70s pop star by recasting New Orleans's myth and music in his own psychedelic image. At 63, he's again revamped the Crescent City sound, minus the acid-trip trappings, for his best album in decades. With its string, horn, and Afro-Latin percussion sections and its slate of re-imagined classics, N'Awlinz is a masterful summation of Dr. John's abilities as a leader and performer. Guests such as Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and Mavis Staples, plus a roster of Louisiana luminaries including Randy Newman, Nicholas Payton, Snooks Eaglin, Gatemouth Brown, Dave Bartholomew, and Earl Palmer, all make winning contributions. In Dr. John's grasp, "When the Saints Come Marching In" becomes a stately waltz that twines his elegant piano and gravel throat with Staples's rich, red-clay gospel singing. And he honors the spirit of standards like "Stackalee" and "St. James Infirmary" while spinning his own lyrics and melodies into them. "Time Marches On" (with King, Nelson, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band), "Life is a One Way Ticket," and several spirituals contemplate mortality, but never interrupt the graceful, upbeat flow of this late-career opus. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (1)

N'aw-ice 'n' Pure
Straight shot o' Weesi-anna's best musical soundscape here, and ol' Dr. John is just the professor to bring it all home. If you prefer your Bayou sounds sanitized and watered down for Top 40, stay away from this. It's too pure and likely gonna be a tough dose of the real thing.

On d'udda hand, this is a treasure chest. Each song is worthy of repeated listens, and each time something new and valuable is discovered. Picking the best of these 18 songs ain't possible, as each contributes to the overall perspective.

Spirituals, blues, standards, voodoo, soul. It's all here.

It's become way-too-commonplace today to puff up a CD with guest artists. But this has very serious cats sittin' in, and they don't simply show up for a payday. They came to play and pay homage to the distinct music found only in N'Awlinz.

I'm a sucker for anything Randy Newman does, but he has never sounded more inspired. Willie Nelson is today's Perry Como, but he, too, finds a new depth of performance. What can be said of B.B. King except you'd better be ready to play when he shows up; and they do!

Arrangements of lyrics and themes and scores are so evenly proportioned that songs you know like the palm of your foot sound fresh again. The way Mavis Staples and Dr. John retool "When The Saints Go Marching In" makes you wonder where you ever heard these lyrics before.

With The Dirty Dozen Brass Band backing, Michael Bolton could make passable music, so you can imagine what happens when blended with the real deal.

Forgive my musical ignorance. I'm not familiar with a lot of the other notable local musicians on this CD. But any of 'em could cut the famous studio boys in The City or L.A. or Nashville without breaking a sweat.

I'm here to testify. It's gonna be a long time until I've fully digested this cajun meal, and I love each bite. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Even for a relatively brief (20-song) overview of Ray Charles's '60s output during the peak of his recording stardom at ABC-Paramount, Anthology covers a hell of a lot of styles. It couldn't be any other way, not when examining the period in which he hit the charts with transformed versions of half-forgotten standards ("Georgia on My Mind"), hip jazz instrumental takes on Clovers tunes ("One Mint Julep"), rocking uptempo R&B ("Hit the Road Jack") and mournful proto-countrypolitan ("I Can't Stop Loving You"). If any of those four titles means a thing to you, this primer on America's greatest singer is probably a disc you should own. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Almost perfect.......
This is the best mini-collections one can get of Ray's music. I think it's a crime that so many of our legends that are still living are virtually invisible, drowned out by the thunder-thump of some of the digital wizards that pretend to be musical artists today. There is one song I really like that wasn't included her. It's "You Don't Know Me" ("You give your hand to me....and then you say hello...."). This is the music of my early childhood, and it was played around my house along with Cannonball Adderley, Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Wes Montgomery..... oh man, the list could go on and on! I find myself reminiscing every time I come to these Amazon music pages! If you are on a budjet, this CD gives you the most for the least dough. Ray Charles is part of the royalty that gave us the best music of the 20th century. He will be eulogized and all after he passes away, but it's just a shame there isn't enough room in the mainstream spotlight for those that got us here.

A SAMPLER OF BROTHER-RAY'S BEST
In 1967 I was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga. after doing my 1 yr."tour" of Viet Nam. I needed a healthy dose of Soul to re-invent my lost spirits, so I bought a double-album by Ray called "Ray Charles, A Man And His Music", I liked that album so much I kept it, and played it quite often for over 35 yrs. Yikes am I gettin old! I finally gave it away to a friend cuz my record player went to Hell.
Anyway if you like Ray's music even a little bit I think you'll like "anthology" Here are a few of my picks in different
music styles: 1- "I Don't Need No Doctor" (blues-rock) "Unchain my Heart" (blues-rock) 2-"I Can't Stop Loving You (mournful-blues ) "Lets Go Get Stoned" (hard-day-at-work blues)
Buy This One....I am cuz I know what's on it
Later on dudes!!
Blues-eyed Bob

Rest in peace, Genius
This CD features recordings from Ray Charles' 1960s heyday. (I have a first pressing of this CD, which features "Sticks and Stones" instead of "America the Beautiful".) This is all prime Ray Charles. He had (for the most part) stopped writing his own material at this point, and instead became an interpreter of any song that struck his fancy. He could take a song from any musical genre and make it his own. People said he was crazy when he decided to record an album of country songs, but it went on to become his best selling LP. This anthology is by no means complete, (it doesn't include his Number Two hit "You Don't Know Me"), but it is a solid hour-plus of Ray Charles at his best. Highly recommended.

Blues God
I own this CD and The Genius of Ray Charles. Both excellent, but between the two, I have to give my thumbs up to the Anthology. "Busted" is enough of a reason to own this album and the entire CD is just as good. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

A Great Collection
If you're looking for one CD that has the best of Ray Charles on it, this is it. There are more complete collections, but this is the best overall. ... Read more

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This two-CD box contains all 41 recordings Johnson made, including 12 alternate takes, and each cut remains a classic. This set's release in 1990 caused quite a stir, selling more than 500,000 copies, and, on the basis of endorsements from Eric Clapton and Keith Richards, introduced a great number of rock fans to Delta blues. Amazingly, Johnson built his enormous legacy on the strength of just two recording sessions: the first session, in November of 1936, produced among others "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," "Sweet Home Chicago," "Cross Road Blues," and "Walkin' Blues," making it perhaps the most influential single session in blues history.--Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Invaluable document of a great talent
The irony of Robert Johnson's superstar status is hard to miss. He was almost completely ignored by the music-buying public of his day, even in the market his records were aimed at. Yet in the present day, he's practically the only country blues artist most people know about. On one level, this is because of relentless championing by other blues artists, not least Eric Clapton. On another level, Johnson's fame rests on the fact that he was able to write, or more properly pull together from his various mentors and influences, his songs and make them complete unto themselves. His songs have made an impact, and have been covered time and again by countless artists. That counts for something.

Part of who Robert Johnson was as a singer and songwriter is obscured by his legend, which has been retold so often it borders on cliche. But even after the hype has been dismissed, this box set shows Johnson as a powerful, innovative, soulful blues man, a great performer and a great songwriter (in the context of blues songwriting) with his own unique sound.

Johnson was not without his influences, and if he had lived he would have told you that himself. However, the interesting thing was that he managed to transform his influences and personalize them into his own vision of the blues, a blues that was one of the first steps away from country blues toward city blues - a vision that would eventually become Chicago blues.

It has been fashionable in blues circles to put Robert Johnson down recently, and to gripe about how Johnson's influences should be as well known as he is. This is a valid point. However, Johnson became an influence himself, and as such, he still deserves a good deal of respect. This box set, which contains every recording he is known for, is a just tribute to a brilliant singer, songwriter and performer.

The remastering is surprisingly good, considering the sources. Johnson's voice and guitar playing come through vividly and illustrate his wealth of talent. The only possible drawback to this box set, for the casual listener, is the number of alternate takes included. They show that Johnson was an adept performer, because a lot of the alternates are similar to the "released" versions. This showed that he was no closet bluesman or flash-in-the-pan, but was adept at entertaining an audience. And to this day his guitar playing is astonishingly fluid and innovative. However, the repetitiveness of the alternate takes can become trying to people who are not students of the blues, and for the casual listener a single-disc set would probably be sufficient.

This box set, is, and remains, a worthy overview of a talent that received its due far too late. I would advise the listener not to be put off by people who would place Johnson's influences over him, but to listen to Johnson on his own merits. My guess is that he'll win you over, as he has generations of listeners.

Perhaps the 29 most influential songs of the 20th century
Robert Johnson is most emulated of the Mississippi bluesmen and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His inovative guitar style was extensively copied by the early rock stars and and has continued to influence modern musicians. When a country hick named Elvis Presley was auditioning for Sun Records in the early 50s he played several Robert Johnson tunes. Other musicians deeply influenced by Johnson include Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Johnson had very large hands so his songs are almost impossible to immitate due to the incredible difficulty of fretting them. Keith Richards said "I was hearing two guitars, and it took me a long time to realize he was actually doing it all by himself." According to legend Johnson got his amazing guitar skills by selling his soul to the Devil at a Mississippi crossroads one evening in 1930. People say the evidence is in songs like Crossroad Blues, Up Jumped the Devil, Me and the Devil Blues, and Hell Hound on My Trail. Johnson had only recorded these 29 songs before he was poisoned by a jealous husband in 1938 when he was only 26 years old.

Johnson's songs are characterized by an intensity of raw emotion and incredible creativity. The lyrics are haunted and really stick in your mind. My favorites are Crossroad Blues, Last Fair Deal Gone Down and of course, Love in Vain, one of the most beutiful blues songs ever written. No true blues fan would deny that Robert Johnson was the greatest bluesman of all time.

Best blues I have ever heard!
This is one of the first blues C.D.s I ever bought, and it is the best. I have since perchaced C.D.s by Muddy Waters, Charley Patton, Son House, Skip James, Blind Lemon Jefferson and several others, and while they are all very good none of them are as good as Robert Johnson. I definitely recomend this to anyone even slightly interested in the bles.

I would like to point out that the reviewer calling himself Tony Thomas is RACIST. I have read several of his reviews and he uses the term "bleus lovers" derisively put into quotes to refer to whites. When he says real blues people he obviously is talking about blacks. These slightly hidden racist slurs and his general tone is elitist and offensive. I would have thought that amazon would be ethical enough not to post this sort of RACIST PROPAGANDA!

The Greatest Music Ever!
In ''Robert Johnson : The Complete Recordings'', you will hear the most powerful blues there is. Robert Johnson's music is more than great, it's magic, it's indefinable. I've never heard anything like that and I know I never will find anything similar. He creates a blues world of his own where everything is possible. He brings you in his visions, his fears, his joys, his hopes, his loves, his travels... Also, his guitar skills are fantastic, his emotion is truely unique and his lyrics really define the everyday life of a traveling black blues musician in the 30's and also visions (or not) he had (Me And The Devil Blues, Hell Hound On My Trail, Cross Road Blues), inspiring incredibly dark and superb lyrics of an artist who died way too young.

Most people know Robert Johnson's story, so I'm not going to write it A G A I N, but I would just like to say to people who think Robert Johnson's music sucks because 'his singing is bad, he plays acoustic, he sings stupidities and the sound quality is awful' that they prove their lack of musical culture. Robert Johnson is without a doubt an icon in blues music, and music in general. He's - to me - the greatest musician ever (whatever the time period or the style). This Complete Recordings is definitely an item you should own, but we aware that the sound quality isn't as good as modern CDs (that box set was issued in 1990, and the tracks come from 78's of the 30's), but the music inside is extremelly powerful. Also be aware that this box set, who's said to contain each Robert Johnson's takes, actually doesn't contain 'Traveling Riverside Blues (take 2), which does appear on a more recent compilation called 'I'm A Steady Rollin' Man' (who also has the 41 other tracks available here). But that's a very small complaint, since they haden't yet realized - back in 1990 - that the second take of that song was on the 1961 LP : King Of The Delta Blues Singers.

However, this item is great and is one you should have in your collection. Whatever the kind of music you listen to, you will find yourself in admiration before the legacy a certain Robert Johnson left more than sixty-five years ago...

Statistics for statistics buffs, not music
Look: There are forty-one tracks on this album, but only twenty-nine songs. How to account for the discrepancy? Well, I can't. All I can say is that someone who wants to listen to multiple takes IN A ROW of the same songs EVERY TIME he listens to an album is NOT interested in music. Next time, if we really have to have alternate takes, let's confine them to a separate disc, please. Thank you very much. ... Read more

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"I can't even crack a frown since the blues slipped out of town," sings Keb' Mo' on "Prosperity Blues," with a patented big wide grin you can practically hear. It's a witty and accurate assessment of his approach to the often lowdown genre. Even on the album's title track, where Mo's tough National steel slide playing is most prominent, he's concerned with the daunting amount of coffee choices at his local java emporium. Call it the middle-class blues then, as Mo' wraps his grits-and-honey voice around another set of gently rolling, melodic, and warm compositions. Similar to, say, James Taylor, he spins beautifully crafted, meticulously produced, uncluttered roots-influenced music that is no less satisfying because of its smooth qualities. Traces of gospel, folk, and even bluegrass sprinkle these pop-oriented tunes, and while most of the edges here are sanded off--nobody will mistake him for Howlin' Wolf--Mo's cushy voice and charm create another winning entry in his catalog. Sophisticated and burnished, Keep It Simple goes down easy thanks to alluring songs that beckon you back like the memories of an old flame. --Hal Horowitz ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Depends on what you like!
Keb Mo has done 3 of my favorite albums (CD's...I am an old dog) of all time. Keb' Mo, Just Like You, and Slow Down are the three. The Door and Keep It Simple don't get me. He is still a great voice and guitar player but the music just doesn't move me. I think, as has been noted, that he is moving away from the blues and that is fine. I hate to see artists get pigeon holed into something they don't have their heart in. And in all fairness, none of the CD's are totally blues anyway. But I will say that if blues is your bag, then certainly start with one of the early works. If you like a littele more pop sound then buy Keep It Simple or The Door. By the way, I happen to enjoy Big Wide Grin, which is all covers, more than Keep It Simple or The Door. The selections are interesting and well performed. I stand Keb's version of America the Beautiful up with Ray Charles' version. And Everybody Be Yo'self is one of my favorite Keb' Mo recordings. I wait with interest to see where he goes next. I will continue to follow but will always gravitate to the first three works. One more thing, his Sessions at 54th make me want to see him live. He has a great stage persona.

"saw" the album live!
A collection of warm sunshine -- Saw Keb live at the House of Blues for his debut of this album, where he unbelievably played STRAIGHT for 2 1/2 hours and came on back for more -- TWICE--- there was no stoppin him!
The songs on this album from You Don't Have to Shave Your Legs to Let Your Light Shine -- they are so filled with that beautiful Keb Mo' energy that you can't help but catch that big wide grin he's forever flashing-- he's a good man with a big heart and warm sweet beautiful message, and way, about him -- gonna get the cd just to bring me back to that night. This is what music is all about! Relax and smile and enjoy!!!

Birthing the Hybrid
Keb' Mo' has launched a brilliant career that is evolving. "Slow Down" was his first CD I heard, and may still be my very favorite. His appearances on "Touched by an Angel" and their CDs, his frequent guest appearances on others' CDs including the new comeback disc by Melissa Manchester, his "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" cover on the "Timeless" Hank Williams tribute CD and several soundtrack cuts like "Glory of Love" from the "One Fine Day" soundtrack and "Crapped Out Again" from "Tin Cup" soundtrack show a great versatility.

On "Keep It Simple" Keb' blends blues and pop to arrive at a hybrid that isn't strictly blues, nor strictly pop, but draws incredible strength from both types. My favorite track that is currently in my personal top ten is the buoyant "Let Your Light Shine" with its great bass backbeat and the incredibly positive lyric, "Step into your greatness, don't be afraid, there's a place that you will rise up to; no one else can do what you do." My other favorite is the romantic "Closer" with Munyungo Jackson's delightful percussive touches and Andrea Zonn (whose "Love Goes On" is a fine CD) on violin, "Turn the lights down low, I need to let you know I'm so in love with you." The opener "France" has infectious toe-tapping shuffle with the lyric reflecting the restlessness of dreaming." The other tracks are also strong from the humor of "Shave Yo' Legs" to the self satisfaction of "Prosperity Blues" to the wistful sadness of the closer "Proving You Wrong." This is an excellent set by one of our young emerging legends. If I had any criticism, I'd probably have enjoyed a couple of strong uptempo tunes to sparkplug the set, but the mellow groove that Mo' sets is exquisite. Enjoy!

thoroughly enjoyable
Heard "France" while in Durango, CO. Went there to mountain bike but they got a foot of snow! So, I bought the CD and spent the weekend drinking red wine and enjoying "Keep It Simple." You should try it!!!

Upbeat ? Blues ?
Keb Mo combines upbeat and positive lyrics with a beautiful mellow blues style that results in something really original and fun to listen to. His lyrics sometimes make me laugh out loud and the mellow groove of his tunes is infectious. This is really great music. Another reviewer below already referenced my favorite verse in the whole cd re: the coffee store, etc. This is my first Keb Mo CD but I am ordering the others. I hope they are as good as this one. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Guitar Heaven by Eric Clapton!
Few albums have had greater impact than the landmark John Mayall With Eric Clapton "Blues Breakers." Released by the Decca label in Britain on 22 July 1966, literally days after Clapton quit the Bluesbreakers and just a week before Cream's debut, it went all the way to #6, a pretty mean feat since Mayall's band had never had a hit single. This may have been a first in Britain.

Of course, this is the album that set the blues and guitar worlds aflame and established Eric Clapton's name worldwide as the most passionate of musical interpreters. If you haven't yet heard "Beano" (as the album is affectionately known, because Clapton is pictured reading "The Beano" comic book on its cover), then you ain't heard nuthin' yet!

From the album's first notes, you realize that you're in guitar heaven, as "Slowhand" shows us the way electric guitar can and should be played. Clapton's virtuoso playing is white-hot throughout. Playing with maturity beyond his 21 years, the young Eric Clapton was so influential that Gibson eventually reissued the (out-of-production since 1960) Les Paul model guitar, which Clapton then played.

John Mayall's Bluesbreakers served--and still serves today--as a finishing school for great musicians and sidemen (Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, John McVie, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Mick Fleetwood, Coco Montoya and others). Mayall's proselytizing the blues (he's 69 years old!), his songwriting skills, and his other musical talents should not be ignored nor taken lightly.

A Classic that Gets Better with Age--and Remastering!
When I was 15 years old (which was also 15 years ago), I was quickly becoming a major Eric Clapton fan, and was essentially working my way backward through his impressive catalog. At the time, everyone kept telling me that if I wanted to hear Clapton at his best, I needed to listen to his recording with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Because I was also obsessed with the likes of Buddy Guy, Albert/Freddie/BB King, Otis Rush, and Muddy Waters, among many other players, I relished the opportunity to spend what was a reasonable price for a CD at the time and buy the Mayall/Clapton CD.

When I listened to it for the first time, I actually didn't care for it much. Although Clapton's playing was formidable, especially for someone of his age at the time, the album seemed a little lacking, like the recordings of a lot of British bands at the time who tried playing the blues. Maybe I was too used to hearing the actual American blues masters from whom the British musicians largely borrowed their material, I'm not sure, but I remember feeling that these were just another group enthusiastic musicians who, with the exception of Clapton, were mediocre bluesmen at best. I sold the disc and went back to listening to what I thought was the "real stuff" (i.e. American blues).

Recently I purchased this CD again, because it had been a long time since I had heard it, and I was curious about the newly remastered edition with two extra tracks. I took it home, turned it on, and was completely floored! Through the amazingly crisp mix of this remastered CD, I was able to hear every nuance of the instruments, especially the thick, creamy, crispy tone of Clapton's Les Paul guitar and Marshall amplifier. I have listened to this disc repeatedly since then, and I have to say that this album is very deserving of its reputation as being of one of the best blues albums of all time.

What caused the difference in my opinion, being a decade removed from first hearing it? It is in part due to the vastly improved sound of the CD, of course, but there are other factors as well. John Mayall was a tremendous influence on the British blues scene and, being a little older now, I can appreciate how much he immersed himself in the tradition to sing competently and play his instruments with precision. As far as Clapton is concerned, after hearing his performance on this album, I actually realize how stagnant his music has become, particularly on albums like "Pilgrim" or "Reptile." There was a time long ago when Clapton was not an "adult contemporary" performer, but a blues and rock machine. His playing from his days in the Bluesbreakers through Derek and the Dominos solidified his reputation as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and deservedly so. I would love to hear him play again with the creative inventiveness and fire that defines this John Mayall recording. Anyone who wants to resist mellowing along with Clapton or needs a little musical inspiration should buy this CD. It is the real deal, and it will always be a classic--something that, unfortunately, will not be said about Clapton's recent work.

Clapton is God
This is the album on which Eric Patrick Clapton, Slowhand, emerged as one of the most innovative and original guitarists in the world. Clapton created a new sound when he combined a sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Marshall amplifier. And while blues guitarists like B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Buddy Guy, Freddy King, Otis Ruch, Albert King had pioneered the electric blues guitar idiom, Eric Clapton brought it into the popular mainstream and transformed it. The blues guitar now became an integral part of popular music and rock and roll. This is where Claton showed how it could be done. He perfected on the Beano album of 1966.

Clapton had begun the transformation of the electric guitar while he was with the Yardbirds. He had electrifying solos on the Yardbird's GOODMORNING LITTLE SCHOOLGIRL and on GOT TO HURRY. Clapton wanted to develop and evolve his guitar style with the Yardbirds. But when they decided to go commercial and release pop material, Clapton quit the band. But Beano merely continues where Clapton left off with the Yardbirds. Unlike with the Yardbirds, however, John Mayall lets Clapton take center stage and allows him to realize his vision of the electric guitar. What results is a landmark recording. This album had a major impact in transforming the electric guitar from a secondary instrument to center stage. Eddie Van Halen cited Beano as the album that most influenced him. Jimi Hendrix purchased a copy and wanted to duplicate Clapton's sound. Hendrix even bought a Marshall amp like Clapton so he could get that thick distorted sound that Clapton got on Beano.

Beano showed what you could do when you combined the blues and the electric guitar. The blues did not have to be a peripheral music form but could now take center stage. Claton showed everyone how. He had the vision and the commitment to make it happen. As Clapton himself said, he wanted to change the world and to shake up the music scene. And he did that with Beano.

The album opens with the powerful ALL YOUR LOVE, which Stevie Ray Vaughan covered. Clapton has blistering guitar solos. On DOUBLE CROSSING TIME, a song Clapton co-wrote with Mayall, Clapton's solos are searing. A nice touch to WHAT'D I SAY? is Clapton playing the Beatles' DAY TRIPPER riff in the second half of the song. Clapton scorches on Freddy King's HIDEAWAY. Clapton is on fire throughout the album.

There are two bonus tracks that comprise the single that was released at the time.

This is a must-own album for any guitarist. This is a landmark album that transformed the electric guitar and ushered in the guitar god or guitar hero. But Clapton was the first one. Clapton is indeed SUPERMAN INSIDE and God! Hear for yourself why they called Clapton god and why Jimi Hendrix wanted to first meet Clapton when he arrived in England in 1966.

The debate rages on
Why on earth anyone would give this LP a low rating because it's done by British white boys is beyond me. That smacks of puritanism at its finest. It's like saying Chet Baker was a lousy jazz guy because he was white. These guys were playing what they loved and emulating their heroes. Clapton plays with a passion and fire that transcends racial or gender issues. He was a young musician trying to make his mark and that's where we as listeners really benefit. His focus is on his music and the critics be damned. I'm originally from Chicago's southside and know the old southside (go sox) blues clubs intimately. You could walk in there and mention this albumn and the musicians (mostly black) and the patrons (mostly black) would sing its praises. The nay sayers need to get a grip. I've lived the Chicago blues scene and this albumn is a must. During a conversation I had with the late great Lefty Dizz he told me this was his favorite blues albumn. Go figure..a black blues musician disagreeing with the white purists. Does that make Hendrix a lousy rock player. Do youself a favor and but this albumn!

Clapton's got the blues...
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton (1966.)

In 1965, Eric Clapton bid farewell to the Yardbirds. The band's sound, in Clapton's eyes, was becoming too poppy and commercial - certainly not the kind of music that he had a desire to play. Following his departure of that group, he joined forces with an up and coming blues rocker named John Mayall. Mayall was an excellent performer of blues rock, but he really hadn't had any popularity or success yet. With Eric Clapton in his band, which he now dubbed the Bluesbreakers, would he create an excellent album that was well-received? Read on for my review.

To put it simply, if you're going to listen to this album expecting it to sound like the Eric Clapton that you know and love, you may as well not listen to it at all. This is blues rock, plain and simple - NOT the mainstream rock that Clapton fans tend to know and love him for. But, if you're a Clapton fan and you've got an open mind, or if you're just looking for some of the best blues rock out there, this release is for you. After disbanding from the Yardbirds, Eric Clapton must have felt that he needed to find his roots to be able to continue rocking. And on this album, he finds them. For many classic rock artists, the blues were very important, and that couldn't be more true of Eric Clapton. On this album, he and John Mayall serve up an onslaught of classic blues covers, as well as their own unique compositions. Through and through, Mayall and Clapton managed to create one of the finest blues-rock hybrid albums out there.

THIS TEXT REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE "BLUES CLASSICS" REISSUE. This album was recently remastered and rereleased as a part of the Blues Classics series of album reissues. In addition to the remastering process, this release of the album also includes expanded liner notes, as well as two bonus tracks. The bonus tracks were originally single-only cuts, so it's good to finally have them on an album and on CD. There are several different reissues of this album available, and this is one of the best ones.

When John Mayall and Eric Clapton joined forces, they proved that they were one hell of a blues-rock combo. It's just a shame that their partnership was so short lived - Eric Clapton wanted to start his own band, which he did later that year (I'm referring to Cream, for those of you who don't know.) But, the legacy of their short-lived partnership lived on in the form of this album. No fan of blues-based rock should be without this release. ... Read more