Reviews (14)

Great CD Start to Finish
This CD starts with a great cover, ends with some acoustic slide guitar, and is filled with outstanding guitar playing, vocals, and song writing. Mark May is an extremely talented guitar player with a great voice who writes some unbeleivable tunes. The band is solid and the overall effect delivering his own songs or covers is unbelievable. I was able to see Mark May and the Agitators live in a club in Houston and was completely blown away. You would wear an album of this CD in no time. You'll find you will not only play this CD regularly, you'll listen to every song on it when you play it. Go to Houston and see this band live!

THE "MUST HAVE" BLUESROCK CD OF THE YEAR!!
Just when you think the state of Texas can't possibly put out another monster blues guitarist--along comes Mark May and the Agitators. With his own distinctive style (sorry no SRV imitator here) Mark blazes to the forefront of todays guitar gunslingers. "Telephone Road" is a delightful CD that rocks form start to finish and has enough diversity in the songs so that you don't get tired of playing it. Do you know how you get some CD's and for the first month you play it all the time and then it collects dust on your rack after that? That absolutely won't happen here. I've had this for six months and I still can't get enough of it. From the first track--the hottest version of Steve Miller's "Mercury Blues" ever recorded--which shows off the Agitators ultratight rhythm section--through several of Mark's own tunes,every song is a keeper. My favorites include: "Telephone Road"--the title track which features a hauntingly beautiful guitar lick throughout by Mark that calls out for his baby to come back to him. "I'll Be Around" and "Sweet Spot" show Mark's diversity in playing and "Lights Are On But Nobody's Home" let's Mark explore his guitar. One can definitely hear an Albert Collins influence here. Buy this--you won't be dissapointed. I would have given it six stars--but the computer wouldn't let me. If you get a chance to see them live--GO!!--They cook!!

Must Have
Bought this cd for Mark's "Mercury Blues"...if it was possible to wear out a track or two then "Found a Little Sweet Spot" and "Lights Are On But Nobody's Home" would be trashed....show your friends how musically asute you are and get this cd.

Next Texas Guitar Hero?
I'm with everyone else here - Mark May is an awesome talent and should be heard by everyone who enjoys good blues guitar. This CD is a transition from the more traditional, Albert Collins-influenced stylings heard on the excellent "Call on the Blues" and the more rocking entries to be heard on the spectacular "Doll Maker". All three are well worth owning, and now that Amazon is finally stocking "Doll Maker", all fans of blues rock and Southern rock should really jump on the opportunity to own that one. I think it's one of the best CDs I've bought in years - I even like it more than "Telephone Road"!

And you really should hear Mark play live if you get a chance - he'll blow you away!

BRILLIANT BLUES CD
Thanks to all the reviewers who gave this 5 stars and made me buy this cd. Great blues from start to finish. Albert's spirit lives on in improoved form in Mark May. Beautiful tone, great phrasing that pays tribute to Albert Collins but is infused with so many extra touches that it is always recognisable as Mark May.
Good to great songs, excellent voice and superb backing, what more could one ask for. The only shame is that living in Australia means I am unlikely to see this virtuoso live, BUMMER!!
My dream line up for a blues super concert would be : MARK MAY - DAVID GOGO - COLIN JAMES - VINCE CONVERSE - MARK SELBY and of course JOE BONAMASSA. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Etta James is the dues-paying blues mama. Throughout her tragic and storied career, Miss Peaches has successfully delivered her growling soul and soaring vocals to everything from Chicago blues to pop. Her voice is one of the most distinctive in the entire blues canon and The Essential Etta James captures it in its prime; 44 tracks cover her best Chess Records work from 1960 to the early '70s. And though her early R&B hits for Modern like "Roll with Me Henry" are not here, just about everything else is: the supreme balladry of "All I Could Do Was Cry" and "At Last," the sassy bump of "Seven-Day Fool" and "Pushover," the raucous soul of "In the Basement," and even bell-bottomed funk of "All the Way Down." But the finest evidence of James's versatility can be heard in her outstanding Memphis soul covers of "Tell Mama" and "Security." There's a lot of Etta James out there, but this is likely the best compilation of her work you're going to find. --Ken Hohman ... Read more

Reviews (15)

the best etta, and etta is the best.
I agree with a previous reviewer in saying that this is the best collection of Etta James songs ever. I can't say I have all her records, but I have a lot of them. If I could come back in the next life as a singer...I would want to have Etta's voice. Her way of expressing things. Her raunch, and her ability to make me cry with feeling. This woman can get into the heart of a song like no one else. And having seen her twice in concert I can say it is a show not to be missed. She is the soul of soul.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE ETTA JAMES
In the early 60's Etta James was to R&B what Patsy Cline was to country. She could cross over and yet remain true to her roots, and that's only one part of a nearly 50 year career! From the velvety cross over soul of "At Last" to the hard driving Memphis soul of "Tell Mama", this is one legend who certainly deserves a wider audience than she has today. She ranks right up with Aretha Franklin as an influential vocalist. I took far too many years to discover her power. If you haven't given her a serious look yet, stop wasting time and begin here!

Ken Holman needs to know his stuff before writing a review
Ken while I agree with almost everything you say, I have to inform you of an error. The outstanding soul tune "Tell Mama" IS NOT the "Memphis Sound." It is in fact part of the immortal legacy of Rick Hall's FAME Studios in the Southern Soul Mecca of MUSCLE SHOALS, ALABAMA. Trust me check out the orginal liner notes. Or just check out the FAME Studios Website.

Oh, my, Miss Peaches...
This is an excellent cross-section of Miss James' vocal ability. It's all here - smoke-filled standards, rockin' R&B, scorching soul, and yes indeed, torch songs to put modern "divas" to shame. Though Etta's voice has spectacular range and emotional drive, these recordings do not contain the shrill vocal calesthenics forced on us by the 90's pop divas. The result was this ultra-quality collection, which I guarantee you will never loan out, even to your best friend.

MAXIMUM ETTA; You Keep "Telling Me, Mama!!"!
"Etta" Wails, "I'd Rather Go Blind", and ALL I can say is; "Yeah, me too, mama, PLEASE, just don't EVER render me "deaf"!! This "W.O.M.A.N."; can and DOES, "render me awestruck, not to mention, dumbstruck with her sheer "gutesy, simmering, beltin', sheer vocal force/power, and then DOES IT AGAIN, when she "ratches-down" that INCREDIBLE RANGE of her's (doesn't get any better than THIS, folks) and into her OWN "stylistic-trademark "cruise-control", to give us the treat of her "smooth, sly, earthy delivery of her "gentler?-side"; joking here, of course she does have it, and displays it, in all her multifaceted hues, and glory; her instintual brilliance of interpretation is unequaled, and unrivaled. THE MUSIC HEREIN. Well, the "raw jewels" at her absolute "zenith" are pretty much all here. Then they jusy casually drop in previous unreleased "gems", such as "I Never Meant To Love Him", now a personal fave of mine, and her OWN rendition of Aretha"s "Do Right Womam, Do Right Man"; and I'm certainly hard-pressed to say who's version is better. Different, not better. Two cds "chock-full", each containing 22 "cuts' and ALL "prime-Etta", in any style, or aproachto this staggering array of material. I take issue with "other prior posters" who said they weren't ALL "keepers", you can "Lose and Weep" all you want to. I can't find one "sub-standard" cut anywhere here. None. Personal fave "standouts": "Almost Persuaded", a blistering, searing "God"s Song" (That's Why I Love Mankind); and a true "barnburner" by anyone's standards, the aptly titled "Let's Burn Down The Cornfield"; and man, oh, man-does she EVER!! I certainly felt raw, and than "crispy" by the end of cd No. 2. (Appropriately, the "closer". Randy Newman has GOT to be "one proud papa" with these to two seminal/stellar "inteprets". Of course, by the end of this "rollercoaster-ride", over the course of these entire cds "contents", I was "slack-jawed"; and that's putting it lightly. Other noteables: "Waiting For Charlie (To Come Home)"; "Would It Make Any Difference To You", "Pushover""Payback", a bone-chilling rendition of "All The Way Down"; and "closer" on cd No.1, "Baby What You Want Me To Do"-LIVE! YEOWWW! This "comp." is a Very thrifty bargain at any price. Need I say it again? GET THIS "SET"!! You can't POSSIBLY lose. Promise!Lynn Luv, or; Nancy N. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The veteran singer/guitarist returns to his roots with a stripped-down trio following the textural experiments of 2003's David Hidalgo-produced Ready for Love and his heralded 2001 collection of Tom Waits songs, Wicked Grin. Every choked note and moaning phrase of his voice rings with total commitment to numbers made famous by Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, andBob Dylan, including a version of Wolf's "Evil" that gets extra menace from Stephen Hodges's thunderous, impulsive drumming. That's how it should be. For the last 42 years, Hammond's made his career as an energetic interpreter of songs rather than as a writer. Nevertheless, the tunes he penned for this set--the title cut and "Come to Find Out"--fit comfortably among the classics. They explore love and lamentation in acoustic settings using Hammond's voice, guitar, and harmonica; MartyBallou's upright bass; and Hodges's rim-slapped snare to kick up Delta dust. Fans of Hammond's guitar, muted on his other recent releases, will dig his versatile six-stringing--especially his laid-back virtuosity on slide acoustic andresonator guitars. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More Classic Blues Done Right....
Another fine record by John Hammond.. 12 songs.. 3 of them, well written songs by Hammond..With only a Bass and Drums playing with him the music is sparse and done with feeling. Maybe I take JH for granted but I have to admit after a few listens, it sounds like more of the same and lacking some spark. Unlike say Wicked Grin which was produced by Tom Waitts, I consider a Dessert Island Disc and would give 5 stars for creativity and a high energy performance.Also be warned it has copy protection on this CD, which is all fine and good but when it opens the Player you have to use to lisen to it on your PC, it Locks up your computer.I tried running this application by itself on my work PC(new) it takes up 100% CPU..so you can't open a copy program..fine, but you can't open anything else either..I will not be wasting my money on any lame protection scheme like this ever on any CD by anybody..Its useless if you can't play it, no matter how good it may be.I am a Computer Tech.

Gritty Acoustic Blues
After a more than two dozen discs and a distinguished career as one of the foremost interpreters of classic acoustic blues, the turn of the century found John Hammond in danger of becoming a blues museum piece. His discs were all well done but it was difficult to distinguish any one from the others. That all changed in 2001 with the release of Tom Wait covers, Wicked Grin, which scored him significant cross-over success with its compelling interpretations of numbers that grew up outside the Mississippi delta. He followed that release in 2003 with Ready For Love which featured not only his first ever self-penned number but a new found energy that pushed the tracks beyond mere interpretation. This effort continues the hot streak. With covers by Percy Mayfield, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, Ray Charles and others as well as two brand new numbers this disc bristles with energy. Hammond's well honed acoustic guitar chops and well traveled voice propel number after number into a new listening experience. Even numbers like Charles' classic, I Got a Woman, which has received lots of play this year as a result of the terrific movie Ray and its accompanying soundtrack, seem to have a vibrant edge. While too many acoustic guitar blues discs sound much the same from beginning to end, Hammond is by turns a jug band style national steel master, a soul cat, a folk balladeer and a gruff, ready to rumble bluesman. A great way to start out your blues year. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Everybody listens it and plays!
I believe there is no amateur Jazz big band in Japan which had not played any tune of this album, " Basie-Straight Ahead", " It's Oh So Nice", "Queen Bee", etc. This album contains the fundamentals of the big band music, i.e., "Call & Response" style of horns and reeds sections and the clean four beats sounds of the rhythm sections. How beautiful the guitar sounds of Freddie Green heard between the blocks of horns and reeds! This is one of best albums both of Count Basie and Sammy Nestico. We are duly waiting for release of their next CD entitled "Have a Nice Day"!

A GREAT BAND!!
This is probably Basie's best band and Nestico the best writer/arranger he ever had. Harold Jones does some fine drumming along with some great musicians like Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Charles Fowlkes, and Freddie Green just to name a few. The Count even playes the organ on "That Warm Feeling". What you hear on this cd is just plain good music played by the best.....Count Basie. Well worth owning!

Amazing sound, genious melodies
My only regret is that I couldn't find this in LP :). This is an incredible recording and I would definately reccomend it to the enthusiast and casual listner alike.

Pure Magic
This is the Count at his best. Sammy Nestico the doyen of arrangers is simply superb. As a trumpet player I have had these lead parts for many years. At last I can listen and learn.

One of CB's best ever. A benchmark.
Finally this album has been released on CD. Harold Jones is the subtle star. Magic Flea is a tour de force, with the drummer driving hard, but staying out of the way. Harold Jones was arguably Basie's best drummer (he is currently touring with Natalie Cole and playing better than ever). All of the soloists on this CD were legends of the Basie bands and are caught here playing at career bests. The ensemble playing is so perfect it can only be marvled. This CD proves that a tune doesn't have to be fast to swing so hard it pulls you out of the chair. This CD covers all of the tempos from slow to fast and lot's of that favorite Basie tempo of 'right in the middle'. This CD features the very prolific Sammy Nesitco's earlier writing for the Basie band and the first of many albums featuring only Sammy's arrangements. It remains some of his best. This is an absolute "gotta have" CD of the Basie library. ... Read more

Album Description

Musselwhite recorded three critically acclaimed albums for Alligator Records during the 1990s. DELUXE EDITION is a collection of highlights from those releases, which are among the strongest of his entire career. Included on the new CD is a previously unreleased track from 1994 and a never-before-available home recording of legendary Memphis Jug Band member Will Shade (Charlie’s first mentor) and Musselwhite from the early 1960s.

With Deluxe Edition, fans can revisit the music that helped elevate Charlie to his current position as one of the blues’ greatest living legends. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great blues album! A must have!
I am SHOCKED that this album has only one review! Charlie Musselwhite is an award winning blues musician, one of the best blues players alive, one of the best harp players alive, and this is one of his best albums! It's fantastic!

I come home from work feeling crappy after being beaten up in the workaday world, and I put this on, poor a shot of tequila, and suddenly the world is alright again!

Seriously, this is a must-have cd, especially if you like blues harp.

muscular harmonica
This album is the cream of Charlie's Alagator work.The cat can sure burn up a harp. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good sampler
The trouble with the Blues Masters collection is that CDs like this one, which is compiled to showcase some great blues harmonica playing, is that it never tells the full story.
Howlin' Wolf is here, Sonny Boy Williamson (II) is here, Little Walter Jacobs is here, Jimmy Reed is here, but these songs generally doesn't rank among their best, since they were chosen primarily for the harp playing.

But if you already have the essentials by these artists, "Harmonica Classics" and its companion volume (excitingly titled "More Harmonica Classics") is a really good purchase, featuring several excellent lesser-known songs like Jerry McCain's "Steady", Big Walter Horton's "Easy", and Lazy Lester's superbly groovy "Sugar Coated Love". Just don't think that you can go out and buy the "Blues Masters" series and be done with. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ever get the phonograph blues?
What can anyone say about Robert Johnson that hasn't already been stated? The music he left us just has that feel of someone who has traveled the humid shadows of the early twentieth century, checked into every dive hotel and motel across the Bible belt, stomped his feet in more than a few juke joints, courted the devil and let everyone know about it, smoked a few cigarettes, drank his share of bottled magic and sadness, tasted love and was bitten more than once. The more you listen, the more your imagination is sparked.

This particular collection showcases the 29 songs he recorded - minus the variations. If you are a casual listener, this is a marvelous retrospective of the music. If you are more of a completist, then the critically acclaimed box set is what you want. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the blues - in all its various styles. A few things I like are R.L. BURNSIDE - TOO BAD JIM, JIMI HENDRIX - BLUES and various things from MUDDY WATERS, SON HOUSE and HUDDIE LEDBETTER.

A quote from the CD liner notes by Tony Watts:
"If details of Robert Johnson's life are shadowy, there is nothing at all indistinct about his music which is full of the most elemental power imaginable. Obviously a driven man, he attempted to exorcise his demons through the medium of his songs..."

I sometimes wonder if it's because this guy left so few facts about his life behind, that his music becomes that much better? The popular story of his life's end is he was poisoned by a jealous husband he had cuckolded, and then buried in an unmarked grave after midnight. The king is gone but he's not forgotten: Does the mystery and drama of his short life actually float the music, add to its potency and make it transcendent above what it actually is? My recommendation is to take a listen for yourself. For whatever the reason, I can't stop listening to this collection of great songs. Personal favorites are - HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL, MALTED MILK, LITTLE QUEEN OF SPADES, IF I HAD POSESSION OVER JUDGEMENT DAY, FROM FOUR 'TIL LATE and STOP BREAKIN' DOWN BLUES.

Enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The purrfect introduction to Albert King
There are so many great r&b, jump blues oriented blues singers/guitarists, taht sometimes one disc has to cover a good overview, and this disc does the job. It has plaenty of jump blues stompers, as well as draggers and boppers. There is a little r'n'r but mostly shuffle blues rhythms, great for lindy hopping, jitterbug, jiving, or cruising or working on your 50's hotrod or custom. Awesome rockin' cd, essential! Also if you like Albert King, then Johnny Guitar Watson is a must(get "Hot Just Like TNT"). Buy this now!!!

A Very Good Overview of Albert King's Recorded Music.
Well compilation albums are always hard to assess. Everyone has their favourites or all time classics. I personally like the Rhino issues of most blues artists. The remastering is good and their liner notes are always well presented. This CD is great as an introduction or a sampling of Albert King's style of playing urban blues. He was heavily influenced by swing music, Louis Jordan, Robert Nighthawk and Tampa Red. But he couldn't play a slide. He created a style based on bending the strings to get to the notes you want and make them sing with vibrato. This disc takes you on a tour of Albert's recording career from the beginning at King Records with "Let's Have A Natural Ball", a great Jump Blues he used to use as a warm up tune, then on to "COD" from his very rare Coun-tree session. From here the set progresses into seven of his early Stax classics from "Born Under" a Bad Sign and "King of the Blues Guitar". Then on to the later Stax stuff with "I'll Play the Blues For You", from his most creative period. The CD ends with "Cadillac Assembly Line" which was a Stax tune, but released under the Tomato label. This is a well presented and compiled disc. It has great live moments in the famous Filmore West classic:"Blues Power", some rare items and a good cross section of King's recorded work. This was culled from a larger set "The Ultimate Collection" which was issued just after his death. This set has two discs and a great booklet as well. It even has a cut from his last recording sessions at Fantasy Records. It would be nice to include an early Chess release such as "Wild Woman" and something from his rare out of print album (and his last) "Red House". I love "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight". This is a great disc for the blues beginner, casual fan, or as an inclusion in a blues collection. I think is covers most of King's great and innovative blues, funk, R&B and soul style. When he became popular in the 60's he was the leading exponent of using blues as a medium to instigate musical change. Afterall, blues is the roots of all American Pop Music. It is much like in the Scorsese series "The Blues" (on DVD) the film on "Godfathers and Sons" is about Hip-Hip artists doing a blues inspired modern tune. This is much like Albert did at Stax in the 1960s and it is well developed in this CD compilation. Also, what a great cover photo!!!

Very good if you only want one disc
"The Very Best Of Albert King" does a really good job drawing from King's 60s output and his soul-influenced latter-day recordings alike, and this is a very good single-disc overview of his career.
A couple of the selections are debatable, as always when you make a compilation, but almost all of the must-have classics are here, including "Let's Have A Natural Ball", "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong", "Crosscut Saw", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Laundromat Blues" and "I'll Play The Blues For You".
("The Hunter", "Down Don't Bother Me" and a few others are missing, though, which is a shame.)

Rhino's double-disc "The Ultimate Collection" is a lot more comprehensive, however, and contains almost every track from King's superb "Born Under A Bad Sign" LP. If you really only want one Albert King-CD in your collection, that's the one I'd go for.

The ONLY King
Years ago, when I purchased this disc, I thought it was a great introduction to the greatest Blues guitarist to ever live, it's great for someone who says, "Yeah, I like blues, B.B.'s cool." Because after hearing this, their life won't be quite the same. I can guarantee they will never listen to B.B. the same way again. Where B.B. plays clean and dare I say, wimpy, Albert was hard, funky, soulful, and dirty. Combining his MS delta blues with the Memphis Soul of Booker T. & the MGs, with the great Al Jackson on drums, King's blues recordings simply have no equals. Even later, without the MGs, King used top notch musicians and cooley slid into the 70s.

Now that I am familiar with so much more of the King's work, I realize how very limited this disc is. There are so many great tracks missing from here, including "Wrapped Up In Love Again", "Drowning On Dry Land", the Mack Rice penned "Playin' On Me" , and I could go on forever. There are tons of King CDs out there (mostly poorly done compilations), but a box set is truly long overdue. However, the sound here is great! This disc sure pleased me when I bought it, and it is always the first I reach for when I want to hear some of the masterpieces that are represented here.

Thursday Night in San Francisco is even better.
First five songs on this CD are excellent. If you are expecting blues but not funk rest of the songs may be a little boring. Thursday Night contains all blues of Albert King. You may check out Thursday Night before this CD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

At 91 and spry as a kit fox, dapper Mississippi native Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins is the reigning king of blues and boogie piano and, as the title suggests, still a charmer. Even when he's singing a tune as un-PC as "Big Fat Mama" ("with the meat shakin' on the bone"), his time-cured voice and playful phrasing have genuine appeal. Most engaging are the duets he sings with a half-dozen divas. They include Ruth Brown, whose wide-mouthed belting powers "Chains of Love"; Susan Tedeschi, who packs smoky beauty and soul into Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Lost My Baby"; and Angela Strehli, who puts her sassy Texas accent to work on her tribute "Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins." Elvin Bishop plays elegant slide response to the call of Perkins's singing on "How Long." The hottest jamming, however, is on the instrumental "Pinetop's New Boogie Woogie," a two-piano variation on his signature tune. The joyfully dueling keys of Perkins and Marcia Ball offer a lesson in barrelhouse that crosses generations and their Texas and Delta roots. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Very few artists have attempted--or succeeded in--improving thestandard template for classic blues records set some 40 years ago in the golden age of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Perhaps R.L Burnside's recent heavily produced work on Fat Possum Records has come closest to adding an original slant.

On his new album, Buddy Guy looks to the same source for inspiration; seven of the nine songs here are written by Fat Possum's hill-country blues roster, including T-Model Ford and Junior Kimbrough.Working with producer Dennis Herring (Counting Crows, Jars of Clay) and asmall collective of Mississippi-based musicians, Guy sings with a passionthat can only come from the same source as the songs. The noise generated in the studio through vintage amplifiers has a live and dangerous feel toit. The acoustic opener, "Done Got Old," does not prepare the listener for the colossal aural assault of "Baby, Please Don't Leave Me." Fading in on apercussion track, Guy's guitar hits its cat-strangling best and never looksback, while the voice sounds energized, vital, and wholly contemporary.Through the 12-minute "I Got to Try It, Girl" to the closing Guycomposition "It's a Jungle Out There," Sweet Tea has all the hallmarks of a classic blues album, mixed with a twist of the new. --Rob Stewart ... Read more

Reviews (106)

Favorite album of 2001!...Junior LIVES
A couple of years ago I was brousing around a CD shop in North Carolina while on vacation. In their used blues section I dug up 3 CDs by Junior Kimbrough. I'd never heard any of his work, so I popped one in the CD previewer and immediately had found a sound I had been looking for for a long time. Junior cranked out long, soulful & heavy songs on all 3 discs I purchased that day.

After the first tune on Sweet Tea, a fine acoustic "Done Got Old", I immediately felt Junior's soul coming through with a distinct twist of Buddy Guy's frenetically aggressive guitar work. Sure enough, I checked the liner notes and was pleased to see that several of the tracks were Kimbrough's.

The pace keeps up throughout the CD. An amazing energy. I won't go into details about each track, but rest assured it's all GOOD!

Buddy gets down in the swamp blues!!!
Buddy Guy went to the swamp and mixed his classic blues sound up with some voodoo electricity. The result is an album so hot that it sears the soul of any listener brave enough to get down in Buddy's swamp blues. I haven't heard Buddy Guy sound this inspired since his revered "classic recordings". Buddy has found his Mojo again, and it is working overtime! His guitar playing is focused, and it cuts right down to the bone as it shrieks and howls through the stereo speakers. Buddy's vocals seem to be pulled from the very depths of his soul, and he sounds like he means every word he shouts, moans, and groans over this powerful music. This is a man ignited by and caught up in the blues. Buddy Guy may be an old man, as he sings on the first track, but on this album he sounds more like a mannish boy. If you like raw, passionate blues with an edge so sharp it makes you bleed inside, then this album is for you. BUY THIS CD IMMEDIATELY!!

Copy cat
An essential?! The best blues album in the past 10 years?! Hardly. This album is a collection of songs by the artists of the Fat Possum Label (T-Model Ford, Cedell Davis, and Junior Kimbrough) which have been covered by Buddy Guy. Why has he abandoned the sweet fluff he's been pumping out the past 15 years in favor of raw rural blues? Has he seen the light? Or is it a move by him and his label to cash-in on the sector that Fat Possum has dominated for the past 10 years? Either way, Guy's covers do not contribute to any of the originals in any way, so don't waste your time. Go to the sourcec, check-out T-Model Ford, Cedell Davis, or the late Junior Kimbrough, and see for yourself where the real blues are found. And what's with the shack on the cover?!

Blues with Guts
Buddy Guy takes the blues in a powerfull emotional direction with Sweet Tea. To me and to many other Buddy Guy fans, what separates Buddy from many other "want-to-be" blues players is emotion. Here on Sweat Tea, he lays it all out there. You can hear the love for the blues, you can hear the swamp and feel the power that is true Buddy Guys blues.

Any doubt, just check out Tramp. For those Stevie Ray Vaughn fans out there, if you want to here where Stevie came from, this is a perfect album.

Like a Fat Possum tribute... only pure Buddy, too...
I loved this CD. If it were vinyl, I think I'd have worn a groove in it by now. I was pretty clueless to the whole Mississippi Hill country artists and FatPossum scene, so I thought this was an incredible burst of creativity by Buddy Guy. Well, its not exactly. He is covering several of the Fat Possum artists that both together and individually breathe a new life into the blues. Since I bought this CD, I have started to explore these artists and love them too. But I can still go back to this CD without feeling like it is some ripoff. Buddy is covering a lot of Junior Kimbrough tunes on this CD, but he really puts his own stamp on it. He lets the rythym of Junior's original material be the launchpad for some great moaning and soulful guitar work. I read another review on here that complained that this album wasn't "Delta blues" and that Buddy wasn't such a great guitar player. Well, I honestly don't know what belongs in the "Delta Blues" pantheon, nor am I qualified to critique his fingering technique. But I know he takes some songs that were great by the original artist and plays them true to their essence, while adding his own moody style. It sounds awesome and I don't care about what else it is or isn't.

If you haven't heard the Fat Possum artists, I think there is a sort of desperation in a lot of the lyrics and nonsensical rythym. At least Junior Kimbrough's music feels that way. Buddy seems to be pleading with a woman in "I gotta try you Girl". It sounds like an intimate relationship, but when he gets to her response, she calls him "Mr. Guy". What is that about? It leaves you wondering if the whole song is about some unsavory relationship where they aren't even on a first name basis. But there is no doubting their passion for one another either. It is the kind of thing that seems to slide in under the radar with this style of blues and make it more interesting. The same song ends in some wild guitar work. It includes a sound effect like a clap of thunder, which another reviewer apparently didn't like. It seemed appropriate to me after that solo.

Tramp, which is my favorite song on the album has some incredible guitar riffs. They are slow and moody, moaning on. The original Junior Kimbrough version, sounds like Junior is three sheets to the wind, kind of mumbling, so its nice to actually hear the lyrics on Buddy's version. Although, Junior does a great slashing slide guitar solo on his version, Buddy's version feels truer to the mood of the song. One song starts out like the band is just warming up and picks up a groove. Someone else calls out, "Keep it going. Keep it going."

Yeah. Keep it going, Buddy. I for one, wouldn't complain a bit if you returned to the Fat Possum well of original blues material, again and again. ... Read more

Album Description

Kelly Joe Phelps is the premier acoustic blues guitarist. For years his fans have been begging him to release a live CD. At last, Tap The Red Cane Whirlwindis the long-awaited opportunity to hear Kelly Joe recorded live in concert! Over an hour of pure unadulterated Kelly Joe Phelps at his finest – recorded in the intimate environments of two favorite venues – McCabe's in Santa Monica and The Freight And Salvage in Berkeley. The repertoire features Kelly Joe favorites, including "Jericho," "Tommy," "Not So Far To Go," plus astonishingversions of two classic cover songs – "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues" and "I Am The Light Of The World." ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Just like being there
I bought this right after seeing Kelly Joe Phelps 'live' in Leeds (UK). He's definitely somebody you should see (he's amazing), and seeing him helps you picture where all this stuff comes from and how he gets into it.
This CD captures Kelly Joe's solid, yet intricate and crystalline guitar perfectly. Watching him play is mesmerising. I think this CD also shows him as an artist who is growing, and judging by some of the new songs he played in Leeds, the next studio album will be a treat.
But here, I particularly love 'Cardboard Box of Batteries', which is slow and perfect, every pluck of the guitar string perfectly woven into those smoke vocals. Such subtlety. Such restraint. Such complexity too: there's enough to keep you listening for years; each song is like a miniature blues symphony.
Just like in real life, KJP doesn't really say anything in between tracks, so don't expect any chat. It's just him and the music. Which is fine by me when the music's this good. Kelly Joe is the real thing. I highly recommend this.

A Thing of Understated Beauty
Kelly Joe Phelps has always been quietly dazzling, rewarding repeated listenings rather than knocking you off your feet on the first try. His very first live recoding is no exception. It's a well crafted, beautifully rendered work of art. It's all here. The brush of his fingertips across the strings, the quiet humming he does as he plays his guitar and his well worn but comfortable vocals that tell tales of late nights, fading hope and optimism hanging on by a thread. This is a rare live recording that adds to Kelly Joe's musical legacy rather than merely fulfilling an obligation.

05 Gift From Mr. Phelps
Being familiar and enriched by the integrity and quality of Kelly Joe Phelps' prior recordings, the only reservation I had before I bought this CD was that it was live.
Understand me, I don't dislike live albums in principle. In the case of certain artists, live recordings have captured legendary performances and unusual moments of beauty.
Anyway, the point was whether an album of new versions of old songs and a couple of classic Blues, plus the potentially limited sound of a live performance, would add to Phelps' track record.
Great news. This album is as satisfying and likely to touch you as much as any one of Phelps prior incarnations, whichever one may be your favorite.
The album begins with a remarkable version of the classic "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues," sung so close to the bone you may think he's channeling Skip James himself, and also serving a the first reminder of this man's skill and feel on the acoustic guitar.
Both his voice and his strings do the honors on several of self-penned tunes too. Three that must be mentioned, for their intimacy and new touch, are "Not So Far To Go" and "Waiting For Marty" -both ballads that were highlights from his last studio album Slingshot Professionals"- and the tender and thoughtful"Tommy." Plus the second cover, "I Am The Light O f The World," is equally astounding.
Finally, the quality of the recording is impeccable as live albums go. It seems that the people in the small audience present were as enthralled as I, when he played these songs. Other than applauses respectfully waiting for the end of each song, the silence is absolute. Almost reverential of the great music captured on Tap The Red Cane Whirlwind.

Accoustic blues...
I first listened to this album at the reccord store under the jazz/blues category, expecting to hear electric lament guitar solos; typical blues you know?

Well I was pretty darn surprised when I discovered it was everything but "typical blues".

Mr Phelps came up with a live album using only accoustic guitar as an instrument.Is voice and music immediatly brought up an image inside my head : burning hot asphalt under a deadly summer afternoon sun....

I brought it back home and popped it into the CD player and started listening.The quality of production was so good that I felt as if I was sitting on Mr. Phelps front porch listening to his music while sipping a bourbon.Wish I actually had Bourdon at that time....

This album is very mellow and heart warming.This guy has a great voice.

I have a hard time imagining that anyone could actually totally dislike this album.That's how good it is.

nice recording, but where's the slide?
I've listened to Kelly Joe Phelps since his first recording- actually own them all but for his ep- I was initially surprised when he avoided playing slide on "Sky Like a Broken Clock", then confused when he had Steve Dawson playing slide on "Slingshot Professionals"- I was hopeful when I heard he was doing a live solo recording, and when I first saw the cd cover on his site, with his guitar laying flat, I'm afraid I had assumed (my fault) that he had returned to his amazing original style of slide playing- Unless my ears deceive me, there's nary a slide heard on this- please correct me if I'm wrong- I've never had the pleasure to see Phelps play live, hope to at some point... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since the late '70s the Cheap Suit Serenaders--an ever-changing group of hardcore 78-collecting friends--have been playing what they love--old-time jazz, folk, string-band, Hawaiian, and ragtime music. Best known for having two of the best comix artists ever in their lineup--Robert Armstrong and R. Crumb--the Cheap Suits aren't slouches in the instrument-proficiency department (Armstrong's musical saw ended up on the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest soundtrack, and occasional bandmate Bob Brozman has made an entire career out of touring and playing music). On Chasin' Rainbows, some of the group's finest moments are captured. Classic songs like "Persian Rug" and the title track are played alongside CSS originals like "Fine Artiste Blues." You'll never hear these fun tunes (usually relegated to CD compilations of 78s) played in a higher fidelity, nor will you probably hear them this spirited. A great resurrection of lost music by a group of guys dedicated to the stuff. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sure to get the toe to tappin'.
I'm a big fan of indie-rock and avante-garde jazz, but I can't deny a serious affinity for good down-home music like this. This band of misfits, dorks and comic-book geeks has got the right idea when it comes to playin' some 'toons (pun intended). The atmosphere of this music is silly, goofy, slightly perverse and deeply sincere. If you liked the music from "Oh Brother where art thou", but thought the movie was inauthentic and a bit shallow, you should give this a listen. This is the real deal.

IT WAS ABOUT TIME!
Finally, some REAL music. It had been a long time since I had heard such sincere and rustic musical farcities. Although Robert Crumb is "way out there", his handling of his short stab at the music game proves that if you have a dream, you can"t be all bad. Nice cello parts from Terry Zwigoff. "Persian Rug" has got to be one of the best of the best. Buy it, you'll like it!

Great songs played with energy, skill, and humor!
I bought this record on the strength of "Fine Artiste Blues" back when it first came out. I'd always enjoyed R. Crumb's art work and I knew this collection would be something different. It's a grab bag of styles all played with old-timey string band instrumentation. "Alabama Jubilee" is also a standout, but there are really no clinkers. Plenty of Hawaiian guitar and some GREAT musical saw. The overall feel of the album is lighthearted and casual, but the level of musicianship is actually quite high. Can't think of another group that comes close to the Suits' sound so you'll just have to hear them for yourself. You won't be disappointed. I have gone back to this recording many times over the years and it always brings a smile.

Lots of Laughs and Some Good Music Too!!
I've been a fan of R. Crumb ever since the underground comics heyday of the late 60s. Knowledgeable fans of Crumb's comics know also that he is very much into Delta blues and other uniquely American forms of music. On Chasin' Rainbows, Crumb and a few like-minded fellows indulge themselves in a seemingly silly but also very serious project of bringing old songs to life using offbeat instruments. Alabama Jubilee is a great song and the performance first-rate. Diane is evocative of a German country tune. Fine Artiste Blues is a great crack at, what else, "artistes". I don't know where Crumb and Co. dug these up as I'd only heard a couple before, but if you like well done novelty songs,you are sure to enjoy such ditties as Hula Medley, Mysterious Mose, She Lived Down By the Firehouse, and Make My Cot Where the Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows as well as the others. There are loads of laughs and some good music to boot. Listen to it in the spirit in which it was made. I give this five stars for its pure entertainment value.

Syncopated Silliness, Excellent Cover Band, Not Real Thing
This is a very accomplished feat of carefully recreating the sounds of ragtime jazz era, string band music.

The songs are fun and have catchy melodies, the musicianship is faithful and skilled, and the loyalty and dedication to this old-time music is very evident and appreciated.

The main weakness is that although the songs grow on you with repeated listenings, this is still just a cover band project. It has the feel for carefully looking back to the 1930-ish music era, but it is lacking in the thrill of originality that makes the "REAL THING" so much more compelling and believable. The true music pioneers of that rag/jazz era were on the cutting edge of modern music, pushing the boundaries, going new places, and establishing the sounds of a new, American musical art form. In contrast, this Cheap Suit CD is a look back with love for the music, but not anything like the real thing.

If there's one new thing that the Cheap Suits bring to the mix, it's a playful irony that they don't expect anybody to take this seriously, although they themselves are dead serious about having fun with this project.

This CD is probably of most interest for R. Crumb fans, who know him from his underground comix work, where R. Crumb actually DOES push the boundaries of a very different American art form. That's how I found this CD, at least. I would have liked this CD better if they would have plainly credited which songs R. Crumb actually sings lead vocals on, if any at all. Many times I hear a background singer that sounds like R. Crumb's voice, (which I've heard in the "CRUMB" motion picture documentary), but who knows for sure? On this point, it would have increased my listening pleasure. As it is, maybe R. doesn't even sing any lead vocals? Three musicians are credited with vocals, but none are specified as lead vocals. That's irritating for me.

All in all, this is the best music I've ever heard from a famous artist who is not famous for playing music. R. Crumb, dude, you Rag, man! ... Read more

Album Details

Reissue Includes 3 Added Bonus Tracks. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Their first and best disk
Raw and definitly low-fi, coarse and beautiful. My personal fave on this disk ("C-Boy's Blues") is a study in subtlety and dynamics that make the blues so visceral and pleasurable. Jimmy Vaughan's guitar work is so unlike his brother Stevie Ray, but every bit as enjoyable due to his depth of knowledge and original interpretation of the blues. Kim Wilson wails on harp and the rhythm section is tight. I was lucky enough to live near Austin in the early eighties and saw the T-Birds play a number of times in small sweaty bars in the area - absolutely the best way to have seen them. It was sad to see them get so commercial in the later years, but I guess its hard to survive on integrity. I bought this originally on vinyl, then on CD and then again on the new CD to get the bonus songs and the cleaner mix from the master tapes. If you like raw blues, this is as good as it gets.

You'll Go Wild Over This CD!!!
This was the first and best CD in the long and storied career of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. I've enjoyed the pleasure of seeing them live many times, from opening for Muddy Waters to closing down famed Austin neighborhood joint Rome Inn (which billed itself as the home of "C-Boy Blues".) Yes, the concert slow-dance classic "Scratch My Back" is included, as well as "She's Tuff," which was their finest, toughest number ever recorded. (Great harp breaks by Kim Wilson on these numbers; in fact, you could say that about almost any T-Birds song!) Jimmie Vaughan (you know him as Stevie Ray's guitar-slingin' older brother) really cooks on the slow blues "Full Time Lover" and shines on "Wait On Time". Keith Ferguson's great bass opener leads into great crooning by Kim on "Rich Girl", while "Rock With Me" gives the full band a chance to unwind, particularly drummer Mike Buck. And, to top it off, three bonus cuts show off the bands raw, danceable groove. (You'll see more people dancing at a T-Birds show than just about anywhere else!) A fabulous CD, one which gives the opportunity for both girls and guys to go wild!

Oh My God, I can't Go To Work!
We just unwrapped this CD - It's 6 AM on Guam, the Sun is climbing out of the Pacific, and the T-Birds are shaking the house. I can't leave until it's done- it's THAT good. In fact, I may just have to call in sick and spin it some more. Buy it, try it. You'll like it. I promise.

The fustest with the mostest!
I caught the T-birds in 1978 at a KFAT Fat Fry in Palo Alto. It cost $ .94, & the T-Birds weren't even the headliner(Louisiana Red, FYI). They tore it up, & L-Red couldn't even walk on stage after, the floorboards were that hot. I kept on requesting anything by this band until finally, about a year later, "Girls Go Wild" was released. I've since seen the T-Birds a number of times, & heard all their releases, but this is still the strongest. Joe Bob says "Check it out!!", and you'll say "Wrap it up! I'll take it!"

Smokin' Blues
A great album. Cool blues, some fast, some mellow. Great Jimmie Vaughan guitar work. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

'unplugged' blues at it's best...
Before I heard this album I was only aware of Buddy Guy's electric abilities, this record showcases just how enormous and down to earth his talent is. Together with the late Junior Wells he weaves a spontaneous and magical acoustic performance. Just wonderful.

Buddy Guy acoustic blues will blow you away !!!
My past experiences with Buddy Guy's music has been with his fender plugged in and turned up.A true blues icon imitated by every guitar player in the last decade so you could imagine my suprise to see this acoustic set with Junior Wells. Let me tell you one thing...I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!! He is a master of the guitar ..plugged in or not.This albulm is the real deal born from the juke-joints of yesterday.Every note he plays takes you furthur back to the days of smoke filled gin joints where hard working folk escaped the oppression of their days. If you only buy one CD this year make it this one. It is the best blues I ever heard. Buddy and Junior keepin it strong and real.Robert Johnson would be proud to hear his blues come full circle .THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

****½ - wonderful low-key acoustic blues
Okay, an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, how good can it be? Geez, everything must sound the same!
Eh? Well, it can be very good indeed, actually. And it is.

1991's "Alone & Acoustic" is one of the very best of the numerous albums that Chicago blues greats Buddy Guy and Junior Wells recorded together, an intimate, expressive session, and a showcase for Guy's abilities on the acoustic twelve-string as well as for Amos "Junior" Wells' tasteful harp playing.
Sharing lead vocals, the relaxed mood seems to suggest that the two old friends are just sitting down for an hour of easy jamming, but the performances are never sloppy, always tight and done with honesty and conviction.

Buddy Guy and Junior Wells play their own compositions (Guy's "Give Me My Coat And Shoes" and Wells' "Big Boat" are among the highlights), as well as covering artists like Jimmy Rogers (a great "That's All Right"), Sonny Terry (an equally fine "Diggin' My Potatoes"), and John Lee Hooker. There are no fewer than three John Lee Hooker-numbers here, actually, and rather than substituting his own name in Hooker's mini-epos "Boogie Chillen", George "Buddy" Guy lets the narrator refer to himself as "Johnny"!

Okay, so the setting may have been an Alligator Records studio, but this is still acoustic street-corner blues at its best, and one of the warmest, most enjoyable blues records I've ever listened to.

WOW!!
THE VOICE IS SO DEEP AND WONDERFUL.. THAT TOGETHER WITH THE GUITAR THE MIXING OF BOTH "INSTRUMENTS" IS AMAZING!!
RECORD TO DIE4.

Great collaboration, great music
This is simply a great bit of acoustic blues. I highly recommend it for any listening audience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Atlantic Records has ridden musical trends since the late '40s; these seven CDs chronicle the first 28 years of the label's work in black pop, during which artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding oversaw the creation and flowering of soul music. Also included are classic tracks by the Drifters, Wilson Pickett, Ruth Brown, the Coasters, Sam & Dave, and many others who walk through the dreams of R&B and rock & roll fans. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (26)

more artists
ps. just like to include more great r n b artists that should be on this great box set from atlantic records like levert & the system. put other divine hits out so more people are aware of other great talent,just plain wholesome good music.do you like good music,that sweet soul music!give us more hits by roberta flack, wilson pickett,ben e. king, arthur conley, otis redding, sam&dave aretha,rb greaves,drifters,spinners,esther phillips,les mccan,eddie harris, herbie mann, yusef lateef, the kingpins, percy sledge,major harris,chuck willis, clyde mcphatter,coasters,jimmy castor,ace spectrum,peggy scott&jojo benson,shirley scott,clifford brown,billy cobham,cornell dupree,blue eyed soul from lulu,delaney&bonnie&friends,awb,bette midler,the manhattan transfer,billy vera,the late,great ms.dusty spingfield,buffalo springfield,derek&the dominos,plus many more!keep up the great work!keep on soulin'on!thank you!jhh52757!

Incredible Collection Needs Updated REMASTERING
This 8 cd box set of historical R&B and early rock and roll classics is an incredible collection that documents some of the greatest recordings by a handful of the greatest R&B/Rock artists who created some of the most captivating and amazingly wonderful, R&B/Soul/Rock standards, from the pre-birth rock era and well beyond,in music history. JOE TURNER, LAVERNE BAKER, RAY CHARLES, RUTH BROWN, CHUCK WILLIS, THE COASTERS AND DRIFTERS to name a few! Rock and roll was alive well before Elvis absorbed and reinterpreted it. Unfortunately, the remastering is circa the 1980's and these recordings[at times]fall flat and sound a bit dull and weak. I bought three of the individual compact discs(they were also issued individually)in the 80's and noticed no difference in the sound quality, in comparison to this "updated" version of the Lp Box to Cd. While this is a "cream of the crop" box of classic R&B, it unashamedly borrows heavily from the STAX RECORDS SINGLES COLLECTION BOX SETS Volumes 1, 2, & 3 to a flaw...You'd think that with ATLANTIC RECORDS' long history, they wouldn't need to duplicate the cream of the crop from STAX, regardless of the fact that Atlantic was the "mother" company of STAX's distribution. I'm a "Collector" and I treasure and cherish every track of my STAX BOX SETS(all three and 28 discs!)- chart hits or non-hits - with their supreme and stellar high tech remastering. I'm a huge fan of "REMASTERING" technology and will buy and "rebuy" reissues depending on what artist is honored! Regardless, the recordings in this Box Set are essential to your ears, heart and soul, as Atlantic made history from 1947 to 1974 and well beyond...and they continue into the 21st century! I waited forever to purchase this Box, hoping the remastering would be redefined - but bought it to avoid missing out, and still, I'm almost satisfied, as you will also be. I highly recommend the Joe Turner Box, Aretha Franklin("Queen Of Soul"), Spinners, Esther Phillips, and Ray Charles(all) Boxed Sets, which are genuinely detailed and supremely remastered to the ultimate sound. You can thank Rhino Records for the finest "reissues" on many of those!

Great Box Set!
This is an amazing and extensive collection. Tied for best box set ever! (The other would be Jackie Wilson)

Really great stuff! Totally worth it!

In the beginning....
This most wonderful CD set highlights the roots of all popular music, be it soul, blues, pop. There is no doubt that the great songwriters of the 60's and 70's, not only grew up with this music but did their best to replicate it. As music, it is excellent, as educational material, it is fantastic. If there is a problem, it is with it's length. So much great music that fill a multitude of disks. The difficulty is in selecting just the right CD to satisfy your current mood. This set has the ability to transport to any sound, any age.

ATTENTION KIDS - R & B STANDS FOR RHYTHM & BLUES!!
This is where rock'n'roll's roots are at. I bought the original 7 (double) LP set. Their original CD equivalents replicated them but for a few track omissions on various volumes. This box includes ALL of the origial LP series plus some 20+ extra tracks not previously included covering the fertile period between 1947-1974. It's an education in itself. This is what boxed sets are about. The raw stuff from the 40's & 50's are a pointer to Elvis & Jerry Lee. This is the some of the original music those artists cut their teeth on. Hearing Big Joe Turner for the first time was a revelation for myself particularly "Corrina, Corrine" and "Honey Hush". I further investigated Ray Charles' recorded output based on this set. The hits are here and things that you may vaguely rememnber as well. Legends such as the Professor Longhair, Big Joe Turner, Lavern Baker, Ray Charles, The Drifters, The Coasters, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and many others are more than amply represented here. I had heard some of these songs for the first time as cover versions by later artists such as Foghat, Elvis and even Paul McCartney whose "Run Devil Run" CD was a tribute to the 50's and a couple of tracks on this set get a nod there. Atlantic have done a wonderful job with this release. This is what R & B really is...before it was just a couple of initials representing what passes for today's music. I doubt a kid listening to that stuff would know what those letters stood for in today's context. My own preferences are to the 60's period during which Atlantic,Stax & Volt really came into their own as great Soul labels. Where Motown was probably more "showbizzy", which is not meant as a criticism, Atlantic revealed real grit and toughness in it's music. I thoroughly recommend this box set if only as a more than ample education of the rich legacy of American Rhythm & Blues music. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Jaw Dropping Live Blues!
Most fans consider Roy Buchanan's "Live Stock" as the essential purchase because it showacases Buchanan's playing in a live setting. This new cd "American Axe-Live In 1974" was recorded around the same time period as the "Live Stock" album and I like it even better! The disk is approximately a hour long and contains many of Roy Buchanan's essential tunes heard live. Only two songs "Roy's Bluz" and "Further On Up The Road" also made the set list for the "Live Stock" album. This new disk contains a number of tracks not previously heard on Buchanan's albums. These cuts include "Too Many Drivers", the funky "Get Out Of My Life, Woman", "I Hear You Knockin'" and the great instrumental "Done Your Daddy Dirty" which later appeared in studio form during his Atlantic period. Highlights include impressive versions of the slow blues tunes "Roy's Bluz" and "C.C. Rider" during which Roy pulls out all the stops. Also included is an excellent cover of "Hey Joe" with "Foxy Lady" added as a coda. Two of Roy's signature tunes "The Messiah Will Come Again" and an encore instrumental cover of "Sweet Dreams" are also present. I was really glad I picked this up. I think it is the best representation of Buchanan's live playing yet released. Roy's fans and blues fans in general will be overjoyed with this release!

As long as it includes Roy...
When I was young I dreamed to be, one day, a musicians. To be exact a blues/rock guitar player. I have been studying my instrument for years and I was quite happy about my progresses. Unfortunately one day a friend of mine lent me a Roy Buchanan's LP. That was the end of it, that was the end of my dream. I immediately realised that I wouldn't never ever have a chance on a billion to sound even close to the way he did no matter how long or hard I would have been studying for.
Now that I am old I think I did a stupid thing. I believe that if everyone else on this planet would have though and done the same thing today we wouldn't have any guitar players at all! No one can play or sound like him simply because he has been one of the best of all time, period. Phil Carson writes in the CD's notes "nearly every guitar style you hear today derives from a relatively small cast of originals who made their mark in the 1940s and '50s. You can argue who belongs on the short list, as long as it includes Roy", and this is deeply true. This recording in particular is an absolute gem, so if you are already familiar with Roy's music it will be a very nice addition to your collection, if you never heard of him this CD could be a very good one to start with. Very highly recommended not only for blues lovers but also to everyone who loves good music in general. I would like to mention in particular the stunning versions of the self penned Roy's Bluz, the traditional C.C. Rider and Hey Joe that by themselves worth the price of admission. This is not only just a great blues album, it is mainly a peace of history of contemporary extraordinary guitar music. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

love that old style
I bought this for the song that I heard Nirvana do unplugged ("Where did you sleep last night") and fell in love with the whole CD. Of course, the recording quality is bad, and sounds like your listening to some songs through a tin can, but what do you expect from recordings made in the 1920's? It's fantastic music and inovative guitar work.

If you want to hear where your favorite rock music came from, get this CD.

Must have original blues
Lead Belly was the basis of todays modern blues. If you have ever heard the gospel blues of the early 20 th century you must have this album. Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, and Lead Belly these were the original deep rooted spitually agangst singers. ... Read more