Reviews (1)

Good compilation
This album is a compilation of the Alligator records artists in the 80s and offers many highlights. The style varies greatly from the blues/rock of the Kinsey report, to the country blues of Alvin Bishop, to the jazz of Charles Brown. The album is the best of the 'HouseRockin' series and offers a link to the various artists of the Alligator label at that stage. The many highlights include Lonnie Mack, Delbert McClinton, Kenny Neal, Tinsley Ellis, Lucky Peterson and William Clarke. ... Read more

Album Description

A collection of the best blues recordings featuring harmonica from the almost fifty year old label Delmark Records.Includes a previously unissued Junior Wells track from the "Hoodoo Man Blues" session with Buddy Guy.Other unreleased tracks include a Carey Bell instrumental and a marvelous performance from country blues artist Hammie Nixon with Sleepy John Estes. Also Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, Kim Wilson, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Essential Chicago Harmonica Blues
This is a great disc. If you want to learn about the range of harmonica blues styles, with a heavy emphasis on the sweet sounds of Chicago, this is a great place to start. Also, for long time fans of this music, there are several previously-unreleased gems from Jr. Wells, Carey Bell, and others. A must-have... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brief, but very good
This half-hour of music was originally issued by Chess Records in 1967 as part of their budget-priced LP series "The Blues", collecting then-current singles by Chess artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson (II).

Volume 3 is one of the best in the series. There is not a whole lot here for long-time blues collectors, sure, but this is nevertheless a great CD for a half-hour drive, and newcomers will find it to be a good introduction to classic Chicago blues.

It features two singles by John Lee Hooker (a gritty, band-backed "It's My Own Fault") and Elmore James (the slow grind of "The Sun Is Shining"), two artists who aren't usually associated with Chess, but they did record a few sides each for Chicago's premier blues label. And Muddy Waters is here as well, of course, repesented by an early "Rollin' Stone" and a later band-backed rendition of Big Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go". Howlin' Wolf's awesome "I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)" is another highlight.

There are also some relatively unfamiliar songs here, like Washboard Sam's up-tempo "Diggin' My Potatoes" (Sam, born Robert Brown, was the illegitimate son of Frank Broonzy, the father of Big Bill Broonzy), Jimmy Witherspoon's ballad (!) "Time Brings About A Change", and Little Milton Campbell's swinging soul-flavoured "Lonely No More".
Sonny Boy Williamson's "Fattening Frogs For Snakes" is perhaps the best song on the album, and one of the finest in Rice Miller's catalogue. And the album winds down with Jimmy Rogers' thoughtful "The World's In A Tangle".

All in all, this is a fine (albeit too brief) example of what the Chess vaults had to offer. A great listen. ... Read more

Album Description

Everyone who loves the blues knows Beale Street and the legacy of Memphis, where African-American musicians wove the sorrows of sharecroppers and day laborers into one of the world's great art forms.In the early part of the 1900's, few of the inhabitants were Memphians by birth; they came from the Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and the country areas of Tennessee, bringing the music of their homelands with them.Usually the compositions of W.C.Handy are regarded as the true music of Memphis music scene, but many kinds of music have been played in the city, most of them rougher and tougher than Handy's. Country blues, jazz, sweet music, the jug bands that played a little bit of everything-each form had its adherents.The musicians worked on the streets, in Handy Park, in Beale Street joints, and at picnics and house-parties given by the wealthy. This recording is a sample of the many musical styles that were evolving in the Memphis area.Most of the titles chosen here include the name of, or are inspired by, the town that is one of America's most enduring musical crossroads. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

King Snake releases another 'cool compilation!'
Florida's King Snake Records is renowned for its eclectic stable of uniquely stylish blues musicians like Sonny Rhodes, Bill Wharton, Ernie Lancaster, Dr. Hector and the Groove Injectors and many more. The qualityand scope of these lesser-known but fine artists attract major guitaristseager to perform or record with them. King Snake's aptly named newcompilation 'Hurricane' showcases the hottest of these musical mergers.Discover Floyd Miles with the Allmans' Dickey Betts, James and LuckyPeterson, Chicago Bob Nelson with Tinsley Ellis, Smokehouse with KennyNeal, or Alex Taylor with young slide sensation Derek Trucks. Excellentstuff, and with 19 tracks, there's lots of music for your money.

very nice
this cd is packed with some of the best guitar blues around. a perfect cd to get any party strarted.give this one a shot.....iam glad i did. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Blues Primer
Wanna learn what the blues is all about? Grab this collection of music from the 60s and early 70s. I bought this tape and a harmonica in 1987 and taught myself to play on Muddy Water's 19 years Old.

Great Music, loads of fun and a great taste of country, jump, delta, chicago and electric blues.

buy buy buy ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brilliant English Folk Music
Harry Cox (1885-1971) was one of the twentieth century's finest interpreters of traditional English folk music. In 1953, archivists Alan Lomax and Peter Kennedy interviewed Cox and taped him performing over two dozen songs. "What Will Become of England?" is a marvelous anthology of these recordings. In the interviews the album includes, Cox engagingly discussed his childhood, his life as a farm laborer in Norfolk, and his musical repertoire. The songs in the anthology feature his powerful unaccompanied vocals. The album includes ribald tales ("The Farmer's Servant") and tender love songs ("The Spotted Cow"). Cox also sang about fishing ("Barton Broad Babbling Ballad") and sailing ("The Yarmouth Fisherman's Song"). Regardless of the subject matter, all of the music is excellent. "What Will Become of England?" wonderfully chronicles the life and singing of an English legend. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great find!!
What started out as a search for some Saunders King material in a used CD store ended as a great find with this album. Even though it only includes two excellent Saunder King cuts with his T-bone style of singing and playing, the rest of the album is also a must hear. Lots of early solid gold material here by artists like Little Johnny Taylor backed up by Arthur Wright on guitar, Charles Brown, Phillip Walker, Sonny Rhodes and Big Mama Thornton. There is even a couple of cuts by KC Douglas but not my favs since I prefer his solo country style blues rather than his band supported numbers here. This album is worth checking out if you interested in horn driven blues or just wishing to expand your blues horizons. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Stuff
This is dirty, Louisiana blues at its best.It makes me want to drink liquor and take my shirt off. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Discover Some Little Known Blues on This AtlanticGenre Set
Here's a stellar collection of blues vocalists tapping into Atlantic Records' strength; the distinctive Southern R&B voices who gave the label its first 20 years of hits, here on lesser known and even previouslyunreleased tracks and singles.

Starting off with Sippie Wallace's ragtime"You Got to Know How" (featuring Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar),this album walks through remakes of some early blues' hits ("BigJoe" Turner sings all over "St. Louis Blues," LaVerne Bakerdoes likewise to Bessie Smith's "Gimme A Pigfoot.") It alsosalutes the label's two greatest female vocalists, Ruth Brown (thepreviously unreleased "Ruth Is A Bringdown") and Aretha Franklin("Takin' Another Man's Place.")

It marches on through thegenre songwriters like Percy Mayfield (w/Johnny Guitar Watson on"Nothin' Stays The Same Forever") Titus Turner (the overlong,faux-live "Baby Girl") and Rufus Thomas ("Did You Ever LoveA Woman," later covered by Derek & The Dominoes). It also includesgenre giants Bobby Bland, Johnny Copeland (on the remarkable "It's MyOwn Tears Being Wasted") and ZZ Hill. Outstanding collection,especially for the price, and recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Into their blues
Notwithstanding all those eerie organ sounds and high-pitched guitar twangs, the Doors were most of all a blues-based group. Indeed, their unique sound is often labeled "psychedelic blues."In this blues tribute, covering an appropriate selection of the group's classic songs, there are no vocals, just a multi-instrument workout, with a separate bass player and much more.As on the original, a harmonica pumps prominently in "Roadhouse Blues," one of the best cuts, but it also dishes out the motif on "Break on Through."On "Alabama Song," it is a mandolin that communicates the Brechtian decadence.The songs in which sax or trumpet ("Love Me Two Times" has both) are employed have a jazzy as well as bluesy feel.The trumpet is often slow with a sexy texture, as on "L.A. Woman."However, the slowest cover of all, and the best, is "Love Her Madly," with its jazzy, soulful sax.By contrast, the sax work is livelier on "Moonlight Drive," which also contains a fine guitar solo.There are not that many outstanding moments on this CD, but each song is easy listening, fitting of covers of one of rock's most listenable groups. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Total mood enhancer
This is one of the greatest swing albums of all time. I'm not exactly sure who played what parts (someone said that the channel credits were reversed), but Ellis and Robillard both sound great. They seem to have a bottomless well of creative and melodic swing phrases that they can throw around at will. This album will put you in a good mood quick. Make sure to check out the sequel album too - it's just as good.

Love da stuff
I can't pick up my own guitar without trying to play some of the lines Duke puts together on these numbers! He really smokes on "Easin' In". Unlike what some others may say, I think his swing chops are awreet and that the major problem here is that Herb Ellis is a little stale and staccato, but that's only compared with the Herb of yesteryear. This album is a fine excursion into this genre of jazz/blues and will be appreciated by more than just a purist jazz or blues oriented audience. Buy it and enjoy!

Fun swing jam session
This is a nice recording of swing and blues style guitar. Lots of fun to listen to -- like sitting in on a friendly jam session. Duke Robillard really shines on "Avalon" and the bluesier numbers and Herb Ellis sounds like he's having fun throughout. Recommended for swing fans or those new to jazz guitar.

Roblillard is mediocre, Ellis past his prime but still great
This a fun and likeable CD of pleasant swing/blues numbers, but if you are wanting to hear great guitar, don't look here. This CD really points out Robillard's weakness as a jazzer.

Robillard, a fine blues player, doesn't hit the mark here in several ways: he often seems to miss what he is trying to do with his solos, he falters and misses notes regularly, his note choices are amateur quality and unhip, and perhaps worst of all, his comping under Ellis is obtrusive and awkward, Pairing him with a well weathered pro like Ellis, though now well past his prime, is odd - Ellis completely smokes Robillard without even trying. Ellis' solos are creative, swinging, and coherent, and his comping is so perfectly supportive that you don't even notice it (this is a compliment).

I am surprised Robillard's own sense of quality control didn't prevent this from being released --I'm sure you love this music, Duke, but either stick to the blues or do some shedding before releasing jazz CDs -- Charlie Christian you aint!

I can't stop playing this CD.
You can't like electric guitar and not love this CD. It's smooth, jazzy, and bluesy all at the same time. If you liked the music in the film "Bull Durham" you'll be in heaven. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Digging Made Easy!
Funk lovers unite. Saturday Night Fish Fry, put out on Soul Jazz, the label that only puts out the highest quality compilations struck gold with this album. For those of use that love old school breaks, punchy trumpets, and the sultry voices of yesterdays funk divas will be awe inspired by the tracks on Fish Fry.
New Orleans, the home of funk, (an older term for the smells after sex) is also home to Lee Dorsey, Eddie Bo, Betty Harris, The Meters whose obscure 45's are brought out of the vaults and onto cd. This is the album that makes true record diggers work look easy. While artists like DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Rza, and other hip-hop producers scour used record shops coast to coast looking for these songs, Soul Jazz made the work easy for you and put them all on one compilation that will get any fish fry, block party, or sock hop rockin'!

Once more, with feelin'
Owners of the previous set in SoulJazz Records' series of New Orleans releases (New Orleans Funk) will notice the slight alteration in the subtitle of this second volume: "New Orleans Funk and SOUL." This change is reflected in the inclusion of such artists as Irma Thomas and Betty Harris, whose funk inclinations were mainly confined to the rhythm tracks - not surprisingly, the "New Orleans funk sound" was built from the drums upward, so earlier 60s tracks like "The Next Ball Game" feature frenetic double-time drumming with heavy syncopation on the bass drum overlayered with melodies more akin to Motown (in this case)or to early rock 'n' roll, a syncretism which can be intoxicating or somewhat anachronistic. However, the compilers turned up some ultra-rare funk singles and album sides for this collection as well, the most enthralling of which is, in my opinion, Eddie Bo's "The Thang (Part 2)", wherein the bassline begins about a minute into the record and a wah-wah guitar line, repressed in the mix for virtually the entire track, suddenly bursts out towards the end. Tracks by Lee Dorsey, The Meters, and The Wild Magnolias ensure visibility, and the liner notes include interviews with three of the main players in the N.O. record industry. ... Read more