Amazon.com

It's harmonica heaven as a quartet of hard-blowing harpists with experience stretching from the classic Muddy Waters band to contemporary rocking-blues units strut their stuff in a friendly competition. The legendary James Cotton is the main attraction, and he lives up to his reputation, ripping through his individual showcase "The Hucklebuck" and dueling successfully on the group cuts. Fellow veteran Charlie Musselwhite, who displays another side of his talent by playing guitar on the acoustic "If I Should Have Bad Luck," is also in fine form. The younger members of the quartet, Chicago stalwart Billy Branch and former Roomful of Blues frontman Sugar Ray Norcia, hold their own, especially when they pair up on their originals "Mean Little Mama" and "Put My Baby Out." But there's more than just harmonicas as former Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Kid Bangham and stylish boogie-woogie pianist David Maxwell spice up things between harp solos. With material including everything from the vintage rock of "Route 66" to the Tommy Dorsey big-band hit "T.D.'s Boogie Woogie," the disc offers a rare and well-rounded overview of the harmonica heroes, concluding with more than 11 minutes of the four musicians going head-to-head on "Harp to Harp." --Michael Point ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Blues harp class
This CD explores blues harmonica playing, almost in the form of a harp master class, and delivers in wonderful production, band and frontmen. Essentially, Sugar Ray Norcia is the main man here, playing on 7 of the 11 tunes, and he proves to be the best player AND singer. I have never heard him play as well on record before and he outplays the other players throughout. James Cotton also plays better than in a long time, which is nice to hear. Charlie's 3rd position playing, including his signature odd tuning work can also be heard and as far as I can pick up 1st, 2nd and 3rd position playing is covered on the CD. The playing by Billy Branch is good, but I have heard him better, especially on Johnny Winter's PointBlank releases where he is simply oozing. What makes this CD so enjoyable is the backup band, led by guitarist Kid Bangham, formerly of Sugar Ray's Bluetones and Fabulous Thunderbirds, providing excellent backup. This not just a harp record, it delivers nice guitar, piano, bass and drums. I can wholeheartedly recommend this CD to all blues lovers, but you have to love or enjoy harmonica.

Best of the Harp Players
I picked this CD up as an promotion, and was pleasantly surprised when I first listened to it! Charlie Musselwhite,Billy Branch and James Cotton out perform themselves, along with the other performers. Track No. 3 is outstanding in it's own right. I recently met Billy Branch at a local performance and stated to him that it was an outstanding CD..he stated to me at the time, that he did not even have a copy yet. You will listen to this CD over and over again and get new meaning everytime. ... Read more

Album Description

21 classic blues tracks that inspired the rock gods. Listen to 'Shake 'Em On Down' by Bukka White and compare it to Zep's 'Hats Off To Roy' or Memphis Minnie's original take on 'When The Levee Breaks'. Third in the popular series. Remastered by the Catfish label. A Must for all Led Zeppelin fans. 200 release. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It's Not What You Think!
First of all do not get the impression that this is a remake of Zeppelin tunes. This is the raw source from where Jimmy and the boys had cut their teeth on. If you are a stanch blues fan like I am, you will appreciate this disk for what it represents. If not, then you will find no use for it. I personally like knowing what inspired certain artists and enjoyed this copulation. If you weren't a blues fan before, it will introduce you to a new (old) area of music field that is very entertaining and satisfying, compared to the norm.

I gave this a 3 star rating because I owned most of the selections, prior to listening to "The Roots of Led Zeppelin". ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Blues 101!!!
All right, students, now pay attention! Put down that racing form and pay attention right now! This here Chess Blues box set contains exactly 101 tracks. How appropriate! That makes this collection a sort of unofficial college course entitled Blues 101, and Professors Wolf, Waters, James, and Jacobs (Little Walter), etc., etc., will be your blues instructors. You will learn the Fundamentals of Blues Harp, with Little Walter ("Juke") and Sonny Boy Williamson II ("Don't Start Me to Talkin'") as your master teachers. Over here, we have a course entitled Mellow Blues, with Willie Dixon ("Walkin' the Blues") and Jimmy Witherspoon ("Ain't Nobody's Business") showing you how it's done. Then, we have instruction in Blues and the Female Voice, with Koko Taylor ("What Kind of Man Is That," "Wang Dang Doodle") and Etta James ("Somethings Got A Hold Of Me," "I'd Rather Go Blind") as your teachers. Finally, what great university would be complete without Master Classes and the best professors in the business Muddy Waters ("Got My Mojo Workin'," "I Can't Be Satisfied," "My Eyes (Keep Me in Trouble"), Howlin Wolf ("Killin' Floor," "Evil," "Going Down Slow"), and John Lee Hooker ("Walkin' the Boogie," "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer") holding court for your edification. No, there is no blues university, but if there was one, the above masters would surely be the instructors and Chess Blues would certainly be the required text. As I said, it's packed with an amazing 101 songs, many of the best blues tracks ever recorded. There are a few clunkers, but very few. You will spend many enjoyable hours listening to this collection. (Trust me, it takes a few hours to listen to 101 songs once!) Get it today, and enroll in the best blues education money can buy!

A terriffic addition to your blues collection
This handsome boxset, complete with a large booklet, is a superb addition to your blues collection, even if you already have the best of the major Chess artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson II.

There are bound to be some tracks, especially by Waters and the Wolf, that overlap with what most blues lovers already own, but the "Chess Blues" compilers have done a very fine job assembling dozens of rarer tracks by artists like Robert Nighthawk, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Memphis Minnie McCoy, Lowell Fulson, Willie Mabon, Elmore James, Jimmy Oden and many others. And these high quality tracks, which make up the vast majority of the 101 cuts, make "Chess Blues" a very welcome supplement to the many available compilations featuring Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter Jacobs.

This is it!
The Delta gave birth to the Delta Blues and Chicago gave birth to the Chicago Blues but it would not have happened without Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and, of course, the Chess Brothers. This is their legacy - no true blues fan would be without this set as part of their collection -enough said!

Box set arrives like nucular bum
Wow, this box set arrives in my discs with the force of a nuclear bomb...I bought it for [amt.] at a local record store; get the box set any way you can. You'll survive cataclysmic disaster for sure. The artists are badasses and geniuses all.

Worth 10 Stars!
Where would the music of today be without the music on this set? Every song is a classic. Phil and Leonard Chess had an ear for talent and it shows on this set. Not only do you get classics by Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf, there is also Etta James, Ko Ko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sunnyland Slim, Robert Nighthawk, Willie Dixon (the MAN behind many of the Waters/Wolf classics) and many, many more. The booklet is fantastic and the sound quality is very good. Simply a set you can't do without. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This is not the blues
Yes, these are great ladies but they are not singing the Blues. They are singing Jazz. As far as a Jazz album goes, I rate this 5 STARS.
As a Blues musician, I was truely disappointed that the producer of this CD listed it as a Blues album. There's not a Blues lick on this album.
If you're looking for great ladies to sing the Blues, don't look here. If you're looking for great ladies to sing slow sad Jazz, you found it.
There are those people that will disagree with me on this CD. I have read the previous reviews. I'll state again, as far as a Jazz CD, absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend. As far as a Blues CD, no way.
Seeing as I am not a big fan of Jazz, I have listed my copy of this CD on Amazon.com to sell as "Like new." Someone out there will enjoy this CD.

Getting Into It
For someone who has always liked the blues, but doesn't quite know why, this CD helps make it clear. It's because of the way it makes you FEEL. The sultry, beautiful release it gives you, with all the female greats (plus Louis!), makes cooking, gardening, even paying bills a treat. Your hips will sway. You will bellow out along with them. Go for it.

Mesmerizing
Morgana King's "I Know How It Feels To Be Lonely" alone is worth the price of this brilliant CD. This collection possesses an etheral quaility that presents Blues at its quintessential best. Sara Vaughn and Nina Simone also shine like bright and radiant stars.

these ladies are indeed great
my favs would have to be "cry a river" and "i know how it feels to be lonely". this cd is packed with the best voices and puts you in another place...there are an abunance of other songs that coul dhave been included or substituted, but because there was a vast selection, the ones presented made an overall statement. if you have never explored this genre then this is a good one to get your feet wet ... Read more

Reviews (3)

USA's Huge Musical Contribution
Every time I hear a really great blues recording, like this one, I realize anew that this is where we achieved our finest moment in making a permanent, unassailable contribution to modern music. If you hear other, more modern, and most especially WHITE singers, doing these numbers, they are NOT the ones that did it first. Black Americans are the absolute center of this music and these women, every single one of them, is the real thing, the first modern musical artists. I really liked the idea too of breaking these albums up into special sectors with this one focusing solely on the authentic blues women. The male artists in this genre are very different from the women so it really makes sense to listen to them separately. Sometimes I feel as if the UKers might be leaving us in the dust musically but not when I listen to this album and the others like it, forming the core of America's musical contribution to the best of what we hear today. I think this would make an especially great gift to a friend in another country who thinks our major contribution was Elvis Presley. In fact, it might even make a great gift for Americans who remain oblivious to this national heritage and contribution!

Great Retrospective
This is a great CD set for the Blues afficionato as well as those just getting their feet wet. The songs cover the spectrum from classic to contemporary, and the recording sounds excellent. The closest thing I have to a complaint about it is that it might have been nice if the songs were organized more chronologically so that the musical and stylistic evolutions were more gradual and kinder to the listening ear. Still, this is by far my favorite collection, and my most listened to blues CD.

Dynamite music, great fun.
This is without a doubt one of the most enjoyable and fun CD sets I've heard in a long time. I am even ordering two more sets for a friend to give as gifts. It would be hard to pick favorites here, but Ruth Brown, Candye Kane, Alberta Hunter and Bessie Smith would be at the top. Anyone who likes vintage and contemporary blues would do well to buy this set. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Well worth buying
I bought this cd on the spur of the moment because it was cheap. All I can say now is that it's the best cd purchase I've made this year! When I first listened to it, I was a bit bothered by the tinny guitar accompaniment, but after repeated listens I grew accustomed to it, and I now love this music.
I had never even heard of fado before buying this cd. It's truly beautiful music. If you also have never heard of fado before, I will try to describe it. This is not a form of rock music. It sounds a bit like the songs of some female American jazz singers, for example, Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holliday. The packaging says it is Portuguese blues, but it is definitely not as raw as the blues singers I'm familiar with (ie. Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and B. B. King.) Most of the songs sound sad, but not sentimental. There is a slightly rough quality to many of the singers' voices that is very attractive. The songs were recorded at various times over the last forty years, so the sound quality varies, but it is acceptable. Even though each track is sung by a different singer, the cd still holds together and feels like a unit. The cd packaging does not include the lyrics, unfortunately, but if you understand Portuguese the words are clear enough to figure out.
Given that it introduced me to a new type of music that I now love, I would definitely recommend this cd to others.

awsome
I foud this CD to be absolutely awesome. It is truly a classic and Yes, thats what you call "Blues"

Portugal's Soul for your Listening Pleasure
Great CD--A great selection of male and female fadistas... Berta Cardoso, Max, Amalia Rodrigues, and Antonio M...truly wonderful. Pure enjoyment.

Songs That Will Satisfy Your Saudade (Longings)
This is a wonderful collection of fado. Even for those that are not conversant in the Portuguese language (like myself), the "essences" of the selections are communicated more than adequately through voice, tempo, and instrumentation. In general, the instrumentation is simple -- guitarras (Portuguese guitars), violas (Spanish guitars), and an occasional bass. They set the mood for the lyrics and the voice. Those that enjoy vocals, especially the "natural" voice, will fall in love with this collection. Amalia Rodrigues sings a marvelously passionate rendition of "Foi Deus." Tristao da Silva's silky baritone voice is exquisite in "Aquela Janela Virada Pro Mar." The other selections also stand on their own merits. The different artists that appear in the CD demonstrate the impressive range that exists within the genre of fado. I have listened to this CD often and will continue to listen to it many more times!

Fado: suffering makes for beautiful music
The fado (the word derived from the Latin for 'destiny') sings in a very nostalgic and intense way of lost love, lost loved ones, lost shores and any other suffering you may think of. The Portuguese will always listen to a fadista (fado singer) in silence, out of respect. A respect that is not always maintained in tourist places that offer fado. Some people find the Portuguese way of dealing with sorrow and singing about it in fados a bit oppressive. (Although there are some fairly merry fados as well.) The rather heavy suffering in the fado does make for very, very beautiful music, however, and this disc is a very good example of the art of fado. I particularly like 'A Rosinha Dos Limoes' which is about the singer going to the market to see his love 'littele Rosa' of the lemon stand, and also 'Partir E Morrer Um Pouco' ('leaving is dying a little'). The voice of the grand old man of Portuguese fado Alfredo Marceneiro is another treat on this CD. But it should be stressed that all tracks are of the same high quality. One may appreciate it even more, maybe, if one knows a little bit about the themes of the fados. A booklet with original and translated texts would be an extra asset. But even so: highly recommended! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Three decades ago Bruce Iglauer founded Alligator Records, selling his hero Hound Dog Taylor's records out of his car trunk. Since then, Alligator has become America's best-known and most prolific blues label, and many of the reasons for its success appear on this budget-priced, two-disc 30th anniversary collection. Much of the material, including Marcia Ball's "Louella" and Shemekia Copeland's "Turn the Heat Up," comes from relatively recent recordings, since the label also released anthologies honoring its 20th and 25th anniversaries. Those two collections are unreservedly recommended, with the 20th providing the best historical overview of the label's evolution.

But the 30th holds its own, presenting guitar greats like Lonnie Mack ("Stop"), Johnny Winter ("My Time After Awhile"), and Lonnie Brooks ("Two-Headed Man"), as well as harmonica heroes James Cotton ("When It Rains It Pours"), Junior Wells ("Keep Your Hands Out of My Pockets"), and William Clarke ("Broke and Hungry"). Several outstanding duets, including a fine and funky tune by Henry Butler and Corey Harris and a classic from a Robert Cray and Albert Collins collaboration, provide variety.

The second disc contains 13 live cuts, featuring some of the most exciting live blues acts ever, such as Albert Collins, backed by the Icebreakers; Luther Allison, who rips through his signature "Soul Fixin' Man"; and Son Seals, who gets help from Elvin Bishop. Dynastic zydeco great C.J. Chenier serves up "Jambalaya," and Delbert McClinton dishes out blue-eyed soul with "Maybe Someday Baby" to further flavor the live action. And to top it off, there's a bonus video track featuring Hound Dog Taylor to make the celebration complete.--Michael Point ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent
Alligator does it again! Incredible compilation. If you are contemplating starting a blues collection get the Anniversary Collections by Alligator first. These CD sets introduce you to many talented artists without shelling out 100's of bucks.

As an extra there is a video of Hounddog Taylor that you can play on your computer. Very nice!

Smokin' Blues From the Alligator Vaults
The first thing I did when I got this CD was play the bonus CDROM video track of Hound Dog Tayor & The Houserockers' "Taylor's Rock" on my computer and cranked up the volume. My computer will never be the same! Taylor's slide playing is raw, powerful stuff on this nearly four-minute instrumental captured in black and white from the 1973 Ann Arbor Blues Festival. Taylor also tears the roof off the house with a raucus version of "It's Alright." It's no surprise that Taylor closes out the live disc. Taylor's eponymously titled debut on Alligator was the first of his career and the first for the then fledgling blues label.

The blues thrives in a live setting and even though I live in Nebraska, I've had the chance to see several of these artists perform at Lincoln's famed Zoo Bar, including Son Seals, Luther Allison and Coco Montoya.

Among the five previously unreleased tracks (all on the live disc) are a ten-minute version of Albert Collins' slow blues "Dyin' Flu" and a nearly eight-minute version of Little Charlie & The Nightcats' smoldering "I'll Take You Back."

While the live disc crackles with raw energy, the studio disc includes stellar performances as well, including Koko Taylor's white hot "Bring Me Some Water" and the Holmes Brothers' haunting "Homeless Child."

In addition to Chicago style blues, you also get the New Orleans-influenced blues of Marcia Ball and Henry Butler, the zydeco stylings of C.J. Chenier, Texas guitarists Johnny Winter and Albert Collins, and Alligator's first-ever overseas artist--British-born Australian Dave Hole.

If you're looking for a inexpensive introduction to Blues 101, you won't find a better textbook than this. And if you need additional incentive, 20 lucky customers will find a coupon good for the entire Alligator catalog on CD. [But this 2-CD set is a terrific consolation prize!] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The five stars here,is just a few of the constelation !
Yes,this five stars are just a few,just a few of many others,infinity others from the constelation of this truly great Blues Record!
And i'm proud to be the first to review this album.I'm proud because i'm a really bluesfan...I'm proud because i'm really a Gator fan...proud to have in my own home a collection of almost 700 cds,95% blues cds...proud to take part in this special moment of Alligator Records.The history of the Gator Records is really fantastic,and specially in the person of this visionary man,Bruce Iglauer.Bruce worked with the great Bob Koester from Delmark Records,visited many universitary shows to choose some new talents to record.Then,he left Delmark to improve his own Record,where he could get new talents.The first album recorded,
was with great simplicity,at 1971,when he discovered Hound Dog Taylor,and it must be considered a legendary album.Many others
appeared with rare competency since that early days.And what we can say is that Alligator is a Record, constantly growing,surprising us with rare moments,masterpieces,new talents...Shemekia Copeland is,for me the confirmation of all this competency,to believe in new talents,promotes this talents giving all of the support and took them to the stelar!
So,i can say that i'm proud and happy to participate of this rich moment.And this album that comemorates this healthy 30th.Years,is absolutely a "Must Have",destinated to become a "Classic"blues album,not only by the quality of the bluesmen there,so still by this new concept to creates,inovates,supports all of the good news we have to the modern blues scenery!
And what we must desire is to be alive when the 40th.Anniversary Record album, will be recorder at 2006!
Until that,i'm happy with my collection of 130 Gator's albums....What you're waiting for?????Let's improve your own Gator's Collection...Sure you'll not be desappointed...
You'll really be happier than ever......JUST AS I AM! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

wanna jam?
This cd starts out with some acoustic numbers from Edwin McCain. They hold up to repeated listening because of Warren Haynes' tasteful and impressive acoustic lead and slide playing. The Derek Trucks Band is as an exciting band that is working today and their set is a joy. But it gets even more thrilling as virtually each extended jam features one great artist after another. The Cry of Love set adds hard rock and is alittle weak. Then Gov't Mule takes over. It's set is more like, but maybe even beter than, disc one (as opposed to the stellar disc two) to "With a Little Help from Our Friends" and holds up well to repeated listening. "But" you may wonder, "isn't this just another one of those blues based extended jam albums that I already have in abundance in my collection?" No! Herring, Haynes and Trucks deliver (together no less) on song after song on this cd, plus, and I must say surprisingly, the sound quality here is outstanding. One last thing, Haynes, McKay and the various and asundry good friend/guest vocalists can belt it out -- not an embarrassing note among them.

Habitat for the Blues
The 1999 11th Annual Warren Haynes benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity offers something for everyone. Disc One opens with soul-filled acoustics by Edwin McCain and Warren Hayes. They are followed by a rolling blues jam hosted by Derek Trucks. Derek Trucks leads with "Rastaman Chant" -- a bow to Reggae that keeps you bouncing. Trucks then lays a solid foundation with the jazzy Chicken Strut for a five-song set that closes out the first disc. The set features guest after guest pushing each other to new heights. Jimmy Herring, Col. Bruce Hampton, Susan Tedeschi, and Larry McCray mix and match as song after song delivers first rate blues. Larry McCray sizzles on "Ain't That Loving You" and Col. Bruce Hampton will have you kneeling at the altar of the blues with his "Yield Not to Temptation". Tucks closes Disc One with Tedeschi's "Just Won't Burn" (Oh, but she does and so will you).

Tedeschi opens the second disc with a version of "Angle from Montgomery" that rivals Bonnie's rendition. Cry of Love returns after a five-year absence to rock the concert. On "Piece Pipe" they beat out a powerful song that resurrects the spirit of the 60s. Government Mule then does for Disc Two what Tucks did for Disc One - they host a rolling jam featuring Johnny Neal, Jimmy Herring, Col. Bruce Hampton, Mike Barnes, and Little Milton. Jimmy Neal rips out one great line after another on "Falling Down". Hampton, Neal and Mike Barnes have some fun with Willie Dixon's "Spoonful". The second disc closes with Little Milton reaching new heights on "When the Blues Come Knockin'" followed by Government Mule, Derek Trucks, Little Milton, Johnny Neal and Little Milton in an unforgettable version of "Merry Christmas Baby".

This is a solid two CD set for the serious Blues-Rock fan who appreciates live music and artists who love to jam.

Wanna Jam?
This cd starts out with some acoustic numbers from Mr. McCain. They hold up to repeated listening because of Mr. Haynes' tasteful and impressive acoustic lead and slide playing. The Derek Trucks Band is as an exciting band that is working today and their set is a joy. But it gets even more thrilling as virtually each extended jam features one great artist after another. The Cry of Love set adds some welcomed, tuneful hard rock and then Gov't Mule takes over. It's set is more like, but maybe even beter than, disc one (as opposed to the stellar disc two) to "With a Little Help from Our Friends" and holds up well to repeated listening. "But" you may wonder, "isn't this just another one of those blues based extended jam albums that I already have in abundance in my collection?" No! Herring, Haynes and Trucks are the "it" boys and they deliver (together no less) on song after song on this cd, plus, and I must say surprisingly, the sound quality here is outstanding. One last thing, Haynes, McKay and the various and asundry good friend/guest vocalists can belt it out -- not an embarrassing note among them.

Good Friends, some tunes, ....
and what you get is music contained on this 2 CD set. To try and cover everything on this would require a book, so I`ll just say that this entire set has numerous highlights, like all of the great talent that Warren Haynes seems to always assemble. The players on each song rotate so much you need a program, but unlike most All- star jams, this one has each player pushing the other one,creating some incredible improvisational jamming.

There is the Derek Trucks Band, with Derek`s incredible Duane Allmanesque slide on Rastaman Chant, Edwin McCain, Col.Bruce Hampton with Jimmy Herring, two fifths of the Aquarium Rescue Unit, there`s Cry of Love playing together for the first time in five years. You have Larry McCray, brillant blues guitarist, Susan Tedeschi with her warm Bonnie Raitt like voice. Then the Mule`s set with it`s burning version of Bad Little Doggie, and then there`s blues legend Little Milton, doing a smoking When the Blues Come Knocking, and most of the gang performing 15 minutes of Merry Christmas Baby.

This is a great CD of an incredible night. There were other great players there also, I`ll end it by saying if you like the Mule and great jamming, along with some musical surprises, this is it. Rest in Peace Allen Woody.

Gov't Mule has some great friends:)
Warren Haynes has been doing a benefit show in Ashville,NC for years, but this year the concert moved to a much larger venue. It was a very cold windy day, and there was still some snow to be found around the Auditorium. The 2 cd's capture all of the best moments of the night. There is a few songs from everyone that was there. The Derek Trucks set was just amazing. And the night just got better and better from then on. The Govt Mule set was the show stopper. I think that everyone was on that stage at one time or another. The highlight of the whole eavning had to be Little Milton singing "Merry Christmas Baby". Wow what a legend. So, if ya like the Mule and there friends that always show up. This is a must have.. ian lee ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Absolute masterpiece
This was playing when I went into a store. Being a blues nut I had to check it out and when I saw what it was I took it home.

Repeated playings have not dimmed it. This album is a true masterpiece. Different from Peter Green but that is what they set out to achieve. Whether it is "better" you can't really say but it is one of the best blues compilations I have ever heard (along with Chess Blues and the Alligator Records Anniversary packs.

Buy it and you'll be amazed.

Best of The Tribute CD's!
I don't usually buy tribute CD's but have made an occassional exception or two. Until I obtained this CD, the best tribute CD in my collection was "You're Gonna Miss Me When I am Dead and Gone" the tribute to Muddy Waters by the Muddy Waters Band.

This CD has now moved ahead of the pack and given the diversity of musicians on this CD, that was no easy feat. Unlike the Muddy tribute which features one band doing all of the songs, this CD features as many as 40 different musicians playing their own version of some of these great songs without simply attempting to copy Green's style. I think its safe to say, that having 40 plus musicians participating on one tribute CD could be a receipe for disaster. However, in this case it worked.

There are 29 songs on this double CD and it is not easy to pick one over the others. However, in my opinion, Clas Yngstrom's interpretation of "The Supernatural" is nothing short of fantastic. Also, as a big Rory Gallagher fan, I was particularly pleased with his two songs "Leaving Town Blues" and "Showbiz Blues" which are not going to be found anywhere else.

All in all, there is more than enough on this CD to please even the most jaded fan. If this CD doesn't do it for you, check your pulse, you may well be dead!!

A Powerful Compilation
Too many "tribute" albums turn out to be disappointments because "name" musicians are often hastily assembled and pressed to crank out material with which they have little or no experience and expertise. On Rattlesnake Guitar, there is a wide array of musicians from across the musical spectrum, but these play the songs as if they'd been together for years. Different musicians offer their own interpetations of Green's music rather than trying to replicate it. And some tremendous interpretations there are here! Though I generally like the whole album, I think the standout is "Love That Burns", a wailing, bluesy rendition of a great song that will have you hitting the repeat button again and again. Other outstanding covers are Black Magic Woman, I Loved Another Woman, Oh Well, A Fool No More, and If You'll Be My Baby. Ian Anderson does a great job with a poignant rendition of Man of the World. I had heard all these songs before and it took me a few listens to warm to some of these versions, but if you like Peter Green as much as these guys apparently do, you will find this a powerful compilation of some of his best and one that is well worth owning.

What a disappointment. Not worth the money.
I have almost all of these songs in the original and I was really disappointed in the renditions by these musicians. Maybe it's just that Green was so good. Don't buy this if you have the original versions. Neither Man of the World or Green Manalishi is much like the original.

Classic blues revived!
For any guitarfreak, -or anybody who's a bit familiar with Peter Allen Greenbaum, this album is probably the closest thing to a definitive "must have". Personally, I happen to come across this CD, vià Amazon.com, got interrested and placed my order. It arrived just a few days ago, and it was everything I expected it to be, in wiew of all the prominent musicians participating in this project. I think maybe it's the most versatile blues album I've heard in a long, long time, with blues played in a multitude of ways; not just the standard "chucka-cucka", so to speak. Even for you bass-buffs out there, this CD is well worth considering, as it's got a couple of tracks with a very heavy groove! At least, it suited my Klipsch KG 4,5's perfectly! For anybody who's into guitar based blues rock; buy this CD! I doubt it very much, if you'll be anything but happy, with this music! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cut 8. 'O' Berta' not the one I thought it was
I heard a great arraingement of "Berta" during the movie "The Piano" which stared Charles Dutton. I thought that arraingement or at least some approximation was on this CD but it turns out that track 8 'O' Berta' is a disapointing version of that great tune. Otherwise if you like to hear these types of songs you might like this cd.

Great
This collection has real feeling and that's what music is supposed to be about. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Boogie Woogie Showcase
I wanted to get a birthday present for one of my best friends. I sought a fine boogie woogie collection in the pattern of Black and Blue's "Boogie Woogie Masters". Juke Joint Jump does fill that bill. It has cuts by titans of the art: Memphis Slim plays "Panic Street", Art Tatum plays "Tatum Pole Boogie", Champion Jack Dupree plays "Dupree Shake Dance", Pete Johnson plays "Boogie Woogie" and others. Freddie Slack's "Down the Road a Piece" is an infectious tune that lingers. There are 18 cuts in all, none of them bad, and some of them very very good. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This CD is awesome!
I have had this C.D. for at least 6 years and it is still one of my favorites. I also happen to like the introductions that the other reviewer found annoying...it makes me feel like I am at the show. I bought my CD at the House of Blues in New Orleans and it brings back great memories of my trip. Several of my friends have heard the CD and wanted to buy it.

inane prattle has me crying the blues
While the music here is solid and the packaging first rate, the incredibly annoying voiceover to announce which artist is up next interupts the music's flow and is enough to make one hit the eject button. And that's after the first listen. Trying to get through it again and again is next to impossible. To add insult to injury, because the VO is tacked onto the back of the tracks, RIPing the disc and removing the offending noise isn't a workaround unless you want to start editing audio files.

Gimme music without interruption.

Most excellent.
This set provides the listener with a broad variety of blues sounds, and is perfect for the person who can't decide on just one artist. Two thumbs up, five stars, and all that stuff too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not the best ever...but still darn good
Although the title is totally hyperbole, this is an excellent collection of blues tunes of various eras and styles.

I am a relative newcomer to the blues, so a compilation like this is right up my alley. It lets me get a taste of different aspects of the blues, and to discover artists that I would not have otherwise been exposed to.

Represented here are some of the early delta bluesmen (Lightnin' Hopkins "Abilene", mislabeled as "Shotgun Blues"), the early electric blues (Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy"), the '60's revival (B. B. King's "3 O'Clock Blues"), the great female blues singers (Koko Taylor's smokin' "Wang Dang Doodle"), the British blues bands (John Mayall's "Spinning Coin"), contemporary American blues rock (Johnny Winter's "Illustrated Man"), and lesser known contemporary artists (Colin James' infectious cover of "No More Doggin'").

Throw in selections by Albert Collins, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, J. J. Cale, and others, and you have a blues compilation CD that may not be "The Greatest in the World", but one that both novices and long time blues fans can enjoy. Highly recommended to anybody with ann interest in the blues.

Classic In Every Way! You will FEEL the Blues!
Calling your album the "best ever" takes balls, but this CD stands the test. From classics like Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy' or Little Walter's 'My Babe' to hot female singers like Etta James and the dynamic Koko Taylor to oldies radio station's staples like 'Reeling and Rockin'' by Chuck Berry and classic rock blues like Gary Moore's 'Still Got The Blues', this CD covers a lot of ground.

If you want an introduction to the blues and can only buy one CD, this should be it! If you already love the blues, you'll love hearing these songs again and remember them like your first kiss. Either way, this CD will put sadness in your heart or heat in your loins, sometimes in the same song!

The best ever?
Not even close to the best ever. The actual title should read: "The Best Blues Album For Which We Were Able To Get Rights To The Songs Quickly" or something like that. The fact is this double disc set is just a grab bag of songs with absolutely no thought put into it whatsoever. With a few exceptions, disc one is practically a throw away. Larry McCray, Kinsey Report, Gary Moore, and Terry Evans et. al. are all ok modern blues artists but hardly deserve to be on a blues album titled "The Best Ever" -especially one limited to only two discs.

This is a Virgin release, so poor understanding of the genre is to be expected. However, to boldly exclaim that this is the best ever compilation is a rather ostentatious position -even for the Virgin people. The best ever blues compilation would certainly be a difficult undertaking. However, this set completly ignores the likes of giants like Big Maceo, Tommy Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson I & II, Robert Johnson, Tampa Red, Lowell Fulson, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Roosevelt Sykes, Robert Nighthawk, Jimmy Witherspoon, Floyd Dixon, and so many many more important and entertaining historical blues artists. The most shocking eversight is the absence of T-Bone Walker!

Really, I think this is a waste of your money. Even on its own level the flow is odd especially on disc one. Disc two has a better grouping and flow of great blues artists and songs, but still not worth the price. There has yet to be a true "best of" compilation to be released, so for now I suggest you may want to explore the best attempt to date. It is a four disc box set released on MCA in 1996 called "Mean Old World."

Buy it!
I really enjoyed these CDs. it gives a good mix of old school and new school blues so to speak. From todays best to the acoustic sounds of yesteryear, this CD entertained me for a very long time with some great blues. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid Acoustic Compilation!
This is a good mix of contemporary acoustic blues which features several well known musicians. The cd features many standouts such as, Alvin Youngblood Hart's "Pony Blues" from his award winning cd "Big Mama's Door", Keb' Mo's "Love Blues" from the cd "Keb' Mo'", R.l. Burnsides "Long Haired Doney" from "Acoustic Stories", Guy Davis' "Georgia Jelly Roll" from "Call Down The Thunder" and John Hammonds "Riding in the Moonlight" from his "Mileage" cd as well as an acoustic version by Tab Benoit of "Rainy Day Blues" featuring vocals by Willie Nelson. All in all, the cd is an excellent primer and is recommended for individuals that want to sample country blues. The only substandard tunes on the disc are Steve James "Stack Lee Blues" and Woody Mann's "Little Brother". With those two exceptions, the cd is a keeper.

Great introduction to various artists
This CD features some of the best contemporary blues artists around. Highlights (besides the incredible Keb'Mo) include the Sue Foley tune and the Tab Benoit/Willie Nelson duet. Fantastic! A wide variety of artists and song styles make this a must-have blues album. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A great collection...
...with plenty of variety.

The 2-CD set will keep you busy listening and studying for hours.

Probably one of the better blues record companies takes at least one track from their most successful albums ( and some unreleased ), and puts it into a collection every five years or so.

Highly recommended.

My fav. track: "T'ain't Nobody's Business"

fantastic compilation!
If you love the blues (and who doesn't, except for those terminally 'mad-at-the-world' types of which I hope you're not one) then this great collection of various flavors of blues is for you! Once again, Alligator Records has put together an irresistable smorgasbord of sound for your listening pleasure. C'mon, dig in! (Just keep in mind that the audio tracks for DISC I vs. DISC II are swapped on the song samples here.)

Bring on the Dog!
I bought this just for the unreleased Houndog Taylor tracks. The rest is very good.

Its a must have. Get the 20th and 30th years also.
Its a must have. Get the 20th and 30th years also.

A great general blues collection
I received this double CD as a gift from someone who knew I liked the blues, but didn't have specific knowledge of many artists. This a a great collection to have for other people like me. Even after many repeat listenings, I can't name even half the artists - all I know is this collection really cooks. Even housecleaning doesn't seem so bad when you're listening to this. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A magnificent album.
As a person who is a huge fan of Dylan's songs but really dislikes his vocals, I have searched long and hard for a tribute album that I liked. Ironically, I found it in this "ain't no tribute" album. These are GREAT interpretations of the songs of Dylan. My only complaint was that there weren't more songs; a two-CD set would have been sweet. Otherwise, great.

diverse, interesting and soulful
this compilation has almost no weak spots. every tune is unique and surprising.. I especially liked the rendition of "Lay Lady Lay" It is haunting and seductive. I can't help but think that if Dylan ever listens to this disk, he'd like it.

This is an outstanding compilation of Bob Dylan's music.
This is a CD that I will listen to for a long time. Just as you're listening to the end of one song and regretting that it's over, another starts filling the room and you're filled with joy at the prospect of 3 or 4 minutes more of outstanding sound, sound you can see and feel. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A budget-priced box set, Broke, Black & Blue delivers multiple surprises within its 100 songs of prewar blues. Arranged chronologically by Joop Visser, the set admirably covers the first 22 years of recorded blues, 1924 to 1946, from vaudeville and Delta to boogie-woogie and jump blues. It's a swell gift for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of blues. But old-timers will be pleased, too, as special attention has been paid to culling rare and idiosyncratic tracks by the well-known and the obscure. The first three discs present single tracks by artists as diverse as the Memphis Jug Band, De Ford Bailey, Tommy Johnson, Son House, Skip James, Peetie Wheatstraw, Lonnie Johnson, and Bukka White, alongside unknowns such as Isaiah "The Mississippi Moaner" Nelson, Barbecue Bob and Laughing Charley, Ed Andrews, Chicken Wilson, and Bumble Bee Slim. On the fourth disc, this convention is jettisoned to luxuriate in a series of very rare sides of lovely, oddly subdued boogie-woogie and jump blues by Jimmie Gordon, Johnny Temple, and Lee Brown. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What A Treasure
This Box set is a treasure.Great collection of early recorded blues.Fantastic! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This trove of 23 recordings matches its superb companion cut for cut. Each selection illustrates the jug genre's richness and diversity of style as well as racial and regional character, with bands' origins ranging from New York and Ohio through Kentucky and Tennessee on down to Alabama. Included are such flapper-age funk classics as Cannon's Jug Stompers' "Bring It with You When You Come"; the Memphis Jug Band's "Stealin' Stealin,'" "You May Leave but This Will Bring You Back," and "The Old Folks Started It" (with stirring vocals by Minnie Wallace); and Noah Lewis' Jug Band's "Selling the Jelly." Lurking in the collection's multicolored depths are discoveries such as "Brown Jug Blues" by Ezra Buzzington's Rustic Revelers and "What Makes My Baby Cry" by the Five Harmaniacs, a white vaudeville act from Brooklyn. Also notable is Mississippi Sarah blowing jug behind Daddy Stovepipe on "Greenville Strut," guaranteed to move the human butt. --Alan Greenberg ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent sampler of jug band music
I'm not exactly sure what drew me to this wonderful album, but am I glad I found it! Harvey Pekar had mentioned his interest in old jug band recordings from the 1920s and 30s a few times, and so when I saw this compilation, I immediately picked it up. I suppose the bizarre cover photo was also an attraction. If you're familiar with the music of R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Seranaders or if you own the soundtracks to any of Terry Zweigoff's movies, you have some idea what to expect. This is as joyful and soulful as music gets. I wish this kind of music were in style today!

My favorite tracks are "Stealin', Stealin," "Old Folks Started It," and "He's In the Jailhouse Now." Rest assured, though, there's no filler here. You'll be nodding your head and tapping your foot to this CD in no time.

Call me Jughead
This album is ridiculously cool and great. Generically, the songs are all over the map: equal parts jazz and hillbilly music. Jug bands were the missing link between urban pop and rural folk forms. Who knew? You're missing out if you don't have this CD. ... Read more

Album Description

UK compilation, 'Getting Funky - The Birth Of New OrleansR&B'. Featuring the pioneers of this funky down home music. Four CDs, 107 tracks & a 56 page booklet make this afabulous set. Artists include, Champion Jack Dupree,Professor Longhair, Archibald, Dave Bartholomew, PaulGayten, Smiley Lewis, Roy Brown, Fats Domino & a host ofothers. Slipcase. ... Read more