Reviews (2)

Amazing!
This set is one of the best compilations of post-war blues you can get. Every track is great and you can hear the transformation of the black blues experience from the agricultural South to the industrial North come right through your speakers. Buy this set and quote these songs to your friends. You'll be cooler! ;-)

AWESOME CHICAGO BLUES
This series is awesome stuff. Some of the very best artists Chicago had to offer on this three CD compilation. Vanguard really hit a homerun with these releases. This series is a must have for all hardcore blues fans and neophytes alike. Get them all,you will love them. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Unreadable liner notes
Just got this CD and have only listened to it once. Most cuts are OK or better. On first listen the standout is Etta James' Ball and Chain. Unfortunately, the liner notes are unreadable. The type's too small, thin or bold. Some backgrounds give poor contrast. Minimizing page count and being artsy/fartsy seem to be more important to House of Blues (HoB) than readability. I have one other HoB CD and it's even less readable. They must believe their audience are the people who think Wired mag's design is cool. Perhaps if one's 15, it is. If you're 35 or older and are compelled to give HoB your hard earned money, prepare to also invest in an optical magnifier. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great music, superlative sound quality
Finally, a SACD with sound quality worthy of the format. N.B.: I can only comment on the 2-channel stereo performance, not the 5.1, because my system is only 2-channel capable. Rest assured, however, that it is of sufficient quality to be definitive for 2-channel audio (custom headphone amplifier, Grado headphones).

I have other good-sounding SACD's as well: Billy Joel "The Stranger", Norah Jones "Come Away With Me", Buena Vista Social Club (DVD-A) as well as other not so great sounding SACD's and DVD-A's. IMO, BluesQuest is the best sounding musical disc (SACD, DVD-A, or CD) I've ever heard with one of the best track lineup top-to-bottom of blues songs on one compilation. Robert Lucas' "50 Lbs of Bone" on Track 9 is simply a gem. Such delicious humour and good music all in one song. And you can't go wrong with Mighty Sam McClain. His Track 4 "Too Proud" is almost too good.

Highly recommended for any blues-loving audiophile.

A Great Blues Collection
I bought this CD based on Nelson Cabatingan's review and want to say I believe he could not have been more correct in his assessment. I might add that, as well as being a technically perfect recording, the music is really great. If you like blues, you should own this CD.

Technical demo of SACD versatility
This album is probably the best SACD recording released to-date. The air around musicians and instruments is simply jaw-dropping; it'll startle you from track 1's Get Up, Get Ready by Terry Evans. By the time you reach track 4 - Too Proud by Mighty Sam McClain, you'll probably be too drowned by the technical perfection of this disc and you'll be having goosebumps already. If you still manage to get to track 9 - 50 Pounds of Bone by Robert Lucas, you may be at the pinnacle of musical orgasm to the point of almost getting emotionally disturbed. I swear there was a moment when I can almost see Mr. Lucas inside the room! Down to the decay of the last note on the last track, when everything suddenly becomes dead silent, it'll take you about 2 minutes to realize that you are only in your room.

Gentlemen -- this is the epitome of SACD brilliance. If you still don't have an SACD player, then for Chrissakes, this disc is reason enough to buy one! Of course, to get optimum satisfaction, you'll need to partner it with good hi-fi and sadly, it ain't cheap... But hey, life is too short, we must enjoy every second of it! And music is one of life's greatest pleasures. (No, I'm not trying to justify my hi-fi investments!)

Don't mind the [money] price that comes with this disc - it's still a steal! Bravo to Audioquest for their efforts in producing this disc. Keep 'em coming, guys! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is the LP that did it, and did it in a big way...
After heaing this LP for the first time, nothing was ever the same for me, musically, ever again. From this, I steadily found my way through the blues, and into straight ahead jazz. Hearing James (then 'Jimmy') Cotton's "Rocket 88", or Buddy Guy's rendition of "Money" still makes me shiver. This is a great compilation of some great urban, electric blues, as well as some 'pining' southern influenced rural stuff ( Johnny Young's "Stealin", "Mule Kickin 'In My Stall", "Tobacco Road"). Otis Spann's "Spann's Stomp" and "Twisted Snake" cross deep into the early jazz genre. Marvelous stuff here for real blues lovers.

A must have for any blues fan
A great compliation of classic electric Chicago Blues. All the performances are top notch from Buddy Guy's "Sweet Little Angel" to Otis Spann's vituosity on the keyboards to the fat full sound of Big Walter Horton this CD is a winner in everyway. A must have! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Farewell to John Lee
From a child of his body and the children of his music, this is a chance to pay respects to the man who made his guitar a blacksmith's anvil and pounded out rhythms of sorrow. Look for Jack Bruce's Ozzy Osbourne-like sneer on "I'm in the Mood," along with Gary Moore's Godzilla footsteps on guitar. That's Jeff Beck playing robot-metallic notes on "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "Hobo Blues," and Peter Green's vocal sounds like a decaying zombie obeying his master on "Crawling King Snake." John Lee himself paints a "Red House" with something other than crimson pigment, and I've got to credit Robert Hunter's composition, "The Business," by Greggs Eggs vocalist Suzanne Sterling for giving the old man that special smile with a posthumous kiss.

Good lineup
I enjoyed listening to different interpetions of Hooker's work from various artists. I think Gary Moore's touch on Serve Me Right To Suffer was great. Peter Green on Crawlin' King Snake was a nice touch. Of course having Hooker himself on Red House was worth the price of the CD.

Only John Lee can play pure Hooker Magic!
Many great stars try to copy him on this cd. But what a pity, only Jack Bruce/Gary Moore and Peter Green can bring you in the real mood with their wonderful interpretations. The third star is for the master himself in a lovely duet with Booker T. Conclusion: Hooker is not to copy! He was so much more than only music. For instance listen to The Hot Spot, where he is only murmling. Only one of the greatest can do that. I'm ending with his words: "Once I'll die, but my music never will."

Nothing Earth Shattering!
This tribute to John Lee Hooker is filled with stars from across the pond such as Jack Bruce, Gary Moore, Jeff Beck, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Mick Taylor and Clem Clemson. Hooker's daughter, Zakiya also puts in an appearance on the discs opening track. While there are some excellent performances here including "Bad Like Jessie James" and "I'm Leaving" the disc suffers from the inconsistencies in style and qualities that often plaque tribute discs. On the bright side, the disc contains a 4 minute 56 second, previously unreleased track of "Red House" featuring John Lee Hooker and Booker T. Finally, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this disc is being donated to the John Lee Hooker Foundation. Buy it for the few gems and help the foundation in the process. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mournful, soulful classic blues
Where better to find real blues music than inside a prison? Although myriad earlier folklorists had already mined a various prisonyards for their blues material, these recordings made at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola have a richness and sadness to them that isn't quite conveyed in earlier efforts. Accompanied by work sounds such as shoveling and raking, these people have the same undeniable "authenticity" as the back porch Appalachians so beloved by the Lomaxes, Seegers and other scholars, but with an added layer of misery and hopelessness that makes the music even more compelling. Included in these recordings is the great Robert Pete Williams, who went on to record several excellent albums for the Arhoolie label. Recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In case anyone missed the individual releases of these CDs earlier in 1999, House of Blues conveniently presents all five in one handy package. Though the albums do fit the definition of a tribute, despite this box set's title, they're often decidedly odd; Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan certainly never sounded like this before. In general, it works. Zep's "When the Levee Breaks" was always a blues tune; Magic Slim just returns it to its Delta roots. Eric Clapton is firmly rooted in the blues, so it's fitting that some of the artists who influenced him--including Buddy Guy and Bo Diddley--turn out to try their hand at his material, and that younger musicians who've been undeniably shaped by his music take their turns as well. Janis Joplin was a blues singer first, a rock & roll star second, and Blues Down Deep includes appearances from Etta James, Lou Ann Barton, and Koko Taylor. What makes this set more interesting than your average tribute is that the performers involved have the skill and confidence to rework familiar songs in new ways. Just listen to what Gatemouth Brown does to "Rock n' Roll." --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Outstanding....
I bought this box set at the end of a relationship that went sour, and it has sustained me through many hours of both feeling bad and feeling fabulous. I keep all five CDs on my changer, and friends are always asking "Who is that?" and commenting on how terrific the music is -- even people who don't consider themselves to be "blues fans". What's best about this collection is the new renditions of some really old and obscure songs. For example, I had never been fond of Bob Dylan as a perfomer, but I always thought of him as an extraordinary song writer. Isaac Hayes' rendition of "Lay Lady Lay" proves that, as do all the other covers for every CD in the set (with the possible exception of a lukewarm cover of Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven"). Especially unique are some of the treatments of the early Led Zepplin stuff. An absolute must for anyone wanting to call themselves a true fan of the blues! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Compilation
I found a radio station on the web called The Breeze (Beach, Boogie and Blues) which is WWBZ broadcasting out of Charleston, S.C. What I discovered is a whole genre' of music devoted to Southern Atlantic beach music. It seems to revolve around a dance from the 60's called The Shag. This is not to be confused with the term 'shag' as used in the Austin Power's movie, but a style of dance.

The Shag is a very developed dance form from the 60's that kids danced basically on the beach. People have kept the style in going all these years. Finger Poppin' Time is one compilation of this type of music. It is based in R&B and blues, but adds a definite swing type style. I enjoyed this CD and recommend it for those investigating The Shag and beach, boogie and blue music. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good set of the slow stuff
Finding a slow-jam blues compilation is tough.

There's tons of upbeat blues tunes, but not a lot of the stuff people generally associate with the blues: the drawling, lazy, kicked-back, heartbreak stuff.It's even harder if you're the type of person who is attracted to this apsect of the blues alone, but discover that most blues records are filled with jumping numbers and maybe 1 or 2 ballads.It's tough, and tryig to put together a compilation on your own can be expensive.

So here's the "Depression Blues" set, each CD (3 in the series) ready to knock you back on the couch and make you sip that Kool-Aid thinking about an old love gone bad.It's great stuff, pulled from popular and not-so popular sources.You need not have to beat the racks for a blues slow jam again.

This particular CD of the set, sold boxed and separately as well, is the super-strong depression bit of the set.It's really blue stuff, and while you can get your backroom slow dance on, know that the material is all hard journeys and heartbreaks.Even the instrumentals got tears in them. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Early female barrelhouse music
This is a collection of barrelhouse blues, rags and stomps from the 20's and 30's performed by women with often accompanied by male performers. You will find few familar names. Some, for example Mary Johnson, left blues for gospel; others are pseudonyms as is Dorthy Baker a.k.a. Doretha Trowbridge. The notes attempts to identify the individuals on the recordings gives an insight into the recording business that produced these recordings.

I wish that the notes provided the lyrics. "Satan Is Busy in Knoxville" for example lists unsolved crimes in Knoxville - lyrics I know no source for.

While all tracks are worth hearing (and rehearing), I find Lucille's Bogan's "Sloppy Drunk Blues" to be the most memorable cut with its low-key haunting accompaniment by Will Ezell. ... Read more