Reviews (1)

You better have your swing partner ready!
Cause your going to dance all night long. This set says what swing musis is supposed to be about. I could't stop listening to it the first time I heard it. These arrangment bring me back to why I first fell in love with jazz. I can't stress how great this collection is. For anyone who is a serios lover of swing, this is it for you. And for those of you who aren't neccisarily into swing by this set it will change the way you feel. ... Read more

Album Description

While it lasted, the big band era produced some of the most exciting and satisfying music in jazz history and put intothe musical spotlight many magnificent soloists in theirprime. All the era's significant bands featured here,fronted by the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, GeneKrupa, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman andmany more. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Check it out.
This is #3 of my favorite Cleanhead albums- a later period for him, but his voice is as strong as ever. The guitar work here makes up for a slightly mellower sax from Eddie, but all in all this album is a treat. Many of the songs start out with long intros (unlike his earlier stuff, such as "Cleanhead and Cannonball"), but they take off from there. 4 or 5 classics on this one- check it out.

Cleanheads best!
When i first bought this c.d. i never knew it would be as good as it is!-----As always with Vinson,the songs are humorous,thought provoking and meaningful. The alto sax playing is AWESOME..and the guitar work is TOTALLY SPELLBINDING!--does anyone know anything about the guitar man ? ---His name is Les Davidson, but i would like to know about more of this guys work. His playing is very much like Danny Caron, who was with Charles Brown. I would say this c.d has some of the finest vocals, alto sax..and STUPENDOUS guitar work of any record!

Under-rated,Unpigeonholed,and talented!
Hard to believe that this CD has not been reviewed, but that's a perfect objective correlative of how, alas, all too many Americans, "miss" (out)on some fine music. The quintessential artist and genre-hybrid, Vinson didn't ever "fit" musical classification. This man had talent, bonhomie, SOUL, R&B, SWING and CLASS galore! A bright, multi-talented man, Vinson has masterfully played a sax, sung, and written some fine,fine,super-fine music.

With the exception of his re-release on Bethlehem label, this is my all-time favorite Cleanhead Vinson CD.

If you think I'm blowing smoke in your face, check out the Amazon "Somebody's Got to Go,"snippet of sound for a savory gumbo of real BLUES-guitar and R&B/JAZZ vocals! ... Read more

Album Details

Double CD, Including 40 Classic Performances of Jazz Standards. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

GREAT blues record
A mate of mine turned me on to Sam Taylor a few months ago, and now I have 3 of his CD's (this one included) and one by his violinst. I love to listen to some great blues now and then, and just when I was ready to conclude that a lot of the blues sound alike, Sam comes along. This guy cooks, his band is tight, and it is just a great CD to kick back and enjoy. This is raw, yet has enough appeal for anyone and is not candy-coated blues a-la-Robert Cray and the like. Go for it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Be Selective
If you're looking for hit singles featuring Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson you have to be selective. For example, while Eddie and his powerfully-pure blues voice did sing hit versions of Is You Is Or Is You Ain't, Cherry Red Blues, and Somebody's Gotta Go, he did so for Hit Records while a member of the Cootie Williams Orchestra in 1944 and 1945.

The versions here are obviously re-makes by Vinson and his own band, as is the b-side to Cherry Red Blues - Things Ain't What They Used To Be. If you want the originals, seek out the CD 1941-1944 Cootie Williams at Amazon.

It's also unclear as to whether these are the original Mercury Eddie Vinson & His Orchestra renditions of Old Maid Boogie [# 1 R&B in 1947] b/w Kidney Stew Blues [# 5 R&B on its own].

His only other charted hit was the comical 1949 "answer" song to 1944's Cherry Red Blues - Somebody Done Stole My Cherry Red - which, under the billing Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, made it to # 6 R&B that November. Done for the King label, that is not included in this CD, although the original IS available from Amazon on Vol. 3 - Battle Of The Blues.

Another reviewer was correct in his opinion that there is a "sameness" to many of the selections. Like certain aspects of Country music, this is a fact of the early blues, and if it happens to be coming from a Texas bluesman - as was the case with Vinson - you also get that unique "squeal" which permeates their sound.

Eddie Vinson passed away on July 2, 1988 at age 70.

The best big-band blues
Vinson played alto sax, fronting his own big band in the 1940s. You get the great big-band sound with truly excellent blues feel, and some raunchy lyrics. This CD is the best-value intro to Vinson; the only criticism might be that there's a sameness to some of the cuts. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

That's All
Energetic, melodious, excellent message - rythym is as expected, and delivery at her best. Orchestra is usual "good listenin'" ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Blues shouter and saxophone player
Cleanhead Vinson was one of those people always walking on the fine line between Blues and Jazz. People such as Jimmy Witherspoon, Jay McShann, Pete Johnson and many others.
On this cd he is featured fronting a big band, singing and playing alto sax.
The band is great, and Vinson's vocals and sax playing are always superb. When he sings he uses a falcetto at the end of his verses. When he plays the alto he uses the same powerful approach he has for singing. His alto playing alone could have made him famous, I believe, but when combined with his original vocals, he must be seen as one of the all time blues giants.
I recommand this cd to anyone who likes Kansas City jazz and blues (although Vinson is not from Kansas City...). ... Read more