Reviews (3)

Classic melodic, poppy blues
They say timing is everything, and in Freddie King's case, that certainly was true. His early hits, especially the classic instrumentals, "Hide Away" and "San-Ho-Zay," came out in 1960 and '61, at precisely the right moment for his career to intersect with the SoCal surf scene (which also centered on instrumental numbers) and the nascent British blues revival, which was ever eager to find American bluesmen to latch onto and laud. Here, white kids on both sides of the Atlantic had a guy who bridged the gap between raw authenticity and pop polish, setting the standard for the zilllion-and-one future Fendermen who sought to sharpen their guitar chops. Fittingly, King cracked into the US Top 40 while also picking up flocks of converts (such as Eric Clapton) who worshipped his fluid, pop-tinged electric guitar leads. King's style was a perfect distillation of the smooth yet soulful postwar blues style, rootsy yet accessible and perfectly pitched for the ears of adoring white blues fans. His career had its ups and downs, but by the time he passed away in 1976, he had packed them in on the pop and blues circuits... This disc covers the breadth of his career, matching the ace oldies up with a good selection of his often overly-bombastic later material.

Freddie King is a blues master
I don't have this actual CD, but I have most of the songs that are on it from other collections and they are all great. This is a great collection of Freddie King's work from his earliest recordings (1960's "Have You Ever Loved A Woman") to his later Shelter records material (1969's "Palace of the King" and "Going Down"). If you like blues guitar, then at least one Freddie King CD should be in your collection. He influenced countless guitarists, particularly Eric Clapton. This is a good place to start if you're new to this blues guitar master.

"if you like rock mixed with blues then this is the place"
Freddie King is a one-of-kind-artist ~ his talent is tremendous ~ check out the style you've come to love from this down-home-finger-picking icon.

Of course there are stand outs ~ "HAVE YOU EVER LOVED A WOMAN", "HIDE AWAY" and "AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS" are just but a few that grab you, but then the whole album pulls you in ~ hook, line and sinker.

The influence of this great artist can still be heard through recordings of the musicians of today ~ the short time this legend was here on this planet will be missed, but they'll never be another to pass this way again ~ FREDDIE KING!

Total Time: 59:43 on 18 Tracks ~ Hip-O Records 314 520 909 2 ~ (2001) ... Read more

Amazon.com

This career-spanning box of three CDs and a DVD celebrates a legacy that looms larger than that of any blues-rocking guitarist since Jimi Hendrix.Despite fears that a series of posthumous releases had depleted the Stevie Ray Vaughan vaults, previously unreleased gems dominate the selection. Highlights extend from Vaughan's swaggering apprenticeship with Paul Ray and the Cobras to slash-and-burn concert performances from the final month of his life. There are obligatory dips into the songbooks of Hendrix and Buddy Guy, appearances on MTV Unplugged and Austin City Limits, and instrumental interplay with brother Jimmie Vaughan and tourmate Jeff Beck. Though his guitar never loses its flamethrower intensity, the set documents his progression from the showoff licks of the young "Stevie Rave On" into a fully rounded artistry of soulful depth. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (52)

SRV - BOX SET
This is a great box set for SRV fans and people who are new to SRV music. This is what all box sets should be, the set has three CDs and one 30 min DVD of SRV & Double Trouble on Austin City Limits.

The music on the CD starts with SRV first recording with Paul Ray & The Cobras to his final concert at Alpine Valley. The CD has rare live performances of songs that were never released on an album, solo guitar by SRV and studio out-takes.

The DVD has an un-aired performance of SRV & Double Trouble on PBS's Austin City Limits, the DVD itself is worth the price of the box set. Stevie and the band were in great form!

There are essays and quotations from other Blues such as B.B. King and Eric Clapton, and there a lots of great pictures in a great package.

A guitar legend gets his due
Following last years excellent reissues of his four original studio albums comes this devestating box set of Stevie Ray Vaughn in his natural environment, the stage. Of the 49 tracks that are included here, more than have of which have never been commercially released before, it makes you wonder what they left off. What's here is simply amazing, including performances with his mentor Albert King, to Jeff Beck, Lonnie Mack, and Johnny Copeland. There are also tracks from the rarely seen MTV Unplugged program he did in 1990. There are essays and quotes in the book from fellow musicians and admirers like Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Carlos Santana, Robert Cray, and even Stevie's guitar tech Rene Martinez talks about how Stevie got his amazing guitar tone. The icing on the cake is the DVD that's included in the box. Five songs that were cut from the appearance that SRV and Double Trouble made on Austin City Limits in 1989, incredible stuff!!! For fans that have bootlegs of some of tracks included here, the sound quality of whats on the box as well as the other rarities included here make this set worth picking up. One of the best of 2000.

Excellent compilation from an exceptional guitarist
If you enjoy great guitar work and can dig blues, you've got to check this one out. No one in their right mind can deny that Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His licks rival Hendrix and Clapton, and his fiery, passionate style give his music an edge that few have attained. Amazon could put a money-back guarantee on this box set, and they would still make a bundle!

THE STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN BOX SET!!!!!
Without a question of a doubt this Stevie Ray Vaughan box-set is the best ever. I bought this box-set yesterday with some christmas money at Fye Music for a great price. I started out with the first CD of the SRV box-set. It started out with Thunderbird including Paul Ray & The Cobras featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan what a great way to start of SRV's early days. Then from track two to track sixteen its all Stevie Ray Vaughan and double trouble some songs from two to sixteen arte Come On (Pt.3), Lenny, Manic Depression, Texas Flood, Pride And Joy, and many more. Throughout this whole CD their are radio, and concert performances. Then track seventeen is Featured with Johnny Copeland and SRV titled Dont Stop By The Creek, Son. The last track is a jam with Albert King, and SRV. The Second CD goes into alot more SRV and Double Trouble from Couldn't Stand The Weather, Little Wing, Third From The Stone, Mary Had Alittle, The Sky Is Crying, and more. First two CD's are great to start out with the third one is even better. The third includes SRV's latest performances includes Lookin Out The Window, Look At Little Sister, Willie The Wimp, The House Is Rockin, and songs from Alpine Valley, East Troy, Wisconsin Stevie Ray's last concert. The fourth disc included is a DVD of Stevie Ray Performances in Texas in 1989 includes May I Have A Talk With You, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Look At Little Sister, Couldn't Stand The Weather, and Voodoo Child(Slight Return). The box-set is one of the best it also includes a booklet with insights from all the legendary guitarist from Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Steve Via, BB King, and dozens more. So without a question of a doubt go buy this or you will miss out Enjoy!

As most box sets are, largely a waste of money
This retrospective is nicely packaged, but the recorded material doesn't stand up to close analysis.

If you're new to Stevie Ray Vaughan, then the best thing you could do with your $30 is buy all his studio albums - Texas Flood, Couldn't Stand the Weather, Soul to Soul, In Step and the posthumous (but outstanding) The Sky Is Crying.

If you want some moving pictures to go with it, then buy the simply jaw-dropping Stevie Ray Vaughan Live At The El Mocambo - which gives you over an hour of a young and hungry unknown gobsmacking a small bar in Canada, as opposed to a fairly complacent global rock star knocking out a six song set to a seated TV audience. The DVD in this boxed set is really poor, actually - it's extremely short, and there are no interviews or extraneous material, and Stevie's tone isn't especially hot either.

If you're familiar with Stevie's albums you'll already have a lot of the material here, and the tracks you won't have aren't really much chop anyway (there's usually a reason materially is "previously unreleased").

The upshort is that Stevie Ray Vaughan, like his spiritual forebear Jimi Hendrix, recorded a small body of truly awesome material, and the industry has been slicing and dicing that, and what ever other poor quality live sets and outtakes they can find since the great man dialled eleven on the big amplifier in the sky back in 1990.

Strictly for completists. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Together for the First Time BB King / Bobby Blue Bland
One hell of a great Soul album. Every track will knock your lights out a little more than the last one did. Its constantly building up to to the finally and leaves the listener begging pleading,for more.
Luckly, there is a Volume 2 named Together Again and it too will knock your socks off. Both of these albums, totally bring the pure excitment of being at the live show. I have seen both artists on numerous occasions, and these CD's are the next best thing to being there in person.

Great joking between performers, and the Soul is that type of Soul that is dripping with grease, and like Tina Turner says, "Nothin no good without the grease. These CD"s should be sold with moist towletts included. I'm ready anytime for Volume 3. Take the hint BB & Bobby.

this is a must have masterpiece
i was 10 years old when my father bought this on 8-track. i enjoyed it then and i still do. if my house caught on fire, this is one of the cd i will try to save.

Thanks to my Mom
when i was a Little Boy My Mom bought this Record&i enjoyed it alot.not knowing that much about B.B.King&Bobby blue Bland.but the way the two Artists Connected I wanted to know more.and as time has gone on this Live Album has become one of my All-time faves Live.you feel the Fun&High level Quality all through it.this is Classic Music&alot of Fun.

A great pairing.
Two legends in the world of the Blues, who have nothing but fun as they work together. A phenominal live album, which captures the joy they share in their work.

Hard to have much of the blues listening to these men, as they weave in and out of each other's lines in classic songs like "Don't Want a Soul Hangin' Round", "Its My Own Fault Baby", and "Three o'clock in the Morning". They both know the words, and neither once cares at the liberties taken in the lyrics by the other. For this reason (and just the fun they obviously have), this is probably not the album one should purchase as an introduction to this genre.

The songs herein have been done by this pair a million times, so they each know where they want to go (and more interestingly, how to throw the other just a tad off stride). Nothing but a lot of fun, though, as these two masters kid back and forth with the other.

Singing the blues has never been this much fun. Neither has listening.

blues that make you smile
Much of bb king's stuff is "more of the same" but I can't stop listening to this one. It is a very casual and very inspired recording that is technically very well recorded. Just try not to smile as BB and Bobby try to catch each other in verses with no obvious rhyme. It is equal parts blues, soul, intimate riffs, big groovy horns, house rockin music, and down home storytelling. The interaction of these two artists with each other and with the audience is first class. Definately an overlooked gem. ... 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 (7)

Everlasting
In need of uplifting vibes? Watson is like a fine wine: "it gets better as it gets older" (George Clinton). Listen - and adjust.

excellent
In an interview during the eighties Eric Clapton was asked whether he could name "his favourite guitar player". Johnny Guitar Watson was his answer. Nuff said...

Pop it in and top it off
If you missed the 70's and want to get a good taste of it, then buy this CD. This music is continually inventive, although some of it could be written off as disco crossover. The irrepressible spirit of 'Guitar' Watson shines through though, making this a very good listen. Check out Frank Zappa's "One Size Fits All" CD for more JGW fun and games.

underrated
JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON IS PROBABLY THE MOST UNDERRATED. UNDER-MENTIONED, AND UNAPPRECIATED ARTIST OF ALL TIME. HIS CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION ARE SO IMPORTANT AND OBVIOUS IN MANY ARTIST TODAY. I AM AN ARTIST AND HIS INFLUENCE HAS AFFECTED ME IN A POWERFUL WAY. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I NEVER GOT TO MEET HIM PERSONALLY AND TELL HIM MYSELF. HIS COLLECTION IS A MASTERPIECE.

a real mother for ya
this man reinvented himself for the funky late 60's&70's time period.playing many instruments and giving up the funk.in fact to me he is as vital as james brown,little richard,sly stone,jimi hendrix,chuck berry,&george clinton,curtis mayfield etc.... as writer,arranger,producer,instrumentalist,vocalist he could hang with whomever.he was a musical genius. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Bonnie Raitt played piano and had a little more New Orleans in her, she'd be proud to claim the soulful sincerity of this release as her own. Producer Stephen Bruton (long Raitt's lead guitarist) polishes this groove-laden set with rich arrangements of horns and harmonies, as Cajun accordionist Wayne Toups, former Storyville vocalist Malford Milligan, and blues guitarist Pat Boyack provide additional sonic spice. Though the second-line syncopation of "Foreclose on the House of Love," the buoyant swamp pop of "Honeypie" (with Toups), and an acoustic, mandolin-driven transformation of the funky "Three Hundred Pounds of Hongry" find the veteran blueswoman in playful spirits, she shows her depth as a balladeer on originals such as "Give Me a Chance" and "The Storm," as well as a revival of Arthur Alexander's classic "If It's Really Got to Be This Way." Between the river towns of New Orleans (Ball's musical homeland) and Austin (where she's based), these 14 cuts cover a lot of ground. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More like it.
I was disappointed with Marcia's last album, "Presumed Innocent", as it had a somewhat antiseptic sound for this most organic of performers. "So Many Rivers" sounds much more vibrant and closer in feel to her best album: "Let Me Play with Your Poodle". Her playing and that of her band is solid and rollicking. The mix between rockers and ballads is perfect. However, to experience Marcia at her best you need to see her in concert. This album should provide some excellent fodder for her current live set. A live album would really do Marcia justice. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Howlin' New Release!
Omar's gritty and slightly hollow baritone vocals pay homage to the boogie blues by way of Memphis, TN. The Howlers stay closer to traditional Texas blues rock with roadhouse influences and an open-tuning slide background. Omar & The Howlers remind one of eating good barbecue in the August heat; weaving many traditional tunes by putting a Tennessee spin on the 12-bar. Omar's gruff and intense vocal interpretations will remind one of a more nasal and laid-back version of Bob "The Bear" Hite's recordings with Canned Heat in the mid-late 1970's (The New Age, 1973, Human Condition, 1978, Etc.) The ever-present influence of John Lee Hooker permeates every crevasse of this album in an 11 track front-to-back boogie. Many friends have showed their appreciation for Omar, lending their help for the release of "Boogie Man". With a growing and rotating list of contributors, the Howlers on this album include (but are not limited to) former Frank Zappa Drummer Terry Bozio, Texas guitar veteran Chris Duarte, and vocalist Alejandro Escovedo. Check back to his webpage for tour updates: www.omarandthehowlers.com ... Read more

Amazon.com

Raised near the border of Texas and Louisiana, Marcia Ball continues to claim dual citizenship for her music, forging a rollicking roadhouse groove that has never sounded richer or more vital than it does here. With her piano style steeped in the soul of New Orleans, Ball and coproducer Doyle Bramhall enlist the Cajun accordion of Pat Breaux and the bluesy Texas bite of Pat Boyack's guitar and Gary Primich's harmonica on a collection that holds its own with the classics that inspired her. Highlights range from a duet with Delbert McClinton on Allen Toussaint's "You Make It Hard" to the supper-club sophistication of "She's So Innocent" to the album-closing homage to Huey "Piano" Smith, "You Make Me Happy." Though uptempo rhythm & blues dominates the selection, the open-hearted balladry of "Let the Tears Roll Down" and "I Have a Right to Know" brings out the best in Ball. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Marcia as good as ever
Marcia has been influenced by many different styles of music, predominately blues and roots rock but also including R+B, country and jazz - even some Cajun. You can find elements of all these in this album though some are more obvious than others. She has never been a prolific recording artist but her albums are all of the highest quality. This wonderful album, mostly of good-time music, shows Marcia singing as good as ever and backed by plenty of great musicians, although she only occasionally shows her dynamic skills on the piano.

The songs are mainly original (often written by Marcia) but also include covers of You make it good (a cover of an Allen Toussaint song featuring Delbert McClinton as duet vocalist), I have the right to know (originally written and recorded by Brenda Burns and also covered by Francine Reed) and I'm coming down with the blues (a Don Covay song from 1960).

Among the original songs, I particularly like Louella (on which Marcia makes more use of her piano than usual for this album), Thibodaux Louisiana (with a touch of Cajun). She's so innocent (an outstanding ballad) and You make me happy (a great song to close the album) - but every song here is brilliant.

If you like great rock music with a variety of other influences, this is for you.

Strong material, variable production
It's refreshing to hear music that's sung and played by a serious musician: Marcia Ball's exciting New Orleans-styled piano and her committed vocals are a happy invitation to an uplifting listening experience. This album sounds like it was recorded...in an actual *recording* studio? Yes, the air is a little tight around the mike, but do I hear a real acoustic piano?
The highlight of the album is "She's So Innocent", a kind of album sub-title, a mello and sombre ballad beautifully rendered by Marcia. This is the quietest slow number here and the most impressive. "I Have The Right To Know" is reminiscent of the best of Percy Sledge, with a dash of Domino (as in Fats). Like many of the selections, however, it runs about one minute too long. The Don Covay co-composition "I'm Coming Down With The Blues" is a great addition. It's a lesser-known slow number and it's soulful throughout.
The best uptempo item is "Fly On The Wall", actually a mid-tempo. The arrangement is perfect with backing vocals well mixed. A contender is the Ball composition "Louella", somewhat reminiscent of Frankie Ford's "Roberta" [aka "Loberta"], a fun lyric about some chick's penchant for making private business public. Must make a nice *set* entry.
"Count The Days" has an entertaining hook, but the arrangement is third-rate. With lyrics presumeably derived from the Presley-related "Milcow Blues Boogie" and a chorus possibly based upon The Beatles "All Together Now" you'd think this track would cook, but the mindless repetition of "...one, two, three..." and the length of the tune leaves one perplexed by a poorly integrated novelty effect. Maybe a fun after hours sing-along but not a number to hold the third position on an album by an esteemed artist.
The CD closes with Marcia's "You Make Me So Happy", an engaging track which directs you right back to Track One. Perhaps by leaving off a few numbers and simplifying a few more the album would really cook. Still a notable effort.
[Marcia is included on the Island Visual Arts video "Let The Good Times Roll - A Film About The Roots Of American Music"].

5 Stars Ain't Enough But It Is All That I Can Do
I am a long term Marcia Ball fan. Her music and piano boogie really energizes me. Recently she appeared in concert locally (Norman OK). I took my two daughters who are in their early 20s and who were not familiar with Ms Ball. They were both mesmerized by the talent and the music of this lady. Any of her CDs are a bargain. All of her stuff is fun. All of her music is hot ... hot ... hot!

"talent in the purest form...Marcia Ball"
Think of boogie woogie, zydeco, piano skills unmatched and a great expressive style...the result is Marcia Ball...memories of past releases come to mind ~ "Hot Tamale Baby", "Gatorhythms", "Blue House", "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" and "Sing It", all on the Rounder label, composer of blues with lyrics pouring straight from the heart...I'm a big, big fan, and this latest release from Alligator Records ~ "Presumed Innocent", spells a winner.

From ballads to New Orleans blues, Marcia keeps them coming straight at you, entire CD is a must have...don't pass this one up...Can't say enough, except...we need more of the same...so spin this, sit back and enjoy, cause' Marcia's so happy when she's with you...you're going to have a ~ BALL!

Total Time: 52:53 on 13 Tracks ~ Alligator Records ALCD-4879 ~ (2001)

Not what I expected, but I like it
I was shopping in the Amaxon's Alligator web site and I saw Marcia Ball, I bought it on a wim. Not hard blues but good, fun rythm and blues. Great stuff. I don't have any others, but I will. Great Piano by Marcia, and great guitar, especially on Thibodaux, Louisiana, A great rocking tune. Delbert McClinton stops by on Scene of the Crime. If you like old fashioned fun Rythm and Blues this is great stuff... ... Read more

Amazon.com

It may be cruel to dismiss Chris Duarte as just another Stevie Ray Vaughan wannabe, but it's accurate. There's not an original sound or sentiment on this debut album, right from the copped licks of opener "My Way Down" to the environmental cautions of the finale "Borrowed Love." Duarte is technically adept enough to get many of the late Vaughan's guitar mannerisms right, from his rich-but-brittle Stratocaster tone to the turnarounds he uses to set up his solos. He's a pallid vocalist, however, which doesn't help plead his case as an emerging talent. In fact, four years after this debut--which beat both Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard to the record stores--Duarte has yet to make his mark. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Crank it up loud....better yet...put the headphones on THEN
crank it so you don't miss a single note!!! Amazon.com got it right when they said it's easy to dismiss Chris Duarte as an SRV wannabe, but what's wrong with that? Since SRV isn't with us anymore, someone has to try to fill those awesome shoes. Chris comes as close as anyone I've heard! Listen close and you'll find that Chris is MORE than SRV reincarnated...you'll hear Hendrix, Ted Nugent, Eric Clapton, and probably one or two others in his stylings. The point is, this CD will get your blood boiling, your toe tapping, and you'll be playing kick A#$ air guitar from the first lick!!! My favorite track? Without a doubt...C-Butt Rock. Sure it's just a plain old 12 bar blues riff, but Duarte really shows his stuff here. Buy it, enjoy it, and CRANK IT UP!!!!!

A Stellar "Must-Have" Piece of Guitar Work
To paraphrase my brother, who is a both a devoted guitarist and a devoted student of many playing styles (from D'Jango to Jimi), Chris Duarte manages to combine influences from many, many other fine artists and yet retains his own unique style. His music ranges from straight-ahead [...] rock to liquid, buttery-smooth jazz, blues and soul. If you expect ANY of his albums to be consistent and uneclectic, forget it. If, however, you delight in amazing, incindiary, surprising and listenable ear-candy, ALL of Duarte's work is a treat.

While you're at it, look him up on the Web and plan on seeing him in concert. I did, at some little biker dive in Topeka, KS. Spent most of the time there in slack-jawed amazement at him and his band. God only knows how Duarte wrenches so of the music he gets out of that strat, but it's well worth hearing.

This album and it's predecessors are more polished versions of the Duarte magic. I highly recommend you spend a few $$$ and buy them. Your ears will thank you.

check out this man's guitar tone
I think you almost have to be a guitarist to really appreciate Chris Duarte. For me his tone alone is worth 4 stars. He gets the most exquisite Stratocaster tones I've ever heard on any recording, period. (Hey if anyone out there knows what kind of pickups he uses, let me know. I know about his effects, amps, etc, just no info on pups.) Even SRV wasn't this tone-sculptured. Aubrey Freed used to be my hero in this dept; now it's Duarte.

I like the songs on this CD, too, fairly good composition. I would give the CD five stars if it showed just a tad more originality, both compositionally and stylistically. But man, that tone -- I've played strats for 30 years and couldn't be more envious.

TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS
First let me say I love this CD. At times he does sound like Stevie Ray, but so what! At times Stevie Ray sounded like Hendrix, should we crucify him for that? Everybody has influences. I love the blues but let's be honest, how many blues guitarists are actually doing something TOTALLY original that hasn't been done before? Chris Duarte is not the first musician to at times sound like someone else. I wish the production was a little beefier but I like this CD alot. In my book he's got nothing to apologize for.
www.electriceyes.us

Impressive Debut From the Texas Guitarslinger
It's impossible to write a review of Chris Duarte without invocking the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Duarte, a fellow Texan, is obviously a disciple of the late, great guitarist. In fact, Duarte dedicates the nearly ten-minute instrumental "Shiloh" to Stevie and his brother Jimmie. But while Duarte may have been influenced by the Vaughan brothers, he is no imitator. Duarte's guitar playing is both fiery and inspired. His vocals are serviceable, but it's his guitar playing that brings me back to this album time and again. I caught him live a couple years ago and his performance was dazzling. This is an impressive debut. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Guitar lovers will flip over this reissue's new bonus tracks: a conversation in which Stevie Ray Vaughan extols the virtues of Jimi Hendrix's playing and then essays them all in a medley of "Little Wing/Third Stone From the Sun." There's also the brief slide-guitar instrumental "Slip Slidin' Slim." What's breathtaking about these and the 10 remastered cuts that were the original 1985 album are the remarkably live amplifier tones. It sounds as though Vaughan's plugged directly into your stereo--especially at the climax of "Little Wing," where his Stratocaster feeds back through a wall of spinning Leslie speakers in a fit of psychedelic bliss. Otherwise, this CD still seems like a creative holding pattern for Vaughan, despite the addition of keyboardist Reese Wynans to broaden his band's palette. Nonetheless, the prophetic "Change It," which foreshadowed Vaughan's recovery from addiction by a year, and his in-concert staples "Ain't Gone 'n' Give Up on Love" and "Life Without You" debut here. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Some Badness from Stevie
I love this album for that reason Stevie was and still is such a well loved artist...GUITAR,GUITAR,GUITAR!!! Stevie's playing is blazingly powerfull, and his tone is still that clear, slightly overdriven Stratocaster sound that he did so well (In Step is a great album but I like his earlier tone better). Soul to Soul seems somewhat overloaded with blues shuffles; Lookin' Out the Window, Look at Little Sister, Change It, Empty Arms..but nobody could do a shuffle like Stevie Ray. Change It has to be one of the most powerfull shuffle-based tunes ever recorded, it's not a Texas Flood this time, Stevie's riding a tidal wave! In all seriousness, this album may not be a masterpiece in terms of song integration, but as a collection of singles, it's amazing, ranging from raucous blues rock, jazzy soloing and Hendrix inspired heaviness to funky R&B and slow blues.
The added tracks are interesting. The interview part is rather short, the Hendrix covers of Little Wing and Third Stone from the Sun are great to have, wrong notes and all, but leave little doubt as to why they were unreleased. Same for Slip Slidin' Slim, a slide instrumental that brings to mind blues musicians like Hound Dog Taylor.
There are a few weak spots, Stevie sounds a little off time and a bit short of energy on Come on, (pt. III) ...and Stevie's Hendrix influence can wear a touch thin at times..this is still an artist searching for his voice to some extent. But this album really makes me wish he was still around. There's plenty of Soul on Soul to Soul.

An essential blues-rock album
Stevie Ray Vaughan only lived long enough to release four studio albums and one live (everything else has come out after his tragic death in a 1990 helicopter accident).

This is his third album, originally released in October 1985, and for "Soul To Soul", Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble abandoned their original trio format and included keyboardist Reese Wynans and (occationally) saxist Joe Sublett.

The music hasn't changed too much, though. It's still a superb blend of blues and rock, and even though Vaughan's guitar is perhaps a little less prominent on some songs, his playing is still masterful.
The material is very strong, with only one or two lesser tunes, and "Soul To Soul" is highlighted by the slow blues ballad "Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love", the swinging "Empty Arms" in 2/4 time, and the terrific rockers "Change It", "Lookin' Out The Window" and "Look At Little Sister" (excellent piano playing on that last one, and a nice saxophone solo as well).

Stevie Ray also covers Howlin' Wolf's "You'll Be Mine", and considering that no-one in the world has yet been able to match the vocal power and ferocious attitude of the Wolf, and probably never will, he does a good job with it, although it's not really one of the highlights of the album.

The three bonus tracks consist of a short interview snippet and two songs. Well, three songs, actually, since Vaughan plays a medley of "Third Stone From The Sun" and Hendrix' "Little Wing".
They're perhaps not quite as interesting as some of the bonus cuts on the other three remastered Stevie Ray Vaughan-albums, but they're not bad by any means, and Vaughan's playing is great as always.

"Soul To Soul" has perhaps the strongest track list of any album released during Stevie Ray Vaughan's all-too-brief lifetime (well, alongside "Texas Flood"), and it is highly recommended to any and all lovers of blues-rock and contemporary blues music.
It rarely gets any better. In fact, it rarely gets quite this good.

A bigger sound with a new member.
With the addition of Reese Wynans on the keyboards the band get a fuller sound & new inspiration. As Reese adds some great keyboard playing to the music it lets Stevie concentrate on his singing a bit more, with very soulful results. Opening with Say What!, an instrumental on which Stevie plays with two wah pedals, the album goes through every song with a renewed passion for the music. Included on this one are songs like Change it & Come on (part III), but all the tracks on the album are great.

The most underrated of SRV's albums...
Many is the time I've heard somebody pick on Soul to Soul. I rememeber when it came out, some critics predicted that Stevie had lost that something that made him so great earlier on. I'd just like to say that they are REALLY wrong. Soul To Soul is a humbler, gentler album than the others, a bit more subdued, but every bit as awesome as In Step or Texas Flood. The songs are traditional but catchy. My personal fave is "Lookin' out the Window", the most underrated song on an underrated album. It's worth noting that this is a great party album too- seriously, put it on in the background sometime, it's perfectly conductive to the part atmosphere. The Bonus tracks and new photos/liner notes round out this excellent package. Ignore some others' advice and pick up Soul To Soul. You won't regret it.

Low point for Stevie--
I don't know whether the drugs were too much at this point or what but this is not the usual SRV album. No blazing solos or speedy riffs that leave you baffled. No tracks stand out overall. This album is not even comparable to Texas Flood or Couldn't Stand the Weather. ... Read more

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Over the 1952-82 time-span covered here, Bobby "Blue" Blandunited tough-as-pavement blues singing with heartbroken Southern R&B,and helped to create chitlin-circuit soul as we know it now. Too rawfor most oldies radio, Bland was a major presence in his time: 30 ofthese 50 songs hit the pop charts, and almost all of them weresignificant R&B hits. The first disc-and-a-half documents hislong-running Duke Records collaboration (in Chicago, Texas, and Nashville)with trumpeter Joe Scott, who wrote ambitious arrangements that ranfrom tender love-man pop to howling, honking blues terrorism, butusually gave Bland a chance to emote harder than his microphone couldhandle. The remainder finds Little Boy Blue on his own in L.A. in the'70s, spicing up smoother blues-inflected soul (and even a stab atlight disco, "It Ain't the Real Thing") with the famous squall in hisvoice. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (4)

All that you need.
Bobby "Blue" Bland will give you all you need on this double cd. The obvious point being that Bland is one of the great blues/soul singers ever, but also, he always has great bands: Jabbo,(who also appears on many James Bown hits), the drummer on 'Lovelight', and others tracks, is probably the most amazing drummer to come out of the blues and soul field.

A Blues and a Soul Man
For years on my R&B oldies shows on radio and in night clubs throughout the glorious south I've always featured this legend. In fact anybody that knows anything about R&B ought to be able to tell ya it's hard to do a show and not play 2 or 3 of his hits. I can fondly remember screams of joy from women in dark smoke filled clubs whenever I would play " I'll take care of you"or "I pity the fool" or " Stormy Monday". And guess what-Bobby was the first blues man to have a top 20 on the pop charts- In fact it's been a staple on my shows for years and is my all time favorite BB Bland song-The 1964 classic "Aint nothin you can do". In my opinion this cd is worth [a lot more than] they're asking for-because like a van Gogh painting all of these tracks are priceless ! Get it in the collection pronto.
P.S. They should've included one more BB Bland essential classic-"St.James Infirmary"

Raw Blues from the Juke joints
Bobby Bland is a master at hardcore, juke joint-style, unassimilated, raw funky blues. If you like your blues PURE without British imitations or Motown refinements, this is for you. "Turn on the Love Light," "Don't Cry No More," "Aint That Loving You," and "Poverty" will be a revelation to those who aren't familiar with the raw music that was the link between blues and rock and roll. This CD is filled with the REAL STUFF! Enjoy.

Unfairly good.
Though nothing holds together, conceptually, as well as the "Two Steps from the Blues" LP, this package is a long-awaited treat, collecting a lot of essentials previously spread over numerous other discs. If you're new to Bobby then you might want to get the abovementioned LP first (unless you know for a fact you have a penchant for B.B. King styled blues. But then, you probably would've been listening to Little Boy Blue for awhile already). But take my word for it, or if you know how amazing he is already, leap on this beautiful set. Also, his late stuff is just as good in its own way as the early stuff, so digging for "His California Album" would also be recommended once you've fell for one of the dopest, and sadly slept on, blues singers. The best pure male singer of the blues ever?? At least in the R&B era/genre. ... Read more

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Why settle for one great female vocalist when you can get three, especially when they're stylish soul diva Irma Thomas, Tracy "Mother Earth" Nelson, and swamp rocker (and roller) Marcia Ball. The talented trio take the Sing It! title seriously, belting all hues of blues with satisfying sass and sincerity. Backed by a fine and funky band of Memphis-soul stalwarts and New Orleans session stars, the ladies shine both individually and as a team. Thomas, the longtime "Soul Queen of New Orleans," struts her stuff on the Bobby "Blue" Bland classic "Yield Not to Temptation," while Ball puts some patented bayou boogie, powered by her slinky piano lines, into her spotlight songs. Nelson repeatedly stops the show with her enormous, wraparound voice, transforming tunes like "In Tears" from simple country-flavored ballads into cathartic emotional experiences. But it's the combined voices that makes the session so special, and the title track, a soulfully scintillating second-line anthem, is the most enjoyable example of the vocal virtuosity of these women. It's a quintessential New Orleans celebration of singing, well worth the purchase price by itself, and it, like the entire album, also serves as an excellent sampler of the multiple talents of the superb song stylists involved. --Michael Point ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Lovely songs, don't miss them!
This was the first CD that I can hear these three great musicians. However, I love it so much and go to bed with this CD almost everyday. Whenever I hear this CD, I always find a passion. If you are a person who hides the passion of love deep in your heart, Dont miss it!

this cd will give you goos bumps
Anything with Tracy Nelson on it is bound to be great and this collaboration with two other wonderful singers is as good as it gets. The funky Memphis sounds are a perfect vehicle for these three strong female voices and to hear Tracy and Marcia Ball wail with Irma Thomas, one of their mentors, is a treat. This CD should be a best seller. All the love and pain these women have shared comes through on every note. check it out. they deserve to be heard.

Good Music, good singing
It's not often you listen to a cd and it's all good. This is a very good collection of songs, sung by three very good singers. I would recomend this cd to a Martian that just landed on earth and wanted to know what "SOUL" music and good singing was. Get this one, you'll be glad you did, it's the best.

These gals are the stuff.
I actually heard these ladies first on Austin City Limits and decided that I needed the CD. Friends take one listen to this CD and fall in love with it just as I did. They like it so much that I am eager to let them take it home. I have bought FOUR copies and sent TWO as gifts. And I don't even have a copy for my own right now. My female friends have shared with me that this CD is highly suitable for listening while taking a candle-lite bath to soak away those "man-trouble" blues and also while trying to shake the road-rage syndrome on the ride home from work (of which I agree). BUY IT. And share it with a friend.

Tracy and Irma great combo.
This was the first I have ever heard of any of these ladies. Tracy and Irma stand out and You don't know nothin'about love, is the most powerful piece on the cd. Tracy is heard all over this cd with power force and beauty. I enjoy her thoroughly and will look for some of her solo stuff in the future. She crosses between gospel and blues with authority and passion. The highlight of this cd is the last song You don't know nothin' about love Great song ... Read more

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Performed for a tiny audience at the renowned Pachyderm Studio in 1998, this CD is the best example of what Indigenous sound like live. While their national debut Things We Do is an excellent introduction to their music, their live shows are far above and beyond any studio recording in terms of energy and performance, as the entire band frequently takes off into 10-minute jams to mind-blowing effect. Live at Pachyderm Studio provides a taste of that, including extended versions of several previously recorded songs, as well as previously unavailable material. An item of special interest is the cover of Hendrix's "Red House"; the guitarist's influence on Indigenous frontman Mato Nanji is undeniable. The production on this album is so clear, putting it in the stereo and cranking it up might be almost as good as hearing them live. This band is addictive, and Live at Pachyderm Studio is the perfect fix. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (34)

I Am Addicted!
This is the CD that Indigenous fans have been calling for. The CD was recorded during the band's recording of "Things We Do' for a small studio audience. The CD represents the raw energy of the entire band. Granted, Mato is just amazing with his guitar work but so is the rest of the band. The sound quality of Pachyderm Studios also shows in this CD.

If you like SRV, Hendrix, Led Zep, Jimmy Thackery, Collective Soul, or any rockin' blues this is the CD to get! The song "I wonder why" along with "Red House" showcase the talent of this band!

One of the fieriest rocking Blues album that I have heard!
Mato Nanji's blistering soulful licks are incredible. For just 25 years old, man this guy packs the spirits of many blues legends in his fingers.

With his Sister on drums and brother and cousin rounding up the percussion section, this is one tight awesome band.

I got a chance to see Indigenous on The BB King Blues Festival, in Dalton Georgia 9-23-99

The put on a great show, it was almost a letdown when KWS and BB King came on. I was wanting more Indigenous.

Mato's and Indigenous version of "Red House" by Hendrix is the best that I have ever heard. It conjures up Jimmy, SRV, and all the best Blues Guitarist all in one package, and goes one step further. Mato's blistering licks and incredible tone from his Fender Vibro King amp and Fender Stratocaster will satisfy any Guitarist.

Anyone wanting a Great Blues LIVE CD get this CD! Besides being great musicians, these Native Americans are for real, hailing from South Dakota, they are also very involved in the rights of Native Americans. This is something we could all be involved in as well.

I can only imagine what the future promises for Indigenous. But with CD's out as great as this early in their career, we can only hope of many, many great CD's by this band.

mire mimics
I listen to the mp3 here, and believed the words of praise by other reviews and bought this CD.
The production is bad. The music and vocal tracks are flatten together. Its sounds like a gray mush. The guy sounds like SRV and sings like him too. They just don't play with the same heart and soul.

This CD mimics a great guitarist. .
I was sadly disappointed.

GREAT LIVE BLUES / ROCK CD
This is a tour de force for INDIGENOUS and specifically MATO NANJI. Great playing, good songs, great recording. I bought THINGS WE DO a while back and was debating whether the 4 new tracks alone would make buying this CD worthwhile. Don't hesitate as even the make over the other songs receive in a live
environment make them a new experience and RED HOUSE alone is worth the price. Not since HENDRIX and SRV has a guitarist sounded like this in a live gig. For my liking he sounds a little to close to his heros and needs to develope further into a style that will be recognisable as his. He has the talent and a lot of time on his side. This would be 5 stars were it not for the similar tone and style of SRV and HENDRIX.

Blues at its best
Mato is a guitar GOD. He truly ranks up there with the best of the best, such as Clapton, Beck and Page.
Just awesome! ... Read more

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Until this album was released in 1978, Albert Collins hadbeen a journeymanTexas bluesman, little known and unrecorded for six years. Hisguitar playinghere won him a new generation of fans, and set the stage for thepopularity heenjoyed until his death. His clustered, sustained, choked, andbent notes,played with his thumb and fingers, set a generation of pickersagog. The tonewas piercing; the timing impeccable. Collins' vocals were neverquite asstrong, but it scarcely mattered as he was the man for whom theelectricguitar might have been invented. The eight songs on this setinclude "When theWelfare Turns Its Back on You," and several jaw-droppinginstrumentals.--Colin Escott ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Blues Master
Albert Collins was one of the most unique blues pickers to grace the stage. Tuning his guitar to alternate tunings and using a capo, he would walk around the bar with his 100-foot cord wandering into the bathrooms, out on the street, around the bar playing the blues all the while. He mixes his blues up playing soft, slow blues, and powerful instrumentals. Sometimes his topics are serious, other times his humor comes through. Collins was quite the entertainer.

Although "Ice Pickin'" is a short album, it is jammed with the blues over eight tracks. In such a short amount of time, Collins covers a lot of ground. From his upbeat "Honey, Hush!" to making his guitar talk the argument between him and his wife on "Conversation with Collins" it is nothing but enjoyable. He shines with instrumentals like "Ice Pick" and "Avalanche". His phrasing is like talking. Never to many words, and he can get his point across with hardly any effort. Humor shows through in "Too Tired", where he's too tired to stand after sitting on a pin, and "Master Charge". He also gets heavy on "When the Welfare Turns Its Back On You" and "Cold, Cold Feeling".

A definite master of the guitar, and the blues. He has entertained many a people over his life. As he said in the movie "Adventures In Babysitting" - No one leaves until they sing the blues. He sure did.

The Master of the Telecaster in Fine Form
When people refer to the late Albert Collins as the "Master of the Telecaster", it's for a good reason. The Texas bluesman was known for the unique, instantly recognizable sound he wrung out of his guitar. Playing a specially tuned Fender Telecaster with his bare fingers instead of a pick, Albert got a sound that was dynamic and powerful, yet never lacking in soul. He could shake the walls playing a driving shuffle or send chills up your spine with a gut wrenching slow blues. His backup band, the Icebreakers, always provided exceptionally tight accompaniment. Until his untimely death of lung cancer in 1993, Albert was one of the most in demand performers on the contemporary blues scene.

"Ice Pickin'" is Albert Collins' first recording for Alligator records, and finds Albert and his band in fine form. The CD kicks off with the up-tempo shuffle "Honey Hush", a showcase for Albert's guitar and wry vocals. The band slips into a low-down groove for the powerful slow blues "When the Welfare Turns its Back on You." On this tune Albert shares solo space with Chicago sax man AC Reed, and is backed by a soulful horn section. The horns return in the next track, a funky instrumental groove called "Ice Pick." "Cold, Cold Feeling" is a mournful minor key blues that gives Albert plenty of room to stretch out on guitar, and showcases some of his most soulful singing. "Master Charge" is a modern day blues classic, featuring a funky rhythm section and tongue in cheek lyrics about the dangers of credit card debt. "Conversation With Collins" displays a similar tongue in cheek attitude, as Albert tells amusing tales of his domestic life with musical accompaniment. The disc concludes with the driving instrumental shuffle "Avalanche", another showcase for Albert's no-holds-barred guitar playing.

With its spectacular guitar work, tight rhythm section and soulful horn arrangements, "Ice Pickin'" is a contemporary blues masterpiece. After listening to this CD, you just may find yourself wanting to hear more of the Master of the Telecaster at work. "Frostbite", "Live in Japan", and "Showdown" (with Johnny Copeland and Robert Cray) were all recorded for the Alligator label, and feature Albert at his best.

Can't beat this one
Here you have one of the classic electric blues guitar albums with a great selection of tracks that can't be beat.

One thing that often doesn't get discussed in these reviews is what setting the music is good for. After all, unless we are professional critics, we don't often have time to just sit down and listen to a CD. This one is good for doing housework, driving to work, late night listening, eating breakfast to, working in the yard, just about anything. If you like blues, you can't go wrong with it.

Ice Age
I miss the Iceman. He was as funny as he was a serious musician. His sound was telicious.

You Just Gotta Laugh
Ice Pickin' is far and away the most enjoyable blues disc in my collection. Albert Collins brings an attitude and sense of humor to this record that I have not heard in any other blues recording.

The subject matter is all too familiar for a blues record: woman trouble, money trouble and just plain trouble. However, in songs like "Master Charge" Albert sits back and says, you just gotta laugh.

The guitar work is central to each track, with Albert letting his fingers tell the finer points of each story. The highlight of the record is the hilarious, "Conversations with Collins," where Albert tells the guys what happens when he decides to be a nice husband and let his wife have a night out on the town.

Great Blues and Great Fun. ... Read more

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On their first major label release, Indigenous--four related members of the Sioux tribe--deliver an amped-up set of gruff, ferocious blues rock. Guitarist/vocalist Mato Nanji has the dusky voice of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and his guitar work bears a striking resemblance to the Texan's poured-silver leads and rhythm parts. Jimi Hendrix is another obvious influence, as Mato captures the guitarist's incisive, psychedelic bluster, layering his guitar over the band's thick, oozing, waist-deep groove in tracks like the album's first single "C'mon Suzie." Heavy yet still fluid, the quartet churns through nearly an hour of blistering, unpolished original tunes, plus a meaty cover of Jimmy Reed's "Shame Shame Shame." --Hal Horowitz ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Mato does it again with help from the Brits.
I have followed Indigenous since their first release and pretty much enjoy all the music they have produced. This cd seems to hold true to the formula that keeps Mato playing like a seasoned blues wizard and keeps the band grooving all along in the background. They seem to play with more confidence as time goes bye, and more live performances. If you are not familiar with the awesome but now defunct British blues band the "Hoax', you can get a feel of what their sound was like from really listening to this release by Mato and family. The Davey Bros. from the Hoax have produced this cd and also have co-written some of the songs and played on some tracks. If you are familiar with the Daveys other band then you will recognize the first song, C"MON SUZIE, as the last song from the Hoax, "LIVE FOREVER" live and final release of their career. Anyways, there are 2 songs from "Indigenous " that did appear on their previous release " Fistfull of Dirt", which was also produced by the Davey Bros. The combination of these 2 Brits and the fine musicianship of Indigenous proves to be a winner. If you are a fan of the Blues/rock genre, Mato will blow you away on this cd. This release along with " Live at Pachyderm Studios" should make you stop and listen. I hope that they will come to my area of Canada one day soon.

Overproduction dooms this recording from the start...
Let me start by saying Indigenous is the best thing to happen to Blues/Rock since sliced bread. Mato Nanji is the best guitarist in Rock today, and if this is the only album by them that you've heard, you're missing way too much.

As for this album, it's not nearly as good as their two previous independant releases. "Things We Do" is classic -- in the veins of the blues of Muddy Waters and B.B. King. "Indigenous" is over-produced and too radio-oriented. Indigenous is a blues band, and they play the blues very well. The strong tracks of this album being "You Turn My World Around", "Want You To say" and "I'm Still Here."

On the other hand, the weakest tracks are "Shame Shame Shame" and "C'mon Suzie." The distortion and the screaming do the latter in and the cover of Jimmy Reed's "Shame Shame Shame" is done so poorly that it's almost insulting.

All of their tracks do sound much better live, and Indigenous is truly a great live band. Unfortunately they were not on for a long enough time to make a good impression when they were opening for Jonny Lang.

If you find that this album isn't your type of music, give the other albums a listen. If they still don't appeal to you, then the Blues is not your type of music.

Indigenous: great band, great cd
Indigenous's new self-titled cd is one of my absolute favorites. Mato is a great guitar player, and the songs on this cd show that the band is evolving, writing better tunes and playing with a confidence that only comes from experience. Most of the songs are hard rocking blues, with a couple of slower numbers thrown in for good measure. The sound on this record is very raw and live, like they just played the songs and released them without any mixing. Highlights are "C'mon Suzie", "You Turn My World Around", "I'm Still Here", "Movin' On", and a smoking cover of Jimmy Reed's "Shame, Shame, Shame".

Excellent
This album is more raw and edgy than their other albums. I thorougly enjoyed it. It has intensity to it that I haven't always heard in other songs. I find it odd that so many people are complaining about it. Everyone asked them for an album which resembled their live shows. They met that requirement with this album, and now, people are complaining. It sounds very live, very much like a garage band, as other reviewers have said. I love that aspect. Kudos, Mato, Wandbi, Pte and Horse!

Stevie Ray fans take note...
A friend gave this cd to me and I went crazy for it. I subsequently ordered all their other cds (circle, things we do, and live at the pachiderm...) but this cd remains my favorite. The guitar work does it for me. And lyrically, [and at the same time] its fun (...).

I must confess something though... The first few times I listened to it, it kept taking me somewhere else... somewhere else, then suddenly --holy shiznit! Its SRV! I am a major Stevie Ray Vaughn fan, and it's like he's channeling him through his voice and guitar. But before you mock or say "oh yeah, they're just a rip off", I don't mean he sounds like he is IMITATING, but he has the same quality in his voice and he knows how to make love to his guitar! The similarities are the most noteable in this cd.

In any case, if you're a fan of that classic blues/rock mix, this is a cd worth buying. ... Read more

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A mainstay of the festival circuit and blues clubs, MarciaBall is acaptivating performer and a one-woman ambassador for the southLouisiana soundshe loves. This, her third Rounder album, dates from 1989. It's amostlyself-composed program that doesn't quite capture thejoy of herlive shows, but comes close at times. Of all the new songs, "The Powerof Love" isbest. It's a beautifully poised performance that grows slowly andinexorablyfrom a two-minute vocal-piano intro. Some of the songs are builtaround themournful swamp-pop chord changes; others around Cajun two-steps.The albumcloses with country star LeRoy Parnell's "Red Hot," which hassince become oneof her show-closers. --Colin Escott ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An excellent early album
On this set, Marcia demonstrates her skills on a variety of songs, beginning with How to carry on, an up-tempo rocker, which sees her attacking the piano in a manner reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis. There's nothing else quite like that here, but there is a nice mix of tempos. The mood of the album is generally upbeat.

The power of love is her own song - of course, there have been many songs with this title - I've come across about ten totally different songs. The most famous was the one that was a huge hit all over Europe in the eighties for Jennifer Rush. It was a flop in America, but later became an American hit for Laura Branigan, then in the nineties it became a monster hit for Celine Dion. Marcia's song is not as dramatic, but it is still a great song.

Mama's cooking explains in song why Marcia manages to avoid getting fat - she could eat plenty, but always burn off the excess by dancing the night away. The cover picture provides the proof.

Lee Roy Parnell, who eventually achieved success as a country singer in the nineties, wrote two of the songs but he was unknown at the time this music was recorded. What's a girl to do and Red hot show that he could write great songs.

Marcia's music should appeal to anybody who likes rock music with a touch of blues, particularly fans of Bonnie Raitt.

First rate
This is the best of the cds put out by Marcia Ball and I recommend it highly. The performances on other Ball cds is equally good, but the quality of the songwriting on this one sets it apart from the rest. (I realize 4 stars around here amounts to damning with faint praise, but geez, there ought to be some shades of gray between the ridiculous and the sublime).

energy personified
I've seen her performance live and this CD easily captures all the energy of her live performance. "La ti Da" is "awsome. Probably the most moving (and my #1 fav) cut on the CD is The Power of Love".

Great stuff
I first heard this while painting sets (for a play) late at night after a long day. It was so envigorating that we played it several times. Marcia Ball has so much fun with her songs, whether slow ballads or catchy numbers, that it's impossible not to tap one's foot along with her. Great stuff!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One that lives up to its title
A lot of compilations have a title similar to this one, "the best of someone or other", yet still leave a lot to be desired.

That's not the case with this excellent Rhino collection, however. It may not be the definitive word on Aaron Thibeaux Walker (you'll need the two Capitol/Black & White and Imperial box sets for that), but it is the best single-disc retrospective available, and if you are looking for a really good sampler of T-Bone Walker's music, this is it.
Almost all of Walkers best-known songs are here, including his self-penned classics "They Call It Stormy Monday", "Mean Old World" and "I'm Still In Love With You", and "The Very Best Of T-Bone Walker" is an ideal starting place for the curious or the casual fan.

A Nice Restrspective of T-Bone's 1945-1960 Output
The electric guitar innovator gets the Rhino treatment with this 16-track collection of Imperial, Rumboogie, Capitol, Atlantic, Comet and Black & White sides. This is by no means the definitive collection of Walker's work, but it does serve as a nice retrospective of his 1945-1960 output.

If you were born after 1960, a little refresher is in order. T-Bone Walker influenced at least two generations of blues guitarists. Albert Collins, Freddy King, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan are but a few. For those who think of "Stormy Monday" as an Allman Brothers song, think again. And Eric Clapton didn't create "Mean Old World."

This compilation serves as a nice primer. It includes the aforementioned classic "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday's Just as Bad)" and "Mean Old World Blues." Also featured are "Papa Ain't Salty," "How Long Blues" and "The T-Bone Shuffle" and many more.

As usual Rhino offers the listener extensive, well reseached liner notes (this time by Billy Vera). The booklet comes complete with rare pictures and individual track information (personnel, songwriting credits, chart position, etc.). Kudos to Rhino for doing an excellent job, This compilation rates a strong B+. However, T-Bone merits more than 16 songs. A two CD set featuring some well-chosen rarities and underappreciated gems would have made this an A+ offering. ... Read more