Reviews (1)

Johnny Otis Gets Real
Johnny Otis' recordings run the gamut from R&B-tinged pop to rock to blues. You never know quite what you're getting: the good stuff is very, very good, but too many of his recordings feel liked laboured reworkings of "Hand Jive", a tired blues journeyman dusting off the licks for one more album.

Not this one. He never did it this well before or after. "Cold Shot" is the toughest, smokiest set he ever recorded. Shuggie is playing stinging leads, the band is tight and hot, the songs are great (including a hilariously obscene blues). This is my favorite Johnny Otis recording, and has been since I first heard it twenty years ago. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rough and Honest Blues. Buy This!
You would expect somebody named "Big Mamma" to belt the blues out in a big, gravelly voice that suggests that she has seen it and done it all. Big Momma delivers all of that in "Jail." Big Momma provides old time blues the way it used to be and all too often seldom is anymore. You can smell the tobacco smoke and spilled wiskey when you listen to her. This is blues for hard working, hard drinking people. If you like your blues rough around the edges, this CD is for you. Personally, it is one my top 5 and I never get tired of listening to it. ... Read more

Album Description

With 220 seminal tracks spanning 100 years, this magnificent 10 CD box-set features some of the most influential black artists and tracks of the 20th century. Features a 64 page deluxe booklet containing in-depth history, rare photographs & essential facts. Artists include Billie Holiday, Nat 'King' Cole, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Supremes, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Ike and Tina Turner, Al Green, Sly and The Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Gaynor, Barry White, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Jacksons, Sugarhill Gang, Mary J. BLige, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Aswad, D' Angelo, Erykah Badu R Kelly and Gabrielle. 2001 release. Box measures 12 x 7 x 1.5 inches. Mastered using 24-bit digital technology. ... Read more

Album Description

2002 compilation for the prolific & idiosyncratic bluesmanfeaturing 25 remastered tracks culled from his Blue Bonnet, Modern & Combo Records Recordings. The set ranges from thesmall band jump of 'River Hip Mama' via the stripped-downsolo performances of 'Two Mama Blues' & the title track tothe lively, hillbilly influenced 'Whoa Mule' & 'PossumHunt'. Sidemen include hit maker Hadda Brooks on piano,legendary L.A. arranger Maxwell Davis on tenor sax & Al'Cake' Wichard on drums. More than half have theseselections are either alternate takes or previouslyunissued. Ace Records. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I know what you're thinking
O.K., so it's a cheap compilation and we all know what that means - low quality, rerecorded materials; filler recordings that don't represent the artist at anything like their best.

And you'd be wrong.

This "As good as it gets" is pretty much "as good as it gets".

Look at the names of those artists. Look at the names of those songs. What do you mean there are people here you've never heard of? Listen and learn.

There's a whole series of these Double CDs ranging from Swing to Hillbilly, to Blues to Gospel and every one of them is like a lesson in music.

I dare you to try and sit still when Big Bill Broonzy sings "I feel so good". I challenge you to keep your toe from tapping when Camille Howard plays "X-temperaneous Boogie". I'd never heard of Camille Howard. I have now, all thanks to this CD.

Buy this CD.

Buy the whole series. They don't cost much, you'll hear a lot of great music you'd never hear otherwise and you'll have fun doing it.

Now that's a bargain! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This exceptional two-CD set proves that Swingtime Records was not just a stopping point for many blues legends, but also an important label in the development of African American music. Through the purchasing of masters from smaller labels or recording artists under contract, owner Jack Lauderdale unwittingly created a gene pool for the next generation of the blues. With each track, you can hear the pieces falling into place and new styles being born. Lowell Fulson drags the wild child of rural blues to the city with "Every Day I Have the Blues." Jimmy Witherspoon defines Kansas City blues shouting on "Ain't Nobody's Business Pt. 1." And with "Kissa Me Baby," a young Ray Charles emerges from the long shadow of Charles Brown to create a new music called soul. The unsung heroes shine too. Just listen to the grooves pianist Lloyd Glenn, bassist Billy Hadnott, and sax man Earl Brown lay down on Lowell Fulson's "Blue Shadows." Pure R&B magic. --Ken Hohman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Blowin' Down the House
Rod Piazza is about the best harp player I've ever heard, and I've heard them all. What he gets out of that thing is nothing short of stupifying. All of his CD's are great, and this is one of his best.

very good player and singer
I Love his music i wounld buy all his cds.he plays a mean harp,im sure if other people listen to his music they wounld love him to like i do.keep up the good work .hope to see a new release soon. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good colletion, but not the best
Koch's "The Very Best Of T-Bone Walker" (not to be confused with Rhino's CD of the same name) is a really good collection of some of the seminal guitarist's best sides for the Capitol and Black & White labels.
"They Call It Stormy Monday" is here, and so are "T-Bone Shuffle", "Strollin' With Bones", "Bobby Sox Blues", "Tell Me What's The Reason", and "The Hustle Is On".

There's just one problem: This CD only draws from titles published between 1949 and 1951, thus missing out on some of his must-have songs ("T-Bone Blues", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Mean Old World") in favour of somewhat lesser ones.
This is still a good compilation, but it doesn't measure up to Rhino's "Blues Masters: The Best Of T-Bone Walker", which gathers _all_ the absolute essentials on one disc.

this is the bomb
If you like T-bone, this is the cd to get. It is bluesy and down to earth. This guy is certainly one of the masters of the blues. He brings me back to my hometown in the Mississippi Delta. ... Read more