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Blues 'n' Rhythm Story devotes two discs to four regions--the Midwest, Southwest, West Coast, and East Coast. Featured artists range from the acclaimed (Professor Longhair, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jay McShann, "Cleanhead" Vinson, Dinah Washington) to the wayward. Nevertheless, the overall quality is remarkably high. The 88-page booklet helps put the music in perspective. This isn't a modest investment for a collector, but it's certainly among the elite of the R&B collections yet assembled. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

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An absolute must for R&B fans!!
This INCREDIBLE 8-CD set covers all of the Mercury blues, R&B and jump music from post-WWII -- the music that laid the foundation for the rock 'n roll revolution of the late '50's. The set is divided by geographic styles; West Coast, Southwest, East Coast and Midwest. There are many artists featured who are all but unknown today, but were popular in the club sub-culture and with returning GI's. I love the small orchestral arrangements of fast, jumpin' blues, boogie, and R&B tunes. The lyrics in many songs are hilarious, and demonstrate the subconscious relief of ending the world wars. Anyone who is remotely interested in R&B and the foundations of rock HAS to get this set. It's expensive, but worth every single penny. I've been listening non-stop since the set arrived, and I walk around all day with the jumpin' and jivin' tunes in my head! ... Read more

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A must for any blues collection - or rock 'n roll roots
History of Texas Blues from the beginning. Everyone from Blind Lemon Jefferson to SRV and the Fab T'birds! Love that Lucy Mae Blues and Why Don't You Eat Where You Slept Last Night! Here's some authentic deep real blues. You won't regret buying this one. ... Read more

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Great throwback to Blues of yesterday
A name like Peppermint Harris is reminiscent of the artists of the '20s & '30s, my favorite era of blues music (isn't it everyone's?). And it's not false advertising.

Jelly Roll Morton would have been proud to share the stage with this artist. He's magnificent. Although I've been a long-time fan of the Blues, I've just now become fervent, so I don't know much about today's artists. Upon recommendation of a friend, I bought this CD and am so glad I did.

"Cadillac Funeral" is my favorite cut, but there aren't any songs on the CD that make me leap for the SKIP button. This is a great CD for your collection, especially if you want classic Blues, rather than the Blues-Jazz amalgam that is so prevalent in today's releases. ... Read more

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Compiled with the same care and attention to detail as the landmark Chess Blues box set, this set presents the rhythm & blues side of Chess Records and, in many ways, is the more entertaining of the two. Ninety-nine tracks cover the label's astonishing breadth of jump blues combos, vocal groups, and rock & roll pioneers. You can't help but be overwhelmed by all this great music. The work of giants like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley sounds even more exciting in context with underrated gems from the likes of the Moonglows, Paul Gayten, and the Dozier Boys. No one is going to deny the greatness of Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" or Etta James's breathtaking performance on "At Last." But you haven't lived until you've laughed at Roscoe Gordon's "Booted," sung broken falsetto to Clarence "Frogman" Henry's immortal "Ain't Got No Home," or wrung tears from your hanky to the ambient strains of the Corsairs' gorgeous "Smokey Places." --Ken Hohman ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great mix of new and old blues recordings
The House of Blues label has done it again with another incredible collection of blues essentials. From classics must-haves by Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and John Lee Hooker to more recent recordings by Taj Mahal and Luther Allison, this collection is calling to you.

Also have to mention that the album art and liner notes are beautifully designed and well-written.

Only reason not to give it a full five stars is too many tracks pulled from other HOB discs, but if you don't have them all yet, you won't mind. ... Read more

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Like Stevie Wonder and Allen Toussaint before him--and Prince and D'Angelo afterward--Shuggie Otis was a musical visionary whose early 1970s recordings showed he could do it all, writing, arranging, performing, and producing some of the decade's most satisfying, innovative, and, unfortunately, overlooked music. This reissue of his 1974 Inspiration Information album--a soulful song cycle that took three years to create and was worth every minute--ranges from early drum machine-driven experiments like "Xl-30" and "Aht Uh Mi Hed" (note the Sly Stone spelling influence) to Otis's most stunning pop confection ever, "Strawberry Letter 23." (The latter song, which ended up being a big hit for the Brothers Johnson, is one of four bonus tracks taken from Otis's 1971 Freedom Flight album). Otis, who once turned down an offer to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones, continues to perform around the Bay Area on his own and with his father, bandleader Johnny Otis. Hopefully, the long-awaited resurrection of this material will help bring him the attention he deserves. --Bill Forman ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Shuggie's long-lost LP is an inspiring find.
Shuggie may very well be the "missing link" between the Sly-Jimi-Stevie heyday of the late 60's and early 70's, and Prince and his progeny (D'Angelo, Maxwell, etc.). Without realizing it, I had already heard Shuggie through the Brothers Johnson ("Strawberry Letter 23") and Digable Planets' sampling of "Island Letter" on their 1994 hip-hop masterpiece, "Blowout Comb." Having now heard the real McCoy, I am truly impressed by this LP-compilation.

I was instantly hooked by the title track, "Inspiration Information," a breezy pop cut with some great harmonies and keyboards. I also enjoyed the mellow vibe of "Island Letter," the guitar-driven "Ice Cold Daydream" and funky "Sparkle City" and "Happy House." "SL 23" is good in its own right (although I prefer the Brothers Johnson version). The instrumentals remind me of some of the great tracks on "Shaft." The only drawbacks to this LP are that Shuggie's vocal range is limited, the sound quality is muffled (surprising for a re-release), and I'd prefer more tracks with vocals.

The album is a showcase for Shuggie's considerable ability to blending funk, rock, pop and r & b and create his own sound, before Prince arrived on the scene. Based on what I've heard. I think it's likely that newer artists like Maxwell and Jamiroquai have been influenced by Otis' work as well. This is one of the very best records I've bought all year, and you'll enjoy it as well.

quite nice, actually
I got this album because I read all about it being a forgotten classic. A lot of times it's good hype that gets you out to purchase something new and daring. I'm glad I did. This thing is really good. The thing is, after hearing it you want to go out and buy ten more CD's by this guy. Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of other titles available. I found that listening to this CD in headphones brought out the true genius of this music. There are so many layers of sound going on and the stereo separation is great. The arpregios at the end of "Strawberry Letter 22" are phat. The instrumentation on the whole CD is groovy. The drumming sounds a bit like Stevie Wonder's stuff from the early 70's. The guitars are tight and jazzy. Lots of smooth organ playing on a number of the songs. I also hear xylophone a bit on this CD. The xylophone gives it a light and breezy feel, making this CD a good listen during the lazy days of summer. The bass guitar is funky. If you like tight funky plucking on the bass guitar. There's also a bit of electric piano and acoustic guitars. Some songs have a bit of drum machine- early style drum machine. I found that most of the songs were pretty good. Some are too short. Some are just a little weak, but for the most part it's as good as any other great soul album from the same period. It's certainly BETTER than any soul album from the current times. There's hardly anything out there today that could match the slick sound of this baby. Few artists today put any time into their music. That's why sometimes their songs are o.k., but after playing them a few times you just lose interest. With Shuggie, you can play his songs MANY times and still hear something new every time. Definitely try listening to it in headphones. You can really hear where instruments drop out and new parts begin. There is a texture of sound going on and it's always evolving throughout each song. Very interesting.

Wow
I was in a music rut, looking for something fresh to listen to, and a friend was like well, this isn't new, bu you might like this, and when the first song, "Inspiration Information" finished. I was like, wait wait wait, I need to hear that again.

The Cd isn't very balanced as a whole, not that there aren't some high points to some of the less shining songs, but Inspiration Information and Aht Uh Mi Head are so good that they make the rest of the cd look a tad drab.

Excellent Cd.

Inspiration Information - Shuggie Otis
Any young musician aspiring to reach his or her full potential should sit down and listen to this masterful piece of work. Shuggie shows that there are no bounderies to his musical expressions !!! He is truly a master at his craft, with the guitar in his hands he rates with the great ones..... This work should be in all serious music lovers collections.

...soul by the pound, gram, pint, litre, mile, etc., etc...
somewhere between curtis mayfield and maxwell, shuggie otis rules supreme!
i first heard of him as he played back up for etta james on one of her live cassette tape performances (with eddie "cleanhead" vinson) that my sista let me copy... (i was about 22/23/24 years old so now yall know i been a geek for a long time now... but i love bein a geek... :P ...so there!!!)

anyway, to make a stupid story short, this is some excellent "before-you-go-out-and-get-it-crunk-music" (hole in the wall 'crunk'... not teen club 'crunk'!) or "lets-me-and-you-go-back-to-my-place-and-chill-over-drinks-music" (brown liquor 'drinks'... not add sugar 'drinks'!)

whatever... this is some good responsibly grown style stuff and i love the heck outta it....
later yall! ... Read more

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The classic "Hound Dog" is usually associated with Elvis Presley, but blues fans know: Presley's recording wasn't the first. That honor belongs to singer Big Mama Thornton, whose own recording of "Hound Dog" was eclipsed by Presley's. Her version is on this collection in all its glory, opening a CD of 17 killer tracks. Thornton's voice, by turns growling and richly melodic, was indeed unusual, and the spare accompaniment on Hound Dog makes it stand out all the more on songs such as "They Call Me Big Mama," "How Come," "The Big Change," "Hard Times," and "The Fish." Thornton had talent and attitude to spare, and both come through loud and clear on this essential collection. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Awesome swingin'n'wailin' jumpin' blues & R+B!!!
Big Mama has a big growlin' voice, I mean she could eat Big Maybelle for breakfast(though Maybelle is an equally versitile and great performer). Mama had a hit in Hound Dog way brfore Elvis, and she sings the heck out of it, making Presley's "hiccuped" version, pale in comparison. This cd is not really rock'n'roll as many people atste in the reviews it is pure 1950's R&B, with honking saxes, it qualifies as jump blues, and you can even jitterbug, lindy hop or jive for dancing purposes. It might be considered pre-rock'n;roll, or she may have been influential, but Mama's no more a rock'n'roller then Ruth Brown or Dinah Washington. Though rockabilly people such as myself like her rough style(think of Ruth Brown or Etta James, without the swettness), and you have Big Mama. My favorite is the straight lindy hopper jump blues "They Call Me Big Mama"(which has been covered very well by newer singer Vandeye Kane). The whole cd is worth repeated listenings, and it's good stuff to play while cruising East L.A. in your lowered 50's Chevy convertible.

Much better than Elvis Presley!
I have heard quite a few rock performers from the 1950s: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Big Joe Turner, Carl Perkins, etc. And I must say that this CD is my very favorite CD of 50s music. Hey, I like Elvis Presley, but I realize that Big Mama Thornton was better than him. Her version of "Hound Dog" is so superior to his that it makes me wonder why his was the version that became so popular. And it's not just that one song, either. Instead, all of the songs on this collection are excellent. I suppose that some people would place this CD in the blues categoty, but I say that it is rock. Yes, this CD is rock and roll as it was meant to be. I hope that in 100 years from now when people make lists of the best rock music of the 20th century, the music from this CD will be high on their lists. If you have any interest at all in listening to music from the very birth of rock and roll, then this disc should make a very valuable addition to your collection.

if youve never heard this dog...
...then youve never really heard hound dog.
youll see in virtually every review comparison to presleys much toned down version. theres a reason. mamas dog howls,barks,and bites!
this great blues singer had a presence to rival howlin wolfs and when youre listening to her you will find yourself grinning from ear to ear.

Let The Hound Dog Howl
First things first - Contrary to the reviewer's claim below that "Hound Dog" was written by two white, jewish guys (Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller) although it true that they succeeded in obtaining the rights to the song, their claim of authorship along with that of Johnny Otis's are generally accepted to be wholly without merit. But in the final analysis who really cares, Big Mama made it her own and once you've heard her sing it you'll never forget it. So Long live Big Mama and let the hound dog howl!

While "Hound Dog" alone is worth the price of the CD, Big Mama's performances throughout are uniformly excellent and will not disapoint. "You Don't Move Me No More", "Yes Baby" and "How Come" showcase her powerful voice and superb phrasing perfectly. The musicians backing her are also first rate, particularly Roy Gaines and T-Bone Walker. The result is a CD that is truly a gem and that you'll find find yourself playing over and over.

get it straight
Hound Dog was written by two (white) (jewish) guys FOR Big Mama Thornton who performed it to receptive audiences in 1953. Elvis made it a bigger hit in 1956. it's a great song. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pilot to bombardier...
Loud, good fun. Sure, it's a little low on subtlety, but there's tons to like -- "3-D" and "Nervous Man Nervous" especially stand out -- as Big Jay stomps his way through this record. This swings the way few things swing anymore; put away that Big Bad Doo Doo Patty record and listen to this instead. ... Read more

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Feel good blues
The Ford Blues Band have put out a feel good cd with Ford & Friends. Although not every track is blues in the strictest sense , the cd leaves the listener feeling warm and positive and knowing that there are some skilled musicians in the Ford Blues Band. Patrick Ford also demonstrates his songwriting skills with a number of tracks. A favorite of mine is Another Fine Day with Chris Cain doing vocals. The theme of the song is somewhat reminiscent of the Lovin' Spoonful's What a Day for a Daydream.

This cd is worth a listen and I am glad to have it in my collection. ... Read more

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believe me....
Very good collection. Draw a bath, light the candles, and drift. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Truth in Advertising
This album is exactly what the title says it is - the best of the best of blues piano. "Essential Blues Piano" spans generations, styles, and record labels. A masterful sampler and a great listen, this is must-own music for the blues piano fan, and a great starting place for the newbie.

A great sampling of blues pinao styles
A fabulous sampling of various blues styles paints a vivid picture of how blues laid the foundation for 50's and 60's rock and roll. The piano instrumentals and vocals in this collection bring to life the raw excitement and passion of the various blues styles, many of which have made their way into pop music. To hear these in their more pristine blues form is exciting. ... Read more

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Alas, Only Five Stars
Wow, this CD is really COOL! But alas -- I can only give this album five stars, as it's such a WONDERFUL album! ... Read more

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A welcome reissue of a career boosting classic.
For her fifth album for Creed Taylor's CTI label the label boss gave production duties to Joe Beck. The result was to be like nothing else that she had recorded before, both in the scope of the material and in the luminary band and orchestra that was assembled for the sessions.The album was the result of three sessions stretched over late April/Early May 1971, and the quality of the cuts and the choice of material has stood up well in the intervening years. The hit, "What a difference a day makes" appears in two forms and two tempos, the released track clocks in at 4.30 and the bonus cut at 3.10. My favourite tracks are the great version of Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff's "One night affair" (she had lived that one!), an excellent reading of "I can stand a little rain" and a belting version of Lu Emerson's "Hurtin' House". Less successful, and slightly dated is the reading of "Oh Papa". Special mention for Michael Brecker on Tenor sax, and the four piece trumpet section, as well as Joe Beck's guitar. It's still a fine, varied album that produced the hit, and put her career back on track. A great shame that neither of the follow up albums consolidated the situation, but this is a great reminder of what she could do.It's also a great counterpoint to the Rhino compilation "The best of Esther Phillips" ... Read more

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Superbly packaged and lovingly annotated, the five-discArhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection distills four decades of musical passion into six hours of highlights. The passion is that of Arhoolie founder Chris Strachwitz, a German immigrant and former California schoolteacher whose label reflects a devotion to American roots music at its most vital and varied. Southern bluesmen Mance Lipscomb and Fred McDowell, Louisiana zydeco kingpin Clifton Chenier, and Tex-Mex conjunto accordionist Flaco Jimenez are just a few of the regional mainstays to achieve national renown through Arhoolie, and all of them are represented here.

The spirited diversity of the 105 selections (including 13 available on CD for the first time) finds the label extending its reach from string-band country (Hackberry Ramblers) to hard-driving jazz (Jerry Hahn Quintet) to New Orleans brass bands to more recent forays into "sacred steel," featuring gospel music with pedal-steel guitar. Where so many folk preservations might as well be embalming musical relics, Arhoolie champions "vernacular music": music that retains a strong, integral connection to its community and gets people clapping, stomping, and dancing. Throughout the set, the immediacy of the performances transcends trendiness or timeliness, showing how America sounds beyond the plasticity of popular culture. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great set and great value for money
This is a truly wondrful set that works on every level.

Beautifully presented with a very informative book and five high quality CD's.

The sound quality is superb as are all the production values.

The mixture of world music, old-time music and American regional sounds, as repesented in the output of Arhoolie Records, works extremely well here.

I found my self playing all 5 CD's one after the other without strain and enjoying them all.

Once having heard many of the artists for te first time the search wil then commence for solo albums if they exist, and they probably do in most cases.

If this were a "Bear Family" set there would certainly be another $... on the askng price.

If you are already a fan of this type of musci or are looking to explore it furter this really is THE set to buy as a starting point.

All the tracks are strong and there is no "padding" at all.

Combine this with a quite outstanding book giving full details on the artists and the history of Arhoolie and this is a set that will be cherished for years to come and played with great regularity.

Highly recommended.

A Treasury of Obscurities
I wasn't sure how I was going to like this box set when I bought it because I had never heard of most of the artists. When I first obtained it, I listened through once then put it on the shelf. On a recent road trip, I decided to put all 5 CDs in my CD changer to listen to in sequence and lemme tell you, am I ever glad to have done so.
The Journey of Chris Strachwitz is a musical journey through parts of America most of us never see or hear. There is Cajun, Zydeco, country, Tejano, blues, gospel and more. There is not the polished, overproduced kind of music one often hears on the radio, but rather the raw authenticity of music being played straight from the heart. Most of these musicians have made very little money in the business and are forced to do other work in order to make ends meet. Its a shame because just the small sampling here shows me that most of these artists have more talent than an army of top-40 schlocksters like Backstreet Boys and Madonna.
I am not equally enthusiastic about every song, but I was introduced to many performers from whom I want to hear more. Its hard to choose favorites, but I was impressed with Mance Lipscomb, the Reverend Louis Overstreet, Lydia Mendoza, Valerio Longoria, Omar Sharriff, Chatuye, The Campbell Brothers, and Aubrey Ghent in addition to more familiar performers like Clifton Chenier, Charlie Musselwhite, and any of the Jimenez clan. The worst song on the album is more pleasurable listening than most of the vapid pap served up on commercial radio.
With the CDs comes an informative booklet, filled with photos and stories of the performers and the sometimes serendipitous ways that Strachwitz hooked up with them.
If your musical taste runs the gamut, you should like this fairly priced box set. Chris Strachwitz did American music a tremendous turn when he set out to capture the sound of the folk before it was lost to us forever. I give this treasury of obscurities my heartiest recommendation. You won't be sorry you bought this!

a real summer journey
This is a really strong collection of hard to find artists that will appeal to anyone interested in the history of American music and culture. The blues is incredible. The cajun and zydeco numbers are unbeatable. Same is true of bluegrass, texmex, gospel. Where did rock get its start? Forget the name artists who've received all the accolades, these are the artists that influenced the names. The real deal - presented in its raw format as much as possible. Despite 5 CDs of material, weak tracks are hard to find.

an absolute must have
I could not agree more with the previous reviewer. This box set is perhaps the finest collection of American roots music, and much, much more, on the market today. Chris Strachwitz deserves our gratitude for bringing us forty years of top quality music, and for distilling his recordings down to this package, which could not possibly be better. Turn off your radio and turn on this goldmine of treasures from four decades of one man's undying love for the music that made this country great. Worth every penny, even at twice the price.

American Music 101
If you're looking for a place to go to get a comprehensive lesson in the finest in American roots music spanning blues, cajun/zydeco, gospel, bluegrass, tex/mex/conjunto, barrelhouse rock'n'roll, etc, look no further than this amazing collection. Intended as a "scrapbook" of label owner Chris Strachwitz's 40 year journey traveling across the hinterlands collecting and annotating the mostly obscure(though not all) raw sounds that he has had the pleasure of offering to us, the listening public, through Arhoolie. I like to think of it as a nice side companion to the Harry Smith collections. Including an amazing thick photo/essay book that makes this worth the price alone, this is as important release to serious music lovers as the recent Louis Armstrong box. WORTH EVERY PENNY! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Guitar blues at it's best.
This is a must have for anyone with a love of the blues and the guitar artist who made it great. The last track on the CD is a live recording of Texas Flood by S. R. Vaugn, the best live track of his I have ever heard. ... Read more