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The Complete Recordings [Longbox] [Box] by Robert Johnson (CD - 10/08/1996)
 

The Complete Recordings [Longbox] [Box] ...

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The Complete Recordings [Longbox] [Box] by Robert Johnson (CD - 10/08/1996)
"The Complete Recordings [Longbox] [Box]" (10/08/1996) Blues Johnson, Robert, Legacy RecordingsTHE COMPLETE RECORDINGS includes a 48-page booklet with biographical notes, rare photos and a complete discography. Solo performer: Robert Johnson (vocals, guitar). Producer: Don Law. Compilation producers: Stephen LaVere, Frank Driggs. Recorded in San Antonio, Texas on November 23 & 26-27, 1936 and Dallas, Texas on June 19-20, 1937. Includes liner notes by Stephen LaVere, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Robert Johnson (vocals, guitar). Audio Remasterer: David Mitson. Liner Note Authors: Eric Clapton; Keith Richards; Steve LaVere. Recording information: Dallas, TX (11/21/1936-06/22/1937); San Antonio, TX (11/21/1936-06/22/1937). Noted blues historian Robert Palmer has called him "the Mississippi Delta's first modern blues-man," and over the past 50 years Robert Johnson's influence has reached out from beyond the grave. Though his recording output numbers fewer than 30 different songs, Johnson's catalog has been a treasure trove picked clean by artists ranging from Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead. The beauty of THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS lies in its utter simplicity. Johnson's reedy vocals, accompanied only by a steel-string guitar, evoke the very essence of the Deep South with its mystery and intrigue. It's easy to see where the myth of Johnson going down to the crossroads to make a Faustian pact with Lucifer was first sown; it can be heard within the confines of "Cross Road Blues" and "Hellhound On My Trail." While the sound of Johnson's recordings has a discernible hiss to it, the unadulterated emotion resonating in his voice goes straight to the marrow, making these sonic limitations seem like an afterthought.

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Definitive Collection (Hip-O) [5/23] *
 

Definitive Collection (Hip-O) [5/23] *

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Definitive Collection (Hip-O) [5/23] *
"The Definitive Collection [Hip-O]" (05/23/2006) Blues Hooker, John Lee, Hip-O RecordsPersonnel: Bonnie Raitt (vocals, slide guitar); Joseph Barry Galbraith, Eddie Kirkland, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, Eddie Taylor, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, Muddy Waters, Sammy Lawhorn, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana (guitar); Louis Myers (harmonica); Lafayette Leake, Otis Spann (piano); Chester Thompson (keyboards, synthesizer); David "Panama" Francis, Francis Clay, Fred Below, Al Duncan , Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums); Armando Peraza (congas); Jos? Chepit¢ Areas (timbales). Liner Note Author: Colin Escott. Recording information: Chicago, IL (11/03/1948-04/??/1988); Detroit, MI (11/03/1948-04/??/1988); New York, NY (11/03/1948-04/??/1988); San Francisco, CA (11/03/1948-04/??/1988); Sausalito, CA (11/03/1948-04/??/1988). Photographers: Jean-Pierre Leloir; David Gahr; Stephanie Wiesand; Jan Persson; Brian Smith ; Chuck Stewart; Jim Marshall . What can be said about yet another John Lee Hooker greatest-hits collection!? Not only is the music consumer loaded down with these discs, but frankly, most are very similar in content. The main thing to look for when purchasing a compilation of "The Hook" is a trust-worthy label. Hip-O's Definitive Collection provides one such example, complete with professional packaging, informative liner notes, superlative sound, and most importantly, the best-known songs from Hooker's massive catalog spanning six decades. From solo material recorded in Detroit in the '40s for the Modern label, through his mostly electric recordings on Chess, Vee Jay, Impulse, and ABC-BluesWay up to his final, Grammy Award winning collaborations with Bonnie Raitt and Carlos Santana, these are the 20 cuts that any John Lee Hooker neophyte should hear. ~ Al Campbell

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Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues by Etta James (CD - 05/07/2002)
 

Burnin' Down the House: Live at the Hous...

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Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues by Etta James (CD - 05/07/2002)
"Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues" (05/07/2002) Blues James, Etta, RCA Victor Records (USA)Personnel: Etta James (vocals); Josh Sklair, Bobby Murray (guitar); Jimmy "Z" Zavala (harmonica, tenor saxophone); David L. Woodford (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Buttacavoli (trumpet, fluglehorn, trombone); Tom Poole (trumpet); David K. Mathews (piano, Wurlitzer piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Roland RD 600, clavinet, strings); Mike Finnigan (Hammond B-3 organ); Sametto James (bass); Donto James (drums, MVP); Luis Conte (percussion). Recorded live at The House Of Blues, Hollwood, California on December 9, 2001. BURNIN' DOWN THE HOUSE was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Playing Burnin' Down the House right after you have listened to some of Etta James' early recordings is quite revealing. The veteran soul/blues singer was only 16 when, in 1954, she made her first recordings for Modern records; she was 63 when this excellent live album was recorded at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA, in December 2001 -- and it is obvious that vocally, she didn't lose anything along the way. Backed by a tight and rock-solid band, James demonstrates that her big, full voice lost none of its richness between 1954 and 2001. The Los Angeles native sounds as vital as ever, and she has no problem going that extra mile on gutsy performances of "Something's Got a Hold on Me," "I'd Rather Go Blind," "At Last," and other hits. For the most part, this is a soul concert; however, James makes a triumphant detour into electric urban blues on "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (one of the many Willie Dixon gems that Muddy Waters recorded for Chess in the '50s) and B.B. King's "Rock Me, Baby." The veteran singer pleasantly surprises us with some unlikely medleys; "I Just Want to Make Love to You" is successfully combined with Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," and even more intriguing is her ability to unite the standard "My Funny Valentine" with two of Al Green's '70s hits ("Love and Happiness" and "Take Me to the River"). Some longtime fans may be disappointed to learn that she doesn't perform either "Tell Mama" or "Roll with Me, Henry," aka "The Wallflower"; regardless, Burnin' Down the House is an exciting and powerful document of James at 63. ~ Alex Henderson

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Definitive Collection [5/23] *
 

Definitive Collection [5/23] *

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Definitive Collection [5/23] *
"The Definitive Collection [Remaster]" (05/23/2006) Blues Waters, Muddy, Geffen Records (USA)Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy (guitar); James Cotton (harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon (upright bass). Liner Note Author: Mary Katherine Aldin. Outside of Robert Johnson, there are few blues musicians as iconic as Muddy Waters. Chess's superbly selected and compiled DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is as close to a perfect compilation as listeners are likely to find on one disc. Arranged chronologically, the 24 tracks start with 1948's slinky "I Can't Be Satisfied" and end with 1976's "Crosseyed Cat." In between are the immortal Waters classics "Rollin' & Tumblin'," "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man," "I Just Want To Make Love To You," among others that changed the sound of the blues and helped birth a genre called rock & roll.

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San Antonio Blues by Various Artists (CD - 06/09/1994)
 

San Antonio Blues by Various Artists (CD...

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San Antonio Blues by Various Artists (CD - 06/09/1994)
"San Antonio Blues" (06/09/1994) Blues Various Artists, Document (USA)Audio Remasterer: Gerhard Wessely. Liner Note Author: Julian Yarrow.

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Ultimate Collection by Joe Cocker (CD - 01/13/2004)
 

Ultimate Collection by Joe Cocker (CD - ...

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Ultimate Collection by Joe Cocker (CD - 01/13/2004)
"Ultimate Collection" (01/13/2004) Blues Cocker, Joe, Hip-O RecordsPersonnel includes: Joe Cocker (vocals); Jimmy Page, Brenda Holloway, Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Bonnie Bramlett, Jimmy Cliff, Adrian Belew, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Clarence Clemons, Billy Preston, Bryan Adams, Randy Newman. Producers include: Denny Cordell, Leon Russell, Jim Price, Wilton Felder, Chris Brackwell. Compilation producer: Bill Levenson. Recorded between 1974 & 2000. Includes liner notes by JP Bean. This anthology does as fine a job of covering the peaks of Joe Cocker's career as any single disc possibly could. Things kick off with Cocker's studio version of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends," which helped make him a star via his Woodstock performance. Thereafter, Cocker made his name as a gritty, soulful interpreter of material from the pop/rock world. With the guidance of then-bandleader Leon Russell, the Boxtops' "The Letter," the Fab Four's "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," and others were transformed into sweaty, soul-drenched wonders. In the 1980s, hard-living Cocker cleaned up his act both personally and musically, scoring a hit with the romantic pop ballad "Up Where We Belong," a duet with Jennifer Warnes that was the theme for the film AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN. He hadn't lost his tawdry touch, though, as proven by his popular '86 version of the randy Randy Newman tune "You Can Leave Your Hat On," also featured in another successful '80s film (9 1/2 WEEKS). ULTIMATE COLLECTION closes with a 2000 version of Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan," proof that over 30 years down the road, Cocker hadn't lost his knack for picking great material.
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Vu-Du Menz by Corey Harris (CD - 04/04/2000)
 

Vu-Du Menz by Corey Harris (CD - 04/04/2...

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Vu-Du Menz by Corey Harris (CD - 04/04/2000)
"Vu-Du Menz" (04/04/2000) Blues Harris, Corey, Alligator RecordsPersonnel: Corey Harris (vocals, guitar); Henry Butler (vocals, piano). Producers: Bruce Iglauer, Corey Harris, Henry Butler. Recorded at Dockside Studio, Maurice, Louisiana and Side One Studio, Metairie, Louisana. Includes liner notes by Ben Sandmel. Personnel: Corey Harris (vocals, guitar); Henry Butler (vocals, piano). Audio Mixer: Michael Freeman. Recording information: Dockside Side Stuido; Maurice; One Side Studio; Metairie, LA. For their first full-length collaboration, bluesmen Corey Harris and Henry Butler made a quick trip into the studio during a four-day stretch in January 2000. However, rather than sounding rushed, VU-DU MENZ is a relaxed dream teaming of guitar whiz Harris and piano virtuoso Butler, who take a casual stroll through the vital and timeless music of New Orleans. Butler's impressive stride-style playing evokes the spirits of two Big Easy keyboard giants: James P. Johnson ("Sugar Daddy") and Professor Longhair ("L'esprit De James"). In addition, this Crescent City local also provides some soulful scatting on the jaunty funk of "Voodoo Man." Harris proves to be a well-matched partner as his nimble picking and raspy phrasing are a perfect foil for Butler on the ragtime of "If You Let a Man Kick You Once" and the jaunty "Shake What Your Mama Gave You." Elsewhere, both men excel on the straight-ahead blues of "Song of the Pipelayer" and "Let 'Em Roll." When they join forces for an acapella reading of the traditional hymnal "Why Don't You Live So God Can Use You?" both virtuosos succeed in achieving the zeitgeist of the Deep South.

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His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) by Little Walter (CD - 05/07/2005)
 

His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collect...

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His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) by Little Walter (CD - 05/07/2005)
"His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)" (05/07/2005) Blues Walter, Little, MCA/ChessThis is part of Chess Records' 50 Anniversary series. Personnel: Little Walter (vocals, harmonica); Muddy Waters (guitar, slide guitar); Dave Myers, Fred Robinson , Jimmie Lee Robinson, Jimmy Rogers , Leonard Caston, Louis Myers, Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood, Jr. (guitar); Otis Spann (piano); Fred Below, Billy Stepney, George Hunter (drums). Liner Note Author: Billy Altman. Recording information: Chicago, IL (05/12/1952-12/??/1960). Photographers: Ray Flerlage; Mary Katherine Aldin. Few would dispute that this collection is the Holy Grail of blues harmonica. Like the other entries in Chess Records' HIS BEST series, the Little Walter compilation is beautifully selected, sequenced, remastered, and packaged. At 20 tracks, HIS BEST gives a satisfying, economical summary of Walter's genius, and defends his title as the king of blues harp men. As a member of Muddy Waters's band, and on his own, Walter was one of the architects of the original Chicago sound. His propulsive chording, high-leaning notes, inventive use of amplification (he used a close-up hand-held microphone and effects like distortion and echo), and endless stream of ideas expanded the possibilities of the harmonica. With the help of such Chicago heavy-hitters as pianist Otis Spann, bassist Willie Dixon, and drummer Fred Below, Walter's own group displayed ferocious chemistry and instrumental prowess. Naturally, Walter's vocals and exceptional harp are at the fore here. Whether on signature tunes ("Juke"), slow burners ("Mean Old World"), or classic rockers ("Boom, Boom Out Goes the Light"), this is old-school electric blues at its absolute finest. In addition to its status as a textbook for harmonica players, HIS BEST is a ground-floor necessity for any blues library.

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A Space in Time by Ten Years After (CD - 07/10/1989)
 

A Space in Time by Ten Years After (CD -...

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A Space in Time by Ten Years After (CD - 07/10/1989)
"A Space in Time" (07/10/1989) Blues Ten Years After, Chrysalis Records (USA)Ten Years After: Alvin Lee (vocals, guitar); Chick Churchill (keyboards); Leo Lyons (bass); Ric Lee (drums). Recorded at Olympic Studios, London, England. A SPACE IN TIME was Ten Years After's biggest commercial success. The reasons are pretty obvious; Alvin Lee's songwriting had improved markedly and there was far more stylistic variety than on their previous albums. The big hit here was "I'd Love to Change the World," with its catchy acoustic guitar hook and the immortal opening line, "Everywhere is freaks and hairies." Other highpoints include: "Baby Won't You Let Me Rock 'n' Roll You," the band's first stab at Stones-style raunch (complete with a riff from Led Zeppelin); the country-ish romp "Once There Was a Time"; and the gently folky and surprisingly self-deprecating "Over the Hill," which features strings, a move that would have been unthinkable for this band a year or two earlier.

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The Anthology: 1947-1972 by Muddy Waters (CD - 08/28/2001)
 

The Anthology: 1947-1972 by Muddy Waters...

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The Anthology: 1947-1972 by Muddy Waters (CD - 08/28/2001)
"The Anthology: 1947-1972" (08/28/2001) Blues Waters, Muddy, MCA Records (USA)Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); Jimmy Rogers, Mike Bloomfield, Buddy Guy, Pat Hare, Luther Tucker, Fred Robinson, Earl Hooker, James "Pee Wee" Madison, Sammy Lawhorn, Leroy Foster (guitar); Little Walter, Junior Wells, Walter Horton, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Jeff Carp (harmonica); A.C. Reed (tenor saxophone); Sunnyland Slim, Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake (piano); John "Big Moose" Walker (organ); Pinetop Perkins (keyboards); Ernest "Big" Crawford, Willie Dixon, Andrew Stephenson, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Phil Upchurch, Calvin James (bass); Fred Below, Elgin Evans, Francis Clay, Bobby Little, Clifton James, S.P. Leary, Sam Lay, Willie Smith (drums); Leonard Chess (bass drum). Producers: Leonard & Phil Chess, Willie Dixon, Norman Drayton, Ralph Bass. Compilation producer: Andy McKaie. Recorded between 1947 and 1972. Includes liner notes by Mary Katherine Aldin. Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (Universal Mastering Studios-West, Hollywood, California). Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); Earl Hooker, Fred Robinson , Jimmy Rogers , Leroy Foster, Luther Tucker, Pat Hare, Buddy Guy (guitar); Jeffrey M. Carp, James Cotton , Little Walter, Junior Wells (harmonica); A.C. Reed (tenor saxophone); Lafayette Leake, Otis Spann, Sunnyland Slim (piano); Clifton James, Francis Clay, Fred Below, Elgin Evans, Sam Lay (drums); Leonard Chess (bass drum). Liner Note Author: Mary Katherine Aldin. Recording information: 04/1948-03/1972. Far and away the foremost figure in Chicago's post-war electric blues scene, Muddy Waters is a towering musical icon who left behind a vast recorded legacy. ANTHOLOGY (1947-1972) nevertheless manages to be a definitive career summary, packing 50 tracks onto two discs, spanning 25 years of recordings for Chess, the premier Chicago blues label. From the earliest tracks, we can literally hear the style's template being created; while Waters had already abandoned his heavily Robert Johnson-influenced solo country-blues sound by the late '40s, a trace of that approach can still be heard in his first Chess sides. By the time the '50s rolled around, Muddy had fashioned a powerful engine that ran on high-voltage electricity, and, with the help of songsmith Willie Dixon, fashioned some of the most resonant and seminal blues recordings ever made. To hear Muddy's biting slide-guitar work and gravitas-filled voice is to understand just how deep into one's soul the blues can reach. Whether expressing the Tao-like sentiments of "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had," coming on like a house afire ("I'm Ready"), or bemoaning the heaviest of heartaches ("Standin' Around Cryin'"), no one reached further into the heart of the blues than Muddy did during his long, productive Chess tenure, as is made gloriously evident on ANTHOLOGY.

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Sun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection [Box] by Various Artists (CD - 08/19/2003)
 

Sun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection [...

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Sun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection [Box] by Various Artists (CD - 08/19/2003)
"Sun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection [Box]" (08/19/2003) Blues Various Artists, VarŠse Sarabande (USA)Includes liner notes by Bill Dahl. Liner Note Author: Bill Dahl. Although Sam Phillips' Sun Records is generally remembered as the rockabilly label that launched the recording career of one Elvis Presley, as well as the careers of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, there is a whole lot more to the story than that. Phillips recorded a good deal of straight blues in his studio, and that patented slap-back, room echo feel that permeates his more rockabilly fare is well in evidence on the blues tracks that are collected here in this three-disc, 75-track set. This is exciting stuff, with an intangible freshness to the sound that is still very much in evidence all these years later. Among the many highlights are Rufus Thomas' answer to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog," the derivative but oh so infectious "Bear Cat," Frank Frost's classic "Jelly Roll King," a marvelous version of "Sweet Home Chicago" by Honeyboy Edwards, as well as several sides from one-man bands Joe Hill Louis ("Keep Your Arms Around Me," "She May Be Yours (But She Comes to See Me Sometime)") and Doctor Ross ("Come Back Baby," "Chicago Breakdown," "Juke Box Boogie"). A delight from start to finish, this decently priced collection is a must for serious modern blues fans as well as essential listening for anyone interested in one of the key labels in the history of American pop music. ~ Steve Leggett

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The Very Best Of Canned Heat *
 

The Very Best Of Canned Heat *

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The Very Best Of Canned Heat *
"The Very Best of Canned Heat [Capitol]" (05/24/2005) Blues Canned Heat, Capitol/EMI RecordsCanned Heat: Al Wilson (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Bob "The Bear" Hite (vocals, harmonica); Larry Taylor , Tony De La Barreda, Richard Hite (bass guitar); Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra, Frank Cook (drums); Henry Vestine, Joel Scott Hill, James Shane, Ed Beyer. Personnel: Alan Wilson (vocals, guitar, harp, harmonica); Bob Hite (vocals, harp); Little Richard (vocals, piano); Harvey Mandel, Henry Vestine, Joel Scott Hill, James Shane (guitar); Ed Beyer (keyboards); Adolfo de la Parra (drums). Additional personnel: John Lee Hooker (vocals); Harvey Mandel, Little Richard. Audio Mixer: Evren G?knar. Liner Note Author: Steve Roeser. Recording information: The Monaterey International Pop Festival, Monterey, CA. Photographer: Frank Driggs. With the glut of Canned Heat compilations available, what makes this 19-song Capitol/EMI release better than the rest? For starters, the previously unreleased track "Henry's Shuffle," featuring guitarist Henry Vestine and recorded in 1968, which was undoubtedly the zenith year for the band; the inclusion of "Low Down (And High Up)"; the rare Liberty B-side "Time Was," and the rollicking 1970 date with Little Richard, "Rockin' With the King." Also included are several tracks that both the novice and die-hard fan alike would find essential -- three live cuts from the Monterey Pop Festival, a nod to the 1971 collaborative effort with John Lee Hooker on "Whiskey and Wimmen'," and two Woodstock era classics culled from the Boogie with Canned Heat album, "Amphetamine Annie" and "Fried Hockey Boogie." And, of course, what would a Canned Heat compilation be without the bona fide hippie hits: "On the Road Again," "Goin' Up the Country" and "Let's Work Together." These are the original versions, digitally remastered and sounding great, so ignore the glut, this really is the Very Best of Canned Heat. ~ Al Campbell

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The Best Blues Album in the World Ever by Various Artists (CD - 02/29/2000)
 

The Best Blues Album in the World Ever b...

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The Best Blues Album in the World Ever by Various Artists (CD - 02/29/2000)
"The Best Blues Album in the World Ever" (02/29/2000) Blues Various Artists, Virgin Records (USA)Producers include: Dick Shurman, J.J. Cale, Henri Musselwhite, Randy Jacobs, Jim Gaines. Hardly. What is on this two-disc set is a real hodgepodge of new and old tracks by a variety of artists ranging from soul shouters and blues-rockers to the true originators. Disc one gets off to a sluggish start with tracks from Johnny Winter, the Boneshakers, Colin James, Larry McCray, the Kinsey Report, John Hammond, Duke Robillard, and Terry Evans, but picks up a bit with entries from Elmore James, Lowell Fulson, B.B. King, and Albert Collins. The second disc is better, with classics from Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Koko Taylor, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, and Lightnin' Hopkins paving the way, with only entries from Gary Moore, Jon Cleary, Johnny Winter, J.J. Cale, and John Mayall dropping the quality. Although heavily advertised on TV, this is a long, long way from being an ultimate blues collection. ~ Cub Koda

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Blues Music calling your name? Find all of the top Music gear that you want at ShopRoid. Compare prices from top brands like as well as . Browse ratings from merchants that sell Blues Music and other Music. Narrow your choices down by price range, brand, merchant, and more. Find the product that's right for you: Dona Got a Ramblin Mind [Digipak] by The Carolina Chocolate Drops (CD - 09/12/2006) - The Complete Recordings [Longbox] [Box] by Robert Johnson (CD - 10/08/1996).