1 comments about Atlanta Blues.

1. jsp records in london is to be commended for all their great budget price box sets of old-time music. this 4 disc set of atlanta blues is especially notable for all the peg leg howell sides. i have read much about peg leg howell over the years, yet, for some reason, his music was near impossible to find on compilations. i know of no disc dedicated just to his recordings. except for here. disc three on this set is a whopping 25 sides of peg leg howell. 3 more sides are included on the 4th disc. mr howell was a very pleasing blues singer with a relaxed vocal delivery and an easy fluid guitar style. he is even accompanied on a few tracks by violin and mandolin, which you don't hear too often on these old blues tunes. another artist featured on this set is curley weaver, who is by far the most accomplished guitarist on this set. he plays slide guitar with such facile grace and adventuresome rythmn that all slide guitar enthusiasts and blues fans should thrill to his sound. lots of sides by mr weaver here. to me, maybe the highlight of this set was the discovery of a performer i had never heard of before: julius daniels. mr daniels, while not the guitar stylist of the aforementioned artists, is a outstanding blues singer, with a deep confident voice that is amongst the best i have heard in blues from the 20's. there are eleven sides from mr daniels included (4 of them alternate takes), and i would say they are must haves for blues fanatics. there are six other artists/bands included on this set, and they are good in their own right, but it is peg leg howell, curly weaver, and julius daniels that really standout on this package. the sound quality ranges from excellent to bad (a few of the curly weaver tracks are particularly rough on the ears), but mostly it is fine. i highly recommend this set to old-time music fans. for the novice, i would say this is not the place to start (try robert johnson for starters), but a collection to work your way towards. enough said.

2 comments about Cradle of Jazz.

1. This box set has a good mix of well known and influential jazz music from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, and with 40 CDs each about an hour long, it took me quite a long time just to listen to all of them enough times to start to recognize the songs.

   However, after having listened to all of the CDs about a dozen times over the last few years, I feel that I have cultivated a broad knowledge of jazz standards. Now, when I go to a jazz club or even just listen to the radio, I can frequently name songs that my friends mistakenly assume are originals.

   The drawback of this collection is that many of the recordings, and the ones from the 20s, in particular, are inevitably of poor quality. In fact, it often sounds like the drummer was banging on a pie tin or the vocalist sang underwater. Nevertheless, more than two-thirds of the recordings are of acceptable sound quality, and I urge any one looking to expand his knowledge of early jazz for a pittance to buy this collection.

   I am giving this collection 5 stars despite the sometimes poor sound quality because it is such a bargain and provides a good, if not entirely comprehensive education in early jazz.




2. Nearly 40 hours of digitally remastered original 78s and 45s for less than $1 each. No, you aren't getting the 1000 greatest hits of the 30s & 40s, but this is a great collection, but at 10% of the price, you get a lot of standards.

   Also see the similarly priced "Big Band Box" and "Great Vocalists of Jazz and Entertainment" collections by the German "History" label.

1 comments about From Swing to Bebop.

1. The History label has put out several box sets of 40 jazz CDs. I have three and plan to buy more.

   Compared to the other two History label box sets I have, The Cradle of Jazz and The Big Band Box, the recordings in From Swing to Bebop are more recent than the other two, and so the sound quality is also markedly improved, although by no means flawless by today's standards.

   As in the other two, this box set gives a good overview of the leading musicians of the time with two CDs by each of Charlie Parker, Django Reinhardt, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, and three CDs of music by Fats Navarro. Notably absent is bebop legend Dizzy Gillespie, although Gillespie can be heard on a few of the tracks featuring other musicians.

   This collection is heavier on swing than it is with bebop, and purists would probably find fault with some of the selections and ommissions. However, given the price, I think any jazz fan can easily supplement gaps left behind in From Swing to Bebop and still save a bundle of cash as compared to trying to buy the music by all of these artists individually.

No comments about Only the Best of Ivory Joe Hunter (4-CD Bundle Pack).

5 comments about King R&B Box Set.

1. You get a lot with this box set, with certain obvious and unavoidable omissions (no JB of course)...
   
   But it seems surprising to me that certain artists are missing from this box set. For one, Joe Tex, who's Right Back To My Arms would be a perfectly respectable addition to the King story told here. AS to whether he was important to the label, it it probably important to include him in the sense that it was there that Joe learned the tough lessons of the music business, worked as a songwriter, had his first recording break, and also there that he wrote Little Willie John's 'Fever', a big hit for King, which he was forced to give away to cover a debt.



2. Read the other reviews....most are right on.

   What I want to add is Syd Nathan's 3 recorded talks are a cool insider look at a company of such musical importance, yet hardly anything is written about the inside workings of the company. Nathan is not a tyrant; he was a tough business man who had more taste than some of the other post-war record company owners. Compared to Lubinsky (Savoy) and Weiss (Old Town) and Blane (Jubilee), this guy was a pussycat!

   Of course, there's almost no James Brown - his sides are not the property of the current King owners.

   As far as one complaint about Joe Tex not on the box, hell, he cut a handful of early medicore sides for King....hardly a part of their history!

   What is missing, though (and this is what the 5th disc should've included) is the early sides by artists who made a splash on other labels (Joe Tex, Syl Johnson, etc.)

   But, ultimately, when you look over the history of King's R&B recordings, most of the really endearing favorites are here and sound great.




3. I'm giving this Box Set 3 stars only as a nod to the fabulous artists who appear here, most of whom never received the recognition they deserve. Some of my favorites include The "5" Royales, Hank Ballard, Little Willie John, and that nasty Wynonie Harris. Fortunately, as another reviewer suggests, you can buy decent CD collections by many of the individual artists presented in this incomplete box set.
   However, 2 stars glaringly missing belong to the late, great Joe Tex, and to the Godfather himself--James Brown--with only 1 (!) song!!
   Where are those spectacular recordings from Joe Tex's King days anyway?? Tunes like 'Get Way Back', 'Pnuemonia', (the seriously rockin')'Right Back in My Arms', Another Woman's Man...It's criminal he's not included here! And James Brown...He personifies the King label!!
   My advice is put together your OWN King collection.
   Buy vinyl. Call Rhino.



4. Rhythm and Blues is some of the toughest music available. This set focuses on the King label. Based out of Cincinnati, King gave artist like James Brown a chance. Hank Ballard also recorded at King records. Work With Me Annie is one of the best songs never played on oldies radio. The booklet is very imformative and the pictures are also nice. Many of the songs on this disc have been forgotten, but thanks to this collection, they just might make it back.



5. A great collection of songs from that infamous label run by Syd Nathan. Beside the scholarly enjoyment you can get out of so many songs in their seminal nature (Train Kept-Rollin, Big Ten-Inch Record, I'm Tore Down, I'll Drown In My Tears, K.C. Loving (aka Kansas City), The Twist, and many many more) the MUSIC is fantastic. Dive in anywhere and enjoy. The only caveat is the booklet is poorly written - - focusing too much on Syd Nathan and giving very incomplete information on the artists themselves - PLUS, there are no songwriting credits! Which is a crime of high order. The only other thing to watch out for is the 4th CD is pretty much tapes of Syd Nathan talking for a half an hour. But otherwise it is a must to own and share.

No comments about Big Band Renaissance.

No comments about Vol. 3: The War and Post War Years 1940-51.

3 comments about Blues Classics.

1. The consolidation of record companies is generally bad, but this 3-CD box set was only possible because MCA acquired the rights to some outstanding early "race" record labels (Vocalion, Decca) and classy early R&B (e.g. Chess). The result is an intelligent, sequenced collection that is much more than a jarring, random assortment of songs by blues masters. Starting with the Delta blues, the mix seems subtly slanted in favor of bawdy, roadhouse-style blues performances--why it's the devil's music and you can't stay away from it. Whether it's Peetie Wheatstraw, Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker or Etta James, these performances will seduce you. Good quality sound throughout (even the old stuff), with a handsome booklet.



2. I own tons of blues CD's and records but I find myself going back to this collection over and over again. The songs represent some of the strongest recordings by the masters of the blues. Whether your interest is delta blues, piano blues, jump blues, Chicago blues or smooth urban blues; you'll find plenty to peak your ear. If you're lucky as I was, you'll find some unfamiliar and great artists to lead you down new musical roads. Some of my personal favorites are: That's No Way to Get Along - Robert Wilkins, What's the Matter with the Mill? - Kansas Joe McCoy, Floating Bridge - Sleepy John Estes, Mother Earth - Memphis Slim, It Serves You Right to Suffer - John Lee Hooker- just to name a few. Since I've got a 1,000 word limit in this review it prevents me from listing every great track on the collection and all the reasons you should purchase it. Suffice to say, buy it now and you won't be sorry!



3. I have purchased a lot of Blues recordings recently, but for a single purchase, this collection would be the best. It has the one or two most recognized songs from the most prominent Blues artists from 1927 to 1969, without the "scratches" of the old '78's!!!

No comments about Blues Guitar Legends.

2 comments about Essentially John Mayall.

1. With a musical pedigree extending back to the mid 1960's, John Mayall is certainly (still) one of the stalwart blues/rock practitioners who at 70+ years has managed to carry the "U.K. Blues" torch into the 21st century.
   
   This box set includes a nice representation of his later efforts (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 respectfully) and is a great place to begin if you are somewhat new to his decidedly British interpretation. Throughout his career just about everyone who had/has been apart of the U.K. blues scene has graced his albums.
   
   1) Padlock on the Blues (1999), 13 trks, total time= 59:57
   2) Along for the Ride (2001), 13 trks, total time= 61:10
   3) Stories (2002), 14 trks, total time= 67:03
   4) 70th Birthday Party (2003), single disc version, total time= 75:16
   5) Live and Unreleased (1966-1994), 11 trks, total time= 66:19
   
   Many great blues musicians assist throughout these discs, popping up here and there to make certain tracks really stand out depending (i guess) on how you like your blues and what specifically has you "hooked" into the blues groove. Whatever, it's all done with careful craft and it's just loose enough to be as much fun as serious. Several tracks are well above the 10 minute mark, sparking it for those who dig those bluesy jams.
   
   The liner notes included in booklet form give a sparse but informative overview on what makes John Mayall the ultimate white-blues frontman, and why those relevant in the blues world gravitate to him and groove under his direction.



2. JOHN MAYALL NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.A PURIST OF THE BRITISH BLUES SCENE,HE HAS PRESENTED A WHO'S WHO OF BAND MEMBERS THAT HAVE GONE ON TO FAME IN THEIR OWN RIGHT...CLAPTON,McVIE,TAYLOR,THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.AT MAYALL'S AGE HE JUST KEEPS GOING AND HIS MATERIAL IS STRONG.TRUE TO HIS CHARACTER AND MUSIC HE IS A NO-NONSCENSE FRONT MAN.THIS COLLECTION OF CD'S IS EXCELLENT AND THE TALENT SAMPLED IN MAYALL'S BANDS KEEPS THE MATERIAL STRONG.BUY IT ,ENJOY IT!!!!