No comments about A Celebration of Blues: Women in Blues.

2 comments about Led Zeppelin's Sources of Inspiration.

1. This album is the bomb-diggity for any blues fan.... I am not even sure if you have to like Led Zeppelin or not... you are not going to recognize these songs if you take Led Zep as your starting point. I remember buying this CD for about 8 bucks at a small record store, taking it home... and being blown away. I was listening to it for months... I think it's from Sweden. I have no idea why it costs so much here; must be the rarity of the recordings - these particular ones are very hard to find and they have this old velvety feeling to them. Anyway, I would have held on to the CD better, had I known it would cost 50 bucks. I would buy it again if it was like 15.



2. For a band that expected to break up shortly after there 1st release zeppelin became rock gods and this album takes a great road to show there inspriation and the greatness of zeppelin 20 awsome traks on a scale of 1-5 6 .... but this goes to 6

5 comments about Nice & Warm.

1. I think Tab Benoit is a musians musian.He plays his music with a passion.
   Johnny Lang thought so much of Nice and Warm he covered it on his first cd. Tabs music is the blues cajun style.I've seen him play live and he gives you more than your monies worth.This cd is one of his best and I have them all.



2. When I first got the album, I thought it was good. The vocals are pretty good for a white guy singing the blues. There are plenty of good white blues guitarists out there, but to really be able to sing the blues well is rare. Not great singing, but expressive, gruff, and with a nice feel.
   
   Now to the guitar playing: I played this for some friends of mine who, at the time, were deeply into playing electric blues themselves. They scoffed. I was wounded. I went back and listened again and again.
   
   10 years later, I've listened to enough blues to have, what I humbly think, is a relatively objective opinion.
   
   If you heard Tab play in a blues bar, it would be a good night. The guy can throw down some decent blues. I still feel that he sings pretty well. His guitar playing, though, is that of a good hobbyist. I've heard mechanics, dentists, and plumbers play as well or better. This isn't to put him down, but go to youtube and search Robben Ford or Larry McCray. Tab just isn't in the same league as seasoned and naturally talented blues guitar players. Larry McCray's live clips in particular will blow you away.
   
   Must we compare? Actually, yes. There must be some standard!
   
   He sounds like he's trying a little too hard, or its a tad sloppy, or the phrasing is off. Hard to explain, but I don't get that sense of awe hearing him play.
   
   Take it for what it is. I call it Blues Lite- not bad, but is it worth your hard earned clams?



3. This is a great blues album. His covers of three of my favorite blues classics "I'll Put A Spell on You", "Killing Floor" and "Drowning on Dry Land" are loving, soulful tributes...and great renditions in their own right. Benoit can wring a piercing cry from that guitar that makes your spine shudder and brings tears to your eyes.



4. A co-worker of mine made me a tape of 'nice and warm' as a parting gift. I didn't know who played it or the name of the tape. I only knew it was blues. After listening to it I was floored. I was thoroughly impressed. His guitar playing was rawest, raunchiest, sweetest, and most refreshing sound I had heard in ages. His licks make my skin crawl with goosebumps. My favorite line is (paraphrased) "I feel like I'm drowning in dry land... and that's a bad way of going down". If you like blues and even if you don't love the blues, you'll be glad you got your hands on this hot CD.



5. THIS ALBUM CONTAINS SOME OF THE CHUNKIEST, MEATIEST BLUES GUITAR COMMITTED TO DISC. AT TIMES THE LEAD BREAKS CAN BE OVERLY FRENETIC & EAR -DRUM DISTURBING BUT WHEN TAB RETURNS TO THE GUTS OF THE TUNE THEN ITS A GUITAR LOVERS FEAST. VOCALLY HE IS NOT EARTH SHATTERING BUT CERTAINLY MORE THAN ADEQUATE. AS A FIRM BELIEVER THAT SLOW BLUES ARE A NECESSARY EVIL I MERELY BIDE MY TIME THROUGH THE LESS UP TEMPO NUMBERS THIRSTING FOR THE START OF ONE OF A NUMBER OF BRILLIANT "KEEP STILL IF YOU DARE" BLUES BOOGIE SMORGASBORDS. THIS ALBUM LEAD ME TO PURCHASE ALL OTHER TAB BENOIT RELEASES.GET YOUR LISTENING FANGS INTO THIS AURAL DELIGHT AND I'M SURE YOU'LL FOLLOW SUIT. THE VERY BEST MOMENTS ON THIS ALBUM ARE WHAT MAKES MUSIC SUCH AN ADDICTION TO ME IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHEN AN ALIEN LANDS ON EARTH UTTERING "WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT MUSIC? " AN EARFULL OF THIS WILL SOON CONVINCE HIM HE SHOULD REMAIN ON THE PLANET FOR GOOD. PURCHASE NOW TO DO YOURSELF A MONUMENTAL FAVOUR.

3 comments about The Blues Roots of Led Zeppelin.

1. I have been a blues fan and a fan of Led Zeppelin for years. [...] It is not the roots, but elements of Zeppelin constantly brought up throughout the albums. Along with the roots, they may have stolen the whole tree. Songs like 'When the Levee Breaks' and 'Nobody's Fault but Mine' are near identical to the originals but if you look at the writing credits for Zeppelin, they go to the band. I view this album as more of an expose than a tribute to blues. It's more of the painful reality that American racism kept the original blues down and instead all you heard was a hyped-up echo that was British bands like Zeppelin, The Who, and the Stones. Sure, they did a lot to unearth the origins, but this album is a reminder that respects haven't been fully paid just yet.
   
   But back on top. This album is good. It's a good reflection of early blues with Mr. Johnson and Leadbelly, among other greats. Good album if you want to hear the originals.



2. the only thing that keeps me from giving this five stars is the lack of howling wolf songs on here... "no place to go" (sometimes called "you gonna wreck my life") comes to mind first. but it's a great transition cd: i let friends borrow it who are kinda hesitant to get into blues but already love zeppelin.



3. First of all do not get the impression that this is a remake of Zeppelin tunes. This is the raw source from where Jimmy and the boys had cut their teeth on. If you are a stanch blues fan like I am, you will appreciate this disk for what it represents. If not, then you will find no use for it. I personally like knowing what inspired certain artists and enjoyed this copulation. If you weren't a blues fan before, it will introduce you to a new (old) area of music field that is very entertaining and satisfying, compared to the norm.

   I gave this a 3 star rating because I owned most of the selections, prior to listening to "The Roots of Led Zeppelin".

5 comments about What You See is What You Get.

1. 'What you see is what you get" simply a fantastic record, Lil Ed who was a nephew and very worthy successor of the brilliant J.B.HUTTO and also follower of the ways of the not less genial HOUND "Dog" TAYLOR nowadays is one of the main craftsman of Chicago Blues and the Blues in general. With respect to this wonderful record all songs shine at a same level although for me the three slow Blues "Older woman", "Living room for today", "Long long way from home" and the song which gives the title to the record "What you see is what you get" they seem me really fascinating, by the way this last jump blues which gives the title to the record could have called "What you hear is what you get" and it have been likewise very good. Well, coming to the point a record for my between 4 and 4,5 stars, first class Blues, highly recommended.



2. This is a wonderful good time blues session. This is blues that jumps, rocks, swings and has attitude. All the musicians are great and this is a wonderful party good time cd!!!



3. I love this album particularly for the great slide guitar of Lil' Ed. The slow blues 'Living for today' is one of my favourite tracks ever. The other slow blues 'Older Woman' and 'Long, Long Way from home' are almost as good. The upbeat tracks are generally great fun and get the feet moving. The album almost has a live feel.



4. Really a great blues band,with few members and great feelings! Alligator is an iluminated seal,with many great surprises to the bluesfans all over the world.Iglauer,thanks a lot!



5. Three of us saw them at "Wonderfuls" in Portage,MI {10-24-98)......Total killer blues, more ...more...more..!

4 comments about The Best of Chicago Blues.

1. A fine companion piece to Chicago/the Blues/ Today. A few tracks are duplicated on this but, but mainly, it's more of what is found on the earlier, classic, three cd set. Especially for fans of Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, James Cotton and a few of these other blues heroes. Even for a Vanguard blues anthology without Otis Rush, this is a wonderful set.



2. Today, October 23, 2005...a drizzly, cold Sunday afternoon in Boston, I brought out this great 2-record vinyl LP from my old 60's-70's collection. As I wiped off the dust and placed it on my turntable, I flashed back to the hundreds of times over a 35-yr period that I've received tremendous pleasure and joy listening and turning my friends on to THE Blues as recorded on this LP. Having stood the classic test of time, it still sounds amazing after all these years...even with the scratches!
   I'm thrilled that this album has been re-released as I'm about to order it on CD! A MUST FOR ANY LOVER OF THE BLUES AS WELL AS ANYONE OPEN TO EXPLORING THIS GREAT AMERICAN GENRE FOR THE TIME!



3. After heaing this LP for the first time, nothing was ever the same for me, musically, ever again. From this, I steadily found my way through the blues, and into straight ahead jazz. Hearing James (then 'Jimmy') Cotton's "Rocket 88", or Buddy Guy's rendition of "Money" still makes me shiver. This is a great compilation of some great urban, electric blues, as well as some 'pining' southern influenced rural stuff ( Johnny Young's "Stealin", "Mule Kickin 'In My Stall", "Tobacco Road"). Otis Spann's "Spann's Stomp" and "Twisted Snake" cross deep into the early jazz genre. Marvelous stuff here for real blues lovers.



4. A great compliation of classic electric Chicago Blues. All the performances are top notch from Buddy Guy's "Sweet Little Angel" to Otis Spann's vituosity on the keyboards to the fat full sound of Big Walter Horton this CD is a winner in everyway. A must have!

1 comments about Vee-Jay: Celebrating 40 Years of Classic Hits 1953-1993.

1. It's amazing to take note of countless Vee Jay CDs and CD boxed sets over the years. There's alot of recycling. Look through your record collection - you might find you already have 60% of the product!
   Well-selected discs, with well-written liner notes by Billy Vera.
   A major impetus for me in buying Vee Jay product is the chance of finding even a few seconds of "new" sound by Little Richard, who has a generally impressive catalogue for the label. I was distressed to find that one track, qualified as previously unissued in the USA, was the B-side of a 1965 USA release, that another song was a near-hit with the same substandard fidelity as on the '64 release; it was nice to have the Soul Classic, "I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me" in it's 4:44 glory. But historains and casual fans alike: there's a rarely used alternate take of the song, significantly different, which could have been used in place of the very accessible two tracks mentioned. One more thing on the King: with reports of alternate takes of "Dance What You Wanna", and a never issued track called "Thank You", plus the chance to offer (if available) stereo pressings of even one of those all too well-known remakes, the fan is left, once again...to wonder.
   That does not degrade the collection over-all. Even LR might say...Oh My Soul! hearing Fred Hughes' [presumptive] reference disc for Bo Diddley's super "Ooh, Baby" from '67, or the Dells' "It's Not Unusual".
   Of course, the songlist speaks for utself - what a label - providing top-drawer commercial and artistic successes in several genres.
   Vee Jay is surely one of the foundational labels...but to repeat, check your carousel first.

5 comments about Picture This.

1. I don't give out good reviews easily, this one deserves all five stars. All around great album, not a clinker on it. Great singing ,songwriting, guitar playing, even I can't think of anything bad to say about this album. Buy It!



2. I canned the other album "Tales from the AustinMotel" as sweet studio plastic muzik. It's difficult to believethis is from the same artist! Real blues feel, much more laid back licks, great vocals. I don't think Eric will feel too threatened in spite of the optimistic rewiewer from "Music Connection" "Davies exhibits guitar playing virtuosity with the likes of Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan" Well they are certainly entitled to think that, but I think Ms Davies real strength is in her voice, good guitar, great voice!



3. Debbie Davies is the best thing to happen to the blues since Stevie and Albert passed. She is simply one of the best guitarists I have ever heard. I've had the pleasure of seeing her live and it's not studio magic, she really is that good. Of all her releases this one ranks as my favorite. It is pure blues and all about guitar. Later releases concentrated more on her vocals, to the detriment of her guitar playing.



4. can`t go wrong with this cd...some of the best blues around!!



5. Debbie Davies backed Albert Collins for years in his band the Icebreakers. Dueling guitars with him sharpened Davies skills. Imagine Stevie Ray Vaughn and Albert Collins rolled into one and female and you have Debbie Davies. One of my favorites!

1 comments about Genuine Houserockin' Music III.

1. When this album first came out it seemed memorable. As time goes on, its impact diminishes. However, the AC Reed track featuring Bonnie Raitt almost makes up for the rest. Her slide guitar ranks. Most of the other tracks are highlights from other Alligator albums but they generally no longer measure up.

2 comments about "C" for Chicago.

1. I grew up in Chicago, and went to California for school (back in Chitown now). I was itching for some blues in the Bay Area, and ran across Steve Freund playing at a local dive and, man, this guy is for real. He owns that electric guitar, and his voice is perfect for the blues. A couple guitars, a bass, drums, maybe a harp thrown in -- not an overdone production, and not just a lone voice and a guitar, it's that perfect medium. Ya know how sometimes you like a musician, but the album is overproduced or poorly recorded and for whatever reason you're disappointed? Don't worry man, this stuff is beautiful (as is his other album "I'll Be Your Mule"). Best tracks? The title track, Jumpin' in Shadows, and Working Man can't be beat.
   
   I don't know why Freund isn't a bigger name. This is real Chicago blues.



2. I am a lifelong Chicago resident and a big fan of the blues. I have had the pleasure of seeing Steve perform many times, both as a sideman and a leader and he has never failed to totally ignite a crowd. I was lucky enough to take a few guitar lessons from Steve some years back. He advised me then to try and say what you mean in as few notes as possible. In other words, distill it to it's essence. I think you'll hear that philosophy in practice on this disc. From the jump style of "Please Love Me" to his soulful take on Duster Bennett's "Jumpin' at Shadows" you'll hear a performer who walks the walk AND talks the talk. Steve's biography as a session and sideman is one all musicians would envy. His playing on this disc is a touchstone for aspiring guitarists who seek the truth about taste and tone as well as the blues lover who is sick of the same tired retreads of hokey covers. Buy it, you will not be sorry.