2 comments about W.C. Handy's Beale Street--Where The Blues Began.

1. What made me purchase this CD was from a movie I saw on Tv called "St. Louis Blues" starring Nat King Cole. 1944b/w.
   
   It was of coarse the life story of W.C. Handy from Memphis Tennessee, who came from a strick religious background and developed the love for Jazz and the Blues. I watched this movie as I was trying to understand the nature of his dad who was a preacher in Memphis and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps to spread the word of the Lord.
   But he didn't and went in another direction and his pursuit of Jazz.



2. This CD is an excellent and an authenic display of W.C. Handy's wonderful compositions. Many blues and jazz musicians have covered these wonderful tunes throughout the 20th and now 21st century but few have heard what these songs originally sounded like. By using the instrumention of the original W.C. Handy band and through clever arrangemnts by Carl Wolfe, this CD is a musical reenactment of how the W.C. Handy band sounded back in the 1910's and early 20's. Each song on this CD has been a musical gem since its publishing(these songs range from 1909 to 1932) but being able to hear them in their original form is a true treat. I feel that the music of W.C. Handy is entertaining, fun, and timeless. This CD can be enjoyed by anyone who likes music. Also, if you would like the sheet music to these great songs I recommend the book "Blues: An Anthology" by W.C. Handy.

1 comments about Blues Masters, Vol. 1: Urban Blues.

1. While more horn-driven and less raw and guitar reliant than other forms of blues, the urban style nonetheless provides its own spectacular highlights, some of the best of which are right here:
   Guitar Slim's "The Things That I Used To Do" is a must-have for any uptown blues compilation, and T-Bone Walker's "T-Bone Blues", Big Joe Turner's "Chains Of Love", "Laudromat Blues" by Albert King, and Bobby Bland's "Farther up the Road" are prime examples as well. Otis Rush's classic "I Can't Quit You Baby" is more Chicago blues than urban blues, actually, but it is a welcome addition nonetheless.

   They could have done better by "Every Day I Have The Blues", which should have been included in Memphis Slim's stately original rendition, and why isn't B.B. King represented?
   But those are minor complaints, really. This is a fine place to go for a sampler (you should get "Blues Masters volume 2" as well for a taste of the rough, tough Chicago blues), and even though it's far from being definitive, it will provide the newcomer with an excellent introduction.

No comments about Remastered 1935-1938.

2 comments about Poor Man's Heaven: Blues & Tales of the Great Depression.

1. Great sides, but as usuaual, record companies have no idea how to remaster shellac pressings. They make them sound muddy and life-less. They think surface noise will offend our ears more than the original music. They are supposed to sound bright, punchy with solid bass. I had a hell of a time pulling these out of the hole using Sound Forge.



2. The entire series is exellent, and it features great and well known blues artists as well as obscure and forgotten ones, who either influenced rock'n'rollers of another generation, or performed songs that rock'n'rollers covered in the 60's onward. These recordings are generally from the 20's all the way to just before WWII.

   This particular cd in the When The Sun Goes Down(Bluebird) series, is titled Poor Man's Heaven-The Secret Histry Of rok'n'roll, and thsi cd differs from all the others, in taht is is primarlily white artists and vaudeville entertainers, with the acception of Sonny Boy Williamson and several other blues artists. These recordings all have to do with the great depression and the stock market crash of 1929. Great hot dancebands liek the High Hatters are here doing peppy and energetic versions of "Ten Cents A Dance" also there are some rural country artists and fiddlers, thsi cd has a veriety of unique and obscure eprformances, all are very intriguing. This cd makes a great listening from beginning to end, and si worhty of repeated listenings. From the opening spoken dialouge by Eddie Cantor to the calypso oriented ending song. A well done cd, that makes one realize that rock'n'roll didn't just happen overnight with elvis in 1955! And belive me thsi isn't just a collevtion for old people or people over 30 years old, I'm 16 and a huge rockabilyl fan, and I love this cd and the series, so I thin kit's geared towards younger generations, but evreyone will enjoy it, my Grandpa loves it, and so do my parents and friends. cool music!!!

No comments about Herald Ember Blues-Living the Wildlife.

2 comments about Best There Ever Was: Legendary Early Blues.

1. I've been getting into this stuff for the last year or so and this is, far and away, the best "sampler" cd that I have found. In fact, it's much more satisfying to listen to these songs in this sequence than it is to listen to them on a compilation of pre-war 78's by a single artist.
   
   Sure, Robert Johnson is great, but listening to all of his songs back to back to back can be a bit repetitive musically. After all, no one was making albums back then. Only singles, which often were variations on a theme which weren't intended to be played one directly after another. (I realize that Robert Johnson doesn't appear on this cd, but I am simply making a point.) Johnson's King of the Delta Blues Singers is a great album, but, I would argue, this is a better one. And that's really saying something.
   Not every song chosen is the most commonly acknowledged "best" song by that particular artist, but that is actually to this disc's advantage. For example, "Cypress Grove" by Skip James is absolutely great, even if it's not as widely praised a "Devil Got My Woman." This strategy helps to prove the merits of an artist like Skip. He is not a one hit wonder. (Insofar as anything by Skip James has ever really been considered a "hit."
   One last note: In the R. Crumb documentary, track number 13, "Last Kind Work Blues" by Geeshie Wiley, is the 78 rpm record which Crumb plays in his home as he assumes a near-fetal position.



2. This is actually my second time purchasing this. I wore out the first copy. This is, simply put, the most concentrated "cream of the crop" of pre-war guitar blues ever put out and the best sounding as well. Garfield Aker's Dough Roller is a masterpiece of the first order and there are few things on the set that don't compete neck to neck with this one. A real value and a wonder to hear!

5 comments about Conversations in Swing Guitar.

1. The reviewer who put down Robillard's playing on this has got to have his head up his you know what! Duke Robillard really demonstrates his swing chops on this one - Duke is a master of many styles including blues in the style of the likes of T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Magic Sam, you name it - and jazz in the style of Charlie Christian - He has a very hard hitting swinging style and he comes up with interesting musical ideas in each of his solos. Herb, of course, is a terrefic soft-spoken jazz guitarist. Like Jim Hall he always has subtle tricks up his sleeve. This is by no means a perfect cd - but my rage at the other review has pushed it from a 4 to a 5. It is a fun listen!



2. This is one of the greatest swing albums of all time. I'm not exactly sure who played what parts (someone said that the channel credits were reversed), but Ellis and Robillard both sound great. They seem to have a bottomless well of creative and melodic swing phrases that they can throw around at will. This album will put you in a good mood quick. Make sure to check out the sequel album too - it's just as good.



3. I can't pick up my own guitar without trying to play some of the lines Duke puts together on these numbers! He really smokes on "Easin' In". Unlike what some others may say, I think his swing chops are awreet and that the major problem here is that Herb Ellis is a little stale and staccato, but that's only compared with the Herb of yesteryear. This album is a fine excursion into this genre of jazz/blues and will be appreciated by more than just a purist jazz or blues oriented audience. Buy it and enjoy!



4. This is a nice recording of swing and blues style guitar. Lots of fun to listen to -- like sitting in on a friendly jam session. Duke Robillard really shines on "Avalon" and the bluesier numbers and Herb Ellis sounds like he's having fun throughout. Recommended for swing fans or those new to jazz guitar.



5. This a fun and likeable CD of pleasant swing/blues numbers, but if you are wanting to hear great guitar, don't look here. This CD really points out Robillard's weakness as a jazzer.

   Robillard, a fine blues player, doesn't hit the mark here in several ways: he often seems to miss what he is trying to do with his solos, he falters and misses notes regularly, his note choices are amateur quality and unhip, and perhaps worst of all, his comping under Ellis is obtrusive and awkward, Pairing him with a well weathered pro like Ellis, though now well past his prime, is odd - Ellis completely smokes Robillard without even trying. Ellis' solos are creative, swinging, and coherent, and his comping is so perfectly supportive that you don't even notice it (this is a compliment).

   I am surprised Robillard's own sense of quality control didn't prevent this from being released --I'm sure you love this music, Duke, but either stick to the blues or do some shedding before releasing jazz CDs -- Charlie Christian you aint!

1 comments about Cowboy Poetry Classics.

1. This is the real old time Cowboy story telling. Written by old timers and read by modern Cowboy Poetry "Stars" A great listen.

1 comments about Telarc's We Got the Blues.

1. I buy a lot of "samplers" looking for songs or artists that I haven't heard before. I bought this one a while back because it was just too cheap to pass up and what a surprise! There's a great mix of blues styles and proven performers, and the music mix and sound quality were much better than I expected.

   This is a great bargain!

5 comments about House of Blues: Essential Blues V.1.

1. I bought the Shoebox Full of Blues which contains this disc, and the selection and quality is first rate. There isn't a bad track on the disc, and the mastering is superb. These may be the highest quality versions of these classics you'll hear. Blues purists may argue that vinyl is the only "true" way to listen to these, but who among us has pristine vinyl and the equipment to do it justice?
   
   I wish I had known about the commentary/intros mentioned in another review of this title (There's no mention of the commentary on the reviews or details of the box set). I too find them extremely annoying, and really detest the fact that the produces grafted them onto the end of tracks instead of making them standalone cuts. For all of us that rip our CD's to MP3 there is a cure. It takes a few minutes, but it's worth it. Grab MP3Trim, a free MP3 editor from http://www.mptrim.com/ Then trim from the end of these cuts as indicated.
   
   Killing Floor - 28 Seconds
   Better Off With The Blues - 19 Seconds
   Mojo Hand - 43 Seconds
   Walking The Backstreets And Crying - 35 Seconds
   Let's Straighten It Out - 27 Seconds
   Rainin' In My Heart - 31 Seconds
   
   I'd also suggest you adjust the volume by -3 db when you trim or you'll induce some clipping on the edited tracks.
   
   Once you do that, and assuming you don't rip the intro that starts each disc, you're left with 30 tracks of nothin' but Blues, guaranteed to make you want more.



2. I have had this C.D. for at least 6 years and it is still one of my favorites. I also happen to like the introductions that the other reviewer found annoying...it makes me feel like I am at the show. I bought my CD at the House of Blues in New Orleans and it brings back great memories of my trip. Several of my friends have heard the CD and wanted to buy it.



3. While the music here is solid and the packaging first rate, the incredibly annoying voiceover to announce which artist is up next interupts the music's flow and is enough to make one hit the eject button. And that's after the first listen. Trying to get through it again and again is next to impossible. To add insult to injury, because the VO is tacked onto the back of the tracks, RIPing the disc and removing the offending noise isn't a workaround unless you want to start editing audio files.

   Gimme music without interruption.




4. This set provides the listener with a broad variety of blues sounds, and is perfect for the person who can't decide on just one artist. Two thumbs up, five stars, and all that stuff too.



5. This set provides the listener with a broad variety of blues sounds, and is perfect for the person who can't decide on just one artist. Two thumbs up, five stars, and all that stuff too.