5 comments about Don't Look Back.

1. this is A great modern day blues record from the best blues man in the buisness.John lee Hooker sings great and all songs are very cool.Don't be spooked by these other reviews.They are way off on this one.Trust me on this one and for the price it's a steal.



2. Like too many blues artists, Hooker tends to be reduced to a primitivist stereotype. Rather than being a creative artist whose depth of spirit, intellect, music and poetry create a new power and product with his music, he is misinterpreted as some kind of relict of an older or truer blues tradition. Rather than a real artist, he is dehumanized as the real thing! Nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing could minimize his artistry more.
   
   Hooker's music falls into the generation of the R & B bluesmen of the late 1940s who brought the stream of music from the Delta--Johnny Lee being from Clarksdale--to the North, Muddy Waters to Chicago, Johnny Lee to Detroit. Johnny's music, particularly his music from the late 1940s and 1950s when he was popular not among white ex folkies or whites who think they love the blues, but in the Black community, is impossible to understand outside of the context of postwar R & B, not the initial delta blues. The dance rhythm that proceeds from Boogie Chillun, King Snake, Boom Boom Boom, wouldn't have worked in a 1920s Juke Joint. It belongs someplace like Henry's Swing Club where a rockin' rhythm is coming from the attempt to combine the power of swing with the rock of the blues that created R & B in the 1940s.
   
   Hooker was a highly sophisticated musician who developed his own off-shoot from the traditional trajectory of blues artists. Starting with the great female blues stars and Blind Lemon Jefferson, the direction of blues has been to harmonize the essential modal African-based musics of the blues.
   
   Hooker took the music in an entirely different method, by returning to the modal base of the music. To do so he essentially goes away from the tendency of blues musicians to develop the music into a band music. He solves the problem of filling the sound that had become expected without the harmonizing basis for different instruments to work together in a band by technological innovation, not tradition. He was the first bluesman to take full advantage of the ability of electric guitars and amplifiers to do more than make the sound of a guitar louder. He used the settings on guitar, amplified, and recording studio to create a new and different sound, and used the amplification to fill the spaces in the music others would need bands to fill. This decision was really in the vanguard of the electric guitar revolution in blues, rock, country, and all popular music that exploded in the 1950s and has yet to end.
   
   Hooker with accompanying musicians and bands. Some of the best sides came when he was recorded not with other blues players but with some of the top Jazz players in the late 1950s. His modal music, excellent timing, free form improvisation and general cool made his records sell not only among blues players but Jazz lovers back in the day. This speaks to how advanced his rhythmic sense really was. There was also a confluence between Hooker and some of the most advanced Jazz players of the late 1950s and 1960s who sought similar modal solutions to the problems of jazz improvisation.
   
   Get this, and then get everything else Hooker Did. My favorites are the recordings Hooker did in the late 1940s and early 1950s aimed at an R & B audience as well as the sides he did in the 1960s for Vee-Jay a Black owned record company that produced him as a quality artist with great soundwork and free selection of his material. Hooker is really an electric artist, so some of the sides cut during the 1960's "folk revival" where he's made to play an acoustic are kind of an insult to his artistry and history, though like everything Hooker did,they were great music.



3. This is Hooker's latest original recording and the last one before he died in 2001. I have to say it's quite different from most Hooker recordings I've heard. It is very important to note that this CD is one big collaboration with Van Morrison, and the blues you'll hear here (with the exception of the first track) are mellow, laid back, and smooth. It's an excellent recording, although more mainstream than the real raw Hooker that can be heard on earlier recordings. He's aged like fine wine, and at about 80 years old, I'd say he's holding his own with amazing class :)

   If you're new to Hooker, start either with this CD or "Healer". Healer is also an excellent recording (it does, however, have a lot more guest musicians). On this disk, you hear a more diluted Hooker, but you need to hear this before you hear the real raw Hooker.

   The first track with Los Lobos is excellent - makes you want to get up and dance. Second and Fourth track are duets with Morrison and are both excellent work. Red House is a take on a Hendrix classic, and while the guitar work can't compare to the Hendrix guitar, the vocals, I thought, are a lot better, grittier, more bluesy than Hendrix's own version.

   Get it - you won't regret it.




4. As a late convert to JLH's music, I like this a lot. More than the Healer actually.

   To sound this good at his age is like sipping a fine vintage wine.

   Long live Hooker!




5. If you're a fan of Van Morrison and his mellow style then you'll love this blues album. Of all the distinctive voices out there, John Lee's has to be the most unique. His almost-mumble singing plays well with Van's high pitched repetative style. An excellent collaboration produced by Van. A must have by fans of both musicians. Standout : "Don't Look Back".

1 comments about Happy Hour.

1. Ted Hawkins has a beautiful soulful sound and I know you will enjoy this CD especially Revenge of Scorpio. Great Cd to listen to in the car as well as relaxing at home

5 comments about The Best of Van Morrison [Audio Cassette].

1. Van listened to the old bluesmen in his youth back in Ireland. You can hear those influences when Van sings. This CD is excellent because it has all of the songs that van is famous for.



2. People who complain about this collection- pointing out that no single disc compilation can give a definitive portrait of Van Morrison's entire career, that it tends to ignore the man's more challenging and artistically minded work, that its haphazard sequencing makes it hard to get a feel for his evolution as a musician, etc.- seem to be ignoring one thing: this disc is a wonderful listen. No, it isn't definitive. It doesn't even try to be. It's supposed to be an accessible introduction, a way into Van Morrison's large and often daunting discography, a means of convincing you to drop your hard-earned cash on records like Moondance and Tupelo Honey and Astral Weeks and perhaps even the early albums when Van was a member of the garage band Them (thanks to the inclusion of the stunningly cathartic "Gloria," which epitomizes rock 'n' roll in its rawest form while conveying the feeling of unbottled teenage angst- it should give anyone who was or is a child goosebumps). And in that, it's incredibly successful. This disc is so fun to listen to that you're probably gonna want to run out and get at least three more Van albums before you've even listened to half of this thing. And honestly, how can you resist a single collection of songs that includes "Bright Side Of The Road," "Gloria," "Moondance," "Baby Please Don't Go," "Have I Told You Lately," "Brown Eyed Girl," and "Sweet Thing?" And that's just the first seven songs! The album does lose a bit of energy after that, and it is admittedly missing a few classics, but for the most part it's a great listen. You'll love it, trust me.



3. This compilation has arguably Van Morrisons best work. My personal favorites: Moondance (of course!!!), Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Thing, Warm Love, Jackie Wilson Said, Full Force Gail, Here Comes The Night, Domino, and Whenever God Shines His Light. There are a number of other great songs as well as those I listed. The one song I love that is not on this CD is Crazy Love. It is on the CD titled "Moondance" which also has some other great songs like Caravan, Into The Mystic, and Glad Tidings.
   
   I put this CD in and I just feel good. Van Morrison just does that to me.



4. The best thing about this album, eh CD, is that you may buy it for the hit songs that are included. If you do, you are in for a wonderful discovery, the other music on this CD is even better then the hits!! I have read this was produced without Van's help or even approval. Much has also been written about the "flow" of the songs. In the end it's all about the music, and this is a GREAT CD. Unless you do not like this genre of music at all (I guess metal heads beware), you will find much to like and possibly love about it. As someone else said in their review, I have given it as a gift frequently, and it's always been appreciatted. So if you are still on the fence, jump in and buy it. Signed Don Morrison (Van's brother). JK



5. There's no organization to the music on this cd which has always been one of the great joys of a Van Morrison release where one song seems to lead to another and the sound as a whole is like listening to one inspiring arrangement but even with that in mind this collection is wonderful. Rather then having one large spiritual experience, you get 20 small spiritual miracles. Because to me, Van's music has always been so full of soul it is like a spiritual ride.

No comments about Atlantic Jazz: Singers.

1 comments about Sweet Soul Music.

1. This CD may still be available...if you're lucky. I wouldn't delay ordering it if you're any kind of Tracy Nelson fan at all. But last I heard, it is officially out of print, so time's a-wastin'.

   Having said that, I should add that this may be Tracy's most flawed recording in her 30-some year recording history. It's not bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but production-wise, it is far from perfect. On some tracks, her powerful voice seems muted, almost buried under the instrumentation (if that's possible!). The arrangements are actually a little too busy on some tracks, and it almost seems as though singer and band are in different rooms.

   However, there's scarcely such a thing as a bad Tracy Nelson album. She is one of the great singers of her generation, and it's shameful that her work isn't better known. Still, while I do recommend this CD, I would recommend that anyone who is not already familiar with this wonderous singer's work also order some of her other available product as well. For starters, try "The Best of Tracy Nelson/Mother Earth," "Tracy Nelson Country," any of the Rounder Records releases from the 90's or her most recent, indie effort, "Ebony and Irony."

   (And note that that's "Irony" NOT "Ivory"!)

4 comments about Greatest Hits Live and More.

1. This is an excellent live rendering of "the best band ever that never made it big"-- most of the cuts originally were on their Live on High Street album from around 1990-- very tight for a live album-- recommend it to anyone. A band that any of us over about 45 who spent any time in the Midwestern US in the 70's or 80's will remember.



2. Growing up in Dayton made an impact on my life so did this band. My Pacer, my girl, Little Kings and Mcguffey Lane.



3. Being a greatest hits album, it is just that, a greatest hit after hit. I'll be glad when the band gets it due. How can you help but like it?

   5 STARS




4. As a long time McGuffey Lane fan. I was thrilled to hear the new songs mixed in with the old. It brought back a rush of good memories.

No comments about Great Moments in Jazz.

5 comments about Rising Son.

1. Ditto to what another reviewer said about seeing Big Bill Morganfield in person! I had the opportunity to see him up close at the Blues, BBQ & Fireworks event in NYC. I had never heard or seen him before, and I was completely blown away by him! If you think the CD is great, by all means, try to catch him in person!



2. Guy can rock...humorous take on some standard blues topics with great grooves.



3. I bought this CD after hearing Big Bill play live, not ten feet away from me. And if you think this CD is impressive, which it is, it's nothing compared to hearing the real thing. Big Bill Morganfield is an incredible live performer, and I highly recommend that any fan of this album catch his act in person. Fantastic!



4. I recently added this CD to my 300 plus blues CD collection. The guitar work by long time Muddy Waters guitarist, Bob Margolin is as solid as ever. The songs are well written and Big Bill has what it takes to deliver them in the tradition of the Blues. I am somewhat perplexed by the statements that this is Big Bill's "debut" however, as a year earlier, he recorded Big Bill Morganfield: Nineteen Years Old which is available on Taxim records directly at Taxim.com. Both CD's are worth adding to your collection as is Bob Margolin's Hold Me To It. All are highly recommended.



5. I agree with Eric.

   Naturally there will be some comparison to Muddy Waters (unfair, I might add - how do you compete with a legend on your first CD?), but I feel that Big Bill stands his own ground.

   I would have bought the CD anyway, regardless of his esteemed lineage because he is a real student of the Blues and it shows in his music. Just take a listen to "Left Hand Blues" and "Rising Son" - both written and deftly performed by him on slide guitar, for a taste of the mystical and melancholy feelings so artfully portrayed in the songs of the old blues masters.

   Some "Blues" CDs that I've recently heard sound more like easy listening than Blues.

   I think that Big Bill will be a fixture on the blues scene for years to come. - RR

No comments about Uptown Goes Downtown Tonight.

No comments about The Crazy Cajun Recordings.