5 comments about Classics & Collectibles.

1. This music belongs in any cd collection that is purported to contain the best popular music ever recorded. Though there are 51 songs here, here is the lineup that one can program one's cd player to play: Son of a Preacher Man (remember Pulp Fiction?); I Only Want to Be With You; If You Go Away (Jacques Brel classic); The Look of Love; How Can I Be Sure; Spooky. And throw in You Don't Have to Say You Love Me when in the mood. The rest of the songs are interesting enough. Her smoky, inimitable voice, the '60s-style sometimes dreamily cool, sometimes danceable arrangements represent the best of an era in pop music as significant as any. And she did more than hit the notes and keep the beat. She bends the notes in the right places, and possesses a distinctive and remarkably warm voice.



2. This is a great 2-CD set of Dusty Springfield, from when she first began recording through her tragically short career. For Dusty Springfield fans, the sound is crisp and clean and the songs bring back many fond memories...what's not to enjoy??



3. While one can't argue with the price of this 2-CD set, one wonders why all these redundant compilations of Dusty's music are necessary? And, since most of them were released after her untimely death in 1999, there's a certain aroma of crass cashing in by serving what this writer calls the Necrophiliac Music Market. It seems every time a musician dies, their record sales skyrocket. It happened with Elvis, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, et al. In other words, who's raking in this dough? Certainly not the late great artist. And, therein lies the tragic irony of Dusty Springfield. It would appear Dusty has had more albums released after her way too early demise than she ever did in life. This is but one of many postmortem compilations floating around.
   
   While the song choices cover just about every phase of Dusty's 40-year career, including her early days with The Springfields, their chronology has been totally ignored. Why this album doesn't begin with the Springfields' tracks followed by Dusty's first solo hit "I Only Want To Be With You" defies logic. Why the first disc ends with the Kurt Weill-esque "Soft Core" and the second disc begins with the insipid, non-Dusty hit "Close To You" is but one example of the disjointed, herky-jerky musical progression of this album. With no prevailing theme and no natural segues, this album leaves the listener confused and unsatisfied.
   
   This writer gave it 4 stars only because it's Dusty. However, if you're truly a Springfield aficionado, might I suggest you pay the extra money and purchase the brilliant 4-disc compilation, "Simply Dusty" - the nearly 100 track, well-thought-out, chronological remastered compilation of Dusty's finest work.
   
   Dust was one of the 20th Century's most gifted vocalists/musicians. While this album will give the listener more than a glimpse of her incredible talent, the way this set is organized will not accord the new Dusty Springfield fan the opportunity to hear how Dusty grew and changed as an artist. "Simply Dusty" tells the whole story - this set is merely disjointed fragments of a fantastic talent's life's work.



4. "Classics and Collectibles" isn't simply yet another Dusty compilation cos it offers the original now-rarely-heard mono mixes of all except three of her British 60s singles and some genuine rarities that should appeal to fans and afficionados. Her biggest hits - inevitably the big ballads - are collected on the "Classics" CD. Her less well remembered hits - mostly uptempo numbers - are culled to accompany the rarities on the "Collectibles" CD.
   
   If I had to pick one song from the "Classics" CD that truly stands out, it's the mono mix of "Goin' Back" - it's a thrilling experience listening to it because this long forgotten singles mix is aurally so different from the conventional stereo mix we have come to know and love.
   
   The "Collectibles" CD is for afficionados where the goodies are at. Rarities to set the hearts of fans aflutter include "They Long To Be Close To You" with its Bacharach-styled musical intro restored, "The Corrupt Ones" preceded by a sequence of atmospheric studio chatter, an unedited "Heartbeat", alternative vocal takes of "Nothing" and "If Wishes Could Be Kisses", "Standing In The Need Of Love" (possibly the first song Dusty ever recorded as a solo artiste in late 1963), the original soundtrack version of "Sweet Ride" in terrific stereo, the rare singles mix of "Little By Little" (with distinctive backing vocals that go "ooh ooh" mysteriously excised from the stereo mix) and a much stronger stereo mix of "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" featuring alternative vocals from Dusty and audible background singers to close the CD. For completists, there's also the rare but much maligned "Sometimes Like Butterflies".
   
   To cap it all, Universal used a rare but beautiful shot of Dusty (circa 64/65) indulging her musical tastes in her Baker Street flat. For once, the record company is making an effort with the packaging.
   
   A great product. Highly recommended.



5. What a fabulous collection this is! Now, though I am not happy that they released some of her rare classics in mono mixes, I am still - however - glad that they put some huge rarities on here.
   
   Awhile back, I ran across her 'Stay Awhile/I Only Want to...," CD, and found the unreleased song 'Standing in the Need of Love' just wonderful. Too bad it wasn't released years back when it was recorded. The other thing I like are the never-before-released stuff: The full-edit of '(They Long To Be) Close To You,' the stereo soundtrack version of 'Sweet Ride,' a previously unreleased song, 'I Have Found My Way Through the Darkness,' an alternate vocal take of 'I Am Your Child,' the single mix of Dusty's 1978 comeback song, 'I'm Coming Home Again,' another unreleased song, 'Sweet Inspiration,' an unreleased edit of 'The Corrupt Ones,' and, uh, at long last... the unreleased stereo version of Dusty's timeless hit, 'I Just Don't Know What To Do with Myself.' I am so glad that this is finally being issued; at last!
   
   Get this CD, folks! I promise you... you won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Christmas Spirituals.

1. I knew of Odetta years ago, of course, Recently a singer in my commuity chorus wanted to sing Mary Had a Baby. So I got Odetta's version to be a role model. Performance was excellent. Better still, I ended up with the entire CD and it has become a welcome addition to my family's collection of Christmas music.



2. Really great album (all year round), but note that there are two different recordings. The original recording from 1963 is rougher with just Odetta and her guitar, the 1994 version is more heavily produced. I prefer the 1963 version but they are both great. If you want one or the other then be careful when ordering - I ordered the 1994 version as advertised but then received the 1963 version. The samples from the album on Amazon are from the 1963 recording.



3. This arenÕt the Christmas songs youÕll hear in the malls or at the parades. No Santa Claus. No reindeer. No snow. But for me it would not be Christmas without this glorious album. (Although, to be honest, the music is so beautiful, IÕve put it on many times in mid-summer, and it doesnÕt seem out of place. This is the only Christmas album I own that I could say that about). This is the essence of Christmas Ñ simple, unadorned songs about a poor baby king and his struggling mother, songs of hope, joy, and redemption. This is my antidote to exhausting Christmas shopping. Food for the heart and soul. And no one can sing these exquisite songs better than Odetta. Her voice is a great mixture of warm humanity and righteousness that makes these songs belong to her. She renews the meaning of Christmas. Even in July.



4. Everytime I have a Christmas party, I play this CD and people say, "Who IS that?" They are so delighted to discover Odetta's Christmas music.

   If you had to pick one new Christmas CD this year, this is one everyone will enjoy....Souful without being New Age-y or cliche-ish.




5. Everytime I have a Christmas party, I play this CD and people say, "Who IS that?" They are so delighted to discover Odetta's Christmas music.

   If you had to pick one new Christmas CD this year, this is one everyone will enjoy....Souful without being New Age-y or cliche-ish.

5 comments about Winner in You.

1. From start to finish,Patti gives us nothing but winning tracks with this outstanding album..My personal favorites:"Oh People"here Patti touches on modern society and its'shortcomings such as poverty,hunger and homelessness along with the need for society to stand united to combat these problems that are too often overlooked by those who are considered societys"haves"..."On My Own"is a CLASSIC tale of love lost featuring legendary Michael Mcdonald..I remember this song being loved by just about everyone I knew as a junior in high school!!I LOVED this classic line that everybody(in a "rocky"relationship) seemed to be able to relate to:"Here we are talking DIVORCE and we weren't even married!!"Kiss Away The Pain"is a heart-wrenching song where Patti is basically saying:"We can figure out the HOW and WHY of our"split"at a later date,but right NOW,I need you to come and COMFORT me because my heart is really HURTING!!"Patti so emphatically sings:"Please come back baby,please come back baby,kiss it AWAY,We don't even have to EXPLAIN!!" "There's A Winner In You"is a song that comforted me GREATLY during the days when my self-esteem was under constant siege!!After being called a"dissapointment",an embarrassment,"wack","sorry"and"lame"all day long,it felt really good(pretending)to hear SOMEbody/ANYbody say that there was actually a winner in ME!! This is a caliber of album,that they don't/can't make anymore!! This album is a definite WINNER!!



2. Really a great album. One of Patti's best. The title song is very inspirational.



3. THIS IS ONE OF PATTI'S BEST ALBUM.MY FAVORITES ARE OH PEOPLE, KISS AWAY THE PAIN, ON MY OWN, AND OTHERS. THIS IS A FANTASTIC ALBUM. PATTI DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS ALBUM I REALLY DO ENJOY THIS ALBUM AND I RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LIKES PATTI TO PURCHASE THIS ALBUM. IT IS A VERY NICE ALBUM TO HAVE IN YOUR MUSIC COLLECTION!!!!



4. This album still is a favorite to me! I like how the message-driven Oh People weaves into On My Own and then to the funky Something Special and to the bridge-heavy Kiss Away...,and to the no-nonsense Twisted. Patti sings in diva like fashion with her soulful voice on here. Only the last two songs don't grab me as much since there's so much solid material on here. But this album from 1986 is Patti at her best during that decade and solidified her as a well received singer to this day! Richard Perry, even after producing several successful Pointer Sisters albums and other artists, should be commmended for producing this album for Patti. I'd get that album or CD version of it again if I wanted to hear it! It's so very well done--she makes us a winner in us by having us hear it!



5. The title song of 'Winner In You' is pleasantly theatrical and I have plenty of fond childhood memories of "On My Own" but,once again Patti cooks best on her uptempo dance songs and there are some great ones here!"Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight" and "Twisted" both shine in the same,brassy
   synth-soul vein of "New Attitude" whitch is something this lady
   has plenty of.Patti's "Greatest Hits" collections are recommended
   highly but as albums go this and her 1977 Epic debut are the only
   available full-lengh Patti Labelle albums you'll ever need!

5 comments about Dream Cafe.

1. Despite a limited number of instruments and arrangements, this CD is a beauty of musical artistry, due to Greg Brown's talent of songwriter/singer.
   Great songs and thrills of emotion.



2. Many of us think this is Greg Brown's best album. Reasonable minds can differ, of course, but they have to get around the extraordinary imagery of the title cut, the plaintive story sketched in "Laughing River" and the deceptively simple melody line of "Spring Wind."
   
   Yesterday I had a vision, under the tree where we first talked
   Of an old couple burning their love letters
   So their children won't be shocked.
   
   Songs of love and disappointment, hope and loss, as well as the messy business of life. Never self-pitying, brutally honest, with melodies that can sear the lyrics into your mind.
   
   I came down with a sickness; I thought you were the cure
   But passion seems to promise more
   Than friendship can endure.
   
   Greg Brown doesn't have any bad albums. But some are a little better than the rest. And this is simply the cream of the crop. My very highest recommendation.



3. Ah, I love this guy! Brown's voice can go from back-of-the-bar room gravely to plaintative soprano... The music goes from folky to country to bluesy and is always great. The imagery in his songs are fantastic too -- some creepy rural themes, like the soundtrack to an Andrew Wyeth painting (ie. "Sleeper".) The song "Dream Cafe" makes me feel like I'm in an open air restaurant in Arizona... Which is odd because I've never been to Arizona... Case in point, this guy can do imagery...



4. Insightful and inspirational. Quit reading this and buy it!



5. If you are familiar with Greg Brown, you probably are familiar with this release. If you don't have it, get it and treat yourself to an experience that take you on a journey of loves lost and loves to come. For those who are curious about Greg's work, this is an excellent place to start. There is not a bad cut here, and in particular, "Dream Cafe", "Spring Wind" and "Laughing River" are a trio of songs that somehow work some sort of magic into allowing me to see into life a bit deeper for a period of time. Two other releases that go along well with this are "Further In" and "The Poet Game."

5 comments about Jack O' Diamonds: 1949 Recordings.

1. The word "amazing" is thrown around alot these days. "My boyfriend is so amazing!" "That sandwich was amazing!" "That dust mote is amazing!" Its too bad because it robs the word of its original power, a power which would have perfectly described what John Lee puts down on this recording. His style is so hypnotically primal, his lines so futuristic and clean, that he is amazing in a way that your boyfriend will never be. This is the work of a singular blues visionary. It can be acurately said that there are two eras of blues, Pre-John Lee and Post-John Lee. If his influence isn't greater, its only because he's incredibly hard to imitate or steal riffs from.



2. As I, Gene Deitch, am the man that recorded John Lee Hooker at my Detroit home in 1949 - the very tapes that over 50 years later have been issued on the Eagle Records CD, entitled "Jack O'Diamonds: 1949 Recordings," I am extremely gratified by the warm and loving reviews appearing here. Thank you. Gene Deitch



3. I got this recording home Friday Afternoon, it is Monday Afternoon now, and I haven't been able to get it out of the CD player.
   
   This is 1949. Johhnie Lee is young. It is the moment just before big initial hits "Boogie Chillen" and "Boom Boom Boom" hit the market.
   
   We're not in a recording studio. We're in the living room of a Detroit blues lover who had him over for dinner and a party. Instead of the repertoire record sellers demand so they could claim each tune for their thieving selves, we have Hooker, free, requested not to play that music. He's playing in the African American tradition not competing for bucks with other R & B stars.
   
   Instead, Hooker sings hymns, folk songs, blues that radiated out from recording of the great 1920s bluesmasters like Leroy Carr to become effectively traditional, tunes Hooker brought up to Detroit from Clarksdale, Mississippi. This recording shows us that while the greed and stereotyping of the record industry restricted Black guitarists like Hooker to blues, Hooker at least retained a very good selection of traditional dance tunes, hymns,and other African American folk songs.
   
   I love "How Long Blues" and "In the Evening when the Sun Go Down." If you don't know Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain," is simply a remake of Leroy Carr's "In the Evening," you will know that after they hear Hooker's powerful rendition on this CD. There is more pain and more poetry in Hooker's "Catfish Blues," than in the sexier version Muddy Waters put out about the same time. Johnnie Lee isn't singing about hunger for sex, but hunger for love, deep heart hunger that he will sing about for the rest of his life.
   
   Hooker's rhythmic power rocks the Hymn "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel." "Jack of Diamonds" is smack dabb in the middle between banjo songs and blues. He does "Rabitt on the Log" an African American version of a song made famous as "feast here to night by the Monroe Brothers." The Blackness of these tunes is manifest in these versions. You see the sistas and brothers back in the juke joint or in a house dance really moving to Hooker's voice and guitar, maybe with a fiddle, a mandolin or eeven a banjo beside him to these tunes. Even Big Monroe sounds tame Johnnie Lee whose bunny seems to ache with love hunger.
   
   I was touched by "I Wonder," a Pop/RB tune out at the time of this recording. Hooker barely knows the words and stumbles a few times. Yet, it is an early example of the subtlety, poetry and pure heart and feeling that Hooker often reaches when he is singing non blues pop or jazz songs. He doesn't need the perfect words to express himself. He treats them like a blues, where every singer is expected to change the words, even the melody at times to create create a their very ownmeaning, that song becoming absolutely their song at that moment, not just repeating someone else's tune.
   
   Hooker will do this later on standards like "I cover the Waterfront," "Sentimenta1 Journey," and even on "I left my Heart in San Fransisco" which Hooker will refashion into the "'Frisco Blues."
   
   Here, he is singing this in someone's living room, and you are touched. Rather than the primitive that Hooker is often viewed as, he was a distinctive and creative artist with a sensitive gift for feeling, nuance, and meaning, a creative force armed with a unique combination of the traditional African American music feel, educated in the deep Mississippi Blues, but ready with the modern technology of the electric guitar and boogie rhythm to take this out to touch the entire world.
   
   The remastered sound here is first rate thanks to the fact that the person who recorded it had a state of the art professional tape recorder in his home, and that this CD is being reissued as part of the Hooker estate's effort to bring out Hooker's music in quality editions.
   
   Hookers singing is more personal, more vibrant, and even a bit shy here compared to his other recordings. The guitar playing is apparently acoustic, but it is very rhythmic, very sharp, very much Hooker with the tunes perhaps a bit faster than normal.
   
   If you love Hooker, you must have this album. If you are interested in the places where the Blues and traditional southern African American music meet, you must have this album.
   If you want Johnnie Lee to come into your home to sing and play while you share good wine and better food, you must buy this CD!



4. TOTALLY ESSENTIAL AND MAY NEED BUYING QUICKLY!!! This seems to be the same as the short-lived Flyright (UK) CD, 'The Unknown John Lee Hooker', possibly less one track. That was arguably the greatest discovery (of not just long lost, but TOTALLY UNKNOWN vintage material), of all time! At a 1949 private function for noted animator & film-maker, Gene Dietch (Bugs Bunny, later Tom & Jerry, etc) and his blues-fan friends, with JLH in the first year of his recording career. Learned of by sheer chance, when British collector/writer Paul "Sailor" Vernon ('Sailor's Delight' blues-mag, etc), interviewed him about his film work and learned of the appearance and (say it softly!) A STILL-EXISTING TAPE OF IT!!! Even the tale of that tape & its subsequent location is the stuff of thrillers, but this led to its issue on a CD by Bruce Bastin, noted British blues indie, on his Flyright label. One of the most welcome and significant releases since the war - but then(AT LEAST, so it was SAID) the suits around Hooker squashed it. Anyway, it rapidly disappeared so, if this is now an "approved" issue, well done, somebody!! If NOT, its days may be numbered, so GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!!!!!



5. This is a fabulous recording of Hooker's acoustic work. John Lee is certainly one of the very best blues musicians, just as comforable acoustically as he is electrically. What a great CD. Get this one if you like the blues. It is a real treasure. I wish that this had been released sooner but then again, all GREAT things are worth waiting for.

   An other interesting thing to do is to listen to this, or a few songs, and then some Buddy Guy acoustic. you'll find such a similarity in style and beat.

   Have fun!

5 comments about Give Me the Reason.

1. As many have stated here, this was Luther at the top of his game. His game, of course, included a number of other people including Marcus Miller wearing many hats, including bass. Where are all the the bass players speaking out about this album? This was definitely Marcus coming into his own on this album as a bonafide music producer.
   
   There is not a bad song on this album. If you are exploring Luther's work, this is a good album to start with.



2. Lol well this album may be over twenty years old now but it is certainly a treat to slap on 'Give Me The Reason' on like an audio gourmet platter and just dig right in.Vandross kicks everything right off with "Stop The Love" which just emmediatly gets your attention with it's bouncy beat and with the brilliant gospel like female choir including the likes of Cissy Houston,Cheryl Lynn,Alfa Anderson and Paulette McWilliams it goes up a whole other level;one of THE BEST examples of secularized gospel in the decade!Now "See Me" has a slightly slower beat and just some of the creamiest sound and creamiest bass from Marcus Miller you'll ever hear!"I Gave It Up (When I Fell In Love)" is loads of fun because it has that well "retro neuvou' shuffling soul sound that Luther is so capable of plus a hook that will have you singing and clapping along.The title track and the wonderfully kinetic "I Really Didn't Mean It" were funky dancable urban contemporary of that day complete with those great electronic hand claps and that big 80's beat at it's best.As for the ballads "There's Nothing Better Than Love" features Luther and Gregory Hines really reaching for new heights from their voices and they sound wonderful together on this terrific song."Because I Really Love You" makes the best use of strings you'll hear during this time while his cover of "Anyone Who Had A Heart" features a creamy but soulful sax solo courtesy of Kirk Whalum and "So Amazing" is pretty.'Give Me The Reason' finds Luther Vandross on his fifth solo triumph in a row and already a permenant resident of the R&B world and music charts.What's sad is that this album wasn't as successful on the pop side.I have no doubt that with the right promotion this fun,peppy album with more uptempo songs then love ballads would have crossed Luther over permemently he really doesn't seem to be worrying.A must have recording for Luther Vandross fans or anyone interested in 80s soul.



3. Luther was at the top of his game with the Give Me The Reason CD. The album featured the hit singles Stop To Love,So Amazing, There's Nothing Better Than feat. Gregory Hines and the tile track. Stop To Love" and "Give Me The Reason" were beautifully produced, arranged, and performed numbers and huge R&B hits that still get an old school party started while So Amazing & There's Nothing Better Than feat. Gregory Hines were both beautiful ballads that are timeless.



4. What can I say about one of the MOST TALENTED singers of my time?! This was the 1st album of the Late Luther Vandross I had ever owned. I was in my early teens then and the cassette tape has long been lost. I have most of his cd's and I'm glad I reintroduced this one back into my collection. My favorite, 'there's nothing better than love' is a lovely duet with the Late Gregory Hines and how I miss him too. The song is even more special to me now, since they're both living on in memory...



5. Luther was definitely on a roll at the time of this album's release, and GIVE ME THE REASON was not only Luther's second consecutive album to be certified Double-Platinum in sales, but it also managed to reach #14 on the Hot 200. He was slowly beginning to gain acceptance from the pop audience, and this album helped him narrow the margin. Consistent and cohesive, with material that is expertly written, produced, and performed, GIVE ME THE REASON is everything contemporary soul record should be.
   
   Luther has always been an underrated songwriter, and this album should have changed that. From the soaring anguish of the title song, to the understated sentiment of the lovely "So Amazing," Give Me The Reason contains some of Luther's best written songs. He also continues to strike the perfect balance between production, song, and performance, as evidenced on the sputtering "I Really Didn't Mean It." Everything also comes together flawlessly on the delightfully frantic "Stop To Love," which recalls the sound of early Motown, yet has a modern spin all it's own.
   
   Luther also performs a duet with dancer/actor Gregory Hines that is possibly the album's brightest highlight. There is a surprising chemistry between the voices of Vandross and Hines that is at the core of the touching, melodic "There's Nothing Better Than Love," which really transforms the song into a heart-felt stunner. Luther also adds another Bacharach/David composition to his catalog with his jazzy rendition of "Anyone Who Had A Heart," which stands tall with even the best of the Vandross covers. One of his most enjoyable albums, GIVE ME THE REASON represents Luther at his prime.

5 comments about The Best of Joe Cocker.

1. Great CD only thing that went wrong was the case it was shipped in was broken into 5 pieces..but not one scratch on the CD..LOL



2. When Cocker has the right song (meaning a nice raw rocker), he turns out intense, emotional music. When he has slick 80s radio pop backing, the results are usually less involving.
   
   HIGHLIGHTS:
   His 90s smash "When the Night Comes" is truly great, combining a nice slowly building melody, some gospelly overtones, and a nicely restrained vocal that belts when it needs to. Outside of that one, his duet with Jennifer Warnes on "Up Where We Belong" continues to sound good. (Who on earth ever envisioned THAT pairing?!?! And how do we thank them?) An updated live version of Beatles cover "With a Little Help from my Friends" is an electric epic, going from strength to strength.
   
   LOWS:
   Cocker is NOT Jeff Lynne...not even if you back him with a Lynne produced track like "Night Calls". I'll stick with Tom Jones' version for the definitive "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (likewise Ray Charles' take on "Unchain my Heart").
   
   BOTTOM LINE:
   Most of Cocker's best stuff is late 60s, early 70s material like "Feelin' Alright" and "You are So Beautiful". You can get those and the best bits of this one on Hip-O Records ULTIMATE COLLECTION (ASIN B00016MSXU). Get that one instead.



3. I agree this is not up to par with Joe's best stuff from the 60s and early 70s, but given that, they even left off his best song from this period, "Love Is Alive." That song really ROCKS and it is not here. Shame.



4. "The Best of Joe Cocker" contains the highlights of his career from after the period covered by his "Greatest Hits" album, so it must be noted that the version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" is newer and not the "classic" version. Cocker's later career was not nearly as interesting as his late 60s and early 70s peak. A song like the syrupy duet ballad "Up Where We Belong" may have been a massive hit, but it has little in common with the raw power of his best work. The album's best moments come early. The first three songs, "Unchain My Heart," "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and "When the Night Comes," may be a bit heavy on the bombast, but they are quite tuneful and Cocker's never been in better voice. After that the songs are less memorable, with few standouts.

   Overall, an up-and-down anthology from the latter part of Joe Cocker's great career.




5. Having been a Joe Cocker fan in the late 60s and the 70s, I recently realized that I had no Joe on CD (only on vinyl). After picking up his greatest album ever ("Joe Cocker!") on CD, I ordered "The Best of Joe Cocker" to bring me up to speed. One of the main reasons for getting this CD was that it contained the LIVE VERSION of "Help from My Friends." However, after receiving the CD and listening to the first few notes of "My Friends," I realized that this was NOT the live version we all know and love. The classic live version of this song done at Woodstock (as well as the studio version on his 1st LP) makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck (the way the lead to "Stairway to Heaven" always does). This version is OK, but BUYER BEWARE - it is WAY less powerful than the Woodstock version. The rest of the album is OK, but all these songs are so overproduced compared those songs exhibiting the raw energy that his earlier work had. This was a disappointing buy.

5 comments about Pleasure & Pain.

1. I was amazed when I saw this man "live". How could he be that talented? He was also very pleasant to talk with. He really seems to enjoy what he's doing. I found this album, his latest, to be even better than I expected. It stayed in my CD player all week. It's just real easy to listen to and enjoy. Shanna Morrison adds a nice touch with her vocals and the recording seems clear and crisp.



2. This is an amazing album. For example, Roy's craggy voice combined with the sweetness of the guitar and lyrics in My Lost Home In Your Arms creates a unique and beautifully moving effect. The funky sound combinations in Will My Love To You are cajun-funk-pop-folk-rock, and funny and cool. Roy is unique and wonderful. If he comes to my town I will definately go see him. You MUST have this album. Even my teenager likes it!



3. Solid songwriting and studio approach. See him live! He blows the doors off any place he plays. There isn't a better slide guitarist alive!



4. Love this and hate C & W--except for the old funky original Hank Williams Sr.things and a few others! But this Roy Rogers is not in the nasal twang group. I'd call this a mix of Mose Allison-Bob Dylan-like lyrics; a profound compliment as far as I'm concerned. His voice is folk music easy. Some great deep down delta blues strokes and a hint of rock. Just be there or listen to the lyrics... Oh, did I leave out a genre?



5. The guitar playing is as usual sublime, both electric and acoustic. The usual mix of blues, rock and country/rock tracks with the last 2 being insrumentals. The vocals are without doubt the best Roy has sounded ever. Wonder-boy Jonny Lang swaps licks on one track, the result is an honourable draw and a great track. An essential purchase for guitar music lovers and Roy Rogers fans alike.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to African Blues.

1. With the popularity of artists like Tinariwen and the late Ali Farka Toure, theres been a great deal of interest in West Africa as the 'birthplace' of the Blues. If you travel to the Sahel, that hot, dry, dusty region south of the Sahara desert, you'll find strong similarities between the music of the Mande, Fulani and others and the American Delta Blues. But thats not the point of this CD. The point is to showcase some of the great names of African 'desert Blues,' and this compilation delivers. Here you'll find the Ethio-jazz orchestra of Ayalew Mesfin and the Black Lion Band, Senegalese pop star Baaba Maal (with long-time collaborator Mansour Seck), the beautiful voice of Sudan's Rasha, legendary Sahraoui igawen (griot) Mariem Hassan, and the Gnawa-inspired sound of Nuru Kane. But the real focus here is Mali, that great powerhouse of West African music. Of course, the late Ali Farka Toure is included, doing a collaboration with Corey Harris, as is his protege, Afel Bocoum. Other important Malian artists on this CD include wassoulou diva Oumou Sangare, Rokia Traore, Djelimady Tounkara, and Taureg/Wodaabe group Etran Finatawa. This is music from the heart of the desert here, and well worth buying. If you like it, there are increasingly more albums of 'desert blues' and 'Sahel pop' available in the west, including 'Festival in the Desert,' 'Putumayo Presents: Mali,' and the deluxe two-CD and booklet 'Ambiances du Sahara.' Any of these albums are great places to start your journey of 'African Desert Blues,' and who knows, maybe one day you'll even find yourself traveling to Essakane for the Festival in the Desert.

5 comments about Def Jam Music Group Inc.: 10th Year Anniversary.

1. I bought this compilation because I was looking for L.L.'s greatest hits and stumbled on this collection. It's all THAT and then some!!!!! I absolutely screamed when I saw Oran Juice Jones! We sung that to school everyone morning and threw back phrases from the song to the brothers that were whack! When I play it, my daughter just looks at me and shakes her head.
   
   This generation don't know that "hip-hop" is a state of mind and it is not defined by "bling" or brand names. We were just into the music. (even though I did have some big square earrings M.C. Lyte was rocking in the "Paperthin" video!)
   
   This is indeed a classic for ANY hip-hop fan!



2. Wow. For 60$ this is one big, hit or miss collection. For every `Rebel Without A Pause' there's a `I Need Love'. For every `Jack the Ripper' there's a 'The Rain'. With the same money you could get the original `Bum rush the Show' `Nations of Millions' `Strictly Business' `Bigger and Deffer' `Cactus Album' and `Pauls Boutique' CDs. Look elsewhere for your Hip Hop hits.



3. This is without a doubt the greatest rap / hip hop / r&b compilation on the market. I highly doubt another label can or will release anything that can come close to this. High octane party music that can go to any party! This collection is smokin' from start to finish. There's no bad song in here anywhere. Every song rocks the house with such substance that this could easily accompany a club DJ and you'd hear the 'whoop-whoops' and the 'oh yeahs' from the crowd. These sings still hold their own and if you get a chance to read the booklet that comes with it, you'd be surprised at how much info is in it. Definitely 10 stars in my opinion!



4. This is an awesome box set. It does a great job of summing up Def Jam's first decade. This is all essential hip-hop. It comes from the days when it was less about the pose and more about the skills.
   There are many forgotten gems to be found here. Onyx - truly a group of crazy gravel-throated mofos. 3rd Bass - forgotten pioneers in the realm of white hip-hop (I know Eminem has never mentioned them). Many of the greatest tracks by LL, the Beasties, PE, and Run-DMC are here. I think to really get Public Enemy though, you have to buy the invidual albums.
   Another great thing- if you already own "The Hip-Hop Box", there are only a handful of tracks on this that overlap with that. Added bonus in my opinion.
   So if you want to learn about the early DIY spirit of Def Jam and see thier astronomical influence on early hip-hop, I strongly recommend picking this one up.



5. This is the type of compilation albulm that has to be in your collection. Here is why.
   
   1.) You got classics that are now hard enough to find, let alone on seperate cd's.
   
   2.) When is the last time a cd came with a booklet that was just as interesting. This is great for understanding where hip hop/r&b came from (as far Def Jam) and where most music is at today.
   
   3.) No cd of the four outshines another one. With such good songs and so many of them, it's hard to decide which cd you want to play.
   
   They should think about doing for 1995 to 2005. They have a wider selection of artist to choose from. Though they all may not be classics like these, they are guaranteed to please the hip-hop/r&b lover in all of us.