5 comments about B.B. King - Greatest Hits.

1. From one of the most renonwned blues legends ever, this album of his greatest hits is awesome. If you love guitar, and blues then check this album out.



2. B.B. King is the most influential blues guitarist of all time. B.B. is the real deal for so many reasons, and this greatest hits complination is the very best. The first two tracks are taken from Live At Regal one of the best live B.B. King recordings including Every Day I Have The Blues, and Sweet Little Angel. Some other known tracks for the early listner are The Thrill Is Gone, and Hummingbird those are both two tracks that really stand out. Their is a track called Playin' With My Friends (with robert cray), and When Love Comes To Town(with U2). I highly encourage anybody to try this bb. king's greatest hits complination. I also would highly recomend Live At The Regal!



3. Later in life I`ve discovered the power and energy of B.B.King, and amazed I`ve become his fan. This is a good sample of his style and tempo, and no matter he gets old, his quality remains intact.



4. This certainly isn't everything you could ever want from the Beale Street Blues Boy, but it does give the first-time listener a pretty accurate idea about what to expect from B.B. King. For better or worse.
   
   His excellent and highly influential 50s singles are missing, which is a shame, especially since some of those were actually sizable hits and this compilation has the audacity to call itself "Greatest Hits".
   There are lot of great moments here anyway, like the swinging "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss", the epic "Why I Sing The Blues", and the slow burner "How Blue Can You Get" among them, and they sit next to two cuts from King's highly succesful "Live At The Regal" album, an excellent "Sweet Little Angel" and a hideous "Every Day I Have The Blues" which falls miles short of Memphis Slim's potent original ("Nobody Loves Me").
   
   And there are just too many mediocrities on this album. B.B. King experimented with some sort of pop-blues fusion in the 70s and 80s, and the compilers have included "To Know You Is to Love You", "I Like To Live The Love" and "Hummingbird" from that unfortunate era. The duets with Robert Cray on "Playin' With My Friends" and rock group U2 on "When Love Comes To Town" are not much more uplifting, and too much of this material was recorded well after King's prime.
   
   If you like B.B. King at his most pop-friendly, you will probably enjoy this compilation. If you like him at his grittiest, you will certainly be disappointed. May I suggest the new "Ultimate Collection" instead.



5. A nice compilation of this blues legend. Some catchy lyrics and strong guitar solos exist throughout this collection. The first seven songs are strictly three chord blues progressions which can be a bit tiresome for some audiences. However, the catchy lyrics make you pay attention to such gems as Paying The Cost To Be The Boss, How Blue Can You Get?, and The Thrill Is Gone.

   The next few tracks have a more varied arrangement and get away from the standard three chord progression. BB King gets funky in spots and the use of strings and horns in the background add a nice touch. The duets with Bono and Robert Cray are quite good. A nice intro to this legend, indeed.

5 comments about What Love Will Do.

1. Unfortunately, the low rating is due to the fact that this cd arrived two times with significant skipping, making it impossible to really hear and enjoy. I liked what I heard enough to think that I would've liked it otherwise but, after two bad copies, asked for a refund.



2. This is an ecellent blues album. I love Janiva's voice and there are several good rockin songs.



3. My title came from the first words I heard from a subdued 53 year old female blues fan after I loaned her the CD. In fact, everyone that I have loaned this CD to has gone out and purchased more of her stuff. What better recommendation is there than that?
   
   I was recently blessed with the opportunity to see Janiva in Kansas City at Knucklehead's Saloon. She and the band are an experience to not be missed. She has the most amazing voice. Her voice is beyond description.
   
   Give yourself a gift and buy this CD. Don't even debate whether you should or not. BUY IT!!!
   
   Heck buy them all, you won't be sorry..



4. Magness' voice is raspy, sensual and powerful. Everything a woman needs to sing the blues. REAL blues. Best track? "One Heartache Too Late".



5. I was not really familiar with her music befor purchasing the CD, but I enjoyed it and glad I sprang for the CD. She does not look like a blues singer, but is a very good one.

2 comments about My Blueberry Nights.

1. "My Blueberry Nights" is a strong soundtrack collection. Norah Jones who stars in the film wrote the song "The Story" on set, which was included in the film. She sings, "I don't know how to begin because the story has been told before; I will sing along, I suppose it's just how it goes." Director Kar Wai explains in the liner notes that he went to music stores and bought CDs that were played on the stereo on cross country trips which scouted locations for the film. He loved Cat Power's CD The Greatest and included that title track and "Living Proof" from the CD on the soundtrack. Cassandra Wilson's recording of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" was another track that he put together with a slide show from the road trips to help Norah Young get a feel for the film's content. Ry Cooder also contributed to the film with several of his instrumentals being stand-out tracks such as "Long Ride" & "Bus Ride." Mavis Staples who also participated in the blockbuster set I Believe to My Soul turns in an amazing performance on "Eyes on the Prize." Gustavo Santaolalla's lovely instrumental "Pajaros" is a gentle instrumental lament. Ruth Brown, one of my favorite classic soul singers, has "Looking Back" included on the disc. Otis Redding's classic recording "Try a Little Tenderness" is also here. This is a very good soundtrack, diverse in feel to match the changing moods of the film, which I'm looking forward to seeing! Enjoy!



2. This soundtrack album is filled with gems. Why and how they put this cd together is beyond me, but it is filled with soul and wonderful tunes that probably fit the movie, but their compendium into an album does not make total sense to me. How does Ruth Brown fit with the others? What brings these songs together. I have a feeling that they were culled from someone's favorite records. Norah Jones maybe and used as a background to the movie, but they are too good to be background music. So how this came together is beyond me, but now that it is together it is a great cd of seemingly unrelated tunes. excellent. jack w.

5 comments about Me and Mr. Johnson.

1. To most people Robert Johnson's legacy will live on forever. But with Eric Clapton taking ahold of these songs he has pushed Johnsons's legacy even further. I had goose bumbs from the first song to the last.



2. eric proves again why he has been at the top of his game for over 40 years. he just is simply the best guitar player and interperter of the blues of robert johnson. he has the gift despite lifes difficulties.



3. I played it 1-1/2 times...then it became litter.
   
   The cover showing Clapton in a stark setting, acoustic guitar in hand, led me to believe this would be an " solo acoustic blues" album, befitting a "tribute" to RJ.
   
   WRONG.
   
   Slick, over produced, over-blown, and most especially, over-instrumented, this disc sounds like a "Chicago Blues" session...
   
   Yes, I disliked this take on Robert Johnson very much.
   
   To Eric Clapton:
   
   Listen to Rory Block doing Johnson....
   
   The Lady and Mr. Johnson
   
   That's how to show tribute...Smokin'!!



4. The power of Robert Johnson's music lies in his haunting lyrics, stark arrangements, and tortured delivery. Unfortunately, in reworking Johnson's songs for "Me and Mr Johnson", Eric Clapton has robbed them of their original power, substituting instead competent, but out-of-place, Chicago Blues-style arrangements and disappointingly hackneyed vocal delivery. Johnson's lyrics alone are left to carry the load and, alas, they cannot.
   
   Clapton can do better, and, indeed, he has. Listen to "Malted Milk" from Unplugged and "Terraplane Blues" and "Ramblin' on My Mind" from
   Sessions For Robert J. (CD + DVD) for proof that he can interpret Johnson's music in inspired fashion. Given the magnitude of Robert Johnson's influence on Eric Clapton, a Clapton album comprised entirely of Johnson's songs seemed a very promising undertaking. If only "Me and Mr Johnson" had lived up to that promise . . .



5. From the first note to the last, Clapton oozes out gold with this album. It's great to listen to if you love blues music. I'm a little shocked to see that so many reviewers didn't like it.
   
   Favorite tracks:
   Come On In My Kitchen
   They're Red Hot
   When You've Got A Good Friend
   
   If you're driving in your car or relaxing at home, this is the perfect album for the contemporary fan of blues music. I think Mr. Johnson would be very proud of this work.

5 comments about The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster.

1. I stopped listening to any kind of radio a few years ago, so my exposure to new artists (to me) is via the internet.
   
   I was on YouTube watching clips of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Up Above My Head) and saw a clip of Ruthie Foster doing a cover, needless to say I was intrigued and sought out her music and bought this release.
   
   What a treat. Her blues/soul sensibilities are refreshing. I'll be be exploring the rest of her catalog,which I'm sure I'll enjoy.



2. a wonderful collection of songs. The arrangements and recordings are crisp beautiful! I look forward to buying another Ruthie Foster CD and hopefully catching her in concert!



3. I ordered this CD based on a review I read in The Epoch Times and I was delighted to find it was even better than I had hoped. Ruthie's depth of feeling, her wise understanding of the world she lives in, and her voice itself are so moving that I had to take this CD everywhere with me and let all my friends hear it.



4. Five long years after Foster arrived with "Runaway Soul," a fine blues/soul disc that netted an appearance on Austin City Limits, she returns with an homage to Sixties soul and blues. On the first two offerings, ""Cuz I'm Here" and "Heal Yourself" she courts comparisons to Aretha at her best, a soulful Gospel shouter. Then she slows it down with a stunning cover of Lucinda Williams' "Fruits of My Labor," and a testifying, nearly acapella cover of Son House's "People Grinnin' In Your Face."
   
   Foster's voice is powerful and natural, unprocessed, a rarity. While not all the cuts match the power of the opening quad, the in a real way rarely heard. While the production isn't inspired, Foster and producer Malcolm Wellbourne were smart enough to have her mostly ditch her acoustic guitar for the warmth of a Wurlitzer piano. While the rest of the album doesn't always match the heights of the opening quad, it's an early favorite for a best of 2007.



5. Ruthie Foster truly is phenomenal. I always wonder where people like her have been hiding. As on any CD there are songs I like better than others but overall this is a stellar CD. This woman can sing and you can feel the soul in her music.

5 comments about Damn Right, I've Got the Blues: Expanded Edition.

1. I love this CD. They don't even need to list the guest artists. Make no mistake, this is buddy's CD. From the first second of the first song you realize this is something special. I have never heard better vocals from Buddy, so powerful, so deep. He truely captures the blues and then he blows it away. The guitar work is amazing, I'm a SRV fanatic, and this is as close to the raw power and intensity of any SRV recording.



2. LOVE IT
   Damn right Buddy knows how to sing the blues as well as play like the very best guitar players of all time. (Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Hendrix, etc.)



3. I have wasted too much gas in my truck listening to this CD..I must take it into my house before I go broke..BUY IT



4. Buddy Guy is one of my favorite blues artists, and this album is not only a fine comeback, but well deserving of the Grammy award it received in 1991. And with only 6 customer reviews here on Amazon so far of a grammy nominated album which has been on the market since 1991, I would say the album (and the artist) are grossly underappreciated.
   
   One of my favorite songs on this album is the eponymously titled "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues"....right off the start Buddy shows he still has the strong voice, guitar work and the song writing. Another favorite which I hit repeat button many times when listening to is the instrumental "Remembering Stevie"....again, if this does not show a bluesman who hasn't lost his touch one bit, I don't know what will. Simply fantastic.
   
   Hearing his version of "Black Night" is eerie when one remembers older versions of the same song such as the one sung by Muddy Waters in the 60's. Instead of using Vietnam though, Buddy interchanges Iraq, showing us that the blues have a timeless purpose to serve.
   
   I love Buddy's Chess years....those are some of the best blues ever in my opinion. But this album is also excellent in its own right, and certainly deserves more notoriety than it (he) receives.
   
   Highly recommended.



5. Buddy Guy was a guitar legend before the release of Damn Right I've Got The Blues, but when this great record was released in 1990, he has been at the blues forefront ever since. This record proves that the forefront is where Guy belongs.
   
   Cuts like "Where Is The Next One Coming From," "Too Broke To Spend The Night," and the poignant tribute to his friend Stevie Ray Vaughn, "Remembering Stevie," serve notice that Guy not only hasn't lost anything, but still has plenty to teach the younger crowd.
   
   But by far, the title card is the most memorable. This is the kind of song that Buddy could play at the beginning of every concert for the rest of his career. Burning runs and milking every ounce out of every note, Guy grabs the listener and never lets go.
   
   These are the kind of blues that all music lovers need. The expanded re-release is welcomed if for no other reason than to remind all of us that Buddy Guy is a superstar.

5 comments about Buddy's Baddest: The Best of Buddy Guy.

1. I like "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" better, but this is still great. I loved Stevie Ray Vaughn, and since Buddy played at the last concert Stevie ever gave, I looked forward to hearing the instrumental tribute to him. I wasn't disappointed. Anybody who thinks Chicago blues is always loud and driving should listen hard to that one. Like any great music, there's more than one way to be blue. Yeah, Buddy.



2. Do you love the blues? I said, DO YOU LOVE THE BLUES? If you don't, then this CD is not for you! This CD was made for blues lovers. From the first guttural.. From the first growl.. From the first screeching.. Lyrics from Buddy: "DAMN RIGHT, I'VE GOT THE BLUES!" You are on your way to a blues experience. You don't get to warm up! You don't get to pace yourself! From Buddy's first exulted, words of "blues", you are hooked into a blues experience, that there's no getting out of! For those of you who are blues neophytes, in the electric blues world, Buddy, said that Stevie Ray Vaughn, was his best friend, and like a brother to him. With this knowledge, pay special attention to song #4, "Remembering Stevie". It's an instrumental that Buddy wrote in memory of Stevie, after his untimely death. This CD is a testament to one of the all-time greatest electric blues guitar performers... Mr. Buddy Guy. 5 stars for now and forever.



3. Buddy Guy is "The Master of the Blues." He glides his fingers over his guitar like the wind showing his expertise with every note. I've seen him once in person and he made a lifetime impression on me. Buddy's Baddest will fill you with the energetic life force of a Buddy Guy concert.



4. buddy guy always seems to get third billing behind eric clapton and b.b. king, but this collection of songs is certainly an excellent sampler of why he is always mentioned in the same breath with those other 2 lads !!!!! it is an excellent introduction to one very exciting and inventive blues guitarist (go visit his nightclub in chicago and check out all the autographed guitars on the walls)
   these songs sizzle: "mustang sally" takes off like a rocket, "midnight train" really rocks, and the bass line on "damn right" is a killer. even the slow tunes are hot.if you are a hobbyist, this is a great collection of blues tunes to play along to. also great for listening to in the car by yourself- where you can play it LOUD !!!!!



5. I just bought Buddy's Baddest: The Best Of Buddy Guy at fye music for $20. I really did'nt care about the price because I had already previewed the songs at fye and new this album stood presence of greatness like Buddy Guy. This is my first buddy guy album I have been for so long been listening to Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan never came across Buddy until now........... The first track Damn Right, I've Got The Blues is just an amazing track filled with so much potenial, soul, and power in Buddy's guitar solo. And I have to say all of the tracks have buddy guy playing some great guitar solo's which is what us guitar, blues fans want right? I also liked Rememberin'Stevie. This album is a must have. Buddy Guy can really play!

5 comments about Couldn't Stand the Weather.

1. Blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughn tears it up in this, his sophomore effort with backing band Double Trouble. From the electrifying opening track "Scuttle Buttin'" to the jazzy "Stang's Swing" Vaughn shows why he was the premiere axman of his era. There may have been guitarists in the past who were more in touch with the raw emotion of the blues, but nobody can match his technique, his precision, and his fire. Other standouts include the title track (with its unusual timings) "Things That I Used to Do" (applying his lightning fingers to a slower blues) and the delicious "Cold Shot". Throughout, Vaughn does a creditable job with the vocals, and his backing band wisely stays out the way. He fails to come up with anything special for his cover of Hendrix' "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" but then, when has anyone ever managed to improve on Hendrix? A must for aficionados of blues guitar.



2. This has never been one of my favorite releases from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. It's not bad by any stretch, but it never hooked me that way I would have liked. For example, "Scuttle Buttin'" is a decent opener, and a high energy one at that, but I've never thought it to be quite up to some of their other instrumental pieces. And, while a bit of Jimi Hendrix is always appreciated, his treatment of "Voodoo Chile" doesn't really offer up anything new and, so, is a bit disappointing.
   
   None of these songs are bad. They just don't grab my attention the way SRV did with his debut, Texas Flood, or would again on later albums. There are some very strong points, however, such as the soulful slow blues of "Tin Pan Alley," which really is a top notch track.
   
   This seems like a negative review...but I really like this album! It's just that I have high standards when it comes to SRV, and this one doesn't quite measure up to his best work. But it's still good!
   
   The album sounds great, so it gets high marks for the remaster.
   
   The bonus tracks are always a nice addition, but they just don't make a big impact on this one. "Hide Away" is relatively mild and "Look at Little Sister" doesn't come across as much different than the version on Soul to Soul. Decent additions...but not much that's above and beyond.



3. one of my friends was trying to get me to buy this cd and I was septical because if you have heard one blues artist you have heard them all right? WRONG! this guys is probubly the best "blues" guitar players I have ever heard. He is nothing like anything you have ever heard. This earns 10 stars even though there is only room for 5. If your into blues music, do your self a favor and pic up this album. it will imediatly become the one you compair all the others to. ENJOY!



4. On Couldn't Stand The Weather, Stevie Ray Vaughan began to separate himself from every other modern bluesman with his distinct playing style.
   
   On this record, you can hear a number of influences both individual and stylistic. The obvious Hendrix influence in a scorching version of "Voodoo Chile," Guitar Slim/Albert King/Albert Collins on "The Things That I Used To Do," and jazzy influenced "Tin Pan Alley" and "Stang's Swang." These, plus "Cold Shot" and the title cut elevated Vaughan to a different level than most of his contemporaries.
   
   This is a fantastic blues/jazz album.



5. I defy anyone to tell me SRV does NOT do a better shot at Voodoo Chile!!
   
   The man FOREVER!!

5 comments about Solos, Sessions & Encores.

1. I don't understand all the negative reviews. The album title and description say it all. The sound is good, the performances are good. Six of the songs are previously unreleased, half of the others I had never heard before. I compare this to the Duane Allman anthologies, you hear him as a backing musician on some tunes. Hearing Albert Collins and Bonnie Rait on songs with Stevie sure sounds good to me. Buy it and enjoy.



2. Oh My God! I just read the other reviews for this CD, and found out that the RECORDING COMPANIES ISSUED IT ONLY TO MAKE MONEY!!! Not the recording companies! I guess I better go buy a different CD. Wait...what if the recording companies are just making money off of that too??!! NOOOOO!
   
   By the way, this CD kicks butt, if that actually counts for anything.



3. For those who have panned this CD, I just have to quote the great Artie Shaw. --> "Go away!"
   
   What a treat to hear the SRV's hot licks on the LIVE, "Albert's Shuffle" with Albert Collins.
   
   "Goin' Down" with Jeff Beck. It's a challenge to tell who is who, but 'Becky' is playing his butt off, to stay up with the kid from Texas.
   
   "Change It" is such an under rated jazzy, little rocker. Melodic vocal -Stevie just has such a soulful voice and on this live version which he sings perhaps better than the original studio track.
   
   All the songs have something special. I would advise, to get away from the typical speakers, get some decent headphones and really listen to
   what is going on...
   
   Fantastic. A Solid Five Stars.
   An excellent Live album that hasn't been fiddled with in post production.
   Get those headphones and find a quiet corner to listen and enjoy.



4. When you buy this disc you have to understand what you're getting. This is a collection of odds & ends that Stevie collaborated on with other artists. Often times he is relegated to a supporting role. As such, you may not hear much from him except for the occasional solo or riff. This isn't a Stevie Ray Vaughan record, it's a "duets" record at best.
   
   As a historical document, and to round out your SRV collection, it's O.K. If you are curious to see how Stevie's talents were integrated with other artists, this disc shows successful AND unsuccessful attempts to do this. Jimmie Vaughan's presence on "Change It" sounds superfluous. Bonnie Raitt's performance was completely out of sync on "Texas Flood". But Stevie's work on "Let's Dance" was great. His duet with Jeff Beck on "Goin' Down" was also great. "Pipeline" with Dick Dale is a real rocker. So this is a mixed bag.
   
   Another interesting insight that can be gleened from listening to this disc is an understanding of who Stevie's friends, influences and idols really were. He loved the music of Lonnie Mack, Albert Collins, B.B. King, Johnny Copeland, etc. So I guess you could say that this disc can assist a fan in rounding out their collection and in gaining a more intimate knowledge of the artist. I would rank it as "moderately entertaining". It warrants a listen, but perhaps repeated listening is unnecessary.
   
   SIDENOTE: I wouldn't get angry with the record company for putting this out because, frankly, there are a number of die-hard SRV fans that are interested in ALL facets of his career, even marginal efforts like this one. Clearly he was just having fun and not sweating too much over many of the performances. His death left a big void for a number of people, and folks are just trying to fill it however possible. Unfortunately, there just isn't much left to hear at this point because Stevie was taken from us in his prime.



5. WAITED A LONG TIME FOR SOMETHING I HADNT HEARD BEFORE AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS WERE NEW TO ME. MIND YOU IT WOULDNT MATTER WHAT HE PLAYED IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT. SO SAD THAT THERE WONT BE ANY MORE. REST IN PEACE STEVIE RAY

5 comments about Can't Quit the Blues.

1. A great box set of of blues from the man who was before Jimi, before Stevie and before Eric. I should have been listening to Buddy long ago. Three solid discs of tunes and a snappy DVD with a great mix of interview and concert video. Includes a sizeable booklet of Buddy Guy history along with the CD tracks and players. I love this set and I have nothing negative to say about it. A must have!



2. Can this mans career be compressed down to three CDs?
   In my opinion no. He is one of "THE GREATs". But this set gives you a very good sampling of some of his best work.
   
   Every song included is good. Not a dud in the whole bunch.
   
   The extra DVD included is a big plus for all us Buddy Guy fans. And the little booklet that's stapled into the box cover has some good extra material also.
   
   All in all - a very good package that is well worth the money.
   
   I does make me want to fill out my collection and get more of his music.



3. Nice survey of Guy's career. Three CD's full of some of Guy's best. The DVD contains an extensive interview and good concert footage, but beware! The DVD is 4:3 standard definition or letterbox within 4:3 throughout. It shouldn't be a surprise that concert footage covering 30+ years would largely be standard def, but it is surprising that nothing on this DVD is formatted for widescreen.



4. I purchased this box set during one of Amazon's Gold Box specials. I was excited about the box set and just couldn't wait till it arrived. 2-1/2 weeks after placing the order, it arrived. I opened the package, opened the box set and could not get the CDs loose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I broke my thumbnail, I have pressed and mashed, still the CDs will not release! The only way I see to get the CDs out without breaking the center is to destroy the packaging. Help! the packaging may keep the CDs in place during mailing, but can't there be a choice between "Child proof" and regular? I am so disapointed that I can't get the CDs out.
   Maybe this is a great set, but I can't hear it!



5. I have not even listened to the cd's yet. I went straight for the DVD and was just realy impressed. Great stuff. I paid full price of $45 too...and dont even regret it because I always wanted some good Buddy Guy footage. Now I have it. I am a guitar nut extreme and this is great stuff.