No comments about Cowtown Jive!.

No comments about Rising Sun Collection: John Lee Hooker, 1977.

No comments about Blues for Henry....

No comments about Live 'N Drivin' On.

1 comments about Ballad for Americans and Other American Ballads/Odetta at Carnegie Hall.

1. I have both original recordings, and love them. Odetta has a voice and style that has always impressed and moved me. She sings these songs with great respect for the music. Odetta is one of the true icons of folk and blues. When you listen to these songs, you will understand. Any one interested in the origins of folk, folk - rock, or any other folk hybred needs to have this collection. Buy one for a back up. My son's taste in music ussualy leans toword heavy metal, rap, and hip hop. However, when has listened to some of my Odetta and other folk greats, the recordings disappear to his house.

1 comments about Blues at Midnight.

1. This is album number 12 on Malaco Records and it keeps the successful formula of horn-drenched soul blues and smokey vocals going. At 73 years old it is expected that Mr. Bland would have lost some of that legendary voice (years of cigarettes no doubt)- and he has. Nevertheless, although no longer impressive in concert, he still sounds great in the studio. Bland is once again presented with sympathetic production and a strong set of songs, mostly from the usual hit-making suspects like George Jackson (the great "I Caught The Blues From Someone Else"- one of the highlights of this disc), Robert Johnson & Sam Mosley (Artie White's "You Hit The Nail On The Head" & "Baby What's Wrong With You") & Larry Addison ("My Sunday's Comin' Soon", the gorgeous "The Only Thing Missing Is You" and the epic album closer "Ghetto Nights"). But the best cut is "This Man-Woman Thing" with that upbeat horn-filled soul feel that the company is famous for- a sure-fire hit. Also, included is an understated cover of the Louis Armstrong chestnut, "What A Wonderful World". Very satisfying!

5 comments about Etta James Rocks the House.

1. I really hadn't listened to Etta James before, but recently heard a couple of her songs on [...] - well, I liked them and decided to get a cd. This woman really does Rock the House! What a voice! She reminds me a little of Tina Turner when she was with Ike. I think Janis Joplin may have been influenced somewhat by Etta James. I'm very happy with my purchase.



2. An absolute masterpiece. I listen to it over and over and I am still amazed at the energy and creativeness she puts in each song. There is one slow song on the cd that kind of breaks the rockin' mood, but it is still an awesome cd, one of my all time favorites.



3. One of the greatest live club recordings in Blues, and the only one from Etta's early career. You can feel the party; folks are screaming, Etta's steaming, the whole country was still reeling from her '61 At Last! recording that will also knock your shoes off and have you rocking the house yourself. Oh, Etta sings some beautiful blues, you know, but she can rip out some heart-wrenching gutteral gospel, too; it's all here in this one-night show. Just 25 years old and in full power, Live.
   
   The audience is up screaming and dancing from the first number and Etta immediately slides into the sexiest version of Jimmy Reed's Baby, Any Way You Want Me To Do, giving the song all new meaning. Just four years earlier Ray Charles topped the charts with What I Say, and Etta belts it out true to form with all the flavor Ray gave it, and the audience is absolutely enthralled. You are right there with them on this recording.
   
   She puts The Beatles to shame on Money (That's What I Want), and beat them to it here, rocking out to the tune originally recorded by Motown writer Barrett Strong in 1959. The Beatles made a hit out of it in '63 only after this show. They've Etta James to thank for warming Americans up to the beat.
   
   The house stays on their feet keeping the floor wet though a rocking bluesy Seven Day Fool and they don't get a rest till the guitarist gets to put on a show of his own with Sweet Little Angel; a B.B. King classic, sung by Etta "with a feeling" as Little Walter wrote and Paul Butterfield so famously quoted and promoted. Oh, what a feeling. The first set ends here and we break for drinks!
   
   Encore time! Ooh Poo Pah Doo gets the fans all riled up and dancing again. You can imagine a mixed crowd of revelers, drinks and smokes set down now, see 'em Twisting in front of the band and throughout the aisles. Back to B.B. King for Woke Up This Morning in rockin' double time, and Etta finishes off her party sending everyone home sweaty and in the mood with another Jimmy Reed classic, Ain't That Lovin' You Baby.
   
   Oh, Baby, what a night!



4. Years ago a friend had this on cassette. I finally found it on Amazon.com. What a woman! What a voice! I recommend this CD to anyone who likes Etta James. This CD always gets me moving and smiling.



5. This album is the best album I own, and I own a lot of music. If you don't love the emotion, intensity, and power of this than nothing can move you.

3 comments about Live & Well.

1. This album is actually two separate recordings in different places. Although I own this album on vinyl, this is the first I have ever see of it on cd. Side one of the LP, or the first five tracks, are deffinately the smoother and in general, a cooler venue. It has some of his cool early guitar riffs as it's right out of the sixties, and LIVE at that! The quality on vinyl, although not as crisp as something recorded digitally, has kind of a club sound to it so it sounds actually live. "Please Accept My Love" is deffinately a must listen to!



2. Although "Live & Well" is a rather unique and dynamic work of art which contains ten tracks, it's actually two sides in one...no, make that two ALBUMS in one, being that the first five selections make up the "Live" part, while the latter half of this disc features studio cuts - the "Well" half. There's no comparing or contrasting both halves of this CD, as the live material and the studio material compliment each other quite nicely, and without any major flaws, too. The only minor flaw on the studio tracks which feature blues legend Al Kooper on piano, is his playing, although quite masterful, comes across as being barely audible for the most part. Kooper's piano digitry is somewhat drowned out by the heavy-bottom bass playing featured here, which is why a remastered version of "Live & Well" is so desperately needed, complete with bonus tracks. As for the upstanding compositions on display here, B.B. King is up to his usual guitar playing virtuosity, especially on the "Live" versions of "Don't Answer The Door" and "Sweet Little Angel". The lone "Live" instrumental, "My Mood", contains lots of soul-searching, power-driven down-to-earth chords. The studio tracks have a lot to offer as well. "The King of the Blues" really "Gets Down To Business", as he provides some down-home primo licks on the effervescent "I Want You So Bad", the utterly demanding "Get Off My Back Woman", as well as on the "run the gamut-like" studio instrumental "Friends". But, it is on "Why I Sing The Blues", where B.B. really cuts to the chase, as he gives his fans a major clue as to why he's in the business of performing in the first place (besides his mastery and his love of his "girl" Lucille). Besides the work of Al Kooper on the studio-based "Well" selections, Hugh McCracken provides some top-notch guitar licks as well. It is due to the musical talents which come to the forefront in grand form on "Live & Well", that makes it a must-have, must own CD, and is one title that every B.B. King fan definitely needs to add to their collection - no ifs, ands or buts about it!!!



3. "Live and Well" features a blend of concert material from the late '60s with tunes recorded in the studio. The material is not uniformly brilliant, but there are enough high points, both in B.B.'s singing and his playing, to make this a worthy release.

   The best of the live material is the menacing "Don't Answer the Door," which King shouts over a pulsing organ line and punctuates with some wicked guitar licks. "Sweet Little Angel," a staple of his songbook, is also great, especially vocally. B.B's still one of the best blues singers around, and on "Angel" he shows off the power and sense of vulnerability he can deliver simultaneously.

   There are a couple of clunkers in the live offerings, however. "Please Accept My Love" has another strong vocal, but the tune is hampered by sappy lyrics. "Just a Little Love" is a sing-along that doesn't offer a whole lot musically or lyrically.

   The studio work includes a genuine classic, "Why I Sing the Blues," which is surely the definitive statement on that subject. King here is again in complete command as he storms through verse after powerful verse and unleashes some of his best solos on the record, if not ever. "I Want You So Bad" is a dark blues, mournful in the way that his hit "The Thrill Is Gone" was. Again, not all of the studio material is as strong as these two tunes, suggesting that King wasn't completely on his game for this date.

   Still, there are plenty of good moments on the recording, making it a good representation of B.B.'s late '60s work, when he was working toward crossover status.

No comments about Great Fats Domino: In Concert.

3 comments about Live in Paris.

1. Luther Allison, even after his death, remains one of the largest mainstays of the Blues World. This is my second copy of this fabulous Blues Album after having worn out the first. This man is by far at the top of the ladder, sadly after his early demise, but to this day he has had the biggest impact on my blues addiction. I'm Leaving is no doubt one of the greatest blues songs ever performed by Luther and makes him stand out in the Crowd. Every song on this album showcases his superb talents when it comes to Lead Guitar playing and exuding the Blues. Close your eyes and journey to what is known as the "BLUES WORLD". You won't be disappointed, as Jean Cabot, of Rock and Folk relates, "At the moment, his guitar no longer speakes to you, it cries...and it's tears are blue". If this album is not in your collection then shame on you. You have no idea what you are missing. THE BEST, THE BEST of Luther Allison.



2. This "Live" performance of this excelent bluesman,is like something we are always searching during all of one life,and when we've found this.....what AMAZING discovery!!!!
   This cd is marvelous since the first track,specially the own interpretation of "Thrill is gone",and the tribute to Hound Dog Taylor.No matter some bad sound quality,what really impressed me was the astonishing performance of this truly showman.
   This is Luther Allison at his best days,when he lived in Paris,and was almost an unknown musician to the american audience.
   This is a good begining for those interested to know one of the best bluesman of ever!!!!
   The influences of Elmore James,Hound Dog Taylor and Albert King are constant in all this superb album.The comunicative personality of Allison turns him one of most charismatic musician i've seen in my life.Really a superb album!!!!!



3. I wonder why no one has reviewed this one yet. I wonder how many people have bought this one. I can see why one may not immediately pick this one up. First it only has ten songs on it and second most of the songs are not even Luther's. well, let me set the records straight. even though there are only ten songs on the disc you get almost 70 minutes worth of music - lots of extended jams from an excellent band. second, yes the track listing for the most part reads like a generic blues greatest hits disc: "Thrill is Gone", "Little red rooster", "Early in the Morning", "Rock Me baby", etc I can't stress enough that Luther really digs into these songs and puts his own spin on each. "thrill is Gone" which clocks in at over nine minutes is just amazing. The middle solo section is highly funkified and the final section where luther sings along note for note with his guitar solo, (Similar to albert collins), chills just run up and down my spine. The man was an excellent live performer and he really shows it on this disc. Of course it doesn't hurt that it was recorded in Paris where he actually got the recognition he so richly deserved. The music deserves five stars, but the production knocks it down to four stars. The audience is virtually inaudible and this takes away from the live feel of the disc. You can hear Luther playing to the audience, but you can't hear how they react. Also, at the beginning of the disc you can hear the sound man turning knobs to get the mix right because the guitar fades in and out for a minute or so until the sound is just right. even after this though there are a couple spots where he is still changing the mix slightly. believe me though, the songs and the performance way outshine these small deficiencies and this CD is definitely worth picking up.