5 comments about Sunrise.

1. So you order one CD and then receive another. Usually a hassel of returns, yes? Not this one! Talk about a mistake bringing fortune. This is a great blues CD for all the reasons a blues CD should be great - titles, interpretation, musicanship, and sequence.
   
   May mistakes for you be few and far between but if they should find you - may they find you with this CD



2. I have a lot of respect for Robben Ford but this CD dazzled me. Recorded in 1972 this work showcases a brilliant performance by a man who must have been all of 21 at the time. Many songs in this collection are filled with jazz chords against which Ford plays a distorted guitar. There is a lot of solid Fender Rhodes work here as well and the combination gives the CD a '70s feel.

   When I discovered this CD I expected the Blues that Mr. Ford does so well but instead I found out why Miles Davis hired him. He does some great work in this jazz setting. If you like Robben Ford, like jazz or even better like them both then BUY THIS CD! You'll love it.




3. This is the companion piece to Avenue Jazz's 1997 release, Discovering The Blues. Tracks for this CD were selected from the same 1972 performances as Discovering the Blues, as well as some from the Marquee Club in London. This collection leans quite a bit more towards Robben's jazzier side, but as always, the blues still runs deep. For my taste, the music here is more interesting and varied then on the previous release. There are slow simmering moments but there are boisterous ones as well. When playing in a more jazz-based framework, the band sounds freer and more adventurous. Ford shows great maturity in his playing that belies his young age. His beautiful tone and flawless technique are always present, but never at the expense of the song. He allows the band alot of breathing room (in particular keyboardist Paul Nagle, who adds a tremendous amount to the performances) and shines when it's his moment in the spotlight. At maybe just 21 years of age he proves to be smooth, soulful, intelligent, and electrifying in every note he plays. To showcase his Saxophone chops, Ford and the band pull off a supercharged version of Miles' Eighty One. Certainly no John Coltrane, Robben nonetheless shows he's amazingly talented, and the Coltrane influence is strongly evident.

   The lineup for these gigs was: Paul Nagle on keyboards, Stan Poplin on bass, and Jim Baum on drums. Jimmy Witherspoon also contributed some guest vocals on cuts four and eight. Times on the tracks are: Oh Gee (6:31); Red Rooster (4:25); Eighty One (8:08); Ain't Nobody's Business (3:50); Sunrise (11:28); Blue & Lonesome (8:23) (also appearing on Discovering The Blues); Miss Miss (8:58); and Everyday I Have The Blues (5:26).

   This is an incredible opportunity to catch a young Robben Ford stretching out and blazing away live, and I strongly recommend it. It's something every Ford fan should own. Of course, as I said above, this release has more of a jazz vibe to it, so if you're interest is primarily blues you may rate this a bit lower than I would, and I'd suggest checking out Discovering The Blues first. However, I think the energy and adventurous spirit of this music, along with the guitar mastery of Robben Ford, makes this CD a sure thing. Take a chance...




4. Dam this guy is one talented guitar player! This whole CD burns straight through with a jazz-blues blend that flows smoother then a Michael Jordan jumpshot. The opening instrumental and "Red Rooster" make me want to stop playing the guitar because i know there is no way in hell I'll ever sound like him The whole thing is a gathering of live performances from the 1970's and the music is fast, furious, original, and inspiring. An overall awesome live album.



5. This album was recorded when Robben Ford was in his early twenties in a club in L.A. He knew what he was doing even at that young age. His guitar work is a mixture of jazz and blues that will leave you mouth gaping and drooling.

   Ford starts off the album with "Oh Gee" a great piece that sets the mood for the entire album. Ford doesn't dominate the entire song, and steps back to let his piano and bass men take solos of their own. Next, he covers "Red Rooster" with a heavy blues feel. There is more to Ford than just great guitar licks. He started out playing the sax three years before he picked up the guitar. He shows us his chops on the horn on Miles Davis' "Eighty One". "Miss Miss" is another of the instrumentals on the album. A great tune. Jimmy Witherspoon jumps in to provide his bluesy voice for "Ain't Nobody's Business" and "Everyday I Have the Blues" trading vocals with Ford and getting great support from the band. .

   Rhino records should be congratulated for releasing this great sample of the young Ford. If you're a fan of Ford, guitar, or the blues don't hesitate to check this one out. You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Live Snakes.

1. I have only been to one live performance of The Hoopsnakes, about a year ago, and this was the CD that fans said even their mothers would listen to. At this time of year, I like to hear something like this, and it is ironic for me that staying out late would be a key clue in the song "I Can Tell," which expresses the kind of epistomology that rock and roll has always been for me. The next song had Bruce McCabe singing about you lying and cheating and you used to laugh at him. Well, his piano plays out the resulting confusion and the electric guitars make the crowd want to rattle and shake better than any monster truck I ever saw.



2. I had this album as a cassette tape which was played so much, it eventually broke. So, I was happy to be able to find the CD online. I'd missed listening to it for a few years. It's a great album from a great band.



3. Beyond a shoadow of a doubt, this is my very favorite live recording bar none. No one could deliver a party on a CD like the Hoopsnakes. Infectious, rollicking, joyous and danceable, this CD may be the most fun you've never heard.



4. Definitely the best local band the Twin Cities has probably ever seen. I feel extremely fortunate over several years to have witnessed the enormous talent this band has. Most live albums don't seem to do a band justice, but this one does. With the "die hard" fans taking part in some of the songs and an occasional glass breaking in the background, you feel like you're right there - I was. If you never got the opportunity to hear these guys, do yourself a favor and pick up this CD. You won't regret it.



5. Bruce McCabe's vocals and piano drive this unforgettably fun blues band's live show recorded at The Cabooze Bar in Mpls. The beat will make you wanna dance in your living room. Charlie Bingham's guitar solos are the cleanest you'll ever hear. This CD will grow on you with every listen....be careful if you listen while driving down the freeway....'cause I know you'll be speeding before the first song is complete. This band was the #1 bar band in the Twin Cities from the late 80's until '96. They are currently sidelined by the fact that their leader Bruce McCabe is now the keyboardest and songwriter for young bluesman Jonny Lang. Jonny's latest album Wander This World features a few from Bruce, most notably Still Rainin' and First Impressions.

1 comments about Live at Sugar Hill 2.

1. This album is the sister disc to the 'Boogie Chillen' cd that features JLH in a blue dress shirt & hat on a grey cover. 'Boogie Chillen's' 1st half is essentially 'Live @ Sugar Hill - Vol. 1'. This album makes up for what definetly seems to be missing from this amazing EARLY 1960's solo electric performance. I give it 4 stars b/c the the Sugar Hill songs on 'Boogie Chillen' are better, but that doesn't mean that this cd isn't worth it's printing. If you like live electric solo JLH, this will not be a miss.

1 comments about Live At Seventy Five.

1. 
   LIVE AT SEVENTY FIVE
   By
   Big George Brock
   
   Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, 2007
   
   Live at Seventy Five is a high octane, feel good, rocking blues album that not only promises to deliver, it does. It's Big George Brock at his best on vocals and harmonica, backed by a superb group of musicians, including Riley Coatie, Sr. and Bill Abel on guitars, Barry Bays on bass and Riley Coatie, Jr. on drums.
   
   The album is recorded live at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale. Sonny Payne of Radio KFFA introduces Big George, who leads off with "Cut You Loose," followed by nine more of the finest blues tracks available anywhere. Five of the songs are original numbers and five are outstanding covers. Every song in this collection is a winner.
   
   Of Brock's own compositions, the haunting "Bring the Blues Back Home," is unforgettable. "Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters carried `em up north. They passed away and left them all alone. They knocked on my door this morning, said`Big George, come on, take us back home.'"
   
   Of the covers, "Forty-Four Blues" (Burnett) and "Jody" (Baker/Wilson/Davis) are dynamite. I defy anyone to sit still through these tunes.
   
   This is a top notch CD from start to finish that you will enjoy hearing time and again, a definitive album from an original Mississippi bluesmen who is still one of the best in the business. Five stars and two thumbs up for Big George Brock and Live at Seventy Five.
   -- Shannon Riley

4 comments about Live: Charly Blues Masterworks, Vol. 18.

1. I was a Jimi fanatic in high school and read all of those cheesy guitar magazines and as a result heard about Albert King along the way. I found this CD in a close-out section right when I graduated high school in 1994. This bar-none the best $3.99 I have ever spent. I'm not so much into the guitar solos and blues that I once was, but do yourself a favor and listen to the solo on "As the Years Go Passing By" on this live CD and tell me its not the best. Nobody can touch his tone and evoke a fraction of the emotion he can get with one note.



2. Except for "Overall Junction," all tracks are also on 'Live' (Tomato/Rhino/Wea), along with excellent liner notes by Robert Palmer and better packaging.
   
   All tracks plus "Matchbox Holds My Clothes" and "Jam in A Flat" are on 'Blues from the Road' (Fuel 2000/Varese Sarabande), along with informative liner notes by Bill Dahl and, again, better packaging.
   
   The material on all three albums is from King's 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival appearance. While his Tomato studio albums from the '70s seem contrived and less satisfying than his King/Bobbin ('50s), Stax ('60s), and Fantasy ('80s) albums, I prefer his live albums from this period to those before and after. King seemed to have found his musical home with the horns on the road, after having been juxtaposed to them and female choruses in the studio. Compared to the '50s and '60s live albums, the sound is fuller, the solos even more focused and meaningful, and the vocal presence even more centered and commanding. There are precious few live albums from the '80s. I have 'Live in Canada' (Charly Blues Legends 'Live' Vol. 6): no date is given, but the Elmore James number "The Sky Is Crying" and the "Texas Flood"-rewrite "Rainin' in California" put it in the mid-'80s. It's a fine CD, but the recording quality is lacking (excellent for an audie) and King didn't seem to be reaching anymore or feeling he had something to prove or reveal.
   
   'Live' (Tomato/Rhino/Wea) is my favorite blues album. 'Blues from the Road' may be more complete, but I prefer the single disc format of 'Live' with its "Watermelon Man" opener--a perfect combination of convenience and musical sense. I enjoy having both, frankly, since the extra tracks are well worthwhile.



3. Albert King is Truely in Top Form on this 1977 live Recording.
   Albert just playes so clean and sharp on this record, his band is tight and the horns Funky. If you are a fan of Alberts you really should have this great recording in your collection!



4. i have had this cd for a few years the sound quality is great albert seems to be in top form,if your a true albert fan this is a must have.

2 comments about Live And On The Move.

1. Bought this 2nd hand on the fly, 3 years back. Stunning tight band driven by beautiful manic drummer and held togeher by rock steady gtr of Micky Baker . One of the best integrated small blues groups I have heard. Magnificent foil to James' "in your face" harp - his breaks and timing are staggering! Continual "high energy" road show worthy of a government health warning. Only downsides - slightly less than desirable balance for James' vocals and an over extended Flip Flop and Caledonia, the former having gob smacking first impact which wanes on repeated listening. But this is nit-picking! - listen to James playing the audience - lose yourself in the atmosphere of the night! BUY! - If anyone knows of a "higher energy" JC recording (live!) please let me know!



2. I'm usually not a big fan of live recordings, but these mid-70's recordings really catch the spirit of James Cotton "live & on the move", while still in his prime! Sure, there may be sentimental reasons for my liking this disc {often caught Cotton during this period at the club where these recordings were made} but putting all sentimentality aside, I've gained a whole new level of appreciation for these cuts. Listening to these tracks with fresh aged ears {the first time in 20 some years} I can't help but be impressed by Cotton and company's tightness as a unit. A tough act to follow, there weren't many shows rolling down the proverbial blues pike that packed as much punch as a James Cotton performance in it's heyday, and these cuts certainly can attest to that. Cotton's band, consisting of seasoned vets such as Matt "guitar" Murphy, know how to lay and hold down earthy funkified grooves, build energetic boogie's, shuffle and swing without ever losing so much as a beat. If I had to criticize one thing, it would be Cotton's choice of material. James Cotton had written some fine numbers while a recording artist for both the Sun and Vanguard labels, it's too bad that he doesn't showcase a few of them here. Instead, Cotton is content rekindling old chestnuts such as "Got My Mojo Working" and "Help Me". What would a review of a James Cotton disc be without mentioning his harmonica playing? James Cotton shows why he's earned the nickname "Mr. Superharp", especially on tunes such as, "One More Mile", "All Walks Of Life" and "Boogie Thang", where the deep tonal qualities and grittiness of his harp work can be heard to full effect. A nice slice of what a James Cotton live show sounded like back in the 70's, complimented by one of the tightest and hardest working bands in the blues biz, Recommended!

4 comments about The Lost Tapes.

1. EXCELLENT ALL I CAN SAY IS BUY IT YOU WONT BE SORRY GREAT SOUND QUALITY ALSO.



2. Muddy Waters' numerous live albums range from "pretty good" to "magnificent", with "Take A Walk With Me" and "The Muddy Waters Blues Band Featuring Dizzy Gillespie" at one end of the scale, and the magnificent "Muddy Waters At Newport", "Chicago 1979", "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mojo: The Live Collection" at the other end. This one is at the almost-five-stars end of the scale, featuring a top-notch combo, excellent production, and some of the best sound you're ever likely to hear.
   
   All of these ten songs have been available in official live versions for a long time, and most of them are on virtually every live Muddy album from the 70s. "The Lost Tapes" may not be a revelation, excactly, but it is top-notch electric blues from one of the genre's greatest, and compared with similar albums this one is perhaps the very best from this particular period.
   
   Recorded at the universities of Washington and Oregon, "The Lost Tapes" features Muddy's stellar early-70s band, Sammy Lawhorn and James "Pee Wee" Madison on guitars, the great George "Harmonica" Smith, bassist Calvin Jones, Joe "Pinetop" Perkins on the piano, and veteran drummer Willie "Big Eyes Smith. George Smith and Pinetop Perkins are particularly delightful to hear, and of course Muddy Waters himself, his big, confident voice possesing both power and nuance.
   
   It doesn't really make sense to talk about highlights here...everything is great, from the rather slow but very gritty renditions of "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mannish Boy" to the superbly swinging "Crawlin' Kingsnake" and "Walking Thru The Park". And the band delivers a cracking performance all the way through.
   If your collection is lacking a little in the "live Muddy Waters from the early 70's" department, this is the CD for you.
   And if it isn't, pick it up anyway. It's great.



3. The opening riff of "Honey Bee" when I first heard this cd sent a chill and shivers down my spine and my eyes got swollen with tears while listening to this true master of the Blues in such a marvelous live setting with an incredibly talented Raw and Gritty band! Every track is a Muddy Waters masterpiece! The man's voice and playing add a surreal feeling of times gone by that can be relived over and over with the same feelings being felt. The people that handled this at Blind Pig Records did a great job of restoring and mastering these gems! Play him over and over on The Crazy Coyote Blues Power Show AT 1490 KOTY AM Yakima Nation Reservation Radio in south central Washington state.



4. Muddy Waters helped create the dynamic postwar Chicago blues. His talent and personality influenced many performers to play their best and to stretch themselves, seeking the limits of their instruments and souls. It is so nice to listen to these sessions, recorded in 1971, at Washington and Oregon Universities, because they capture some of the essence of what truly made Muddy Waters so terrific; his live performances and kinship with his audience and fellow performers. Joined by greats George "Harmonica" Smith, Pinetop Perkins on piano, Sammy Lawhorn and Pee Wee Madison on guitar, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones on bass, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums, Waters and co. rock the house on standards like "Crawling Kingsnake" "Hoochie Coochie Man," and "Got My Mojo Working," through a bunch of his own tunes like "Honey Bee," "Walking Thru The Park," "Trouble No More," and "She's 19 Years Old." My favorite cut has got to be "Long Distance Call." On this song, Muddy attacks his guitar neck with his slide, making it scream out hard and soulful blues. This is an enhanced CD as well, and contains a video interview with Waters as well as a video performance of "Long Distance Call," which brings the greatness of this performer through to the viewer even stronger. All in all, this is a great CD, and I'd recommend it to anybody.

1 comments about R.L. Boyce Othar Turner Fife and Drum Spam.

1. And quite frankly, makes one of the best rock'n roll records of the late 90's! This album, while only half an hour long is one of the rawest records ever made. 20M frontman Judah Bauer's singing is uneven and, at times a bit off-key, but there is absolutely nothing that would sound better in its place. This is Judah's first effort out of his day job as Jon Spencer's personal Steve Cropper in the JSBX. This album shows that there is true hope for real rock music out there and 20M's two subsequent releases ('I'm A Lucky Guy' and last year's 'Keep It Coming') show Judah progressing even further beyond my expectations. This record, in all its ragged and odd brilliance, is perfect!!!!!!!

5 comments about Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live.

1. 1979's 'Muddy Waters Live' is a real treat. It features another blues icon, Johnny Winter's backing band, as well as Muddy's raw and unique voice.
   
   While this was released on Columbia, and his best sides were on Chess, which was purchased by MCA (now Geffen), this is still a supreme live set. If you enjoyed 'Live At Newport,' than you will absolutely love 'Muddy Waters Live.' He is considerably older, but older can mean better.
   
   And in this case, it means better. The first song on the record, his hit 'Mannish Boy' is probably better than the studio version; while the final song on this album 'Deep Down In Florida' just brings the whole house down. The guitar licks on that one are superb.
   
   Overall, this is live blues at it's finest. Highly recommended for any blues lover or Muddy Waters lover. You'll be very satisfied with this listen. ENJOY!!!



2. I got this for 9 bucks last year. I can think of things I paid over $100.00 for that are nowhere near as valuable to me as this CD. If it isn't the best 9 bucks I have ever spent, it is tied with something I have forgotten. The greatest thing about this is Muddy playing slide on a number of the songs. I doubt it is Muddy at his best, but gives you an idea of what Muddy at his best was like. While all the releases of Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters touring in the late 1970's are great, this is the best of them. I don't see how any blues lover could spend 9 bucks any better!



3. Muddy Waters - McKinley Morganfield is the source of all of rock and his teachers down in the Mississippi delta; Son House, Walter Johnson, Blind Willie, Rev.Johnson are who created our only original art form Jazz. "Who invented Electrizity...........Muddy Waters."



4. This is one of the best live blues albums ever made and you could make a case for best live blues album period. Johnny Winters did the blues (and America) a great service by bring Muddy out of semi-retrirement to record a series of studio albums on the Blue Sky label. These fantasic albums include 'Hard' Again', 'King Bee' and 'I'm Ready'. After finishing live to tape studio album Johnny took Muddy on the road to record this amazing album. Every song is a treat right from the openning Mannish Boy thru the slow paced Deep Down in Florida to the great 19 years old sung the way only Muddy could od. Muddy plays great slide guitar, the backing band is excellent, and the crowd is electric. What it must have been like to see this show. Only compliant is how short it is. Would highly recommend the extended 2 CD set version that recently came out. What ever fit your budget pick one - this is the BEST of the blues.



5. Muddy's vocals: dead on, excellent as always. The band: great. Sounds like a pretty good blues album huh? Well, it's more than pretty good, it's amazing. On some of his later albums, great as they were, Muddy played less of his trademark slide guitar; well on this recording, it is the slide playing that steals the show. Muddy positively wails, putting most slide players to shame, dropping the jaws of the audience, and turning great recordings into postively essential and timeless ones. I cannot emphasize enough the greatness of the slide playing on this record; Muddy just takes you to another place with his scary slide.

5 comments about Thursday Night in San Francisco: Recorded Live at the Fillmore Auditorium.

1. Here is the legendary Albert King demonstrating why he managed to influence artists like Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and Eric Clapton. If the word "stinging" applies to blues playing, then let it settle-in here: Stormy Monday Blues, I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town, a couple of numbers associated with other "Kings", San-Hozay (Freddie King) and You Upset Me Baby (B. B. King).
   San Hozay (wish they kept that one up for at least four minutes!), Crosscut Saw and Oo-ee-Baby (the closer) are uptempo and are as cleanly performed as they are mixed. To me, blues *today* is a bit bottom-heavy, and the lead vocal lacks presence. Listen to this historic set and learn what a true blues set and *recording* should sound like.



2. If you're one of "Shaq's, The King Of The World Blues Reviewer's" loyal fans, you already know that Albert King is my all-time favorite electric blues guitarist. If you're not one of my existing fans, but want to know the "truth" about all the criteria that you should consider before spending your hard earned "blues" dollars, you should thank me after this review! What you should know is, that this "live" performance was recorded on June 27, 1968. It was released in 1990. Was Albert great that night? Hell yea! He was great! But... the recording technology was from 1968! If you're a modern day blues fan, that hasn't had experience with how great Albert was, you may be disappointed by the lack of 21st century sound quality. But that is not Albert's fault! If you're an electric blues, collector and aficionado, with experience in the difference in technology over time; then, this CD would be rated a 5 star. But simply because of the lack of clarity, I rate this a 4 star. Albert is the "KING" of kings, of blues. If you're willing to really turn up your CD, or if you are satisfied with simply hearing the greatest "string bender" of all-time, in lesser sound quality, than is available today, this is a classic CD for you.



3. This is a good blues album that show cases one of the greats doing a typical live show. While I love Albert King and live blues music something is missing for me on this album. Sound quality is not great and is backing band is nothing special on this album. Check out In Sessions or Live Wire for better material for Albert King, one the great blues guitarist of all time.



4. Well this is a total F for sound. I have 3 dif 3 cd players, home, port, and car, and yes they are good ones, car is a Q45 with a Bose. I bought this CD because of the reviews I read here, what is everyone smoking? or is there not that good of stuff avail from Albert? I don't own any other CD's, but I do know about him from the SRV Sessions VHS I have had for a few years, and it sounds pretty good.
   
   This CD sounds like a taper recorded it, from that last row in the back or something. I have both SF CD's, the both sound the same.
   
   Can someone email me please and let me know what Albert King CD's. If any, have good clear sound.
   
   What I have that is great for Live shows is Cream Reunion DVD and CD, and Roger Watters in the Flesh DVD and CD, great sound.



5. Some guys play guitar to impress girls. They play some cool sounding licks and are rewarded with oohs and aahs. Other serious guitar players impress other guitar players, but their talent surpasses the mortal mind, and they might not appeal to a wide audience. Albert King is a guitar players' guitar player that everyone can enjoy.
   
   More than a few of history's great guitar players have admired Albert King's talent. Yet his "soul" (as he calls it), song selection and sex-appeal delight blues fans everywhere. If you're a serious guitar player or just a blues fan who has never picked up an instrument, then you'll like Albert King. He still has a following from a brief trip to Argentina shortly before his death. Even Latinos like this guy!
   
   And as with all blues, Albert King is at his best LIVE! On stage where he is energized by the encouragement of the crowd, with no suit-wearing producer calling the shots, the Night Prowler truly shines.
   
   If you like the blues, you'll LOVE (!!!!) this CD. The song selection is good. Albert King is hot. The crowd is enthusiastic. What a great recording of a great performer.