5 comments about Freedom Creek.

1. willie king's blues is raw and natural his lyrical content especially on this particular release tell stories of hope and survival while fighting the jim crow system,this isn't your carnegie hall/wine sipping "safe" blues ..this stuff is 'electrified white lightning!!...you can worry about your soul later,in the meantime boogie.



2. Excellent blues from someone who lives the life. Fantastic.



3. I must confess a bit of disappointment listening to this recording. Having seen Willie King at the 2000 Pocono Blues Festival and enjoying his "I Am the Blues" album I found this Rooster Blues disc an interesting, but not compeletly satisfactory album. King is obviously influenced by Howlin' Wolf and this helps shape a powerful perfoming style which he brings to mostly topical themes. While some obviously are attracted to the jam nature of these performances, I believe the performances would have been stronger and the messages more effectively communicated if the performances had been more concise and less lyrically repetitive.



4. Back to basics on this Willie King & The Liberators cd of no slick production just a band playing for themselves and their audience with passion! Original songs with a message add to their own uniqueness. This band was nominated for a well deserved WC Handy award for best new artist debut. A favorite at The Crazy Coyote Blues Power Show 1490 KOTY AM (1490koty.com) Yakima Nation Reservation Radio in southcentral Washington state.



5. This is an excellent CD! This music is different than most Blues music I've heard. Willie King and the Liberators make a rhythm and Jam on it ! Hard! Nothing fancy, just hardcore, funky, dance Juke Blues. That, coupled with the concious lyric content and unique vocal stylings, make this into an instant classic. This is not corporate. This is real. This is a real band, not session players. The recording is live. No over-dubs. Get this CD, and you just might start planning a road trip to Bettie's Place, down in Prarie Point, Mississippi!

1 comments about Mercy!.

1. Generally speaking, there are two types of singers. There are those who feel the need to be all over the recording, filling every single moment with the sounds of their own voices. Then there are those who are comfortable enough with their own talent to let the music and the musicians shine through. Marla BB is talented and confident enough to let her musicians be a part of her music.

   Marla covers a nice range of music, from Jazz to Rock to Standards, she does every song with style and has the good taste to let her back-up musicians shine as well. Especially noteworthy is the inclusion of Jazz harmonica player William Galison. Galison,a native New Yorker, is not terribly well-known here in the states, but this album gives him an oppurtunity to really show that he is a harmonica player's harmonica player and for that sake alone, this CD is definitely worth purchasing.

   I certainly hope that Marla BB and Mr. Galison get the chance to work together again in the future, they are a winning combination.

3 comments about Face the Music.

1. The first time I heard Walter Trout was in 1990's Jonh Mayall's record `The power of the Blues' I was impressed especially when listening to the Blues-Rock "Ridin' on the L&N" where Trout performs a solo guitar that lets you out of breath. Nevertheless I never followed Trout, he seemed too much hard guitarist to me for the Blues until I heard the 2006's Walter Trout's `Full Circle' with several collaborations (John Mayall, Jeff Healey, Coco Montoya....) I liked it very much in spite of Walter Trout goes on being a hard guitarist, however I began to be interested with his discography.
   This CD `Face the music' is a very good live record, great stuff, performed with great passion and highlights for all songs specially "Got a Broken Heart", "Obstacles in My Way" and the slows Blues "The Reason I'm Gone", "Tired of Sleeping Alone". For all the Blues and guitar lovers I recommend it, I give it 4 stars.



2. Walter Trout Live. Is there any other way? This CD captures so well the feel of Walter and the Free Radicals just letting it rip. A truly incredible rendition of "The reason she's gone" - "Too Much Biz" - you can feel Walter's fingers smoking on the frets. The incredibly beautiful Marie's Mood - proving that it ain't just Rock and Roll. If you are hesitating about buying this CD, DON"T...just buy it (and any of his other CD's ) I promise you, you'll not be dissapointed. Oh one more thing...check out [their web site] to see when this band is coming to a town near you. Seeing is Believing!



3. What a guitar player. This was really a suprise for me, i have just been hearing SRV cd`s before, but no I`m gona buy some more cd`s from this wonderful guitar player. The sound is also very good.

   BUY IT!

2 comments about West Side Baby (Live in Europe).

1. Really, a fantastic record, a treasure of Floyd McDaniel's album. Floyd was influenced in his way of playing guitar by the numbers one like Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker, what a great musics they were, and really, he is in fine form here in this Floyd's last recording before passed away in 95 at the age of 80. As add value he has the unpayable Dave Specter's colaboration that he plays in a very high level, listening 'Everyday I have the Blues' or 'Every time' or the marvelous 'Sweeet home chicago' guitar solos and riffs; you can listen the very good Tad Robinson's harmonica in some songs as well.
   All the songs are very good at the same level but I would like to mention 'Route 66' song that backs me to the 60's with the sensational The Rolling Stones's version that was one of the first Blues-R&B I heard, a magnific version of 'Sweet Home Chicago', a funny 'St. Louis Blues' cover,a catching slow Blues 'Backwater Blues' and so on, all of them very good.I recommend it and I give it 5 stars.



2. recorded in 1994 in europe yjis caputured the late great floyd mcdaniel with dave specter and the bluebirds. this recording is so great and the sound is just amaaing. at the time of this recording floyd was 74 and sounded great with his vocals and guitar playing,dave specter handled alot of the guitar work. best cuts are route 66 and sweet home chicago. if you like the sound of fenton robinson you will love this cd with tasty blues/jazz licks.

1 comments about Hang On!.

1. This Bernard Allison CD, along with his others, is just outstanding. What a fabulous musician Bernard Allison is! If you love great blues and if you love great music, you will love this extraordinary artist. He is the son of the late, great Luther Allison who died too young. Luther Allison and Bernard Allison make music that will give you pleasure and joy and delight and awe.
   People who actually love great music need to put their money and purchases where they belong and let the really talented artists receive the praise and rewards they deserve. As I write this today, I have just read of performers like Eminem and others of that ilk whose CDs sell astronomically and who get so much media attention.
   Come on, music lovers. Put your money where the good music is. You can start with Bernard Allison and Luther Allison.

4 comments about Nothin' But the Truth.

1. Sleepy's choice of songs and performance is worthy of most of his live performances. He is energetic, singing with abandon at times. However, this otherwise fine album is mired by extremely poor accoustics. I had seen many bands at this bar (Harper's Ferry) and none of them sounded their best. I am not a musician but I believe there was too much echo in the room, possibly the result of brick walls etc. Too bad this album was not recored in a more appropriate setting.



2. Nothin' but the Truth ROCKS. If you never had the chance to see Sleepy live then this is the next best thing. This CD rocks from start to finish and Sleepy is truly a human jukebox.



3. i'm loathe to give 5 stars to anything, but this one comes close (5 stars would be seeing sleepy in person, dancing your butt off 5 feet from him). imho almost all music (rocakbilly, classical, blues, zydeco...) is best heard live. this is a live cd that captures as much of sleepy's hard driving guitar and booming baritone as possible on cd. i highly recommend both the cd and seeing sleepy live (as close as possible).



4. This is the best live Sleepy you are going to get next to seeing him in person. If you're a fan of roots music, or alternative country ( what ever that means ) you need this album. You also need any other Sleepy LaBeef records you can get your hands on. You can't put a label on his brand of music. If you like a gumbo of blues, rockabilly, hillbilly, alt.country, etc., then this human jukebox is a must for you. I started out as a pure blues fan 25 years ago and Sleepy Labeef is one of the artists that opened my eyes to all styles of American roots music. To me this is essential music.

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 here. If your a true Albert fan you will enjoy this one, i have everything of his i can get my hands on. But Albert live recordings are always a treat, so give this one a try.

No comments about Real Good Time: Live!.

No comments about Blues Is All Right.

4 comments about Live.

1. All tracks from this album plus "Overall Junction" and "Jam in A Flat" are on 'Blues from the Road' (Fuel 2000/Varese Sarabande), which also has informative liner notes by Bill Dahl.
   
   The material on both 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.



2. I could bore you with compiling a list of the musicians in the rock, blues, jazz, and new age field who were influenced by this master of electric blues but I will refrain from doing so. Albert King was one of those whose playing inspired me to learn guitar. I thought "heck, it sounds easy enough for me to play". Aah the naive thoughts of youth! Truth be told often the easiest sounding parts are the hardest to play and play with authority. Albert plays a lot of the same licks but inflects them differently in delivery - a talent that is in and of itself notable. He finds ways to transcend the patterns that all - himself included - fall into when playing. To quote Robert Palmer, his solos combine both "torrential power and striking freshness" and his style works not only in traditional shuffle style blues but also with r & b, funk, soul, jazz, and rock stylings backing him up.

   No offense intended to BB King partisans with the title of this review (or to BB himself), but the truth is the truth. BB is (and has been) a wonderful ambassador for the blues. However, if we are talking about whose stylings have been most influential, Albert comes out ahead by quite a ways. No one has ever played the guitar with more authority for one thing. Also, Albert combined an impeccable sense of timing, the ability to utilize dynamics effectively, a penchant for economy of notes, and the ability to subtly inflect the notes he played with an individuality that few have ever approached. On top of that, his style was akin to a wrecking ball slamming into a building. His was a killer tone coupled with the elements I outlined earlier that many have sought - and still seek to - emulate in their playing (including yours truly). As Robert Palmer astutely pointed out in the liner notes, Albert's playing is never cluttered. On this album he plays uptempo jazzier tunes, scorching slower blues, and songs where he combines his approach with music stylings then current (circa 1978).

   More could be stated but perhaps the best tribute to Albert King was from Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh (who also eulogized him at his funeral in December 1992). Joe Walsh stated quite bluntly that "Albert King could blow away Eddie Van Halen with his amp on standby". Obtain this CD and listen to King live employing the various elements of his unique style. If you are infected with "MTV-itis" be warned: the songs on this disk average about 8 minutes per with some surpassing 10 minutes long. But then if you enjoy good music and biting soulful playing, you will not be disappointed.




3. This is a very solid cd! Albert King is as close to musical perfection as there will be, this is a GREAT example of why. He puts everything he has in each song, each note, each word... This cd takes you into the crowd for that concert, no matter where you listen to this cd you gain a sense of feeling for King's onstage presence; in word--captivating. Each track on here is clearly recorded and very well presented. This cd is NO gamble--you will enjoy it for many, many years.



4. Almost all tunes are classics of the blues repertoire, or even jazz revisited such as "Watermelon Man". I have really enjoyed listening these pieces, the crispy riffs in the masterpiece "Kansas City" as well as the slow bars in "Blues at Sunrise", and foremost his duet with Rory Gallagher in "As the years go passing by". Don't miss it.