5 comments about Raising Sand.

1. Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss is a wonderful musical event that may be explained as a Hegelian synthesis of ostensibly opposing ideas....see http://www.aquilaarts.com/plantkrauss.html. Five stars...highly recommend it.



2. Well of course both of these artist alone are musical genius. You certainly can't go wrong putting two geniuses together. I love Led Zep. and although I've never been a "fan" of Blue Grass, I have been an Alison Krauss fan. Of course this CD is closer to Blue Grass than hard rockin' Led Zep. But, it works. They work. I can't wait for their next album! (My favorite song on this is 'Please Read The Letter'. In this song is where you will find your Led Zep. "flavor".)



3. Two great artists but they just croon... effort came out vapid and flat. Too Mellow.



4. two people I've followed individually have made this supremely heavenly album that I simply cannot qualify; it reflects an amalgum of strange purity that exceeds a mere collaboration. Words fail me...



5. A beautiful, relaxing album with plenty of interesting sounds. I've become addicted to it!

5 comments about From the Reach.

1. I HAVE BEEN A SONNY LANDRETH FAN FOR MANY YEARS, AND I HAVE SEEN HIM LIVE MANY TIMES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CD, "FROM THE REACH," RANKS UP THERE WITH MY FAVORITE CD, "SOUTH OF I-10." AS ALWAYS, THE GUITAR WORK IS MASTERFUL, AND THE SONGS ARE WHAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM SONNY. WHAT I ENJOYED MOST ABOUT THIS CD IS THE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN SONNY AND OTHER GREAT MUSICIANS SUCH AS ERIC CLAPTON AND ROBBEN FORD(AMONG OTHERS). A GREAT CD FOR LANDRETH FANS AND GUITAR-HEADS ALIKE.



2. I've known about Sonny Landreth since my days as the entertainment editor at the Lafayette, Louisiana newspaper. He was always a great musician, but he has really come into his own here. And the fact that high-profile, high talent musicians respect him enough to play back-up on this album is high praise indeed. Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Dr. John and Jimmy Buffett are on board but play second fiddle to Landreth. Don't miss this one!



3. when you're talking about slide-guitar greats, you have to include sonny landreth.
   dwayne allman,george harrison,ry cooder,lowell george,robert johnson and roy rogers are among the best ever and i'm here to say that sonny is at the top of the list.
   different styles i know, hard to say who's best?
   not for me.
   i think i've seen him and the goners live about 40 times or so(i lived in new orleans)and each time he's seems to just get better.
   this new one is still growing on me,i'm not sure it's gonna be one of my top favorites yet.
   hearing "south of i-10"(his sgt pepper), i thought he could'nt get better,but he is way out front of anyone else.
   i've always thought of him this way.
   sonny is just plain "outside the box".
   i think,the greatest guitarist alive today,maybe of all time.



4. Sonny's latest is very good. Anyone making this purchase will not be disappointed. His guitar playing is awesome along with his guests. His all original songs are quite good also.



5. This is absloutely top notch record. Wonderful choice of songs, arrangements and guests. Beautifully produced. This album moves Landreth to another level!

5 comments about City That Care Forgot.

1. Dr. John is to New Orleans is what Willie Nelson is to Austin, TX and heartland causes. Anytime someone's in need these two guys are putting themselves out there singing their hearts out for the causes they believe in. Of course, Willie's on this CD, so's Slowhand, Ani DiFranco, and Terence Simien.
   
   "City that Care Forgot" isn't just a statement, though. You can tell when you're listening to this that the folks performing had a good time putting heart and soul into these songs.
   
   I usually have a favorite song or two. Hands down, for me, it's "You Might Be Surprised." The lyrics really spoke to me:
   
   "Life is a near death experience
   Hell is right here on this great big Earth
   It could be a little taste of heaven
   If we only knew our worth
   All we got to do is want it bad enough
   To push ourself through
   We always underestimate ourselves
   We do every day we can always do better
   In each and every way
   If we don't believe in ourselves
   Nobody's gonna do it
   If we don't push ourselves
   We'll never make it through it..."
   
   If you can listen to "Dream Warrior" without tears in your eyes, you've got a 'heart of iron' as Homer says. Dr. John tells it like it is regarding the 'second battle for New Orleans.' It's the harshest hurricane protest song I've heard, be prepared.
   
   "Black Gold" is a double entendre about oil and military recruitment and it's another political statement that people of conscience should be listening to.
   
   "Promises, Promises" features Willie Nelson singing with the good Doctor. I am surprised at how good these two very distinctive voices sound together.
   
   "Stripped Away" features Clapton backing. This song's more rocked out than most, gorgeous sound for a painful message.
   
   "The City That Care Forgot" is one of the best collaborative efforts I have heard in a long time. The message is strong, the playing is gorgeous. It also supports a worthy cause.
   
   Rebecca Kyle, July 2008



2. this is a great cd very cool drjohn has not lost his touch he just gets better buy this cd it vet good.



3. This is an excellent contribution from Dr. John. The band Lower 911 is tremendous. I highly recommend this CD.



4. Gosh, what a tour de force! From the opening "bop" of "Keep on Going" right through all 13 tracks the good Doctor is on form, on song, on rhythm & on message here. There's cool jazz, funk, swamp blues & great contributions from the guest artists, in particular Eric Clapton & Terence Blanchard.
   You know, a lot of "protest" albums suffer from the angst getting in the way of the artistry but not here. For example I was REALLY worried about the combo with Willie Nelson on "Promises, Promises" but by gum it works & makes the words truly resonate - "Promises, promises, empty words, empty words; the road to the White House, paved with lies.....fought in your wars, paid with our lives.....the truth will set you free". Yet the really great thing is how the tracks without the guests see the Doctor really getting down & nasty with great, driving, funky beats - just listen to "Dream Warrior" for proof positive.
   Other highlights of an album of consistently high quality are "Land Grab" (great trumpet from Blanchard) & the title track (some of Clapton's "bluesiest" guitar in ages). Very rarely do I download every single track from an album into my iPod/iTunes but I did with this album. HIGHLY recommended



5. I Didn't expect Dr. John to release such a great album at this point of his career. The man is 67 years old. This Just might be his best album of all original songs he ever released.

5 comments about Night Train to Nashville.

1. I had never heard much of Tab Benoit until I attended the Jazz & Blues Festival in Sioux Falls this weekend. What an outstanding performer! His style of guitar playing & vocals is something to see and I can see why he is in demand at blues & jazz fests. WOW! If you ever get the chance to take in his show...please do so. I got to see him perform along with Joyce Cooling & Taj Mahal....It don't get any better then that!!!!



2. I could not believe I had never heard of this guy! Caught a cut off the new release from a radio stream out of Black Mountain, NC. He offers the true blues package... great band, great guitar playing and the voice. Great CD!



3. Great blues and R&B from a super guitar slinger with excellent backup and guests. A great listen.



4. This is a great live album. There are some great guests lending their talents. This would be a good album to check out if you haven't heard a lot of Tab Benoit's music, but are interested.



5. Tab Benoit once again proves why he is in such high demand at the blues shows that he plays all over the country. I have been a fan of tab since I was first introduced to his music back in 1998. I'm not really a fan of live albums but for those of you who have seen Tab live you know that its a good thing. This albums has all the heart and soul that tab pours into each and every one of his albums. I'm also glad to see that Lousianna Leroux also got be on this album as well. Listening to it makes me wait with anticipation for his next show at the Fargo Bluesfest this coming August. The choice of songs for this album creates a perfect flow for this album as well with the introductory Night Train to the soulful Darkness to the upbeat Lost in Your Lovin to the old school sounds of Stackolina which closes out the album. Overall I rate it right up there with the rest of his albums and a must have for any fan.

1 comments about Silverlined.

1. Tara and Jeb have done it again! The music is Danceable Americana and the lyrics are uniquely true. They've teamed up with guest musicians to add new sounds to songs we've heard at shows for a few years. When's the last time we heard horns with DTB? Jeb's brought back the pedal steel and Bela Fleck brings his banjo into the mix. Tara sings about the struggles of love and Jeb sings about the joys and limitations of life.
   
   There's an unguarded maturity here that brings a smile and a nod of understanding as you dance. Some of the topics, (war, selfishness), cause reflection but DTB works hard to find the Silverlining in these times.
   "How good it could be to make a world called home"

5 comments about The Definitive Collection.

1. The last time I had occasion to mention the late Bo Diddley in this space was in connection with a series of interviews and performances along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and others in Keith Richards Chuck Berry tribute film Hail, Hail Rock and Roll. The talk centered, rightly, on the dismal fate of many black recording artists who developed what would become Rock and Roll when the white artists like Elvis took it over and reaped the benefits of a mass audience. Well, those interviews occurred a while ago, back in the 1980's, but Bo's sense of not having been properly recognized I believe remained until his death. Yet, when one thinks of the sounds created by the founders of Rock and Roll can anyone deny that Bo's primal beat was not central to that explosion? I think not.
   
   Here, in one album we have, if not all of Bo's creative work then a good part of it, at least a good place to start. Of course, the classic song Bo Diddley and its offshoots and variations are here. However, the one Diddley song that will probably outlive them all though is Who Do You Love. Although not a theme song it nevertheless expresses the raw energy of rhythm and blues/ rock/ carib sound like not other. Hell, George Throughgood was able to make a whole career on the basis of having covered that song and other Bo work (and to be fair, covering the work of Elmore James and Hound Dog Taylor as well).
   
   And that is a good point to finish on. The really great rockers, and Bo is in that company, unlike the one-shot johnnies get covered because their work expresses something that someone else later wishes to high heaven that they had created. (George has been quoted directly on that point.) Finally, I give the same warning here as others have given in their comments about the sameness of this CD and the Chess 50th Anniversary CD from 1997. Get one or the other and save those pennies to get more of Bo's work. "I said- I'm just 22 and I don't mind dying. Who do you love?" Thanks for that line Bo. Kudos



2. Really enjoyed this CD of pioneer Bo Diddley. Showcases many of his hits. Also shows that he was very spontaneous with his playing and arrangements. "Roadrunner" is a little known gem that I really enjoyed.



3. Yeah, I see what they did with the repackaging that has been mentioned already. I was lucky enough to get the former version of this album for about 3 dollars through an "overstock sale" at a music club recently, glad I got it then!
   
   Good collection here, I have to give it 5 stars; Bo is such an influential artist of course. Almost seems to deserve more on the "reissue", but for a casual fan of Bo and the history of Rock and Roll, this is a must have, if you like what you hear here, then perhaps graduate to the Chess box set too!?
   
   He and Chuck Berry are essential to any Rock And Roll collection, in what form you choose to catalog them is up to you I guess. Either a box set or a nice collection like this, at least you get a good feel either way of such a wonderful almost forgotten today artist.



4. Yes, every one of the 20 tracks on this set is excellent, and many are seminal classics. But as my esteemed colleague with the "unhelpful" votes writes, this is 1997's Chess comp in new clothes, song for song, and not newly remastered either. Bo Diddley's March 1955 Chess debut, 'Bo Diddley' b/w 'I'm A Man' represented Bo with a fully developed style and persona, one side redefining children's nursery rhymes against an masterfully arranged and recorded track that is pure rhythm long before J.B.'s mid-sixties funk bombs. Emphasizing tom-toms, Jerome Green's sizzling maracas, and the primal jangle of Bo's guitar, it was backed by a blues classic that inspired Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy'. This is surely one of the most influential singles ever, and followups such as the irresistable 'You Don't Love Me' and 'Pretty Thing' are just as explosive, original, and uncompromised. Bo's influence on second generation rock 'n' rollers such as The Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Animals, and (obviously) Pretty Things insured his work would shape popular music for decades to come. And on their classic 1973 debut New York Dolls included just one cover, Mr. Diddley's 'Pills'. All these great recordings and more are included on this collection. Yet, unforgiveably, very little of Bo Diddley's great body of work - his fat years cover roughly 1955 to '66 - remains in print in his own country. By all means snap this up if you are a neophyte looking to buy your first Bo collection, for the music is utterly undated, even thrilling. However, clocking in at under an hour, the set remains merely acceptable (the remastering is very good), certainly not generous. For fans there is nothing here we don't already have. The notes are nothing special, which reminds me that it's time for the 1989 "Chess Box" to get the sonic upgrade - and, while we're at it, expanded treatment - the first generation's most innovative rock 'n' roller deserves. That set, despite sonic limitations due to the problems endemic to early digital, contains unissued rarities, seldom heard gems, and classics. But it is most revelatory for Robert Palmer's brilliant in depth essay analyzing and celebrating Bo's work, an essential read that remains the most intelligent piece I've seen about the music (the box also contains a biographical piece). And expand that box to three discs! Bo issued a string of fine albums during his 'golden decade', plus some terrific single sides and unissued material (some is collected on the superb and - naturally out of print - "Rare & Well Done"). The man is 78 as I write this, recent victim of a stroke, yet the 50th anniversary of his classic debut went virtually unnoticed, as did his 75th birthday. Sonic innovator, grunge craw-dad, rap progenitor, rhythm king, the man deserves at least some of the accolades, sensitive reissue campaigns, and serious critical attention Ellington, Armstrong, Elvis, Sinatra, and others received on such occasions.



5. If you don't already own a Bo Diddley Collection this is a good place to start, but I would recommend getting the British Import "The Story of Bo Didley" instead. It costs a little more but has about three times as much music.

5 comments about Stevie Ray Vaughan - Greatest Hits.

1. Tragically SRV left us way too early so we can never know the heights he would have achieved in blues guitar playing. This album has probably his best work with the exception of Voodoo Chile, Tin Pan Alley and Riviera Paradise. If you are not moved by listening to "Little Wing" or "Life Without You, then you simply must be dead!!



2. I picked this up a while back because I did not have much Stevie on CD. This is a decent single disc collection that captures all of his radio hits and a few choice album cuts. Since this album came out I believe there is a more comprehensive two disc compilation that has also been released. For what it is the album is ok, but at only around 50 minutes they could have fit quite a bit more on it. Before Stevie Ray I really had very little appreciation for the blues. Since then I have become a big fan and have gone on to discover many other blues masters. If you are looking for an introduction or just the hits, this album is worth getting, but for a more in depth look I would pick up his studio albums (he only released 4 during his short lifetime).



3. A nice compilation of SRV, and it inspired me to pick up his albums, which is what good compilations do. It's a choice I do NOT regret in the least!



4. I read another review that pretty much hit the mark. If you are not real heavy into SRV, this is a great CD to have. It has all his stuff you've heard on the radio plus a few other tasty cuts. On the other hand, there are a lot of really smokin tunes that are missing from this short collection. It's like a teaser - when it's over, you'll wish there was a disc number two.



5. Okay, if you're starting a fan off, you'd want them to hear examples of Stevie's stunning guitar. Makes sense, right? That's the guy's claim to fame, after all. And yet they miss out on a few of his best solos. Where's Rivera Paradise? Where's Lenny? Where's Things (That) I Used to Do? Wheres Ain't Gone 'n' Give Up on Love? Love Struck Baby? Testify? Wall of Denial? Let Me Love You Baby? Or, if you want a bit of acoustic SRV, how about Life By the Drop? If you're looking for just Stevie's best known songs, this does contain Texas Flood, Pride and Joy, Couldn't Stand the Weather, Cold Shot, Life Without You and the cover of Little Wing. But this was a blown opprotunity to present the definitive Stevie Ray Vaughan overview. Stick to Essential if you're a newcomer, since it contains most of this album plus most the above tracks.

5 comments about Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Live From Austin, Texas.

1. Nice quality production, lots of music, satisfies the craving for listening to Stevie's music and seeing him perform.



2. I have owned the VHS version and played it till it just won't play. I'm not the only one, I'm sure. Like most, I bought the DVD as soon as it was released and it has seen better days as well. I won't bore you with what you already know. I want to know why the powers that be have yet to release the first show from start to finish, regardless of what they may think of the quality of the performance? As we know, the remaining songs from the second show do appear on the dvd from the boxed set. Would it be too much to ask to have the entire show from '89 on one dvd and in chronilogical order? Honestly, think of the money that would be made for whomever owns the rights.
   When will we see the whole show from the In Session program with Albert? I live in London,Ontario, which is a stones throw from Hamilton, where the show originated from and I am sure I recall seeing Johnny Winter and Dr. John perform on this show as well.
   It would be great to see SRV and Albert full blown on DVD.
   Turn It Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



3. This DVD is not as long as the one done from El Mocambo in Canada,but is does show what a great breadth he has. I think he takes "Vodoo Chile'" to a different level, and the entire DVD shows him doing what he does best, making realy good music!



4. STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE: LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS is a great DVD to have, despite the fact that these two concerts are not presented in their entirety. But this is still Stevie Ray Vaughan playing live for nearly an hour, so it deserves a 5 star rating, and hopefully they will someday soon release both the 1983 and 1989 concerts with ALL the songs included.
   
   This DVD is actually a DVD of an episode of the PBS live music show AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, which itself was a compilation of the two previous concert performance episodes.
   
   First up, you get three songs, 20 minutes, of their 1983 appearance, in the era of promoting their debut album, and during their hungry, hard partying years.
   
   The last 35 minutes are from their 1989 appearance, when they were very successfully established in their musical career, and sober for years.
   
   There are at least 5 missing songs from this 1989 appearance which are currently only available in the STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN CD/DVD box set. If you compare this DVD to the 5 songs in the box set, I think this DVD has the more professional and polished performances, while the box set shows 30 minutes of slightly more aggressive and wilder guitar playing, yet a bit more sloppy, (for instance, Stevie breaks a string during a guitar lead and has to change guitars without stopping the song). I prefer the box set songs, but I would still tell anybody to buy this LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS DVD! Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
   
   Hopefully, one day soon they will perhaps release the entire concert performance of both shows, maybe on a double DVD set, or separately. Until then, I will at least have this one to enjoy, and since it is Stevie Ray Vaughan live, it is always fun to watch and listen to, regardless of the missing songs!
   
   I would also recommend that you get LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO, and LIVE AT MONTREUX DVDs, which are probably better than LIVE FROM AUSTIN, but they are all great, of course. EL MOCAMBO is a bit wilder and the most like a smokey blues club of any of these live DVDs; while MONTREUX is the most historical, showing the complete show that got Stevie Ray Vaughan discovered, and a great show a few years later after they had been popular and successful for a few years. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Live at the El Mocambo 1983 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985



5. We will never see his likes again. His playing was as natural as breathing. He could play for a continuous hour and never hit the same lick twice. A perfect artist of improvisation. RIP Stevie.

5 comments about Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985.

1. A legend in my time - rocks and thumps to a beat only he can drive home.. recommended . A great visual treat for Stevie fans....



2. This is a fantastic Stevie Ray Vaughan show which shows the true guitar skills of Stevie Ray. Any true fan will need to own this show simply to hear his masterfuil guitar shredding. The sound quality isn't great, but at a normal level of sound, it's fine. The only problem is the bass is a little off when you turn it up.



3. I'm a long time fan of SRV and Double Trouble. This DVD shows his big break at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982. I recommend watching the 15 minute documentary on disk 1 before watching the show. It gives the background information on the show itself, the fact that David Bowie and Jackson Brown were in the audience that night, and tells about the jam session that Jackson Brown and his band had with SRV and his band that lasted all night long!! David and Jackson were blown away as you will be with the awesome raw talent and never endning chops that SRV demonstrated everytime he played. What will shock you the most, is the fact that some people in the crowd were actually BOOING SRV the entire show and when he left the stage in 1982. SRV was crushed by this, but his future track to stardom was set in motion that night because David Bowie and Jackson Brown knew pure talent when they saw it! Thank goodness they were there, otherwise we might have never known what we would miss in this legendary Blues guitarist. SRV comes back in 1985 to Montreux as the headliner as it only took a couple of years for him to be recognized as the guitar god he truly was. I put this DVD set at the very top of my list for MUST have!! You will too once you get it, the price is unreal on Amazon, places like Best Buy wanted 4 times the money for it, you can't go wrong for the content of this set, and the price at Amazon won't dent your pocket book, it's a WIN WIN no matter how you look at it! GET THIS DVD!!



4. Fantastic DVD! The difference in the audience's reception between the 1st and 2nd concert is striking. And it is quite apparent that in the meantime between the 2 concerts, Stevie Ray and his band had been making a lot of money. His band's equipment and attire were garage band quality for the 1st concert, but by the second they had upgraded considerably. Stevie's outfit made me laugh - he's so outrageous! Great music on both concerts - the stuff we love to hear! The video quality was very good too - play it on a HD upgrading player, and if your TV is HD you are in for a visual treat! Worth the money and nice and long.



5. SRV shows his greatness here..nice video work and great overall DVD's for two and a half hrs of greatness, it is well worth your money. The best SRV DVD out there. In my opinion the second disc is better than the first, for a few reasons. One being Johnny Copeland and the other being Stevies energy. Not that it wasn't there in the first disc, but when they are both alternating(Copeland & Vaughan) it is quite amazing how they feed off eachother...even though people hate on the organ, you can't hate on Reese Wynans, he has some ability in his own right. either way a must have DVD!

5 comments about Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Live at the El Mocambo 1983.

1. I saw him live at the Garden States Arts Center in NJ years ago --this DVD brought back memories. This recording captures his great talent as a singer and musician well.



2. Got this DVD in addition to the Montreux DVD set. This one shows SRV and Double Trouble as they were on their way to super stardom. Just one year after the Montreux show where he was getting BOO'S from the crowd the entire show, SRV and his band picked up and were well on the way to becoming a houehold name when this was filmed. Far from the BOO'S at the 1982 show at Montreux, the crowd here eats him up, every lick and gesture. Price and content of this DVD are both AWESOME. If you like SRV, its another MUST have.



3. This is 100% pure music right here. I cannot add much but some interesting tidbits. As a bassist, I have read interviews with Tommy Shannon. In one he was asked if her remembers any particular gigs. He mentions one that nobody could possible remember (1987 in Boston or something random like that) as feeling, "as though we had all day between the beats to play." The interviewer asked him if he remembers anything special about the EL Mocambo show...."Nah...that was pretty much just another show in 1983...they were all pretty much like that back then."
   
   That says it all right there. Those guys breathed together musically. Few musicians are fortunate enough to reach such a point with their own music, much less achieve it in a band setting.



4. Dvd arrived in "record" time (bad pun) and was in A-1 condition. Very high quality audio and video. Fantastic guitar virtuoso. Jack Duegaw



5. "Texas Flood" is worth the price of this DVD by itself. If you like SRV you have to get this one.