1 comments about Chicago Is Just That Way: 1938-1954.

1. Four discs. 80,79,77,77 min. each approximately. Remastered sound. This set concerns itself with the changing sound of the blues as it moved to the big city,in this case,Chicago. Besides the well-known artists here,there were a number of others who helped usher in the more sophisticated,electrified sound of music after the war. The first disc are tracks with the great Tampa Red,vocalist and very fine guitarist in the "Hawaiian-style"(slide guitar)that was popular long before the blues moved to the city. The rhythm section is comprised of the well-known duo of Odie Payne-drums and Ransom Knowling-bass. The piano player Johnny Jones is heard on a number of tracks and his contributions are a fine addition. Also,there is a tenor sax on quite a few sides that help give the arrangements a less country-feel. The chronology on this disc begins in 1949 and continues into the early fifties. On the last few tracks Sonny Boy Williamson and Walter Horton play harmonica,though not as a duo. A look at the titles will show a number of familiar songs mixed with some not as well-known. However the sound is seamless no matter what title is being played. The second disc covers 1945 through 1947,and has a number of well-known people. Johnny Shines,Memphis Slim,Muddy Waters,and others make appearrances,and this is where the blues form really begins to transform itself from acoustic to electrfied city blues. Arthur Crudup performs one of the most well-known tracks here(That's All Right)in a trio format which is very effective. But like the entire set,it doesn't matter the title-it's the style that's important. The third disc starts in 1947 and continues into 1949. With tracks by people like Sunnyland Slim,the great mandolinist Johnny Young,Big Bill Broonzy,and the relatively unknown Eddie Boyd-a fine singer/piano player,the quality of the music doesn't let up. Among the backing players are the likes of Muddy Waters and Little Walter,who keep things authentic. The final disc follows the time period of 1949 through 1951. This disc,perhaps more than the others,shows how far blues had come from the dusty towns in agricultural areas to the slicker,faster moving,large industialized cities. Jazz Gillum,a vocalist/harmonica player epitomizes this shift with a style and feel of "city sophistication". Others like Jimmy Rodgers(Ludella)and Robert Lockwood(Dusy My Broom)continued transforming the blues into what a lot of people consider the most popular style of music,that came out of the migration from the South. Music that was,and still is,very powerful in it's sound and feeling. This set goes a long way in explaining how the blues was transformed,not only by a few well-known artists,but by a number of lesser known but important people,who found in the big city,a new life and a new way to express themselves in music. This set belongs in every blues lovers shelf-not only for completeness,but for the quality of the music,which still lives and breathes today.

No comments about The Life & Crimes of Alice Cooper.

5 comments about All That You Can't Leave Behind.

1. Bought on Ebay for the 1st ATYCLB velvet box to be signed - signed by all the band in Ireland in March 2002. WELL WORTH THE MONEY !!!!
   
   The U2000 Limited Edition velvet box is emblazoned with the U2000 is silver on the spine plus the suitcase/heart logo on it's front, and is full of surprises when you open it.
   
   There is the black hat (again, with the U2000 logo) like the one the Edge wears, 3 guitar picks, U2000 Zippo lighter, ATYCLB CD (mine is the first to be signed) and a Certificate of Authenticity that it is 1 of the 1,000 that were only made.



2. First: The album "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is one of the best albums of the year 2000. But, even if you are a huge U2 fan, don't buy this box!

   Off course, it is nicely made. Velvet cover with the golden heart in a suitcase. In the box are the official album CD, then there's a hat with the print "U2 2000", a zippo lighter with "U2 2000" and three guitar licks with U2 logo. But nothing is written in the official U2 font (the one from the album). This is why I know for 100% that this box is NOT official. So don't get fooled and spend so much money for something unofficial. Nothing to be proud of as a true fan.




3. Hi, I bought the box yesterday in a shop in Milan. I've been waiting for it since December. Now it's mine!. I think this is a funny and wonderful black and green box that contains a black embroidered t-shirt with the logo A.T.Y.C.L.B, a golden pin, a mouse pad and the limited version of A.T.Y.C.L.B. cd! If you are a collector and you have the money to buy it, you'd be better go and run worldwide to find it. As soon as possible 'cause it's a limited issue of 1000. Once you've got it, you can go proud of it and one day ... you can tell your son: 'Hey son, you're a lucky boy. This box is for you. U2 are the best rock band ever in the world and you've got something special of them!. Enjoy U2!'. Ciao.



4. I own this box, however I didn't buy it from Amazon, as there was no editorial review so I didn't know what is was all about. Can't Amazon list what this is about ? I found it in a shop in Berlin. Also why can't I find this product at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de ??

   Anyway a lovely box set to own!!!!




5. awesome box incl. all that you can't leave behind cd, u2 zippo lighter, wool hat as worn by the edge, 3 plectrums in different u2 designs. all packaged in a beautiful velvet box. limited to 1000 incl. certificate.

3 comments about Ring of Fire.

1. I purchased this cd as a gift for my son and the whole family ended up singing along.....the cds contain many of his best songs!



2. The most frustrating aspect of this box set is the complete lack of liner notes. These are fine live recordings, but the listener is left only to wonder as to their origins. I want to give this package two stars for the lack of notes, but the music is deserves five, so I give it a four.



3. Despite the total lack of liner notes and recording information, this inexpensive import item hosts a treasure-trove of rare Johnny Cash tunes and not just another repackage of familiar recordings. Split up over CD one and two is an early 70's concert recording which is fine, but the real treat is the remainder of CD two and all of CD three which is a radio broadcast transcription from the late 50's (I'n guessing)that showcases the Tennessee Two w/ Cash with a live fire that I've only witnessed on the Live at Town Hall Party DVD. The closest Cash came to being a rocker and a dynamic set.

3 comments about The Patti Smith Masters: The Collective Works.

1. This six disc collection is simply six of her already released albums in one big collection. However, it has all been remastered perfectly. There are also great bonus cuts and 'live' material that was hard to find before this. I could listen to the "Horses" medley all night, but this set is the ultimate and if you're a fan - a requirement!



2. One thing that appears to be missing here is mention that this is a collection of the albums Horses, Radio Ethiopia, Easter, Wave and Dream Of Life in digitally remastered form, and with the odd extra track on them. Looking at the descriptions of the current CDs of these albums, they're probably the ones you can get singly now (as opposed to the original versions without the extra bonus tracks). The additional "Disc 6" is tracks from the 5 albums, plus 2 tracks from "Gone Again". Of course, you do also get a nice box for them, and the words "limited edition" on it, and at $.. it's no more expensive than the 5 albums.



3. way way back years and years ago there was a rumor of a real cool poetess making noise that some called incomprehensible but made absolute sense to alotta us who were outside. this set is, acourse, her best work, w/ obscure stuff on every cd. this is rock/n/roll at its best. the run on poetry is superb. this is essential.

   radio ethiopia is my current fave...

No comments about Stratosfera.

2 comments about The Collection: Slow Dancer/Silk Degrees/Down Two.

1. Boz Scaggs truly had some jams back in the day&this is a good mini-set of Boz's Albums.He had a cool Laid-back vibe that carries over these albums.still dig hearing these ALbums.



2. If you're feeling slightly nostalgic...or if you like one or two Boz tunes and want to hear more, I highly recommend this box set which contains a broad representation of some of his best works. You won't regret owning these mellow melodies and "old-fashioned" works from another era when vocal stylization really meant something! A good start for someone who wants to "Boz-ify" his/her collection beyond a mere "greatest hits" type compilation.

No comments about Hits of the 80's.

5 comments about The Linda Ronstadt Box Set.

1. This box set contains many rarities and unreleased tracks, as well as a great overview of her solo albums and collaborations with others. It focuses on ALL of Ronstadt's musical genres, not just on rock. Hence, it is missing some of her (rock) hits, so it would help to get (or keep) her 2 Greatest Hits albums for a complete hits collection. But you won't feel cheated by this box. It covers rock, pop, country, folk, Mexican canciones, Latin pop, Early Americana, lullabies, operetta, and standards from the Great American Songbook. And the rarities disc alone is worth the price. Ronstadt possesses one of the greatest voices of our generation, and her incredible work gathered in this box is all the proof anyone needs.



2. If you don't buy this collection for any other reason buy it for the excellent sound quality. It's a fairly comprehensive presentation of Ronstadt's material except the the sound in most cases is much better than on the original CD releases. Also included is a disc of unreleased rare material that makes this boxed set a must for any Ronstadt fan. The only negative thing is that there are no selections from the incredible Don't Cry Now album and not enough material from the #1 album Heart Like A Wheel, but well worth the price for anyone who loves Linda Ronstadt's voice.



3. I love Linda Ronstadt so much! She has an amazing voice, and is one of my favorite singers. I only knew two or three songs before I got this set, and I now I know about 10 or 20! Here are some songs I would recommend you to hear.
   
   Winter Light (from her album "Winter Light" and from the Secret Garden, 1993)
   Don't Know Much (with Aaron Neville)
   Somewhere Out There (with James Ingram and on the An American Tail Soundtrack)
   Blue Bayou
   High Sierra (with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris
   I Never Will Marry (with Dolly Parton)
   All I Have to Do is Dream (with Kermit the Frog)
   Dreams to Dream (from the An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Soundtrack)
   When You Wish Upon A Star
   My Funny Valentine
   Telling Me Lies (with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris)
   
   This is a great set! Buy it today!



4. Linda is a very arrogant performer, who kicks her fans down (Or at least those of us who are Republicans and (Or) Christian Conservatives), because she thinks we are inferior. So I would never buy any of her CDs again (And I was a 30 year Ronstadt (Country and rock fan)). As for this CD, not putting "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" on it, is enough of a reason not to purchase it in the first place. Throw in her Mexican material (That is not on the level of Thalia or Jennifer Pena (Let alone Selena)), and the boring Nelson Riddle material that became passe when ELVIS came out. I would sooner listen to Hilliary Duff, Brittney Spears and argggggggggg Paulia Rubio, before I would listen to this CD (Let alone buy it), if I could give it ZERO stars I would. It is simply the worst boxed set I ever heard (And I know most of the material on it).



5. I, like others i've read in this space, had issues that more of her country rock tunes weren't selected to be remastered and featured on this box set. But my hesitations were alleviated when i listened to the first disc. I was not familiar w/Winter Light - and like i'd read in the past - the production is flawless thruout the Winter Light set. I can see why 6 songs were selected from it. And i about fell over when i newly discovered a couple of the Trio songs from Disc 3; songs that i could play over and over again, whether on my walkman or on a long drive somewhere. Very enjoyable and evocative.
   One of the greatest pleasures was rediscovering a song that sounded vaguely familiar, "Easy for You to Say". I about died when i heard it in all its remastered glory.
   I did feel that having ONLY 1 TRACK from 'Hasten Down the Wind' was quite disappointing. "Try Me Again" is a real heartbreaking tune written by her and one of my favorite band mates of hers, Andrew Gold, but not to include That'll Be the Day, or Someone to Lay Down or Lose Again, well, it was quite surprising and my only TRUE disappointment w/this box set. Not having Love is a Rose included was also a shocker and forces you to buy her Very Best of if you want some of these excluded songs in remastered form. Otherwise, this box is quite encompassing and pleasing. "Good job" to Linda and all those involved.

No comments about Legendary John Denver (3CD).