5 comments about Blues Masters: The Very Best of Lightnin' Hopkins.

1. Just wanted to say that Item was every thing I expected of it and your attention and response to order was outstanding. will most probably be ordering from you again.



2. The songs on this CD were recorded between 1946 and 1961. They cover a wide range of his songs. The instrumentation is spare, with--normally--only Hopkins or playing or only a couple other backing players (sometimes we don't even know who the other musicians were). This is unelectrified blues, hearkening back to an earlier era in the history of the blues.
   
   A handful of examples of his work on this CD:
   
   "Baby please don't go." The cut features simple and spare guitar work by Hopkins. The liner notes comment that (page 12): "They say he only knew three chords on the guitar. I say that made him greater. . . .I saw how he turned technical limitations to aesthetic advantage." He repeats the title line several times to set a tone and atmosphere and implores her not to go to New Orleans. Hopkins plays alone, with no backing instruments.
   
   "Mighty Crazy", too, features no backing musicians. He surely displays a "lived in" voice. He begins the song, as with "Baby please don't go" with a repeat of the title four times.
   
   Finally, "Mojo Hand," one of his better known works. This cut features a nice rhythm section backing him (musicians' names not known). This has some of the best recording quality on the CD. He shows animated singing and spare but effective guitar work.
   
   The liner notes summarize Hopkins' place in the blues world (pages 11-12): "Lightnin' Sam Hopkins was one of the towering geniuses of American music. At a time when big-city blues was electrifying the world, Lightnin' brought us back to the basics. He infused his country sensibility and singular personality into every song he sang." This represents a nice introduction to the work of one of the finest blues players.



3. The blues do not get any bluer than this. This was my first foray into Texas/folk blues, and it will most certainly not be my last, as the music on this CD are some of the most representative blues music I have ever heard. One of my favorite songs is a song sung by both Hopkins and Sonny Terry, Conversation Blues. If you do not like this song, the blues are simply not for you! But every song on here is exceptional, something I had not expected as I picked this up more out of curiosity than anything else. Now, it is one of my favorites to listen to, right up there with Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. The album covers Hopkins career for a 20 year period, from 1941 to 1961, and is ideal for anyone who is starting out their Hopkins' collection(as I was).
   
   Sam "Lightning" Hopkins learned the blues, at least in part, from Blind Lemon Jefferson, and for a time even became his guide. Let the music on this CD be your guide to Texas/folk blues. Surely there can be no better guide for an introduction into this genre.
   
   A definite 5 star pick, especially for all that Rhino has managed to pack on here for the inexpensive price. A must have.
   
   One thing to note however: If you believe from the outset that you will come to love Hopkins' music, Rhino's release of "Mojo Hand" is recommended; it is a 2-CD set of Hopkins career. Either way, you will not go wrong.



4. Bought this CD as a gift and he really loves it. He grew up listening to Lightnin' Hopkins, so it really brought back some good memories for him.



5. A classic from a little known, at least by me, talent. Lightnin Hopkins is easily one of the best blues artists I ever heard. This is down home, back in the day, drafty shack wif dee leaky roof Blues.

2 comments about Greatest Hits Volume One - The Duke Recordings.

1. Along with Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing and Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Bobby Bland was a rarity in the legacy of classic blues singers in that he was a singer who didn't play an instrument. However, unlike Turner, Rushing and Hawkins, Bland didn't come out of the jump/big-band tradition where such a dynamic was more commonplace.

   The songs on this disc are not Bland's earliest recordings, but they are early, spanning 1957-1969 with an emphasis on the years 1960-1962, and they're his best and most seminal recordings. Not only that but the compilation comes at such a bargain price that even those unfamiliar with Bland would do well to pick it up.

   Bland and his music, under the direction of bandleader Joe Scott, had a decided showbiz bent due to Scott and his orchestra that made generous use of horns as well as the usual guitar, bass and drums. The greatness of Bland was that his genuine and soulful stylings transcended the 'sweetening' agents of his accompaniment. That's not a knock on Scott and his orchestra though, for Bland's sound anticipated what came to be known as soul music in the '60s. Bland, well-groomed and dressed in a three-piece fronting an orchestra is something that really does it for me image-wise. He wasn't one of those other blues singers like John Lee Hooker who looked like a street musician thrown on a stage. Some would see Bland in a lesser light or less genuine than someone like Hooker because of his show and orchestra but that's b.s. Half those 'serious' blues musicians were just mailing it in and living on an image anyway, and these days they all are.

   Included in this compilation is 'Farther Up the Road', Bland's first hit, later made more famous by Eric Clapton. On 'Cry, Cry, Cry' and 'That Did It' Bland loses his mind to a pleasing effect. The Brook Benton-penned 'I'll Take Care Of You' utilizes a haunting, spooky organ overdub that works as a nice wild-card element and 'Yield Not To Temptation' includes a manic hand-clapping beat and female backing vocals.

   Great music, great price - what are you waiting for?




2. Bobby blue Bland has always had the goods.this disc showcases his talent.i've also enjoyed the stuff that he has done with B.B.King.a good solid disc.his vocal style is one of a kind.

1 comments about "Bobby ""Blue"" Bland - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings".

1. What can I say, I love this CD - Bobby Blue Bland is known for many songs but the way he sings "Yolanda" is outstanding - I hit repeat so many times when I played this CD my grandson asked me if I had any other music!It is indeed a must have!!!

5 comments about Two Steps From the Blues.

1. Forty seven years later,this is a "must add" to my CD collection. It most certainly brought back good some "ol memories".



2. It has been years since I listened to Bobby "Blue" Bland. These are earlier and, to me, more enjoyable recordings of his. His voice has the energy of a younger singer, yet still has the blues and soul that he had throughout his career. In short, buy it--you will enjoy it also.



3. This CD is fabulous.
   It is one of my favorites R&B recordings. I loved Bobby Bland's music back in the fifties and sixties and to hear it again is a real turn on.
   For those just beginning to appreciate great R&B "Two Steps From The Blues" is a must listen. One of the best without a doubt.



4. Hearing Bobby Bland sing these real blues numbers was like a trip back into the past when Blues lyrics were pure and sung totally from the heart. I will treasure this CD and encourage my kids and grandkids to listen and learn what real blues was all about. I was pleased to learn that these selections were the original recordings as I remembered them from back in the fifties and sixties. Bland's rendition of "St. James Infirmary" is the best in my opinion. If anyone wants to experience the authentic Bobby "Blue" Bland, then this is the CD to purchase.



5. in music, albums generally regarded as classics are pretty darn dependable. they are almost always outstanding. i wish that was the case with books (where classics are far from dependable). this album by bobby bland is regarded as a classic in the world of rhythm and blues, and once again those music folks have gotten it right. this is a great recording. from beginning to end the material is top notch, and mr bland's sonorous vocals are exceptional and elegant throughout. the horn section is terrific, too; with plenty of powerful saxophone to top things off. and nobody in blues handles a ballad any better than bobby bland. the top track here might very well be the old new orleans dirge "st james infirmary," which is chilling. this album came out in 1961 and the proximity to the 50's shows in a few spots, as there are occasional hints of doo-wop influence, without the doo-wop backup singers. this cd is a must for any collection of blues/soul music. rock and roll fans should pick it up as well. great stuff.

5 comments about T-Bone Blues.

1. The sound is a little old-fashioned, but the playing remains of interest. Not as flamboyant as many of the modern players - just good, solid blues that is consistently entertaining. A classic.



2. Most blues fans know that T-Bone was the man. He influenced virtually every blues, jazz, and rock guitar player that came after him, wrote some timeless classics, and had a wonderful, smooth voice. This album consists largely of re-recordings of some of T-Bone's best songs, but don't let this discourage you, because even if you have the sublime originals, this disc is worth every penny and more... and not just for the spectacular tracks unique to the album. His remakes of his own classics are executed with stunning grace and skill. As another reviewer noted, some of these versions are actually the definitive versions, such as "Papa Ain't Salty." The instrumental "two bones and a pick" is a breathtaking duel between three masters, who T-bone, at the very least, gives a heck of a run for their money. Once again, if you have the original captitol/imperial recordings, but don't have this, then your T-bone collection is lacking... this is absolutely essential!



3. My favorite single T-Bone disc. Listen and learn how lead guitar came to be. Incredible groove that never grows old. If I was stranded on an island with 10 CDs this would be one.



4. This is a different kind of blues that is very enjoyable



5. I am appreciating this CD more every time I listen to it.

2 comments about Truckin' with Albert Collins.

1. albert collins was one of the greatest blues guitar players of all time nuff said they used to play one of his songs on imus in the morning on msnbc so maybe he was'nt such a racist after all.



2. I went surfing thru Amazon.com and found the heading of 'Blues under $10. Stopped and looked around. There was the name of Albert Collins. I remembered playing some of his music in my days at college radio. And for less than $10.00, how could I go wrong. This has become a must have CD for any blues fan. The switch from analog of the early 60's to the digital CD of now is one of the best. The stye of the music he did almost 40 years ago still holds up. This may not be an album you want to hear everyday, but one to take you back and realize quality is quality whenever the recording was done. I just wish the CD was longer than 33 minutes. But in the world of vinyl...

5 comments about Country Blues.

1. I love all of his stuff, I have about five CD's worth. He's so raw, natural and pure. I just can't put into words how much I love his material, he just floors it and lets fly, always something new to catch in one of his songs. He's so inspiring to me as a guitarplayer!
   
   Get this CD



2. Had this on an old album......wanted it on cd...just what i was looking for.



3. This is a good example and sample of Lightnin' Hopkins. My guitar teacher uses it to teach me acoustic blues in the free form style that is not a strict 12 bar form. A strong shuffle pattern with free form blues runs predominate.
   
   You will hear some of this in Stevie Ray Vaughn's music.



4. First of all, Lightnin' is the man. Now that we've established that, lets go on to this particular album. ANY Lightnin' album is 5 stars compared to most other things, but this one is really cool. Lightnin' is just messing around here, playing for some folky geek who brought a tape recorder over to his house, but listen to what he plays! This is the blues itself concentrated and fermented and stripped down to its most essential, most direct, most powerful phrases. Sure, its Lightnin's blues, but this is pretty much what its ALL about, blues, rock and roll, jazz, R&B, this is the roots of it all, right here. So why build all that other stuff onto it? Why go digital, why add effects, why even use a studio for heaven's sake? This is 10 times better and 10 times simpler than all that...one man, one guitar, an ocean of inspiration!



5. Hopkins is usually referred to as the epitome of Texas blues, and without having listened to any of his contemporaries in this regard, I can still see why he is labeled as such. This album has tracks with dark, bold sounds and a delivery unlike Delta bluesmen that put you out on the desolate back country or in the hard work place. Coupled with the words, your mind is focused on the most basic and essential traits of life for a black man in the hard living conditions of Texas, and the raw emotion evoked by these circumstances. In an interesting contrast, some of his songs have a very lighthearted feel to them, but the lyrics mention nothing reminiscent of high life, thereby emphasizing the emptiness of Hopkins' "thesis of blues", for lack of a better phrase.

5 comments about Tuff Enuff.

1. this one has a pop edge to it, it was in the time when you could still get your videos on mtv, and they did. even with a little more middle of the road sound, it is still the fabulous thunderbirds with jimmie freakin' vaughn on the stratocaster. kim wilson leading the boys, they still give their songs that austin edge. always a good one to put in the play rotation.



2. I originally bought the cd when it came out back in the eighties but lost it when my mustang got stolen. I have been looking for the cd ever since. If you like blues rock & roll you will love the thunderbirds tuff enuff. Excellent buy any time. Long live blues and rock & roll.



3. One of the best blues based rock albums ever made. Jimmie Vaughan's guitar matched with Kim Wilson's vocal and blues harp makes one hell of a cd, I own this one on vinyl as well.



4. With the release of the single `Tuff Enuff' in 1986, the Fabulous Thunderbirds earned the public's attention. The song is a high energy bass-thumping R&B number with an unforgettable shimmering rhythm guitar - great Texas roadhouse blues. The album `Tuff Enuff' is a collection of blues, rock & roll, and R&B - excellent bar music. Unfortunately, in this case, the fervor of a live act (especially after two of three beers) doesn't translate well during the recording session. The Fabulous Thunderbirds are a legitimate blues band, but nothing here matches the vigor of the title song. Producer Dave Edmunds attempts to cover the band's shortcomings with "speed playing." `Amnesia,' `True Love,' `I Don't Care' and `Down At Antones' are played at what seems like 100 MPH. What's the purpose in playing 8 and 12-bar blues at breakneck speed? Fast may get the crowd on the dance floor in front of the band "live," but the muscle and exhilaration just isn't here.



5. I first listened to this CD when is was 17 years old and I was blown away. This is a good way to get introduced to the blues. The title track is rockin and a songs such as "Look at That, Look at That", "Wrap it Up", and Two Time My Loving, can stand up against any other songs to come out during the 80's. In an era where hair bands were everywhere this no nonsense band struck gold with this release. Some people know the T-Birds as the band with Stevie Ray Vaughns brother in it but they were much more than that. They are still together minus Jimmie but this is the one where everything clicked

3 comments about Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk.

1. 
   The eighth album by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, "Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk", suprisingly turned out to be a powerhouse. Founding member Jimmie Vaughan finally had left after their previous release, the decent but somewhat uninspired "Powerful Stuff." Having already appropriated his rhythm section from Roomful of Blues, singer/songwriter Kim Wilson made a key selection to replace Vaughan, RoB's lead guitarist, Duke Robillard. He, in turn, recommended a second New England blues musician, Kid Bangham.
   
   The two new members added much needed new energy to the band. The cliche among T-Birds fans is that it took two guitarists to replace the "great" Vaughan, but I don't buy it. Unlike most fans, I think Vaughan was way overrated. Also, it should be noted that a fair amount of the T-Birds sound on the previous three albums was created by session keyboardists and multitracking Vaughan's parts, rather than any special virtuosity on his part.
   
   With two guitarists in the group, the sound is lot more varied. Robillard not only brings in great playing, but a cool funky song, "Born to Love You", and a good voice, trading vocals with Wilson on a cover of the soul classic "Ain't That a Lot of Love?". All but one of the rest of the songs were written or co-written by Wilson. While he didn't really expand his lyrical repetoire (he's either ecstatic over or been done wrong by a woman, as usual), musically he's covering even more ground. "Twist of the Knife", the only song which got any airplay, is a great driving rocker; "Can't Stop Rocking" is an amusing, loping track; great crooning on the ballads "When I Get Home" and "Need Somebody to Love". "Work Together" is another highlight, wherfe Wilson's exhortation to make the world a better place is backed by a great groove from the band and superb backing vocals from a black gospel band.
   
   This lineup was also excellent live, but the guitarists left after the tour, and the group hasn't been stable since. This album deserved a lot more attention than it got,and should be re-released. "Tuff Enuff" is the first essential purchase, since it's got the T-Birds big hits, but this one is, overall, much stronger, and should also be on the list for blues-rock fans -- if you can find a copy.



2. In the long and varied history of this smokin' hot living blues honor band, "Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk" is the blistering peak. The Austin boys get a pop and jolt from the Roomful master Duke and the sinewy skills of master producer Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, Springsteen and Scialfa) to craft this deliriously fun, funny and positively thundering album. You owe it to yourself to go to your local INDEPENDENT record shop like the wonderful Repo Records and Manifest Discs in Charlotte, NC, and dig up this masterpiece. And, while you're at it, fire a nasty and pointed e-mail in the general direction of Epic for doing the unthinkable and dropping these geniuses after this album. May the damned spirit of Robert J. forever haunt them!!



3. This is one of my favorite T-birds albums. Robillard's funky rhythms on "Born to Love You" cannot be beat with a 20lb. stick. I love listening to this one at full volume while cruising in my car.

   "Twist of the Knife" is a blues-rockin' sensation that never fails to make my blood boil. "Paralyzed" is a basic straightforward rock-n-roll tune, but very catchy. "Feelin' Good" borrows from a couple of influences, but the John Lee Hooker in it reaches out and grabs you by the unmentionables! If you can resist the urge to dance when this song is playing, then there's just something MAJOR wrong with you!

   Not every song on the album is equally strong, but every time I hear this album, I like it even more. Even "Work Together" which initially seemed trite to me has grown on me and become a very fun song to listen to...kind of an audience participation groove.

   If you like the true T-birds, with their blues roots exposed for all to hear, then this album is for you. If you only liked their MTV hit videos, then you probably don't have enough soul to appreciate this one and you should head back to top-40 land.

4 comments about His California Album.

1. CD in excellent condition. Packaged acceptably. Continue to purchase future items.



2. This is in my opinion the best (money) I have ever spent on a cd. There are limitless replay opportunites with this album. His version of Going Down Slow (a Gatemouth Moore original)is awesome it turns a slow classic into a fast rythem masterpiece. Every song on the album is beautifully done. I have without a doubt listened to this cd more than other of the over three hundred Blues cd's I currently own. It is a must have for any true Blues fan. Get it, you will not be disappointed. The first track should be the music you start any roadtrip or "I have had enough trip" with. Don't cheat yourself.



3. Bobby "Blue" Bland had done great job in this album. Every single song in this album is great. If you have heard these songs in his other albums, I am telling you, they are completely different in this album. All the songs are enhanced with great music that are different that his other albums.

   This is the second time I am buying this album; since my first one was stolen from me.




4. Bobby "Blue" Bland is a master of the sly blues: just when you think a song is going to slip into a predictable blues groove, he cocks back and roars or tosses off a throaty growl that grabs at the base of your spine. It's always magic in person, nearly always magic on records. This CD is NOT his best work and it left me cold on the first few listens; it has a definite 70's quality (hey, it was recorded in 1973) that sometimes edges toward disco arrangements, but as I said, Mr. Bland is such a great master, he rescues it. "If Loving You is Wrong," a song that would (and should) bomb by any other artist is somehow twisted into a tight blues riff by Bland. Overall though, after leaving this in my stereo for several days, I've come to love the CD, despite the 70s song selections, and occasionally corny backing orchestrations, Bland's style and command of his voice rescues it. If you're buying your first Bland CD, look for his recent "Live on Beale Street" or classic "First Class Blues" but if you like a soft blues listen with great horns, give this a try. Not Bland at his best, to be sure, but you just have to love this guy's authenticity. Oh, and if you're a Van Morrison fan (as I am) you'll learn where Van finds a LOT of his horn and backing vocal arrangements. Van only borrows from the best.