Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box ReviewIf life were a college course in Blues Appreciation, at least three aural textbooks would be required listening: the Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson and the Chess Boxes of Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. Just purchasing a CD or two of any of the other blues masters will suffice (for awhile anyway), but these three giants produced so much listenable and danceable music that nothing less than complete box sets will do. Even at 71 tracks, this set still feels incomplete; where is Wolf's fabulous live recording of "Highway 49" from the Newport Folk Festival? Or "Do the Do" from London Howlin Wolf Sessions, featuring Eric Clapton and Hubert Sumlin's fantastic guitar figures? But these are minor quibbles. How can you argue with an album that starts with a lonesome Wolf moan ("Moanin at Midnight") and ends (well, one track from the end, anyway) with a frail Wolf teaching a roomful of top blues acolytes (Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts) how to play acoustic guitar on "Little Red Rooster" the way Charlie Patton himself taught Wolf some 40-50 years ago? What an experience! His powerful, gargling-battery-acid voice (only Blind Willie Johnson and Captain Beefheart had more abused throats) now a shadow of it's former self, his commanding presence still moves the assembled royalty of British blues-rock to "get on it" and produce a memorable take. In between are too many highlights to mention, including "Killing Floor" (probably the only song set in an animal slaughterhouse), "Back Door Man" (later covered memorably by the Doors), "I Ain't Superstitious" (also covered well by Jeff Beck Group and Savoy Brown), and most memorably, his signature song "Smokestack Lightning." As a bonus, there are several snippets from an interview recording just a few years before his death in which he reveals how he got his name, how he got started playing the blues, and the "hidden" meanings behind both "Smokestack Lightning" and "I Asked Her For Water". These glimpses into the real, behind-the scenes Wolf persona, each about 30 seconds to one minute long, are priceless. Throughout the set, Wolf is supported by first-rate musicians, particularly the aforementioned Sumlin, who was such a good guitarist that he was "borrowed" regularly by the likes of Muddy Waters and Little Walter, but always made his way back to Wolf's pack. This set and all it's great music should keep most listener's happy for hours. Now, when will some great writer take up the challenge of giving Howlin' Wolf the biography he deserves? (Waters and Walter already have fine bios.) Until then, the Wolf fan will just have to make do with the (excellent) liner notes from this set and play it once again to hear the magic of the Wolf moanin' at midnight, or at any time of day he so desires.Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box Overview71 of the rawest Chicago blues ever recorded! Wolf's greatest sides from 1951-1973, including two previously unreleased acoustic tracks and never-before-heard interviews, and unreleased stereo versions of such classics as Spoonful and I Ain't Superstitious . Two sets of liner notes, too!

Want to learn more information about Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

B.B. King - Greatest Hits Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy B.B. King - Greatest Hits? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on B.B. King - Greatest Hits. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

B.B. King - Greatest Hits ReviewThis is an extremely brief single-disc summary of B.B. King's MCA output beginning with his first single for the label, 1963's "How Blue Can You Get?" through his pairing with Robert Cray on "Playin' with My Friends" from 1993's Blues Summit all-star recording. Among the many highlights are two tracks ("Every Day I Have the Blues" and "Sweet Little Angel") from the essential Live at the Regal, "The Thrill Is Gone" (which went to No. 15 in 1970, making it the highest charting blues song ever on the U.S. pop charts!) and the chilling "When Love Comes to Town" with U2. While condensing 30 years of music onto a single disc is an impossible task, this makes an excellent primer for novice fans on a budget. RECOMMENDED [Note: Last November MCA released the 2-disc B.B. King Anthology. It includes EVERY song on Greatest Hits, plus an additional 18 songs. For a few extra bucks, this would be the album to get instead.]B.B. King - Greatest Hits Overview

Want to learn more information about B.B. King - Greatest Hits?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

White Sugar Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy White Sugar? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on White Sugar. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

White Sugar ReviewI bought this CD mainly for curiosity. I did not know anything about this young artist even if she is British. I have to say that I am pleased I did it. White Sugar is a very solid blues/rock CD and Joanne displays all her ability as guitar player and singer. It looks pretty evident that SRV and Albert King are her main influences. Her style is reminiscent of the sound of the two great players of the past and this is really clear in the two excellent slow numbers included in the mix. Listening to Time Has Come you will surely be able to recognise two or three licks very distinctive of Albert's style while in Blackest Day, that is also in my view the best song of the album, the influence of the great SRV is very strong. Having said that I would like to point out that Joanne guitar playing is really very good and her soloing is always well balanced and inspired. I would like also to add that she is a good singer too, and this is a plus that is not so common in the business. In conclusion a very enjoyable album that will please blues and rock/blues aficionados.White Sugar Overview

Want to learn more information about White Sugar?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Born Under a Bad Sign Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Born Under a Bad Sign? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Born Under a Bad Sign. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Born Under a Bad Sign Review... and under a half moon on the decline: This is one amazing blues album, doubtlessly one of the greatest ever recorded, and one of the most influential records in all of music history. Because in 1966-67, when Albert King got together on a total of no more than five days with the legendary Booker T. Jones and the MGs, Isaac Hayes, and a recording team of the likewise legendary Stax records to produce this album, the blues was quietly on its way out; in danger of being sidelined by psychedelia and the rock music revolution started by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. That this did not happen is due, not least, to Albert King and "Born Under a Bad Sign."
Already seasoned musician when the album was recorded, Mississippi-born and Arkansas-raised Albert (Nelson) King was a man who perfectly understood to employ minimal construction to maximum effect; to fully exploit even the most basic elements of a blues tune and use his exquisite sense of timing, and subtleness on the one hand and emphasis on the other, rather than dazzling the listener by a frenzied race all over the fretboard. ("He can take four notes and write a volume," renowned guitarist Mike Bloomfield once said about him.) This album is a perfect example of that style, and it promptly proved so influential that King's style would be taken up, in short order, by a whole new generation of guitar players, most notably Peter Green, Eric Clapton (listen to Cream's "Disraeli Gears," in particular its title track "Strange Brew," which unabashedly emulates, note-for-note, the guitar solo of "Personal Manager") and Jimi Hendrix, who like Albert King was a "leftie" and in the habit of turning his guitar upside down, with the bass strings at the bottom - and whose respect for King caused him to forever be reluctant to share a stage with his idol, although a lucky audience at San Francisco's Filmore West did see them appear together on the club's opening night.
But this album did not only prove to be one of the most influential ones in electric blues in general; it also constitutes the cornerstone of Albert King's own musical legacy, with its Booker T. Jones/Al Bell-written title track, which has since been recorded by everyone from Paul Butterfield to its inclusion of the CD based on TV's "Simpsons;" and such songs as "Crosscut Saw," "Oh Pretty Woman," "The Hunter," "Personal Manager," and of course King's first Stax single, "Laundromat Blues." Partly R&B record, not least due to the participation of the Memphis Horns (Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love and Joe Arnold), who provide a frame and additional layers of sound to King's guitar, to the studio band (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Al Jackson, Jr.), the album is a product of its time only in the length of the songs, which are generally tied to the 3 1/2-minute limit set by the then-prevailing mandates of radio airplay. Yet, at heart, this is purely blues, from the title track's first powerful riff to the quiet mood of the closing "The Very Thought of You;" and from the feeling of being down and out (summed up, deadpan, in the title track's chorus: "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all") and the tale of a no-good woman who "kept on foolin' around till I got stuck on [her]" ("Oh Pretty Woman") to the grating guitar and verbal punches of the "Laundromat Blues" ("You better hear my warning ...I don't want you to get so clean, baby, you just might wash your life away"). Albert King's early gospel training shines through in every soulful note of songs such as "I Almost Lost My Mind" and "As the Years Go Passing By," and last but not least the album also includes King's own "Down Don't Bother Me" and the Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller classic "Kansas City."
Obviously feeling the need to convince an uncertain audience to give the record a try, Deanie Parker's 1967 liner notes summed up the prevalent blues cliches by recommending the album to anybody who had ever been hurt by a lover, deceived by their best friend or broke and "ready to call it quits" and promising: "Albert King has the solution if you have the time to listen ... he'll get through to you." Well, "solution" may be a bit over-optimistic - but there sure is plenty of feeling on this album, and some of the finest guitar solos ever recorded. And that in and of itself, as well as the name Albert King, should be more than enough of a recommendation to give the album a try.
Also recommended:
In Session
Live Wire/Blues Power
Blues at Sunrise: Live at MontreuxBorn Under a Bad Sign OverviewNo Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: KING,ALBERTTitle: BORN UNDER A BAD SIGNStreet Release Date: 06/18/2002

Want to learn more information about Born Under a Bad Sign?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

In Session Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy In Session? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on In Session. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

In Session ReviewRarely does an album get released where teacher and student aren't too shy to cut loose. I didn't have high expectations for this one but this release is clearly an an exception to the rule. AK and SRV are having a great time and while SRV is in awe of the master bluesman he doesn't take the back seat on this one because around Albert, that WOULD be disrespectful. AK and SRV go at it with great respect for each other and the music. The result is a firey session that is sure to satisfy every fan of these two artists. SRV is clearly the only guitar player to copy AK's licks perfectly and it is a real treat to hear them together. The CD is peppered with dialogue between to two and AK acknowledges SRV as the future of blues as if to pass the torch. But the music is the meat here and it is wonderful. Recording quality is very good and the disc is about 60 minutes in length. If you are an Albert King and/or an SRV fan this one will be on the top of your favorites list for a long time.In Session OverviewOriginally recorded for Canadian television. The two bluesg uitar legends jam on 'Stormy Monday', 'Don't lie To Me'and 'Pride and Joy'. 1999 release. Standard jewel case.

Want to learn more information about In Session?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Sweet Tea Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Sweet Tea? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Sweet Tea. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Sweet Tea Review"Sweet Tea" is fast being heralded as Buddy's best CD ever. For example, the liner notes proclaim that Buddy "may have made the album of his life".
There is no doubt that Buddy pours his heart and soul into this recording. However, no musician, with the possible exception of Linda Ronstadt, wants to have a cover CD credited as "the album of his life".
Unlike Buddy's earlier CD's, "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues", "Feels Like Rain" and "Slippin' In", which all contain several Guy originals, "Sweet Tea" is a tribute CD to several of the North Mississippi Hills musicians such as, the late Junior Kimbrough, Lowell Fulsom & T-Model Ford who record(ed) for Fat Possum records. In fact, all but two of the songs are covers of these men.
The dark, brooding, often hauting and hypnotic beat of the original tunes is left intact on this CD. However, what Buddy brings to the mix is his exceptional guitar solos that are otherwise absent on the originals. Make no mistake about it, Guy's playing on the CD is exceptional and is the best he has played in a long time. If you want to hear something a little different from Buddy Guy, this is your CD.
On the other hand, I think the impoverished and often over looked Mississippi Hills musicians should be given their due as well. So, if you like this CD I would urge you to strongly consider RL Burnside's "Wish I Were In Heaven", Junior Kimbrough's "All Night Long", T-Model Ford's "She Ain't None of Your'n, Jessie Mae Hemphill's "Feelin Good" or Robert Belfour's "What's Wrong With You" all are excellent, recent CD's worth a listen.Sweet Tea OverviewNo Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: GUY,BUDDYTitle: SWEET TEAStreet Release Date: 05/15/2001

Want to learn more information about Sweet Tea?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Sky Is Crying Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Sky Is Crying? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Sky Is Crying. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Sky Is Crying ReviewThat's not hyperbole. Man, I still remember it. It was 1995. I was browsing in a record store and came upon this album. I didn't know who the hell it was-- it wasn't like anything I would usually buy-- but I decided to try sometehing different. I was blown right out of my pants. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I played the tape so many times in 6 months that it started to wear out. It made me want to learn to play, even though I never thought about playing the guitar before-- it was that good, that moving.
Every song on this CD is amazing. How can you talk about good and better when you've reached this level of mastery? You can't. It's like asking which van Gogh painting is your favorite. Still, could you ever buy a van Gogh for under $20?
That being said, there is one song on this CD that is maybe the best pure electric guitar ever recorded: "Little Wing" is a masterpiece among masterpieces. It has it all: such feeling in the slow sections that you cry, such blistering guitar in the power sections that you are stunned, and such subtle mastery throughout that you can hear different nuances each time you listen to the song. Just check out when and how he uses the natural harmonics-- and how he even throws in the Wes Montgomery Jazz/octave work-- each in exactly the right place. This guy wasn't just a guitar maniac-- he was a Master, with a capital "M"-- and on top of it all, he was a wonderful, caring man.
Putting "Life by the Drop" as the last song on the compilation is almost too much for me to handle-- knowing that, when that last note finishes resonating, there will NEVER be any more...
I cry every time I see his bio on MTV-- when I think about that helicopter crash.
There is something wrong with a world in which a man like this gets only 35 years.
I cry.Sky Is Crying OverviewThis CD is an out of print collectible! It is the original 1991 Epic release. Catalog #EK 47390. There is a hole punch through the UPC. Still sealed.Track Listing:1. Boot Hill2. The Sky Is Crying3. Empty Arms4. Little Wing5. Wham!6. May I Have A Talk With You7. Close To You8. Chitlins Con Carne9. So Excited10. Life By The Drop

Want to learn more information about Sky Is Crying?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Johnny Winter:The Woodstock Experience (2CD) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Johnny Winter:The Woodstock Experience (2CD)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Johnny Winter:The Woodstock Experience (2CD). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Johnny Winter:The Woodstock Experience (2CD) ReviewTwo discs 34 and 68 minutes each approximately. The sound is very good,especially a live recording from so long ago. The studio set has been remastered in the recent past,and is fine also.
This package contains Winter's first album for Columbia Records. It's the original album,without the "bonus" tracks which are on the latest reissue.
By now most Winter fans will already own the original record,so not much has to be said. It was a good first album,though lacking some of the fire found on his Sonobeat/Liberty Records album,"The Progressive Blues Experiment".
The live set is Winter's complete set at Woodstock. At the time he was a relative unknown-his appearance at this festival made him a star. Winter is accompanied by Tommy Shannon on bass,and "Uncle" John Turner on drums. Edgar Winter is also here,playing and singing on a number of tracks. Winter's guitar was on fire during his entire set. No matter what the tempo,his guitar playing was always scorching and his technique left quite an impression on people,especially his slide playing,which was razor-sharp yet had that "dirty " tone that was so popular. For those listeners who like blues/rock guitar,backed with some gritty vocals-this is it. Winter fans will find much to like here. His playing is close to the Sonobeat/Liberty album mentioned above. There are seven unreleased tracks-all worthwhile,the only track that's been released is "Mean Town Blues". Why these tracks were never released is a mystery. Its nice to finally have the entire set in one nice package.
The packaging is nice. Both discs are housed in a cardboard slip-case. Inside,each disc is in another cardboard sleeve,and inside that is a paper sleeve that houses the disc. The graphics are nice on all the sleeves. The original album is housed in a facsimile of the original album cover. The live disc is in a sleeve with photographs of Winter playing live. The inside paper sleeve has information on the tracks and a short essay on Woodstock. The poster is nice but not essential-especially since it's folded over several times to fit in the slip-case.
This is,possibly,one of the better sets in Sony's new Woodstock releases. Don't wait-this is worth it.Johnny Winter:The Woodstock Experience (2CD) Overview

Want to learn more information about Johnny Winter:The Woodstock Experience (2CD)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Ultimate Collection Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Ultimate Collection? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Ultimate Collection. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Ultimate Collection ReviewThis is the best single disc Freddie King Collection on the market, considering that Hideaway: The best of Freddie King is out of print. Two or three selections are doubtful (Dust my broom and Sugar sweet), but mostly it is really good, combining his trademark instrumentals (Hideaway, The Stumble, etc) with wocal tracks. Freddie's sharp, melodic and intense guitar playing influenced a lot white blues guitarists - most obviously - at least to my ears - Eric Clapton on the John Mayall's Bluesbrakers with Eric Clapton album. If you like blues, or just great guitar playing (and there's some fine singing from Freddie as well), get this record.Ultimate Collection Overview

Want to learn more information about Ultimate Collection?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Wander This World Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Wander This World? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Wander This World. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Wander This World ReviewYouth has its own special grace. This is one of the best CD's of 2000 or any year! It's safe to say Jonny Lang is a prodigy, although some credit has to go to producer David Z. There's not a bad track here, but "I Am," (co-written by Prince, David Z, and Levi Seacer, Jr.) "Angel of Mercy," and "Wander This World" are three astonishing standouts. Better still is "Right Back," written by Jerry Lynn Williams and Danny Kortchmar. Even better than that is "Before You Hit the Ground," written by Kevin Bowe and Mr. Lang. And best of all is the brilliant (Bowe/Lang) "Breakin Me," already a radio hit. Discussing blues influences is like peeling back layers of an onion to find a center, but I definitely hear echos of the great Paul Butterfield Blues Band, especially in the drumming and piano arrangements. What pushes Lang ahead of other great guitarists such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton is his singing voice, reminiscent of Joe Cocker's style. Do we do the boy harm raving about his work at such a young age? If he can withstand the ravages of fame, there's not much telling what this kid can come up with. Get this--it's a masterpiece.Wander This World OverviewJapanese edition of the acclaimed young guitarist's 1998 &second album with two unmarked bonus tracks added, 'StopPushin' On Me' & 'If This Is Love'. 14 tracks total. An A&Mrelease.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Want to learn more information about Wander This World?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Suitcase Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Suitcase? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Suitcase. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Suitcase ReviewKeb' Mo' continues to please the listener with a diverse variety of smooth blues. The album's focus is on love and relationships. A must have for any Keb' Mo' fan. Mo' stays true to his own version of the blues and it pays off. One of his best to date.
Lyrics that we can all relate to, well delivered vocals and a great production makes this album one you can just listen to over and over without having to skip a single track. Mo' is keeping blues relevant by keeping up with the times, his lyrics reflect his life experiences as did the lyrics of bluesman of the past. Thank you Keb' Mo'.Suitcase OverviewSuitcase is the highly anticipated new studio album from threetime Grammy award winning artist Keb' Mo.Produced by Keb' Mo and long time collaborator John Porter (B.B. King, Los Lonely Boys, Santana), Suitcase is Keb's first album of original music since 2004's Grammy winning release, Keep It Simple.Keb' Mo will be touring all summer and performing songs off of Suitcase on a nationwide tour with Bonnie Raitt.

Want to learn more information about Suitcase?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

T-Bone Blues Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy T-Bone Blues? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on T-Bone Blues. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

T-Bone Blues ReviewOriginally issued by Atlantic Records in 1959, "T-Bone Blues" compiled 11 singles recorded between 1955 and 1957, and the 1994 CD reissue added four bonus tracks, including "Why Not", which Jimmy Rogers would later record as "Walkin' By Myself" and credit to himself, and a soulful rendition of Leroy Carr's "How Long Blues".
Many of these sides are re-recordings of Aaron "T-Bone" Walker's classic 40s sides, like "T-Bone Shuffle", "They Call It Stormy Monday", and "Mean Old World", and while any self-respecting blues collection should include Walker's original Capitol and Black & White singles (Rhino's "Blues Masters - The Very Best Of T-Bone Walker" is a great collection of those early sides), "T-Bone Blues" is perhaps the most satisfying album Walker ever made.
The sound is simply magnificent for mid-50s waxings, wonderfully clear and crisp and realistic, and T-Bone Walker is backed by men like Junior Wells, Jimmy Rogers, Ransom Knowling, legendary arranger/pianist Lloyd Glenn, and saxists John "Plas" Johnson, Jr., Edward Chamblee, Mack Easton, and Earl Hines-cohort Andrew "Goon" Gardner.
And T-Bone's own playing and singing is superb. Just listen to his inspired soloing on "Blues For Marili", "Mean Old World", the classic "T-Bone Blues", and this the definitive rendition of "Papa Ain't Salty". It's a delight to hear him playing with Little Walter Jacobs on the 1955 recordings, which include a swinging "Play On, Little Girl" and the fine bonus cut "T-Bone Blues Special", and Walker's re-recording of "They Call It Stormy Monday" captures the essence of the magnificent original version from 1947, this time with stellar fidelity.
There are a number of amazing instrumentals here, too...T-Bone Walker duels with his nephew R.S. Rankin and highly esteemed jazz guitarist Barney Kessel on the up-tempo scorcher "Two Bones And A Pick", and comes off victorious. He may have been best known for his slow, after-hours blues laments, but T-Bone could cut it with the best of them no matter if the tempo was set at 40 or 140.
The highlights on this disc are too many to mention...among the best of the lesser-known songs are the up-tempo "You Don't Know What You're Doing", sung by Rankin, and the jouyous instrumental "Shufflin' The Blues", but literally everything is worth a listen.
An essential addition to any semi-serious collection of electric blues.T-Bone Blues Overview

Want to learn more information about T-Bone Blues?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Power of the Pontchartrain Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Power of the Pontchartrain? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Power of the Pontchartrain. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Power of the Pontchartrain ReviewEvery time you buy a Tab Benoit's CD you can be sure that you will not be disappointed. And, as always, the brand new "Power of the Pontchartrain" confirms that rule. Excellent material played extremely well by Tab and the accompanying band. This time the "Louisiana's Leroux" are the supporting band and this is not irrelevant to the great final result. In fact the band spent several years, as explained in the linear notes, with one of the greatest Louisiana blues player of all time Mr. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. The album is really very good and I would take the risk to say that from my point of view this is Tab's best effort so far. Tab's voice sounds great as always and the guitar playing is absolutely fantastic throughout the entire CD. The excellent and clean production and sound of Telarc Blues deserve a mention too. All the eleven songs in the menu are very strong and you will not be tempted to use the skip bottom of your CD player at any time, however I believe that a special mention is deserved by the great cover of the Stephen Stills' classic "For what it's worth", by the deep blues "Midnight and lonesome" that for me is the best cut of the bunch, and by the two mid tempo "Somebody got to go" and "Addicted". Very highly recommended for all the blues lovers.Power of the Pontchartrain OverviewIn the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the idea ofblues from the bayoutakes on a whole new meaning. Guitarist Tab Benoit has seen and experienced the suffering first-hand this past year as his home-state of Louisiana struggles to clean up and rebuild. Armed with gritty guitar chops, a powerful vocal attack and insightful songcraft, this self-proclaimed new kid from the old schoolbears witness the best way he knows howdelivering a passionate and heartfelt brand of Louisiana blues that connects audiences worldwide to the plight of his beleaguered homeland.

Want to learn more information about Power of the Pontchartrain?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

You & Me Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy You & Me? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on You & Me. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

You & Me ReviewThe new album of Joe Bonamassa is very good however, just to point it out from the very beginning, it is not as good as his previous two. In my opinion it remains a couple of steps behind the absolutely marvellous Blues Deluxe and the following Had To Cry Today. Joe, as he explains in the linear notes, wanted to do a blues album this time, and he takes inspiration once again mainly from the sound of the 1970 British blues school. The sound of the album waves from the opening delta blues style of a solid cover of an old Charlie Patton's song, to a couple of Chicago blues, from an acoustic country blues to a jazz tune. Best song of the album is the cover of the classic So Many Roads however as in Tea For One, taken from the Zeppelin repertoire, and in Asking Around For You the use of electronic strings instead of maybe a nice carpet of B3 doesn't do for me. A special mention is deserved by the 12 year-old LD Miller who plays a nice harmonica solo in Your Funeral And My Trial, really very good. Having said that Joe's playing is once again fantastic throughout the entire CD and the band very solid, in my opinion he has also improved his singing. I am looking forward to having the chance to see him playing live in London next September and I am sure that the live version of many of the songs included in his new album will be excellent!You & Me OverviewYou And Me (featuring Jason Bonham on drums) marks the debut collaboration of Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley and is a powerful fusion of big rock and swampy blues, You And Me gets much of its inspiration from such masters as Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and John Lee Hooker. Bonamassa delivers all the excitement and power of his electrifying live performances while mixing it up with dynamic music choices; from hard to soft, electric to acoustic, a music roller coaster - and just as fun!

Want to learn more information about You & Me?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

In Step Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy In Step? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on In Step. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

In Step Review"In Step" is often cited by critics as Stevie Ray Vaughan's best studio album. And his playing on this album is actually a bit more economical, maybe even a bit more mannered, than on his earlier releases...whether or not that's a good thing is a matter of taste, I suppose.
The production is a bit more slick than usual as well, the tone of Vaughan's guitar is cleaner, and a keyboard player and occational horns have been added to the mix, but that's not to say that Stevie Ray Vaughan had gotten soft on his final solo album before his tragic death in 1990 - he just turned a little bit more towards rock rather than blues.
"In Step" opens with a blistering rocker, "The House Is Rockin'", followed by the bluesy "Crossfire", which features a superb solo by Vaughan.
"Tightrope" ventures into hard rock territory, but Stevie Ray's cover of Willie Dixon's "Let Me Love You Baby" is genuine blues-rock, and it is followed by a good reading of Buddy Guy's slow, tortured blues "Leave My Girl Alone". Vaughan didn't quite have the pipes to match the intensity of Guy's original, but he does a fine job with what he has, and the guitar playing is superb as usual.
"Travis Walk" is a funky, up-tempo instrumental with some great drumming by Chris Layton (who, incidentally, used to play drums for Buddy Guy and Lightnin' Hopkins). "Wall Of Denial" is pretty well known, but it is perhaps one of the lesser tracks on this album, with some fine guitar playing but not much in the way of either hooks or a real "groove" to grab a hold of the listener.
"Scratch n' Sniff", however, is a fine up-tempo rock song with some excellent boogie piano fills by keyboardist Reese Wynans, and a great solo by Vaughan.
Stevie Ray Vaughan can't quite pull off Howlin' Wolf's "Love Me Darlin' (May I Have A Talk With You)", but if you aren't familiar with the original, this version will actually sound pretty great, I guess. And finally, the original "In Step" album winds down with the excellent nine-minute instrumental "Rivera Paradise", a slow, moody piece.
The five excellent bonus tracks begin with a short interview snippet. The remaining four songs are all live performances: "The House Is Rockin'" and "Let Me Love You Baby" from "In Step", "Texas Flood" from Vaughan's 1983 debut album of the same name, and "Life Without You" from "Soul To Soul".
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a terrific live performer, and it's pure joy to listen to the raw, fiery live versions of the two songs from this album, which to me work better than the originals.
Highly recommended, as are all Vaughan's studio albums (although I don't agree with those who call it his best).
You should also check out Stevie Ray Vaughan's excellent live albums.In Step Overview

Want to learn more information about In Step?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Play the Blues Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Play the Blues? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Play the Blues. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Play the Blues ReviewThis is a spirited rendition of the work of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, two of Chicago's leading lights in the blues world. Junior Wells' harmonica playing and Buddy Guy's guitar work set a sound foundation for this CD. This was a re cording spearheaded by Eric Clapton as his Derek and the Dominoes album was being finally mixed. And we are fortunate to be able to listen to the results.
Backing instrumentals are played by the likes of Clapton, Dr. John (on piano), and J. Geils (guitar), among others.
Some cuts illustrate their work. "A Man of Many Words" is a clean sounding, contemporary blues song. This does not look back toward the delta or the early Chicago sound. Clapton's guitar playing is interesting and spirited (although maybe a bit overdone). The vocals are smooth. Some nice wording:
"I know I rap long and know I rap strong,
Come on mama let me turn you on."
"T-Bone Shuffle" is one of T-Bone Walker's songs. Here, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells do a nice job with their cover. The sound is simpler than with "A Man of Many Words." The ensemble playing is very good. Vocals, again, are nice, as they play with lines like:
"Tell me what the reason
You keep on teasin' me."
"This Old Fool" is another fun cut. J. Geils joins with guitar here. Buddy Guy sings against a really insistent beat, with the rhythm section playing splendidly. Magic Dick's harmonica adds to the whole sound. There is a great blues sensibility to this song. The end of the song features some fiery guitar work.
So, this is a nice view of the work of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. The session that was recorded here is lively and has a spontaneous feel to it. Well worth listening to.
Play the Blues Overview

Want to learn more information about Play the Blues?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble ReviewWell it is finally here. The much anticipated Stevie Ray Vaughan box set. For most SRV fans, this will be a satisfying set. Of course some of us would like to have seen much more unreleased material included and less of the album version stuff. But we all know the powers that be had to appeal not just to us SRV freaks but to the casual listener as well. No problem. I think this box set offers a nice balance for all. Tracks run in chronological order beginning in 1977 with only one cut from the Cobras days (I wish there were more) and ends on disc three with a few tunes from the second to last show in Alpine Valley.
More than half of the material is officially previously unreleased and is high quality live and outtake material. Many of the great live tracks like the Timothy White show version of "Dirty Pool" and the MTV tracks are here too. These will be a great surprise for those that haven't heard them before. The live cuts are from some of the best shows like Montreux (even a little of the booing after Texas Flood is there), Houston, Austin, Philadelphia, New Mexico, Alpine Valley, etc.; though I am surprised none of the excellent Tokyo, Japan 1985 show is included. In addition, there are a few cuts of other artists on whose albums Stevie Ray appeared.
For the hard-core collector you probably already have almost everything. However, the good news is that the quality on these discs blows away anything you most likely have on a boot. The fourth disc is a thirty or so minute DVD with five never-aired and never-issued performances from the television program Austin City Limits, recorded on October 10, 1989. I am not sure why these five tunes were cut from the commercial DVD release but I guess it might be because he broke a string on a tune or two during the performance. Who knows they are good regardless. Also included is a 72-page booklet of pictures, session details, essays, discography, and quotes from other musicians and friends. My favorite quote is on the last page, "The world misses his music, but I miss my brother." -Jimmie Vaughan.Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble OverviewStevie's monster chops, huge sound and deep soul won adoration from rock fans and blues stars around the world, all of whom will want to pick up this long-awaited boxed set: 18 live and studio tracks plus 36 unissued recordings (VERY early stuff plus live versions of Cold Shot; Lovestruck Baby; Crossfire; The Sky Is Crying; Tightrope , and more) including a whole DVD of never-aired Austin City Limits performances! Over four hours of the late, great SRV on 3 CDs plus a 72-page book.

Want to learn more information about Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Trouble Is Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Trouble Is? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Trouble Is. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Trouble Is ReviewI think KWS has a wonderful gift of playing the blues with passion and intensity. No he is not Stevie Ray and how in the hell are you going to say he sucks because he isn't? And Stevie Ray is no John Petrucci or Al Dimeaola so I guess he sucks as well. Come on people, stop being such music snobs. I highly recommend it.Trouble Is OverviewNo Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: SHEPHERD,KENNY WAYNETitle: TROUBLE IS...Street Release Date: 10/07/1997

Want to learn more information about Trouble Is?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions Review...producer Norman Dayron asked Eric Clapton if he would like to do an album with Chicago blues icon Howlin' Wolf.
Clapton jumped at the idea, Wolf was flown over from Chicago with his lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, young harmonica ace Jeffrey Carp was called in, and bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones made up the rhythm section.
And after the first day, Eric Clapton almost walked out, seriously intimidated by a sceptical Howlin' Wolf who had little faith in the abilities of the young Englishmen.
But then Clapton made a gesture which seemingly made Wolf thaw a little: Feeling (or maybe just pretending) that he and the band couldn't get the right sound on "The Red Rooster", he convinced Wolf to play the main riff for them. The tape was running, and you can hear the resulting "practice session" on disc one...Howlin' Wolf reluctantly agrees to play the guitar, and, refusing the one which is offered to him, he picks up his own instrument, puts on a glass bottleneck, and plays the instantly recognizable, muscular slide guitar riff which he first recorded in 1961.
That song is one of the highlights of this album, and one of the few of these sixteen re-recordings which matches the original.
Well, it gets really close, anyway.
Wolf was a sick man in 1970, suffering from heart problems and kidney disorder, and the often presented claim that these recordings lack the gritty power of his original Chess sides certainly has some truth to it. But that doesn't mean that "The London Sessions" is a waste of time...Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts form a very convincing bluesy rhythm section, 19-year-old Jeffrey Carp was a tremendous harmonica player, and Eric Clapton refrains from any kind of psychedelic blues-rock excesses like the ones which irreparably destroyed Muddy Waters' completely superflous "Electric Mud" album (and Wolf's own "This Is Howlin' Wolf's New Album", which he himself detested with a vengeance).
Disc I consists of the original London Sessions album plus three cuts from the same session which were left off the 1971 LP, and later released on 1974's weird throwoff "London Revisited".
Among those three are a pretty good "Going Down Slow" (Wolf does all the vocals, unlike the Chess version which had Willie Dixon speaking the first verse), and a rendition of "Killing Floor" which doesn't quite match the awesome original from 1964. It's still pretty good, though.
Disc I's "Who's Been Talking" is marred by a hideous organ solo, but the arrangements are generally very good, sticking close to the originals, and Steve Winwood stays away from the organ on the rest of the album, playing some good piano parts instead. He shares piano duties with Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart, and Chicago great Lafayette Leake shows up as well, rolling the ivories on "The Red Rooster", "Worried About My Baby", and "Sittin' On Top Of The World".
Also on disc I, Ringo Starr (billed as "Richie") plays drums on a good "I Ain't Superstitious" with a beefy horn arrangement, and the band lay down a really tough, powerful version of "Highway 49", and a slow, grittier-than-usual "Wang Dang Doodle".
Disc II opens with a lean, bare-bones rehearsal take of "Worried About My Baby", followed by a great, swaggering "The Red Rooster" which is at least as good as the one originally chosen.
"What A Woman" (better known as "Commit A Crime") is here in a really good, tough alternate version, and a completely superflous one with an artificial-sounding organ part overdubbed. "I Ain't Superstitious" is included in a horn-less rendition (as well as an alternate mix), and there is a great alternate take of "Highway 49" as well, a muscular alternate take of "Worried About You" (apart from the rehearsal), and a very good, significantly different version of "Poor Boy".
But the highlight on disc II has to be the tough, syncopated "Who's Been Talking" in an organ-free rendition which opens with two minutes of dialogue...Wolf is directing drummer Charlie Watts, and once Watts and bassist Wyman get on the beat, the result is magnificent. Too bad that it ends rather abruptly.
Howlin' Wolf's hoarse voice doesn't quite have the power it did just a few years earlier, but he still sings with conviction and lots of authority, and while this deluxe edition is probably too much for the casual fan, it does have lot of stuff which should interest serious Wolf fans. And the band actually do play the blues...a lot of rock drummers just can't do that, but Charlie Watts in totally convincing, as is the young harpist Carp and of course Wolf's own right hand man, the great Hubert Sumlin.
This is not the place to start your Wolf collection (always start with the classic Chess stuff!), but certainly not one to shy away from, either. Not everybody need to own this two-disc edition, but the London Sessions are definitely worth a listen. This 2003 reissue comes with an interesting essay by Bill Dahl, and the fidelity is excellent, notably better than on the original CD reissue.
"The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions" lack the incredible raw power of Wolf's early sides, but it's an interesting document for Wolf fans anyway.The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions OverviewMany have wondered how Wolf interacted with young Eric Clapton, Stevie Winwood, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman when they recorded The London Sessions in 1970. This fascinating deluxe edition contains the original LP, three cuts from London Revisited , 12 unissued tracks from the sessions and lengthy studio dialogue.

Want to learn more information about The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Pure Blues Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Pure Blues? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Pure Blues. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Pure Blues ReviewFrom the legends to the modern masters ~ the acoustic to the electric ~ featuring 20 essential recordings covering the last half-century of the blues by the greatest and the latest.
Spanning five decades ~ original as original can be ~ "Pure Blues", is just what the doctor ordered ~ the best medicine from the likes of ~ Luther Allison, The Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Albert King, B.B. King, Freddy King, Jonny Lang, Jimmy Reed, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Koko Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Big Mama Thornton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf ~ each artist with detailed liner-notes and a little history of their background and accomplishments.
Want to thank ~ Andy McKaie (compilation producer) ~ Jeff Moskow (associate producer) ~ Doug Schwartz/Audio Mechanics (digitally mastered) ~ Mike Fink (design) ~ Geary Chansley & Ryan Null (photo research) ~ and Universal Music for this one-of-a-kind album for us, the fans of the best music around...BLUES!
This CD is proof, once and for all ~ that the "BLUES" was then, is now and IS FOREVER ~ we've hit pay-dirt...and that folks, is the truth, plain and simple!
Total Time: 76:28 on 20 Tracks...UTV Records 314 556 176 2...(2001)Pure Blues Overview

Want to learn more information about Pure Blues?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...