CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

I Am the Blues

by: Willie Dixon

Release Date February 01, 2008
How can you give Willie Dixon less than five stars? The man has played on some of the greatest blues recordings in history and he has written some of the genre's most memorable songs. Recorded in Chicago during the summer of 1969, the album only features one third of the material recorded in that session. The band featured Johnny Shines on guitar, Walter "Shakey" Horton on harmonica, Clifton James on drums, either Sunnyland Slim or Lafayette Leake on piano, and of course Willie Dixon on bass and vocals. If you're looking for instrumental flash, this is not for you. However, Willie's deep growl is pleasant, it has a great beat, and every single song is a classic!

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Mulholland Drive: Original Motion Picture Score

by: Angelo Badalamenti, David Lynch

Release Date October 09, 2001
There are a few lesser tracks, but all in all every bit as entertaining, quirky and surreal as the film itself. Moody, dark '50s-'60s L.A. period piece, film noir.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

The Chess Box

by: Willie Dixon

Release Date October 25, 1990
Like many blues musicians, Willie Dixon had an interesting background. He was born, and spent his childhood, here in Vicksburg. He never had formal music education, but a local carpenter taught him harmony singing. Dixon sang bass in a local gospel quartet. Along the way, he served a couple stretches on Mississippi prison farms. He started his career as a heavyweight boxer in Chicago, but switched to music and played bass, part of the time as a house musician.

Dixon started out as a studio bass player with Chess Records when it was a fledgling company started by the Chess brothers. The present set includes 36 songs written by Dixon, and performed by a variety of artists in addition to Dixon including Muddy Waters (Hoochie Coochie Man, etc.), ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Short Stories

by: Steven Mackey, Sofiya Gubaydulina, Pandit Pran Nath, Hank Dutt, David Harrington, Joan Jeanrenaud, John Sherba, I.F. Stone, Terry Riley, Krishna Bhatt, John Constant, Kronos Quartet

Release Date March 09, 1993
If you like adventurous music then this is an excellent pick, 75 minutes of interesting sound effects and rhythms. But, as is often the case, there are no liner notes which, especially when listening to composers with whom one is unfamiliar, cheapens the offering. Borrow it from a library or buy it second hand. Maybe Kronos will eventually get the message.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

It Ain't Nothin But the Blues

by: Ron Taylor

Release Date February 29, 2000
i saw this show, with several members of the original broadway cast, in september, 2000 in grand rapids, mi. it was fantastic and much better than anticipated; it is a review in the style of "smokey joe's cafe" and may have a tie-in to that show. i liked this one better. one song followed another and the big photos shown as background gave a poignancy and sense of history to the whole thing. it started out with old african songs and chants and one song followed another for a good two hours and it should have ended with the rousing version of "good night irene." it ended with a bizarre song, billie holiday's strange fruit," and then a train of freedom type song, the low key, feel good "members only." the latter is on the album and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

I Am the Blues

by: Willie Dixon

Release Date August 24, 1993
How can you give Willie Dixon less than five stars? The man has played on some of the greatest blues recordings in history and he has written some of the genre's most memorable songs. Recorded in Chicago during the summer of 1969, the album only features one third of the material recorded in that session. The band featured Johnny Shines on guitar, Walter "Shakey" Horton on harmonica, Clifton James on drums, either Sunnyland Slim or Lafayette Leake on piano, and of course Willie Dixon on bass and vocals. If you're looking for instrumental flash, this is not for you. However, Willie's deep growl is pleasant, it has a great beat, and every single song is a classic!

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Whoopin'

by: Sonny Terry, Johnny Winter, Willie Dixon

Release Date October 25, 1990
Man this is a rockin little record :A nice scenario where we see the acoustic classic harp, and spot -on vocals of Sonny with an electric country blues rhythm section behind him . Nothing I know of recorded by Sonny was ever done this way and i'm so glad we have this most enjoyable blend of blues left behind by Sonny for us to dig forever. The late Willie Dixon, Steve Homnyk, and Producer / Guitar legend Johnny Winter are the band here ,and the whole thing is a pure joy to listen to. Uncluttered rockin acoustic/electric country blues; A true classic .One of the best Alligator Records releases ever .

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Hidden Charms

by: Willie Dixon

Release Date October 25, 1990
It's a shame this album is out of print. Its' style is a departure from the blues standards for which he is known, and is similar to that of Gingerale Afternoon, simple, reminiscent of old men sitting around playing checkers, light-hearted and sincere. A great addition to your collection - if you can find it.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

I Am the Blues

by: Willie Dixon

Release Date October 25, 1990
How can you give Willie Dixon less than five stars? The man has played on some of the greatest blues recordings in history and he has written some of the genre's most memorable songs. Recorded in Chicago during the summer of 1969, the album only features one third of the material recorded in that session. The band featured Johnny Shines on guitar, Walter "Shakey" Horton on harmonica, Clifton James on drums, either Sunnyland Slim or Lafayette Leake on piano, and of course Willie Dixon on bass and vocals. If you're looking for instrumental flash, this is not for you. However, Willie's deep growl is pleasant, it has a great beat, and every single song is a classic!

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Rockin' My Blues Away

by: Washboard Sam

Release Date March 10, 1992
This cd will get your next party jumpin'!!! This is fun good time music by Washbaord Sam, the washboard syncopatin' king, and his brother Big Bill broonzy on guitar along with a slew of jazz and blues greats in his various small combos, with horns and tight rhythm sections! Great good time fun rockin' blues, with shoutin' vocals from Sam. ESSENTIAL !!!