CD-Charts Position 21
Average Rating:

His Best :(Little Walter)The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: Little Walter

Release Date June 17, 1997
Picture yourself in a crowded juke joint or blues bar on the southside of Chicago in the late '40's. Muddy Waters is about to play. He's already gone electric; I mean, he had to, to be heard over all the talking and yelling and what not. His harp player has about blown out a lung trying to be heard over all that din. Walter Jacobs has been doing a bit of experimenting himself, in an attempt to amplify the sound of that little instrument. Tonight he actually grabs the microphone off the stand, bumping it up close enough in his clasped hands to touch the harp. He cranks up the volume and starts to blow. The sound coming out of the amp is unlike anything anyone's ever heard. It's got a deep, heavy, honking, sexy wail, nothing at all like the unamplified ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 22
Average Rating:

Live at the Regal

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: B.B. King

Release Date July 29, 1997
So they finally went back and remastered the muddy audio on this classic album! The new sound is fantastic -- clear as a bell. Sadly, while the audio was being cleaned up, no one bothered to clean up the very, very sloppy edits (especially in the second half), such as when the second intro of B.B. (why two separate intros, anyway?) gets abruptly chopped off and goes right into a song that from the background crowd noise came at some other point in the show. If you're going to do a live album, the tracks should at least create the illusion of a live show, especially in this digital era when fade-outs and fade-ins are no longer used, and audience applause can be smoothly edited in to create seamless transitions!

The performance is powerful and this is definitely ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 23
Average Rating:

The Definitive Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: Muddy Waters

Release Date May 23, 2006
There is a huge amount of Muddy Waters-compilations out there, and while MCA/Chess's two-disc, 50-track "Anthology 1947-1972" is certainly more definitive than this Geffen compilation, it does offer a very good overview of Muddy Waters' career.

Opening with the classic 1948 single "I Can't Be Satisfied", this CD takes you through (most of) the highlights from the 1950s and 60s. "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I'm Ready", "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", "Mannish Boy", and "Got My Mojo Working" are here, of course, and in the original versions, too, but it's a shame that some slightly lesser known (but equally fine) singles like "I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love", "She's Nineteen Years Old" and "I Want To Be Loved" are missing.

But there is certainly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 24
Average Rating:

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - The Real Deal: Greatest Hits 2

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Release Date March 23, 1999
Double Trouble is an outstanding collection of Stevie Ray's songs. I am a relative newcomer (5 years) to his music and I love it more and more with time. This isn't necessarily his best, but there are some real tasty ones on this album.

CD-Charts Position 25
Average Rating:

Super Session

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills

Release Date April 08, 2003
"Stop" never fails to get me, no matter how many listens. Same thing with "Albert's Shuffle", w/ or w/o horns. All in all, a brilliant album.

CD-Charts Position 26
Average Rating:

Anthology Of American Folk Music (Edited By Harry Smith)

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 19, 1997
There are some truly haunting performances here, and some funny ones, and some of everything, really. This stuff is so far deeper and weirder and spookier than any folk I've ever heard. It's the motherlode; Harry Smith wandered around and got these recordings before radio started, and thus we get true folk music, passed down the generations and from that area, or from the motherland of the musicians, with the spirit of the New World.
The vibes are palpable, varied, and intense. Lots of "mistakes", but so much feeling that missed notes only add to the experience.
If you've ever liked any folk music at all, whether Leadbelly, the Seegers, the Carter family, early Dylan, or if you need to know where real country music comes from, this is your collection.
Too many highlights to list. Beautiful ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 27
Average Rating:

Black Snake Moan

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
from: New West Records

Release Date January 30, 2007
An awesome CD!!! I really liked the movie, and absolutely had to have the soundtrack. Blues at its very best!!

CD-Charts Position 28
Average Rating:

His Best

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: Sonny Boy Williamson

Release Date May 20, 1997
I am amazed that this cost so little, but was SOOOOO good. Sonnny Boy II is (IMHO) the better of the Sonny Boys. A lot of people will justifiably rave about his skill on the harp, but do not let that distract you from his vocals. This performer has a tremendous voice.
Sonny Boy Williamson II is a complete blues package, musician and vocalist.

Although he is a polished performer, there is still a huge amount of emotion that comes through his work.

This recording is very clear and enjoyable, which is very good, considering the time and recording technology available when the originals were made. (No, it's not Alan Lomax recording in hotel rooms, but still . . . . .)

If you liked this, you might want to consider looking at "King Biscut Time" - also available on Amazon.
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CD-Charts Position 29
Average Rating:

Trouble Is...

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Release Date October 07, 1997
For years I wanted to get this cd for the song "Blue on Black". After finally getting it I find out it's a great rockin album from start to finish. I wish I bought it years ago. It even drove me to go see Kenny in a live show and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen and I have to been to quite a few in my day. It doesn't get better than this.

CD-Charts Position 30
Average Rating:

The Definitive Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Regional Blues
by: John Lee Hooker

Release Date May 23, 2006
I was pretty J L Hooker stupid when I bought this. I only bought it to have a copy of 'Boom Boom'. But this is pretty good stuff. The guy who is mainly into hard rock and heavy metal is finding this very good. There are a lot of good songs encompassing his career. If you are just beginning to delve into the blues, pick this up.