CD-Charts Position 141
Average Rating:

John Lee Hooker: The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990

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

Release Date November 19, 1991
John Lee Hooker: The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990 is one of the best, if not the best anthologies of the blues master early work and some of his later work.

Hooker, who because of legal entanglements, recorded under a lot of different names (John Lee Cooker, etc...), is one of the alltime greats, able to evoke haunting tones and moods on some songs, while kicking off a rocking boogie vibe in others. Just about all of the blues standards that he is known for are on this collection - Boogie Children, Crawling Kingsnake Blues, House Rent Boogie, One Bourbor, One Scotch, Onr Beer, and many others.

If you want to get the best representation of his early era, and pickup his later comeback material elsewhere, this is a great ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 142
Average Rating:

Junco Partner

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: James Booker

Release Date February 09, 1993
I have collected a lot of great music from every possible style over many years. I love solo Piano (play a little myself) and have music from many artists from a wide range of styles and eras.

Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Butler, and other great NOLA pianists are all tremendous in their own right; but if I had to keep just one CD in my collection it would be this one. It has soul, style, rhythm and passion delivered with some serious virtuosity.

Eventually I would love to own all of James Booker's solo work.

CD-Charts Position 143
Average Rating:

Come Together: America Salutes the Beatles

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

Release Date March 25, 2003
This has become one of my favorite tribute CDs. The meld of Country - which I was not a big fan of - and the Beatles...which I am a huge fan of... is marvelous.

CD-Charts Position 144
Average Rating:

Chess Blues

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

Release Date February 02, 1993
How should I put this...?

subtle? historic? passionate? Let's just leave it at this.

IT'S A 4 CD BOX WITH BLUES FROM CHESS!! THAT'S MUDDY WATERS AND HOWLING WOLF!! DUH!!! OF COURSE 5 STARS!!

CD-Charts Position 145
Average Rating:

Drive You Home Again

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Chris Smither

Release Date March 16, 1999
If I were to ask someone, in the year 2008, to name a male folk singer from the 1960's I would assume that if I were to get an answer to that question that the name would be Bob Dylan. And that would be a good and appropriate choice. One can endlessly dispute whether or not Dylan was (or wanted to be) the voice of the Generation of '68 but in terms of longevity and productivity he fits the bill as a known quality. However, there were a slew of other male folk singers who tried to find their niche in the folk milieu and who, like Dylan, today continue to produce work and to perform. The artist under review Chris Smithers is one such singer/songwriter.

I do not know if Chris Smithers, like his contemporary Bob Dylan, started out wanting to be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 146
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John Fahey/Peter Lang/Leo Kottke

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

Release Date April 23, 1996
One more voice in loving praise of this wonderful record. I just tonight got a copy of this CD re-release. The earlier CD release had the artists/track titles mislabeled, as did the original vinyl, if I recall correctly. It is important to note for the newer listener that John Fahey re-recorded a couple of his works specifically for this recording. One can now 'collect' perhaps 6 different versions of In Christ There Is No East or West, if the "Guitar, Guitar" television segment on the "In Concert" DVD is counted. I treasure all the different versions of his pieces, and seeing how he evolved (rather than renamed) some pieces. I think he introduced On the Sunny Side of the Ocean here, and this version of Sunflower River Blues is somewhat evolved from his earlier recording ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 147
Average Rating:

The Original Guitar Wizard

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Lonnie Johnson

Release Date January 31, 2005
This is the perfect box set. The liner notes are great, the packaging is fine, and the music contained on these discs is simply stunning. Lonnie's work with Texas Alexander doesn't sound like anything else committed to record. "Section Gang Blues" and "Levee Camp Moan" are startling in their intensity. His guitar duets with Eddie Lang will never lose their novelty, because they are music on the level of the Classical music of Europe. "Away Down in The Alley Blues" and "Hot Fingers" are mind-boggling. Lonnie's Blues lyrics are original and greatly detailed. He is the master of romantic balladry. He is a pioneer in Rhythm & Blues. He knows how to use double-entendre, and he certainly seems to have a true distrust of women!

CD-Charts Position 148
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The Very Best of John Lee Hooker

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

Release Date April 25, 1995
Some of John Lee Hooker's best known songs are compiled from his many years and albums onto this budget CD, with not one being one you will skip over. From "Boogie Chillen'" to "Boom, Boom," they are all here. Even the songs which made others famous, such as "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer."

"I'm Bad Like Jesse James" is a favorite of mine, with this particular song showing his inimitable rambling style so strikingly, a style which over the years can be found less and less.

It should be noted that the version of "I'm in the mood" on this album is different than the Chess side he recorded with the Chess brothers (I actually prefer the more polished Chess side). But regardless, each song is representative of a different time in his life, as this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 149
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The Back Door Wolf

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date October 24, 1995
Frankly, this album gets off to a less-than-good start, wherein a really good song ("Movin'") is effectively ruined by the highly audible presence of Eddie Shaw feeding Wolf his lines. This was standard practice for Wolf in the studio, as reading wasn't his strong suit, but when it winds up on mic it's distracting as hell, as it is here.

Fortunately, this technical gaffe is not repeated, and the album picks up steam from there with a series of uniformly strong compositions from Wolf and/or Shaw. Wolf is in good voice despite his failing health and puts the songs over well, while Hubert Sumlin turns in some of the most indescribably sublime guitar work of his (or anyone else's) career, which is saying a whole lot.

Then there's the harpsichord. I don't ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 150
Average Rating:

Absolutely the Best

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Odetta

Release Date September 19, 2000
This is an excellent compilation of Odetta's best stuff. The collection covers her years with Tradition Records to Vanguard Records. This will satisfy both the soulful, gospel fan, as well as as some folk legends such as Bob Dylan.