CD-Charts Position 21
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Capitol Collectors Series: Louis Prima

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Louis Prima

Release Date May 21, 1991
There's very little I can add to the previous reviews except to say that this was the reason I bought a CD player years ago. More out of curiosity than anything else, I happened to pick up a copy of "Louis Prima: the Capitol Collectors Series" in its audiocassette format back in the early Nineties. Let me assure you, this is Prima at his best, during the wild and swinging Fifties, when his was "THE" act to see in Las Vegas. From the opening number, "Just A Gigolo," I was hooked. There isn't a single track (with the possible exception of "Beep! Beep!") that I didn't enjoy. The man was a master at his craft. No one's a bigger fan of Dean Martin's than me, but when you compare Dino's versions of "Oh, Marie" and "Buona Sera" to Louis', Prima ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 22
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Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Mississippi John Hurt

Release Date February 01, 2008
Mississippi John Hurt recorded only 13 songs before returning to a life of obscurity and hard work on a farm. Of these 13 songs recorded in 1928, 11 were penned by John Hurt with the other two being traditional spiritual numbers ("Blessed be the name" and "Praying on the old camp ground"). The recording quality of these Okeh recordings is simply fantastic, and have the best recording quality I have heard from this era. A little hiss is heard (very little) and not much else.

As to the recordings themselves, they are probably the sweetest sounding, most mellifluous early delta/country blues I have ever heard. John Hurt may not have had the well-known name of a Robert Johnson or Son House, but these recordings have had their influence ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 23
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Leave the Light On

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

Release Date September 19, 2006
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 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 24
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The Complete Studio Recordings Mississippi John Hurt

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Mississippi John Hurt

Release Date October 31, 2000
Mississippi John Hurt is the best blues performer of all times. No leser show, no smoke, no big talk, but MUSIC!!!
Music that comes from his personality and soul!!!

CD-Charts Position 25
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Fathers and Sons

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

Release Date October 30, 2001
There are seminal moments in the arts when circumstances bring giants together in perfect alignment, and this album is one of them. The cast could never be better than the one contained herein, with the huge blues voice of Muddy Waters leading the way, half-brother Otis Spann pounding out some of his most brilliant piano ever, Paul Butterfield blowing his harp as if nations rise or fall by his effort, Mike Bloomfield (not long for this world after this 1969 recording) spinning out black blues guitar licks in a faithful but trailblazing fashion, plus a killer rhythm section of Stax/Volt's Donald "Duck" Dunn and Muddy's own Sam Lay on drums.

The songs are Muddy classics, from the thundering "40 Days And 40 Nights" to the braggadocio of "I'm ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 26
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Breakin' It Up & Breakin' It Down

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

Release Date June 05, 2007
What a concert CD! "Breakin' it Up, Breakin' it Down" features the vocals of three pretty good bluesmen--Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Johnny Winter. Waters and Winter also play guitar, and James Cotton is referred to as "Superharp" in the notes accompanying the CD. Also in the group: Bob Margolin (guitar and vocals), Pinetop Perkins (vocals and piano), Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (drum), and Charles Calmese (Bass). They play awfully well together. . . .

Bob Margolin wrote to notes. At one point he says of this CD: "[The CD] showcases each of these [three] blues legends leading the band, but more important historically, and much more fun, we find them jamming together, pushing, teasing, and inspiring one another."

Let's take a look at a few examples ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 27
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Remixed & Reimagined

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Billie Holiday

Release Date August 07, 2007
Every song is perfectly remixed with an ambiance of House, Down Tempo, Trip Hop, Funk, and Acid Jazz. If you want to hear Billie Holiday in her natural style then buy the original Billie CD's but if you love remixes that take the past and make it a blast for todays generation, this is it!!! The flow of the CD never misses a beat. Each song is perfect in its remix style. This is much better then the Nina remix because it's smoother and the producers really meshed Billie Holidays vocals and original music to the new remix style they intended. Once again, if your looking for original Billie this is not the CD for you but if you want original Billie with a bit of Cayenne Pepper this is it!!!!

CD-Charts Position 28
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The Anthology: 1947-1972

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

Release Date August 28, 2001
This was purchased as a gift for a fiend who "loves" Muddy Waters. She was thrilled with this collection and said it was the best!

CD-Charts Position 29
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King of the Delta Blues Singers

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

Release Date September 15, 1998
on track 2 "Terraplane Blues" theres some very loud hiss and surface noise when Johnson does his "ooooooooos!" which werent present on the same recording on the box set, anyone else have this problem? aside from that a truly great release worth it to anyone interested in music. its wonderdul. the sound quality IS alot better though on this cd than on the box. its well worth it.

CD-Charts Position 30
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Lady in Satin

CD-Charts > Music > Traditional Blues
by: Billie Holiday

Release Date September 23, 1997
One day in my early 20s, I was browsing in the small music section that used to exist on the mezzanine floor of the Doubleday bookstore in New York City on Fifth Avenue just south of 57th Street. [You may consider it noteworthy that I remember *exactly* where I was when this happened.]

My fledgling jazz knowledge at that time was such that I knew the importance of Billie Holiday's name - though I couldn't have identified her voice. So I looked over one of her records - but without any particular interest in purchasing one.

Then a strange man, in both senses of the word, who struck me as middle-aged - though anyone between 30 and 60 might have qualified to me then - shook his head at me discouragingly and sighed, "Young people can't really appreciate Billie Holiday." My vast ... Read More: