Artist: Various Artists Rating: Release Date: 1996Type: Collection (various artists)Genre: Blues
Review A four-CD, 80-song box set that, in line with similar
Smithsonian productions, outlines the history of blues spanning over 50 years, with cuts by major performers who represent its stylistic evolution. The set is stuffed with classics by the likes of
Muddy Waters ,
Louis Jordan ,
T-Bone Walker ,
Little Walter ,
Big Mama Thornton ,
Howlin' Wolf ,
Elmore James ,
B.B. King , and
Buddy Guy , with plenty of slightly lesser-known artists like Lil' Son Jackson,
Billy Branch ,
Big Maybelle ,
J.B. Lenoir , Doctor Clayton, and
Junior Kimbrough . The selections are a tad conservative (if very good), and it's likely that serious blues fans will have a good share of the tracks in their collections already. The set also concentrates much more heavily on 1940-1970 material (which takes up about 75 percent of the contents) than blues from the 25 years from 1970 onward. If your interest falls somewhere between casual fan and dedicated collector, though, it's a good survey of major blues performers and genres, with an excellent historical overview and notes about each performer in the accompanying 92-page booklet. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Tracks
CD 1
CD 2
Rollin' and Tumblin', Pt. 1 (Lyrics) McKinley Morganfield Muddy Waters (2:52)
Mother Earth
Memphis Slim , Lewis Simpkins Memphis Slim (2:35)
Please Send Me Someone to Love
Percy Mayfield Percy Mayfield (2:46)
Dust My Broom
Elmore James , Robert Johnson Elmore James (2:39)
How Many More Years
Howlin' Wolf Howlin' Wolf (2:35)
Black, Brown and White
Big Bill Broonzy Big Bill Broonzy (2:37)
Rocket 88
Jackie Brenston Jackie Brenston (2:41)
Juke
Little Walter Little Walter (2:35)
Five Long Years
Eddie Boyd Eddie Boyd (2:38)
Mean Old World
Little Walter Little Walter (2:45)
I Smell a Rat
Jerry Leiber , Mike Stoller Big Mama Thornton (1:40)
Gabbin' Blues (Don't Run My Business)
Leroy Kirkland , Robert Lee McCoy Big Maybelle , Leroy Kirkland (2:36)
(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
Willie Dixon Muddy Waters (2:39)
The Things That I Used to Do
Guitar Slim Guitar Slim (2:54)
Eisenhower Blues
J.B. Lenoir J.B. Lenoir (2:54)
Okie Dokie Stomp
Pluma Davis Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (2:31)
Come Back Baby (Lyrics) Ray Charles Ray Charles (2:59)
How Long, How Long Blues
Leroy Carr Jimmy Rushing (4:48)
Cherry Red
Big Joe Turner , Pete Johnson Big Joe Turner (3:16)
San Francisco Bay Blues
Jesse Fuller Jesse Fuller (2:38)
I Can't Quit You Baby (Lyrics) Willie Dixon Otis Rush (3:01)
Three Hours Past Midnight
Johnny "Guitar" Watson , Sam Ling Johnny "Guitar" Watson (3:23)
CD 3
CD 4
Credits Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (Guitar), Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (Vocals) , Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (Performer) , Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes (?) , Big Maybelle (Vocals) , Big Maybelle (Performer) , Bobby "Blue" Bland (Vocals) , Bobby "Blue" Bland (Performer) , Eddie Boyd (Piano) , Eddie Boyd (Vocals) , Eddie Boyd (Performer) , Billy Branch (Harmonica) , Billy Branch (Vocals) , Billy Branch (Performer) , Big Bill Broonzy (Guitar) , Big Bill Broonzy (Vocals) , Big Bill Broonzy (Performer) , Charles Brown (Piano) , Charles Brown (Vocals) , Roy Brown (Bass) , Roy Brown (Vocals) , Roy Brown (Performer) , Peter J. Clayton (Vocals) , Blind John Davis (Piano) , Willie Dixon (Bass) , Willie Dixon (Vocals) , Champion Jack Dupree (Piano) , Champion Jack Dupree (Vocals) , Champion Jack Dupree (Performer) , Jesse Fuller (Guitar) , Jesse Fuller (Kazoo) , Jesse Fuller (Vocals) , Jesse Fuller (Performer) , Jesse Fuller (Fotdella) , Lowell Fulson (Guitar) , Lowell Fulson (Vocals) , Lowell Fulson (Performer) , Lloyd Glenn (Piano) , Guitar Slim (Guitar) , Guitar Slim (Vocals) , Buddy Guy (Guitar) , Buddy Guy (Vocals) , Buddy Guy (Performer) , Slim Harpo (Harmonica) , Slim Harpo (Vocals) , Slim Harpo (Performer) , Z.Z. Hill (Vocals) , Z.Z. Hill (Performer) , John Lee Hooker (Guitar) , John Lee Hooker (Vocals) , John Lee Hooker (Performer) , Big Walter Horton (Harmonica) , Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (Guitar) , Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (Vocals) , Freddie King (Guitar) , Freddie King (Performer) , Leadbelly (Vocals) , Leadbelly (Guitar (12 String)) , Leadbelly (Performer) , J.B. Lenoir (Guitar) , J.B. Lenoir (Vocals) , J.B. Lenoir (Performer) , Mance Lipscomb (Guitar) , Mance Lipscomb (Vocals) , Mance Lipscomb (Performer) , Little Walter (Harmonica) , Little Walter (Vocals) , Little Walter (?) , Percy Mayfield (Vocals) , Percy Mayfield (Performer) , Jimmy McCracklin (Vocals) , Jimmy McCracklin (Performer) , Memphis Minnie (Guitar) , Memphis Minnie (Vocals) , Memphis Minnie (Performer) , Memphis Slim (Piano) , Memphis Slim (Vocals) , Memphis Slim (?) , Amos Milburn (Piano) , Amos Milburn (Vocals) , Amos Milburn (Performer) , Louis Myers (Guitar) , Robert Nighthawk (Guitar) , Robert Nighthawk (Vocals) , Robert Nighthawk (Performer) , Johnny Otis (Vocals (Background)) , Johnny Otis (Vibraphone) , Johnny Otis (?) , Jimmy Reed (Guitar) , Jimmy Reed (Harmonica) , Jimmy Reed (Vocals) , Jimmy Reed (Performer) , Jimmy Reed (?) , Sonny Rhodes (Lap Steel Guitar) , Hubert Sumlin (Guitar) , Taj Mahal (Piano) , Taj Mahal (Vocals) , Taj Mahal (Performer) , Koko Taylor (Vocals) , Koko Taylor (Performer) , Little Johnny Taylor (Vocals) , Little Johnny Taylor (Performer) , Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (Harmonica) , Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (Vocals) , Big Mama Thornton (Bass) , Big Mama Thornton (Vocals) , Big Mama Thornton (Performer) , Big Joe Turner (Vocals) , Junior Wells (Harmonica) , Junior Wells (Vocals) , Junior Wells (Performer) , Elizabeth Cotten (Guitar) , Elizabeth Cotten (Vocals) , Elizabeth Cotten (Performer) , Jane Sapp (?) , Jane Sapp (Editorial Coordinator) , Ray Charles (Piano) , Ray Charles (Vocals) , Ray Charles (?) , Robert Parker (Sax (Alto)) , Danny Barker (Guitar) , Milt Buckner (Piano) , Buck Clayton (Trumpet) , Arnett Cobb (Synthesizer) , Arnett Cobb (Saxophone) , Albert Collins (Guitar) , Albert Collins (Performer) , Harry "Sweets" Edison (Trumpet) , Freddie Green (Guitar) , Lionel Hampton (Director) , Lionel Hampton (?) , Red Holloway (Sax (Tenor)) , Pete Johnson (Piano) , Jo Jones (Drums) , Louis Jordan (Sax (Alto)) , Louis Jordan (Vocals) , Louis Jordan (?) , Joe Newman (Trumpet) , Esther Phillips (Vocals) , Jimmy Rushing (Vocals) , Jimmy Rushing (Performer) , Willie Smith (Sax (Alto)) , Buddy Tate (Sax (Tenor)) , David Torkanowsky (Piano) , Dinah Washington (Vocals) , Dinah Washington (Performer) , Lester Young (Sax (Tenor)) , Irving Ashby (Guitar) , Lawrence Brown (Trombone) , Pete Brown (Sax (Alto)) , Oscar Moore (Drums) , Freddie Slack (Piano) , Jimmy Blythe (Piano) , Tampa Red (Guitar) , Tampa Red (Kazoo) , Tampa Red (Vocals) , Tampa Red (Performer) , Don Wilkerson (Sax (Tenor)) , Johnnie Johnson (Piano) , The Robins (Vocals) , Lorenzo Smith (Sax (Tenor)) , Gene Barge (Sax (Tenor)) , Jimmy Bell (Bass) , Lee Jackson (Bass) , Johnny Jones (Piano) , Denise LaSalle (Vocals) , Denise LaSalle (Performer) , The Memphis Horns (Horn) , The Memphis Horns (?) , Cecil Gant (Piano) , Cecil Gant (Vocals) , Cecil Gant (Performer) , Gene Phillips (Guitar) , Mississippi Fred McDowell (Guitar) , Mississippi Fred McDowell (Vocals) , Mississippi Fred McDowell (Performer) , Coleman Hawkins (Sax (Tenor)) , Sam "The Man" Taylor (Sax (Tenor)) , Big Maceo Merriweather (Piano) , Big Maceo Merriweather (Performer) , T-Bone Walker (Guitar) , T-Bone Walker (Vocals) , T-Bone Walker (Performer) , Robert Lockwood, Jr. (Guitar) , Sammy Price (Piano) , Myrick Guillory (Rubboard) , Sonny Thompson (Piano) , Walter Page (Bass) , Calvin "Fuzz" Jones (Drums) , Junior Kimbrough (Guitar) , Junior Kimbrough (Vocals) , Junior Kimbrough (Performer) , Dino Alvarez (Drums) , Ike Anderson (Bass) , Thomisene Anderson (Vocals) , Joe Arnold (Saxophone) , Theodore Arthur (Sax (Tenor)) , Alex Atkins (Sax (Alto)) , Geese August (Bass) , Duke Barker (Drums) , Dallas Bartley (Bass) , Jewel Bass (Vocals) , Lefty Bates (Guitar) , Eddie Beal (Piano) , Sidney Bechet (Sax (Soprano)) , Leard Bell (Drums) , Fred Below (Drums) , Wayne Bennett (Guitar) , Big Crawford (Bass) , Billie Holiday (Bass) , Billie Holiday (Vocals) , Billie Holiday (Performer) , Johnny Board (Sax (Tenor)) , John Boudreaux (Drums) , Jackie Brenston (Sax (Tenor)) , Jackie Brenston (Vocals) , Jackie Brenston (?) , Joe Bridgewater (Trumpet) , Glenn Brooks (Drums) , Skippy Brooks (Piano) , Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Guitar) , Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (?) , Johnny Brown (Guitar) , Kerry Brown (Drums) , Sammy K. Brown (Drums) , Brownie McGhee (Guitar) , Brownie McGhee (Vocals) , Brownie McGhee (Performer) , John Browning (Trumpet) , Howlin' Wolf (Harmonica) , Howlin' Wolf (Vocals) , Howlin' Wolf (Performer) , Larry Burton (Guitar) , Carl Caldwell (Bass) , Harrison Calloway (Horn) , Red Callender (Bass) , Little Milton (Guitar) , Little Milton (Vocals) , Little Milton (Performer) , Alan Carter (Design) , Big Sid Catlett (Drums) , Ben Cauley (Horn) , Henderson Chambers (Trombone) , Alfred Cobbs (Trombone) , David Coleman (Drums) , Ernest Cotton (Sax (Tenor)) , Ernest "Big" Crawford (Bass) , Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (Guitar) , Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (Vocals) , Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (Performer) , Maxwell Davis (Director) , Maxwell Davis (Sax (Tenor)) , Pluma Davis (Trombone) , George M. "Jud" DeNaut (Bass) , Mario Delagarde (Bass) , Al Duncan (Drums) , Donald "Duck" Dunn (Bass) , Teddy Edwards (Sax (Tenor)) , Alfred Elkins (Bass) , Leroy Emanuel (Guitar) , Little Esther (Vocals) , Elgin Evans (Drums) , Gus Fontenette (Sax (Alto)) , Fred Ford (Sax (Baritone)) , Bobby Forte (Sax (Tenor)) , Pops Foster (Bass) , Sonny Freeman (Drums) , Al Gavin (Drums) , Jewell L. Grant (Sax (Baritone)) , Ray Griffin (Bass) , Joe Guy (Trumpet) , William K. "Billy" Hadnott (Bass) , Jimmy Hamilton (Bass) , Ralph Hamilton (Bass) , Donald Hankins (Sax (Baritone)) , Paul Harris (Guitar) , Paul Harris (Piano) , Bill Harvey (Sax (Tenor)) , Bob Harvey (Drums) , Raymond Hill (Sax (Tenor)) , Larry Hoffman (Producer) , Larry Hoffman (Liner Notes) , Larry Hoffman (Compilation Producer) , Scott Holt (Guitar) , Lightnin' Hopkins (Guitar) , Lightnin' Hopkins (Vocals) , Lightnin' Hopkins (Performer) , Jim Horn (Horn) , Ike Turner (Piano) , Wayne Jackson (Trumpet) , Vas-tie Jackson (Guitar) , Wesley Jackson (Guitar) , Elmore James (Guitar) , Elmore James (Vocals) , Elmore James (Performer) , Gerald Jemmott (Bass) , Gerald Jemmott (Guitar) , Pat Jenkins (Trumpet) , Duke Jethro (Piano) , Little Son Joe (Guitar) , James Johnson (Guitar) , Jimmy Johnson (Guitar) , Jimmy Johnson (Vocals) , Jimmy Johnson (Guitar) , Jimmy Johnson (Vocals) , Odie Johnson (Bass) , Ray Johnson (Bass) , Willie Jones (Drums) , Booker T. Jones (Piano) , Tony Jones (Bass) , B.B. King (Guitar) , B.B. King (Vocals) , B.B. King (Performer) , Albert King (Guitar) , Albert King (Vocals) , Albert King (Performer) , Ransom Knowling (Bass) , Ransom Knowling (Guitar) , Willie James Lacey (Guitar) , Lloyd Lambert (Bass) , Ernest Lane (Piano) , Leo Lauchie (Bass) , Chris Layton (Drums) , Lafayette Leake (Piano) , Cliff Leeman (Drums) , Leroy Kirkland (?) , Pete "Guitar" Lewis (Guitar) , Professor Longhair (Piano) , Professor Longhair (Vocals) , Professor Longhair (Whistle (Human)) , Professor Longhair (Performer) , Andrew Love (Saxophone) , Herb Lovelle (Drums) , Magic Sam (Guitar) , Magic Sam (Vocals) , Magic Sam (Performer) , Mama Reed (Vocals) , Wendell Marshall (Bass) , Walter Martin (Drums) , Hugh McCracken (Guitar) , Willard McDaniel (Piano) , L.G. McKinley (Guitar) , Dave McRae (Sax (Baritone)) , Mezz Mezzrow (Clarinet) , Mezz Mezzrow (?) , Frank Mitchell (Trumpet) , Frank Mitchell (?) , Herman Burell Mitchell (Guitar) , Paul Monday (Piano) , Joe Montgomery (Piano) , Johnny B. Moore (Guitar) , Joe Morris (Trumpet) , Muddy Waters (Guitar) , Muddy Waters (Vocals) , Muddy Waters (Performer) , Jack Myers (Bass) , David "Fathead" Newman (Sax (Baritone)) , Frock O'Dell (Drums) , Odie Payne (Drums) , Hot Lips Page (Trumpet) , Hot Lips Page (Vocals) , Hot Lips Page (Performer) , Junior Parker (Vocals) , Junior Parker (Performer) , Philip Paul (Drums) , Earl Phillips (Drums) , Milt Raskin (Piano) , Rudolph Richard (Guitar) , Ben Richardson (Sax (Alto)) , Eddie Roane (Trumpet) , Eddie Roane (?) , James Robertson (Drums) , Jimmy Rogers (Guitar) , Charles Rose (Horn) , Otis Rush (Guitar) , Otis Rush (Vocals) , Otis Rush (Performer) , Rudy Rutherford (Clarinet) , Jesse Sailes (Drums) , Ken Sands (Trumpet) , Charles Saunders (Drums) , Tommy Shannon (Bass) , Johnny Shines (Guitar) , Johnny Shines (Vocals) , Johnny Shines (Performer) , Hamp Simmons (Bass) , Willie Sims (Drums) , Fletcher Smith (Piano) , Charlie Smith (Drums) , Carl Snyder (Piano) , Sonny Terry (Harmonica) , Sonny Terry (Vocals) , Sonny Terry (Performer) , Otis Spann (Piano) , John Starks (Drums) , Willie Steel (Drums) , Terry Taylor (Drums) , Ty Terrell (Vocals) , Arnold Thomas (Piano) , Harvey Thompson (Horn) , Mack Thompson (Bass) , Joe Tillman (Sax (Tenor)) , Luther Tucker (Guitar) , Percy Walker (Drums) , Bill Warren (Drums) , Johnny "Guitar" Watson (Guitar) , Johnny "Guitar" Watson (Vocals) , Johnny "Guitar" Watson (Performer) , Carl Weathersby (Guitar) , Frank Wess (Sax (Tenor)) , Richard Wells (Sax (Tenor)) , Charles Whitley (Trumpet) , Carson Whitsett (Organ) , Carson Whitsett (Piano) , Devonia Williams (Piano) , Robert Pete Williams (Guitar) , Robert Pete Williams (Vocals) , Robert Pete Williams (Performer) , Sonny Boy Williamson (Harmonica) , Sonny Boy Williamson (Vocals) , Sonny Boy Williamson (Performer) , Sonny Boy Williamson (Harmonica) , Sonny Boy Williamson (Vocals) , Sonny Boy Williamson (Performer) , Bill Willis (Bass) , Bob Wills (Bass) , Albert Winston (Bass) , Jimmy Witherspoon (Vocals) , Jimmy Witherspoon (Performer) , Reese Wynans (Organ) , Reese Wynans (Farfisa Organ) , Mighty Joe Young (Guitar) , Dino Zimmerman (Guitar) , Dennis Britton (Associate Producer) , Dave Coleman (Drums) , Willie Kizart (Guitar) , Bruce Talbot (Producer) , Larry Dale (Guitar) , Leon Hooper (Drums) , Al Jackson, Jr. (Drums) , Willie Johnson (Guitar) , Corey Harris (Guitar) , Corey Harris (Vocals) , Corey Harris (Performer) , Doctor Clayton (Vocals) , Doctor Clayton (Performer) , Lee Young (Drums) , Elga Edmunds (Drums) , Timothy Overton (Sax (Tenor)) , Tommy Turk (Trombone) , The Vagabonds (Vocals) , John Williams (Guitar) , Johnny Williams (Guitar) , Grachan Moncur II (Bass) , James Bell (Bass) , Ernest Lawlars (Guitar) , Monroe Vincent (Percussion) , Louis Jordan & His Tympany 5 (Performer) , Tutu Jones (Guitar) , Tutu Jones (Vocals) , Tutu Jones (Performer) , Earl Brown (Sax (Alto)) , Jimmy Allen (Sax (Tenor)) , Charlotte Chenault (Vocals) , John "Jabo" Starks (Drums) , Mike Donaldson (Mastering) , Amy Pickworth (Production Coordination) , Amy Pickworth (Editorial Coordinator) , James Camady (Guitar) , Jud de Naut (Bass) , Kathy Kim Healy (Production Coordination) , Bill Kehoe (Percussion) , Henry McDode (Piano) , Tommy Nevue (Trumpet) , Charles Burbank (Sax (Tenor)) , Fred Radcliffe (Drums) , Charles Waller (Sax (Baritone)) , Malcolm Robinson (Horn) , Cal Arnold (Bass) , Vernon King (Bass) , Linny Nance (Keyboards) , Linny Nance (Organ (Hammond)) , Carl Arnold (Bass) , Joe Ayers (Bass) , Alfred Jenkins (Bass) , Dave Myers (Guitar) , Billy Richards (Vocals) , Bobby Nunn (Vocals) , Rose Marie McCoy (Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part) , Dave Lee (Piano) , Big Joe Turner (Bass) , Eddie Williams (Bass) , Tony Moret (Trumpet) , Robert Ogden (Drums) , Jimmy Miller (Drums) , Mezzrow-Bechet Septet (?) , David Lee (Piano) , Roy Richards (Vocals)
