CD-Charts Position 1
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The Collection

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

Release Date September 25, 2000
A welcome budget price collection by one of the most charismatic and influential blues artists of all time. Many of Wolf's best known numbers are here, commencing with 'How Many More Years' from his first session in 1951 in Sam Phillips' Memphis studio, and continuing through the 1954 to 1965 period with Chess Records. The material is licensed from MCA, and therefore in excellent sound quality, with stereo mixes being used on some of the later dates. Just reading the titles reveals that most of the essential tracks are present, including the ones that were to feature strongly in the white blues boom of the 1960s: 'The Little Red Rooster', 'Spoonful', 'Killing Floor', and the inevitable 'Smokestack Lightnin''.

Wolf's songs were notable ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Riding With the King

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Eric Clapton, B.B. King

Release Date June 12, 2000
I really wanted to like this album. Two icons of R&B getting together again to cover some classic tracks. Unfortunately, this album is anaesthetic, tame and bland. Maybe 4 out of the 12 tracks are worth listening to. Clapton mumbles away in the background and spoils perfectly good music with muffled vocals and most of the track choice is at best uninspired.

Probably the notable exception is "Key to the Highway", which, along with "Riding with the King" is among the few highlights of this album. The musicianship is brilliant but it's so TAME!

What this pair need to to is get up on stage with George Thorogood and hammer it out instead of sitting in their rocking chairs telling everyone what fine guitarists they are while they ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Live At The Regal

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

Release Date March 20, 1999
This is the real thing. One of the great live recordings in any genre, it really is "live" with all the imperfections and crowd intrusions of the gig as it happened. BB King was always at the soul end of the blues styles, and this concert was recorded at the time that soul music was really taking off in BBs heartland. That fact is reflected in the performance - brash, noisy and above all entertaining.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Howlin' Wolf / Moanin' In The Moonlight

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

Release Date December 23, 1999
This is the most essential single Howlin' Wolf CD there could possibly be and would make an excellent first purchase for a Howlin' Wolf novice. It comprises The Wolf's first two long-player releases, both what we would now regard as compilations, and was put out by Chess/MCA in 1986.
Moanin' In The Moonlight came out in America in 1959 and was made up of 12 selected A-sides and B-sides from the many 78's he released between 1951 and 1958, all monaural, including such classics as Smokestack Lightnin' and I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline). The LP kicks off with Moanin' At Midnight and How Many More Years, comprising both sides of his first Chess single, recorded in Memphis by Sam Phillips at what would become the Sun studios, long before Howlin' ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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THE BEST OF

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

Release Date July 17, 2000
To call this cd "The Best Of B.B. King would be misleading. To call it "The VERY Best of B.B. King is a joke! There is just nothing to it, in fact it is quite cheesey! I strongly urge people not to buy this and instead pay the extra and purchase "His Difinitive Greatest Hits" which is brilliant. Fortunately I purchased that first and this was a sad let down to say the least. If I had purchased this first I would not have even contemplated buying "His Difinitive Greatest Hits." The difference between the two is immense!

CD-Charts Position 6
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Anthology

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Release Date January 08, 2001
Bobby Blue Bland is rightly accalaimed as one of the greatest ever blues singers and this album clearly demonstrates why. If you are only going to purchase one album by Bobby Bland then I urge you to buy this one. All the songs are great with superb vocal range. My favourite is his version of "Stormy Monday Blues" which I put in the same category as the T Bone Walker version. Brilliant!

CD-Charts Position 7
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His California Album

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Release Date November 20, 2004
In my humble opinion, easily the best soul/blues album you are likely to hear. Great songs, great voice, musicians are top notch.Bobby Bland at his best !!!!

CD-Charts Position 8
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Two Steps From the Blues

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Bobby Bland

Release Date
Good God almighty! If you have any affinity for any kind of music, buy this album! The effect this astonishing collection of singles had is still felt more than forty years after its initial release. The songs are simply stunning, and Bland's voice is truly phenomenal. Any singer who ever belted out a single note OWES Bobby "Blue" Bland. For those who have heard nothing but the man's latter day work with Malaco, this is nothing short of a revelation. This was one of the most amazing voices on God's green earth. He's somehow like a cross between Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, and Brook Benton, but with the strength of all three combined. Listening to this will make you realize how right B.B. King was when he said, "Me and Little Milton, we did alright, but NOBODY ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Greatest Hits Vol.1

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Release Date September 04, 2000
Good God almighty! If you have any affinity for any kind of music, buy this album! The effect this astonishing collection of singles had is still felt more than forty years after its initial release. The songs are simply stunning, and Bland's voice is truly phenomenal. Any singer who ever belted out a single note OWES Bobby "Blue" Bland. For those who have heard nothing but the man's latter day work with Malaco, this is nothing short of a revelation. This was one of the most amazing voices on God's green earth. He's somehow like a cross between Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, and Brook Benton, but with the strength of all three combined. Listening to this will make you realize how right B.B. King was when he said, "Me and Little Milton, we did alright, but NOBODY ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Howlin' Wolf: His Best -Chess 50th Anniversary Collection

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

Release Date March 20, 1999
This has to be one of my favourite blues albums, this really is good. Once you've heard killing floor you will be sold, and once you hear wolf's voice you will never forget it.