CD-Charts Position 101
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Duke Elegant

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Dr. John

Release Date February 07, 2000
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy beat to it, in the way Dr John has is pure magic.Every track on this Cd is just pure class. There are some Cds you play where you flick through to your favourites as you decifer which tracks you like and hate etc. However with Duke Elegat, you just put it on and admire every single track. It is so funky you just cannot stop your foot moving. I cannot believe anyone buying Duke ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 102
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Come on in This House

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Junior Wells

Release Date April 04, 2001
This CD is credited to 'Junior Wells with guest slide guitarists', which may seem a strange concept but it works magnificently. Junior plays harp acoustically on all the tracks, although many of the tracks feature quite tough electric guitar. The record has a wonderfully relaxed feel throughout and breathes new life into classics like 'She wants to sell my monkey' and 'Mystery train' as well as including modern songs like Tracy Chapman's 'Give me one reason'.

Guitarist Derek Trucks contributes some nice electric slide but it's John Mooney who steels the show for me, 'Kingfish blues' is a sublime electric reading of the Tampa Red classic, which still retains the feel and drama of the original. Despite the guests, and the great band, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 103
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Showdown

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Albert Collins

Release Date October 01, 1999
A group effort with 3 talented bluesmen synergising well and exploiting the time and control that the studio affords.

The late Albert Collins has the largest reputation of the 3 players, and was in fact Cray's mentor. His trademark direct, one-note cries, charged with emotion, are audible throughout the record, while his protege's stlye is more low down, dirty and steely.

Cray is probably the better of the 2 soloists all round, but Collins's lead guitar work on "The Dream" is an album high point. Album opener "T-Bone Shuffle" pays homage to another great bluesmaster, "She's Into Something" provides what should have been a single release and "Albert's Alley" indulges Mr Collins ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 104
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One More Car One More Rider: Live

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Eric Clapton

Release Date November 04, 2002
Now, I wouldn't call myself an avid Eric Clapton fan - yes I like some of his early work, but in total I only have four CD's (including Derek & The Dominoes and Blind Faith) and the unplugged & sessions for Robert Johnson DVD's. So, listening and watching (I have the 2 CD + DVD edition) this in a "neutral" capacity I was thoroughly impressed by the contents. The tracks are varied and yes, do include the big hits you would expect (Layla, Tears in Heaven etc.) and, there are great renditions of Badge and Bell Bottom Blues. The playing is tight from a collection of extremely talented and experienced musicians with Billy Preston delivering vocals on one of the end tracks. So it's five stars from me.

CD-Charts Position 105
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Behind the Sun: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Eric Clapton

Release Date January 22, 2001
It's a tired and mundane album overall saved only from total anonymity by the cover of Knock on Wood. The Collins influence is obvious in the very 80s drum sound and glossy production but it's shallow and ultimitely unfulfilling. Clapton mostly sounds like he's going through the motions and the album has a "contractual obligation" feel about it. It's not raw enough to be blues and not slick enough to be pop. How many times have you heard Forever Man played on the radio lately?

Buy this only if you desperately need it to complete your Clapton collection.

CD-Charts Position 106
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Complete Recordings 1929-1934

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Charley Patton

Release Date August 26, 2002
This reissue from JSP is the third major compilation of the work of the greatest of all Mississippi blues singers to appear in the last two years. The format follows that of the first five discs of the lavish Revenant box set, missing only a CD of music by artists in Patton's "orbit" and a CD of interviews about Patton by comparison. All Patton's issued recordings are included, plus three alternate takes.

I have not heard the Revenant set but do have the Catfish reissue [The Definitive Charley Patton]. Where this JSP set scores is in the remastering - sound quality is generally better than on Catfish, with greater clarity of vocals and a sweeter, fuller sound to the often stunning guitar. You also get some great performances by the artists ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 107
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The Complete Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Robert Johnson

Release Date April 28, 2003
I have not bought this album and the reason why is that Robert Johnson recorded 29 songs not 28 and for some absurd reason they have not included "Last Fair Deal" on this supposed "complete" collection. Therefore I advise anyone wishing to buy Robert Johnson recordings to get a real complete recordings instead of this sadly incomplete one.

CD-Charts Position 108
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Cypress Grove Blues: Eighteen Originals By the Delta Blues Giant

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Skip James

Release Date April 19, 2004
I've enjoyed listening to blues for a number of years and this is one of the jewels of my collection. Certainly the sound quality is not fantastic - it never is when you're dealing with recordings from this era. But personally I think this enhances the record. It gives it a bit of history. Certainly there is a warmth and intimacy that digital recording techniques always fail to register.

Anyway, enough of that. Onto the music itself. This is not music to lift your mood. It's dark and gritty. When Skip sings about the devil it's not irnoic and meant to scare the crap out of you. The sorrow that radiates from 'Devil Got my Woman', the rage from '22-20 Blues', the loniliness from 'Cherry ball' - They're so real they almost jumps out of the speakers and wallop ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 109
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Today

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Skip James

Release Date October 23, 1995
I have the originals of Skip James and in my opinion his brilliant falsetto vocals and superb accoustic guitar playing have actually improved over the years although the sound quality on this cd is excellent. Big Bill Broonzy once said "you don't just sing the blues, you have to feel them" this is where I feel Skip James rates so highly with the likes of Robert Johnson and Tommy Johnson. You can hear the emotions in his voice. "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues", "Crow Jane" and "I'm So Glad" are just a few examples of pure blues, however, I can state quite categorically that there is not one bad track on this cd. It was an absolute travesty that Skip James did not benefit more from his brilliance!

CD-Charts Position 110
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The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Elmore James

Release Date
If you're wondering which Elmore James-album to purchase, look no further. This is the definite single-disc collection.

The CD starts off with James' first waxing, his lone 1951 single "Dust My Broom" with Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II) backing him up on harmonica. And all the best stuff is here. "The Sky Is Crying", "It Hurts Me Too", "Shake Your Moneymaker", "Sho' Nuff I Do", "Talk To Me Baby (I can't hold out)" and fifteen more.
James rocked harder than most other bluesmen, his voice was huge and intense, and his guitar playing feroicious. The arrangements are superb, the sound is good, and this is a definite must-own, even if you intend to limit your blues collection to just a handful of albums.

The true fanatic needs the box sets, of course, ... Read More: