CD-Charts Position 51
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The Complete Checker Hit Singles

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Little Milton

Release Date October 15, 2001
The sad news of Little Milton (Campbell)'s death on 4/8/05 has an added significance because, as 'The Times' said in his obituary: 'LITTLE MILTON was one of the last blues singers to have come from the prewar world of sharecropping in the Mississippi Delta from which so many of the great blues performers came.'
Determined not to spend his life picking cotton he moved to Memphis where he was 'discovered' by Ike Turner who produced his early (1953-4)recordings for the legendary Sun label.
In 1961 Little Milton signed to the Checker department of the pre-eminent blues label Chess, and over the next decade enjoyed the most commercially successful period of his long career with the recording collected on this CD.
Tracks such as 'Grits ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 52
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Together for the First Time

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Bobby "Blue" Bland, B.B King

Release Date July 12, 2004
Bobby and BB are obviously huge stars in their own right.

Incredibly, the sum here is greater than the parts.

Whether they bring out the best in each other, or they are competing for attention or whatever - they both play out of their skins on this disc.

BB finds his old Memphis passion again! In my opinion he can tend to the safe and the bland. But here he cooks.

Its a sweaty soulful, bluesed up affair and a textbook example of club atmosphere crammed onto a recording.

CD-Charts Position 53
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His Best Vol.2

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

Release Date April 24, 2000
An excellent companion volume to MCA/Chess's must-have "His Best" collection, "His Best vol. II" focuses mainly on Howlin' Wolf's lesser-known songs.

The first "His Best" CD contained almost all of Wolf's best-known material, as if the label never planned a sequel, but these second-tier songs aren't cast-offs, they are merely forgotten or unappreciated classics. They might not all be as monumental as the songs on "His Best" vol. I, but songs like "The Natchez Burnin'" and the fiery slide guitar workout "Down In The Bottom", which didn't make the first cut, rank among Howlin' Wolf's best.

Other highlights include Wolf's self-penned latter-day songs "Louise", "Don't Laugh At Me" and the menacing "Commit A Crime", as well as ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 54
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Blues on Top of Blues: The Best of B.B King

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

Release Date December 31, 1993
Don't buy this one - it isn't really a B.B. King album at all. The back gives the game away when it says 'arranged, conducted and produced by Johnny Pate'. It would be far more honest to call this a 'Johnny Pate jazz orchestra' album that happens to feature a singer called BB King. I assume Mr. Pate is a former horn player as the horns are REALLY REALLY LOUD THROUGHOUT!!!! There's also a little bit of guitar, but it's so low in the mix most of it is almost inaudible. It's a pity, as this album features 'Worried Dream', which Fleetwood Mac did an excellent version of. The arrangements are very jazzy, and here I don't mean that as a compliment, as they're not at all sympathetic to the music. Truly appalling. I wish I could give it MINUS 5 stars, in ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 55
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Live in Kansas City [German Import]

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

Release Date April 18, 2005
This album is a masterpiece and deserves much greater acclamation. It captures B.B. King's guitar playing at its finest and cements his position as a guitaring legend to anyone in doubt. The sensational playing in this album defines the concept of 'soulful' playing.

To my disappoint, I usually find that B.B. King's albums are drowning in backing orchestration, with too much percussion and too many brass instruments. The arrangements in this album however, are much simpler and the lack of backing instruments allows B.B. King's guitar playing and epic singing to dominate. A simplified approach gives a record a much more soulful feel, which is much more suiting than the usual jovial big-band sound which I find inappropriate for the genre ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 56
Average Rating:

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How Blue Can You Get

CD-Charts > Music > Memphis Blues
by: Bb King

Release Date
This album is a masterpiece and deserves much greater acclamation. It captures B.B. King's guitar playing at its finest and cements his position as a guitaring legend to anyone in doubt. The sensational playing in this album defines the concept of 'soulful' playing.

To my disappoint, I usually find that B.B. King's albums are drowning in backing orchestration, with too much percussion and too many brass instruments. The arrangements in this album however, are much simpler and the lack of backing instruments allows B.B. King's guitar playing and epic singing to dominate. A simplified approach gives a record a much more soulful feel, which is much more suiting than the usual jovial big-band sound which I find inappropriate for the genre ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 57
Average Rating:

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Indianola Mississippi Seeds

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

Release Date July 09, 2007
I've been led to understand that this album was recorded as part of a plan to 'cash in' on the chart success if 'The Thrill is Gone', but it is one of those wonders of popular music that manages to transcend any genre or classification.
From the tongue in cheek introductiion to the hairs-on-back-of-neck-raising finale, the flawless production somehow allows the soul/jazz backing to showcase King's guitar playing better than any of the more traditional recordings. The guitar playng on 'King's Special' is, I would argue, some of the greatest 'feel' playing ever committed to record. If you like what Peter Green did in his Fleetwood Mac days, you will absolutely love this album.
There is also a faintly surreal quality to the album: You know ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 58
Average Rating:

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The Great B.B. King

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

Release Date November 23, 1998
I've been led to understand that this album was recorded as part of a plan to 'cash in' on the chart success if 'The Thrill is Gone', but it is one of those wonders of popular music that manages to transcend any genre or classification.
From the tongue in cheek introductiion to the hairs-on-back-of-neck-raising finale, the flawless production somehow allows the soul/jazz backing to showcase King's guitar playing better than any of the more traditional recordings. The guitar playng on 'King's Special' is, I would argue, some of the greatest 'feel' playing ever committed to record. If you like what Peter Green did in his Fleetwood Mac days, you will absolutely love this album.
There is also a faintly surreal quality to the album: You know ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 59
Average Rating:

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Let The Good Times Roll: The Music Of Louis Jordan

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

Release Date October 11, 1999
A strange collection in some ways but superb. Old-fashioned blues, humorous charming, and superbly executed. The Man is showing his age on this, but it hardly matters. Enjoyable in all its aspects - not a bad track on the whole album. Good sound quality too - missing on too many of B. B. King's recordings. No fan can be without this CD and sleep easy at night - the thought of not owning it must surely cause terrible anxiety.

I like it!!!!

CD-Charts Position 60
Average Rating:

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Guess Who

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

Release Date December 31, 1993
A strange collection in some ways but superb. Old-fashioned blues, humorous charming, and superbly executed. The Man is showing his age on this, but it hardly matters. Enjoyable in all its aspects - not a bad track on the whole album. Good sound quality too - missing on too many of B. B. King's recordings. No fan can be without this CD and sleep easy at night - the thought of not owning it must surely cause terrible anxiety.

I like it!!!!