CD-Charts Position 1
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His California Album

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 2
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Hoodoo Man Blues

by: Junior Wells

Release Date October 01, 1999
With respect to my fellow reviewer, this album is not really fifties blues. It was recorded in the mid-sixties and was, as other reviews describe, a fine contemporary work. And, had it been recorded this year, it would still sound current. It has a vitality and presence which passes the test of time with honours. And so, it is blues - very good blues - which does not need to be slotted into a specific era.

What a band! Four brilliant musicians at the top of their game. Has there ever been a finer drummer in blues than Fred Below? Jack Myers was a very influential bassist with a fresh approach to a classic form; Buddy Guy was in excellent form on these sessions; and Junior Wells leads them to many peaks throughout the album. He is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Pacific Ocean Blue/Bambu (The Caribou Sessions): Legacy Edition

by: Dennis Wilson

Release Date June 16, 2008
Fantastic album Pacific Ocean Blue, just get it and listen to it, plus the bonus tracks and the additional lost album 'Bambu', all beautifully packaged, make this a worthy tribute to a flawed genius; Dennis Wilson.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Dreamer

by: Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Release Date July 09, 2007
Don't let the sleeve put you off this is a great album! I'd never heard of it until I read a magazine review a few years ago, but the reviewer was so adamant that it was a classic I thought I should take a punt. I'm very surprised this album is not more well known (or maybe I'm the only one who didn't know). Ain't Know Love In The Heart of The City is almost worth the purchase price on it's own but there are several others that are almost as good. Bland's voice mean they don't adhere to the archetypal smooth 70's soul man template, and therefore it stands on it's own merits next his classic 50's/60's recordings.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Greatest Hits Vol.2

by: Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Release Date September 04, 2000
Subtitled "The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings" this 1998 USA-only compilation is a deceptive little bugger that packs a whole lot more punch than it's naff title and sleeve would suggest. It covers the period 1973 to 1982 and therefore gives us some great-sounding remasters from a criminally under-represented part of Bland's extraordinary career.

Here's the breakdown - US LP catalogue numbers (69:33 minutes):
1. This Time I'm Gone For Good
2. Goin Down Slow
(Tracks 1 and 2 are from "His California Album", 1973 on Dunhill 50163)
3. I Wouldn't Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)
4. Ain't No Love In the Heart Of The City
5. Yolanda
6. I Ain't Gonna Be The First To Cry
(Tracks 3 to 6 are from ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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100 Days, 100 Nights

by: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

Release Date January 21, 2008
This is truly a stunning piece of retro art.

The music is almost perfect, played by almost perfect musicians and sung by an almost perfect voice. There are distinct strains of Gloria Gaynor recorded in a manner that pays tribute to that great time in music. This could be the most perfect tribute album but, in it's own right, it is a fabulous piece of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I'm so pleased I bought this.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Anthology

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 8
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Aretha Franklin: Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul

by: Aretha Franklin

Release Date March 03, 2008
Just suppose a Martian arrived at your doorstep and wanted to know about "Soul Music" - this is what you would play. Aretha was at the very height of her powers, and all this stuff - demos amd out takes for me are even more enjoyable than what was released at the time. You will hear Aretha with sparce backing and mimimal production, going places only she could - she grabs hold of a song amd makes it her own - and only Joe Cocker rivals that special talemt. It is amazing these wonderful sounds have been kept in the vaults for so long - but I am so grateful this stuff has appeared. By a mile the greatest ever Aretha collection - worth easily 10x the typical reail price. This is an essential purchase - but be warned this is the real thing - it'll make ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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For Emma Forever Ago

by: Bon Iver

Release Date March 24, 2008
I'm puzzled about all the 5 star reviews here. This record does not deserve 5 stars. It's slightly above average and that's it.I couldn't decide between 2 and 3 stars.

The last 2 songs are the best, particularly "Stacks". Otherwise the singer's voice can be annoying and the songs, in general, have a deeply somniferous effect...like watching a very slow arthouse French movie.

CD-Charts Position 10
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Fleet Foxes

by: Fleet Foxes

Release Date June 16, 2008
Wonderful and haunting. It sounds both contemporary, seventies and has more than a hint of old 19th century American folk music about it.