Best of Joe Williams

Joe Williams | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 18, 1997)
• Original Release Date: November 18, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005GVD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,352 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #75 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Currently the best of this Ballad and Blues Master, April 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best of Joe Williams (Audio CD)

Jazz is currently not served very well by today's crop of technically muscle-bound musicians. Many play "at" their audiences rather than tell us something we need to know. That's just one reason why the passing of Joe Williams at the end of March is a sad event. He was a master of ballads and a city-style blues shouter who ranked with the very, very best, such as Big Joe Turner. He was also a superb entertainer as anyone who saw him in a supper club will know. While the classic Verve CD "Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings" is an essential part of any jazz collection (no-one did more than Williams to revive the fortunes of the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1950s) this Blue Note CD is probably the best selection you can have of all his styles. And Joe is in fine, young voice throughout. It opens with a less familiar but roaring version of "Everyday I Have The Blues," continues with a few ballads such as "When Did You Leave Heaven?" and contains the great verson of "Goin' To Chicago" with Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. There is also plenty of Basie material including "Roll 'Em Pete." Make this your first or second choice Joe Williams record. You will never regret it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody knew the blues like Joe, May 25, 2001

By 

Aaron Brown (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of Joe Williams (Audio CD)

This compilation of hits represent virtually the full spectrum of the talent of Joe Williams. His silky smooth handling of such ballads as "I was telling her about you" and "Cherry" harken back to his early days singing with Dinah Washington in Lionel Hampton's band. Other tunes, such as "Everyday I have the blues" and "If I were a bell" chronicle his ultra successful stint with the Basie band during the 1950's and 60's. Whether shouting the blues, or interpreting a timeless ballad, Joe Williams's clarity and emotion shines through every track.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Joe Williams is ALL Joe Williams, April 27, 2002

By 

Carlos from Rio "Carlos from Rio" (Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Best of Joe Williams (Audio CD)

Do you know an untasteful fruit among all the tasteful dozens of fruits Mr.Williams has legate to America and the world? Difficult to find 2 because I have found only one among the extensive list of Mr. Williams albums as coperformer and as main performer. Particularly about his Blue Note, Solid State output it is a pity that fans do not have all the material available. Particularly, Williams collaboration with the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis band is fantastic (a Solid State album). If you just want a fully representative Joe Williams album, buy it. If you are a fan, also buy it because there are some few great gems here.