Blues Blues Blues

Jimmy Rogers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 5, 1999)
• Original Release Date: January 5, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00000DD2D
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,991 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #81 in Music > Blues > Chicago Blues

Editorial Reviews

CD > POPULAR MUSIC > BLUES

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superstar Session That Works, October 12, 2000

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blues Blues Blues (Audio CD)

Jimmy Rogers was second guitarist in Muddy Waters' classic lineup, which also included harpist Little Walter and bassists Big Crawford or Willie Dixon. As a solo artist, Rogers used these musicians (minus Waters) to record his classic sides for Chess in the Fifties. If you don't already own the two-disc The Complete Chess Recordings, that would be the logical place to start.

But as a tribute to one of Chicago's greatest bluesmen (Rogers died in 1997 before this album's release), Blues Blues Blues is a great collection of songs. The idea of coupling an aging blues musician with superstar guests is nothing new. Chess Did it with its London Sessions series in the early Seventies, and John Lee Hooker has made a career out of it since releasing The Healer back in 1989. While this type of recording tends to be something of a mixed bag, Blues Blues Blues is an overall success.

Rogers is still in fine voice even into his seventies. And guest artists are top-notch. Guest vocalists (who share lead vocals with Rogers on all tracks) include Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Taj Mahal. Lead guitar is provided by Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Jeff Healey. Either Kim Wilson or Carey Bell plays harmonica on most tracks.

Whether the band is performing Rogers' originals like "That's All Right" and "Luedella," or classic blues songs like Waters' "Trouble No More" or Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights Big City," they play with authority and conviction.

While the album was recorded as a celebration of Rogers' contribution to the blues, it serves as a fitting tribute. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice!, August 26, 2004

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blues Blues Blues (Audio CD)

I've always been a bit sceptical about these superstar collaborations...they don't always work too well, and sometimes the guest stars overshadow the supposed main artist. But Jimmy Rogers and his various all-star combos manage to pull it off really well.

Sure, the arrangements are generally very similar all the way through, which does perhaps detract a little bit from an otherwise fine performance, but this is actually a very accessible and fun blues record. It doesn't just appeal to hard-core blues fans, more mainstream rock- and R&B lovers can certainly enjoy it as well, and Rogers and his guest musicians have hand-picked some real blues classics, and they generally do very well by them.

The album opens with a faithful take on Muddy Waters' "Blow Wind Blow", with excellent harmonica by the Fabulous Thunderbirds' Kim Wilson, and lead guitar by white blues-rock guitarist Jeff Healy.
Jimmy Rogers' own "Blues All Day Long" has Rogers sharing lead vocals with a certain Mr Eric Clapton, who also plays lead guitar. Carey Bell lends a hand on the harp.
On a gritty reading of the classic "Trouble No More", Rogers shares the lead vocals with Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards plays lead guitar.
"Bright Lights, Big City" is another Jimmy Rogers-original, with Taj Mahal behind the microphone (he is also featured on Rogers' "Ludella"), and Lowell Fulson appears along with harpist Carey Bell on Memphis Slim's "Everyday I Have The Blues".

The all-stars also do the inevitable take on Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago", with Stephen Stills (!) contributing lead guitar and co-lead vocals, and Stills pops up again on Big Maceo Merriweather's "Worried Life Blues".
Mick Jagger can't quite match Sonny Boy Williamson II on "Don't Start Me To Talkin'" (Keith Richards plays lead guitar again), but "Goin' Away Baby" is pretty well suited to his voice, and Eric Clapton and Jimmy Rogers do a fine rendition of Rogers' "That's All Right".

The album closes with an alternative rendition of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" (retitled "Gonna Shoot You Right Down"), with - get this - Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page on guitars, and Robert Plant sharing lead vocal duties with Jimmy Rogers!
Rogers himself is in fine voice throughout, in spite of the fact that he was in his seventies at the time, and died before the album was released. The near-legendary blues- and R&B pianist Johnnie Johnson's dextrous playing belies his age. And finally, as a special treat for Hound Dog Taylor-nostalgics, the swivel chair is occupied by none other than the Houserockers' 66-year old drummer Ted Harvey.

Definitely recommended.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars all-around excellent blues-rock disc, May 9, 2005

By 

Denis (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blues Blues Blues (Audio CD)

I tend to stay away from collaborations and stick to the original blues recordings, but I read a few good reviews of this disc and when I saw the line-up of the artists on it, I thought I'd give it a try. Let me tell you, it doesn't disappoint at all. This CD has a good drive, a strong rhythm, excellent production values and will definitely pick you up. This CD has blues classics laid on a British rock foundation. It doesn't get too much into the rock territory, though. I thought a really nice balance was achieved between blues and rock, such that the strong drive is always there, but at the same time, this is unmistakably blues, with excellent piano and harp to add to solid guitar work. Even though there are a few prominent rock guitarrists assembled in this CD, there is no guitar shoot-out here. The guitars provide a solid, pleasant, easy-to-listen backing but never take over the songs as is often the case in pure blues. This is a great CD for driving - you will never get any highway hypnosis if you have this CD on. If you've stayed away from blues but like classic/British rock, give this a try. If you are blues purist and are suspicious of this all-star line-up, give this a try. If you are looking to ease smoothly into the blues scene, give this a try. If you like country rock, give this a try. I think you can't go wrong with this disc. This a good value for the money.