City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000VKJ6OU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,756 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > Blues > Regional Blues > New Orleans Blues

Editorial Reviews

For nearly three decades, Rounder Records has been among the pre-eminent labels recording the music of New Orleans - second line brass bands, rhythm & blues singers, Mardi Gras Indians, piano players, jazz and funk. Here is a definitive overview of Rounder's New Orleans catalogue, featuring such iconic Crescent City names as Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, as well as lesser-known but equally exciting artists such as Chuck Carbo and Eddie Bo. Here is music that looks into every corner of the New Orleans musical landscape, always funky, rollicking and soulful. With extensive notes by Grammy®-winning Rounder producer Scott Billington

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Orleans Party in a Box, November 12, 2007

By 

Steven I. Ramm "Steve Ramm "Anything Phon... (Phila, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music (Audio CD)

Rounder Records' music catalog runs deep with some of the best of the "roots" music of New Orleans and over the years, they've documented many of the artists who never hit the "top 40" but form the soul of the music of the Big Easy. Some artists - like the great James Booker - got a full album, while others - like Professor Longhair's piano contemporary "Tuts Washington" were represented only on compilations. Much of Rounder's catalog is out there; it just doesn't get a lot of exposure for the older releases.

This has been rectified with this wonderful new "box set" (it's actually a small box with 4 CDs in cardboard leaves and a 24-page booklet with a 7 page essay and detailed track listings). The 48 tracks are grouped by musical style with Brass Bands on the "Street Beat" disc, the "funk" sounds (minus the Neville Brothers who never recorded as a group for Rounder) on another, vocal blues on a third, and - my favorite - the "Ivory Emperors" (`Fess Longhair, Booker, and Eddie Bo) for the last disc.

N.O. Music has always been a "gumbo" of styles and, really, the best way to experience this set is to shuffle the discs, rather than limit yourself to one style. Then use the info in the liner note booklet (which could have used a little more background on the lesser known artists) and seek out the albums that the tracks were derived from.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for New Orleans music neophytes, December 12, 2007

By 

T. Sedlakova "sedlakova" (austria by way of new orleans) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music (Audio CD)

if you are a new orleans native, then this is not the cd-set for you. however, if you are trying to be a nola music ambassador, it's a great gift! the artists are taken from some of the best n.o. musicians, such as rebirth brass band, marcia ball, the n.o. nightcrawlers, eddie bo, irma thomas, professor longhair, to name just a few. no dr john, fats, or anders osborne, some of my longtime favorites...

also, the collection is divided nicely into 4 discs, representing the 4 main styles of n.o. music: big easy blues, street beat, funky new orleans, and ivory emperors.

overall, a good primer for someone who wants to learn more about new orleans style music.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album, January 9, 2012

By 

nicbudd "Nicki B" (Metairie, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music (Audio CD)

While not comprehensive, this is a great album. The discs are very well organized to represent the various styles of New Orleans music.