Customer Reviews

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Classics

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album always puts me in a good mood. It is happy, upbeat music, that is never raucous...just simple and melodic. The tenth song, "White Birds", is rather haunting. It is a nice album to have on in the background when you are working quietly or have friends over and want to be able to talk. It creates a positive, festive mood without being nerve wracking at all. Yet it is worthwhile to sit there and listen to it for its own sake, too. I find that I reach for it often.

Hot picking, Hawaiian style, drawing on rare discs from acoustic revivalist Bob Brozman's private stash of old 78s. When this album first came out in 1981, it was unique - this is one of the early fonts of Hawaiiana for modern listeners. Brozman's passion is for the early acoustic recordings, before amplified guitars gained popularity and likewise, the music itself shifted into poppier terrain; there's a ragtime-y feel on these old tunes that adds a little bounce which later was smoothed out in favor of swaying-palm steel guitar melodies. Over the years, many of the best songs here were anthologized elsewhere -- especially upbeat novelty numbers like Sol K. Bright's "Hawaiian Cowboy" and Sol Hoopii's "Hula Girl" -- but this album still retains it's unique charm and tight craftsmanship. There are plenty of songs on here that haven't been reissued elsewhere, like tracks by cowboy singer Hoot Gibson and the latin-flavored Trio De Hawaii, as well as a couple of sweet tracks that didn't appear on Arhoolie's fab Kalamas Quartet collection. Highly recommended!

This is an absolutely stunning and beautiful compilation of music. Very well assembled, this music is stunning in its beauty. At times it is hard to tell the extent that Hawaiian steel guitar players were influenced by southern Delta blues, or the other way around - - but listen for the music lineage between these guitar players in the 30s, to Carl Perkins in the 50s, to Geo. Harrison in the 60s, and treat yourself and others to simply beautiful music.

the rhythms, the instrumental dexterity, the sweetness --- if you play lapsteel, you shake your head in disbelief at what was. If you're 'only' a listener, then the harmonies in both instruments and voice will curl your toes. It's just all smiles...

Fun and artful classics from the hay day of Hawaiian classics before statehood. Interesting intersection of blues, rags and traditional Hawaiian tones. A must have.

Absolutely love listening to this CD; its like going back in time. Having lived in Hawaii, always seeking ways to bring back what used to be. This CD does just that.

this is a great CD of authentic Hawaiian steel guitar music from the 30's. All the famous artists are on here: Sol Hoopii, King Benny Nawahi, Kalama's Quartet, and a lot of others. Some of the recordings are old and scratchy, but who cares? If you like Hawaiian steel guitar music from it's Golden Age, then you will enjoy this CD tremendously. This is fun music, combining elements of traditional Hawaiian sounds, ragtime, and a little tin pan alley.