Customer Reviews

Lackawanna Blues

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This little soundtrack, compiled lovingly, also doubles as a fantastic sampler of R&B music. So many styles introduced here: from the Acoustic Piedmont, to the Chicago Electric Blues, to the big band sound of the Jump Blues, to a cappella Gospel and on and on. Listen to this CD a few times and you will have a PhD in Bluesicology. More importantly, these songs haven't already appeared on 100 other soundtracks or compilations, so it's perfect for old and new R&B fans alike. Some of the songs here are original recordings and some were made for the HBO movie (Mos Def is the surprise here; listening to him tear into the Jump Blues songs, you know he would have been a recording star in any age).

After this CD excites your ears, you are ready to check out a variety of other CDs (all available on Amazon): Big Joe Turner (THE VERY BEST OF BIG JOE TURNER which also contains his version of "Caldonia"), anything by Louis Jordan for the master of Jump Blues (especially his BEST OF CD), T-Bone Walker who Chuck Berry claims was a major influence on his guitar playing (Walker's COMPLETE IMPERIAL RECORDINGS 2-CD is currently a steal), Cephas & Wiggins (for the new masters of Piedmont style pickin') and, of course, Ray Charles' Atlantic recordings.

Wow... what a trip! This album feels both old, with it's soulfulness, simple but deep lyrics.. and at the same time the music seems familiar and likable to us.
So many beatufil voices, at all ranges, from very low, raspy to high, energetic, inspiring voices... the flow of the album, is seemless, even though the music varies much from track to track.
Out of such a great compilation of songs as well as singers, I must applaude the performance of Most Def, the uplifting, inspiring, soulful rendition by the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the unbelievable combination of the voices of the soulful Robert Bradley and the raspy, distinctive Macy Gray. As you listen to the song for the second time, you know that they were meant to sing this track together. In many ways, so much alike, but each unique.
This album, deserves with all the rights, all the great reviews it has received.
We hope that this album is a glimpse as to where we are heading as far as music is concerned. If this is so, we have much to look forward to.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU.....BLUESY BUT ENJOYABLE SOUNDTRACK TO THE MOVIE OF THE SAME NAME WHICH WAS EQUALLY ENJOYABLE....STANDOUTS INCLUDE "BUT IT'S ALRIGHT" BY J.J. JACKSON, "THAT'S ALL I NEED" BY RICKY FANTE AND THE INCREDIBLE "SOMETHIN INSIDE ME" BY ROBERT BRADLEY. "FAITH & GRACE" BY THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA IS MEMORABLE...POET/RAPPER/ACTOR/SINGER MOS DEF DELIVERS 2 SIZZLING TRACKS "CALDONIA" AND THE TANTILIZINGLY HOT! "DESTINATION LOVE"...GET THE BLUES...LACKAWANNA BLUES!

If you've seen the movie, your first choice may be to order the DVD, but if you fall in love with the movie like I did, you'll also want the CD. I would recommend this CD to anyone who watched the movie and wanted to have the music from the movie in full.

Don't remember all the songs from the movie, but it doesn't matter all the ones in the CD were great.

Too bad, so sad, shoulda saved my money. I'm big blues/soul/r& b and gospel fan. Loved the movie big time, sound track a real disappointment. save your money.

Bought this CD for my husband who loves this kind of music! He listens to the CD all the time.
IF you love Jazz and music from the 30's & 40"s you will love this CD also.

I absolutely loved the Movie (HBO Films) and found myself singing many of the songs for days after. I purchased the album mostly for Mos Def's "Caldonia" and Robert Bradley's "Something Inside Me". Both gave an excellent performance in both the film and on the album. The other artists were also fantastic.

I grew up in this type of atmosphere and it took me back to those good ole days. I thought this was an excellent film and it was just a joy to watch.

This is the soundtrack to my youth, & as such this really is a wonderful score for an Emotive Uplifting & Truly Beautifull Movie, not a bum track here, highly reccomended as is the movie.