Customer Reviews

Martin Scorsese Presents: The Best Of The Blues

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chuck full of the music you've been waiting for "Best of the Blues", featuring originals on originals. Spanning decades is just what the doctor ordered ~ best medicine from the likes of Ray Charles, Etta James, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Skip James, Howlin' Ron Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Son House, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keb' Mo', Susan Tedeschi, Los Lobos, Cassandra Wilson, Bonnie Raitt and Shemekia Copeland. Featuring 21 essential recordings covering the last half-century of the blues, with a few pleasant surprises.

This CD is proof, once and for all ~ that the "BLUES" was then, is now and IS FOREVER ~ we've hit pay-dirt...and that folks, is the truth, plain and simple...gotta love it!!

Total Time: 65:22 on 21 Tracks ~ UTV Records ~ (8/26/2003)

If I had to put together a compilation of great Blues music, I would have Track 1 be Robert Johnson's Cross Road Blues, then I'd have Bessie Smith, followed by Skip James, then Howlin' Wolf, finishing up the compilation with the 'new' Blues of Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, Shemekia Copeland... well, heck! Lookee here! The Best of the Blues soundtrack has absolutely EVERY Blues tune I'd want if I were limited to 21 tracks. No slouchers here -- best of the old and best of the new! You've got to have this CD!

While this compilation starts off well, the last few tracks are misguided at best. Susan Tedeschi is blues for soccer moms(do soccer moms get the blues?) and while Los Lobos is one of my favorite bands ever, I wouldn't immediately associate them with this type of music. A track by Taj Mahal, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, Charlie Musselwhite, Corey Harris, T-Bone Walker, Lightin' Hopkins, Mose Alison or the version of Fleetwood Mac that featured Peter Green (and the list goes on...) would have rounded the disc out in a more complete fashion.

The series of "essential" blues compilations The House of Blues label released a few years ago or the Blues Masters series on Rhino Records would be a better place for the novice to start.

This is a great collection of Blues music from the beginning until present day. For those who want to know more about the Blues but aren't willing to jump in and buy a bunch of CD's, this is a great way to start.

Listen to this CD, pick out the musicians you like the most, then do some research and find some of their classic albums.

For those willing to go a little further, check out the "Martin Scorsese: Best of the Blues" 5 disc box set or the individuals CD's for many of the Blues artists featured on this CD.

Highly Recommended!

As a long time Blues player, I was very disappointed with this set from two perspectives: poor quality recordings on the CD itself (I expected a better digitally mastered sound, and the imprinted sound volume was sorta lower than normal) and the actual collection of selected songs (not overly representative of the best Blues by these artists or Blues in general). I had seen part of it on PBS TV and bought the collection w/o first listening to it. So after spending the big bucks for it, I was sorely disappointed and do NOT recommend it for anyone serious about the Blues. It's just an okay set. There are many other higher quality collections online. Check them out first.

This album is a wonderful compilation of different artists singin' the blues. From John Lee Hooker to Etta James to Susan Tedeschi to Stevie Ray Vaughan, many different types of blues are included. How can you go wrong with this? I wanted to start a blues collection, and I'm so glad that I bought this one. Everyone should get this for a rounded collection of blues!!!

This CD, part of the soundtrack for Martin Scorsese's PBS series, showcases blues hits and singers from Robert Johnson and Son House to Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the Allman Brothers. One can trace the evolution of blues from its raw beginnings to its more contemporary manifestations. As such, it is fun to listen to, although one can quarrel with the selections chosen for this single CD (there are other products available that are more inclusive). But I'm not quarreling about anything after having listened to this CD.

It starts right off with Robert Johnson singing "Cross Road Blues." It is always interesting listening to this artist, legend that he is. He sings with a raw blues voice and his characteristic guitar work. His role in the history of the blues is unquestioned.

Another pioneer was Son House, who--after many years of absence from the musical scene--was happily rediscovered in the 1960s. Listen to him sing "Death Letter Blues." No wonder he is so well reputed! A rough and ready voice and simple guitar work, a link to the early days of blues.

One of my favorites is Howlin' Wolf, represented here by his wonderful "Evil (Is Going On)." His rough, raw blues singing always appeals to me. He sings of evil going on, with fine backing music. He sings of "Mule kickin' in a door" and "You better watch your happy home." I'd say there's a little tension in the air!

And then another of my very favorite artists--Muddy Waters, singing "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man." The opening bars represent some of the absolute best blues work in the repertoire. Momma said of the birth of the character in the song that "He's gonna make pretty women jump and shout." Waters' blues singing is absolutely classic (Yes, I'm a cheerleader here). His backing musicians are wonderful (some great talent here, including Little Walter, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, and Fred Below).

More contemporary? I could not resist listening to Janis Joplin again (It's been a long time since I've listened to her music), as she sings "One Good Man." Her familiar wailing voice sounds good to my ears. Some good backing music. She sings that she likes to go to parties and have fun--but what she really wants is one good man. As she says of such a person in her inimitable style:

"It ain't much,
It's only everything."

So, in the end, this is a fine compilation, taking, as it does, only a small segment of the music covered in the original series. Nonetheless, it provides one a nice example of the evolution of the blues over time.

This is a seriously excellent sampler of blues. It gives a great introduction to the genre for those that are either new to the blues or are interested to expand their knowledge of the classics. Of course, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix make their way onto this CD. BB King and John Lee Hooker are on it, as they should be. I was disappointed not to find a single song by Albert King - I think he made a serious contribution to the blues. Otherwise, it's an interesting and mostly quite a worthy selection.

Having watched this series on PBS, I knew what I was getting when I made this purchase. For anyone new to the blues and wanting a good starter disc for a well rounded taste, this disc is a must have. It affords the listener a sampling of the evolution of the blues sound, beginning with the founders right up to today. For the established blues fan, it's a nice addition to their collection. A great disc for travelling.

Big thanks to the "gods" in heaven and other places were they maybe hangin' out, for gaving Mr. Martin Scorsese the vision and the tools to bring together the past, the present and the future of the history of the Blues music...so every man or woman will not have any excuse not to know that "the blues is the roots and everything else is the fruits...," according to (Willie Dixon)... In short, thank you Martin Scorsese! Exhilarating to say the least!

--"Big Dave" Burleigh, an 'AmeriCanadian' Record Producre/ Artist/ Singer-Songwritre.