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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Classic is a word tossed around so frequently and carelessly these days it's hard to recall the time when it accurately described truly stellar songs. Well, this compilation of 16 sides by Chicago slide-guitar master Elmore James, recorded in New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City between 1959 and 1961, includes real, honest-to-god classics such as "The Sky Is Crying," "Done Somebody Wrong," "Shake Your Moneymaker," and "Look Up Yonder Wall." James's grainy vocals and stinging guitar powerfully express pain and regret. His recording studio band, Broomdusters, sometimes with the great drummer Belton Evans present, reveals emphatic feeling in a supporting role. Only "My Bleeding Heart," sullied by noisome horns and a general sluggishness, and "Something Inside Me," on which an unidentified sax player wears out his welcome fast, fail the test of time. --Frank-John Hadley
Product Description
Collectables is pleased to present this new compilation of the best original recordings of Elmore James. This CD features standouts 'The Sky Is Crying', 'Dust My Broom' and 'Fine Little Mama'.
--This text refers to an alternate
Audio CD
edition.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Why the reservations?
Well, this collection only focuses on Elmore James' recordings for Bobby Robinson in the early 60s. He did remake many of his early hits for Robinson's Fire, Fury and Enjoy labels, and often in even better versions, but a few early-50s classics are missing, so "Shake Your Moneymaker" doesn't really work as a definitive Elmore James-compilation.
But let's forget about what's not here for a moment, and look at what is:
"Shake Your Moneymaker: The Best Of The Fire Sessions" gathers sixteen songs from the "King Of The Slide Guitar" box set, perfectly showcasing Elmore James' incredibly intense, slide guitar-driven electric blues. James was equally at home playing a smouldering slow blues like "The Sky Is Crying", and laying down raw, rollicking numbers like "Look On Yonder Wall" and his magnificent, fiery take on Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom". He always sang like he meant it, and he possessed a huge, emotional wail of a voice, imbuing everything from slow numbers and mid-tempo grinds to up-tempo ravers with passion and power.
The track selection is not 100% perfect, but it's very good, and several of these songs rank among the very best of electric Chicago blues, right up there with the greatest of Muddy Waters' and Howlin' Wolf's songs: "Shake Your Moneymaker", "Sunnyland", "Dust My Broom", "The Sky Is Crying", "Standing At The Crossroads", and a great rendition of Robert Nighthawk's "Anna Lee". ("It Hurts Me Too" is missing, though, which is a crime.)
"The Sky Is Crying: The History Of Elmore James" from Rhino Records remains the ultimate Elmore James-collection, featuring 21 songs and spanning his entire career, but this is a very good overview of his superb Fire, Fury and Enjoy recordings. Just remember that if you opt for this one, you need "The Best Of Elmore James - The Early Years" from Ace Records as well. That terrific 28-track compilation is the best place to go for all of James' gritty early-50s classics for the Meteor, Modern and Flair labels.
Well, this collection only focuses on Elmore James' recordings for Bobby Robinson in the early 60s. He did remake many of his early hits for Robinson's Fire, Fury and Enjoy labels, and often in even better versions, but a few early-50s classics are missing, so "Shake Your Moneymaker" doesn't really work as a definitive Elmore James-compilation.
But let's forget about what's not here for a moment, and look at what is:
"Shake Your Moneymaker: The Best Of The Fire Sessions" gathers sixteen songs from the "King Of The Slide Guitar" box set, perfectly showcasing Elmore James' incredibly intense, slide guitar-driven electric blues. James was equally at home playing a smouldering slow blues like "The Sky Is Crying", and laying down raw, rollicking numbers like "Look On Yonder Wall" and his magnificent, fiery take on Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom". He always sang like he meant it, and he possessed a huge, emotional wail of a voice, imbuing everything from slow numbers and mid-tempo grinds to up-tempo ravers with passion and power.
The track selection is not 100% perfect, but it's very good, and several of these songs rank among the very best of electric Chicago blues, right up there with the greatest of Muddy Waters' and Howlin' Wolf's songs: "Shake Your Moneymaker", "Sunnyland", "Dust My Broom", "The Sky Is Crying", "Standing At The Crossroads", and a great rendition of Robert Nighthawk's "Anna Lee". ("It Hurts Me Too" is missing, though, which is a crime.)
"The Sky Is Crying: The History Of Elmore James" from Rhino Records remains the ultimate Elmore James-collection, featuring 21 songs and spanning his entire career, but this is a very good overview of his superb Fire, Fury and Enjoy recordings. Just remember that if you opt for this one, you need "The Best Of Elmore James - The Early Years" from Ace Records as well. That terrific 28-track compilation is the best place to go for all of James' gritty early-50s classics for the Meteor, Modern and Flair labels.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Elmore James I could listen to every day; there's something very reassuring about him. This is his best stuff, recorded for Bobby Robinson around 1960. Blues don't get no better than "Shake Your Moneymaker" and "Look On Yonder Wall" and "Stranger Blues." For years I've owned various LPs, some of which sound as though they were mastered from records in Denmark...and it's great to have this collection, with excellent sound. My favorite Elmore James moment, though, isn't on this compilation, but you can find it on the Collectables LP "The Complete Fire and Enjoy Sessions, Part 4," something called "Back in Mississippi." Elmore discourses on where to find the best-looking women: "I'm gonna tell you one damn thing, Jack, Mississippi has got just the prettier women than there is any goddamn where in the United States...and brother, I've been around."
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have always been a great fan of these particular recordings, I was introduced to them ages ago when I worked in a production dept. at a budget record company.I have always kept of a couple of vinyl issues and cd issues around hoping for a little higher fidelity in sound, but seemed to get those tinny source masters . I assumed that it was as good as it gets for years. I bought this issue last week hoping some modern remastering could improve my 20 year old or more versions of these tracks. I auditioned this under my budget headphones and on some basic Sony stereo equipment. Nothin' fancy, if it's recorded and mastered well you'll know it without paying for the diamond ring system. Well get to the point then Joe, I not going to break down a title by title account, you already know the songs and love them as much as I do, and no one is going to make you feel any differently.The point is don't you dare let the inexpensive price fool you, this is the single best mastering of these recordings, as they say it sounds like Elmore layed 'em down yesterday. I can't believe the clarity and the fullness of this cd, it makes you almost cry to think these gems have been so neglected over the years, but the joy of hearing them in this state makes me believe that Mr. James has finally been given his due. Perhaps some younger kids into the blues will buy this and think how lucky he is to hear this great sound, what if Duane Allman could hear these versions now, but then again miracles do happen once in a while ! It was well worth the wait, get a copy and turn up the volume and fall in love with Elmore James all over again !
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Blues Classic
This is truly a blues classic. If you are a serious blues enthusiast you need to add this to your collection.
Published 7 months ago by Dean Smith
The king of the slide guitar
Elmore james is the most underrated guitarest. His soulful voice on the sky is ctying is amazing. This in my mind is a must have for all blues lovers. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Christopher J Ellison
Fabulous
This is a super album. A little bit of polish compared to his earlier tracks, but still a raw and shaking sound. You won't be disappointed.
Published 20 months ago by Banjo
Great Bluesman
Elmore James is really one of the immortals of the Blues legacy and this album sums up for me his legendary status. Read more
Published on January 9, 2010 by S. Meimaris
King of the Slide Guitar
Elmore James was a blues artist who straddled the old acoustic sound of the original delta blues and the advent of the Chicago blues scene, which saw the rise of the electric... Read more
Published on January 3, 2009 by James R. Ure
Influential, classic recordings
Elmore James is one of the most influential and imitated guitarists of all time. He is probably the most influential electric slide-guitarist of all time. Read more
Published on August 1, 2002
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