Customer Reviews

Viper Mad Blues: Songs Of Dope & Depravity

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

 

 

This CD introduces the listener to a very nice cross-section of 1920s and 1930s jazz and blues performed by 25 different artists, including Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Leadbelly, and Gene Krupa. Some of these pieces are just plain beautiful music, like Blue Drag. Others, as one would expect, are roll-on-the-floor funny, like Fats Waller's "The Reefer Song" or Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon's version of "Willie the Weeper." (His sound effects are quite remarkable.) Some of these pieces seem to be unavailable on any other CD, like "Killin' Jive" by the Cats and the Fiddle. They performed this song in the movie, The Duke is Tops, but no CD of their material has yet been released. This is one of my favorite CDs.

This is a terrific album and highly recommended. However, the individual tracks are all available legally through other channels. Try "Dope & Glory" or "Flashbacks: Drug Songs, high & low 1917-1944" if this type of music appeals to you. Can't beat the cover art though.

This compilation is part of the Stash and Jass catalog of LPs released during the 1970's. I purchased most of them at the time that they were released. The pressing quality of most of these vinyl releases left a lot to be desired. I remember problems with bubbles caused by bad pressings causing the LPs to skip, and having to return the discs for refunds. Today, we have these reissues on CD, and my recommendation is to buy them and enjoy them! Remastering has come a long, long way since the 1950s, and these CDs are so much better in every way. You will have surface noise to some extent, but, believe me, you'll get used to it. Hey, it's all about the music, isn't it?

What is really great about these CDs is the music they contain. If you are interested in the history of rhythm and blues, these are some of the CDs to start with. You have a great cross section of topical songs from those relating to drugs and alcohol, such as the 'Jake Walk Blues', or songs about straight and gay issues. Most of these are from the 1930s. I highly recommend this disc. It has been remastered with the best quality sources. I'm happy that I can enjoy this music, no matter how worn the source material is because it is American history, and because it is great music in it's own right. Check out Amazon for more of these CDs. There are several that are still available from Marketplace Sellers.

"They sounded like the band was in a biscuit barrel, at 4 in the morning, out on a rainy plantation..." -Ry Cooder upon first hearing the rare old blues tunes he loves so much. These tunes are magical, and if the hiss on some tunes don't bother you, then you've discovered a gem. Dick Justice's version of Cocaine makes the whole album a must all by itself!

i ordered this album a couple of days ago and it arrived with today's mail. kudos (and one star!) for fast delivery!

however....the original vendor's listing for this album includes the cover as shown - which i was expecting - NOT some rehashed faux "psychedellic" cover so minus two and a half stars for a very misleading "come on" foto
the album itself is great - but as i was hoping to cop an ORIGINAL version and not this (possibly bootlegged?) version i'm only slightly satisfied.

caveat emptor, baby, caveat emptor