Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Where It All Began, May 9, 2001
In the late `70s and early `80s the next generation of blues greats were starting to bloom in Austin, Texas. One of the first bands to explode onto the scene was The Fabulous Thunderbirds. An all-star band comprised of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, singer and harp player Kim Wilson, bassist Preston Hubbard, and drummer Fran Christina they would begin paving the way for more Texas blues bands to follow. This album covers five years of music, covering four studio releases. This is just an all around good album. The songs all have a good rhythm to them with catchy lyrics. "Tuff Enough" and "Powerful Stuff" are the overly popular selections on the album. "Rock this Place" and "Wrap It Up" are two of the best cuts off the album. The only track that I didn't care for was "Why Get Up". In 1990, Jimmie left the band after the untimely death of his brother. "Twist of the Knife" is the only Jimmie-less cut that appears on this album, and his replacement does a very good job of impersonating him. Jimmie doesn't get the credit for being the great guitarist that he so well deserves. Playing in the shadow of his brother (although Stevie felt that it was the other way around), he has been thought of as simplistic and dull. Carefully listen to the ten tracks that he does on this album. His less-is-more approach to playing fits the music, and doesn't distract from the song. He can be fast and flashy when he wants to, but has found a voice of his own. Listen to his "Powerful Stuff" solo and tell me that he's simple and boring. A solid guitarist indeed. This eleven-track greatest hits album provides a healthy sampling of the three real Fabulous Thunderbirds albums (the ones with Jimmie). Definitely worth listening to if you're a fan of the Texas sound.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raw Thunderbird, September 10, 1999
By A Customer
This is a superb selection of early to more recent T-bird music. "Hot Stuff" represents the raw soulful music of the thunderbirds and reinforces the song writing talents of Kim Wilson.And of course if you don't already know, his stature as one of the best if not the best harp player alive is most apparent.Don't miss out on those raw guitar licks on "Tiger Man" with vocals to knock your socks off!This is a must for T-bird fans or any blues fan for that matter.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 1/2 stars. Decent latter-day compilation, January 25, 2004
This collection brings together eleven songs from the Fabulous Thunderbirds' Epic-years, which were slicker and more commercial than their earlier albums for Takoma and Chrysalis (now Benchmark).
I prefer the Thunderbirds' bluesier and less mainstream late-70s/early 80s-recordings, but this is a good overview of their late-80s/early 90s Epic releases, including the hard-rocking of "Tuff Enough", the fine, swinging "Why Get Up", and the anthemic, three-chord thumper "Let's Rock This Place".
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' version of Slim Harpo's "Got Love If You Want It" is only available on this compilation, and it's the bluesiest tune here, the excact opposite of the awful, synth-laden 80s pop-rock of "Wrap It Up" (Kim Wilson even sounds like Tom Jones!).
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' four albums for Epic were rather uneven, and unless you're a very devoted fan, this is pretty much all you'll ever need from that period. Just remember that this is NOT where you go for their earliest (and best) material...that is available on ASIN B000007WPI, "The Fabulous Thunderbirds Collection". Or rather it would be if it was in stock. Hrmph!
3 1/2 stars.
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