Label: Ace Records
Release Date: 1986, 1987
Recording Time: 52 minutes
Releases: November 15, 1991 (Point Blank / Virgin Records); July 11, 1992 (Point Blank Records); August 7, 2003 (Ace Records)
Styles: Electric Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Regional Blues, Slide Guitar Blues
Let's Cut It: The Very Best of Elmore James rounds up 18 tracks from his Modern, Flair and Meteor recordings. These are generally considered to be some James' greatest recordings, and there's no denying that there are incendiary performances throughout the record that more than prove James' legendary status is deserved. A few alternate takes are thrown in that are more noteworthy for collectors than general listeners. Then again, fans who only want one disc of Elmore will be best served by Rhino's The Sky is Crying, which selects highlights from all of his many labels. This, in turn, is for fans who want to dig a little deeper than that set, since this contains the best of one of his best periods.
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
"Let's Cut It", a collection of sides cut for the Flair label in the early '50s, does a good deal to fortify the towering legend of Elmore James, one of the fiercest and most widely imitated practitioners of electric blues. This excellent, 18-track anthology finds James, backed here by a driving band, working at the peak of his powers as both vocalist and guitarist.
The disc opens with James' definitive remake of Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom," fierily recast with slashing slide guitar and throaty, impassioned vocals. The collection is dynamically varied, from the grinding, down-tempo feel of "Long Tall Woman," to proto-rock tracks such as "So Mean to Me," to the cowbell-tom, shuffle rhythm of "No Love in My Heart," yet never flags in intensity. James' vocal performances astonish. His ragged, keening tenor is soulful, ferocious, and seems on the verge of disintegrating on almost every track. Foremost also, of course, is James' slide playing. His attack, fluency and searing tone, and his impeccable bottleneck technique, imitated by everyone from Hound Dog Taylor to Brian Jones, are in full effect in these sessions. "Let's Cut It" is a superb, can't miss addition to any blues library.
Credits: Joe Bihari - composer; Saul Bihari - composer; Martin Brown - design; Leroy Carr - composer; Elmore James - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Elmore James & His Broomdusters - performer, primary artist; Malcolm Jones - compilation producer, liner notes, producer; Joe Josea - composer; Sam Ling - composer; Jason Pittham - design, layout design; Jules Taub - composer; Ben Turner - digital mastering.
Tracks: 1) Dust My Blues; 2) Blues Before Sunrise; 3) No Love in My Heart; 4) Sho' Nuff I Do; 5) Standing at the Crossroads; 6) I Was a Fool; 7) Sunnyland; 8) Canton, Mississippi Breakdown; 9) Happy Home; 10) Wild About You Baby; 11) Long Tall Woman; 12) So Mean to Me; 13) Hawaiian Boogie No. 2; 14) Mean and Evil; 15) Dark and Dreary; 16) My Best Friend; 17) I Believe; 18) Goodbye Baby.
Tracks: 1) Dust My Blues; 2) Blues Before Sunrise; 3) No Love in My Heart; 4) Sho' Nuff I Do; 5) Standing at the Crossroads; 6) I Was a Fool; 7) Sunnyland; 8) Canton, Mississippi Breakdown; 9) Happy Home; 10) Wild About You Baby; 11) Long Tall Woman; 12) So Mean to Me; 13) Hawaiian Boogie No. 2; 14) Mean and Evil; 15) Dark and Dreary; 16) My Best Friend; 17) I Believe; 18) Goodbye Baby.