Label: Atlantic Records.
Release Date: 1986.
Releases: 1991 (Rhino / Atlantic).
Recording Time: 291 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Date: February 14, 1949 - July 17, 1982.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Electric Blues, Jump Blues, Piano Blues, Soul Blues.
At the time of its release, this 83-song collection was one of the bolder efforts by a major label at doing a proper survey of major blues categories. The material ranges from old-style big-band jump blues to the leaner, louder guitar sounds of the '60s and '70s, and isn't limited to artists who cut for Atlantic -- the producers had to license in a certain amount, especially where Chicago blues was concerned .
Overall, they've done a good job as far as the sheer variety of performers, but trying to summarize any of these areas -- blues vocalists, Chicago blues, guitar blues, or piano blues -- with only 20 tracks on a single CD each is an exercise in futility. It is a place to start if one has the money, however, showing some of the strong points of a lot of key artists, and the sound was also good for its time. This is also a good chance for the neophyte to hear tracks by certain performers -- like Jay McShann and Meade Lux Lewis -- who aren't otherwise represented on easy-to-find major label releases.
However, there are other releases on the market now (especially Rhino's blues retrospective series) that can make the same claims and are more thorough and ambitious in scope. Additionally, anyone with a little knowledge and the $60 or so that this box can cost might better spend it on some of the more recent compilations devoted to the top artists on this box's roster, like Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf. Those, plus some of the other Chess reissues from MCA, will tell one a lot more about Chicago blues than the one or two tracks by each that show up in this set.
Review by Bruce Eder.
Credits: Herb Abramson - producer; Lee Allen - sax (tenor); Luther Allison - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Duane Allman - guitar; Joe Arnold - sax (tenor); Ron Badger - producer; Abie Baker - bass, guitar; D.K. Baker - composer; Drew Baker - composer; LaVern Baker - performer, primary artist, vocals; Mickey Baker - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist; Martin Banks - trumpet; Danny Barker - guitar; Everett Barksdale - guitar (rhythm); Ronnie Barron - keyboards; Harold Battiste, Jr. - producer; Barry Beckett - keyboards; Lurrie Bell - bass; William Bell - composer; Moe Benchamin - saxophone; Brian Bisesi - guitar; Edgar Blanchard - bass; Bobby "Blue" Bland - performer, primary artist, vocals; Michael Bloomfield - composer; Carol Bobolts - art direction; Boogie Woogie Red - piano; James Booker - keyboards; Willie Bridges - saxophone; Big Bill Broonzy - composer; Brown - composer; Garnett Brown - trombone; J.T. Brown - sax (tenor); Johnny Brown - composer; Lawrence Brown - trombone; Pete Brown - sax (alto); Ruth Brown - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Sarah Brown - bass; Texas Johnny Brown - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Walter Brown - composer; George "Mojo" Buford - harmonica; Chester Burnett - composer; Joseph Burton - trombone; Paul Butterfield - composer; Henry Roeland Byrd - composer; Jimmy Calhoun - bass; Leroy Carr - composer; Ray Charles - performer, piano, primary artist; Fran Christina - drums; Eric Clapton - bottleneck guitar, guitar, guitar (rhythm), producer; Dave Clark - composer; Otis Clay - performer, primary artist, vocals; Buck Clayton - trumpet; Sonny Cohn - trumpet; George Coleman - saxophone; Joe Comfort - bass; Johnny Copeland - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Sammy Creason - drums; Steve Cropper - guitar; Israel Crosby - bass; Michael Cuscuna - producer; Larry Dale - guitar; James Dapogny - piano; Cow Cow Davenport - composer; Fannie Davis - comb; Larry Davis - composer; Link Davis - composer; Pluma Davis - composer; Sidney DeParis - trumpet; Wilbur De Paris - trombone; Vic Dickenson - trombone; Jim Dickinson - keyboards; Floyd Dixon - composer, guitar, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Willie Dixon - composer, vocals; Jimmy Douglas - producer; Tom Dowd - producer; Dr. John - performer, primary artist; Richard Drake - sax (alto); Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass; Champion Jack Dupree - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Cornell Dupree - guitar, performer, primary artist; Mack Easton - sax (baritone); Big Chief Ellis - piano; Ben Emerson - trumpet; Tunc Erim - producer; Ahmet Ertegun - executive producer, producer; Nesuhi Ertegun - producer; Sticks Evans - drums; John Ewing - keyboards; Joe Farrell - sax (tenor); Sam Feldman - mastering; Ernie Fields Jr. - sax (tenor); R.G. Ford - composer; Bobby Forte - sax (tenor); Herman Foster - pianoAretha Franklin - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Charlie Freeman - guitar; Sonny Freeman - drums; Wilbert Freeman - bass; Lowell Fulson - composer; Sidney George - saxophone; Lloyd Glenn - composer; Nick Gravenites - composer, producer; Freddie Green - guitar; Lillian "Lil" Green - performer, primary artist, vocals; Marlin Greene - producer; Guitar Slim - performer, primary artist; Buddy Guy - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; John Hammond, Jr. - guitar, performer, primary artist, producer; Joseph Hardin - trumpet; Wynonie Harris - performer, primary artist, vocals; Ron Harwood - producer; Donny Hathaway - arranger; Roger Hawkins - drums; Isaac Hayes - composer; Johnny Heartsman - guitar, producer; Z.Z. Hill - performer, primary artist, vocals; Eddie Hinton - guitar; Milt Hinton - bass; Eldridge Holmes - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; David Hood - bass; John Lee Hooker - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Milton Hopkins - guitar; Howlin' Wolf - composer, performer, primary artist; Louis Hubert - sax (baritone); J.B. Hutto - performer, primary artist, slide guitar, vocals; Gary Illingworth - keyboards; Quin Ivy - producer; Al Jackson, Jr. - drums; Grady "Fats" Jackson - sax (tenor); Mick Jagger - harmonica, producer; Elmore James - composer, guitar; Gerald Jemmott - bass; Morris Jennings - drums; Mable John - composer; Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Marcus Johnson - sax (alto); Pete Johnson - composer, piano; Plas Johnson - sax (tenor); Ray Johnson - piano; Robert Johnson - composer; Booker T. Jones - composer, keyboards, organ; Calvin "Fuzz" Jones - bass; Johnny Jones - composer, performer, piano, primary artist; Richard M. Jones - composer; Willie Jones - drums; Joe Josea - composer; Barney Kessel - guitar; King Curtis - arranger; Al King - performer, primary artist, vocals; Albert King - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; B.B. King - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Freddie King - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Riley King - composer; Wilbert Kirk - drums; Kenny Krumbholz - bass; Melvin Lastie - cornet, trumpet; Trevor Lawrence - saxophone; Chris Layton - drums; S.P. Leary - drums; Cliff Leeman - drums; Jerry Leiber - composer; Ron Levy - piano; Jimmy Lewis - guitar; Meade "Lux" Lewis - composer, performer, piano, primary artist; Cripple Clarence Lofton - composer; Alan Lomax - composer, producer; Willie Mabon - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Ralph MacDonald - percussion; James "Pee Wee" Madison - guitar; Deadric Malone - composer; Wendell Marshall - bass; Percy Mayfield - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Tommy McClure - bass; D. McCormick - composer; Dani McCormick - composer; Mississippi Fred McDowell - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Brownie McGhee - guitar; Sticks McGhee - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Andrew McMahan - bass; Andrew McMahon - bass; Jay McShann - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Blind Willie McTell - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Huey P. Meaux - composer, producer; Amos Milburn - piano; Gene Miller - trumpet; Ziggy Modeliste - drums; Eurreal Montgomery - composer; Little Brother Montgomery - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; McKinley Morganfield - composer; Bennie Moten - banjo; Louis Myers - guitar; Mark Myerson - producer; Mark Naftalin - keyboards; Steve Nardella - harmonica; Robin Nedboy - photography; Art Neville - organ; David "Fathead" Newman - sax (tenor); Joe Newman - trumpet; Johnny Nicholas - guitar; Leo Nocentelli - guitar; Charlie Eldridge "Chuck" Norris - guitar; Chuck Norris - composer, guitar, primary artist; Odie Payne, Jr. - drums; Jim O'Neal - liner notes; Walter Page - bass; Earl Palmer - drums; Pinetop Perkins - piano; Jacoola Peters - bass; Esther Phillips - performer, primary artist, vocals; Nat Pierce - piano; Lefty Pina - drums; Charles Polk - drums; Bob Porter - compilation producer; David Porter - composer; George Porter, Jr. - bass; Seldon Powell - sax (baritone); Miles Pratcher - guitar; Norman Pride - drums; Professor Longhair - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums; Tommy Purkson - trumpet; Paul Quinichette - sax (tenor); Chuck Rainey - bass; Bonnie Raitt - slide guitar, vocals; Gene Ramey - bass; Peter Ramson - composer; R.S. Rankin - guitar; Philippe Rault - producer; Andy Razaf - composer; A.C. Reed - sax (tenor)Eddie Reeves - composer; Renald Richard - composer; Jimmy Richardson - bass; Bob Richey - drums; Don Robey - composer; Alvin Robinson - guitar; Edward Rowe - trumpet; Ernie Royal - trumpet; Otis Rush - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Red Saunders - drums; John Scofield - guitar; J. W. Scott - composer; Joseph Scott - composer; Marshall Sehorn - producer; Bob Shad - composer; Tommy Shannon - bass; Roosevelt Shaw - drums; Shep Shepard - banjo; Sahib Shihab - sax (baritone); Johnny Shines - arranger, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Dick Shurman - liner notes; Omer Simeon - clarinet; Freddie Stahle - drums; Lewis Steinberg - bass; Leroy Stewart - bass; Mike Stoller - composer; Henry Stone - producer; George Stubbs - piano; Hubert Sumlin - guitar; Buddy Tate - sax (tenor); Jules Taub - composer; Johnnie Taylor - performer, primary artist; Koko Taylor - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Ted Taylor - performer, primary artist, vocals; Richard Tee - horn arrangements, keyboards; Dossie Terry - composer; Al Thomas - trombone; Alfred Thomas - trombone; Rufus Thomas - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Richard Thompson - composer; Allen Toussaint - composer, producer; Traditional - composer; Earl Turbinton - sax (alto); Big Joe Turner - composer, primary artist, vocals; Ike Turner - guitar, performer; Ike & Tina Turner - performer, primary artist; Lou Willie Turner - composer; Tina Turner - performer, vocals; Titus Turner - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Alvin "Red" Tyler - sax (baritone); Mike Utley - keyboards; Harry Van Walls - composer, performer, primary artist; Aaron Varnell - sax (tenor); Stevie Ray Vaughan - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; T-Bone Walker - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist; Sippie Wallace - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Van "Piano Man" Walls - piano; Richard Washington - percussion; Muddy Waters - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Johnny "guitar" Watson - guitar, producer; Junior Wells - composer, harmonica, performer, vocals; Frank Wess - sax (tenor), saxophone; Jerry Wexler - producer; Paul White - organ; Sonny White - piano; Don Wilkerson - sax (tenor); Ernie Wilkins - arranger; Big Joe Williams - composer; Jackie Williams - drums; Sonny Boy Williamson II - composer; Chuck Willis - composer; Wesley Wilson - composer; Jimmy Witherspoon - performer, primary artist, vocals; Pearl Woods - composer; Reuben Wright - bass; Jimmy Yancey - composer, performer, piano, primary artist; Mama Yancey - performer, primary artist, vocals; Mighty Joe Young - guitar.
Tracks, Disc 1 (Guitar): 1) Broke Down Engine - Blind Willie McTell; 2) Shake 'Em On Down - Mississippi Fred McDowell; 3) My Baby Don't Love Me - John Lee Hooker; 4) Tall Pretty Woman - Stick McGhee; 5) The Blues Rock - Texas Johnny Brown; 6) There Goes The Blues - Texas Johnny Brown; 7) Bongo Boogie - Texas Johnny Brown; 8) Two Bones And A Pick - T-Bone Walker; 9) Let Me Know - Chuck Norris; 10) Down Through The Years - Guitar Slim; 11) Okie Dokie Stomp - Cornell Dupree; 12) TV Mama - Big Joe Turner; 13) Reconsider Baby - Al King; 14) Midnight Midnight - Mickey Baker; 15) I Smell Trouble - Ike & Tina Turner; 16) Why I Sing The Blues - B.B. King; 17) Crosscut Saw - Albert King; 18) Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King; 19) Shake For Me - John Hammond Jr.; 20) Flood Down In Texas - Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Tracks, Disc 2 (Piano): 1) Yancey Special - Jimmy Yancey; 2) Talkin' Boogie - Little Brother Montgomery; 3) Mournful Blues - Jimmy Yancey; 4) Salute to Pinetop - Jimmy Yancey; 5) Shave 'Em Dry - Jimmy Yancey; 6) Frankie & Johnny - Jack Dupree; 7) T.B. Blues - Jack Dupree; 8) Strollin' - Jack Dupree; 9) Tipitina - Professor Longhair; 10) Blue Sender - Vann 'Piano Man' Walls; 11) After Midnight - Vann 'Piano Man' Walls; 12) Roll 'Em Pete - Joe Turner; 13) Fore Day Rider - Jay McShann; 14) My Chile - Jay McShann; 15) Cow Cow Blues - Meade Lux Lewis; 16) Albert's Blues - Meade Lux Lewis; 17) Honky Tonk Train Blues - Meade Lux Lewis; 18) Low Society - Ray Charles; 19) Hey Bartender - Floyd Dixon; 20) Floyd's Blues - Floyd Dixon; 21) After Hours Blues - Texas Johnny Brown; 22) Junco Partner - Doctor John; 23) I Don't Know - Willie Mabon.
Tracks, Disc 3 (Vocalists): 1) Suitcase Blues - Sippie Wallace; 2) Trouble In Mind - Jimmy Witherspoon; 3) In The Evenin' - Jimmy Witherspoon; 4) Gimme A Pigfoot - LaVern Baker; 5) How Long Blues - Mama Yancey; 6) Oke-She-Make-Me-Pop - Joe Turner; 7) I've Got That Feelin' - Lil Green; 8) Every Time - Lil Green; 9) Destination Love - Wynonie Harris; 10) Tell A Whale Of A Tale - Wynonie Harris; 11) Rain Is A Bringdown - Ruth Brown; 12) Nothing Stays The Same Forever - Percy Mayfield; 13) River's Invitation - Ted Taylor; 14) Just Like A Fish - Esther Phillips; 15) Pouring Water On A Drowning Man - Otis Clay; 16) Did You Ever Love A Woman - Rufus Thomas; 17) Baby Girl Parts 1 & 2 - Titus Turner; 18) Ain't That Lovin' You - Bobby Bland; 19) It's My Own Tears That's Bein' Wasted - Johnny Copeland; 20) Cheatin' Woman - Eldridge Holmes; 21) I Had A Dream - Johnny Taylor; 22) Takin' Another Man's Place - Aretha Franklin; 23) It's a Hang-Up Baby - Z.Z. Hill.
Tracks, Disc 4 (Chicago): 1) Chicago Blues - Johnny Jones; 2) Poor Man's Plea - Buddy Guy & Junior Wells; 3) My Baby She Left Me - Buddy Guy & Junior Wells; 4) T-Bone Shuffle - Buddy Guy & Junior Wells; 5) I Wonder Why - Freddie King; 6) Play It Cool - Freddie King; 7) Wake Up This Morning - Freddie King; 8) Gambler's Blues - Otis Rush; 9) Feel So Bad - Otis Rush; 10) Reap What You Sow - Otis Rush; 11) Highway 49 - Howlin' Wolf; 12) Honey Bee - Muddy Waters; 13) Wang Dang Doodle - Koko Taylor; 14) Dust My Broom - Johnny Shines; 15) Please Send Me Someone To Love - Luther Allison; 16) Walkin' The Dog - Luther Johnson; 17) I Feel So Good - J.B. Hutto.