Release Date: November 22, 1994.
Recording Time: 34 minutes.
Release Info: Compilation Studio Recording.
Recording Info: Studio / Mixed (Mono/Stereo).
Releases: 1995 (MCA), 1996 (Special Product).
Styles: Blues Revival, Chicago Blues, Early R&B, Electric Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Modern Electric Chicago Blues, Regional Blues, Retro Soul, Slide Guitar Blues, Soul, Soul Blues, Texas Blues.
Although some may argue whether they're the "greatest" blues artists or not, there's little arguing that all ten featured artists on Greatest Blues Legends are legendary to some extent or another. Problem is, not all of the songs here illustrate why these greats are legendary -- thankfully, the Rolling Stones named themselves after a Muddy Waters song other than "Funky Butt." Sadly, "Funky Butt" is the featured Muddy here, even though MCA Special Products presumably could have chosen anything from Waters' prodigious recordings for Chess. That problem also plagues the T-Bone Walker selection, who is represented by "Goin' to Funky Town," of all things. The Jimmy Reed ("Heartaches & Troubles"), B.B. King ("Ask Me No Questions") and Buddy Guy ("Stone Crazy") inclusions aren't nearly as bad, but they're nevertheless not the first songs you think of when you hear their names. The remainder of Greatest Blues Legends is considerably more reasonable -- Koko Taylor's "Wang Dang Doodle," Little Milton's "We're Gonna Make It," Elmore James' "Call It Stormy Monday" and Howlin' Wolf's "How Many More Years" are all classics -- and that is what makes it an acceptable, entertaining budget-price compilation, despite all of its flaws. - Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Credits: Gene Barge - composer; Bobby "Blue" Bland - performer, primary artist, vocals; Willie Dixon - composer; Buddy Guy - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Howlin' Wolf - composer, performer, primary artist; Elmore James - performer, primary artist; B.B. King - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Riley King - composer; Little Milton - performer, primary artist; Deadric Malone - composer; Raynard Miner - composer; Jimmy Reed - composer, performer, primary artist; Clifton William Smith - composer; Koko Taylor - performer, primary artist; T-Bone Walker - composer, performer, primary artist; Muddy Waters - composer, performer, primary artist.
Tracks: 1) Ask Me No Questions - B.B. King; 2) A Touch of the Blues - Bobby "Blue" Bland; 3) Stone Crazy - Buddy Guy; 4) Funky Butt - Muddy Waters; 5) Heartaches & Troubles - Jimmy Reed; 6) Wang Dang Doodle - Koko Taylor; 7) We're Gonna Make It - Little Milton; 8) Call It Stormy Monday - Elmore James; 9) Goin' to Funky Town - T-Bone Walker; 10) How Many More Years - Howlin' Wolf.