Oct
4
Written by:
bcleveland
10/4/2012 12:30 PM
There are numerous collections of blues recordings on the market—some of them quite good—but the new 12-CD compilation Plug It In! Turn It Up! Electric Blues, The Definitive Collection! 1939-2005 from Bear Family Records may just be the best yet.
Compiled and annotated by celebrated blues historian Bill Dahl, the set is broken into four boxes containing three CDs, each including a 160-plus-page booklet boasting extensive notes and an abundance of photos.
Artists include nearly all of the heavyweights from T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, and Lightnin' Hopkins to Robert Cray, Rory Gallagher, and Stevie Ray Vaughan—but there are also lots of less-known and even obscure artists included along the way.
Detailed information and a full track listing for
Volume 1 1939-1954 is
here.
Detailed information and a full track listing for
Volume 2 1954-1967 is
here.
Detailed information and a full track listing for
Volume 3 1960-1969 is
here.
Detailed information and a full track listing for
Volume 4 1970-2005 is
here.
And here's a video describing the set:
That should be more than enough electric blues for diehard enthusiasts and newcomers alike. —BC
Login or
create an account to post comments immediately. Anonymous comments will not appear until approved."
2 comment(s) so far...
CDs still have a place in my music library
Barry, thanks for the 'heads-up review' about the new collection. Many independant CD stores in Australia closed following the expansion of at least one chain store; and those chains rarely hold stock from 'minor labels' (depending where you live). However, minor labels are where some of the most innovative music and best historical compilations are to be found. Recorded music is a relatively visual medium: I see the CD/LP case on my library shelf and I'll play it and read the liner notes (booklet); otherwise if a track (or compiliation) is one of a thousand tracks on my palm sized player I may forget it is there. One of the best things to happen for me in the last twelve months was to begin work at a university where there was an extensive recorded music collection in the library; that experience of being in the stacks surrounded by music recordings awaiting my discovery won't happen with digital delivery. Regards, Jimmy
By Jimmy on
10/10/2012 1:36 PM
|
Re: Barry Cleveland: Greatest Electric Blues CD Compilation Ever?
I too need a visual stimulus to play tunes. Even CDs on the shelf behind me fall second place to a youtube bookmark on the screen in front of me. My pretty great iTune library is out of sight out of mind until I remember to bring it up for review.
By anon on
11/6/2012 9:52 AM
|