Product Description This three CD collection brings together some of the most famous Blues artists performing 42 of the greatest Blues songs ever. Includes performances from John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Elmore James, T-Bone Walker, Howlin Wolf, Lighting Slim, B.B. King, Little Walter, Junior Wells, Canned Heat, Buddy Guy, Slim Harpo, Bessie Smith, Leadbelly, Memphis Slim, Big Joe Williams, and Big Bill Broonzy. Review Countless compilations over the years have claimed to be BEST OF blues sets. This new three-CD set from United Audio Entertainment comes pretty close to actually fitting that tag. With a list price of $9.98, it s certainly got the bang for the buck, packing a total of 42 certified blues classics into over two hours of music. Any blues compilation worth its salt has got to have Robert Johnson check. Six Johnson cuts turn up, including a few that don't normally make the final list for many comps, like Stop Breakin Down. The most hallowed of blues singles are here, like Muddy Waters Hoochie Coochie Man and John Lee Hooker s Boom Boom. Conversely, there are some relatively obscure tracks by compilation inclusion standards, but no less important to blues history, like Memphis Slim's Messin Around and Bessie Smith's Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out. Packaging is at a minimum, with no liner notes to speak of, but all songs are clearly listed in sequence on the back cover of the jewel case. Tracking is done fairly well, with the artists who have multiple cuts spaced throughout all three discs like putting your CD player on shuffle and settling down for a good listen. An essential education for blues novices for sure, but completists may also want to pick this one up for the sake of having so much great stuff on hand in one collection. A desert island pick for the serious blues lover, this package hits all the right notes.Mark Uricheck --Living Blues Magazine #222 December/January 2012
I**E
What a let-down, keep looking.
This compilation could have been so much more, had it lived up to its promise or its hype. Maybe it should have been called "Lousy recordings of all time greatest blues songs without any information about such classics". The listed songs are a treasure trove of blues classics, and the stable of artists represented is very good. Hard core blues collectors or fans will be disappointed at the quality of the recordings, and casual fans or starting collectors will be disappointed by not only the quality, but the complete lack of any information about any of the artists or music. Some of the source material is surely to blame for the sound (OK, Robert Johnson didn't record in Muscle Shoals or Memphis), but for many of the tracks, there is no excuse for the lousy sound, except maybe to avoid paying royalties for better versions of the songs. And there is no info about anything inside the jewel box. I mean zero, not so much as a copyright date. Blank white paper. A compilation like this should at the very least have included a short 4 sides of info about the artists, even if only to be able to see them in chronological order, to better understand who came after who. This was supposed to fill in a few blank spots in my stack of blues CD's, but even at the bargain price, having played it through a couple of times, it will probably sit at the bottom of the stack for the rest of its time, until it hits the box of garage sale CD's in a year or 2. No wonder there is no audio preview of this CD - nobody would buy it. I probably own 50 or 60 blues-based CD, and maybe a third of them are compilations of some kind. I thought this one compiled an attractive selection of songs that would let me throw it in the car to cover a lot of ground in a convenient package for travel. Save your money. Granted, it does have maybe half a dozen gems scattered throughout. If you are looking for the works of some of the artists on here that you don't already have, you can find a few other choices that will be better listening, and for a bit more money, you will get a lot better product. If you just want to check the box that you own some Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, and Big Bill Broonzy, to show off to your friends, go ahead. If you just need to own a particular song or two included here, find them somewhere else. But if you are looking for a few discs of enjoyable blues entertainment, what a let-down. A couple of alternate suggestions from my collection include "Pure Blues", or the "Martin Scorsese presents" blues soundtrack, or maybe one of the Alligator Records anniversary CD's (mostly contemporary artists, but wonderful exposure to a boatload of quality music!).
S**T
True Blues
This is true blues music. It’s to much Blues for me. I enjoy Jazz/Blues. Great three CD Album if Your looking for Old Time Blues such as Muddy Water, BB King and so on. If that’s what Your looking for then this would be a great CD for You
T**Y
My Dad Loved It!!!
Very good songs. My Dad loved it.
B**X
good
good
K**N
Sit down and listen!
A blues lover most of my adult life, I have finally gotten hold of some of that old time music...and what a difference! These aren't contemporary, all cleaned up songs to blend with your contemporary, all cleaned up Saturday night. These songs are scratchy and blurred around the edges and straight from the heart of singers who were feeling the emotions. Some of these songs are dance happy, some are heart breaking, and all are story tellers. And while it may take listening a few times to tune your ear, it's well worth the effort. If you appreciate realism, honesty and music that hasn't been tweaked and trimmed and edited and wrung dry-buy this CD set. Then sit down, open a cold beer, and listen. Listen.
T**G
Now this is truly the Blues
This is an awesome 3 CD collection. Some of the songs have got to be from the 40's. Some of the lyrics cracked me up. I was extremely happy when I heard Canned Heat sing "On the Road Again". I played it several times. I've been playing all 3 discs for days. Best blues CD's I have ever purchased.
B**G
Will recommend to all blues
Arrived well packaged and damage free... The 3 CD's are also undamaged and play excellently . Very nostalgic songs and quite entertaining. Will recommend to all blues lover
B**K
Good CD for old blues music
Good blues cd with some fine old standards. My only complaint is who ever put the set list together included a couple songs by Canned Heat. Not that I don't like Canned Heat, but the songs really are out of place in this collection.
P**R
A good starting point for new converts to the blues
Inevitably with an "All Time Greatest" album there are gonna to be tracks you already own and ones you don't. This 3 CD, 42 track box-set had enough new ones to tempt me. All the old favourites are here , ranging from 20s Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith to more modern Buddy Guy and Canned Heat. Inevitably there are a few notable omissions eg I would have liked Mississippi Fred McDowell and Skip James to be represented-( maybe they will be on ATGBS 2) but you can't please all the people all the time .The sound quality is very good, and if you are a new convert to the blues and want to hear the songs which inspired the likes of Led Zeppelin , The Stones and Joe Bonamassa, this would be a good place to start. Similarly if you want to get a taste of lesser-known artists like Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly or T-Bone Walker, without buying a whole album, this does the trick.
L**S
Three Stars
On the whole great blues.
R**N
Nice Collection of Blues Music
Purchased as a gift for my wife, but we both enjoy the Blues. It is a good quality recording and nice mix.
E**L
Cool
El blues es un género de música solo para almas sensibles. Esta selección es muy buena. Me gustaría tenerla también remasterizada.
F**S
Damaged but good.
The case was cracked but at least, the cd is intact!
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