Search - Various Artists :: Classic Blues & Vaudeville Singers

Truth in Advertising Needed

Tom Sherohman | Columbia Heights, MN USA | 01/24/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"There's a couple of things I wish someone had told me before I paid 16 bucks plus shipping for this CD: 1. The disk is subtitled "The Alternate Takes". So these are versions that were never released, sometimes for good reason. The liner notes are kind enough to compare these versions to the ones released, pointing out the probable reasons for their being rejected. But they don't tell you where the released takes are available. 2. The sound is particularly bad. As one who collects early recordings (including on 78 rpm) I accept some degree of hissing and scratching, but some of these cuts are, even for me, unlistenable. I would think someone would have to be a scholar or a deranged blues fanatic to buy this CD at full price. But if you MUST have these sides to complete your Lucille Hegamin collection, spend away! Accompanying musicians include Tommy Ladnier, Jimmy O'Bryant, Don Redman, Miff Mole, Charlie Green and Jelly Roll Morton. Great, when you can hear them!"

A perfectly done CD issue of rare blues & vaudeville!

Tom Sherohman | 09/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a treat this is! These are alternate takes that are extremely rare and available nowhere else. You get to hear Don Redman, Tommy Ladiner, Jimmy O'Bryant, Miff Mole, Charlie Green, Jelly Roll Morton & a variety of other jazz names backing up great vaudevillian blues singers like Lucille Hegamin in glorious unremastered(thank God) 78 sound! This is sure to put a great big smile on any collector's face, great liner notes too. Essential stuff worth adding to your collection."