Search - Various Artists :: Memphis Blues

Terrific post-war Memphis blues set

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 11/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 4-disc set collects over 100 post-war blues sides recorded in Memphis, just about all for Sam Phillips' Sun label (in fact, quite a number of tracks are duplicated on the multi-disc Sun blues box issued a number of years ago). Early sides by such major blues artists as Howlin' Wolf, Little Milton, James Cotton, and Roscoe Gordon are here, but it's usually the lesser known artists that provide the surprises and highlights: Woodrow Adams, Hot Shot Love, Raymond Hill, Pat Hare, and L.B. Lawson all knocked my socks off with their recordings. A number of inclusions are alternate takes. The blues from Memphis offer a wide variety of styles, from boogie-woogie to the deepest down-home heartbreakers. JSP specializes in 4-disc boxes revolving around particular themes, and all of them are superb: lots of music, great selections, the best sound available - all at a bargain price. This set is no exception. Post-war blues fans will find this set a total knockout; I call it a must-have set. Grab it while you can."

Killer Set from JSP

Curtiss Clarke | Calgary, Alberta Canada | 03/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As usual, JSP is not shy with the quantity of titles provided in this amazing 4-CD set of Memphis Blues. All of the songs in this collection were recorded by Sam Phillips at his Memphis Recording Services studio between 1951 and 1954, with some of them getting released on his home-grown Sun label. Many of the titles however, were not released until years after they were recorded, due to recording quality issues or due to Phillips' reluctance to market them as hit-parade material.



While some of these songs overlap the ones issued on the Varese 3-CD set "Sun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection", there is plenty of stuff here for collectors and non-collectors alike to go crazy with. The sheer volume of material itself is almost overwhelming but the musical integrity suffers not in spite of.



Sam Phillips had a sensitive nose for talent and this attribute ensured that many who came to his studio looking to make a record were not overlooked. Even Sam Phillip's janitor/plumber got to put down 2 songs (Mose Vinson) and the evidence is that the guy could have made a living as a musician. The long term result of all of this musical activity is that JSP have compiled here, a priceless miniature archive of indigenous Memphis area blues circa post-WW2.



Here also, are some rare and early titles by better-known artists like Earl Hooker, James Cotton, Little Jr. Parker, Little Milton, Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, Big Walter Horton, Ike Turner, Bobby Bland, and Johnny Ace. All of these artists went on to other labels and more success following the demise of Memphis Recording Services.



The real treasures however, are the numbers waxed by the artists who made a few titles then left the business or vanished. The listener of this set will be treated to much additional pleasure from Doctor Ross, Joe Hill Louis, Jimmy DeBerry, Sammy Lewis, Willie Johnson (who became Howlin Wolf's working guitarist for a while), Willie Nix, and Houston Stokes.



Liner notes by long-term blues booster Neil Slaven are comprehensive and do a good job of drilling directly to the political times, the music business, and to the historical significance of this fine music. Collect this music now while it is still available in an artistically presentable format; it won't stay around like this forever.



Listeners who enjoy the music on this collection are encouraged to seek out the 4 single CD volumes of Memphis and neighbouring area blues, recorded for the Modern Records label (a competitor to Sun Records) around the same time, and re-released recently by Ace Records in England.



Five Stars JSP. Keep it coming.



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