Search - Various Artists :: Specialty Story

The holy grail

jive rhapsodist | NYC, NY United States | 03/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is impossible to give a play by play of this fantastic box. The influence of New Orleans R and B is perhaps its deepest aspect. But then, it is also permeated by Gospel. All the manifestations of Black Music come into play. The fact that the Jazz side of R and B is perhaps the most "dumbed down" side has led to much misunderstanding: Jazz people love to compare their hard-won gains re: the world's having finally woken up to the fact that "Jazz is Art" to the "mere entertainment" value of R and B. Well, wake up folks - Little Richard singing "Heebie Jeebies" is art by any definition that I understand. Essential listening."

Good.. not Great

Michael Dawes-smith | Sydney, NSW Australia | 08/10/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Maybe it's just me but I found the first three discs pretty

dull.Too much 12 bar blues and very little of it particularly inspired.There ARE some gems on these first 3...and the 4th and 5th discs are wonderful and so is the booklet...but I would only recommend it with reservations.The Chess Story and The Atlantic

Rythm & Blues Box Set are more interesting and varied overviews

of this this fantastic time and music."