Various Artists - The Alligator Records 25th Anniversary Collection

This is a specially priced, two-CDs-for-the-price-of-one photo-cube set, loaded with great stuff from Charlie Musselwhite, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Johnny Winter, Billy Boy Arnold, Lonnie Mack, and a host of others who have trotted their wares on the label over the years. Besides giving the novice one great introduction to the label (as the music runs from traditional to modern), the big bonus here is a treasure trove of previously unissued tracks from Roy Buchanan (a chaotic version of Link Wray's "Jack the Ripper"); Floyd Dixon (a recut of his Blues Brothers-approved hit "Hey Bartender"); Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland in a marvelous outtake from the Showdown! album ("Something to Remember You By"); and the band that started it all, Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers, with a crazed version of Elmore James' "Look on Yonder's Wall," as sloppy as it is cool. Very good stuff and at these prices, a bargain and then some. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Name Credits Albert Collins ? Allison Miner Producer Andrew McIntire Engineer Andy Kaslow Producer Bill McElroy Engineer Bill Thompson Engineer Billy Boy Arnold ?, Performer Bob "Rattlesnake" Greenlee Producer Bob Margolin ? Bob Ozowski Engineer Brian Young Producer, Engineer Bruce Iglauer Liner Notes, Producer Bryan Bassett Engineer C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band Performer, ? Carey Bell Performer, ? Cephas & Wiggins ?, Performer Charlie Musselwhite Performer, ? Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Performer, ? Corey Harris Performer, ? Criss Johnson Producer Dave Hole ?, Performer David Axelbaum Engineer David Farrell Engineer Delbert McClinton Performer, ? Dick Shurman Producer Eddie Offord Engineer, Producer Eddie Shaw ? Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang Performer Elvin Bishop ?, Performer Fenton Robinson ?, Performer Floyd Dixon Performer, ? Fred Breitberg Producer, Engineer Gene Lawson Engineer Hound Dog Taylor Performer, ? Ice Cube Slim Producer Ivar Rosenberg Engineer James Cotton ?, Performer James Solberg Producer Jim Bateman Producer Jim Watts Engineer Joe Wilson Producer John Villani Engineer Johnny Copeland Performer, ? Johnny Heartsman Performer Johnny Winter Performer, ? Jonathan Foose Producer Julian Herzfeld Engineer Justin Niebank Engineer Karl Emil Knudsen Producer Katie Webster ?, Performer Kenny Neal ?, Performer Kevin Hill Producer Kevin Morrow Producer Koko Taylor Performer, ? Larry Hoffman Producer Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials ? Little Charlie & the Nightcats ? Long John Hunter ?, Performer Lonnie Brooks ?, Performer Lonnie Mack Performer, ? Lucky Peterson ?, Performer Luther Allison ?, Performer Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff Producer Mark Williams Engineer Maurice John Vaughn Performer, ? Michael Hill ? Michael Hill's Blues Mob Performer Pete Reiniger Engineer Port Barlow Producer, Engineer Professor Longhair ?, Performer Richard Bailey Engineer Richard McLeese Producer Roy Buchanan ?, Performer Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women Performer, ? Sam Fishkin Engineer Samuel Lehmer Engineer Scott Dirks Producer Son Seals Performer, ? Sonny Boy Williamson ? Stephen J. Mendell Engineer Stevie Ray Vaughan Performer, Producer Stu Black Engineer Sugar Blue ?, Performer Tary Owens Producer Tinsley Ellis Performer, ? Tom Anderson Engineer Vas-tie Jackson Producer Warren King Engineer Wesley Race Producer William Clarke Engineer, ?, Performer