Various Artists - Blues Gold [Hip O]

None of the cuts on this two-disc, 38-track collection is particularly obscure or hard to find elsewhere, but what makes it a useful set is having them all in one package, and the end result is a nice introduction to modern electric blues. Included are such classic blues performances as Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog," T-Bone Walker's "Call It Stormy Monday," Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee," Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man," John Lee Hooker's "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign," Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind," and Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Flood Down in Texas," among many others. Again, nothing here is going to make a blues collector jump up and shout, but they aren't going to complain, either, since every cut is a stone cold classic. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Varnell Saxophone Al Duncan Drums Al Jackson, Jr. Drums Albert Collins Guitar Albert Jr. Lowe Guitar Albert King Guitar, Vocals Albert Winston Bass Andrew Love Sax (Tenor) Andy McKaie Compilation Producer, Audio Production Arthur Edwards Bass B.B. King Vocals, Guitar Ben Branch Sax (Tenor) Berry Oakley Bass Beth Stempel Production Coordination Big Mama Thornton Vocals Bill Hall Producer Bill Johnson Bass Bill Szymczyk Producer Bill Warren Drums Bill Willis Bass Billy Blough Bass Billy Franze Guitar (Rhythm) Bobby "Blue" Bland Vocals Bobby Nicholson Bass Booker T. Jones Piano Brian Smith Photography Bruce Bromberg Producer Bruce McCabe Piano Buddy Guy Vocals, Guitar Butch Trucks Drums Calvin Carter Producer Carl Banks Organ Cash McCall Guitar Charles Chalmers Saxophone Charles Crawford Sax (Baritone) Charlotte Chenault Vocals (Background) Chick Booth Drums Choker Campbell Saxophone Chris Layton Drums Chuck Blackwell Drums Clifton James Drums Dana Smart Supervisor David "Fathead" Newman Saxophone David Hood Bass David Rubinson Producer David Smith Bass David Z. Producer Dennis Walker Producer Devonia Williams Piano Dewey Oldham Piano, Organ Dickey Betts Guitar Dino Zimmerman Guitar Donald "Duck" Dunn Bass Donald Hankins Sax (Baritone), Saxophone Donny Hathaway Piano Duane Allman Guitar, Slide Guitar Earl Phillips Drums Ebet Roberts Photography Eddie "Guitar" Burns Guitar Elvin Bishop Guitar Emily Cagan Product Manager Eric Clapton Guitar, Vocals Etta James Vocals Fats Morris Trombone Floyd Morris Piano Floyd Newman Saxophone Frank Mitchell Trumpet Frank Ockenfels Photography Fred Below Drums Freddie King Guitar, Vocals Gary Gilmore Bass Gavin Lurssen Mastering Gene Barge Conductor, Arranger, Saxophone George Thorogood Vocals, Guitar Gerald Jemmott Bass Gilles Petard Photography Gregg Allman Organ, Vocals Gus Fontenette Sax (Alto) Hamp Simmons Bass Hank Carter Saxophone Henry Hayes Sax (Alto) Herb Lovelle Drums Herbert Henderson Drums Herman "Little Junior" Parker Vocals Hiroyuki Arakawa Photography Hubert Myers Sax (Tenor) Hubert Sumlin Guitar Hugh McCracken Guitar Hughie Flint Drums Jack Meyers Bass James "Hutch" Hutchinson Bass Jarrett Gibson Sax (Tenor) Jay Miller Producer Jeff Simon Drums Jerome Arnold Bass Jesse Davis Guitar Jewel Bass Vocals (Background) Jim Lamond Bass Jim Marshall Photography Jim Steinfeldt Photography Jimmy Beck Saxophone Jimmy Rogers Guitar Joe Arnold Flute, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) Joe Scott Trumpet, Arranger John Lee Hooker Vocals, Guitar John Mayall Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards John McVie Bass John Porter Producer John Starks Drums John Watson Trombone Johnny Board Saxophone Johnny Otis Vibraphone Johnny Otis Orchestra Performer Johnny Vincent Producer Joseph Scott Producer Julien Beasley Saxophone Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band Harmonica, Vocals Koko Taylor Vocals Lafayette Leake Piano Laval Belle Drums Leard Bell Drums Lee Baker Guitar Lefty Bates Guitar Leonard Caston Piano Leonard Chess Producer Leroy Cooper Saxophone Leroy Emanuel Guitar Les Gruseck Photography Little Walter Harmonica Lloyd Lambert Bass Lowell Fulson Vocals, Guitar Luther Allison Vocals, Guitar Mama Reed Vocals Mark Abramson Assistant Producer Mark Naftalin Organ Mary Katherine Aldin Liner Notes Matt "Guitar" Murphy Guitar Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson Trumpet Michael Bloomfield Guitar Michael Putland Photography Mike Fink Design Mike Vernon Producer Milton Rector Bass Morris Jennings Drums Muddy Waters Vocals, Guitar Murray Watson Trumpet Oscar Lee Bradley Drums Oscar Moore Drums Otis Spann Piano Pat Hayes Harmonica Pat Lawrence Executive Producer Paul "Blind Man" Harris Photography, Keyboards Paul Butterfield Vocals, Harmonica Paul Drake Piano Paul Natkin Photography Paul Rothchild Producer Pete "Guitar" Lewis Guitar Peter Boe Keyboards Phil Upchurch Bass Philip Gilbeaux Trumpet Philip Paul Drums Philippe Rault Producer Pluma Davis Trombone Ralph Bass Producer Ray Flerlage Photography Ray Griffin Bass Rayfield Davers Sax (Baritone) Richard Cousins Bass Rick Hall Producer Ricky Peterson Organ Rob Stupka Drums Robert Cray Guitar, Vocals Roger Dawkins Drums Ryan Null Photo Coordination Sam Lay Drums Sonny Thompson Piano Steve Cropper Guitar Stevie Ray Vaughan Guitar, Vocals Susan Tedeschi Vocals, Guitar Taj Mahal Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar Teddy Reynolds Piano Theodore Arthur Sax (Tenor) Thomisene Anderson Vocals (Background) Tom Dowd Producer Tom Hambridge Producer Tom Terrell Photography Tom West Organ Tommy Couch, Jr. Producer Tommy Nevue Trumpet Tommy Shannon Bass Walter McNeil Organ Wayne Jackson Trumpet Willie Dixon Vocals, Bass, Producer Wolf Stephenson Producer Z.Z. Hill Vocals