Search - Magic Sam :: Essential Magic Sam: Cobra & Chief Recordings 1957

The Legend Begins Here

BluesDuke | Las Vegas, Nevada | 08/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Because he died young thanks to a life of hard and fast living, Magic Sam is sometimes forgotten when compared to his contemporaries Otis Rush and Buddy Guy, with whom he put a little high octane into Chicago's West Side blues scene of the late 1950s. Sometimes, but not all the time. In due course, his "West Side Soul" album would be seen as the landmark set it is, but the remastering and reissue here of his Cobra recordings from 1957 through 1961 lets you hear that, unlike the inconsistent Rush, Magic Sam started at a strikingly high level and built from there (Rush, by contrast, has rarely equalled the soulful fire of his Cobra sides). Like Rush's similar set, this one cleans up and improves a very similar collection issued on the Paula label in the mid-1990s, though it excises a cut or two - it would have been made fun to hear a cleaned-up "Roll Your Moneymaker," Magic Sam's delightful ripoff of the Elmore James classic. Still, this set gives a vivid idea of just where Magic Sam earned his reputation in the first place, and he gets some stellar support from the likes of such Chicago session stalwarts as pianists Little Brother Montgomery and Otis Spann, bassist/producer Willie Dixon, drummers Odie Payne and S.P. Leary, future soul legend Syl Johnson on guitar and bass, and harmonica player/vocalist Shakey Jake, among others. Here's where the case for Magic Sam as one of the best of the second-generation Chicago blues guitarists begins."

The best of the best of teh best of the blues...!!!!!!!!!!!!

Docendo no Comprendo | La Vida loco | 05/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are NO fillers here, just 100% pure jump blues. This is an outstanding colelction of great blues, infused with soul, jazz, swing, and r&b. A great vocie, and most of the songs have boppin' or shufflin' rhythms that are great for dancers(strolelrs and boppers). A wonderful cd, and an essential for fans of greasy blues singers. If you like Junior Wells Cobra sides from the late 50's, you'll like these too!!!"

Not ready for prime time

Joel Fritz | N Ca | 06/08/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The singles just don't compare to his later work. A lot of the songs are in keys that don't work for the vocals. If Magic Sam's reputation had to stand on these recordings alone he'd be remembered as a journeman at best.



If you're looking for your first Magic Sam recording get "West Side Soul.""