Search - Various Artists :: City of Dreams: A Coll of New Orleans Music

A New Orleans Party in a Box

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 11/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rounder Records' music catalog runs deep with some of the best of the "roots" music of New Orleans and over the years, they've documented many of the artists who never hit the "top 40" but form the soul of the music of the Big Easy. Some artists - like the great James Booker - got a full album, while others - like Professor Longhair's piano contemporary "Tuts Washington" were represented only on compilations. Much of Rounder's catalog is out there; it just doesn't get a lot of exposure for the older releases.



This has been rectified with this wonderful new "box set" (it's actually a small box with 4 CDs in cardboard leaves and a 24-page booklet with a 7 page essay and detailed track listings). The 48 tracks are grouped by musical style with Brass Bands on the "Street Beat" disc, the "funk" sounds (minus the Neville Brothers who never recorded as a group for Rounder) on another, vocal blues on a third, and - my favorite - the "Ivory Emperors" (`Fess Longhair, Booker, and Eddie Bo) for the last disc.



N.O. Music has always been a "gumbo" of styles and, really, the best way to experience this set is to shuffle the discs, rather than limit yourself to one style. Then use the info in the liner note booklet (which could have used a little more background on the lesser known artists) and seek out the albums that the tracks were derived from.



Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"

"

Good for New Orleans music neophytes

T. Sedlakova | austria by way of new orleans | 12/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"if you are a new orleans native, then this is not the cd-set for you. however, if you are trying to be a nola music ambassador, it's a great gift! the artists are taken from some of the best n.o. musicians, such as rebirth brass band, marcia ball, the n.o. nightcrawlers, eddie bo, irma thomas, professor longhair, to name just a few. no dr john, fats, or anders osborne, some of my longtime favorites...



also, the collection is divided nicely into 4 discs, representing the 4 main styles of n.o. music: big easy blues, street beat, funky new orleans, and ivory emperors.



overall, a good primer for someone who wants to learn more about new orleans style music."

I AGREE - There's Great Music here BUT THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR

G. Engler | The Frigid Northeast | 01/30/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"......releasing a box set like set and only recording 12 tracks on each disc, when 20 or more could have been easily accommodated.



In terms of "bang-for-the-buck", there's really no comparison to the "Doctors, Professors....." set. Especially as it also includes rounder artists including many, many others.



Still, as a general introduction - and at a used Amazon price - it may be a good deal.



Shame on Rounder though!"