New Orleans R & B

  Chess records showed up late when hitting the New Orleans 50's scene, all the main acts had already been picked up.  So what you've got here is a slew of eclectic almost unknown artists, but their sound is unquestionably classic and influential!

Jackson C. Frank

  Another tragic, sad sack classic long lost Folk singer/ songwriter.  This Paul Simon produced debut album by Frank was to be his first and last release, due to bouts of depression and mental illness, but his writing style did influence a slew of his contemporaries ... unfortunately Jackson learned music hospitalized after a tragic school fire when he was a boy, then became a recluse in his closing years, living on the streets, jumping from institution to institution, getting his eye accidentally shot out by a pellet gun, and then a pneumonia induced expiry at the age of 56 ... YOW!!  Talk about your stacked decks!

Elmore James -- The Sky Is Crying: The History Of ...

  Elmore James's I don't give a sh*t, loud and unforgiving version of the Blues was definitely the Punk Rock of that day, everyone labels Elvis as the major bad ass 'cause he shook his hips on American television, which is cute and all, but James was swiggin' a bottle of moonshine, cranking the slide and playing with the likes of Ike Turner.  Elmore is a true legends legend influencing musicians for decades, even up to this day!

Karen Dalton -- It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best

  A deadly talented, troubled victim from her own boundless gift ... you know drugs, alcohol, kidnapping her own daughter and divorce ... as well as dying of aids in the early 90's, Dalton was truly a tragic figure.  Her style was a Jazzy Folk Blues lead by her Billie Holiday-esque vocals with a 12-string guitar and a long neck banjo, you've never heard anything like nor will you ever again.

Jimi Hendrix

  I have no clue why this compilation exists, maybe it's just a label cash grab, it features a bunch of random numbers from Hendrix's career, from big hits to obscure tunes.  As much as he's a marvelous talent and the greatest guitarist of all-time, this album is way too laced with Jimi's heavier tracks, which are nice and all, but the continuous wild guitar solos can get taxing on the brain.  I personally prefer Hendrix's softer soulful side, which only came out from time to time, but I wish it were the focus of his career ... anyway this album seems to be pointless and I don't understand it's purpose!

Johnny Thunders -- So Alone

  What would have happened if Keith Richards were a Punk Rocker, you guessed it and could it really have been anyone else, Johnny Thunders!  So Alone is the sound of a man who is beautiful destroyed and heavily influenced by early Rock 'n' Roll.  The junk stricken Punk casualty had a massive amount luminaries play on this album, and could you blame them for jumping in, they got to hang with the original Punk! 

The Beatles -- Let It Be

  This album was a complete mess from the start, what you've got is a crumbling band who've turned into individuals rather than members in a solid unit.  All the issues, politics and bullsh*t aside I think if you break the album up in parts, you can see the group's past, present and future in the record, for example; you've got a couple skiffle/ rock 'n' roll numbers (Maggie Mae and One After 909) from their past, some Lennon/ McCartney (Two Of Us and I've Got A Feeling) classics for their present, and the individually written tracks foreshadowing each of their future solo careers (Lennon, Dig A Pony and Across The Universe, McCartney, Let It Be & The Long And Winding Road and Harrison's I Me Mine and For You Blue).  In conclusion Let It Be may not be The Beatles at their best but they did perfect the art of a band wrapping it up.

The Doors

  The only album that truly exemplifies the brilliance that The Doors were supposed to have!  With the exception of The End, I found that their sound is more of a gothic surfer Blues rather than a psychedelic freakout. 

Mudhoney -- Superfuzz Bigmuff

  Definitely the undisputed kings of the Seattle sound, these guys should have been the one's to put the scene on the map, and in certain snob circles they were, their mix of loud don't give a sh*t American Hardcore and 70's stoner Blues makes most of their "grunge" contemporaries look like a bunch of ninnies!    

Charley Patton -- Founder Of The Delta Blues

  Robert Johnson might have been the prolific Bluesman, but Patton was the pioneer.  Charley is the type of character that his life is shrouded in a cloud of mystique and legend, but his reputation proceeds his raw, deep and boisterous Delta Blues, to the point that he even undertook a young apprentice ... the soon to be Howlin' Wolf ... point is, music as we know it would not be the same without these trailblazers at the root to our culture! 

Taj Mahal -- De Ole Folks At Home

  This is part of a double album, one is Giant Step, kinda run of the mill 60's electric Blues album, two De Ole Folks At Home is old timey Folk Blues, almost like the sounds of a poor man sitting on his broken porch living in the deep south, definitely a testament to the roots of American music.

The Blues ... A Real Summit Meeting

  Pretty much live Blues luminaries in the 70's, maybe it's not the best record, but it shows that the music was still relevant and alive in a time when the Blues had been completely invaded by whitey!  

George Thorogood & The Destroyers -- Bad To The Bone

  You don't really think I'd subject myself to this meaningless tripe?  This guy and his dumbasses almost single handedly "destroyed" Blues music by turning it into trash culture.  Just incase you didn't realize I hate this f*cking sh*t!  The title says it all!

Fight On, Your Time Ain't Long

  Killer comp of early Folk Blues that is reminiscent of The History Of American Folk Music.  This style represents the corner stone of all modern music, where would we be without these trailblazer rebels.  The closing number by Louise and Joseph Won't That Be A Happy Time, is a humongous proof of that point, Indie bands are still trying to mimic their kind of cool Lo-Fi sound -- good luck kiddies, cause hipsters have been around forever! 

The Gun Club -- The Las Vegas Story

  I'm a big fan of their first album, but The Las Vegas Story I just didn't get, it felt too loose, too polished and uninspired. 

The Yardbirds -- Shapes Of Things

  This compilation spans most of the Yardbirds career, featuring their slew of luminary guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.  These guys have more in commune with, and influenced, the American Garage Rock and 60's Punk scene, rather than their British Invader contemporaries.  This band served as a stepping stone to the future of the music scene by showing us the Shapes Of Things to come!  

Derek And The Dominos -- Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

  Don't get me wrong they are very talented musicians and somehow for some odd reason I always wanted to like Eric Clapton, he's got an interesting story and kicked ass in The Yardbirds.  But unfortunately I found these song hollow, boring and cheesy as f*ck.  Honestly I was never too fond of Layla but i was hell bent on finding the hidden gems on this album, cause' c'mon, you've got Duane Allman and Eric Clapton on the same damn record, you'd think you'd be experiencing music on an epic scale, but all I found was run of the mill white boy bar Blues! 

Fritz The Cat

  Mostly filled with bad 60's style groovy muzak, with the exception of Bo Diddley and Billie Holiday.  Honestly this is a tough one to listen to in one sitting, but the cover is basically what you are paying for ... it's a good one to hang on the wall, part of your Crumb paraphernalia collection.

John Lee Hooker -- Mad Man Blues

  Within the throws of an existentially fueled depression it's hard not to try and find something that would make you feel better, worse or merely understood.  There is nothing like a legendary bluesman to coerce your mind out of the pit of despaired loneliness.  John Lee has the ability to appeal to our timeless raw emotions, he is a man in touch with pure feeling, whether it's good, bad or ugly, add in his striking voice and killer guitar playing -- you've got something irreplaceable!

Junior Kimbrough -- You Better Run : The Essential ...

  Raw, minimalistic, passionate, "bad mutha ... shut your mouth," Blues.  Junior Kimbrough is the real deal, bringing the Blues, from it's Georges Thoro-Ray Vaughan grave, back to it's natural visceral state.  This comp does not only feature some killer Blues, but also old life friend, Charlie Feathers, in an early recording on the opening track.  With just one look at the cover you know that this is the face of authentic Blues that can't be taught -- only lived!