CD Albums - Reviews by rhythmdog

CD Albums - Reviews by rhythmdog

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
rhythmdog ● 26th Jun 2020		CD Album Various Artists - Chicago Blues The Chance Era (1997)	Review At least half of the recordings in this 2 CD set went unreleased while the Chance label was in business from 1950-1954. Inside of the first CD is some discographical information, including Chance matrix numbers. On several occasions, the compilers chose unreleased alternate takes of recordings that were actually released, for unknown reasons. The sound quality is spotty, which might reflect the deterioration of the source tapes, or perhaps the original recordings were poorly made- and finally, the artist names shown on the back of the CD's and on the cover are often not the names under which the recordings were released (although this is corrected in the discography). On the other hand, where else is one to find this stuff at all? 5 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 26th Jun 2020		CD Album Elmore James - Elmore James King Of The Slide Guitar (1992)	Review Some of his best work, even though many titles were previously released on other labels, the versions cut for Bobby Robinson hold their own. Lacking a discography or release information and the artwork makes reading the titles quite difficult on disc 2, but worthwhile. 3 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 25th Jun 2020		CD Album Various Artists - The Swing Time Records Story: R&B, Blues And Gospel 1946-1952 (1994)	Review Kudos, I guess, to Capricorn for researching and releasing a box set on this seminal R&B label of the late 40's/early 50's. However, I could have done with fewer "previously unreleased alternate versions" of what are by no means well-known tunes instead of the obscure actual releases! And maybe it would have been worth a third CD to capture more of the gospel and r&b vocal groups the label put out to go along with those originals not put out in favor of alternate takes. 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 17th Jun 2020		CD Album Various Artists - The Beach Music Anthology Box Set (1996)	Review Mostly well-known national hits, and some latter-day cash-in stuff, but there are several standouts from the regional scene included that aren't easily found elsewhere, including two by The Catalinas, two by The Showmen, some by The Embers and by The Tams, The Monzas, also the full version of Don Gardner And Dee Dee Ford's hit "I Need Your Lovin' " the first half of which was clipped off by Fire records when it was released. All in all, a good introduction to the Southern Frat-based 'Beach Music' scene. 7 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 17th Jun 2020		CD Album Jerry "Boogie" McCain - The Jig's Up	Review Fantastic CD! The great rocking tracks recorded in Jerry McCain's living room in 1955 sound like they were recorded YEARS later- despite the primitive production the excitement is palpable. The Excello tracks are great stuff, too. Likely unofficial, but by far the best retrospective of his work available. 6 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 10th Jun 2020		CD Album Byron Lee And The Dragonaires And Friends - Jamaica's Golden Hits Vol. 3 The Best Of Rock Steady And Reggae (1992)	Review This is an extremely deceptive package! Judging from the spine, one would believe this CD is 'Jamaica's Golden Hits, Vol. 3'. Nowhere in the insert booklet does it expressly say that it is Byron Lee And His Dragonaires doing all the hits on this CD. But it is, and it sounds much newer than the time frame of the originals (from 1968 to 1975 or so), and again there is no information on exactly when Mr. Lee and his group re-recorded these 'oldies'... 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 7th Jun 2020		CD Album Tiny Grimes - The Complete Volume 1: 1944-1946 (1995)	Review It is unclear from the cover and spine just how many volumes there are covering the years from 1944-1950. On the front cover it says 'The Complete 1944-1950', and this volume 1 does cover 1944-1946 in exhaustive detail. However, judging from the only other volume I own, "The Complete 1944-1950" should actually be titled "The Complete 1944-1954", since the last two volumes cover the years 1950-1954. Confused? I sure was. As to the pejorative 'exhaustive', well: five versions of 'Romance Without Finance' are included on this volume 1, which one might think excessive without understanding just who else Tiny Grimes worked with at the time. First and foremost, Charlie Parker. Still, the entire CD actually includes only 9 different tunes over 18 tracks. 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
rhythmdog ● 5th Jun 2020		CD Album Various Artists - Encyclopedia Of Doo Wop New York Where It All Began Volume 5 (2005)	Review What an odd and interesting celebration of 'New York Doo Wop'! This is only to be expected, given that it was collated by long-time record dealer and Philly area based collector Val Shively. What is odd about the collection is that it is more a celebration of New York-based record labels than actually a collection of New York groups or even popular New York Doo Wop records. For example, the very first song on the collection is by one of the most famous Philadelphia groups, the Blue Notes. So much for being 'New York, Where It All Began'. The label is a famous New York label, Josie. Along with many of the best-known Doo Wop songs, there are numerous examples of extremely rare and unknown singles, along with the b-sides of several well-known singles. Some of the rarities included: The Five Sharps singing 'Stormy Weather', Bill "Bass" Gordon And His Colonials (shown as by 'The Colonials') singing "Two Loves Have I", and the Coins doing "Blue, Can't Get No Place With You". The latter two are very early Gee singles and are extremely rare on 45. The Five Sharps is extremely rare even on 78, and no authentic 45 of it has ever turned up, although Jubilee was pressing all of their records in both formats at the time. Most of the tunes included were originally on one of the following labels: Gee, Rama, Roulette, End, Gone, Port and Josie, but not all of them. 7 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?