Various Artists - Atlantic Blues [Box] (CD)

All Music Guide

At the time of its release, this 83-song collection was one of the bolder efforts by a major label at doing a proper survey of major blues categories. The material ranges from old-style big-band jump blues to the leaner, louder guitar sounds of the '60s and '70s, and isn't limited to artists who cut for Atlantic -- the producers had to license in a certain amount, especially where Chicago blues was concerned . Overall, they've done a good job as far as the sheer variety of performers, but trying to summarize any of these areas -- blues vocalists, Chicago blues, guitar blues, or piano blues -- with only 20 tracks on a single CD each is an exercise in futility. It is a place to start if one has the money, however, showing some of the strong points of a lot of key artists, and the sound was also good for its time. This is also a good chance for the neophyte to hear tracks by certain performers -- like Jay McShann and Meade Lux Lewis -- who aren't otherwise represented on easy-to-find majo...r label releases. Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf. Those, plus some of the other Chess reissues from MCA, will tell one a lot more about Chicago blues than the one or two tracks by each that show up in this set. - Bruce Eder, All Music Guide Read more Less