Elmore James and His Broomdusters - Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956
Product Information
Track List: Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Disc 3:
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Album Details: Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956
- Release Date:
- 01/01/2007
- Label:
- Ace Records Uk
- UPC:
- 029667000420
Pro Reviews: Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956
| EXPERT RATING: From AMG Reviews Although a few hardcore electric Chicago blues fans might take offense at the remark, Elmore James' work does not comprise the most varied discography among major bluesmen. So a singledisc survey of his material, whether it covers the first five years or so of his career (as this threeCD anthology does) or a longer period, works better as both a general introduction and a more listenable compilation than a box set does. If you're a completist who does want everything known to exist that he laid down in the studio between August 1951 and January 1956, however, this 71track compilation is the most thorough retrospective of that era likely to be produced. In addition to including songs that were not issued in any form until after his death (and sometimes long after his passing), there are multiple takes of specific tunes, alternates, false starts, studio chatter, instrumental version, songs on which he guested for J.T. Brown and Little Johnny Jones, and so forth. Indeed, there are so many multiple versions on this release that even the liner notes take care to suggest customprogramming the CD sequence if you'd rather not hear them all in a row. For all the ifwecanfinditreleaseit mentality driving this collection, however, it really is pretty listenable, at least if you like James and early to mid'50s Chicago blues a lot. For one thing, it does include a couple of big hits, those being James' original 1952 version of "Dust My Broom" and the 1953 Top Ten RB hit "I Believe." More relevantly, James played and sang consistently well even on the material that languished in the vault. Plus all those multiple versions aren't wholly repetitive; James occasionally makes changes to the lyrics and music, though the similarity of style from song to song is prevalent enough that you have to be paying close attention to catch all of these. Some fans primarily familiar with James through his Deltasoaked electric slide guitar playing (and there's plenty of that here) will also be surprised at the commercial RB edge to many of the sides, though it's commercial in the better sense of that term, often with horns and piano urbanizing James' approach. The 40page booklet has a wealth of information, vintage photos, and a detailed sessionography, increasing its appeal to those who want all things James. [Initially released in 1993 in longbox packaging, The Classic Early Recordings 19511956 was reissued by Ace in 2007 as a standardsized threeCD set with a different cover.] - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide |
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Elmore James and His Broomdusters Biography
No two ways about it, the most influential slide guitarist of the postwar period was Elmore James, hands down. Although his early demise from heart failure kept him from enjoying the fruits of the '60s blues revival as his contemporaries Muddy Waters...Full Elmore James and His Broomdusters Biography
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