Heroes Of The Blues by Various Artists

27 Sep

Written by Richard Bourcier
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Shout! Factory sent along their "Heroes of The Blues" sampler CD introducing a series of six albums featuring Reverend Gary Davis, Furry Lewis, Son House, Ma Rainey, Skip James and Mississippi Fred McDowell. The sampler includes two songs by each artist.

The "Heroes" series is a collection of "Best Ofs’" by six of the most influential blues artists of their time. The "cross-licensed" collection allows the label to offer great material from various periods in the artists’ careers without the restrictions imposed by original labels. The digitally re-mastered recordings provide a level of quality that will satisfy the needs of most collectors. Even the Gertrude "Ma" Rainey sessions from 1924 sound fine. Of course, those Paramount recordings are not without a bit of 78 rpm hiss. Her "See See Rider" features some great cornet by a young Louis Armstrong.

Selling at $13.98, the Hero Series offers good value for your record-buying buck. Comic book fans will appreciate the original cover art by legendary cartoonists Robert Crumb and Bill Stout. Check out the label’s website for details.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Various Artists
CD Title: Heroes Of The Blues
Genre: Blues
Year Released: 2003
Record Label: Shout! Factory
Tracks: How Happy I Am; Samson & Delilah (Rev. Gary Davis); Natural Born Eastman; Shake ‘Em All Down (Furry Lewis); Jealous Hearted Blues; See See Rider (Ma Rainey); Special Rider Blues; Hard Time Killing Floor Blues (Skip James); Louise; 61 Highway (Mississippi Fred McDowell); Am I Right Or Wrong; American Defense (Son House).
Musicians: Reverend Gary Davis – Furry Lewis – Ma Rainey – Skip James – Mississippi Fred McDowell – Son House.
Label Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com
Rating: Four Stars