This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Thanks to the runaway success of the award-winning soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, there are more roots, folk, country, blues and Americana music collections around than you can shake a hickory switch at. Here’s the lowdown on one:
No. of CDs: Three — two discs of music and a CD-ROM.
No. of Songs: 35.
The Concept: Blues, blues and more blues from this American label marking a quarter-century.
The Execution: Blues can be limited by its 12-bar, I-IV-V structure, but this diverse set makes the most of it, covering the waterfront from Delta moaners and juke-joint raveups to Chicago sizzlers and even more contemporary, rocking fare.
Names Dropped: B.B. King, Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Albert Collins, Pinetop Perkins.
Choice Cuts: The twanging noir of Jimmy Thackery’s Sinner Street, the heavenly funk of The Gospel Hummingbirds’ That Same Thing, the John Hiatt-ish roots of Studebaker John’s Here No More, the jumpin’ jive of Mitch Woods’ Broke … did I mention this set was diverse?
Extras! Extras! Seven videos and interviews (including a ’70s chat with Muddy Waters in a van on the highway); a 24-page booklet.
Perfect For: The blues fanatic who just can’t get enough.
