VA - Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection [2 CD, 2001/FLAC]

 

Three decades ago Bruce Iglauer founded Alligator Records, selling his hero Hound Dog Taylor's records out of his car trunk. Since then, Alligator has become America's best-known and most prolific blues label, and many of the reasons for its success appear on this budget-priced, two-disc 30th anniversary collection. Much of the material, including Marcia Ball's "Louella" and Shemekia Copeland's "Turn the Heat Up," comes from relatively recent recordings, since the label also released anthologies honoring its 20th and 25th anniversaries. Those two collections are unreservedly recommended, with the 20th providing the best historical overview of the label's evolution.

But the 30th holds its own, presenting guitar greats like Lonnie Mack ("Stop"), Johnny Winter ("My Time After Awhile"), and Lonnie Brooks ("Two-Headed Man"), as well as harmonica heroes James Cotton ("When It Rains It Pours"), Junior Wells ("Keep Your Hands Out of My Pockets"), and William Clarke ("Broke and Hungry"). Several outstanding duets, including a fine and funky tune by Henry Butler and Corey Harris and a classic from a Robert Cray and Albert Collins collaboration, provide variety.

The second disc contains 13 live cuts, featuring some of the most exciting live blues acts ever, such as Albert Collins, backed by the Icebreakers; Luther Allison, who rips through his signature "Soul Fixin' Man"; and Son Seals, who gets help from Elvin Bishop. Dynastic zydeco great C.J. Chenier serves up "Jambalaya," and Delbert McClinton dishes out blue-eyed soul with "Maybe Someday Baby" to further flavor the live action.



CD-1 - in the studio (78:13)

01. Shemekia Copeland - Turn the Heat Up (5:05)
02. Michael Burks - Got a Way With Women (4:26)
03. Marcia Ball - Louella (4:27)
04. Junior Wells - Keep Your Hands Out of My Pockets (5:15)
05. Coco Montoya - Enough Is Enough (3:46)
06. Robert Cray & Albert Collins - She's Into Something (3:50)
07. Corey Harris & Henry Butler - If You Let a Man Kick You Once (4:15)
08. William Clarke - Broke and Hungry (3:08)
09. Koko Taylor - Bring Me Some Water (5:21)
10. Carey Bell - Hard Working Woman (4:38)
11. Rusty Zinn - The Chill (5:01)
12. Corey Harris - Basehead (3:55)
13. Kinsey Report - Time Is Running Out (4:00)
14. Cephas & Wiggins - Mamie (4:27)
15. Holmes Brothers - Homeless Child (3:48)
16. Dave Hole - Jenny Lee (4:24)
17. Johnny Winter - My Time After Awhile (5:16)
18. Phillip Walker & Lonnie Brooks - Boogie Rambler (3:09)


CD-2 - on the stage (71:45)

01. Lonnie Brooks - Two Headed Man (5:52)
02. Luther Allison - Soul Fixin' Man (4:07)
03. C. J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band - Jambalaya (On the Bayou ) (3:59)
04. Albert Collins & The Icebreakers - Dyin' Flu (10:34)
05. James Cotton - When It Rains It Pours (3:53)
06. Elvin Bishop - Slow Down (4:53)
07. Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women - You Can Have My Husband (4:39)
08. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - I'll Take You Back (7:58)
09. Delbert McClinton - Maybe Someday Baby (3:43)
10. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - Chicken, Gravy and Biscuits (2:38)
11. Son Seals with Elvin Bishop - Sadie (5:59)
12. Lonnie Mack - Stop (9:27)
13. Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers - It's Alright (4:02)