Unlike many men, Alligator Records never forgets an anniversary. "The country's largest contemporary blues label," as it rightly bills itself, has released multidisc compilations celebrating its 20th, 25th, 30th, and now 35th years. For reasons that aren't entirely clear, only tracks recorded for an artist's first Alligator disc are chosen for this chronologically presented summary of music that stretches from Hound Dog Taylor's electrifying 1971 label debut to Mavis Staples's in 2004. Although the imprint made a tentative stab at reggae in the mid '80s, its roster generally upholds the "genuine houserocking music" credo Alligator has boasted as a tagline since the early days. Whether reviving the careers of blues rockers (Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, Lonnie Mack, Elvin Bishop) or ageing icons with plenty of gas left in their tanks (Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Katie Webster, Mavis Staples, James Cotton, Guitar Shorty) or finding new blood to carry on the traditions (Michael Burks, Corey Harris, Dave Hole, Tinsley Ellis, Shemekia Copeland), Alligator sets the standard for what an independent label can achieve. These 35 nuggets extracted from a catalog of 225 albums only begin to tell the label's story, but there's not a weak one in the lot. Founder Bruce Iglauer's intriguing and insightful liner notes for each act add depth to the tunes, making 35x35 a representative sampler that's also an exhilarating listening experience, and a fascinating overview of American roots music.
Disc: 1
1. She's Gone - Hound Dog Taylor
2. Have A Good Time - Big Walter Horton
3. Your Love Is Like A Cancer - Son Seals
4. Texas Flood - Fenton Robinson
5. I Got What It Takes - Koko Taylor
6. Honey Hush (Talking Woman Blues) - Albert Collins
7. Voodoo Daddy - Lonnie Brooks
8. In The Wee Wee Hours - Professor Longhair
9. Are You Losing Your Mind? - Buddy Guy
10. Don't Take Advantage Of Me - Johnny Winter
11. High Compression - James Cotton
12. Satisfy Suzie - Lonnie Mack
13. When A Guitar Plays The Blues - Roy Buchanan
14. Pride and Joy - Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials
15. She Winked Her Eye - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
16. Poor Tarzan - Little Charlie & The Nightcats
17. Can't You Lie - Tinsley Ellis
Disc: 2
1. Lord, I Wonder - Katie Webster
2. Don't Lie To Me - Elvin Bishop
3. Lollipop Mama - William Clarke
4. Wild Women Don't Have The Blues - Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women
5. River Hip Mama - Charlie Musselwhite
6. Short Fuse Blues - Dave Hole
7. Lonesome Stranger - Carey Bell
8. Bad Love - Luther Allison
9. Bad Luck - C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
10. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning - Corey Harris
11. Salt In My Wounds - Shemekia Copeland
12. I Need Your Love In My Life - Coco Montoya
13. Mean Old Lady - Michael Burks
14. Speaking In Tongues - The Holmes Brothers
15. Let The Tears Roll Down - Marcia Ball
16. That's Right! - Roomful of Blues
17. Old School - Guitar Shorty
18. A Dying Man's Plea - Mavis Staples
