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.

Pink Floyd - Architects Of Sound: A History Instrumental Of Pink Floyd (10 CD, 2009)

The idea of a compilation of only-instrumental pieces of Pink Floyd may have crossed the minds of several people in different places. But for the time being none has been produced (or released widely). Taking into account that Pink Floyd’s musical virtue has produced some of the greatest instrumental pieces (and certainly not few, but more than “many”), the thought was to create a collection embracing all the instrumental themes they created to gather all this sonic experience in one single place. I believe that this collection, though not necessarily a « necessity » would be a nice addition to any PF fan’s collection, because it is different from other compilations, and it helps to fill a gap that has been empty both officially and unofficially. Until now.

Mott The Hoople - Original Album Classics (5 CD, 2009/FLAC)

 

• 1972 All The Young Dudes
• 1973 Mott
• 1974 The Hoople
• 1975 Drive On
• 1976 Shouting And Pointing

VA - Midnight Rider : Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band [2014/FLAC]

 

Featuring an eclectic group of rock, country, and blues legends, Midnight Rider - A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band offers energetic new covers of the classic hits “Midnight Rider,” “Ramblin’ Man,” and “Whipping Post” as well as one of the most famous instrumental songs in all of rock music “Jessica,” alongside many more Southern fried favorites!

“The Allman Brothers were a central part of my roots,” proclaims guitarist Steve Morse, who shreds his way through a smoldering version of “Whipping Post” on the album. “Living in Georgia much of my life, they were the local legends that everybody loved. They had the swing, the inventive double guitar parts, the ability to jam just long enough to keep the audience, and that golden voice of Greg’s! When my instrumental rock band, the Dixie Dregs, played, we often played ‘Jessica,’ which automatically makes any audience start moving and smiling. I’ve been lucky enough to sit in with many of the members at various times, and we have shared a lot of common ground. I’m still a fan!”

Peg Leg Howell & Eddie Anthony - Complete Recordings Vols. 1 & 2 [2005/2007/FLAC]

 Joshua Barnes Howell, known as Peg Leg Howell (March 5, 1888 - August 11, 1966), was an African American blues singer and guitarist, who connected early country blues and the later 12-bar style. He had the strong delivery and ear-catching repertoire of the professional street-singer.