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Chicago Blues: A Living History
Lurrie Bell, John Primer, Billy Branch
Chicago Blues: A Living History
Genres: Blues, International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #2

Chicago Blues: A Living History is a new landmark double CD tribute to the past, present and future of the Chicago Blues. The first Chicago Blues recording of its kind, A Living History features four of the greatest living...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Lurrie Bell, John Primer, Billy Branch, Billy Boy Arnold
Title: Chicago Blues: A Living History
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Raisin Music
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 4/21/2009
Genres: Blues, International Music, Pop
Styles: Chicago Blues, Traditional Blues, Electric Blues, Modern Blues
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 820236466117

Synopsis

Product Description
Chicago Blues: A Living History is a new landmark double CD tribute to the past, present and future of the Chicago Blues. The first Chicago Blues recording of its kind, A Living History features four of the greatest living Chicago Blues traditionalists from two different generations: Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch and Lurrie Bell (with special guests Carlos Johnson and Mike Avery). This recording allows the listener to hear the evolution of the Chicago Blues sound from 1940 to the present as performed by the genre's greatest living artists, who are the inheritors of the tradition. This double CD also contains a 36 page booklet filled with historical and biographical information of the originators of each song accompanied by stunning photographs.
 

CD Reviews

Nothin' else like this out there
B. Berkowitz | Chicago, IL | 06/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I live in Chicago, and the blues scene here (the best in the world) has taken a huge hit since the mid-'90s--so many of the crucial artists have passed away, from Albert King to Junior Wells to, most recently, Koko Taylor (countless less-widely-known stars have left us too early, too). That's what makes this all-star outing so amazing. Billy Boy Arnold has been writing classics like "I Wish You Would" and recording since the early '50s; Lurrie Bell is one of the most goosebump-inducing artists you will ever hear; Billy Branch has been one of THE harmonica men (and bandleaders) to go see for decades now; and John Primer took all he absorbed from his boss Muddy Waters (not to mention Magic Slim and Willie Dixon) and currently possesses one of the most soul-stirring blues voices in the world (killer guitar tone, too).



You can find other reviews at allmusic.com, etc., but this double-disc set takes you from the early '40s onward as you hear their deeply felt tributes to Sonny Boy, Tampa Red, Broonzy, Big Maceo, Muddy, Jimmy Reed, Cotton, Junior, Buddy...the performances are amazing and the set has tons of notes and pix in the big booklet. I don't see how this won't take home every blues award out there. I just hope this once-in-a-generation band stays together and plays some U.S. dates (they're going to Europe for the summer, I've read)."
The real deal
almost slim | london, england United Kingdom | 08/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes when you think back to Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed etc we do wonder who can carry the blues forward whilst still being firmly anchored in the old tried and tested traditions. The answer in Chicago at least is the bluesmen on this CD. They create a modern sound whilst shedding none of the authenticity of the blues forty or fifty years ago. In a word they sound great. This album should be a classic. Further, the blues is foremost a live music and having seen Billy Branch, John Primer, Carlos Johnson and Lurrie Bell I can tell you they are even better live. If you like blues and especially Chicago blues this CD is a must have and make sure you catch them live."