Search - James Cotton :: Best of the Verve Years

One of the BEST Blues Harp albums, EVER!

Jaybird | Florida | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What we have here is the very desirable, very RARE and OUT-OF-PRINT, and most importantly, groundbreaking first solo releases of the great James Cotton on Verve records. It is titled "Best of the Verve Years", and it is just that!



After serving as front man and harpist for the legendary Muddy Waters band for 12 years, blues harp legend James Cotton's debut at Verve Records in 1967-1968 is generally conceded to be his most fertile period artistically, and this intelligently chosen best-of does little to dispel that impression. This CD covers all the music from Cotton's first classic LP on Verve, plus nine tracks from his next two Verve releases. A total of 20 awesome cuts in all. It remains one of the crucial artifacts of the '60s blues revival.



Cotton is in fine form vocally throughout (on "Feeling Good" he threatens to turn into Screamin' James Cotton), and the big band backing (featuring veterans of the Butterfield Blues Band and Muddy Waters) couldn't be better. Highpoints: A virtuoso take on Little Walter's harp instrumental "Off the Wall", an intense cover B. B. King's classic "Sweet Sixteen", and an excellent showcase for underrated guitarist Luther Tucker's flurry-of-notes approach. Then there is my personal favorite, "The Creeper", a six minute showcase of Cotton as harpist extraordinaire.



Here is the Personnel Line-up:



James Cotton (vocals, harmonica); Robert Anderson (vocals, electric bass); Michael Bloomfield (guitar); Luther Tucker, Bill Nugent (alto saxophone); James F. "Gene" Barge (tenor saxophone); McKinley Easton, Delbert L. Hill (baritone saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (saxophone); Paul Serrano (trumpet); Louis E. Satterfield, John M. Watson (trombone); Alberto Gianquinto, Mark Naftalin (piano, organ); Sam Lay, Francis Clay (drums).



Producers:



Michael Bloomfield, Norman Dayron, Barry Goldberg, John Court, Elliot Mazer.



Recorded in New York on March 24, 1967 and February 20 & December 17, 1968. Includes liner notes by Dick Shurman.



Get this CD! It will quickly become one of your favorite Blues Harp CD's. It's right up there with Little Walter's "His Best", Big Walter's "Fine Cuts", and Junior Wells' "Hoodoo Man Blues".



"

Great Debut and Tracks On 1 CD Package

Original Mixed Up-Kid | New York United States | 11/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What we have here are the The James Cotton Blues Band debut album from 1967 and tracks from the Pure Cotton album from 1967 and 2 tracks from Cotton In Your Ears cut with members of the Butterfield Blues Band(Bloomfield is here)...Remastered.. blues for those who know.."