Search - Various Artists :: Alligator Records 25th Anniversary Coll

Ain't No Blues Like Alligator Blues

El Lagarto | Sandown, NH | 05/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's face it folks, with a name like Alligator Records, they've got to be good. Two CDs exploding at the seams with blues in all of its incarnations. Real country folk blues, Cephas & Wiggins, rip-it-up bayou blues, C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, wailing harp Chicago South Side blues, James Cotton, misbehavin' mama blues, Koko Taylor, guitar god blues, Roy Buchanan, thinly veiled sexual reference blues, David Hole, and whole lot more besides. 38 tracks in all, and you probably won't care for one or two of them - but whatever your 10 favorites end up being, they will surely justify the low cost of this anthology.



I've been listening to blues for quite some time, since the days of the Taft administration actually. Even so, a couple of these names were new to me. More to the point, it's a treat having so many outstanding real blues artists (not to be confused with three-chord cheezers who just wandered back from the mall) playing unadulterated blues.



For neophytes this anthology is really a blessing because it serves as an inexpensive, convenient introduction to the blues. Follow any of the artists here down the rabbit hole and you'll enter a whole world of blues. Johnny Winter would be a good place to start, especially because he bridged blues and rock. But purists may be intrigued by Professor Longhair, who would then lead you to Dr. John, etc. Koko Taylor is a world unto herself, man; you better nail down everything in the house before you turn her on because she can blow the spots off a leopard.



The folks at Alligator Records can be relied upon to treat America's indigenous music with respect and love. It's an uphill battle, and nobody's getting rich in the process. They've labored to make this music accessible to the public, and frankly, simply documenting it is an important service. Blues musicians don't have "hits," so there's never much grease to spread around, even when times are good. The music survives because it's raw, it's real, and it satisfies in a way that processed music from the factory can't. I'm not saying you should buy this as a public service, that would be too grandiose. However, I think that when you do buy it, the rich authenticity will hook you immediately. Trust your gator."

A great general blues collection

W. D. Rupy | 01/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I received this double CD as a gift from someone who knew I liked the blues, but didn't have specific knowledge of many artists. This a a great collection to have for other people like me. Even after many repeat listenings, I can't name even half the artists - all I know is this collection really cooks. Even housecleaning doesn't seem so bad when you're listening to this."

Fantastic compilation!

W. D. Rupy | Mestrino, PD, Italy | 06/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you love the blues (and who doesn't, except for those terminally 'mad-at-the-world' types of which I hope you're not one) then this great collection of various flavors of blues is for you! Once again, Alligator Records has put together an irresistable smorgasbord of sound for your listening pleasure. C'mon, dig in! (Just keep in mind that the audio tracks for DISC I vs. DISC II are swapped on the song samples here.)"