blues... help

[atomicAdam]

can i get some recommendations on well recorded live blues records? i dont know as much or own as much as i should. id like something live though with exellent spacial characteristics.

[bobsticks]

That's a hard one. Frankly, I've found that very few live blues albums are recorded terribly well as most sound as if the half-priced club oaf at the board had a tin ear. Predictably, B.B. King's Live at the Regal is the first thing that comes to mind as reference piece.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CnB98Cn34Xs/SmZDxdf1LGI/AAAAAAAAC3A/L3EKFdYztcg/s320/sat_809018_1-705202.jpg

That said, we are blessed that there are plenty of decent studio examples within the genre. When considering overall quality and specificaly spacial ques I'd recommend:

http://i05.s2.imagehosting.ws/2010-06-03/208837/000badc9_medium.jpeg http://174.132.198.66/fotos/capas/51/0005020,mr-lucky.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51v92ryMqQL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

The Junior Wells is simply fantastic...quality of songsmanship, stereo imaging and spacial ques...outstanding, and it's available and recommended in SACD. John Lee Hooker's "Mr. Lucky" is available on the Classic 24/96 DAD format and is breathtakingly gritty.

Being the possessor of the soul of a sock-puppet I am hardly the pinnacle of blues knowledge but that'd be a good start in my limited experience.

[frenchmon]

Well for me, I really love some blues...mostly acoustic blues and the pioneers like Robert Johnson. I really love Sonny Boy williams and Son House....Blind Lemon Jefferson...Charlie Patton. I love that stuff. But as far as good recordings...impossible!

[atomicAdam]

Thanks guys - I went down to Rhino today - bought some LPs - their blues selection is so small it took me twice awaking around the record section a a whole to find it.

I picked up Albert Collins "Alive & Cool" - turn out it is a mono record - good music - awful recording. I also picked up Taj Mahal "Happy Just To Be Like I Am"... having spun it yet.

On a side note I picked up Tom Waits "Glitter and Doom" - a live album - cut one sounds awful - his voice is so harsh and throaty. Almost like a black metal singer or something. Not so sure I'm happy with the purchase.

[bobsticks]

I picked up Albert Collins "Alive & Cool" - turn out it is a mono record - good music - awful recording. I also picked up Taj Mahal "Happy Just To Be Like I Am"... having spun it yet.
.

Yeah. Neither of the Albert's ever hit the sonic jackpot IMO, though Albert King had a pretty good album mastered to SACD, I'll Play Thhe Blues For You. It''s a strong effort...good tunes, nice guitar tones, moody vocals, and not much filler...but it's neither live nor are the spatial characteristics particularly spectacular. I figured I'd hit my quota for recommendations that didn't really fit your criteria.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kMJ1uRI0d88/SE5bhKf8XpI/AAAAAAAAB08/FiuOcguLSEU/s320/albert_king_ill_play_the_blues_for_you_1972_retail _cd-front.jpg

[atomicAdam]

I figured I'd hit my quota for recommendations that didn't really fit your criteria.]


LOL - no worries - thanks for the suggestions.

[Hyfi]

Not sure exactly what sub-genre of Blues you are looking for but go to Mapleshade to find many well recorded disks.

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/main/blues_main.php

I have personally heard the Drink Small disk on my current system but way back before I owned it. Awesomely recorded Live Blues.

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/cds/01832.php

I have a double live Luther Allison that's not bad but nothing like the Mapleshade disks.

[dean_martin]

hey adam. I have a Newport Festival cd that's pretty good - Big Mama Thornton, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, etc. but I couldn't find a link for you at Amazon. However, there are several live recordings of blues artists at Newport Jazz/Folk Festivals. They've been releasing live recordings for years. The settings might night be as intimate as a club, but they should know what they're doing by now. Anyhow, this box set from '59-68 looks interesting but I can't vouch for the sonics:
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-1959-1968-Newport-Folk-Festival/dp/B00005AKJG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1300038953&sr=1-1

[Mr Peabody]

This is a decent live album for sound, excellent musical content, Lonnie Brooks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B0000009YT/ref=pd_krex_listen_dp_img?ie=UTF8&refTagSuffix=dp_img

This isn't live but I've used this album as a reference many times for sound quality, excellent, Joe Bonamassa
http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B0000AKCLS/192-6350395-7832762/ref=pd_krex_listen_dp_img?refTagSuffix=dp_img&volume=4

As a side note my copy of Lonnie Brooks is signed by the band, I was fortunate enough to see him twice, great in concert.

[nobody]

I'll make a few quick suggestions. First off a classic for excellent sounding blues:
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qxGkmDZqL._SL500_AA300_.jpg">
<b>Muddy Waters: Folk Singer</b>
Great stripped down acoustic blues. Incredible music and great sound. This is available in a variety of high res and audiophile formats, but even standard CDs and vinyl on this sound great.

also...
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S3GK3BDPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg">
<b>King Curtis and Champion Jack Dupree: Blues at Montreux</b>
I've only heard and have this on vinyl, but it is an excellent natural sounding live recording of an excellent blues set. Another real classic, but I can't really speak to how it sounds on CD.

and finally...
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DgnWQcJcL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XhUZlaUdL._SL500_AA300_.jpg">
<b>David Johansen & The Harry Smiths: Self Titled & Shaker</b>
Former New York Dolls vocalist put this pair of albums out a couple years back. All acoustic blues covers. Lots of real old school stuff hear freshened up and extremely well-recorded on Chesky. If you don't mind modern interpretations of classic material, these albums are both really top notch for both the playing and sound quality. Only available on CD.

[nobody]

****, just realized you said LIVE recordings. Well, at least one of my suggestions fits that bill.

[JohnMichael]

You might like Kenny Wayne Shepherds "10 Days Out" blues from the backroad. This is a good recording of older blues players in different venues. The cd comes
with a matching DVD of the performances. I have the vinyl version but want the cd for the DVD.

[Finch Platte]

Kinda off the track here, but I picked up a Robben Ford Trio Live in Paris DVD that is absolutely smokin'. Sounds pretty spectacular (reminds me of that old music show Night Music (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Night)David Sanborn had for a while), and the two guys he's got backing him are just phenomenal (Toss Panos on drums and Travis Carlton on bass).

This DVD – Recorded in High Definition – shows also two Bonus tracks with the legendary Larry Coryell joining the Robben Ford Trio on stage: A truly unique feature! Recorded in High Definition!

NTSC All Region; 105 Minutes.

TRACK LISTINGS

1. The Way You Treated Me
2. Indianola
3. Set A Date / You Don’t Have To Go
4. Nothing To Nobody
5. Spoonful
6. Don’t Worry About Me
7. Thoughtless
8. Lateral Climb
9. How Deep In The Blues (Do You Want To Go)
10. Earthquake
11. Too Much
12. Moonchild Blues
13. There’ll Never Be Another You

Joe Bob sez two thumbs up.

http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/images/T/robbenford_trio.jpg

[3LB]

where's Yech when ya need 'em

[Hyfi]

where's Yech when ya need 'em

I think Chip would be the better choice for Blues. His 30 disks of Blues Deluxe are just fantastic.

[Finch Platte]

I think Chip would be the better choice for Blues. His 30 disks of Blues Deluxe are just fantastic.

30!? I got 60!!

[Hyfi]

30!? I got 60!!

I must have fallen from grace......still a lot of good music.