BLUES STORY

DVD 31226 CD D2K 31134

SHOUT! FACTORY

This DVD and companion two-disc CD complements the wealth of material being released in the Year of the Blues. The result is the preservation of an historical chronicle of blues legends who have been largely ignored up to this point by the mainstream media. The stories of self-survival described in the DVD Blues Story by these originators of American music are powerful and poignant. They have lived to tell the story, although six have died since this recording. The importance of these first-person accounts cannot be underestimated. This is a history that must be told - it is our legacy.

The DVD features interviews with a host of artists including Ruth Brown, Honeyboy Edwards, Charles Brown, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, B.B. King, Little Milton, Bobby "Blue" Bland and Pinetop Perkins. There are also some rare vintage clips and musical performances.

The companion Blues Story CD is thirty-eight tracks on two discs. This compilation of recordings represents the best of the legends of the blues. From Mamie Smith doing "Crazy Blues" to Koko Taylor on "Wang Dang Doodle" to B.B. King on "Everyday I Have The Blues" to Muddy Waters on "Hoochie Coochie Man" and on and on, this CD is a superb collection of significant blues recordings.

For any serious blues enthusiast, this offering is an invaluable resource. It is excellent entertainment with a good dose of education thrown in for good measure!

by Dorothy L. Hill

Blues Editor, Jazz Now

More New Sounds - November 2003 CD Reviews