Customer Reviews
Listen as His Early Hits Mature Before Your Ears! 
2006-11-16
If you are a fan of the famous Elmore James hit, "Dust My Broom", you may be mildly disappointed by the version included on the CD, as it is a very early recording. But don't be shaken by this minor observation! The song is - after all - still the great "Dust My Broom"! See the CD titled "Blues Masters - Slide Guitar Classics" for an outstanding version of that same song.
That is NOT to say that this CD is disappionting, by any means! You will be introduced to many of his less-known songs, and you will hear his guitar style, as well as his voice, mature with his later recordings.
One thing that you will walk away with is a stronger sense of the early roots of electric blues, which did not always keep proper time, and was often plagued with poor recording techniques. Nonetheless, Elmore's guitar gets meaner, and his voice gets sweeter over time.
If you're a fan of early blues, if you need to understand Elmore's music from your PERSONAL perspective (rather than reading some music critic's opinion), if you love the eerie, yet powerful, electric slide than this CD is certainly for you.
Slide it into the CD player, dim the lights, and feel the blues!
Why did I give it get 5 stars? For delivering just what it promised; the history of Elmore James.
One of the Greatest 2006-10-04
Outside of those really knowledgable about blues and some of the classic rockers, Elmore James seems to not be extremely well-known; he's hardly a household name... but HE SHOULD BE! Elmore's slide playing is among the best and most influential ever, but, as another reviewer noted, he is a VERY good, expressive, and passionate singer. Elmore poured every ounce of his soul into every note he played and every note he sang and his passion translates well onto record; as evidenced by this fabulous collection. It is a real tragedy that he passed away so young, as he was truly one of the most talented musicians to ever walk this earth. I'll bet the sky was crying the day that ole Elmore died, if I would've been alive, I probably would have cried too.
New at Blues 2006-05-25
I haven't heard Elmore before until just now on a cd I bought, and this preview. (Well, I did hear Sky is Crying covers but never the real thing.) I have Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, BB King, and a blues compilation cd with Rollin' and Tumblin. This guy is slick. I must get this tomorrow; I would right now but the store is closed. I can't wait for shipping either. Since last week I've become addicted to the blues.
Historic James Recordings a Master's Class In The Blues 2006-05-07
The incomparable Elmore James still reigns as the master of the slide guitar, influences scores of musicians from Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt to beyond.
This CD captures the reasons why James is so loved and has such a firm place in the blues pantheon. From the opening cut, "Dust My Broom," which was written and originally recorded by Robert Johnson, James not only makes the song his own, he makes into such an addictive blues shuffle that you can easily forget that the man credited with first popularizing the blues ever had anything to do with the song.
And even the fact that many of the songs sound similar won't dissuade the listener from falling in love with James, because there is more than enough originality to sustain, including some James rare regular lead guitar playing, especially on "Sho Nuff I Do," and the sheer fun of "Shake Your Moneymaker" and "Hawaiian Boogie."
Elmore James was a musician for the ages. This collection atests to the reasons for his hold and influence on the blues genre.
Great compilation 2005-10-07
I have a large collection of blues CD's, and this has remained one of my favorites for years. Elmore James doesn't get the credit he deserves for his work. He was an amazing vocalist, guitar player, and bandleader. (Also, these tracks were recorded back in the days when the whole band was recorded together for each take, which makes the results here even more amazing.) His work doesn't sound dated after all the years passed since it was recorded, and I have rarely heard the blues sung in such an impassioned voice. Just listen to "Something Inside Me" and you'll know what I'm talking about. This CD spans his entire career and as someone who bought it without ever hearing his music before, it is an excellent introduction to this underrated bluesman.
Wow 2008-05-17
Love the blues? This is for you. One of the early up from Mississippi to Chicago bluesmen (I think he died in '43). "Madison Blues" and "The Sky is Crying" the way 'lonesome George' heard them first.
Slide On This 2007-11-27
Since the advent of the compact disc two decades ago, there have been a number of worthy compilations by the great Elmore James (1918 - 1963), and yet James' reputation and popularity still falls far short of many of his contemporaries, post-War giants like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, who came out of the Mississippi Delta and migrated North to cities like Chicago or Detroit. James, perhaps even more than Wolf or Waters, embraced amplification - not just because you had to be loud to be heard in a crowded bar, but for the creative possibilities offered by plugging in. Only Bo Diddley, perhaps, found electricity to be as essential to his creative evolution as Elmore did, as one can't help but be blown away by the way Elmore deployed distortion, volume, sustain, and other effects that allow for the myriad of textures and colors heard on these vintage masterpieces. And playing the music on this superb set LOUD goes a long way towards demonstrating just how vital James' intense, piercing, and hugely influential slide guitar playing remains on rock and blues players (from Duane Allman and Ron Wood to Hound Dog Taylor and Jack White), how cohesive and sympathetic his bands (especially the Broomdusters) were, and how emotionally raw and deep his greatest work sounds some 45 years after his death.
"The Sky Is Crying", issued by Rhino in 1993, remains the single best collection of Elmore's work, essential to any serious blues collection as well as the perfect introduction for newcomers. The 21 track set (recorded between 1951 and 1961) is unique in that it represents James' recordings for a variety of labels, including Trumpet (where he recorded his debut, 'Dust My Broom'), Flair, Chess, Atlantic, Chief, Flashback, and finally Bobby Robinson's Fire, where James settled during his final, fruitful four years. The fact that this CD's producer, the late Robert Palmer (who also contributes a typically insightful essay that allowed me to really HEAR this music 14 years ago) brings together so many of James' recordings from different periods and labels allows us to hear the evolution, abd especially the range and scope of Elmore's body of work, from his almost tentative (in light of what follows) debut hit to fully realized masterpieces with the Broomdusters, as well as blistering workouts with Ike Turner (whose own go-for-the-throat guitar is a perfect foil for Elmore's slide), a collaboration with Big Joe Turner, plus performances by Willie Johnson (guitarist on Wolf's immortal early Memphis sides), Willie Dixon, and more. By the time we get to hear "Hawaiian Boogie" and "Madison Blues", "I Can't Hold Out" (covered by Clapton), "Done Somebody Wrong" (ditto the Allman Brothers Band), the amazing "12 Year Old Boy" (track down Lydia Lunch's version!), and the primal funk of "Rollin and Tumblin" the power of Elmore James is undeniable, as is the intellegent sequencing of this lovingly compiled collection. For those who want more, I'd recommend two inexpensive boxed sets that are still in circulation if not in print: "The Classic Early Recordings 1951 - 56" (Flair/Virgin, 1993) has some amazing workouts by the Broomdusters and a booklet full of rare photos and the compilers' tale of visiting Canton Mississippi in 1993, where we meet folks who knew Elmore. "King Of The Slide Guitar" (Capricorn, 1993) takes us to the last years of James' career, which found him at his peak: 50 wonderful tracks recorded for Bobby Robinson (James' best producer) and originally issued on Fire.
One of the greatest collections ever!!! 2007-05-04
Elmore James is underrated--period. He was as much of a pioneer and original artist of electric blues as Muddy Waters, yet timing, connections, and probably his health problems seemed to diminish his stature in the blues world in the 1950's and early '60's somewhat, at least compared to Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. Over time, we have seen his work to be just as influential as Muddy's, and probably more than Wolf's. I admire Muddy Waters and the Wolf and respect their supreme positions as kings of Chicago blues, but I actually enjoy listening to Elmore James more. His singing is second only to Son House in sheer terms of emotional intensity. I love his quivering vocal vibrato that so perfectly fits the beat to "Dust My Broom." And his slide playing is without question some of the most influential music ever. The legendary Duane Allman studied him--need I say more?
This is a perfect CD for those interested in sampling Elmore's music for the first time. Every song is a winner. You won't be disappointed!!
Excellent 2007-04-10
I love blues music and this is one of my faviorte artist. This cd does a good job with song selection and its just an awesome piece of music. The price is a steal as well.
The Sky May Be Crying But Elmore Makes Me Happy 2007-03-27
If you want a slick full blown stereo recording of Elmore you may be disappointed, but if you are a true blues brother you will appreciate that they have reached back in time for some early Elmore. Dust My Broom - the classic standard of Elmore - has a better sound later and by other artists...but man this is Elmore when Elmore wasn't even hardly known...dig it and appreciate it. The Sun Is Shining and The Sky Is Crying seems to have been covered by everybody. Why, they are true Chicago Electrified Blues Standards. I loved T.V. Mamma because my main man "Big Joe" Turner is backed up by Elmore and that classic distorted slide guitar of his....loved it. Madison Blues has a completely different sound than most of the later covers especially by the white blues bands...the original is the best. Other favorites were I Can't Hold Out, Shake Your Money Maker (man whats blues dude hasn't done this one), and Rollin and Tumblin. Elmore was the 2nd blues man I ever heard..circa 1958 on KATZ a.m. and Dave Dixon is St. Louis, Mo. He was one 1st I ever heard and still is one of the best in my opinion...his slide guitar set the trend for people like Hound Dog Taylor and many others. When he gets that sucker wailing, it puts chills up and down my back. Elmore James is one wailing cat...makes me feel like I am in some smoky, black club back in the late 50s and early 60s enjoying real music when Paul Anka and Annette Funicello were on the white stations singin bubble gum music...buy Elmore and be a BIG FAN just like ole Joliet Jayle the Bluze Brother ... Rock-n-roll, boogie woogie, rollin and tumblin all night long!
