Little Walter was the master harpsman with the Bands of Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rodgers. Upon his arrival in Chicago from Louisiana he played guitar and harp for spare change on Maxwell street. In many famous hits between 1952-58 he established himself as a star of the blues. This two cd set captures the rapture, his wailing amplified harp extended Chicago Blues in a Jazzy direction (his command of the instrument being compared to that of Charlie Parker). On this set hear memorable cuts like like "My Babe" and "Juke".

Once you hear Howlin' Wolf there's no going back. His pure unadulterated soul filled harp and guitar playing and unmistakable voice were filling the air by 1930 learning from Charley Patton in the Delta, taking a turn at Memphis and heading straight for fame on the South Side of Chicago. On these 42 songs, you get rare prime masters from the Chess vaults and it's on these lesser known and previously unavailable takes that offer so much to so many because 'The Wolf' vents it all.

Volume 15 in the smartly designed Capitol Blues reissues are three cd's of original Alladin recordings by Amos Milburn. Hot stuff to say the least, these records were some of the biggest hits of the Early R&B era ca. 1946-55. Milburn's fabulous bluesy piano work with articulate lead figures spreads across all tempos and moods, from rollicking boogie woogie, to down and out blues, and the subtleties will keep you intrigued from moment to moment and take to take. Check out one of his biggest hits "Chicken Shack Boogie".

One of the things that sets this Texas-born, Chicago-trained master apart from other great blues singer-guitarists of the postwar period is his use of the electric guitar, not only to punctuate his singing with answering riffs and solo choruses, but to take the spotlight on its own in a large body of infectious, driving, distinctive and brilliant instrumental tunes such as "Hideaway" and "Remington Ride" .

Albert Collins' audience was growing rapidly at the time of his early death in 1993. Truckin' contains tracks from his early sixties recordings and was orginally released in 1965 as "The Cool Sound of Albert Collins". On the technical side he quickly established himself as the master of the Telecaster. His use of minor tunings and knack for the succinct searing leads made him blues force to be reckoned with. The Iceman.

Swingtime was a Post WWII R&B, Blues and Gospel Label with a remarkable roster of artists including: Percy Mayfield, Pete Johnson, Charles Brown, and Big Joe Turner. If that's not enough 19 of the 50 performances here recorded between 1946-52 feature R&B greats Ray Charles and Lowell Fulson. The sound quality and performances are great across the board Check out this Pete Johnson Orchestra cut from his 1948-49 sessions, "Rocket Boogie 88, Pt. 2".

This single cd carries 68 minutes of top notch early work from B.B. King -- his original Crown recordings. Dating from the early 1950's these are the gritty recordings of such often covered classics as "Sweet Little Angel", "You Upset Me Baby", and his influential revision of Lowell Fulson's "3 O'Clock Blues". It's prime B.B. capturing the era when emerged from his role as a Memphis dj onto the national scene, beginning his chart career of 74 hits according to Billboard. Let's put an ear toward the Heavens with "Sweet Little Angel."

Godfather of the electric guitar, T-Bone's mastery built the house that Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Freddy King and everyone after came to dwell in. T-Bone is the man. For a well documented proof check out John Lumsdaine's extraordinary reading of the myth and the legend behind blues classics such as "That's better for Me", "They Call it Stormy Monday", "Mean old World" and T-Bone Shuffle" all included in their original versions on this astounding "bringin' it all back home" re-issue.