Blue 17

By 1933, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band was entering its prime period. On the third of Classics' five "complete" CDs by the orchestra, the music is excellent, except for four okay vocals by Chuck Richards. Trumpeter Ed Anderson emerged as a strong soloist during the period; trombonist J.C. Higginbottham joined the band for the final 11 of these 23 selections; the great trumpeter Henry "Red" Allen signed up in time for the last nine numbers; tenor saxophonist Joe Garland was featured on some good spots; and the rhythm section proves that it could hold its own with most others of the time. In addition, guest singer Adelaide Hall is heard on two previously unreleased numbers that were previously unreleased…

Recorded live at the New Daisy Theater with Bland's regular working road band, this captures him in fine form, bringing together old favorites with some other numbers for a heady blend. When called for, the old Joe Scott heavy horn-laden arrangements are summoned up on tunes like "St. James Infirmary," "Farther on Up the Road," "That's the Way Love Is," "I Pity the Fool," and "I'll Take Care of You" with consummate ease. But even more telling is how effortlessly and seamlessly material like Buddy Ace's "Love of Mine," "Members Only," "Soon as the Weather Breaks," and Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Get Your Money Where You Spend Your Time" meshes with the old standbys. A lengthy slow blues medley brings guest appearances from Johnnie Taylor and Bobby Rush on "Stormy Monday," but the real star here is Bland himself. He's in good voice and good humor, and this makes a fine addition to his stack of latter-day recordings.

In 1999, Mobile Fidelity reissued Blue Oyster Cult's first two albums, Blue Oyster Cult (1972) and Tyranny and Mutation (1973) on a single 24-karat gold CD that was aimed at audiophiles. Hearing the albums back to back on the same disc, one is reminded how much crisper, tougher and sharper Murry Krugman and Sandy Pearlman's production was on Tyranny and Mutation – it's a production that's more suitable for a heavy metal/hard rock band…

This two-fer from Repertoire features a pair of out of print Shocking Blue LPs: Ink Pot and Attila. Originally issued in 1972, these 31 tracks were written by guitarist Robby VanLeeuwen (with the exception of "I Ain't Never" and "Tobacco Road,") and are surprisingly better than might be expected from a one-hit wonder.

The Swinging Blue Jeans were a four-piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", issued in 1964. Subsequent singles released that year and the next made no impression…

This German release of the rare Canadian Capitol LP Don't Make Me Over not only contains the original dozen tracks from this long lost album, but 19 extra bonus tracks culled from various European singles, and previously unreleased material…

Formed in Glasgow in 1985, Deacon Blue recorded this debut album in London in early 1987. The album features some of the band’s best-known songs in “Dignity”, “Chocolate Girl” and “When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)”. Issued in June 1987, the album reached # 14 and achieved Platinum status in the UK alone (300,000 sales).

One of several Liverpool pop groups to achieve international success in the sixties, the Swinging blue jeans were actually formed in 1958, when (acknowledging their hero, Gene Vincent), they called themselves the Bluegenes. They were already regular performers at the Cavern club when the Beatles made their debut in 1961 at that now-famous venue - indeed, the Beatles occupied the guest spot on their show…

Weighing in at a hefty 34 tracks, this is the most exhaustive Swinging Blue Jeans anthology available…