The Twister

Bo Diddley - Ride On: The Chess Masters, Vol. 3 - 1960-1961 (2009) {2CD Set Geffen–Hip-O Select B0012946-02}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 845 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 340 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 120 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960-61, 2009 Hip-O Select / Geffen Records / Universal | B0012946-02
Rock and Roll / Rhythm and Blues / Early R&B / Blues / Electric Chicago Blues

One of the great things about Bo Diddley, something that often goes unmentioned, is that he was a home-recording pioneer, building his own studio years before any other rocker. The full fruits of this labor can be heard on Ride On: The Chess Masters, Vol. 3 – 1960-1961, Hip-O Select's third installment in their complete Bo Chess/Checker masters and easily the weirdest set yet. All 54 songs here were recorded over the course of 13 months: a whopping 17 them have never been released (an additional seven have never seen release in the U.S.), every one of them was cut in his home studio in Washington DC, and not a one reached the charts.

This California-based blues band led by Rod Piazza, the harmonica player and singer whose stratospheric harmonica wailings owe a heavy debt to both Little Walter and George "Harmonica" Smith. Piazza began his professional career as a member of the Dirty Blues Band in the mid-'60s. The Dirty Blues Band recorded two albums for ABC/Bluesway – an eponymous debut in 1967 and 1968's Stone Dirty. Piazza left the band after the release of Stone Dirty, choosing to hit the road with his idol George "Harmonica" Smith instead. Over the next decade and a half, Piazza and Smith performed together frequently under the name Bacon Fat; they also recorded the occasional album.

The 2011 London Palladium production was probably the most impressive stage production I have ever seen. This CD provides an excellent memory of the show with all the musical items. For those who haven't seen the show it is a welcome change from the Judy Garland soundtrack from the iconic film and it includes the new songs written for the stage show by Andrew Lloyd Webber…