Tim Niland is a lifelong jazz and blues fan, who began blogging about music five years ago. In real life, he is a public librarian living in New Jersey.

More Articles
Topics

jazz

blues

explodingstarorchestra

mississippifredmcdowell

Examiner Feeds

These websites were picked by the Blues and Jazz Examiner as useful resources.

View: All Sources

EDUCATION: Fire and Ice in American Culture

All About Jazz News - 7 hrs ago

OBITUARY: Gone with the Ages the Coconut Grove

All About Jazz News - 7 hrs ago

2008 Blues Music Awards on Beale Street Caravan

Topix.com - 8 hrs ago

TV/FILM: "Let's Get Lost" the Lasting Allure of Chet Baker

All About Jazz News - 9 hrs ago

CD/DOWNLOAD/ALBUM: Pacific Coast Jazz Adds Danny Green's Debut CD "With You in Mind"

All About Jazz News - 9 hrs ago

Best of 2008: So Far

National Examiners

Brian Louie
Soccer Examiner
Most Recent Post
Xabi Alonso, Russia's Blutarsky and Facebook embarrassment

Michelle Kerns
Book Examiner
Most Recent Post
Reader recommendations for best books to treat Harry Potter withdrawal, Part 2

Paula Duffy
Sports Examiner
Most Recent Post
Pacman might have violated terms of his probation. Goodell won't like that

Angele Sionna
Early Childhood Parenting Examiner
Most Recent Post
New Elmo Live available today- Where to find him NOW with no lines and not over retail cost!!!

Julianne Will
Freelance Writing Examiner
Most Recent Post
Business cards on the cheap--but don't flip them over

Browse All Examiners

Find the Examiners
writing about your
favorite topics.

Find Examiners »

Showing entries for Category: elviscostello

Elmore James – The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956 (Ace 1993, 2007)

Add a Comment

May 11, 7:00 PM

by Tim Niland, Blues and Jazz Examiner

This three disc collection takes an extended look at the first half of the lamentably short recording career of the great blues slide guitarist and singer Elmore James. Disc one begins with James' most well known song, an adaptation of Robert Johnson's “Dust My Broom.” Propelled by a stinging slide riff and the swooping harmonica of Sonny Boy Williamson II, it became an unexpected hit and launched not only his career, but was the seed of many blues and rock 'n' roll ands to come.

Many of the songs he was to record in the future were based upon this riff as producers tried to recapture the magic of that hit. But he was far from a one-trick pony, as shown by the likes of the fascinating instrumental “Hawiiian Boogie” where adapts aspect of the Hawaiian style of slack-key guitar playing to his own electric delta blues foundation. Other notable tracks on the first CD are the strong shuffle “My Baby's Gone” and the deeply emotional slow blues “I Held My Baby Last Night” As impressive as his guitar playing is, his vocals are eually important and hair-raising in their intensity.

Some singles featuring James as a sideman are also included, with him sitting in with saxophonist J.T. Brown on some jump blues, and The Bep Brown Orchestra on the ironic “Dumb Woman Blues.” The multiple takes and breakdowns found on discs two and three can be a little repetitive, but that is natural in order to pad out such a large collection. The vast majority of the music found here is electric blues of the highest order, like the scalding up-tempo boogie “Elmo's Shuffle” and the hyper-emotional ballad “Sho' Nuff I Do.”

The discs come with an excellent forty page booklet of essays, photos and discography. While this big set might not be the easiest way for a newcomer to discover James' great music, once you have fallen under his spell, it is a great place to dig deeper.
Topics: elviscostello , elmorejames , electricblues

Feed

Comments

Elvis Costello - Momofuku (Lost Highway, 2008)

Add a Comment

May 9, 3:47 PM

In his notes to this new record, Costello writes "Some rock and roll music is better if you don't think too hard on it." Seriously fed up with the business of music, he had threatened to either quit recording, playing live or both. Thankfully... Read More
Topics: elviscostello , rockandroll