Robert Pete Williams' music had the striking lyricism and highly individualized sound of the great Delta blues masters, but it was made well after the heyday of that style. Williams improvised considerably in his performances, using blues' language but varying ...

Recorded in Louisiana from 1959-1960 and in Berkeley, California in April, 1970. This second volume of newly released (on CD) Robert Pete Williams material was mostly recorded in Louisiana in 1959, shortly after Williams was paroled from Angola by Governor Earl ...

Recorded in Berkley, California on May 2, 1964. Originally released on Arhoolie LP 1023. Includes liner notes by Chris Strachwitz. The material on this album was re-released on compact disc in the '90s, with outtakes and whatnot bumping the song catch ...

On these recordings cut between 1961 and 1969, Lightnin' Hopkins exhibits the full scope of his music, picking up his electric guitar for a raw rendition of "Ice Storm Blues," sitting at the piano for a compelling version of "Jesus ...

Recorded in Dallas in Summer 1960. Includes liner notes by Chris Strachwitz. Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson could present stunning, poignant, ironic or gripping stories, and his vocals were ideal for the slow-paced, dramatic storytelling mode. Jackson scored several regional and jukebox ...

In the '50s, Harry Oster made several recordings of African-American inmates at the penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana. These sessions are primarily remembered for the discovery of Robert Pete Williams, but Oster also found several other acoustic blues performers of merit. ...

Recorded in 1977 and 1978. Includes liner notes by Ben Sandmel. Fine set presenting vintage barrelhouse piano and stomping blues by Big Joe Duskin, one of the last true stylists in both genres. Duskin's album was released with no fanfare and ...

Beginning with the release of two Mississippi Fred McDowell albums in 1965 and 1966, Arhoolie Records became permanently identified with the man and his music. Released in 1994, Arhoolie's Good Morning Little School Girl combines secular and sacred material from ...

Originally released as 2 separate LPs (Arhoolie 2019 and Arhoolie 1060). A reissue (on compact disc) of a reissue (on Arhoolie) of an album originally released on the Folk Lyric label, this combines two albums of Louisiana country blues material on ...

Adding ten bonus tracks to the original release, 1995's This Ain't No Rock N' Roll is an impressive, extensive collection of the later work of Mississippi Fred McDowell. Though he uses a backup band consisting of second guitar, bass, and ...

Recorded primarily in San Francisco during the early 1970s, Mojo In My Hand is a superlative retrospective of L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson's music, spotlighting his impressive multi-instrumental skills -- not only a gifted guitarist, these sides prove him to be ...

Recorded in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 14, 1959. Originally released on Arhoolie (2016). Includes liner notes by Richard Allen. Re-Issue;Recordings Made In The 1950's;3 Bonus Tracks Personnel: De De Pierce (vocals, trumpet); Billie Pierce (vocals, piano); Lucius Bridges (vocals, tom tom); ...

Includes liner notes by Chris Strachwitz, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt & Elijah Wald. Digitally remastered by Mike Cogan (Bay Records, Berkeley, California). ARHOOLIE RECORDS 40TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes. Along with fellow enthusiasts Harry Smith, Moses ...

A crazed, primal record, Bongo Joe is a deserved cult classic; beating wildly on oil drums, George Coleman delivers bizarre raps including "Innocent Little Doggie" and "Transistor Radio" -- hilarious, edgy stuff. ~ Jason Ankeny Contains 2 previously unreleased tracks. Composer: Joseph ...

This is the real deal, obviously. C.J. is the son of Clifton Chenier, who is to zydeco what James Brown is to soul--i.e., the godfather--and the music here is very traditionalist and stripped down (sometimes, as in "Blue Flame Blues" ...

This CD contains Jelly Roll Morton's final studio recordings (the only existing later performances by Morton are a couple of tunes from a radio broadcast) and supercedes an earlier two-LP Atlantic set. The main reason to acquire this 1997 CD ...

Recorded between 1930 and 1955. Includes liner notes by Loren Schoenberg. AN ANTHOLOGY OF BIG BAND SWING contains 40 tracks on 2 CDs and includes a booklet with historical text and archival photos. This two-CD set is an unusually successful sampler. Although ...

This CD contains selections from 20 pianists, all but two (Dodo Marmarosa and Bill Evans) who play in pre-bop styles. Taken mostly from the Decca catalog, the collection has many fine performances highlighted by Jelly Roll Morton's "The Pearls," Fats ...

Contains all 16 tracks that the Cole Trio recorded for Decca. The source materials for this reissue were, for the most part, early 1950s tape transfers from original metal parts. New transfers were also made from metal parts and from 78-rpm ...

Dr. John's debut for GRP doesn't deviate from any release he's made for several other labels. It's still his chunky, humorous take on New Orleans funk; these are his songs, visions and performances, and there's none of the elevator material ...

Recorded live at the Apollo Theater, New York, New York on November 10, 1990. Includes liner notes by Andrew Whist. LIVE AT THE APOLLO is a straight reissue of a famed 1990 recording by blues guitar master B.B. King at Harlem's ...

Simply put, this 11-cut compilation was culled form the New York Voices three albums for GRP, Hearts of Fire, New York Voices, and What's Inside. As such, it assembles pretty much the best tracks from those records. That said, it ...

B.B. King is more than just one of the greatest masters of electric blues guitar; he is also an extraordinarily gifted singer. His talents on his instrument are so great that they tend to eclipse his soulful and sophisticated singing ...

Diane Schuur is in prime voice throughout this swinging date. Backed by an 11-piece group arranged by Greg Adams, Schuur emphasizes the blues feeling on a variety of mostly older but fresh material, including "Stormy Monday," "Save Your Love for ...

Also available as part of SWING THAT MUSIC, a boxed set that also contains the Count Basie album SWINGSATION, and the Ella Fitzgerald/Chick Webb SWINGSATION. Recorded between March 29, 1939 and May 28, 1953. Includes liner notes by Zan Stewart. Digitally remastered ...