Alligator Records 40th Anniversary

Artist:

Various Artists

UPC:

014551252627

Description:

Audio Mixers: Drew Vonderhaar; Ryan Lipman; Dan Prothero; David Axelbaum; David Farrell ; Freddy Breitberg; Gene Lawson; Ricky Barnes; Glenn Nishida; Roman Klun; Scott Brenton; Jay Newland; Jay Shilliday; Jeff Covert; Jim DeVito; Jim Tullio; John Hampton; Mike Iacopelli; Justin Niebank; Sam Siefiert; Jim Haines; Jerry Hoyson; Tony Terrebone; Kid Andersen; Larry Goetz; Mark Bingham; Neil Citron; Richard Mullen ; Richard Whittington; Ari Rios; Sam Fishkin; Shelly Yakus; Sterling Winfield; Stevie Mendell; Stu Black; Stuart Sullivan; Warren Riker; Ben Mumphrey; Roger Cole ; Blaise Barton; Bob Skye; Bonnie Hayes.
Liner Note Author: Bruce Iglauer.
Photographers: Dragan Tasic; Diane Allmen; Peter Amft; Tom Stio; Steve Kagan; Jef Jaisun; Clayton Call; Randi Anglin; Kent Lacin; Jeff Dunas; Stuart Brinin; Dan Monick; Mary Bruton; Paul Natkin; Ken Settle; Jerry Moran; James Bland; Stefan Falke; Frank Vigil; Michel Verlinden; Teresa Nelson; Flounoy Holmes; David Lucinker; Darren Jackinsky; Rebecca Sell.
Starting with its 20th anniversary in 1991, every five years brings another double Alligator collection, and 2011 was no exception. While the 35th edition --released in 2006 -- logically featured 35 songs, the compilers couldn`t quite squeeze 40 onto this 40th anniversary disc, even though owner Bruce Iglauer does admit to fading a few endings off prematurely in order to maximize the list, which hits 38 selections. The trick with these albums is to both pay tribute to the label`s storied past while including enough recent acts to connect the dots between the house-rocking music Iglauer built his company on, and the more modern yet still roots-based sounds he`s released during the last five years. He does an excellent job here, mixing not just old and new, but male and female musicians who have recorded for Alligator over the decades. Of course, no Alligator historical collection is going to exclude Hound Dog Taylor, Iglauer`s first signing who remains the raucous, soulful blues-rocking standard who helped forge the label`s musical direction. Newer artists such as JJ Grey & Mofro, Eric Lindell, Anders Osborne, and Janiva Magness share space with Johnny Winter, Son Seals, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Lonnie Brooks, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, and lots more. A 30-page book includes obscure information and anecdotes about each, providing a first-hand look at what attracted Iglauer to the artists. Even with 35 acts, dozens are left out, and they are listed individually at the end of the extensive and often fascinating notes. There are some predominantly acoustic performances from Mavis Staples, Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, and Corey Harris, but the majority of the selections run to the high-energy, very plugged-in Chicago and Texas blues that Iglauer plainly loves. Between musicians such as Luther Allison, Roy Buchanan, Son Seals, and Koko Taylor, all of whom have created arguably their finest work while signed to Alligator (and that`s saying plenty), there is an embarrassment of riches to choose from. While some of these names have also appeared on previous anniversary editions, no songs are repeated from those albums. Clearly, the intention of this and the previous sets is as loss leaders to sell more individual Alligator discs, but they play as perfectly enjoyable mash-ups of roots music, and a historical music lesson that anyone with an affinity for the genre will appreciate. ~ Hal Horowitz

Track Listing:

DISC 1:

1. I`m a Woman - Koko Taylor
2. I Ain`t Drunk - Albert Collins
3. Strange Feeling - Michael Burks
4. Backup Plan - Tommy Castro
5. Icicles in My Meatloaf - Lil` Ed & the Blues Imperials
6. We the People - Guitar Shorty
7. U B U - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
8. Party`s Still Going On, The - Marcia Ball
9. That`s a Pretty Good Love - Roomful of Blues
10. Have Blues, Will Travel - Smokin` Joe Kubek/Bnois King
11. Going Home (Where Women Got Meat on Their Bones) - Son Seals
12. Give Me My Coat and Shoes - Junior Wells/Buddy Guy
13. Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love - Janiva Magness
14. Mojo Boogie - Johnny Winter
15. Last Dirty Deal - Coco Montoya
16. Fish Ain`t Bitin` - Corey Harris
17. All the King`s Horses - Luther Allison
18. Echoes of My Sins - Anders Osborne
19. Double Whammy - Lonnie Mack/Stevie Ray Vaughan

DISC 2:

1. T-Bone Shuffle - Johnny Copeland/Albert Collins/Robert Cray
2. Don`t Take Advantage of Me - Lonnie Brooks
3. Good Leavin` Alone, A - Eddy Clearwater
4. Sitting at Home Alone - Hound Dog Taylor
5. Roll Your Moneymaker - Elvin Bishop/Little Smokey Smothers
6. With the Quickness - James Cotton
7. It`s My Own Tears - Shemekia Copeland
8. Red Beans - Professor Longhair
9. Where Hwy 61 Runs - Charlie Musselwhite
10. You Can`t Judge a Book by the Cover - Delbert McClinton/Roy Buchanan
11. Step into the Light - Mavis Staples
12. Speak No Evil - Tinsley Ellis
13. It`s a Drag - Eric Lindell
14. Going Down to the River - Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women
15. Feed My Soul - The Holmes Brothers
16. Two-Fisted Mama - Katie Webster
17. Daddy Pinocchio - William Clarke
18. When the Levee Breaks - Buckwheat Zydeco
19. Sun Is Shining Down, The - JJ Grey & Mofro

Album Information

Release Date:

02/22/2011

Type:

Collection

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Chicago Blues

Label:

Alligator Records

Producer:

Chris Vachon; Eric Lindell; Chris Goldsmith; Corey Harris; Dan Prothero; Dave Darling; Andy Kaslow; Derek O`Brien; Dick Shurman; Didier Tricard; Elvin Bishop; Wesley Race; Allison Kaslow; Ice Cube Slim; James Cotton; Janiva Magness; Jim Gaines; Jim Tullio; Jimmy Vivino; John Hahn; Katie Webster; Kid Andersen; Lonnie Brooks; Lonnie Mack; Mavis Staples; Anders Osborne; Paul Barrere; Pepper Keenan; Richard McLeese; Rick Estrin; Ronnie Baker Brooks; Roy Buchanan; Saffire The Uppity Blues Women; Smokin` Joe Kubek; Son Seals; Stanton Moore; Steve Berlin; Stevie Ray Vaughan; Tinsley Ellis; Vasti Jackson; Joan Osborne; Jackie Hairston; Wyzard; Brian Brinkerhoff; Bruce Iglauer

Catalog Number:

12526

Original Release Year:

2011

# of Discs:

2

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

158 : 19

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