Includes fully illustrated 24page booklet.
There’s so little on this box set that I wouldn’t be overjoyed to play you… an absolutely essential purchase.
Mark Lamarr BBC Radio Two
Fellow addicts will already have many of the tracks, but purchasing them again to have them put in the context of blues development should be a joy rather than a hardship.… As a whole package, it is irresistible and should be an essential on the shopping list of all self respecting r’n’b junkies.
David Innes R2
The History of Rhythm and Blues 1942-52 is just splendid, it’s a labour of love and a work of supreme scholarship, put together by people who obviously care. From boogie men to boppers, hillbilly’s to honkers it is beautifully programmed and has polished some dusty old gems into a relevant and modern work of art. Compilations of the music of any genre from history are ten a penny these days, thrown together with little thought for anything bar profit. This is something else, something very special indeed. It realises that recorded music has a place in social history, its own mythology, a narrative and in its four discs and lovingly annotated 68 page book, it tells that story. So as well as the fabulous and joyful music, we get thoughts on the development of radio, the race laws of early 20th century America and the migration of workers, the jukebox phenomenon and even technical information about patterns in the 12 bar blues form. The compilers of this set have created a desirable object every bit as a precious as a memory, as valuable as a necklace, they are heroes of the gramophone, the record player, the cd machine. Just buy it, you won’t go far wrong.
Ian Clayton
Among a plethora of such comps…frankly, it’s probably the best of its kind. Whether you want to learn more about the genre or have been listening for years, this collection leaves others eating its dust.
Laith Al-Kaisy Record Collector
RANDB048
