ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues..... Various Artists "Crucial Live Blues" Alligator Records I am a fan of Alligator Records and I would have to say that I own more Alligator Records than any other label. Their latest “Crucial Blues” series is an overview of their outstanding catalog. A six set budget priced series I recently came upon “Crucial Live Blues”. This is a sampler of the best tracks from “live” albums on the label and it makes for a great party. The track list reads like a who’s who of the blues. The opening track is “Riding the Blinds”, by none other than Lonnie Mack. From the only “live” recorded performance of his career, “Live! Attack of The Killer V”; we can see why he was a big influence on Stevie Ray. The title refers to riding between the mail cars with the hobo’s “from Cincinnati to Chicago”. This song was written by Don Nix, one of the founders of the Mar-Keys. Albert Collins “Tired Man” recorded “Live in Japan”. The energy from this one will wake you even if you’re dead. Albert Collins was “The Master of The Telecaster” and introduced new “tones” which resulted in him being nicknamed “The Iceman”. “Red Cherry Wine”, one of Luther’s most famous and deepest blues, is a soul fueled performance. Luther Allison at the Chicago Blues Festival from the album “Live in Chicago”. The next tune is another written by Don Nix, this time sung by Koko Taylor, “Going Back to Iuka”, that’s Mississippi, from “Live from Chicago- an Audience with The Queen”. Koko Taylor has that raw vocal power that can touch you and she is The Queen of the Blues. Elvin Bishop sings “My Dog” from the “Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour”. “Eyes like a Cat” is from “Little Charlie & The Nightcats” album “Captured Live”. Charlie Baty (guitar); and Rick Estrin (harmonica, vocals) are the nucleus of one of the best bands on the circuit today. Charlie tears it up with his swing style of guitar playing. Ann Rabson’s barrelhouse piano playing is outstanding on the Rick Estrin penned anthem, “Dump that Chump” from “Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women”’s “Live & Uppity”. This song is hilarious. Lonnie Brooks contributes “Born with the Blues” from “Live from Chicago-Bayou Lightning Strikes”. Lonnie originally from Louisiana first recorded under the name “Guitar Junior”, only when he got to Chicago someone else already had that name, so Lee Baker Jr. became Lonnie Brooks. Having played with everyone from Sonny Boy Williamson to Muddy Waters, James Cotton is the senior statesman of the blues harp. “Cotton” performs Nick Gravenites’, “Born in Chicago”, from the Grammy nominated album “Live from Chicago, Mr. Superharp Himself!” Son Seals sings “Call My Job”. He is a passionate singer and guitar player, accompanied here by saxophonist A.C. Reed, from the album “Live and Burning”. Delbert McClinton sings “Going Back to Louisiana” from “Live from Austin”, originally recorded for the “Austin City Limits” TV show. Delbert apprenticed as a member of the Fort Worth “house” band “The Straightjackets”, and wound up playing behind Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin’ Wolf. “The Live One” is the only “live” album from Australian guitarist Dave Hole. “Short Fuse Blues”, a classic, is revised here by the slide guitar master. Recorded in Chicago and Perth, Australia the album was released in March, 2003. “Dust My Broom”, the Elmore James classic, closes out the album. Performed by Hound Dog Taylor and the House Rockers, Robert Christgau called them the “Ramones of the blues” because they were rocking, but also raw. Collectively these thirteen artists have recorded 81 albums for the Alligator label. Co-producers Bruce Iglauer and Bob DePugh have selected the best from their catalog to include in this set. The opportunity for you to own these recordings at these prices is a considerable value. Richard Ludmerer Director, NY Blues And Jazz Society ricdale2@yahoo.com