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67 of 72 found the following review helpful:
 The best ever? May 13, 2001
By political idiot
Not even close to the best ever. The actual title should read: "The Best Blues Album For Which We Were Able To Get Rights To The Songs Quickly" or something like that. The fact is this double disc set is just a grab bag of songs with absolutely no thought put into it whatsoever. With a few exceptions, disc one is practically a throw away. Larry McCray, Kinsey Report, Gary Moore, and Terry Evans et. al. are all ok modern blues artists but hardly deserve to be on a blues album titled "The Best Ever" -especially one limited to only two discs.
This is a Virgin release, so poor understanding of the genre is to be expected. However, to boldly exclaim that this is the best ever compilation is a rather ostentatious position -even for the Virgin people. The best ever blues compilation would certainly be a difficult undertaking. However, this set completly ignores the likes of giants like Big Maceo, Tommy Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson I & II, Robert Johnson, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Roosevelt Sykes, Robert Nighthawk, Jimmy Witherspoon, Floyd Dixon, and so many many more important and entertaining historical blues artists. The most shocking oversight is the absence of T-Bone Walker!
Really, I think this is a waste of your money. Even on its own level the flow is odd especially on disc one. Disc two has a better grouping and flow of great blues artists and songs, but still not worth the price. There has yet to be a true "best of" compilation to be released, so for now I suggest you may want to explore the best attempt to date. It is a four disc box set released on MCA in 1996 called "Mean Old World."
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Maybe Not The Best (But Close To It)!! Oct 12, 2009
By Charlotte L. Slaughter
"soul fan"
In my personal opinion, you can not represent your product as the "Best Blues Album in the World...Ever!" if you do not include Jimmy Reed, Bobby "Blue" Bland or Muddy Waters! I am positive many other fans of the blues will bemoan other blues artists not represented here. Having gotten all of that out of my system, I will now expound on those wonderful artists represented here. Oh Boy! There's: B.B. King, Albert King, Koko Taylor, Etta James, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Winter and on and on!! You will not be disappointed with this collection. It is rollicking good fun! I highly recommend this album.
6 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Classic In Every Way! You will FEEL the Blues! Dec 23, 2003
Calling your album the "best ever" takes balls, but this CD stands the test. From classics like Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy' or Little Walter's 'My Babe' to hot female singers like Etta James and the dynamic Koko Taylor to oldies radio station's staples like 'Reeling and Rockin'' by Chuck Berry and classic rock blues like Gary Moore's 'Still Got The Blues', this CD covers a lot of ground. If you want an introduction to the blues and can only buy one CD, this should be it! If you already love the blues, you'll love hearing these songs again and remember them like your first kiss. Either way, this CD will put sadness in your heart or heat in your loins, sometimes in the same song!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
..Whatever idiot named this..? Aug 20, 2011
By Robert M. Groves
"The Grande Kazoo"
..has no conception of the genre..cherry pick & burn to one cd..then put your favorites on a disc 2..don't forget a couple of Slim Harpo tracks..& Sonny Boy Williamson's Little Village..were he has heated argument with Phil Chess before recording starts..Phil says the song has nothing to do with a village..Sonny Boy snaps back..Well, Alright, gd it.. Call it what chu want..Call it your mammy if you want to..!..Rice Miller was a character..even that was'nt his real name.
11 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Not the best ever...but still darn good Jan 04, 2004
By Mark H. Orgel
"mhorgel"
Although the title is totally hyperbole, this is an excellent collection of blues tunes of various eras and styles. I am a relative newcomer to the blues, so a compilation like this is right up my alley. It lets me get a taste of different aspects of the blues, and to discover artists that I would not have otherwise been exposed to. Represented here are some of the early delta bluesmen (Lightnin' Hopkins "Abilene", mislabeled as "Shotgun Blues"), the early electric blues (Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy"), the '60's revival (B. B. King's "3 O'Clock Blues"), the great female blues singers (Koko Taylor's smokin' "Wang Dang Doodle"), the British blues bands (John Mayall's "Spinning Coin"), contemporary American blues rock (Johnny Winter's "Illustrated Man"), and lesser known contemporary artists (Colin James' infectious cover of "No More Doggin'"). Throw in selections by Albert Collins, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, J. J. Cale, and others, and you have a blues compilation CD that may not be "The Greatest in the World", but one that both novices and long time blues fans can enjoy. Highly recommended to anybody with ann interest in the blues.
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