The Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection -- A Review
Phillip R. Scarr
THE ALLIGATOR RECORDS
20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
(ALCD 105/6)
a review by
Phillip Scarr
(c) 1991 by Phillip Scarr
I have always been a casual listener to the blues but never
a die-hard follower. I did a Saturday night blues show on the
radio in college so I guess I know more than the average person
about the music. Those shows I did in college introduced me to a
record label called Alligator and to a collection of artists who
are nothing short of excellent.
For the novitiate, Alligator is to the recording industry
what Anchor Steam is to beer. A small company dedicated not to
the mass production of a product, but rather to the production of
the best product possible. This 20th Anniversary collection is
no exception to this undying dedication to quality.
Founded in 1971 by Bruce Iglauer for the sole purpose, as he
put it himself in the copious liner notes which accompany this
recording, "to make just one record. It was called _Hound Dog
Taylor and the HouseRockers_ (AL 4701) and it was cut in just two
nights in the spring of 1971, with the band playing the same
beat-up guitars through the same raggedy amps they used at
Florence's [a local nightclub where Iglauer had first been
ignited by that "blue flame"]." That tradition of faithfully
recording blues artists as they were meant to be heard (i.e. live
and NASTY!) is what seperates Alligator from many other blues
labels.
This collection has music spanning the complete history of
the company and there are a LOT of well known folks who, in one
way or another owe quite a bit to Alligator. For those looking
for names, there's Albert Collins and the Ice Breakers (a
personal favorite of mine), James Cotton, Johnny Copeland,
Professor Longhair, Clifton Chenier, Koko Taylor, Elvin Bishop,
Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Johnny Winter. Others include such blues
favorites as Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, Son Seals, Katie
Webster, Little Charlie and the Nightcats and a whole host of
others (35 Alligator artists in all).
To give you the flavor of the album, and of the Alligator
style in general, Iglauer relates a tale about one memorable
recording session:
About 8 p.m., Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials arrived.
I had seen them live only a few time and had chosen
them [for _The New Bluebloods_, a compilation of new
Chicago bluesmen] because I knew Ed was a good slide
player, but I had never really heard them stretch out.
The band, on the other hand, had never even *seen* a
recording studio before. They came into the room in a
little huddle, looking around in wonder at the array of
mikes, cables and baffles like five-year-olds on the
first day of school. When they plugged in, tuned up,
and discovered they could really hear each other over
the headphones, they got excited. No one had explained
modern multi-track recording to them, and I saw no
reason to start now. ... They cut their two songs in
twenty minutes (two takes of each). Since I had booked
four hours of studio time, and the band was having fun
(and seemed like they were just getting warmed up), I
asked Ed if he had a few more tunes. He launched into
a full set, playing to the dozen people on the other
side of the glass as though he were in a crowded club,
dancing across the studio, doing back bends and knee
drops, the racing back to the mike to sing the next
verse. With each song, the band got louder and
tougher, the vocals more committed, and Ed's slide dug
deeper. After a few songs, we were dancing in the
booth and applauding and yelling encouragement through
the headphones.
Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials do a song on this collection
called "You Don't Exist Anymore" which is, without a doubt, the
best song I have heard in a *long* time and is certainly the
standout in this collection. It is electric with a driving
boogie beat that is completely and totally irresistable. The
slide work is fantastic and the band is rock-steady. I have
since ordered their albums _Roughhousin'_, and _Chicken, Gravy
and Biscuts_ to get more of the same.
The music is, for the most part, first class, culled from
the extensive Alligator archives and contains a mix of raw,
electric Chicago blues, acoustic, vocal and even zydeco music (a
new branch of the Alligator program). Some of the tracks are
obviously better than others. Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials
are the shining star on this album as is Albert Collins in a tune
recorded with Johnny Copeland called "Black Cat Bone". Son Seals
is brilliant on "Going Back Home" as is Lonnie Mack's "Strike
Like Lightning" and Clifton Chenier is his old self again on "I'm
the Zydeco Man".
The winner for best artist name should go to "Safire - The
Uppity Blues Woman" whose song "The Middle Aged Blues Boogie" is
truly hilarious: "That young man makes me boogie at the
horizontal disco!" Accompanied by acoustic guitar, stand-up bass
and piano, this woman has a set of PIPES! Boy can she sing.
On the down side, The Paladins are a limpid, lukewarm band
who can't seem to "get it up" to jam with the stellar company
they are keeping, and Delbert McClinton is really out of his
league here (never one of my favorites) but those are the only
two dissapointing tracks in the collection.
There is something here for everyone and at the ridiculous
price of $12.99 (what I paid at my local record store) for two
CDs, you could hardly go wrong! This is a two CD set packed
tight with music: volume 1 is 73:08 and volume 2 is 72:59. Quite
a value considering the price. And yes, it comes is a jewel box
(for those of you who care ;) (and you know who you are, darlings!))
--
(--)======================================================================(--)
|| ||
|| As evey cell in Chile will tell / The cries of the tortured men ||
|| Remember Allende in the days before / Before the army came ||
|| Please remember Victory Jarra / In the Santiago Stadium ||
|| Es Verdad / Those Washington Bullets Again! --The Clash ||
|| ||
(--)== pr...@virginia.edu === Phil Scarr === Department of Anthropology ==(--)
Steve Kappes
<
< THE ALLIGATOR RECORDS
< 20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
< (ALCD 105/6)
<
< a review by
< Phillip Scarr
< (c) 1991 by Phillip Scarr
<
<
<who can't seem to "get it up" to jam with the stellar company
<they are keeping, and Delbert McClinton is really out of his
<league here (never one of my favorites) but those are the only
<two dissapointing tracks in the collection.
<
I would normally never respond to something like this, but the Paladins
are an exceptional band. They are not blues, in my opinion, and do seem
out of place in this set. If you ever get the chance to see them life,
make the effort.
Steve Kappes Interphase Corp. uunet!iphase!steve
W. L.
> On the down side, The Paladins are a limpid, lukewarm band
>who can't seem to "get it up" to jam with the stellar company
Have you heard "Kiddio" from their recent album "Let's Buzz".
I wouldn't call it lukewarm at all. In fact, the whole album
is good. I do agree with you that the Paladins vary in quality
quite a bit, though.
-Bill Harrison
Phillip R. Scarr
I had someone else tell me good things about the Paladins after reading
the review so I may check out something else by them. It's just the
track they picked for this album that was so bad compared to the rest of
the stuff. I sure didn't mean to offend any Paladin fans.
>
> -Bill Harrison
-Phil
Lee Sawyer
>
> THE ALLIGATOR RECORDS
> 20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
> (ALCD 105/6)
>
> a review by
> Phillip Scarr
> (c) 1991 by Phillip Scarr
>
A very good review. I have been cycling through the
cassettes since I bought them Saturday. I don't usually
buy compilations, but this is a must-have, and at the
2-for-1 price, ya can't beat it.
> The winner for best artist name should go to "Safire - The
>Uppity Blues Woman" whose song "The Middle Aged Blues Boogie" is
>truly hilarious: "That young man makes me boogie at the
>horizontal disco!" Accompanied by acoustic guitar, stand-up bass
>and piano, this woman has a set of PIPES! Boy can she sing.
I think it is uppity blues woMEN, that is, the whole band
is female. At several points there is ensemble singing, which
is very good. Does anyone know exactly what the make-up
(how many singers vs instrumentalists) of this group is ?
[deletions]
>they are keeping, and Delbert McClinton is really out of his
>league here (never one of my favorites) but those are the only
>two dissapointing tracks in the collection.
Well...I like ole Delbert, and I like the track "I Have my Dreams".
But the guy sings with a definate country flavor, one part Hank
Williams to two parts Little Walter (he can blow a mean harp).
To each his own. Bet you don't like George Jones either :-)
[deletions]
>a value considering the price. And yes, it comes is a jewel box
>(for those of you who care ;) (and you know who you are, darlings!))
>--
>(--)======================================================================(--)
> || ||
> || As evey cell in Chile will tell / The cries of the tortured men ||
> || Remember Allende in the days before / Before the army came ||
> || Please remember Victory Jarra / In the Santiago Stadium ||
> || Es Verdad / Those Washington Bullets Again! --The Clash ||
> || ||
>(--)== pr...@virginia.edu === Phil Scarr === Department of Anthropology ==(--)
Political signatures from someone who makes fun people who are enviromentally
concerned ? I guess I just don't get it...
==============================================================================
Lee Sawyer | Dept of Physics | These opinions are mine.
(FSUHEP::SAWYER) | Florida State University | If you want fact,
| Tallahassee,FL | get an encyclopedia.
==============================================================================
Derek Morgan
the Springfield, IL Blues Fest - we were one of the bands there. They are
supposed to be a three piece - acoustic guitar, piano, and acoustic bass. Yes,
Gaye does have a _GREAT_ set of pipes, and she's really fun. Their bass player
was hurt (bad back), and unfortunately didn't make the trip. Ann's left hand
on the piano provided a houserockin' bottom instead.
They are currently touring in support of their latest release, "Hot Flash",
but if you get the chance to see them, go, and then buy the CD. They're a
blast.
Derek "Sleepy" Morgan
de...@wubios.wustl.edu