Nowhere has blues been so transformed as in Chicago. To this day, gritty, electric blues fills its night air. Alligator's Living Chicago Blues series was created to record and bring attention to the city's overlooked or undiscovered talent. The hope was blues would "not be resigned to mere history". In Jim O'Neal's excellent liner notes, originally written in 1978, it is interesting to observe how little some things have changed. He writes, "The powerful recording conglomerates show little interest in blues".
As a minimum, each volume features four artists with session players as historically rich as the recordings themselves. The Grammy nominated Volume II contains two of the best guitarists and two of the best pianists. Three of these authentic artists still record and perform regularly even though they are senior citizens. Talk about Living Chicago Blues! It's hard to imagine that at the time of these recordings, none of these read deal musicians were big names in the blues.Lonnie Brooks has been on the scene for half a century. His incisive bands have been a breeding ground for the next generation of blues greats. It's hard to believe "Don't Answer The Door" was recorded in '78, since the song still sounds contemporary. It features Brooks' deep blues grooves, booming vocals, and cutting guitar. "Two Headed Man" has become a staple as has the signature guitar solo Brooks performs on it. Magic Slim received his nickname from his mentor, guitar great Magic Sam. Slim moved to Chicago in the '60s, and by '72 he had replaced Hound Dog Taylor at a prominent South Side blues club. At the time of this recording Magic Slim was the essence of Chicago blues guitar, and he still is in 2005. On "Stranded On The Highway", he and his Teardrops perform as if they were born and raised with each other. When Slim plays a vibrato solo on "Spider In My Stew", it strikes a chord in your soul.
The departed Johnny "Big Moose" Walker was a Korea veteran, and Earl Hooker was his closest music partner. "Would You, Baby?" features classic Chicago blues piano performed like few before or after Walker. His dominant vocals rein mighty on "Worry, Worry". Like all the classic ballparks that are now gone, they don't play or record blues guitar like Louis Myers performs on "Cry, Cry Darling". Acclaimed pianist Pinetop Perkins is best known for his days spent with Muddy Waters. When it comes to piano, the nonchalant gentleman may easily be considered the pussycat of the blues. Not surprisingly, many Waters alumni recorded with Perkins on these sessions. Within seconds, he flies up and down the keyboards, while singing like an alley cat on "Take It Easy, Baby". His proficient piano and Sammy Lawhorn's legendary guitar cannot be challenged on "Blues After Hours".There are four volumes in the Living Chicago Blues series. Originally issued in the late '70s on six LPs, every song in the collection has been put onto four CDs, each lasting over an hour long. Until a more modern series of recordings is made, these four collections dominate as the most current reflection of Chicago blues. Get any of them as fast as you can. If you've never been to a Chicago blues bar, any of these CDs will let you know what you are missing.
--- Tim Holek

Track Listing
1. Don't Answer The Door - The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band
2. Two Headed Man - The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band
3. Cold, Lonely Nights - The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band
4. Move Over, Little Dog - The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band
5. Would You, Baby? - Johnny 'Big Moose' Walker
6. Worry, Worry - Johnny 'Big Moose' Walker
7. Sunnyland Blues - Johnny 'Big Moose' Walker
8. Cry, Cry Darling - Johnny 'Big Moose' Walker
9. Stranded On The Highway - Magic Slim And The Teardrops
10. Dirty Mother For You - Magic Slim And The Teardrops
11. Spider In My Stew - Magic Slim And The Teardrops
12. Don't Say That No More - Magic Slim And The Teardrops
13. Take It Easy, Baby - Pinetop Perkins
14. Blues After Hours - Pinetop Perkins
15. Little Angel Child - Pinetop Perkins
16. How Much More Long - Pinetop Perkins

CD 2 = http://massmirror.com/02ece079902ddec7d010465d30afe0b6.html
pass = bluestown.blogspot.com
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I'm not talking about some Ktel top 40 record either man. Ya dig? Ya looking to pick up some red hot soulful chicago blues then what are you waiting for? This is it! Volume 3 is the best of alligator's 4 part living chicago blues seris. No $14 could be better spent. Every cut on this disk is solid through and through. AC Reed starts out with "hard times" and they just keep getting better. This is one of the few ways to get your hands on some "scotty and the rib tips" stuff. The name alone makes you like these guys. The music makes you like them even more. "Careless with our love" will smooth out life's wrinkles. The quitar is solid and soulful. You can tell these guys take their blues seriously.
Everything is fine from there. Carey bell is the mouth harp master. When you hear Lacy gibson's "feel so bad" you won't feel bad at all. That song is almost too hot to hear. You wonder if your CD is playing at warp speed. The follow up "wish me well" continues to smoke. Last but not least are the son's of the blues. Lurrie bell is one of my favorites. This son of carey bell carries on his fathers legacy to the next level. President reagan must have been listening to the "berlin wall" just before he made that infamous speech. President gorbachev, tear down this wall! What would the world be like without alligator records? I shudder to think. Make this your second blues CD after the alligator records 25th anniversary collection. You won't be disappointed!
--- Mitchell L. Gustafson

Track Listing
1. Hard Times - A.C. Reed And The Spark Plugs
2. She's Fine - A.C. Reed And The Spark Plugs
3. Moving Out Of The Ghetto - A.C. Reed And The Spark Plugs
4. Going To New York - A.C. Reed And The Spark Plugs
5. Big Leg Woman - Scotty And The Rib Tips
6. Careless With Our Love - Scotty And The Rib Tips
7. Road Block - Scotty And The Rib Tips
8. Poison Ivy - Scotty And The Rib Tips
9. I Dare You - Lovie Lee With Carey Bell
10. Nobody Knows My Troubles - Lovie Lee With Carey Bell
11. Sweet Little Girl - Lovie Lee With Carey Bell
12. Naptown - Lovie Lee With Carey Bell
13. Drown In My Own Tears - Lacy Gibson
14. Crying For My Baby - Lacy Gibson
15. Feel So Bad - Lacy Gibson
16. Wish Me Well - Lacy Gibson
17. Have You Ever Loved A Woman - The Sons Of Blues
18. Berlin Wall - The Sons Of Blues
19. Prisoner Of The Blues - The Sons Of Blues

CD 3 = http://massmirror.com/bf04b68676099a47997d9f25af617681.html
pass = bluestown.blogspot.com
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