The blues is a long and intricate story, representing much more substantial diversity and depth than many plugged-in contemporary bar bands ever get around to hinting at. In 2002,
Le Blues 1925-1952, a 72-track, three-CD anthology of historic recordings appeared on the import Body & Soul label. The objective was clearly to present as many artists as possible, for each title was originally issued under a different name. This multi-faceted approach resulted in a wide spectrum of styles and textures, from
Blind Lemon Jefferson,
Bessie Smith, and
Barbecue Bob, to
J.B. Lenoir,
Elmore James, and
B.B. King. Casual and studious listeners alike will enjoy the blend of famous, not so famous, and obscure names. While the subject matter covers the tradition's usual range of human traits and tendencies, the producers of this useful compilation divided the material into three categories, one per disc: acoustic, electric, and female. Gathering the women onto one disc concentrates a lot of potency where it can and will transform the listener. As is the case with the anthology as a whole, the "female" portion traces the evolution of this music from the earliest electrically recorded blues (1925) to the volatile transformation of rhythm & blues into rock & roll (1952).
Le Blues is an ideal choice for workdays, road trips, and house parties. ~ arwulf arwulf