The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1942-1952 : The Pre Rocknroll Years [Box set]

A cross-label 4CD set, which not only tells the story better than anything before, but offers insights into song origins and provides fascinating musical connections across decades….this set offers a wealth of insights into the cross-pollination of blues, jazz, country, gospel, pop and rock. - Johnny Black --Mojo

One of the finest box-sets released in recent years. It s rare to come across a record that is so perfect, and so perfectly insane, that it encapsulates everything you need to know about music fandom in one package, but such is this. The description labour of love doesn t begin to do justice to the effort involved in ferreting out such a finely chosen set of tracks and presenting them so ideally. One of the things that distinguishes this box set from the majority of others is the attention to detail and the quality of both the presentation and information provided. It s a four disc set with an erudite and entertaining accompanying booklet packaged in a foldout paperback-sized case (that includes recording personnel, original catalogue numbers, pictures and the like)... Even the most fanatical r&b fan will find something, probably many things, both new and enjoyable here - and everyone else can simply wallow in some of the greatest music ever recorded...this is the reissue of the year by a country mile. ...it seems likely that taken together, the three sets will become the standard work on the genre. Jeremy Searle --RocknReel

Wow, what a wondrous thing this is!! ... a voyage of discovery, an enchanting and learned compilation stretching over four discs. Call it history, call it roots - it matters not! What's important is that what you hear within these four stunning discs helped to shape and model today's music...what a work, what a commitment, and what a blast!! This superb anthology is split into four discreet and seamless sections... The compilers have been careful not to simply make this a 'blues' work; they've been realistic and honest in their work which finds blues, folk, gospel and other urban styles melding into more syncopated forms such as jazz, swing, jive and so on. Thus, you start to get the bigger picture as you work your way through this epically proportioned anthology - you see gaps being filled and ideas and forms being stretched over time. There are famous names and not so famous names, there are songs that you'll recognise and there are songs that you'll hear for the first time - but, all played their part in shaping the big rock and roll explosion of the 50's and all influenced what you listen to today under multi-genre headings, individual styles and nuances and so on. 'The History Of Rhythm And Blues' is as important as it is educational - this is quite possibly the best put together assemblage of 'roots' music - ever. Lovingly compiled by Nick Duckett and Consultant Stewart Tippett and beautifully presented with an enclosed booklet which 'tells the story', this is like an 'everyman's guide to the development and growth of modern, popular music'. Musical purists and scholars will love this work simply for its facts - music lovers from all age groups will find this work fascinating and rewarding and anyone who has the slightest interest in musical history should find this a joy to behold. Listen to the lyrics and realise that what these innovators sang about doesn't differ very much from today's outpourings. Pick out nuances, syncopations, riffs and melodies that occur and re-occur through the ages. See where we learned, feel what influenced us and just enjoy the truth of it all!! Marvel at the creativity of these artists and take into consideration what they had available to them back then - be amazed at the content, the gritty believability, the passion and the dedication to a cause. Compare what's on offer here to where we are today - listen and learn, feel and be touched! ...educational and fulfilling, it's as rewarding as it is fascinating - a piece of musical history that'll sit well in anyone's collection - glory in it's depth, revel in its creation ...an important musical history lesson, moments in musical time that shaped what we listen to today. Peter J Brown --www.toxicpete.co.uk

The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1942 -1952 : The Pre Rocknroll Years 101 tracks over 4 CDs with 64page booklet Disc One Jumpin from Harlem to the West-Coast Disc Two Guitar Boogies - Sax Screamers - Gospel Roads Disc Three Have You Heard The News There s Good Rockin Tonight Disc Four Soul Train Mambo - Destination New Orleans