Greater than Elvis
Traveller | 01/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jimmy Reed was, arguably, greater than Elvis. He was a terrific songwriter, a singer with a laid back delivery, a screeming harmonica, and a cool guitar. Don't be fooled by this nonsense of him being unable to carry a tune, or that he was no master of the guitar or the harmonica. Maybe so. But the seemingly simple arrangements of his songs are really so subtle, inventive and marvelous that Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Keith Richard listened to his records incessantly, trying to figure out how he did it. And the Grateful Dead and Steve Miller loved him.
This being said, it is worth having all of his CDs.
To start, buy this 3-CD box set (and then Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall and Rockin' with Reed). Don't make the mistake of buying another CD boxed set, Jimmy Reed: The Classic Recordings, on the Tomato label. It has a good compilation, but plays at a very low level and has lousy sound quality. An insult to this great blues master's work."
Jimmy Reed-The Essential Boss Man
John F. Goldsmith | Roswell, Georgia | 02/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great, great box set with ALL the hits and ALL THE lesser known classics!
When I'm in the mood to hear Jimmy Reed songs I want them all together so I can "relive" with my buddies those days and the great sounds that we danced to and partied to in our youth! We would ware out the grooves on those Silver and Purple Vee Jay 45's! Terrific liner notes also! A must have!"
Jimmy Reed the Vee-Jay years
JL Pinon | Pinole, Ca USA | 05/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jimmy Reed has been my favorite blues man for over 50 years and this is the best collection of his music and includes a short biography. I bought 2 sets so I could be sure to always have his music on CD as well as the LP's that I have. His music was simple but from the heart and could put you in your own little world where you could just feel the music. Excellent collection!!!!!!!!!"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1