Search - Various Artists :: Vee-Jay: Definitive Collection

Update to my original review

Eliminator Man | Plymouth, MN | 10/15/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My original review of this set included a complaint that the song, The Twist, was missing. Just wasn't on the disc even though it was in the track listing and in the note. I checked AMG and their samples had the same problem my disc had. After I whined about this in my review I emailed Shout! Factory to complain to them. I got a nice email back from them and within a week I got a new copy of disc two sent to me in the mail. Excellent customer service and not what I was expecting which was to be ignored. I commend them for that.



I have the Bear Family Blowin' the Fuse set of R and B songs from 1946-1960 which also has Hank Ballard doing the Twist. That version is very close to the Chubby Checker version and I assume it was the model for the Chubby Checker version. The version on this disc is very different from those two with a very different rhythm structure. I think this was the first version. Nice to have all three.



Beyond that song, this is a nice box, sequenced well, fun to listen to, heavy on the Jimmy Reed as it should be. I would have included my favorite Jimmy Reed song, Shame Shame Shame, with some of that extra cd space that Mike mentions in his review.



The package is nice. There are notes on each song, similar to the notes in the Bear Family collection. Nice to have. I have no complaints about the package, but I wouldn't call it "gorgeous". That reviewer loses alot of credibility with his raving. My standard for a gorgeous box set package would be the Revenant boxes for Charlie Patton and Albert Ayler or maybe the deluxe limited edition of the Forever Changing Elektra collection.



So I'm happy with this and you will be too if you like this type of music or just want to start exploring the old stuff. Thanks for the new disc, Michael.



Unfortunately, while the Amazon system let me update my review, it wouldn't let me change my rating. I'd go four to five stars on this now, but the system won't let me change that."

A stunning collection!

David Mandau | Takoma Park, MD | 08/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The release of Vee-Jay: The Definitive Collection is a major event for fans of rhythm and blues, soul, gospel, and blues. Atlantic, Stax, Chess, and Motown are household names, but the black-owned indie Vee-Jay, which was at one time bigger than any of these giant labels, is almost forgotten, except by hardcore Beatles collectors as a footnote to the Beatles' story.



That's a shame, and it's fantastic that Shout! Factory has stepped up and filled a gaping hole in the catalog with this set.



Not only does the set have requisite hits by the likes of Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Jimmy Reed, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Betty Everett, The 4 Seasons, John Lee Hooker, Dee Clark, and the Spaniels, but it also has crucial rarities and now-forgotten hits by such soul acts as Joe Simon, Gloria Jones, Billy Preston, Gene Allison, and Little Richard (yes, Little Richard, singing soul with a pre-fame Jimi Hendrix on guitar!); R&B acts such as The "5" Royales, The Moonglows, Donnie Elbert, Rosco Gordon, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Billy Boy Arnold, Sheriff & The Ravels, and The Dells; blues acts such as Memphis Slim, Eddie Taylor, L.C. McKinley, Bobby Parker, and J.B. Lenoir; not to mention gospel giants like The Staple Singers, The Swan Silvertones, The Original Blind Boys Of Alabama, The Original 5 Blind Boys Of Mississippi, and The Caravans.



Plus the packaging is truly gorgeous, and the liner notes are insightful and detailed.



It all adds up to one of the best reissues of 2007, featuring tons of crucial music you probably have never heard before.



Buy it now!"

A mishmash (but in a good way)

korova | Varosha | 12/10/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"You're in a smoky, rundown dive bar. You know, the kind that's near a bus station, hasn't had a woman in it since 1957 and is called something like the Frolic Room or the Tick Tock. Sound good to you? Well, this box set is the jukebox in the joint.



Yup, there are a lot of great tracks here. The sequencing reinforces the somewhat scattershot nature of Vee-Jay though; rather than having a house-sound like, say, Stax or Chess, Vee-Jay covered several genres. The result is a mishmash of different styles, sounds, and attitudes. It's not a bad thing...just don't expect a highly focused experience. Just like that old jukebox under the buzzing neon beer sign, no?



Be sure to check Disc 2 carefully if you buy this set. As mentioned by earlier reviewers, "The Twist" may be missing. If you contact Shout Factory corporate customer service (NOT the customer service for their online store) they will send you a replacement disc without any hassles--at least they did so for me. It's nice that Shout Factory has made it easy to obtain corrected discs.



Bottom line: not an essential set but good for anybody who already has the basic building blocks in their blues, R&B, soul, and gospel collections. Also good for collectors who are into cover versions due to the inclusion of the originals of "Tainted Love" and "You're No Good", among others. The book is decently put together but could have included a lot more info about both songs and artists."