Rating: 
Summary: Powerful Performances; Awful Host
Review: Having read a lot about this DVD, I hotly anticipated viewing it. I've been a fan of Chicago blues forever, and getting a chance to see its masters performing live is simply a treat. I wasn't disappointed. Each artist has the talent, integrity, soul, and genius you'd expect. That said, it's a travesty that the "artist", Colin James would even dream about imposing himself on this gem by "playing with" Willie Dixon. If there's ever a chance that this wonderful show is re-released, I pray the producers have the guts to cut out this ridiculous segment. The guy needed to stay quietly in the background, his guitar in its case. Otherwise, this is a must-have DVD for any serious fan of great blues.
Rating: 
Summary: Blues Masters
Review: I was very disappointed by the mistreatment of these great masters by the producers of the DVD. Why people constantly feel they have to be interjected into history electronically is beyond me. The idea of this DVD is that a production company got a hold of what I believe to be some of the finest quality footage of such greats as Sonny Terry, Otis Span & Muddy Waters, and my problem is the amateurish treatment given to them in the presentation. The host Collin James is interspersed in between the clips sometimes talking over the musical intos and physically inters cutting his flat singing self into a "Crazy For My Baby" segment with Willie Dixon. To own some of the clips die-hard blues fans my want to drop the funds to buy this keep this review in mind and you wont be as disappointed as I was. Next time just put the clips on a DVD and put it out.
Rating:
Summary: except for the gimmicks...
Review: In 1966 a group of the greatest Blues musicians of all time gathered in a studio to perform. What is unique about their gathering, is that it was filmed for television. Some years later, the films were revived and turned into a documentary. Featuring Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Sonny Land Slim and Mable Hillary, this DVD is a must for all blues fans.Of course, the sound was not recorded digitally. In fact, the film is black and white. But hey, this is the "old time blues"! But to actually see some of these folks perform was a true treat. Having listened to old analog records (yes vinyl) of these artists, I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing them perform. I was not disappointed. I only wish that hundreds of hours of these studio sessions existed. My personal favorite blues performer has always been Willie Dixon. To see Dixon play his stand-up bass and sing with his great voice was outstanding. In his second piece, Dixon accompanied only by a piano plays his bass as only he could. All of the musicians join the stage for the final song, each taking a turn at a vocal solo for a verse. It is during this song, that very limited biographies are presented (in text). Though presented in "documentary" form, the narratives are short and don't interfere with the listening. If you are a blues fan and unsure about if you want to buy this, then take the leap of faith. You won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Toe-tapping, head-swaying performances.Guaranteed to pleas
Review: In 1966 a group of the greatest Blues musicians of all time gathered in a studio to perform. What is unique about their gathering, is that it was filmed for television. Some years later, the films were revived and turned into a documentary. Featuring Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Sonny Land Slim and Mable Hillary, this DVD is a must for all blues fans. Of course, the sound was not recorded digitally. In fact, the film is black and white. But hey, this is the "old time blues"! But to actually see some of these folks perform was a true treat. Having listened to old analog records (yes vinyl) of these artists, I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing them perform. I was not disappointed. I only wish that hundreds of hours of these studio sessions existed. My personal favorite blues performer has always been Willie Dixon. To see Dixon play his stand-up bass and sing with his great voice was outstanding. In his second piece, Dixon accompanied only by a piano plays his bass as only he could. All of the musicians join the stage for the final song, each taking a turn at a vocal solo for a verse. It is during this song, that very limited biographies are presented (in text). Though presented in "documentary" form, the narratives are short and don't interfere with the listening. If you are a blues fan and unsure about if you want to buy this, then take the leap of faith. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: except for the gimmicks...
Review: Outstanding peformances, good quality sound, but as the previous reviewer noted, the electronic gimmicktry really detracts from the effect, too bad.
Rating:
Summary: Best available Muddy and Spann I've ever seen
Review: The best blues must-have on DVD/video.You MUST BUY THIS!! Trust me, I am a Muddy and Spann fanatic!!Colin James intrudes a little but OK.Willie Dixon spoils things, playing off-key most of the time - except for on "his" songs. (you can see Muddy looking at Otis Spann in disgust as Dixon spoils the boiling-point blues tension. Muddy,Spann, Sunnyland Slim, S.P.Leary (drums) all fantastic, the rest - not so good. Where is the rest of the footage and Fred McDowell/Big Joe Williams/Bukka White ???????? Some songs only clips - tragic! Someone PLEASE release all of it - I'd pay big bucks to see it all. Even still, BUY IT !!!
Rating:
Summary: Splendid !
Review: This is a "must" for fans of Chicago blues ,played by the greatest musicians from that era.Willie Dixon shines with his bassplaying,and is the highlight of the DVD.A previus reviewer bashes him ,but I would like to bash this reviewer,he must be out of his mind.Without Willie,there woulden't be a Muddy or Howlin'Wolf in the way that we know them,period.
Buy this DVD,it's fantastic.Even though Colin James should have been left out...
Rating:
Summary: Splendid !
Review: This is a "must" for fans of Chicago blues ,played by the greatest musicians from that era.Willie Dixon shines with his bassplaying,and is the highlight of the DVD.A previus reviewer bashes him ,but I would like to bash this reviewer,he must be out of his mind.Without Willie,there woulden't be a Muddy or Howlin'Wolf in the way that we know them,period.
Buy this DVD,it's fantastic.Even though Colin James should have been left out...
Rating:
Summary: It's a crazy little thing, it goes like this...
Review: This is a DVD worth owning as it is a priceless collection of quality black-and-white video and good audio quality of an outstanding collection of what truly are -- blues masters. The video is bracketed with a couple of songs by Muddy Waters with James Cotton on harmonica, and in this video their Mojo is truly not only working, it is astounding. Following Muddy is a trifecta of well-harmonized duets by Sonny Terry on harmonica and Brownie McGhee. Then comes Mable Hillary singing How Long This Ol' Train Been Gone; the range, expressiveness, and blue-ness of her vocals are showcased over a very simple background of music. Then Willie Dixon, a very big man playing a very big acoustic bass, strumming out some very big blues. And SunnyLand Slim and Otis Dixon playing and singing some piano blues like no one ever has or ever will again. The video is apparently in a made-for-TV format and you can sense the commercial breaks. And you have to endure Colin James, not too bad a guitar player, but it is nothing short of infuriating insolence and pollution when in a technological travesty he is mixes himself into a jam session. My advice...ignore him. Footage like this is truly priceless and belongs in the Smithsonian Institution.
Rating:
Summary: Great piece of work from muddy and friends
Review: This is an excellent dvd of vintage blues from the likes of Muddy,Otis Spann, SonnyTerry, Brownie Mcgee, Sunnyland Slim, Wille Dixon and Mable Hillery. The picture quality is great and the sound is fine. I don't know why Colin James(the host) is in this dvd and is quite annoying when he appears with Wille Dixon but with songs like You Can't Lose What You Never Had by Waters band and Crazy For My Baby by Dixon makes his apearance go out the window fast This dvd is a great example why this music is still going strong
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