The definitive early recordings of Elmore James, the man who changed the face of post-war slide guitar, return to the Ace catalogue with this 3CD set. Originally released in a long box and long out of print in that format, this amazing anthology has now been revamped as a 3-CD jewel case release. A huge influence on the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and Fleetwood Mac, as well as being a giant on the blues scene, this set contains 71 tracks from Elmores recordings for the Meteor, Flair and Modern labels, as well as the classic Dust My Broom for Trumpet. Cub Koda described the original box thus - "The intensity of James vocals are nothing short of riveting and the material collected here (along with breakdowns, studio chat, etc.) is simply the best of James early 50s sides and a box set well worth saving up for." The new packaging, which includes all but one of the photos from the old long-box set, and the new, lower price, mean you dont have to save up as long.

Review: Although a few hardcore electric Chicago blues fans might take offense at the remark, Elmore James work does not comprise the most varied discography among major bluesmen. So a singledisc survey of his material, whether it covers the first five years or so of his career (as this threeCD anthology does) or a longer period, works better as both a general introduction and a more listenable compilation than a box set does. If youre a completist who does want everything known to exist that he laid down in the studio between August 1951 and January 1956, however, this 71track compilation is the most thorough retrospective of that era likely to be produced. In addition to including songs that were not issued in any form until after his death (and sometimes long after his passing), there are multiple takes of specific tunes, alternates, false starts, studio chatter, instrumental version, songs on which he guested for J.T. Brown and Little Johnny Jones, and so forth. Indeed, there are so many... multiple versions on this release that even the liner notes take care to suggest customprogramming the CD sequence if youd rather not hear them all in a row. For all the ifwecanfinditreleaseit mentality driving this collection, however, it really is pretty listenable, at least if you like James and early to mid50s Chicago blues a lot. For one thing, it does include a couple of big hits, those being James original 1952 version of "Dust My Broom" and the 1953 Top Ten RB hit "I Believe." More relevantly, James played and sang consistently well even on the material that languished in the vault. Plus all those multiple versions arent wholly repetitive; James occasionally makes changes to the lyrics and music, though the similarity of style from song to song is prevalent enough that you have to be paying close attention to catch all of these. Some fans primarily familiar with James through his Deltasoaked electric slide guitar playing (and theres plenty of that here) will also be surprised at the commercial RB edge to many of the sides, though its commercial in the better sense of that term, often with horns and piano urbanizing James approach. The 40page booklet has a wealth of information, vintage photos, and a detailed sessionography, increasing its appeal to those who want all things James. [Initially released in 1993 in longbox packaging, The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956 was reissued by Ace in 2007 as a standardsized threeCD set with a different cover.] - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide


Track Listing:

Disc 1 - Canton Crusade
01 - Dust My Broom - 2:47
02 - Please Find My Baby (Version 1) - 2:40
03 - Hawaiian Boogie - 3:09
04 - Please Find My Baby (Version 2) - 2:53
05 - Hand In Hand - 2:57
06 - Long Tall Woman - 2:51
07 - Rock My Baby Right - 3:06
08 - One More Drink (Take 1) - 2:24
09 - My Babys Gone - 3:17
10 - One More Drink (Take 2) - 3:17
11 - Lost Woman Blues (aka Please Find My Baby) (Version 3) - 3:18
12 - I Believe - 3:31
13 - I Held My Baby Last Night - 2:54
14 - Baby Whats Wrong - 2:53
15 - Sinful Woman - 2:47
16 - Round House Boggie (aka Sax Symphonic Boggie) - 3:12
17 - Dumb Woman Blues - 2:37
18 - Sax-Only Boogie - 2:57
19 - Kicking The Blues Around (aka Flaming Blues) - 2:52
20 - I May Be Wrong - 3:01
21 - Sweet Little Woman - 3:04

Disc 2 - Broomdusting In Chicago
01 - Early In The Morning - 2:49
02 - Cant Stop Lovin - 2:26
03 - Hawaiian Boogie (version 2) - 2:21
04 - Make A Little Love - 2:52
05 - My Best Friend (Take 1) - 2:48
06 - Make My Dreams Come True (Take 2) - 2:46
07 - Make My Dreams Come True (Take 3) - 0:57
08 - Make My Dreams Come True (Take 4) - 2:48
09 - Make My Dreams Come True (Take 7) - 2:43
10 - Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 1) - 2:31
11 - Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 2) - 2:40
12 - Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 3) - 2:49
13 - Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 4) - 0:58
14 - Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 5) - 2:36
15 - Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 6) - 2:43
16 - Dark And Dreary (Take 1) - 0:28
17 - Dark And Dreary (Take 2) - 3:30
18 - Dark And Dreary (Take 4) - 2:49
19 - Quarter Past Nine - 3:31
20 - Where Can My Baby Be (Take 1) - 0:20
21 - Where Can My Baby Be (Take 8) - 2:59
22 - Where Can My Baby Be (Take 9) - 2:58
23 - Please Come Back To Me (Sho Nuff I Do) - 3:01
24 - Sho Nuff I Do-Session Talk - 1:32
25 - Sho Nuff I Do (Alternate Take) - 2:47
26 - Sho Nuff I Do - 2:52
27 - 1839 Blues - 3:17
28 - I Got A Strange Baby - 1:03
29 - Canton Mississippi Breakdown - 2:41

Disc 3 - Culver City To Crescent City
01 - Standing At The Crossroads - 2:49
02 - Late Hours At Midnight - 2:47
03 - Happy Home - 2:47
04 - Sunny Land - 3:19
05 - The Way You Treat Me (aka Mean And Evil) - 2:15
06 - No Love In My Heart - 2:25
07 - Dust My Blues - 3:12
08 - I Was A Fool - 2:53
09 - Blues Before Sunrise - 2:46
10 - Goodbye (Baby) - 3:00
11 - So Mean To Me (Take 2) - 2:39
12 - So Mean To Me (Take 3) - 2:38
13 - So Mean To Me (Take 4) - 2:30
14 - Wild About You Baby-Chat - 1:01
15 - Wild About You - 3:21
16 - Wild About You (Baby) - 2:42
17 - Elmos Shuffle (Take 3) - 3:11
18 - Elmos Shuffle (Take 4) - 2:57
19 - Elmos Shuffle (Take 5) - 2:36
20 - Long Tall Woman - 3:41
21 - Long Tall Woman - 2:53


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