Ray Charles - The Greatest Hits Of The Great Ray Charles (Crossover - SQ-95647)

There are not many people who can combine the total opposites. There are not many people who can break down the barriers in people's minds and set new standards. Ladies and gentlemen, here is Ray Charles. Frankly he is one of those people who can fill both shoes.

Actually many people have already watched the movie and the academy award winning performance of Jamie Foxx. The movie was for entertainment, yet it also pointed slightly to the change in music and cultural standards of the general society.

As his style, Ray Charles combined Rock N Roll, Blues and Jazz with a touch of religion in it just for the heck of it. What a heck that turned out to be. He also sang all those genres individually, but his own musical voice was the combination of all. It has been later defined as Soul music, and Ray Charles the Godfather. Ray Charles made music which you could not relate to a single genre, therefore they named a new genre because of him. He was very much criticized for adding Gospel into that mix. He was even downplayed by saying that he was mocking with Christianity. What a dumbass belief that was. Years later the same people were dancing and cheering to his music all the way. Same thing happened to all barrier breaking people, Schoenberg, Cage, etc.

This box set which includes 5 records which one can listen during just a late night chilling. That's exactly what I've done. I sat down the day I received the box set, put all other records away and listened the box set on a roll. Some of the tracks are known almost to everyone, some are to many people. They are a selection of so-called Best Of Ray Charles songs, but they have done well to went on with 5 records since you absolutely cannot be fair to him. You cannot put his best known works to a single record. Then you leave out some less famous, yet excellent songs. In this sense, I am happy about the outcome from the set.

One more thing is that the box set does not hold only studio takes. Some tracks like "What I'd Say" are included as live takes and this really helped to liven up the mood as you are sitting there listening. Of course this is based on the assumption that you can sit down while listening. It's hard. Really hard. Ladies and gentlemen, the genious Ray Charles.

Jimi Hendrix - The Story Of Jimi Hendrix (Babylon Budget - F/6 80065)

I don't think much need to be said about the man in question here. Therefore it is better to skip the chit chat and get on with the real deal. So here it is. This box set of 6 LPs is actually the sum of 3 prereleased collections of Jimi Hendrix's live recordings. The original series was named Jimi Hendrix - Guitar Giants Vol. 1-3 each as double vinyl. They were released via the out of business German Babylon Budget label.

One thing is for certain and that is these records date back to the early days of Hendrix's career. The main point standing out for me to say this is the music style. Most of the box set consists of Rock N Roll with some Blues Rock tracks here and there. Of course there are gigantic solos, but they don't seem to be as accomplished as the ones later in his career. Hendrix seem to be on the verge of being recognized here rather than playing "I can play whatever I want" style. After a little bit of a research, I've found out that these records belong to the dates 1965-1967 and cover either live or studio recordings.

It is important to point out that this doesn't make the set less worth listening. Actually we have all listened what came out of Hendrix in the latter stages and this has been a breather with an insight to where he really came from. For instance he not doing all the vocals for one thing. He lends vocals to god knows who (Maybe Curtis Knight since the dates fit) and concentrates on his guitar. "Don't Accuse Me" is such a track and he plays beautifully in the background showing his true Blues skills alongside. He no doubt gives a clearcut profile of his original beliefs. You can just as well understand that even if he didn't go into Blues Rock and opened new styles for tons of guitarists, he could have been a hell of a Blues guitarist if he stuck by it. However, just to prove me wrong, the next track on the record is "Hush Now" (This one is Record 3 Track 2 since there is another one on Record 5 Track 2 which is much milder, but also has a good solo) and it is oooooone hell of a Hendrix track directly suited to his abilities. His solos are divine if not better. This is pure Hendrix. Even in his later stages, he didn't have many chances to surpass this one. I've no idea if this version of the track was ever released on CD or available somewhere, but if not, search it, find it, devour it. (Hey, I've done the searching for you. You can find another version of the "Hush Now" here with a good insight on those days)

Well well well. There are also some tracks which are extremely familiar to the general listener like the ones which Jimi learned furing his early day visits to UK where he was alredy famous for his talent. These tracks include "Satisfaction", "Day Tripper", "Bright Lights, Big City", "Twist And Shout". There's also a track called "Walkin' The Dog" where Jimi starts and ends the song with the tune which plays while bride is in the walkway of the church. All in all this is a box set which is a pure joy to anyone's ears and have been especially to mine. Oh, before I forget, the sketch of Jimi Hendrix on the cover of the box set is totally artistic.

To buy this box set:

@ Ebay

Bob Dylan - Biograph (CBS - 66509)

Here we have a revolutionary man who had a vision to explain all his personal and political feelings, protests and anger through his music. Bob Dylan (Originally Robert Zimmerman) is not mainly famous for his music actually since man of his songs are either borrowed or inspired musically from earlier works. He openly tells this so as well. On the other hand lyrics have always been the extremely powerful side of his works.

It may be really unnecessary to explain about Bob Dylan to an established music listener. Someway or the other, you are bound to meet this man, hear his music and get down into his lyrics. However I personally didn't delve into his music until 3-4 years ago when I had a sudden rush of Blues and Folk in me. Hard to explain, yet I've been listening Blues for a substantial period of my time now. Some books I've read on the subject have also arouse my interest even further. Dylan also got his fair share from this.

I was strolling around Ebay one day when I saw this box set. Next thing I know, I ended paying for it, not with any remorse of course. And I'm sitting on my couch now listening to this fabulous box set. The set consists of various stages of Dylan's recordings as it can be understood from the name, Biograph. It features some of his most famous works like Lay Lady Lay, The Times Are Changin', Blowin' In The Wind, Like A Rolling Stone etc. There is not much need to get into detail with these tracks as they can be found anywhere. The other reality of the box set is more fruitful since it features 18 unreleased tracks and one B side. Now this is a feast.

One important aspect of the box set is the two booklets that come with it. One contains the history of Dylan's life with colorful pictures, details, stories and quotes. The second booklet has proven to be more of importance for me since it directly explains the history behind the tracks and the quotes of Dylan based on almost each song. Knowing the history behind each track has been a pleasure. Interestingly when I was younger (Not that I'm old anyway), I was not so much into learning the history of the songs that I've listened, but the more you listen and experience, the more you are curious about the stories behind the things you listen. It provides a great insight about them and also fills the holes that you can feel. Every stone falls into place. It makes the whole experience more complete and adorable. This is exactly what happens with this box set. Clearly it doesn't have the feeling or the conceptual collectivity of an album. You feel like here and there a couple of times since this is a collection which spans for over a 20 year recording period. Yet you get to feel and witness the starting point of a great artist and how he has developed through the ages. When this artist is Bob Dylan, the whole thing gets a grandiose meaning.