Compilation producers: Robert G. Koester, Scott Dirks.
Engineers include: Ralph Bass.
Recorded between 1961 and 1995. Includes liner notes by Justin O'Brien.
Recording information: Chicago, IL (02/09/1994).
This 17-track collection runs from 1961 to 1995, a good 30-plus years of the label's existence. As such, it covers just about every strain of blues guitar that has ever appeared on Delmark. With standout tracks from Big Joe Williams, Magic Sam (an unreleased live track from 1968), Luther Allison, J.B. Hutto, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Junior Wells with Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks, and Lurrie Bell, this is a really nice overview of Chicago blues guitar-oriented recordings covering a good three decades of important music. Highly recommended. ~ Cub Koda
Professional Reviews
Down Beat (5/97, p.73) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...If nothing else, the road from [country blues] to [urban blues] demonstrates how broad [label owner Bob] Koester's interests range, and how complex the history of Chicago blues guitar really is."
