I got the Charlie Christian set about a week ago, but haven't had much time to listen to it.
Thinking about getting Count Basie's America's #1 Band. However, you can get a sealed CD copy on Amazon market place for about $25, and the credits on eMu will run about $20.
Just ran across this one I bought some time ago, the august Cab Calloway's Are You Hep To The Jive on the Okeh Label. I love Minnie The Moocher, what can I say.
I hesitated before downloading the Charlie Christian retrospective because there are two versions: A condensed single-disc set and the expansive career-overview box set. Is the box set really essential, i.e., does it include songs I'll criminally overlook if I go with the single-disc set? (I assume at least some of the benefit of the box-set is the packaging and booklet, but I'm not getting that via digital download, anyway).
Daniel, just be aware there is a single disc called The Genius Of The Electric Guitar also floating about that has nothing to do with the box set. The box set is only essential if you are a guitar nut, Charlie Christian fan, Benny Goodman swing enthusiast, etc. and are going to actually listen to it. Give me some time and I'll check in later in the day with a more comprehensive answer/alternatives.
OK, Daniel, it all boils down to how much do you want? I hadn't noticed that little 8 track sampler but it's not much bang for your buck. The Columbia Jazz Masterpieces The Genius Of The Electric Guitar is a good one album overview of Charlie Christian that would well suffice unless you really want the big enchilada. Either way I would consider supplementing either of those choices with The Immortal Charlie Christian - Guest Artist because it is a recording of an after-hours jam at Minton's that also featured Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonius Monk early on in their careers and is great music.
I don't have that set, but I have some other EU Charlie Christian sets. One of the big complaints I've read about Sony's set is there are a lot of alternate takes to wade through. If you're into that sort of thing, sounds like a winner. The audio is supposed to be great and there's no argument about the material. However, I had the single disc BigD is recommending up there since it came out and if I had to recommend one Christian release, that'd be it. You should be able to find the physical CD of that one used on Amazon for nothing.
Lots of jazz, including Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, a Billy Harper (Somalia) that you can get for 5 tracks instead of the 12 for the BillyHarper/Tunecore version, etc. A few other things.
Well, my greedy little eyes are spinning in their sockets, as I have been browsing the selections 'over there" on the JSP Records/The Orchard label. There are obscene numbers of discs and multi-disc sets (conveniently broken into A, B, C, D on different pages so you don't have to commit to more than one) featuring 25 or more tracks for 12 credits. I started on Blues - huge amount of early blues, country blues, lesser known Chicago or Texas blues. In Country/Folk are serious old-timey collections, bluegrass, and some phenomenal collections of early Cajun music. The BB booster crack card pipe is going to be busy this weekend. I seriously wouldn't hardly know where to begin with specifics but if you have interest in these kinds of music then tally-ho. I got the 2 excellent Chet Atkins collections when album pricing first hit but failed to realize how deep this particular little pond was.
Comments
Thinking about getting Count Basie's America's #1 Band. However, you can get a sealed CD copy on Amazon market place for about $25, and the credits on eMu will run about $20.
Bad, Bad Whiskey 26 for 12
On my SFL:
Night Train by King Curtis 22 for 12
The Philly Sound Get Down 25 for 12
Aquarius Rock: The Hip Reggae World of Herman Chin-Loy 24 for 12
Brazilian Beats 'n' Pieces (Served Up by Phat Kev) 32 for 12
Rock 'n' Roll Fever (Fantasy / Specialty) 25 for 12
A Taste Of The Blues, Vol. 1 (Vee-Jay) 25 for 12
Or maybe this, this, or this?
Still 1 track = 1 np
Lots of jazz, including Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, a Billy Harper (Somalia) that you can get for 5 tracks instead of the 12 for the BillyHarper/Tunecore version, etc. A few other things.
Dig it.
New: Robert Scott Thompson - Mantra
1 track 53+ min.
Three excerpts available here.
As a reminder, all the Lens Records stuff goes 1:1
Lots more RST & others there.