Here's the background: In 1966 the Canadian television network CBC invited some of America's legendary blues artists, including Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and James Cotton, to a Toronto studio, where they spent three d... more »ays recording together and individually. The result was a one-off, black-and-white special broadcast as part of CBC's "Festival" series. Jump ahead three decades. Those original session tapes are found, restored, and rereleased for this 1996 video, with the addition of wraparound commentary by Canadian blues performer Colin James. With most of these artists long gone, it's a great pleasure to see such a concentration of their voices and styles in a uniform setting. Consider, too, that in '66 the legacies of some of these folks were getting a huge push from the English blues scene (the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, etc.), and one can sense an air of renewal and reinvigoration in their performances. Everything here could deservedly be called a highlight, so suffice it to say that Waters and his band prove to be the nexus for much of what goes on here, including three aching performances from the master himself, two from his piano sideman Otis Spann, and a couple from Waters's intermittent bassist, Willie Dixon, like Spann a Chicago legend himself. Also on board is pianist Sunnyland Slim and a rare sighting of Mable Hillery, but it's arguable that three performances here by those keepers of the country blues flame, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee--soon to find a whole new audience on the '70s college circuit--are the happiest entries on this volume. --Tom Keogh« less
Genres:Indie & Art House, Music Video & Concerts Sub-Genres:Indie & Art House, Pop, Blues Studio:Sbme Castle Us Format:DVD - Color DVD Release Date: 09/24/2002 Original Release Date: 01/01/1966 Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/1966 Release Year: 2002 Screens: Color Number of Discs: 1 SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 2 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English
"Its a great collection of masters no doubt, particularly Muddy Waters and Otis Sann and Willie Dixon, appearing true to form, these recordings are from 1966, put together by CBC Television The black and white recordings adds to the period effect and the sound is incredibly well restored. Listening and watching these masters deliver their masterpieces tells you a lot about how this amazing genre of music has stood the test of time.The biggest bug bear is the rather intrusive appearance of the presenter Colin James, whose body of work I am not personally familiar with. His introductions and preludes are interesting to take in the first time around but become a pain in the neck every subsequent time one plays out the DVD, popping up as he does at the beginning and end of every song and then goes on to digitally play along with Willie Dixon as well...Smart, but not impressive. The producers of this DVD should have separated James' free flowing wisdom and uncalled for participation, from the original recordings...I hate to say this but would have perhaps reconsidered by decision to buy this DVD if I were aware of the nature of the mastering."
Blues Masters
GOVINDRAJ | 10/13/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Toe-tapping, head-swaying performances.Guaranteed to pleas
Maurice Z. Crosby Jr. | Trenton, NJ USA | 08/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Great but...
Stuart Burke | Tokyo Japan | 08/06/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is some great footage and I agree with those above that Colin James does a fair job of ruining one of the Willie Dixon songs. Good thing for the skip function on the dvd. Well worth owning. Just wish that the other footage would be released. Three days of these guys playing together would make a wonderful boxed set."
Best available Muddy and Spann I've ever seen
Richard O'Donnell | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | 06/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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 !!!"