T-Bone Walker - The Complete Imperial Recordings: 1950-1954

A founding father of electric blues in general and Texas blues in particular, guitarist T-Bone Walker influenced countless blues players and, by extension, countless rock & rollers as well. The Complete Imperial Recordings date from the early to mid-1950s, when the idea of electric blues was really taking hold, and the two-disc set is a wealth of classic songs exquisitely performed. While definitely blues, there's more difference between this and the acoustic blues that predated Walker than amplification can account for; there's jazz and swing mixed in as well, as on tracks like "I Walked Away" and "Strollin' with Bone," and something of that feel has remained in electric blues ever since. From B.B. King to Buddy Guy to Stevie Ray Vaughan and beyond, Walker's influence is felt in the blues up through the present day. --Genevieve Williams Amazon.com

Spectacular

Are you kidding, who do you think Eric Clapton learned his best licks from?? Yep, T-Bone. This CD has no bad, average, or even great recordings on it. They are all spectacular!! T-Bone is the master of the "modern" blues style, yeah, like Eric Clapton, only earlier and beautiful music in his own right. August 1, 2007

Excellent Blues Master

TBone is the best in my book. I like the smoothness of his music. I heard the Allman Brothers state on a live album many yrs ago that "Stormy Monday" was an old "Tbone Walker song." I guess I got curious and bought a casette tape by TBone at the time.... This was when I decided that he is my favorite of all Blues Musicians. These CD's include some of his best work. Glad to find it on CD. July 5, 2007

FATHER OF ELECTRIC BLUES

T-Bone not only invented the electric blues but he still remains it's most towering stylist and symbol of pure cool. T-Bone's smokey after hours blues is still one of the most vital parts of the genre. Smooth is the key word here. T-Bone's singing and playing never lacked the smooth quality that was T-Bone Walker. He could sing songs of misery and hurt with incredibly deep soul but still manage to keep it cool. This set is a fantastic value! Each track stands on it's own merit. I don't have a favorite here because all are top notch.
You won't be disappointed.
September 29, 2006

I have nothing but pure admiration for "Bone..."

The late "T-Bone" Walker, a pioneering mastre of the electric blues guitar and a close friend/ certainly unremitting influence on my Uncle "Pee Wee" Crayton another "axe-handler" during the immediate postwar era. However, avoiding comparisons, Uncle "Pee Wee" Crayton brought enough "heat" and daring innovation to his playing to avoid being labeled as a mere "T-Bone" copy-"kat."

As a young teen in the early 70's, I was extremely fortunate to experience the greatness of his "vibes" up close and personal...on many occasions, I would soak-up like a sponge and weld to memory those rare meetings when the "Texas 3" (1) Uncle "Pee Wee" (2) "T-Bone" Walker and (3) "Big Joe" Turner (another pioneering mastre blues singer, even though he was born in Kansas City, MO., he sang like he was from the state of Texas...) would get together at "Pee Wee's" house in West Los Angeles, California, and rehearse all day on Saturdays or Sunday afternoons up until the late evenings, just before going to there "gig" at the Perisan Room (a defunct legendary popular "night-spot" during the 1960's - late '80's located on the southwest corner of La Brea Avenue & Washington Blvd., of which now sits a U.S. Postal Station). These Complete Imperial Recordings: 1950-1954 are nothing but short from shear enjoyment fo' da soul...buy the CD you won't be disappointed!

Those were exhilarating times to say the least!

--"Big Dave" Burleigh, 'AmeriCanadian' Record Producre. May 5, 2006

you will be jumpin' and swinging in no time

T-Bone sweet T-Bone - he is the founder of modern blues - and I think he does not get enough credit for his influence on jazz guitar. Kenny Burrell, in fact, has mentioned that T-Bone was one of his early influences. He certainly has a sweet tone, and he has a nice voice too. Pair this with a hot horn section, and this cd is a steal at 10 bucks. T-Bone is a classic. December 10, 2005

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