T-Bone Walker - Blues Masters: The Very Best of T-Bone Walker

In his prime, circa 1945-1965, Texas-born T-Bone Walker was the Elvis Presley and the Jimi Hendrix of electric blues. Aaron Thibeault Walker rose to fame out of Dallas, Houston, L.A., and Chicago, and became a national star in the pre-TV era. T-Bone was an early and highly innovative electric guitarist (famed for single-note solos and horn-like chording), an excellent songwriter, a powerful singer, a prolific record-maker, and an acrobatic showman (he'd do splits while playing his big Gibson hollow-body behind his head, or pick the strings with his teeth--sound similar to a '60s-era rock guitar god we all know and love?). After his wild sets, the stages would be littered with jewelry, cash, and panties. No wonder cats like B.B. King, Mike Bloomfield, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Robert Cray worshipped at T-Bone's altar, even after Walker's death in 1975. Now every day's a "stormy Monday" with the most complete single-disc "best of" devoted to the man. Breaking loose with 16 tracks released by the Black & White/Capitol, Comet, Imperial, and Atlantic labels between 1945-1960 and featuring Billy Vera-penned liner notes, The Very Best of T-Bone Walker serves as the virtual blueprint of modern electric blues guitar. Album Description

Stellar introduction to the art of T-Bone Walker

Nice introduction to the work of T-Bone Walker! He was one of the best of the bluesmen. The liner notes from the CD provide nice background to Walker's work. Many heard him live when he was well past his prime, not knowing the full skills of his art.

Even two songs illustrate. . . .

"Bobby Sox Blues" was an early popular song of Walker's. The backing group supports his singing well. He displays a smooth singing voice. The song itself spoofed the teenagers' giddiness over Sinatra and Eckstine.

And then there is his iconic ""Stormy Monday. . . ." This is one of the great blues tunes. Walker's voice serves this song well. The backing instruments have a clean sound and back the singer very nicely. The liner notes say that "If T-Bone had done nothing more in his career than write and record this one tune, his esteemed place in the history of American music would be guaranteed." His singing emphasizes classic lines such as:

"They call it Stormy Monday,
But Tuesday is just as bad.
Wednesday's worse,
And Thursday's also sad."

All in all, then, this is a fine introduction to the work of T-Bone Walker.
April 18, 2007

One that lives up to its title

A lot of compilations have a title similar to this one, "the best of someone or other", yet still leave a lot to be desired.

That's not the case with this excellent Rhino collection, however. It may not be the definitive word on Aaron Thibeaux Walker (you'll need the two Capitol/Black & White and Imperial box sets for that), but it is the best single-disc retrospective available, and if you are looking for a really good sampler of T-Bone Walker's music, this is it.
Almost all of Walkers best-known songs are here, including his self-penned classics "They Call It Stormy Monday", "Mean Old World" and "I'm Still In Love With You", and "The Very Best Of T-Bone Walker" is an ideal starting place for the curious or the casual fan. August 10, 2003

A Nice Restrspective of T-Bone's 1945-1960 Output

The electric guitar innovator gets the Rhino treatment with this 16-track collection of Imperial, Rumboogie, Capitol, Atlantic, Comet and Black & White sides. This is by no means the definitive collection of Walker's work, but it does serve as a nice retrospective of his 1945-1960 output.

If you were born after 1960, a little refresher is in order. T-Bone Walker influenced at least two generations of blues guitarists. Albert Collins, Freddy King, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan are but a few. For those who think of "Stormy Monday" as an Allman Brothers song, think again. And Eric Clapton didn't create "Mean Old World."

This compilation serves as a nice primer. It includes the aforementioned classic "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday's Just as Bad)" and "Mean Old World Blues." Also featured are "Papa Ain't Salty," "How Long Blues" and "The T-Bone Shuffle" and many more.

As usual Rhino offers the listener extensive, well reseached liner notes (this time by Billy Vera). The booklet comes complete with rare pictures and individual track information (personnel, songwriting credits, chart position, etc.). Kudos to Rhino for doing an excellent job, This compilation rates a strong B+. However, T-Bone merits more than 16 songs. A two CD set featuring some well-chosen rarities and underappreciated gems would have made this an A+ offering. January 17, 2001

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