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John Hammond - So Many Roads Audio CD

A fair review of the John Hammond "So Many Roads" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all John Hammond reviews here, or go back to the John Hammond tabs.

John Hammond Band: John Hammond
Title: So Many Roads
Rating:
Release Date: 1993-03-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Down in the Bottom 2: Long Distance Call 3: Who Do You Love? 4: I Want You to Love Me 5: Judgment Day 6: So Many Roads, So Many Trains 7: Rambling Blues 8: O Yea! 9: You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover 10: Gambling Blues 11: Baby Please Don't Go 12: Big Boss Man

AWFUL sound--DON'T BUY THE 1993 REISSUE
And I bought it new! I'm not someone who nitpicks a whole lot about quiet or flat or "old" remasters, but the faults with this edition are overwhelming. Unfortunately, I can't yet comment on the quality of the music on this 1993 reissue--there is so much crackling and distortion throughout EVERY SINGLE song that the entire CD is totally unlistenable. I couldn't even make it through, the distortion was too overbearing and distracting. What were they thinking allowing this to reach the shelves of stores? I immediately returned my copy to Amazon. com, and luckily received my money back.

Now, as to a reissue that is actually listenable, I sampled a few of the songs on iTunes and they sounded fine; it's still the same label (Vanguard) but the release date is 2005. I haven't yet purchased the 2005 reissue from Amazon yet, but will be sure to comment when I do. Unfortunately this review will probably show on both due to Amazon's dim-witted review system AI. Whatever you do, don't buy the slightly cheaper 1993 issue!.


Great CD- terrbile sound
The sound is awful on both copies- lots of crackling in the background. Recently picked up two copies of this CD from Amazon. It almost sounds as if it were mastered from an poor quality record. This ain't exactly a hot seller- perhaps this is an old pressing that is a number of years old. Stay away from Amazon's inventory. Another retailer's inventory or an import pressing might be better.


Great Classic Blues and Robbie Robertson's best playing!
Other members of The Band are also on this CD -- Garth Hudson, Levon Helm -- as well as the already mentioned Mike Bloomfield (inexplicably on piano, but I don't think even he could have surpassed Robertson on guitar in this set) and Charlie Musselwhite. This is one of my favorite blues CD's and much of the reason is Robbie Robertson's incredible edgy guitar playing, which I don't think he ever equaled in his work with The Band or elsewhere. John Hammond's dramatic vocals are great as is his choice of some of the best blues tunes in existence. Highly recommended for all fans of blues, and blues-guitar.


You aren't just kidding!
And it just doesn't get any better than "So Many Roads. Check out "Who Do You Love"! It's got Charlie Musselwhite at his best, and Mike Bloomfield on piano (Bloomfield seemed to be a victim of excess, but as a sideman or with Butterfield, he came through as a tremendous student of the blues and quite a talent in his own right!). " John Hammond really hit his groove with this record/CD.


Kick ___ white boy blues!
Rather, his strength is effectively covering and interpreting old blues songs into a more contemporary setting. John Hammond's strength is not songwriting. This is John Hammond's best early album from 1965. The record features ace players such as Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica as well as future Band members Levon Helm and Garth Hudson. The playing is strong and Hammond gives his best white boy blues growl. The record is pure electric blues, none of the acoustic wimpy stuff. Hammond's vocals may seem a bit parodical because it sounds like he is trying too hard, but it is good music nonetheless. Check out his version of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?".


You can see a complete list of all John Hammond discography, or go back to the John Hammond tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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