Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection
Three decades ago Bruce Iglauer founded Alligator Records, selling his heroHound Dog Taylor's records out of his car trunk. Since then, Alligator has become America's best-known and most prolific blues label, and many of the reasons for its success appear on this budget-priced, two-disc 30th anniversary collection. Much of the material, includingMarcia Ball's "Louella" andShemekia Copeland's "Turn the Heat Up," comes from relatively recent recordings, since the label also released anthologies honoring its20thand25thanniversaries. Those two collections are unreservedly recommended, with the 20th providing the best historical overview of the label's evolution.But the 30th holds its own, presenting guitar greats likeLonnie Mack("Stop"),Johnny Winter("My Time After Awhile"), andLonnie Brooks("Two-Headed Man"), as well as harmonica heroesJames Cotton("When It Rains It Pours"),Junior Wells("Keep Your Hands Out of My Pockets"), andWilliam Clarke("Broke and Hungry"). Several outstanding duets, including a fine and funky tune byHenry ButlerandCorey Harrisand a classic from aRobert CrayandAlbert Collinscollaboration, provide variety.The second disc contains 13 live cuts, featuring some of the most exciting live blues acts ever, such as Albert Collins, backed by the Icebreakers;Luther Allison, who rips through his signature "Soul Fixin' Man"; andSon Seals, who gets help fromElvin Bishop. Dynastic zydeco greatC.J. Chenierserves up "Jambalaya," andDelbert McClintondishes out blue-eyed soul with "Maybe Someday Baby" to further flavor the live action. And to top it off, there's a bonus video track featuring Hound Dog Taylor to make the celebration complete.--Michael Point