DEAL
ME TWO! |
MIDNITE
BLUES PARTY -
volume two - the
reviews (back to MBP)
Rather than take that safe approach, Eddy's chosen to dig even
deeper to come up with a series of sides that pre-date most of
the material on Volume One. The majority of these cuts are
taken from an era when tracks were limited in length by the
constraints of 78 RPM records, and when novelty songs could
still capture the public's imagination; the latest recording
date listed is 'mid-fifties." It's a fascinating glimpse
into a time now irretrievably lost, an era far more innocent
than ours. If you're at all interested in the history of the
blues, though, in how it became rock 'n' roll, and why some
music has survived and some hasn't this is an essential piece
of the puzzle, and I'd venture to say your education can't
possibly be complete without it. - John Taylor
Blues
On Stage - June 2003
Quality Music Rediscovered
- 'Eddy B's Midnite Blues Party volume two gathers
28 rare tracks from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Compiled by Toronto
record collector/radio personality Eddy B. Few players here
are household names to the average blues fan, and that’s
exactly what makes it so great. It’s reassuring to know that
there’s so much quality music waiting to be rediscovered.
Blues Party is a must own. - Kenneth Bays Blues
Revue - October / November 2003 |
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|
Blues Time
Machine -
Midnite Blues Party Volume Two is your time machine to an era of
superb piano-based boogie-woogies and jazzy rhythm and blues. The
extensive 28-song menu is juicy enough to salivate on. This
compilation was sequenced and compiled by Toronto native Eddy Brake
(otherwise known as "Eddy B"), a blues archivist known for his
extensive blues collection. If you are a blues collector, this is
for you. If you are a 1940s jazz lover, this is for you. If you
enjoy piano-based blues, this is for you. Give this period piece a
listen when you are in the mood and proper atmosphere to fully enjoy
some fine music.
- Warren Dallin
www.canadianblues.ca
- September 2003
RARE! -
“Rare” is putting it mildly: although a rigorous search of
various print and internet sources will unearth info on some of
these artists, others seem to have faded into the mists of time.
Most of these tracks are solidly in the late-‘40s, early-‘50s
jump-blues mold, and many are a decidedly Gulf Coast/West Coast
style. Sometimes the best way to recapture the feel of an era is not
to focus on the big hits, but rather to listen to the creations of
journeyman artists and producers who had their fingers on the pulse
of popular taste – you get to hear what was playing on radios and
jukeboxes in homes and taverns, and on bandstands in dance halls and
show lounges. That’s the kind of insight you get from listening to
this compilation, and it’s a rich pleasure indeed.
- Davis Whiteis Living Blues
- #169 – 2003
Eddy B Delivers
Another Masterpiece!
-
Volume Two culls a bushel load of tracks (28) from 1945 to the
mid-50s. It draws upon a different variety of styles from those on
volume one. A definite house party atmosphere prevails-swinging and
also touched by a more sophisticated tinge. Dramatic,
forceful, and engaging, this was a case of love at first listen,
with the enduring impression being the unswerving passion of these
unheralded artists. Within 5 or 6 minutes, it penetrated the
consciousness that Volume Two goes beyond a mere collection of
individual tunes, and should be considered a timeless sound canvas
touched by the full gamut of human emotions. The life experiences of
the urban Black American community are woven into this fascinating
songbook storyline, thanks to Eddy B's keen grasp of that era's
musical legacy. Full of happy-go-lucky, Boogie 'n' Blues, it's
driven by relentless rhythms carried along by full-barreled
performances. Midnite Blues Party Volume Two is a surfeit of riches,
almost too good to be true. If you have Volume One, there's no
question that this follow-up will knock you out as well. If you
haven't got either one, then beg, borrow, or steal and get them.
- Gary Tate
to-nite
- Issue: #293 April 3 to April 16, 2003 |
