Rating: 
Summary: The Real Thing: Roots, Fruits in Fertile Soil
Review: Miraculously unearthed and licensed by Reelinintheyears and released through Experience Hendrix, the 3-hours featuring 36 performances by 24 artists are the real thing filmed at the peak of many of their careers. Filmed in a Baden-Baden Germany studio with sets designed to reflect the realities of the urban blues, the sound and B&W footage is amazing. Imagine seeing Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Lightnin' Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Lonnie Johnson, Big Walter, otis Rush, Otis Spann, blues brother Matt "Guitar" Murphy (as exciting as he is today) and others (with 1969 bonus footage of legends Magic Sam and Earl Hooker) in your living room.
Watch closely Sonny Boy's virtuoso "Bye Bye Bird," "Mojo" with Sonny Boy and Muddy, a five-harp jam with Big Mama, John Lee, Big Walter, J. B. Lenoir and Dr. Ross, and the magic of Lightnin' Hopkins doing "Mojo Hand" and laying out enough hot guitar licks in one song to fuel a rocker's whole career.
Hip-O has released a highlights CD but these two DVDs must be seen to believe. These are the performances that American audiences have never seen since they were filmed but which inspired the Rolling Stones, John Mayall, Ten Years After, Yardbirds, Animals, Van Morrison, Ten Years After and so many of the British blues-rockers.
This was no small event. These artists played the finest concert halls of Europe, stayed in the best hotels, and ate in the best restaurants finding a deep respect they never lived to see in America. Their performances show it. Some didn't want to leave. Sonny Boy Williamson stayed on for over a year after the 1963 festival appearing in clubs and on numerous TV shows and recording with the Yardbirds, Animals, Jimmy Page, jazzman Chris Barber and even Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
As talent scout Willie Dixon said, "The blues are the roots; the rest are the fruits." These are the roots and the British Invasion were only the first blossoming of the fruits. Miss these DVDs at your own risk.
Bill Donoghue AKA 'fessor Mojo,
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best
Review: One word. Phenomenal. Thats it. I have yet to watch the other volumes but if they are anywhere near the quality of this one, you can bet I'm not putin' my harp down for at least the 3+ hours.
The Picture, cinematography, and sound, albeit mono (but extreemly high quality) are superb.
The Photo gallery and option to buy the photos is a welcome option too.
I am particularly fond of the Junior Wells and Sonny Boy Williamson recordings.
Man, was I born in the wrong era (1975), I missed all this stuff live!
If you like the Blues, if you are even somewhat interested in the blues, if you've ever heard blues music, your sure to like this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden gems resurface
Review: The American Folk Blues Festival,
1962-1966, Vols. 1 & 2In the early 1960's, America's greatest musical artists went to Europe to be appreciated. Rhythm and blues legends such as Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Willliamson, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush and so many others were revered across the ocean but commercially ignored in America. So 'festival tours' of Europe were assembled for these artists, the performances were recorded live in a small TV studio in Germany and then --- the performances were lost. What once was lost is now found and 40 years later, we have these performances on DVD, with Reelin' in the Years' The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Volumes 1 and 2. I stumbled upon these thanks to a savvy friend who brought them to my house in the middle of night, insisting I need to see them. I knew the players of course and was expecting good performances but I was not prepared for what I can only describe as 'astounding quality'. The video and audio on the 33 songs sound and look state of the art even for today. Some of my favorite moments are T-Bone Walker's earliest known film performance of "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong," the great Howlin' Wolf doing "Shake for Me", "I'll Be Back Someday," and "Love me Darlin;'" Also there's Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Workin" and a jaw-dropping finale of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon all performing together. Not only did these festivals help the musicians, but also these performances fueled the great British blues invasion that came to America in the mid-60's. Not to be missed under any circumstances. -mbb
Rating:
Summary: Hidden gems resurface
Review: The American Folk Blues Festival,
1962-1966, Vols. 1 & 2 In the early 1960's, America's greatest musical artists went to Europe to be appreciated. Rhythm and blues legends such as Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Willliamson, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush and so many others were revered across the ocean but commercially ignored in America. So `festival tours' of Europe were assembled for these artists, the performances were recorded live in a small TV studio in Germany and then --- the performances were lost. What once was lost is now found and 40 years later, we have these performances on DVD, with Reelin' in the Years' The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Volumes 1 and 2. I stumbled upon these thanks to a savvy friend who brought them to my house in the middle of night, insisting I need to see them. I knew the players of course and was expecting good performances but I was not prepared for what I can only describe as 'astounding quality'. The video and audio on the 33 songs sound and look state of the art even for today. Some of my favorite moments are T-Bone Walker's earliest known film performance of "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong," the great Howlin' Wolf doing "Shake for Me", "I'll Be Back Someday," and "Love me Darlin;'" Also there's Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Workin" and a jaw-dropping finale of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon all performing together. Not only did these festivals help the musicians, but also these performances fueled the great British blues invasion that came to America in the mid-60's. Not to be missed under any circumstances. -mbb
Rating:
Summary: Hidden gems resurface
Review: The American Folk Blues Festival,
1962-1966, Vols. 1 & 2 In the early 1960's, America's greatest musical artists went to Europe to be appreciated. Rhythm and blues legends such as Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Willliamson, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush and so many others were revered across the ocean but commercially ignored in America. So 'festival tours' of Europe were assembled for these artists, the performances were recorded live in a small TV studio in Germany and then --- the performances were lost. What once was lost is now found and 40 years later, we have these performances on DVD, with Reelin' in the Years' The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Volumes 1 and 2. I stumbled upon these thanks to a savvy friend who brought them to my house in the middle of night, insisting I need to see them. I knew the players of course and was expecting good performances but I was not prepared for what I can only describe as 'astounding quality'. The video and audio on the 33 songs sound and look state of the art even for today. Some of my favorite moments are T-Bone Walker's earliest known film performance of "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong," the great Howlin' Wolf doing "Shake for Me", "I'll Be Back Someday," and "Love me Darlin;'" Also there's Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Workin" and a jaw-dropping finale of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon all performing together. Not only did these festivals help the musicians, but also these performances fueled the great British blues invasion that came to America in the mid-60's. Not to be missed under any circumstances. -mbb
Rating:
Summary: Very Very Cool
Review: The film was filmed in Germany, but watching it you'd never know... other than the rare sweep of the camera to the audience (and they appear very uptight and stiff... don't know why... the show is awsome), on the live stage performances.Most of the performance were filmed in a studio, with the set dressed up to look like a bar, a front porch of a house, etc.... and very well done. Sort of a blues meets MTv type of thing.The filming is all in black and white and filmed by actual film people.... not some guy in the audience with a beat up camera. It is very very good. Awsome work.Buy both volumes. They are awsome.And all the songs are played in full. Not a bunch of talking... just great great music.... great sound... and outstanding filming.Let me drop a name.... Sonny Boy Williamson.... this guy is awsome awsome awsome.Another.... T Bone Walker.... great guitar.... cool absolutely cool.Brownie McGhee is another... fabulous blues guy.Can't recommend this set enoughGet these dvds
Rating: 
Summary: Surreal
Review: This disc is worth the price just for the bonus track of Earl Hooker getting his electric groove on. Also check out Buddy Guy and Matt Guitar Murphey on both discs. Pulpwwod, pure pulpwood.
Rating:
Summary: Been waiting for this for years
Review: This is amazing. I have been collecting copies of these shows for nearly a decade since I started writing a biography of Sonny Boy Williamson. I have never been able to locate copies of the 1962 and 1963 show and am dying to see 1963 with Sonny Boy and Muddy Waters playing "Mojo" together. If you have never seen these you are in for a treat. If these offer clear sound and video, these are the real thing. If you have ever wondered where the British Blues-Rock performers such as the Yardbirds, Animals, Cream, John Mayall and even the Moody Blues heard the blues first hand, these are the shows that did the job. Visit [website]if you want to know more about Sonny Boy Williamson II.
Rating:
Summary: Blues performances which I saw live way back then
Review: This set is just fantastic and captures exactly the mood and excitement of the AFBF's I remember. Any blues fan young or old who wants to see and hear how it was then MUST get these two DVD's Some of the performances and introductions, wow those introductions are something else(!) are worth the price by themselves. Sonny Boy, Wolf, Lightnin Fred,Otis,Earl,and T Bone all excell.The rest are only a short beat behind. They are real TREASURES don't miss out.
Rating: 
Summary: Should come with warning on label. Silly stage props!!!
Review: Unfortunately, the people who filmed this put silly stage props, had T-Bone Walker playing on a fake porch with a woman knitting next to him and stuff like that. Real patronizing look at the blues. Too bad this is the way we have to remember these great artists. The performances were well done but hard to look at.
|
