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Old Mike

Magic Sam

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Posts: 400

Apr 18 06 1:10 AM

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Being unfamiliar with him, I'm looking for the best Magic Sam cd to buy? I'm thinking of getting "The Essential Magic Sam The Cobra and Chief recordings 1957-1961". What do you guys recommend?
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Island Blues

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7831

Apr 18 06 1:50 AM

Actually, I don't think that's the place to start with Magic Sam. During these years Sam was still developing the West Side sound that would become his trademark. I suggest you start with his seminal release "West Side Soul" (Delmark 1967). A modern blues classic that belongs in every collection. "Black Magic" (Delmark 1968) is also quite good. After you've digested these, if you still want more then check out the Cobra/Chief stuff. Just one man's opinion of course. Your mileage may vary.

"Reality has a liberal bias." - Stephen Colbert

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Hawkeye

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7329

Apr 18 06 2:38 AM

Absolutely ... what Island Blues said!!!

Follow that advice ... you won't regret it.

Hawkeye

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Old Mike

#3

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Posts: 400

Apr 18 06 4:21 AM

Done! I've ordered "West Side Soul" on Amazon. Thanks guys!

Vancouver - Canada - Earth

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Blind Melon Chitlin

#4

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Posts: 1086

Apr 18 06 5:35 PM

I recommend you watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW0LEWAYQPI...rch=Magic%20Sam

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Old Mike

#5

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Posts: 400

Apr 18 06 9:00 PM

That was too cool!

Vancouver - Canada - Earth

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Island Blues

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7831

Apr 18 06 9:20 PM

Very cool! But why is he playing Earl Hooker's guitar?

"Reality has a liberal bias." - Stephen Colbert

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rshurman

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Apr 18 06 9:29 PM

QUOTE (Island Blues @ Apr 18 2006, 03:20 PM)

Very cool! But why is he playing Earl Hooker's guitar?

He was often scuffling for guitars, but the mystery deepens because he was playing his own Strat for part of that tour.

Chicagoland

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tanta07

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Apr 18 06 9:29 PM

QUOTE (Island Blues @ Apr 18 2006, 09:20 PM)

Very cool! But why is he playing Earl Hooker's guitar?

It took me a while to discover that fantastic Magic Sam performance on the DVD. I'm usually not one to delve into the "extras" sections of DVDs, usually assuming that it's notes and credits, and boring stuff like that. I was VERY pleasantly surprised to see a stunning Magic Sam performance instead. I'm not sure why it wasn't included as part of the regular program. His performance was certainly good enough.

I'm stretching my feeble memory here, but I believe the Magic Sam footage was taken from an Earl Hooker performance in that same setting (same stage, apparently the same day, etc.), and the Earl Hooker performance is included as an extra on a separate AFBF DVD. As a sidenote, Hooker's performance is also spectacular, and also shouldn't have been relegated to "throwaway extra" status.

The Buzz Brothers Band

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Blind Melon Chitlin

#9

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Posts: 1086

Apr 18 06 10:23 PM

QUOTE (rshurman @ Apr 18 2006, 09:29 PM)

QUOTE (Island Blues @ Apr 18 2006, 03:20 PM)

Very cool! But why is he playing Earl Hooker's guitar?

He was often scuffling for guitars, but the mystery deepens because he was playing his own Strat for part of that tour.

Perhaps he just liked the way that particular guitar sounded through the amp he was using -- which appears to be a Marshall half-stack or possibly a Hiwatt.

QUOTE

Took the music out of schools
And gave 'em guns instead
Livin' in a world gone mad
-Dumpstaphunk

Hot Greasy Chitlins For Your Ears!!! (myspace)

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Old Mike

#10

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Posts: 400

Apr 18 06 11:03 PM

And just think that was the era before label makers!

Vancouver - Canada - Earth

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Nap

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1343

Apr 21 06 3:40 AM

While I love the studio stuff, for my money Magic Sam Live (Delmark) is among the best live blues albums ever recorded. You get a set of music recorded at the now defunct Alex Club and another set from the Ann Arbor Blues Festival from the late 60s. The only downside is that the sound quality is far from perfect as these are tape recorded performances. Don't let that stop you though- the intesity of the music more than makes up for it. The Alex Club set also has some classic moments of Magic Sam working the out of towners in the crowd in between songs.

One side note... the reason that Magic Sam and Earl Hooker are on the extras is that both of these performances were from a different tour than the rest of the disk. Great stuff... I just wish they had some video of Earl Hooker playing slide.

Nap

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bluesjuke

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 944

Apr 21 06 8:43 AM

I've seen that video before & recorded the audio.
He sure makes that Univox Lester copy sound good!

Brings me the most special feeling I most ever had.

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Stevo

#13

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Posts: 2554

Apr 21 06 9:57 AM

I'm with Nap. That liuve stuff is my fave. There's another live disc but it's name escapes me. Yes, I have that one too, just to lazy to find it! Rockin Wild maybe...

No note too small

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Red Rooster

#14

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Posts: 483

Apr 21 06 11:30 PM

I agree. The two live discs(Live/Rockin' Wild) catch Sam at his best.

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tanta07

#15

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Apr 23 06 11:41 PM

QUOTE (Nap @ Apr 21 2006, 03:40 AM)

One side note... the reason that Magic Sam and Earl Hooker are on the extras is that both of these performances were from a different tour than the rest of the disk. Great stuff... I just wish they had some video of Earl Hooker playing slide.

Nap

Ah, thanks for the clarification, Nap. One thing's for sure - I'm never again going to ignore the "extras" section of a DVD! LOL

The Buzz Brothers Band

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7844473

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 30580

Apr 24 06 12:06 AM

I hope they have enough material left to issue a volume 4 of the AFBF serie.

Rene
Paris, France.

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Dan Gould

#17

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Posts: 495

Nov 4 06 9:26 PM

Among my Magic Sam purchases (come to think of it, I'm still waiting for the Cobra/Chief compilation disc which was supposed to have shipped October 23rd

) was this one:

user posted image

which, if it can still be had (not many Amazon sellers when I grabbed it) is highly recommended. Low-fi, but very passable sound, and Sam covers a number of blues tunes by other musicians that he didn't otherwise record in his short life.

Dan

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ForumerDeletedUser

#18

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Pale Blue

Posts: 0

Nov 4 06 9:44 PM

I second the recommendation of West Side Soul, by far my favorite Magic Sam album.

user posted image

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kh1958

#19

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 522

Nov 5 06 4:45 AM

There's another Delmark called the Magic Sam Legacy, which is a collection of miscellaneous studio recordings, but is quite good.

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teebeeferris

#20

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Posts: 2753

Nov 5 06 4:57 AM

Good pick Dan , the good thing about Sam , theres no bad recording of him , thats why they called him Magic , i tend to like his funky side alot !!! Teebee

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