Rhino Handmade recommendations?

[Edward]

The release of the Fats Domino Complete Reprise Recordings CD means that I will be placing an order with Rhino Handmade in the near future. I do not yet have any Rhino Handmade releases, so I was hoping that others would be able to post their thoughts on the following sets that I am considering purchasing. (Of course, I would also welcome your thoughts about any other releases that you think are exceptional.) Thanks!!!

Ray Charles in Concert (2-CD set)

Mance Lipscomb - American Folk Song Traditionalist Sings Trouble In Mind (1 CD)

Josh White - The Elektra Years (2-CD set)

Also, do any of you Doors fans highly recommend any of the Rhino Handmade Doors releases? Aren't a lot (all?) of these now distributed directly by Ray Manzarek and co.?

[J.A.W.]

Short reply (haven't got much time):

Get the Mance Lipscomb while you can, it's up there with his best Arhoolie recordings.

Also highly recommended:

Percy Mayfield - His Tangerine and Atlantic Sides (out of print)

Loudon Wainwright III - The Atlantic Recordings (out of print)

Jackie DeShannon - Jackie... Plus (a personal favorite of mine)

Doug Sahm - The Genuine Texas Groover

[Stereojack]

Mance Lipscomb - American Folk Song Traditionalist Sings Trouble In Mind (1 CD)

Josh White - The Elektra Years (2-CD set)

←

The Lipscomb is fine - I've owned it on LP for years. I will say that he made a number of fine recordings for Arhoolie as well. I'd probably recommend you investigate those first (if you haven't already).

I prefer the Josh White of the 30's & 40's over the Elektra (1958-1960) years, but if you're a fan, you want it all, of course! Many consider his later music to be just a little too smooth.

[Quincy]

Also, do any of you Doors fans highly recommend any of the Rhino Handmade Doors releases?  Aren't a lot (all?) of these now distributed directly by Ray Manzarek and co.?

←

The Live In Detroit is very good. Great sound quality and interesting setlist.

I've borrowed the 2 Aquarius shows and wasn't as impressed. The sound quality is fine and it probably has more to do with personal preferences as much as anything as I'd rather have a show from an earlier tour. I didn't play my double LP of Absolutely Live much as I found it somewhat disappointing, and I believe that's the same tour as the Aquarius shows. But they sound great, so if you like that tour keep them in mind.

I haven't heard the rehearsal or other releases. I think I've read a review panning the Boot Your Butt 4 disc set regarding the sound quality, but given the nature of the project (bootlegging bootlegs) I'm not sure if the reviewer took that into account or had bootleg listening experience. Sorry I don't recall where I read the review & my highspeed is out so I'm too lazy to Google.

[BFrank]

I have "Live in Detroit", too. Definitely a nice live set and the sound quality is excellent, as well.

[bluesbro]

Live in Detroit is a winner. The Aquarius shows are also good, but in a different way. Morrison was not into his rock god persona after the miami incident, so he is taking it a notch down. They will release 2 more sets in November: the Boston shows. These are controversial even among Doors fans, Morrison was totally wasted on these.

The Ray Charles set is very good, it may go OOP preety soon. In fact, I think its already way overpriced. Last time I checked it was in the $50s at amazon.

[paul secor]

Another for the Mance Lipscomb.

[Edward]

Short reply (haven't got much time):

Get the Mance Lipscomb while you can, it's up there with his best Arhoolie recordings.

Also highly recommended:

Percy Mayfield - His Tangerine and Atlantic Sides (out of print)

Loudon Wainwright III - The Atlantic Recordings (out of print)

Jackie DeShannon - Jackie... Plus (a personal favorite of mine)

Doug Sahm - The Genuine Texas Groover

←

Thanks to Hans, Stereojack, and Paul for the Mance Lipscomb recommendation. I received a second-hand copy of this in the mail today, and I listened to it straight through - it sounds great! I also received the first Mance Lipscomb Arhoolie disc earlier this week; but I thought that the sound (at least on my computer - I was able to listen to the Rhino disc on my normal CD player) was not nearly as good, although the performances were top-notch.

As for the other recommendations, I will mull them over during the next few days. Collectors' Choice Music is have a 15% off sale through August 28th (free shipping on all U.S. orders $50 and over), and I believe that they stock all of the Rhino Handmade discs (that are in print). I received an e-mail flyer regarding this sale, but according to http://cdshopper.cjb.net, the coupon code is 07245 . I will probably go ahead and get the Doug Sahm.

[paul secor]

The Doug Sahm is another fine one. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.