Mercury Blues and Rhythm Story

[Tom 1960]

What can you guys tell me about this set besides what I've read online? It sounds like an interesting collection but 8 disks might be a bit much. Convince me otherwise.

[Big Beat Steve]

It would help if you'd describe a bit more exactly which box set you are referring to. There were two in the 90s - one in a longish/rectangular black box with gold lining and another one with a box (plastic IIRC) somewhat in the shape of a 40s bakelite radio. The latter one made the headlines due to its optics but I felt it was a bit heavy on the obvious, major names (such as Dinah Washington).
I bought the other (rectangular) one new at the time as it seemed to offer a wider variety of artists but I never got around to comparing the track listings with those of the "radio" set. There was quite a bit of overlap but I don't remember the details. I haven't listened to a lot of my box in quite a qwhile but do like it and would not part with it, but then 40s and early 50s R&B has a special place in my collection. The set is varied enough - from straight bluies to combo and big band (Johnny Otis. Buddy Johnson) R&B, but quite a bit of it has been reissued elsewhere too. So it all depends on what else you have and how far your interest goes. So do check the track listings beforehand and compare them with what you have already. As a taster it isn't bad at all IMO, though.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I have it and it has some incredible music on it. I don't listen to it as often as I used to.

This is the one I have.

[Tom 1960]

8 hours ago, bresna said:

I have it and it has some incredible music on it. I don't listen to it as often as I used to.

This is the one I have.

That's the box I was referring to. Thank you, Kevin.

[Big Beat Steve]

Ha, Captain (thanks BTW for ging to the trouble of placing the track listing here), so I was right abut the major names but wrong about Dinah Washington.
I see I did well not to have bought the radio box, then, as several of those artists had been served with accessible reissues before (of which I did have quite a handful so duplications would have been enormous and I cannot see one single artist there I'd place on a "completist" list - with the possible exception of Jay McShann).

 

5 hours ago, Tom 1960 said:

That's the box I was referring to. Thank you, Kevin.

You're welcome from this side too, Tom.

[Big Beat Steve]

13 minutes ago, Captain Howdy said:

Not even Professor Longhair AKA Roy Byrd? I also like Helen Humes, although she's not a big name. OTOH any Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson is too much IMO.

 

Roy Byrd has been served well with vinyl reissues (including a nicely done Bear Family twofer focusing specifically on the Mercury label recordings from New Orleans) and I have what I need of his earlier recordings. IIRC quite a few of the Helen Humes tracks listed are on various reissue LPs from the Mr R&B stable.

I did notice the presence of Dinah Washington on the black "Story" box I own but mistakenly had been under the impression there was a lot more by her on the radio box.

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by Big Beat Steve