Out Of Bad Luck - The Cobra/Chief/Crash Singles BOX

Credits:

Magic Sam

Description:

Before the one-of-a-kind bluesman Magic Sam released his historic debut album *WestSideSoul* (1968) on Delmark, he recorded nine singles for Cobra and Chief, and Crash—all faithfully restored to their original versions in this unprecedented box set! Magic Sam, the ill-fated bluesman who died tragically at the age of 32 in 1969. To truly appreciate the appeal of his music, there’s no doubt that the two albums released by Delmark—*WestSideSoul* (1968), a timeless masterpiece that shines brilliantly in the history of the blues, and *BlackMagic* (1969), which held promise for further development—are indispensable. However, the singles he released prior to that—on the Cobra, Chief, and Crash labels—are also incredibly compelling. Depending on your perspective, they might even be better than his Delmark recordings. On his debut single “All Your Love” (1957) from Cobra—which is also featured on *West Side Soul*—his trademark tremolo guitar bursts forth right from the start. Including his vocals, the freshness—which is absent from the Delmark versions—is truly wonderful. Perhaps because this song was a hit in Chicago, many of the slow blues tracks from this era—such as “Easy Baby” (1958), which was re-recorded in the same style on *Black Magic*—are also superbly crafted. The collection of dance numbers—primarily featured on the B-sides—is also fascinating. Rockin’ blues tracks like “Love Me With a Feeling” (1957) and “21 Days in Jail” (1958)—it’s hard to believe he’s singing while playing guitar (and fingerstyle, no less)— as well as the Chief recordings—which feature many R&B-style tracks, including “Chief 7013” (1960), released under the name Magic Sam with the Ammons Sisters—offer dance numbers in a style not found on the Delmark releases. Among the Chief recordings, “Every Night About This Time” (1961)—which opens the legendary album *Magic Sam Live* (1981) with a live performance from the Alex Club in Chicago in 1963, where a female audience member can be seen singing along with Sam—is truly wonderful. His interpretation and performance—full of tension and completely different from Fats Domino’s idyllic original version—are nothing short of masterful. And then there are the two tracks from the single released by Crush (1966). Recorded after his first session with Delmark, the slow blues track “Out of Bad Luck”—in which Sam’s soul-stirring vocals strike a chord—is widely regarded as a masterpiece. The funky “She Belongs to Me” is also incredibly cool and brimming with Sam’s spirit. The sound pressure—absent from the Delmark recordings—is another charm of the works from this era. Combined with the floor-filling dance numbers, this is one reason why the singles from this period are popular not only among collectors but also among DJs. We’re delivering a box set that faithfully restores all of these tracks to their original condition and brings them together in one collection. How much would it cost to collect all nine originals? ...That’s just one of the reasons this box set is a must-have for blues fans who love vinyl!