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Blue Guitars [11CD + DVD] by: Chris Rea

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Rating: - Bluesman gets better and better

I have seen this gentleman on a number of occassions live since 1980,and i have to say his music if at all possible just gets better and better,and with this magnificent package i am just blown away with the sheer and absolute brilliance of it all,blues in all its magnificent glory with Chris the mastermind.Long may he continue to create such masterpieces.
Anyone who enjoys the blues MUST purchase this package NOW.

Rating: - does size matter?

Artists who release two CDs at once are often charged with producing one excellent CD and some filler. Blue Guitars at 11 CDs and a DVD is huge in terms of playing time but much more modest than that might suggest. Despite his intent to play the blues from its beginnings through its various styles, every CD tends to sound like Chris Rea doing his mid paced pop/rock, of which blues has always been one element.

You would think that there would be plenty of opportunity for a variety of approaches to playing the blues but that just doesn't happen and these recordings don't seem so very far away from the Let's Dance/On The Beach/ Auberge type recordings he now seems to want to distance himself from. There is little here that is as memorable as his recordings from that period.

The ambition to produce something as wide ranging as this is laudable and I understand that this isn't intended as an academic exercise but the whole thing tends to lack the passion that Chris Rea professes drives him to do this. Understatement can be very effective but I'm left wishing he would let rip a bit more vocally or instrumentally now and again and put a bit of fire into these performances.

Rating: - some flaws: but still 5 solid stars

The review by Wilkens15 has some very valid comments about the lack of distinction between the discs. I hear that as well; however if the songs are taken individually on their own merit there are just too many gems to mention...hence still 5 stars.

Regarding disc 9 (Celtic)and Chris's old material being reworked. Note that the book even credits Chris Rea for "old recordings". So what you are getting are samples (I suspect) of Nothing to Fear, Josie's Tune and The Intro to Espresso Logic put into new arrangements; which in my opinion really work well and are great fresh takes on the originals.

I would recommend this collection to not only Chris Rea fans; but to anyone who appreciates quality musicianship. This is not just a blues collection; it covers so many musical styles....yes, even including some good examples of MOR Rea! Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Rating: - Thanks Chris

Being a fanatic fan since "Fool, if you think it's over", I have ever since been surprised and enchanted about Chris' work. The connection became even closer after me being diagnosed with cancer myself and "Stony road " became a token for fighting the illness - which worked out fine till now. I remember lying in the hospital thinking about my life and deciding that from then on, I would only do the things I really wanted to do, and say no to all others. In those very moments I realized that life was too unisque an opportunity to waste away by doing things I didn't want to do in the first place. So, I wasn't too much surprised when Chris announced that he too came to the point where he would only write the music he was born for to write. What did surprise me though was the fact that he would do it with 11 cd's, and guess what; the quality of his music is now reaching peaks beyond comparison. Blue Guitars is the ultimate musical gift a musician has ever offered me; I'm listening to it on my stereo, on my PC and in my car and I'm still on cd 1. It's like I want to get imbued with this wonderful music which touches my soul as no other ever did. What can I say but: THANK YOU CHRIS

Rating: - Quite simply - stunning

Not one bad song, every one a winner. This exploration of sounds and styles has to be one of the most comprehensive displays of virtuosity available. I can't imagine any of todays 'new' artists ever emulating this man.
It is, quite simply, stunning.

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