Recommend Box Sets and Anthologies for exploring 1920-1960 - Music

rkm · 2018-01-02T23:13:41-05:00

Like the title says. I want to explore the pre-album era.

Norman Bates Profile
Paris, France

sethmadsen wrote:

Ok lastly:

Anthology Of American Folk Music by Various Artists

^this.

and

The Chess Story: 1947-1975 by Various Artists

Rock N' Roll: 1938-1946 by Various Artists

bobbyb5 Profile
New York

I used to have this except on several vinyl double LPS. But now it's a box set.
It starts in the forties with Atlantic's famous R&B records, and then it goes into their 60s boy group and Soul era then all the way into the seventies.
It has a million tracks on it and you won't believe your eyes how many great ones there are. It's awesome.

Atlantic & Blues 1947-1974 by Various Artists

rkm Profile

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm familiar with a few things. I bought the Lady Day one last year.

I'm searching for these titles on Apple Music, and most aren't available. Where they are available, it shows how inadequate the extra-musical information of the format is. Track title and artist simply isn't enough, when you want want to understand the context of the music.

Looks like I'll head to eBay. The Chess Story is $1,000. 😲

Repo BeA Sunflower Profile
Forest Park

rkm wrote:

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm familiar with a few things. I bought the Lady Day one last year.

I'm searching for these titles on Apple Music, and most aren't available. Where they are available, it shows how inadequate the extra-musical information of the format is. Track title and artist simply isn't enough, when you want want to understand the context of the music.

Looks like I'll head to eBay. The Chess Story is $1,000. :shock:

lol. I just saw that too. Torch for my blood. Nabbed that rock n roll one though for 20 bucks. 😁

LittleM1971 littleM1971 Profile
Nottingham

The Story Of The Blues by Various Artists

Picked this double album up the other year from a charity shop...a rather good education it is too. Starts off with a recording of the African Fra Fra tribesmen with each side having it’s own focus:

Side 1: the origins of the Blues (1-8)
Side 2: Blues and Entertainment (9-16)
Side 3: the Thirties, Urban & Rural Blues (17-24)
Side 4: World War II And after (25-32)

rkm Profile

Any Duke Ellington recommendations?

He made so much music over such a long period of time, and there's a gazillion compilations.

Allmusic recommends this

baystateoftheart Neil Young as a butternut squash Profile
Massachusetts

Happy 11th BEAnniversary! 🎂

Glad to hear you have that Billie Holiday collection.

The Asch Recordings (four discs by Smithsonian Folkways) are a good place to go if you need some more Woody Guthrie in your life.

Regardless of whether you do, Hank Williams is pretty essential. This is a great collection:

40 Greatest Hits by Hank Williams
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bobbyb5 Profile
New York

sethmadsen wrote:

When I was a teenager I owned this gem. I was an idiot and got rid of it in my later teens.

https://www.amazon.com/Glenn-Miller-Popular-Recordings-1938-1942/dp/B000002WDC

Good call.

CharlieBarley Profile
Down To Earth

bobbyb5 wrote:

I used to have this except on several vinyl double LPS. But now it's a box set.
It starts in the forties with Atlantic's famous R&B records, and then it goes into their 60s boy group and Soul era then all the way into the seventies.
It has a million tracks on it and you won't believe your eyes how many great ones there are. It's awesome.

Atlantic & Blues 1947-1974 by Various Artists

Sounds pretty awesome.

I had a Chess Records compilation I bought on iTunes a couple of years ago, it was cheap. It had songs like Dust My Broom and Etta James and others. However I accidentally put my iPod through the washing machine over New Years so now I am saving up for a new iPod lol.

grogg Profile
Portland, OR

Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology by Various Artists

If you want a springboard into early jazz this is the way to do it.