By Cornbread

Chicago Blues Reunion -
Buried Alive In The Blues
{hits stores July 12, 2005 | Out The Box Records}

Chicago Blues Reunion is a sweet collaboration of Chicago music legends who defined the sound of the 60's. In that time, they helped create the historic transition in popular music from acoustic folk to electric blues-influenced rock. For four decades they have continued to be an inspiration to younger generations that followed their trail blazing path.

In 2004, these legends joined forces once again and the result is a two disc set, Buried Alive In The Blues, (audio CD + 60 minute DVD) which is a lasting document of their musical and cultural legacy showcased in a live performance at Chicago’s renowned FitzGerald’s (10/15/04).

The band is a who’s who of blues greats: Barry Goldberg (piano & B3), Nick “The Greek” Gravenites (guitar), Harvey “The Snake” Mandel (lead guitar), Tracy Nelson, Sam Lay (drums on #10), Corky Siegel (harp) with backing by a band of top flight pros including Gary Mallaber (drums), Rick Reed (bass) and Zach Wagner (rhythm guitar).

The tracks are:

1) "Born In Chicago" – featuring Nick Gravenites
2) "Buried Alive In The Blues" – featuring Nick Gravenites
3) "Walk Away" – featuring Tracy Nelson
4) "Drinking Wine" - Nick Gravenites
5) "GM Boogie" - featuring Barry Goldberg and Harvey Mandel
6) "Left Handed Soul" – featuring Nick Gravenites
7) "Miss You Like The Devil" – featuring Tracy Nelson
8) "All The Help I Can Get" – featuring Tracy Nelson
9) "Death Of Muddy Waters" – featuring Nick Gravenites
10) "Find My Baby" – featuring Sam Lay
11) "New Truck" – featuring Tracy Nelson
12) "King Bee" – featuring Corky Siegel
13) "Snake" – featuring Harvey Mandel
14) "Hound Dog" – featuring Sam Lay

The DVD features 30 minutes of music and 30 minutes of interviews with the CBR bandmates plus on-screen recollections and telling the North Side Chicago blues story of the 60's from various perspectives. The DVD also includes a “collectors photo gallery” that offers many never before seen photographs of the band members with their friends and influences including: Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Dylan, Santana, Janis Joplin, John Mayall, Canned Heat and others.

This CD/DVD combo is must have for your blues collection. The music covers many bluesy-genres from straight-out Chicago, to swingin’ boogie-woogie. My favorite was the first track “Born In Chicago”. “Buried Alive In The Blues” was written for Janis Joplin, she passed away the day before it was to be recorded. Buried Alive has both harp and piano. “GM Boogie” is a powerful, guitar laden instrumental. Both tracks with vocals by Corky and Sam are mighty, mighty fine y’all.