Blind Pig Records began life as a barroom cafe in the Ann Arbor-Detroit corridor, and has since morphed in a full-fledged record company in San Francisco. While the bar is gone, the record company has become a respected name in the business. With a huge catalog and a blossoming artist stable, Blind Pig is now a major force in the national and international theater. Well, here's the skinny on the biscuits:

Disc One features cuts from: Arthur Adams & B.B. King, Deborah Coleman, Popa Chubby, Big Bill Morganfield & Taj Mahal, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, Tommy Castro, Debbie Davies & Albert Collins, George 'Harmonica' Smith, Snooky Pryor, the Gospel Hummingbirds, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, E.C. Scott, James Cotton, the Memphis Rockabilly Band, Bob Margolin, Muddy Waters, and The Vipers.

Disc two has songs from: John Mooney, Chris Thomas King, Bill Perry, Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings, Jimmy Thackery & Joe Louis Walker, Lloyd Jones, Studebaker John & The Hawks, Chubby Carrier, Tommy Castro & Delbert McClinton, Johnny Dyer, Chris Cain, Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s, PeeWee Crayton, Norton Buffalo, Johnny Shines, Joanna Connors, Pinetop Perkins, and Coco Montoya.

Disc three contains: concept videos from Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo, and Preacher Boy; Interviews with Muddy Waters, Deborah Coleman (with performance clips), and Snooky Pryor; and a live performance video from Tommy Castro. All in all this set is chock full of high-test blues, well-know artists, and oodles of info. Wearing this release out may be harder than you think, so get yourself an extra ... just in case.

Blind Pig Records; P.O. Box 2344; San Francisco, CA 94126
Web: www.blindpigrecords.com

This review is copyright © 2001 by Mark A. Cole, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.