Shake That Thing: The Blues In Britain 1963-1973 / Various

Three CD compilation that focuses on all facets of the blues in the UK during the genre's most popular era. Key British artists run the stylistic gamut of R&B, electric blues, country blues, folk blues, blues rock, jug band music, Gospel, hokum, and ragtime. The set features such pioneers as Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Cyril Davies, as well as those who would become worldwide superstars with Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and many more contributing. Blues was in the DNA of the new genres being developed in the UK such as hard rock, psychedelia and folk rock, as can be evidenced by the inclusion in this set of The Animals, Jethro Tull, Pentangle, The Incredible String Band, Humble Pie, Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown, Jellybread, Taste and Ten Years After. Alongside these more progressive acts we have those that cherished the work of their blues heroes too much to alter it any way. These purists toiled away to approach the feel and replicate the sound heard on those treasured, well-worn albums that were studied so closely, long into the night. Among this number we count Jo-Ann Kelly, her brother Dave, Ian A. Anderson, Roger Hubbard and Mike Cooper, among others.