"And This Is Maxwell Street" is an historical gem.
--Mark A. Cole
Big City Blues, December 2000January 2001Allow me to cut to the chase here and say that "And This Is Maxwell Street" is a phenomenal collection of live blues that reflects a perfect moment in time, much like James Brown's "Live at The Apollo" did for soul music.
--William S. Repsher,
New York PressI'll make no bones about it and begin by saying "And This Is Maxwell Street" is, without a doubt, the most important release I can remember in 28 years of buying books, records, CD's, and anything else related to the blues. Shortly before he passed away earlier this year, Cub Koda stated that these recordings "should require a major re-write of blues history..." and Cub knew great music when he heard it.
There are few times as fans of the blues that we can truly say we were around when something of utmost importance came out in the form of records or CD's. The last time anything of this magnitude was released was when Delmark first issued the 'live' Magic Sam material; the Alex Club recordings from Chicago in 1963/64, and his stunning set at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969.
--Craig Ruskey
Delta SnakeWe can now celebrate the availability of this priceless glimpse of the past.
--Jim DeKoester
Living Blues, No. 154The words "landmark" and "legendary" are too easily thrown about, but if any recording merits such words it's certainly this one. The lengthy, detailed liner notes make for fascinating reading and provide the icing on the cake for what is certainly one of the most important blues documents to come out in some time.
--Jeff Harris
Baddog Blues"I just finished listening to the two "And This Is Maxwell Street" CDs. The package and music are beautiful. I loved every second of it. I really like the street sounds in between the tunes, too."
--Charlie Musselwhite"It's as if you're actually there in the streets of Chicago 35 years ago."
--Kiyoshi Nagata
Blues writer, Japan"Nice work. I like the recordings! There really capture the Maxwell Street scene. The liner notes look good too. What you've done is historically significant, and I know the blues folks will appreciate it."
--Rich DelGrosso
Associate Editor
Blues Review Magazine"The recently discovered "And This Is Maxwell Street" tapes should require a major rewrite of blues history. Blues release of the year?--Hell, of the decade."
--Cub Koda
Musician, writer"A treasure. Brings us the music alive and as it was then."
--Mie Seno
Blues writer, Japan"That sounds real good to me!"
--Pinetop Perkins
(On hearing the "And This Is Maxwell Street" music for the first time)"Thanks for the liner notes. They look great. It's just the kind of treatment Mike [Shea] would really have appreciated. He was a stickler for the details...."
--Gordon Quinn
Filmmaker. Mr. Quinn was the sound recordist on "And This Is Free""Though 'And This Is Free' was the first movie Mike Shea ever made, it remains a milestone in the art of the documentary....He would be deeply gratified to know that the haunting and lyrical urban music from his seminal documentary is available to a new audience."
--Mike Gray
Writer of the screenplay for The China Syndrome and a writer and producer for the Star Trek: The Next Generation series--a long-time friend of Mike Shea"Man, they was workin' even back then!"
--Frank Frost (sadly, the late Frank Frost)
(On hearing the "And This Is Maxwell Street" music for the first time)"Great news about the Shea Maxwell Street tapes...A great find"
--Jim O'Neal"It's nuts-and-bolts, warts-and-all music a whole world away from the antiseptic dross that much modern blues has become."
--Neil Slaven
(Blues and Rhythm No. 42)"Unparalled for its freshness and its depth of content."
--Hitoshi Koide
Musician, writer