Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection

"Alligator Records 30th

Anniversary Collection"

(Alligator) Blues *;*;*;1/2

Ten years ago, when the Chicago blues label released a doublealbum to mark its 20th anniversary, it filled with predictable liveperformances from a corresponding tour. Nonetheless, that disc sold330,000 copies worldwide, Alligator's biggest commercial success todate.

It's indicative of how much Alligator has grown during the lastdecade that now there are many fine artists who seem glaring in theiromission from this collection. Then you play the "Whom do youeliminate?" game and you realize that there are no weak links on thisdisc, to be released Tuesday.

The formula is a winning one: one album of studio material thatoffers an overview of the last 30 years, and one live album filledwith rare gems, including five previously unreleased tunes. There'salso a CD Rom video track of the only known footage of Hound DogTaylor, recorded at the 1974 Ann Arbor (Mich.) Blues Festival. Thelive cuts by Albert Collins & the Icebreakers, Little Charlie & theNightcats and Lonnie Mack, in particular, will send blues fansscurrying off in pursuit of back catalog--which, after all, is theprimary marketing purpose for such a project.

As part of the 30th anniversary promotion, Alligator is inserting20 coupons in the first 50,000 copies, redeemable for Alligator'sentire back catalog of nearly 200 albums. Then all you'd need wouldbe a little rock, jazz and classical, and you'd have a completerecord collection in every sense.

"Alligator Records 30th

Anniversary Collection"

(Alligator) Blues *;*;*;1/2

Ten years ago, when the Chicago blues label released a doublealbum to mark its 20th anniversary, it filled with predictable liveperformances from a corresponding tour. Nonetheless, that disc sold330,000 copies worldwide, Alligator's biggest commercial success todate.

It's indicative of how much Alligator has grown during the lastdecade that now there are many fine artists who seem glaring in theiromission from this collection. Then you play the "Whom do youeliminate?" game and you realize that there are no weak links on thisdisc, to be released Tuesday.

The formula is a winning one: one album of studio material thatoffers an overview of the last 30 years, and one live album filledwith rare gems, including five previously unreleased tunes. There'salso a CD Rom video track of the only known footage of Hound DogTaylor, recorded at the 1974 Ann Arbor (Mich.) Blues Festival. Thelive cuts by Albert Collins & the Icebreakers, Little Charlie & theNightcats and Lonnie Mack, in particular, will send blues fansscurrying off in pursuit of back catalog--which, after all, is theprimary marketing purpose for such a project.

As part of the 30th anniversary promotion, Alligator is inserting20 coupons in the first 50,000 copies, redeemable for Alligator'sentire back catalog of nearly 200 albums. Then all you'd need wouldbe a little rock, jazz and classical, and you'd have a completerecord collection in every sense.