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23/06/2004 The Roots of the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison
Albums exploring the roots of major artists, including recherche tracks by antecedents long forgotten, are growing in popularity. It's easy to see why: hardcore fans appreciate an easy way of hearing the sources which influenced their favourite artists. Stoned Alchemy - "27 Original Blues and R&B Hits that inspired the Rolling Stones" (Instant/Charly, 1989) - has long been my favourite in the genre, mainly because of the variety and quality of the originals borrowed for the Stones' early catalogue, from Chuck Berry and Howlin' Wolf to lesser lights such as Buster Brown and Gene Allison. A more recent example, The Roots of Van Morrison (Catfish, 2002) gives a good overview of some of the major reference sources in Morrison's art - three tracks each by Leadbelly (sic) and Hank Williams, as well as single tracks by important sources like Jimmie Rodgers, John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Williams, and Louis Jordan, give you a good idea of what Morrison was probably listening to in the late 1950s. Despite the strengths of its selections, the unofficial compilation, one of a series on the Catfish label, is let down slightly by a few idiosyncratic selections, sketchy notes on the sources, and drab sleeve design. Stoned Alchemy showed how it should be done, with track details, informative liner notes by veteran writer Roy Carr, and some lovely photos.
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