Jimmy Reed - 'The Essential Boss Man: The Very Best of the Vee-Jay Years, 1953-1966'

'The Essential Boss Man: The Very Best of the Vee-Jay Years, 1953-1966' is a 3CD box set of the best material Jimmy Reed made during the peak of his recording career for Vee-Jay Records.

Jimmy was turned down by Chess Records, but quickly swooped up by the newly founded Vee-Jay Records.  In 1953, Jimmy’s premier single, 'High & Lonesome' was met with an unbelievable reception, outselling such Chess heavies as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.   Jimmy repeated this feat time and time again. 

Despite not being a household name, Jimmy Reed is arguably the most influential blues player of his generation. B. B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson may all be better known, but the list of artists who have recorded Reed’s songs or claimed to be influenced by him is staggering. They include Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Van Morrison, Grateful Dead, Wishbone Ash, The Steve Miller Band and last but not least, Bob Dylan, who wrote the song Goodbye Jimmy Reed as a tribute to the legendary bluesman.  Many people are more familiar with Reed’s songs than the man himself.

Sadly, Jimmy's personal problems (alcoholism and epilepsy) prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than many others.  When Vee-Jay Records closed down, Reed's manager signed a contract with the fledgling ABC-Bluesway label, but Reed was never able to score another hit.  In 1967, Jimmy signed away all rights to his Vee-Jay recordings, for the lump sum of $10,000. 

While there are dozens of compilations of Jinny's music out there, 'The Essential Boss Man: The Very Best of the Vee-Jay Years, 1953-1966' is my favorite.

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