ALLIGATOR RECORDS CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SIX RELEASES ON FEBRUARY 22!

ALLIGATOR RECORDS CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SIX RELEASES ON FEBRUARY 22!

 

Alligator Records, "the leading record label for the blues" according to The New York Times, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2011. From Hound Dog Taylor to Koko Taylor, from Albert Collins to Johnny Winter, from Shemekia Copeland to Anders Osborne and JJ Grey & Mofro, Alligator's roster (and catalog of almost 300 titles) reads like a "Who's Who" of modern blues. On February 22, Alligator will release six titles to continue the year-long celebration.

The February 22 releases are:

CD:

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The Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection - 2-disc set (lovingly remastered by Alligator founder and president Bruce Iglauer) featuring highlights from the label's history. Songs on the two-for-the-price-of-one collection were chosen by fans (through an online poll) and hand-picked by Iglauer.

 

 

 

CD & Vinyl Reissue:

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Showdown! - the Grammy-winning 1985 release from Johnny Copeland, Robert Cray and Albert Collins (remastered with bonus track).

 

 

 

 

Vinyl LP Reissues:

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Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers - reissue of Alligator's very first LP from back in 1971; remastered with bonus track.

 

 

 

 

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Alone & Acoustic from Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (first time on vinyl in the US).

 

 

 

 


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Georgia Warhorse, the 2010 release from JJ Grey & Mofro (first time on vinyl).

 

 

 

 

 

In Bruce Iglauer's own words:

When I created Alligator Records, the very first promo piece to promote that very first Hound Dog Taylor album was headed "Genuine Houserockin' Music." That became our slogan, and we wear it proudly today. "Genuine" because the music we record is deeply rooted in the blues tradition (even when it pushes the standard definition of blues) and is created by musicians who have honed their songs not on synthesizers in their bedrooms, but in front of real audiences, responding to the emotional needs of their listeners. "House" instead of "theatre" or "arena" or "stadium", because our music is ultimately intimate, even when it's big and loud. It's not meant to be presented. It's meant to be shared between the musicians and the audience, like everyone at Florence's shared the music with Hound Dog Taylor. And "Rockin'" because it's designed to move you. Most of Alligator's records will move your feet or your body, but we've tried to make records that will move that other part of you - your soul. Sometimes that can mean music that cleanses your inner pain by pulling it out of you, the "hurts so good" that is so special to the blues. And sometimes it just means the pure release and fun of musicians pouring their energy into a great groove.


Over the forty years, our definition of "Genuine Houserockin' Music" has expanded to include not only pure blues artists, but also musicians and songwriters who have taken the spirit of the blues and created their own sounds and styles, sometimes called roots rock or rockabilly or front porch soul or, in a few cases, gospel, the ultimate soul-rockin' music. But our mission has remained the same - to record honest, blues-infused music that moves the feet and soothes the soul, and hopefully makes you feel as good as a Sunday afternoon at Florence's Lounge.


For a full history of Alligator, please go to:

http://www.alligator.com/index.cfm?section=story

 

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