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    • Back to Black: 1900-1999

    02/13/2001 | Polygram Uk 

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      BACK TO BLACK 1900-1999 / VARIOUS

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    All Music Guide Review

    Back to Black: 1900-1999 is an imposing achievement. A ten-disc box set that chronicles the history of black music in the 20th century, it spans 100 years in 220 tracks, beginning with Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag," and ending with DJ Luck's "A Little Bit of Luck." It touches on every conceivable style and artist between those two points. Moving from early blues, through jazz and big band/swing, the birth of R&B, the rock & roll years, early classic soul, deep soul, Nu Wave soul, disco, black pop, early and late hip-hop, to the edge of the current urban scene, this collection seems to simply have everything, from Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, Count Basie, Muddy Waters, Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Berry, Nina Simone, Miles Davis to Public Enemy, D'Angelo and Arrested Development. Also included are forays into black gospel, Jamaican ska and reggae, Motown, Stax, and Philly soul. One is struck by the seemingly endless ways that polyrhythmic patterns and melismatic vocals can be reshuffled, reinvented and reapplied, always breaking fresh musical ground. It is impossible to imagine Western pop music without this stuff, and one wonders how there would even be a Western pop music without these contributions. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

    Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • Artist
  • time
  • 1
  • Maple Leaf Rag
  • Joplin, Scott
  • 3:17
  • 2
  • Crazy Blues
  • Smith, Mamie and Her Jazz Hounds
  • 3:20
  • 3
  • Dippermouth Blues
  • King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
  • 2:15
  • 4
  • Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground)
  • Johnson, Blind Willie
  • 3:20
  • 5
  • Statesboro Blues
  • McTell, Blind Willie
  • 2:33
  • 6
  • How Long, How Long Blues
  • Carr, Leroy
  • 3:00
  • 7
  • Pinetop's Boogie Woogie
  • Smith, Pinetop
  • 3:22
  • 8
  • St. Louis Blues
  • Armstrong, Louis
  • 3:03
  • 9
  • Ol' Man River
  • Robeson, Paul
  • 2:36
  • 10
  • Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)
  • 3:30
  • 11
  • Minnie the Moocher (The Ho de Ho Song)
  • Calloway, Cab
  • 3:10
  • 12
  • Stormy Weather
  • Waters, Ethel
  • 3:11
  • 13
  • Honeysuckle Rose
  • Waller, Fats
  • 2:40
  • 14
  • Hellhound on My Trail
  • Johnson, Robert
  • 2:37
  • 15
  • Good Morning, Schoolgirl
  • Williamson, Sonny Boy [1]
  • 3:03
  • 16
  • Jumpin' at the Woodside
  • Basie, Count
  • 3:07
  • 17
  • We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)
  • Ink Spots [1]
  • 3:21
  • 18
  • Strange Fruit
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 2:54
  • 19
  • Summertime
  • Bechet, Sidney & His Orchestra
  • 4:10
  • 20
  • T-Bone Blues
  • 3:16
  • 21
  • God Bless the Child
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 2:45
  • 22
  • After You've Gone
  • 2:38
  • 23
  • I Wonder
  • 2:44
  • 24
  • Koko
  • Parker, Charlie
  • 2:56
  • 25
  • Things Ain't What They Used to Be
  • Ellington, Duke
  • 3:08
  • 26
  • Straighten up and Fly Right
  • Cole, Nat King
  • 2:29
  • 27 (2)
  • That's All Right
  • Crudup, Arthur "Big Boy"
  • 2:55
  • 28 (2)
  • Let the Good Times Roll
  • Jordan, Louis
  • 2:48
  • 29 (2)
  • Chicken Shack Boogie
  • Milburn, Amos
  • 2:50
  • 30 (2)
  • I Can't Be Satisfied
  • Waters, Muddy
  • 2:43
  • 31 (2)
  • Good Rockin' Tonight
  • 2:58
  • 32 (2)
  • Up Above My Head
  • 2:29
  • 33 (2)
  • Were Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll
  • Moore, Wild Bill Sextet
  • 2:38
  • 34 (2)
  • Boogie Chillen'
  • Hooker, John Lee
  • 3:08
  • 35 (2)
  • All She Wants to Do Is Rock
  • Harris, Wynonie
  • 2:32
  • 36 (2)
  • The Fat Man
  • Domino, Fats
  • 2:37
  • 37 (2)
  • Every Day I Have the Blues
  • Fulson, Lowell
  • 2:31
  • 38 (2)
  • Please Send Me Someone to Love
  • Mayfield, Percy
  • 2:55
  • 39 (2)
  • Black Night
  • Brown, Charles [1]
  • 3:06
  • 40 (2)
  • Flamingo
  • Bostic, Earl
  • 2:41
  • 41 (2)
  • Lawdy Miss Clawdy
  • Price, Lloyd
  • 2:32
  • 42 (2)
  • One Mint Julep
  • Clovers
  • 2:29
  • 43 (2)
  • Honey Hush
  • Turner, Big Joe [50s]
  • 2:43
  • 44 (2)
  • Hound Dog
  • Thornton, Big Mama
  • 2:51
  • 45 (2)
  • Money Honey
  • McPhatter, Clyde
  • 2:58
  • 46 (2)
  • Dust My Broom
  • James, Elmore
  • 3:00
  • 47 (2)
  • Smokstack Lightnin'
  • Howlin' Wolf
  • 3:04
  • 48 (2)
  • Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
  • Fitzgerald, Ella
  • 3:35
  • 49 (2)
  • Crying in the Chapel
  • Orioles
  • 3:04
  • 50 (2)
  • Teardrops From My Eyes
  • Brown, Ruth
  • 2:59
  • 51 (2)
  • Manhattan
  • 2:53
  • 52 (3)
  • The Loco-Motion
  • Little Eva
  • 2:28
  • 53 (3)
  • Johnny B. Goode
  • Berry, Chuck
  • 2:40
  • 54 (3)
  • Yakety Yak
  • Coasters
  • 1:50
  • 55 (3)
  • Tutti Frutti
  • Little Richard
  • 2:25
  • 56 (3)
  • Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet)
  • Wilson, Jackie
  • 2:44
  • 57 (3)
  • Duke of Earl
  • Chandler, Gene
  • 2:16
  • 58 (3)
  • Why Do Fools Fall in Love
  • Lymon, Frankie & the Teenagers
  • 2:18
  • 59 (3)
  • Hit the Road Jack
  • Charles, Ray
  • 1:56
  • 60 (3)
  • Blueberry Hill
  • Domino, Fats
  • 2:22
  • 61 (3)
  • Stand by Me
  • King, Ben E.
  • 3:00
  • 62 (3)
  • My Baby Just Cares for Me
  • Simone, Nina
  • 3:36
  • 63 (3)
  • Tears on My Pillow
  • Little Anthony and The Imperials
  • 2:16
  • 64 (3)
  • Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
  • Platters
  • 2:38
  • 65 (3)
  • It's All in the Game
  • Edwards, Tommy
  • 2:38
  • 66 (3)
  • Passing Strangers
  • 2:39
  • 67 (3)
  • I Can't Stop Loving You
  • Charles, Ray
  • 4:17
  • 68 (3)
  • Didn't It Rain
  • Jackson, Mahalia
  • 2:40
  • 69 (3)
  • Handy Man
  • Jones, Jimmy [2] "Handyman"
  • 1:59
  • 70 (3)
  • Will You Love Me Tomorrow
  • Shirelles
  • 2:41
  • 71 (3)
  • Bo Didley
  • Didley, Bo Jr.
  • 2:29
  • 72 (3)
  • Good Golly Miss Molly
  • Little Richard
  • 2:10
  • 73 (3)
  • The Twist
  • Checker, Chubby
  • 2:37
  • 74 (3)
  • Green Onions
  • Booker T. & the MG's
  • 2:54
  • 75 (3)
  • Sweet Little Sixteen
  • Berry, Chuck
  • 3:12
  • 76 (3)
  • It Never Entered My Mind
  • Davis, Miles
  • 4:03
  • 77 (4)
  • Dancing in the Street
  • Martha & the Vandellas
  • 2:38
  • 78 (4)
  • People Get Ready
  • Impressions
  • 2:40
  • 79 (4)
  • Rescue Me
  • Bass, Fontella
  • 2:53
  • 80 (4)
  • Baby Love
  • Ross, Diana & the Supremes
  • 2:35
  • 81 (4)
  • Reach Out (I'll Be There)
  • Four Tops
  • 2:56
  • 82 (4)
  • Under the Boardwalk
  • Drifters [US]
  • 2:43
  • 83 (4)
  • Walk on By
  • Warwick, Dionne
  • 2:55
  • 84 (4)
  • When a Man Loves a Woman
  • Sledge, Percy
  • 2:56
  • 85 (4)
  • What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
  • Ruffin, Jimmy
  • 2:59
  • 86 (4)
  • Mad About the Boy
  • Washington, Dinah
  • 2:48
  • 87 (4)
  • My Girl
  • Robinson, Smokey
  • 2:41
  • 88 (4)
  • Try a Little Tenderness
  • Redding, Otis
  • 3:46
  • 89 (4)
  • Tell It Like It Is
  • Neville, Aaron
  • 2:42
  • 90 (4)
  • My Guy
  • Wells, Mary
  • 2:45
  • 91 (4)
  • In the Midnight Hour
  • Pickett, Wilson
  • 2:30
  • 92 (4)
  • Harlem Shuffle
  • Bob & Earl
  • 2:52
  • 93 (4)
  • Shotgun
  • Walker, Junior & the All-Stars
  • 2:58
  • 94 (4)
  • Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
  • Brown, James
  • 2:08
  • 95 (4)
  • The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)
  • Everett, Betty
  • 2:11
  • 96 (4)
  • Then He Kissed Me
  • Crystals
  • 2:36
  • 97 (4)
  • Knock on Wood
  • Floyd, Eddie
  • 3:04
  • 98 (4)
  • Where Did Our Love Go
  • Ross, Diana & the Supremes
  • 2:33
  • 99 (4)
  • Uptight (Everything's Alright)
  • Wonder, Stevie
  • 2:56
  • 100 (4)
  • A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement
  • Coltrane, John
  • 7:48
  • 101 (5)
  • Respect
  • Franklin, Aretha
  • 2:25
  • 102 (5)
  • Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
  • Brown, James
  • 2:52
  • 103 (5)
  • Sweet Soul Music
  • Conley, Arthur
  • 2:20
  • 104 (5)
  • Soul Man
  • Sam & Dave
  • 2:39
  • 105 (5)
  • Band of Gold
  • Payne, Freda
  • 2:54
  • 106 (5)
  • Higher and Higher
  • Wilson, Jackie
  • 2:53
  • 107 (5)
  • Ain't No Mountain High Enough
  • Ross, Diana
  • 3:33
  • 108 (5)
  • I Want You Back
  • Jackson Five
  • 2:56
  • 109 (5)
  • I Heard It Through the Grapevine
  • Gaye, Marvin
  • 3:11
  • 110 (5)
  • The Tracks of My Tears
  • Robinson, Smokey & the Miracles
  • 2:50
  • 111 (5)
  • Only the Strong Suvive
  • Butler, Jerry
  • 2:34
  • 112 (5)
  • I'd Rather Go Blind
  • James, Etta
  • 2:35
  • 113 (5)
  • My Cherie Amour
  • Wonder, Stevie
  • 2:51
  • 114 (5)
  • (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
  • Redding, Otis
  • 2:42
  • 115 (5)
  • Private Number
  • 2:41
  • 116 (5)
  • I Say a Little Prayer
  • Franklin, Aretha
  • 3:32
  • 117 (5)
  • O Happy Day
  • Hawkins, Edwin Singers
  • 5:08
  • 118 (5)
  • Young Gifted and Black
  • Bob & Marcia
  • 3:06
  • 119 (5)
  • Declaration of Rights
  • Abyssinians
  • 3:27
  • 120 (5)
  • The Israelites
  • Dekker, Desmond and The Aces
  • 2:32
  • 121 (5)
  • Grazing in the Grass
  • Masekela, Hugh
  • 2:38
  • 122 (5)
  • The Thrill Is Gone
  • King, B.B.
  • 5:23
  • 123 (5)
  • Purple Haze
  • Hendrix, Jimi Experience
  • 2:48
  • 124 (6)
  • War
  • Starr, Edwin
  • 3:21
  • 125 (6)
  • Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
  • Temptations
  • 6:51
  • 126 (6)
  • Theme from "Shaft"
  • Hayes, Isaac
  • 3:18
  • 127 (6)
  • Nutbush City Limits
  • Turner, Ike and Tina
  • 2:52
  • 128 (6)
  • Move on Up
  • Mayfield, Curtis
  • 3:40
  • 129 (6)
  • What's Going On
  • Gaye, Marvin
  • 3:43
  • 130 (6)
  • I'll Take You There
  • Staple Singers
  • 4:21
  • 131 (6)
  • Family Affair
  • Sly & the Family Stone
  • 3:00
  • 132 (6)
  • If You Don't Know Me by Now
  • 3:25
  • 133 (6)
  • Me and Mrs. Jones
  • Paul, Billy
  • 4:46
  • 134 (6)
  • Hey There Lonely Girl
  • Holman, Eddie
  • 3:34
  • 135 (6)
  • Have You Seen Her?
  • Chi-Lites
  • 5:01
  • 136 (6)
  • Let's Stay Together
  • Green, Al
  • 3:17
  • 137 (6)
  • You Make Me Feel Brand New
  • Stylistics
  • 5:27
  • 138 (6)
  • Let's Get It On
  • Gaye, Marvin
  • 3:58
  • 139 (6)
  • Ain't No Sunshine
  • Withers, Bill
  • 4:10
  • 140 (6)
  • Summer Breeze
  • Isley Brothers
  • 3:08
  • 141 (6)
  • Everything I Own
  • Booothe, Ken
  • 3:17
  • 142 (6)
  • When Will I See You Again
  • Three Degrees
  • 2:36
  • 143 (6)
  • Love Train
  • OJays
  • 2:57
  • 144 (7)
  • We Are Family
  • Sister Sledge
  • 3:26
  • 145 (7)
  • Boogie Wonderland
  • 4:48
  • 146 (7)
  • Disco Inferno
  • Trammps
  • 3:17
  • 147 (7)
  • Car Wash
  • Rose Royce
  • 3:17
  • 148 (7)
  • The Hustle
  • 3:35
  • 149 (7)
  • Young Hearts Run Free
  • Staton, Candi
  • 4:08
  • 150 (7)
  • I Feel Love
  • Summer, Donna
  • 3:46
  • 151 (7)
  • You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
  • Sylvester
  • 3:28
  • 152 (7)
  • Good Times
  • Chic
  • 3:38
  • 153 (7)
  • I Will Survive
  • Gaynor, Gloria
  • 3:16
  • 154 (7)
  • Lady Marmalade
  • Labelle
  • 3:58
  • 155 (7)
  • You're the First, the Last, My Everything
  • White, Barry
  • 3:24
  • 156 (7)
  • Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel
  • Tavares
  • 4:15
  • 157 (7)
  • Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
  • McFadden and Whitehead
  • 4:25
  • 158 (7)
  • Now That We Found Love
  • Third World
  • 3:54
  • 159 (7)
  • One Drop
  • Marley, Bob
  • 3:48
  • 160 (7)
  • Midnight Train to Georgia
  • Knight, Gladys and The Pips
  • 4:03
  • 161 (7)
  • The Whole Town's Laughing at Me
  • Pendergrass, Teddy
  • 4:26
  • 162 (7)
  • Loving You
  • Riperton, Minnie
  • 3:20
  • 163 (7)
  • Three Times a Lady
  • Commodores
  • 3:39
  • 164 (8)
  • Upside Down
  • Ross, Diana
  • 3:42
  • 165 (8)
  • Can You Feel It
  • Jacksons
  • 3:51
  • 166 (8)
  • Celebration
  • Kool & the Gang
  • 3:37
  • 167 (8)
  • I Can Make You Feel Good
  • Shalamar
  • 4:17
  • 168 (8)
  • All Night Long (All Night)
  • Richie, Lionel
  • 4:17
  • 169 (8)
  • Forget Me Nots
  • Rushen, Patrice
  • 4:43
  • 170 (8)
  • Never Too Much
  • Vandross, Luther
  • 3:49
  • 171 (8)
  • Razzamatazz
  • Jones, Quincy
  • 4:10
  • 172 (8)
  • Superfreak
  • James, Rick
  • 3:20
  • 173 (8)
  • Rapper's Delight
  • Sugarhill Gang
  • 3:29
  • 174 (8)
  • Planet Rock
  • 4:50
  • 175 (8)
  • The Message
  • Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
  • 3:13
  • 176 (8)
  • Rockit
  • Hancock, Herbie
  • 3:20
  • 177 (8)
  • Ain't Nobody
  • Rufus & Chaka Khan
  • 4:25
  • 178 (8)
  • Joy and Pain
  • Maze
  • 4:22
  • 179 (8)
  • Sexual Healing
  • Gaye, Marvin
  • 3:58
  • 180 (8)
  • Rainy Night in Georgia
  • Crawford, Randy
  • 3:42
  • 181 (8)
  • One Day in Your Life
  • Jackson, Michael
  • 4:08
  • 182 (8)
  • With You I'm Born Again
  • 3:36
  • 183 (8)
  • Baby Come to Me
  • 3:37
  • 184 (9)
  • Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
  • Soul II Soul
  • 3:44
  • 185 (9)
  • Teardrops
  • Womack and Womack
  • 3:50
  • 186 (9)
  • Don't Turn Around
  • Aswad
  • 3:37
  • 187 (9)
  • Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)
  • Ocean, Billy
  • 4:02
  • 188 (9)
  • Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)
  • Loose Ends
  • 5:55
  • 189 (9)
  • Solid
  • Ashford & Simpson
  • 3:21
  • 190 (9)
  • Word Up!
  • Cameo
  • 4:18
  • 191 (9)
  • That's the Way Love Is
  • Ten City
  • 4:14
  • 192 (9)
  • Do Me Right
  • Guy
  • 3:42
  • 193 (9)
  • Eye Know
  • De La Soul
  • 4:09
  • 194 (9)
  • Express Yourself
  • N.W.A.
  • 4:15
  • 195 (9)
  • Scenario
  • Tribe Called Quest
  • 4:13
  • 196 (9)
  • Ghetto Heaven
  • Family Stand
  • 3:50
  • 197 (9)
  • Optimistic
  • Sounds Of Blackness
  • 3:47
  • 198 (9)
  • Summertime
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
  • 3:52
  • 199 (9)
  • Close to You
  • Priest, Maxi
  • 4:01
  • 200 (9)
  • If It Isn't Love
  • New Edition
  • 5:12
  • 201 (9)
  • I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone
  • Parker, Ray Jr.
  • 4:16
  • 202 (10)
  • No Diggity
  • 4:13
  • 203 (10)
  • Phenomenon
  • LL Cool J
  • 3:07
  • 204 (10)
  • Brown Sugar
  • D'Angelo
  • 3:58
  • 205 (10)
  • Tha Crossroads
  • Bone Thugs N Harmony
  • 3:47
  • 206 (10)
  • It Was a Good Day
  • Ice Cube
  • 4:23
  • 207 (10)
  • C.R.E.A.M.
  • Wu-Tang Clan
  • 4:14
  • 208 (10)
  • Ruf Ryders' Anthem
  • DMX
  • 3:36
  • 209 (10)
  • Do You Wanna Go Our Way???
  • Public Enemy
  • 3:55
  • 210 (10)
  • You Know My Steez
  • Gang Starr
  • 3:46
  • 211 (10)
  • Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
  • Jay-Z
  • 4:00
  • 212 (10)
  • Mr. Wendal
  • Arrested Develpment
  • 3:28
  • 213 (10)
  • Real Love
  • Blige, Mary J.
  • 3:58
  • 214 (10)
  • On and On
  • Bandu, Erykah
  • 3:49
  • 215 (10)
  • Walk on By
  • Gabrielle
  • 3:16
  • 216 (10)
  • All My Life
  • K-Ci and Jo Jo
  • 3:42
  • 217 (10)
  • I Believe I Can Fly
  • Kelly, R.
  • 4:44
  • 218 (10)
  • I Wanna Be the Only One
  • 3:37
  • 219 (10)
  • Inner City Life
  • Goldie
  • 3:47
  • 220 (10)
  • A Little Bit of Luck
  • 5:54

  • Credits



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