What a find! The Complete (sort of) Les Paul recordings from 1936-1947, on MCA/Decca.

To a whole generation "Les Paul" meant a type of guitar..no more, no less. Well I hope a lot of those folks find this amazing album and check out the real guy behind the name. From early blues recordings with Georgia White, through the amazing "Rhubarb Red" sessions (Les singing, playing DOUBLE REED harp on a rack, and jazz-chording his L-5, to his Hawaiian period, and finally, backing up Bing Crosby.

Forget "Via Con Dias" and the rest of the Les Paul/Mary Ford gimmicky (but good) multi-track stuff. This is Les, the incredibly gifted, harmonically-sound, virtuoso. Yeah, he still shows his sense of humour in his musical "quotes" and he loves to throw in "the kitchen sink" at times...but just listen to the TECHNIQUE! Clear, clean...this album is like a private lesson from a man who absolutely LIVED the guitar.

Bravo Les (and MCA/Decca)

Rick

P.S. I can't overestimate the value of something like this to a person who wants to play good "folk" or "Blues" or "country" guitar. Yeah, Les was always "pop" oriented, he was ambitious, and I'm told could be difficult because of his ego and absolute obsession with the guitar...but no matter what style you play, absorb some of Les's dedication, and you'll play BETTER.