Ruf Records
Album: 20 Years Anniversary
Label: Ruf
Tracks: 28
Website: http://www.rufrecords.de

Pop the champagne says the accompanying literature, Ruf Records is 20.....two CDs of killers no fillers they say......and you know what, I will, for they indeed are right!!!!!!

Ruf Records, formed by its charismatic founder and leader Thomas Ruf was formed in 1994 originally to give a platform to legendary Chicago band leader Luther Allison in his bid to release some of the finest work of his career....indeed the finale on this compilation features his spellbinding version of 'You can't always get what you want' a fitting conclusion to a wonderful collection.....

As the label evolved, proud, and intent on retaining it's fearsomely independent spirit the label became a working sound scape to some of the finest names in quality blues from The States, Europe, and Britain....the roster since 1994 reading almost as an electric blues hall of fame.....Walter Trout, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Jeff Healey, The Spin Doctors, Dana Fuchs all featuring amongst a host of others.....

So, here we have a two CD collection, one entitled 'Girls with Guitars' and the other, as you may well expect 'Guys with Guitars'....each highlighting the veritable talent on offer from this label, the best, the brightest and indeed in Eliana Cargnelutti the newest....and to accompany the music is a twenty page booklet, featuring track by track sleeve notes by Thomas Ruf himself, each entertainingly chronicling the stories behind the songs, behind the artistes and giving an insight into his personal memories of each and every one!

The 'Girls' album brings together some contrasting styles of blues, from Meena's Gospel-esque 'Try Me' to Finland's Erja Lyytinen's Mississippi blues 'Skinny Girl' .....Candye Kane and Laura Chavez pitch in with the hard hitting, nigh on confrontational 'Toughest girl alive...' while the most prominent of the label's 'Girls with Guitars ' Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman, and Roxanne Potvin collaborate to bring Cd 1 to a rousing conclusion with a uplifting rendition of Sugar Pie DeSanto's 'In the Basement', a soul infused, dance floor busting classic!

So, to the 'Guys' and CD 2 brings us a harder hitting collection, again diverse, again rich in talent and again downright easy on the ear! Regarded, apparently as one of the hottest acts on the European Blues circuit, Denmark's Thorbjorn Risager blasts away any doubts that the 'guys' don't know what the blues are with opening track 'if ya wanna leave...'. Walter Trout's unmistakable sound, nurtured by the label to establish him as one of the blues masters in his native land, is a highlight, though its unfair to focus on any one artist as the quality is without question from start to finish....Spin Doctors, Jeff Healey, Cyril Neville, Royal Southern Brotherhood to name a few in what is surely one of the richest veins of talent in any musical genre on show in one offering!

An absolute delight of a production, enlightening, uplifting, thought provoking, and just plain great to listen to....an absolute pleasure to listen to over and over again.....in the words of the label 'Twenty years. It's been quite a ride, with one hell of a soundtrack.....so here's to the story so far-and the next twenty years........'

Champagne at the ready! Cheers Ruf Records!!!!

James Cosgrove