Best of the Vanguard Years (2000)

About this title: In lieu of a boxed set, the Welk Music Group (which owns the Vanguard Records library) has produced this rock-solid 23-track overview of Hammond's early recordings for Vanguard, covering highlights of the years 1963 through 1967 and his return to the label from 1976 through 1979. The tracks aren't in strict chronological order but are juxtaposed on a more general basis, and you can hear him gain confidence and maturity as this compilation chronologically moves on, from the rough-edged enthusiasm of the opener "32-20 Blues," to the closing "Guitar King." Six of the tracks are from the So Many ... read more

Tracks:

1. 32-20 Blues [Johnson]
2. Statesborough Blues [McTell]
3. Seventh Son [Dixon]
4. Drop Down Mama [Estes/Edwards]
5. Going Back to Florida [Hopkins]
6. Ask Me Nice [Allison]
7. Hellhound Blues [Johnson]
8. I'm Ready [Dixon]
9. I'm a Man [Diddley]
10. Key to the Highway [Broonzy]
11. No Money Down [Berry]
12. I Live the Life I Love [Dixon]
13. Big Boss Man [Smith/Dixon]
14. So Many Roads, So Many Trains [Paul]
15. Who Do You Love? [McDaniel]
16. I Want You to Love Me [Waters]
17. You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover [Dixon]
18. O Yea! [McDaniels]
19. Who's Been Talking? [Howlin' Wolf]
20. Pretty Thing [Dixon]
21. Last Night [Little Walter]
22. I Wish You Would [Arnold]
23. Guitar King [McClennan]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.