Track Listing

1. Hula Blues - Sol Hoopii
2. Farewell Blues - Sol Hoopii
3. Hawaiian March - Sol Hoopii
4. Melani Anu Ka Makani - Frank Ferera
5. Song of the Range - The Genial Hawaiians
6. Chimes - The Genial Hawaiians
7. Kaui Kahio - Biltmore Orchestra
8. Jake Bottle Blues - Lemuel Turner
9. Cat's Whiskers
10. Train Song - Sol Hoopii
11. Blues of the Guitar - Andy Sannella
12. Honolulu Stomp - Hawaiian Serenaders
13. Twelfth Street Rag - Sol Hoopii
14. Hilo March - Roy Smeck
15. Kalima Waltz - Roy Smeck
16. Twilight Echoes - Roy Smeck

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #184549 in Music
• Released on: 2009-02-02
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Hula Blues collects classic recordings by the original masters of the Hawaiian steel guitar including Sol Hoopii, Frank Ferera and Roy Smeck. These charming and virtuosic performances demonstrate the wide influence the instrument had on American music, from the Delta blues of Robert Johnson to the pedal steel guitar of modern country music. Both historically important and musically satisfying, Hula Blues is required listening for all guitar aficiandos.

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Amazon.com
Blame it all on the Hawaii Pavilion of San Francisco's 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition. Once Americans heard the sentimental and lush sounds of Hawaiian steel guitar playing, they simply couldn't get enough. Instrument makers catered to Hawaiian playing styles, island musicians found homes in mainland clubs and Hollywood, and hundreds of now-legendary 78s were produced by instrumental virtuosos. Hula Blues collects the best of the bunch. Sol Hoopii is the undisputed master of Hawaiian guitar and he deservedly gets five tracks here (including the unforgettably weird "Train Song" and the dizzying "Twelfth Street Rag"); Jim and Bob, the Genial Hawaiians give us a lilting take on "Home on the Range"; and three tracks by vaudevillian Roy Smeck--an expert on virtually any instrument with strings--round out the set. A handful of lesser-heard masters (Pat Patterson and His Champion Rep Riders and Lemuel Turner) are included, along with detailed notes about guitar tunings on each track. The only deserving musician missing is King Bennie Nawahi, who has thankfully received his own compilation. Despite some occasionally significant surface noise, this is great music and a solid introduction to the early Hawaiian masters. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

A Classic Collection of Hawaiian Steel Guitar Returns
Hawaiian steel guitar is becoming popular again. The vinyl version of this CD has not been available for many years - it contains some the hottest vintage Steel you'll ever hear.

Hawaiian steel music was perhaps the first and hottest World Music - multinational from almost its beginning. This collection has both Tau Moe and Roy Smeck as well as a great cut by Jim and Bob, The Genial Hawaiians (who were Chicago radio personalities in the '30s. All great players.