The Best of the Vanguard Years

by Otis Spann

Overview

Most of the 18 songs on this fine, if slightly lackluster, compilation come near the end of Spann's 15-year run with Muddy Waters, placing them in the mid- to late '60s. There's plenty of talent here and some of the songs are among the best of Spann's solo efforts, but too much of it seems overly polished compared with the raw, stellar session piano work he did with Waters a decade earlier. Still, a decent assessment of the blues great's final years. ~ Michael Gallucci

Product Details

Release Date:	11/29/1999
Label:	Vanguard
UPC:	0090204850822

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Otis Spann   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals
Barry Melton   Guitar
Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson   Guitar
S.P. Leary   Drums
Lucille Spann   Vocals
Jos Davidson   Bass
Lonnie Taylor   Drums

Technical Credits

David Gahr   Photography
Captain Jeff Zaraya   Compilation Engineer
McKinley Morganfield   Composer
Otis Spann   Composer
Muddy Waters   Composer
Mississippi Fred McDowell   Composer
Tom Vickers   Compilation Producer
George Spink   Composer
Drew Cartwright   Cover Design
Wayne Robins   Liner Notes
Traditional   Composer
Samuel Charters   Producer