Collection, The

The Fabulous Thunderbirds, in virtually every incarnation -- especially since all ten have had the constant presence of frontman Kim Wilson -- have been one of the most consistently enjoyable blues-rock and roots R&B outfits out there. This super cheap (and now sadly out of print) collection by Disky digs deep into the band's vaults and assembles 26 tracks of pure, butt-rockin' goodness and grease from the founding assemblage that included Jimmie Vaughan, bassist Keith Ferguson, and drummer Mike Buck, through to the years with Duke Robillard, Kid Bangham, and later Nick Curran and equally talented West Coast guitarist Kirk "Eli" Fletcher. Through each version, Wilson, as a singer, songwriter, and harmonicat, became more focused and a stronger presence until he came to represent the Thunderbirds identity itself. The cuts here range from the wooly and wild, such as "Scratch My Back" and "Full-Time Lover" through to the more rockin' R&B sounds of "My Babe" and the electric blues-rock of "Tip on In." However you slice it, this is an excellent, and super cheap intro to one of the most solidly enjoyable bands on the circuit. ~ Thom Jurek|