Les Paul & Mary Ford - The Best Of The Capitol Masters (90th Birthday Edition) (CD 2005)

This is the 1-CD sampler of "the Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition". The full multi-CD set I have not heard but I know many of those songs as well. As you should know Les Paul died in August of 2009. The event was especially saddening as I was in a hospital myself at the time I learned of his passing.

I am sure you can "google" some much better and very extensive information about Les Paul, but I'll write a bit to hopefully interest the people out there that are new to Les. A very different style from this album may be heard on the songs from the OOP Phase 4 Stereo LP "The Genius of Les Paul / Multi-Trackin'". This was reissued by London Records as an LP and songs on various CD reissue compilations.

This is one of many good compilations of Les Paul & Mary Ford, and Les Paul's recordings out there on CD and on OOP LP's, 45's, and 78's! Les and wife Mary, starting in the late 1940's and into the early 1960's were a duet of very popular singers and guitar players of "pop", "pop rock", and "standards". Les Paul was a very innovative player, especially for his day. Mr. Paul was not only a singer and guitarist, he was also an inventor.

Les Paul invented multi-tracking recording and many new guitar and voice effects electronics. With out Les, George Martin and the Beatles could not have recorded their innovative albums (say "Rubber Soul" onward). Les also invented for Gibson Guitars the instrument that bares his name, the Gibson Les Paul Guitar. The Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Les Paul Jr, along with the Fender Telecaster, and Fender Stratocaster are the formative guitars of rock, blues, and country western music. The late 1950's Les Paul guitars are some of the most sought after and expensive wanted by musicians and collectors, often used costing up to $40,000 today in the 21st Century. (The new models are more reasonable at $1 to 4 K) In addition to guitar electronics, Les Paul also invented medical and other equipment. Sort of a modern "Thomas Edison".

A new fan should seek out Les Paul and Mary Ford's recordings from various periods and styles to hear the full range of their talent, especially Les' as Mary died relatively young. Enjoy...

I bought this CD to remind me of the pioneering guitar multi track recording techniques Les Paul was using in the sixties. I loved his music then and still appreciate it now. My grandson is not quite so enthusiastic about it as I am!!

Tremendous guitar playing from the legend himself!

Great if you are into guitar jazz or the like.