If you can't quite finance the Bear Family box, this four-disc compilation is the next best thing; an even 100 of the best Imperial sides, including a great many from 1958 on that turn up in crystal-clear stereo (as they also do on the Bear Family package). All the hits are aboard, along with a nice cross section of the important non-hits. The saxes (usually including Herb Hardesty and sometimes
Lee Allen) roar with typical Crescent City power,
Fats rolls the ivories, and magic happens -- over and over again! Another nice booklet with plenty of photos (but a less detailed discography without sideman credits). ~ Bill Dahl