The first disc of Fuel 2000's
Sonny Boy Williamson Encore Collection features the harmonica great performing live in the early '60s with
the Yardbirds and
the Animals during a European tour. These tracks are historically significant for fans of those particular bands more so than
Rice Miller's performance on them. On the other hand, the second disc,
The Blues Harp Heroes, features excellent material, recorded in the late '50s and early '60s, taken from the vaults of independent blues labels Cobra, Jewel, J.O.B., Chief, USA, and Paula. Fantastic tracks by
Walter Horton,
Junior Wells,
Frank Frost, and
Snooky Pryor were recorded in their prime, not to mention the inclusion of two unissued rarities by
Sonny Boy and one from
George "Wild Child" Butler.
–
Al Campbell, Rovi