Kaplan Shaw - Mojo Cafe (2008)

                                                                    Kaplan Shaw
 Kaplan and Shaw share the strings, vocals and writing duties. Add drummer Al Macomber to the mix, and you've got a 13-song CD that ably demonstrates their talent and waves a flag for their passion.

They tackle modern love and old-time betrayal with equal enthusiasm. On the opening cut, "Raised by Wolves, " Kaplan raises the question, "Were you raised by wolves to have that bark and bite?".


Tracklist:

01. Raised By Wolves 03:07
02. What You Want 03:21
03. Headline Blues 04:33
04. Sweet Addiction 03:11
05. Everybody Let's Dance 04:23
06. I Won't Let You Down 04:40
07. Too Complicated 04:30
08. Stuck On You 03:57
09. Dancin' With The Devil 06:10
10. She Made Me Choose 03:07
11. A Mile On Down The Road 04:27
12. Apology Blues 05:11
13. Shawdawg Rag 01:35

Michael Katon - Bad Machine (2002)

                                                                 Michael Katon
 High energy, guitar heavy, Detroit blues/rock and boogie. Join it and listen! It real good and relaxing energy to your ears! Harmonical sound & vocal mix, it pure joinment! For good music lovers!


Tracklist:

01. American McMofo 04:08
02. Rock 'n‘ Roll Roll, Whiskey, Blood 'n‘ Guts 04:01
03. The Pierced, Tattoed And Twenty Somethin‘ Boogie 03:57
04. Bad Machine 04:22
05. Sugar Pie 03:41
06. Red Moon Risin‘ 05:14
07. Wild Ass 03:17
08. The Lost T.V. Clicker Blues 06:22
09. Lowdown In Swamptown 06:16
10. Boogiefied 06:22
11. The Detroit River Dirty Blues 03:49

Jimmy Cornett - Rhythm Of Hells. Songs Of Angels History (2007)

                                                                     Jimmy Cornett

Jimmy Cornett & The Deadmen is an award-winning Blues and Southern Rock band from Hamburg, Germany. The Deadmen are led by Jimmy Cornett, singer, guitarist and imaginative songwriter. Raised in the 1980s, Jimmy liked to be swayed by legends like Richie Havens, John Lee Hooker, Dion, Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Johnny Cash. His first experiences as a musician, saw him play at small clubs and cellar bars and of course on the street, which he feels so particularly connected. A boost to his career came in the early 1990s when he moved to Hamburg. As a member of various formations, but especially as a solo musician, he quickly became known far beyond the city limits. In 2007 he released his solo debut Rhythm Of Hells – Songs Of Angels History in which Cornett set the common story of the Hells Angels to musical legends such as Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams. By 2010, Cornett presented for the first time the cast of his new band, The Deadmen, with lead guitarist Dennis Adamus, drummer Claudia Lippmann and Frank Jäger as double bass player. In 2014, the second album, The Ride,  was released and featured the beautiful ballad and new single ‘Guardian Light’. Jimmy Cornett & The Deadmen is a high energy live act blending classic blues with fiery blues-rock along with soothing southern rock ballads. The band has headlined festivals across Germany and Europe with flying tours also to America. Jimmy Cornett is a biker enthusiast and his band has performed at big Harley-events. Jimmy Cornett & The Deadmen with their boiling-hot brew of racy guitar riffs, gnarly grooves and bluesy-catchy melodies are a must see. 


Tracklist:

01. Rollin' 81 03:55
02. I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive 02:55
03. The Fat Angel 04:47
04. Do Your Thing 04:50
05. Mercedes Benz 04:02
06. San Franciscan Nights 03:14
07. Angel Of The Highway 02:59
08. New Speedway Boogie 03:50
09. The Backstage Pass 03:50
10. Angels Flying Too Close To The Ground 04:55
11. Stonegante Run (Frank's Boogie) 08:14

Stepping Out - Another Concert Somewhere (1969-70) (2007)

                                                                     Stepping Out
 Excellent heavy psychedelic blues band from Denmark, recorded live from the live performances of “Stepping Out” in Denmark during 1969-70. Heavy guitar in the style of Jimi Hendrix and “Cream” with a lot of wah-wah, fuzz and English vocals. The album was released by Karma Music in 2007.


Credits:

Jørn Pedersen - Vocals, Harmonica
Jørgen Kornum - Guitar
Peter Thigård Andersen - Bass
Knud Kornum - Drums

Tracklist:

01. Don’t Mind The Song 08:51
02. Pete, Mick And Eric 19:36
03. 17 Days 10:42
04. Forum Boogie 06:05
05. Long Before 02:49
06. Feeling 05:16
07. Make Me Cry 15:05
08. Can’t Let You Go 05:33

Jim Quick & Coastline - Revival (2020)

                                                                        Jim Quick
 There is a reason why we have been using the phrase "Take It All Back To The Roots."  The new album from Jim Quick and Coastline, "Revival" does exactly that.  Taking cues and inspiration from our favorite soul and blues recordings from the late 1950's through the late 1960's, "Revival" brings back all the warm fuzzy feelings of those records from years gone by.  The catchy choruses, the melodies you can't get out of your head, the delicious fat drums, the way the vocals saturate; it's all there. Make no mistake this is not a gimmicky "retro" album, this is Jim Quick and Coastline doing soul and blues how we feel it should be done.

The tracks from the album were recorded at "The Church" at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, North Carolina during early March 2020, right before the world virtually shut down.  The studio is literally an old church on the edge of downtown Asheville which was fitted out into a state of the art recording studio while keeping a sense of previous purpose and decor.  The antique wooden doors were split down the middle and soundproofed.  The original wall panels were reclaimed and used around the newly built control room, designed by George Auspurger. 

So what is the best way to make an album like the did in the 1950's and 1960's?  Use the tools they used.  So we did just that.  You will be hard pressed to find any sounds on that album that were not made using vintage gear.  Vintage microphones, vintage outboard compressors, vintage Neve mixing console, vintage guitars, vintage drums, vintage Precision Bass, vintage B3 organ, real piano, real string orchestra...all...the...good...old...stuff.

The title "Revival" could not be any more perfect...it is the ultimate representation of the many things we have overcome and are currently experiencing personally, as a band, globally, and as human beings.


Tracklist:

01. The Revival 03:33 
02. Blowin' Me Up 05:09 
03. The Man I Should Be Now 04:05 
04. Buzzin' And Swingin' 04:50 
05. Fool For You 04:59 
06. Sadie Mae 02:53 
07. Better Off 03:53 
08. What You Need 04:24 
09. Can't Keep Your Love 03:47 
10. Heartbreak Millie 02:36 
11. Curveballs 03:15 
12. So Little, So Soon 04:31 
13. Why 03:19 
14. You And Me Is History 03:51 
15. The Boogeyman 02:25 

Blues Package - Showtime! (2002)

                                                                   Blues Package                                
 Blues Package have been around in the German blues scene since 1984 and are already a permanent fixture, especially in northern Germany.
With their timeless and sweaty sound, they inspire concert-goers again and again with their performances of up to three hours. The size of the location does not matter. Blues packages bring the smallest club to the largest festivals with thousands of visitors always really going.
So it is not surprising that the Hamburg band around Fritz 'Fieten' Wulf has already supported a lot of top acts on their Germany tours. As an example, I just want names like
John Mayall, Junior Wells, Canned Heat, Chris Farlowe, Savoy Brown, and Walter Trout. It would be easy to continue this list as long as you like.
There has also been a lot to hear from the band over the years in terms of album technology. The albums "Live" from 1992 and "No Way Out" (1995) are among the albums that I always like to put in the player. Unfortunately, both CDs are now out of print and only the live recording "Showtime! Live At The Downtown Bluesclub" from 2001 remains available to the public.
And this album is exactly in front of me now. Recorded on April 13, 2001 in Hamburg's DownTown Bluesclub, where blues packages are already part of the inventory. Immediately after the band announcement, things really get down to business. The line-up at the time harmonizes well. This is handmade music full of energy and power. It swings and grooves from the first note and goes straight to your feet.
The first two songs, "Baby Please Don't Lie To Me" by Kim Wilson and "Couldn't Do Nothing" by John Campbell, really get the shop going and the first outbursts on the guitar. Fritz Wulf is apparently in top form. He proves this with "Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed" and the J.J. Cale song "Sensitive Kind", with the Blues Package taking some speed out of the set.
"The Weight", the classic from The Band, follows and is in no way inferior to the original. Wulf's distinctive voice goes really well with the song. "Stop Your Moving" is an excursion into the good old Rock'n'Roll times, and with "Neighbor, Neighbor" there is plenty of boogie with nice slide interludes. Now you are already rocking on the sofa, this intensity is so contagious.
The original composition "Golden Wings" has almost catchy tune. With this acoustic ballad, it's time to pull out your lighters and let your thoughts drift. But the emotional drudgery will soon be over again. "Tiny Coffin" and the "Mercury Blues", best known in the version of Canned Heat on their album "Reheated", bring back the harder stuff. Now the stage is shaking under the howling slide guitar.
With "Tell Me Why" there is another boogie on the auricles before my absolute tip is hip. Over five minutes of pure slow blues. "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" is almost celebrated. Wulf's voice develops into a true blues tube, and in the middle part Stefan Martens brings an incredibly committed guitar solo.
The conclusion is "I Can't Hold Out" by Elmore James. A perfect bouncer and mood maker, which can also be clearly heard in the enthusiastic audience reaction. This gig must have really been the finest and the mood is captured very well on the CD. The songs merge into each other without disturbing pauses. You seem to be in the hall while listening. This is how a live recording should sound and be presented!


Credits:

Fritz Wulf - Guitar, Vocals 
Stefan Martens - Guitar 
Matthias Huland - Bass 
Michi Kröger - Drums 

Tracklist:

01. Baby Please Don't Lie To Me 03:25 
02. Couldn't Do Nothing 03:33 
03. Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed 03:21 
04. Sensitive Kind 05:18 
05. The Weight 04:04 
06. Stop Your Moving 01:58 
07. Neighbour, Neighbour 04:49 
08. Get Rhythm 03:02 
09. Golden Wings 04:31 
10. Tiny Coffin 04:19 
11. Mercury Blues 04:43 
12. Tell Me Why 03:05 
13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman 06:22 
14. I Can't Hold Out 04:33 

Cleveland Fats - The Other Side of Midnight (1998)

                                                                  Cleveland Fats
 Mark Hahn (Cleveland Fats) is the long-time rhythm guitarist behind legendary bluesman Robert Jr. Lockwood. Fats was a mainstay of Lockwood's Cleveland-based combo, recording and touring with him for over 17 years. Now flying solo and fronting his own combo, Fats steps up to the plate with an impressive debut album of his own. Although his former boss is referenced in his playing, Fats' talents shine in enough areas to keep this album from merely being a Lockwood homage. Two originals in particular stand out, the bouncy "My Past Life" and "I Wanna Know." The jump blues side of the equation is nicely spotlighted on the old chestnuts "Hey Bop-A-Ree-Bop" and Louis Jordan's "Ain't That Just Like a Woman." Fats' playing is strongly rooted in 1950s Chicago-blues styles and his solo work is pithy and straight-to-the-heart. A great little debut album from a strong player with chops galore.


Tracklist:

01. I Wanna Know 04:57
02. Worst Kind Of Fool 04:28
03. Just Like A Woman 04:08
04. Good Morning Mr. Blues 03:50
05. The Other Side Of Midnight 05:19
06. My Past Life 04:29
07. Have Mercy 03:41
08. That's Alright 05:19
09. Hey Bob-A-Ree-Bop 03:03
10. Your Time To Cry 04:17
11. Love Affair Blues 04:35

Lil A And His Allnighters - Hip Ya (2019)

                                                            Lil A And His Allnighters
 Alex ‘Lil’ A’ Woodson is based in Southern California and this disc is his first national release, an earlier disc being more of a demo recording made for the purpose of getting gigs. Recorded in just two days, the ten cuts represent an array of harmonica influences on Alex’s playing and include two originals. Alex handles lead vocals and harp and is well supported by Johnny Minguez on drums and Brion Munsey on bass; guitarists Billy Bates, Geoff Gurrola and Mark Amparan share the six string work, sometimes singly, often in pairs.

Alex’s style on harp is full-out attack, well demonstrated on the opening original instrumental ‘”Poppin’ Corn” on which producer Kenny Huff plays the bass, the cool West Coast style guitar making a nice contrast with the harp work. The title track “Hip Ya” is also Alex’s and it’s a strong cut with a pounding shuffle, great guitar work in West Coast style and good lyrics about warning a girl about how her guy is cheating on her. Darrell Nulisch’s “Love And War” goes back to his early album Business As Usual and Alex gives it a rumba rhythm with just Geoff on guitar for this one. Alex then covers tunes by some of his major harp influences: Alex’s vocals on Junior Wells’ “Country Girl” are good and the tune bounces along with Bill and Geoff dueling well on guitar while on Little Walter’s “Too Late Brother” the rhythm section pushes things along well. Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” is a song that is frequently covered but, to be fair, Alex and the band do a great job on it, generating a fair amount of excitement over the four minutes. William Clarke appears to be a particular influence as there are two of his tunes here: “Chromatic Jump” provides a second instrumental vehicle for Alex’s heavily amplified, slightly distorted sound while an extended take on “Must Be Jelly” closes the album. Alex plays it as a slow blues but places a high energy middle section into the tune which is great in itself but is an oddity, sounding as if we have left the main tune behind completely, before we return to the slow blues style!

Credits:

Alex Woodson - Harmonica, Vocals

Bill Bates - Guitar

Geoff Gurrola - Guitar

Mark Amparan - Guitar

Brion Munsey - Bass

Kenny Huff - Bass

Johnny Minguez - Drums

Tracklist:

01. Poppin' Corn 03:33 

02. Country Girl 04:06 

03. Too Later Brother 04:07 

04. Chromatic Jump 03:25 

05. Hip Shake 04:15 

06. Hip Ya 04:16 

07. Love & War 04:55 

08. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights 04:39 

09. Ain't Gonna Cry No More 04:34 

10. Must Be Jelly 08:38 

Chris Youlden - Citychild (1974)

                                                                    Chris Youlden
 Best known for having replaced Bryce Portius as one of Savoy Brown's original lead singers, during his tour of duty with the band Chris Youlden rivaled Kim Simmonds in serving as the band's focal point. In addition to being blessed with a voice that was perfectly suited for the band's bluesy rock moves, his reputation wasn't hurt by his onstage attire - often a bowler and monocle, or a tux.  It also didn't hurt that Youlden was a capable writer, responsible for penning roughly half of Savoy's classic early-'70s material.

Unhappy with Savoy Brown's constant touring and drift towards what he considered to be mindless boogie, in May 1970, Youlden tendered his resignation. He effectively vanished for the next three years, unexpectedly reappeared in 1973 signed by London Records as a solo act (coincidently Savoy Brown's label).  Produced by Barry Murray, 1973's "Nowhere Road" was notable for the fact it bore little resemblance to his Savoy Brown catalog. With Youlden penning all eleven tracks, material such as 'Chink of Sanity' and 'Mama Don't Talk So Loud' retained a bluesy base, but injected a distinctively sinewy funky edge into selections such as the title track (boasting a great guitar solo), 'One October Day' (with some tasty horns) and the blazing 'Cryin' In the Road'. Chris Spedding and Fleetwood Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan provided sterling support throughout.  A commercial disappointment, the set barely charted, peaking at #210. (Sporting one of the year's ugliest covers certainly didn't help sales.)  The lack of sales was unfortunate since Youlden's instantly recognizable voice remained in prime form. Without wanting it to sound like hype, had Savoy Brown recorded an album this good, they would've been stars ...  A fantastic debut album that I play over and over !!!

Having listened to 1974's "City Child" dozens of  times over the years, I'm still on the fence in terms of my final opinion.  Youlden had a great blues voice and was capable of writing classic material.  Unlike the debut album, on his second solo release the results were kind of hit-or-miss.  Part of the problem may have been associated with the fact this time around Youlden handled production duties depriving himself of an independent second set of ears. Self-produced, the ten original tunes were more varied than his debut, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing.  While the bluesy 'Little Cog In a Big Wheel', 'Love and Pain' and 'It Ain't for Real' recalled his Savoy Brown-styled roots, 'Conjure Wife' was an out-out-out rocker, while 'Born and Raised In the City' and 'Keep Your Lamp Lit' were actually funky (in a mid-'70s Boz Scaggs kind of way). Best of the lot was the haunting rocker 'Spare Change'.  Not as instantly likeable as the debut, but the set's grown on me over the years.  


Credits:

Chris Youlden - Vocals
Joy Yates - Vocals
Pete Wingfield - Keyboards
Derek Griffiths - Guitar
Jack Mills - Guitar
Rosko Gee - Bass
Terry Stannard - Drums
John Beecham - Trombone
Dave Caswell - Trumpet
Michael Cotton - Trumpet
Nick Newell - Saxophone
Anna Peacock - Backing Vocals
Suzanne Lynch - Backing Vocals

Tracklist:

01. Conjure Wife 03:41  
02. Born And Raised In The City 04:01  
03. The Morning Light 03:22  
04. Keep Your Lamp Lit 03:29  
05. Little Cog In A Big Wheel 03:54  
06. Peace Of Mind 03:34  
07. Walking The Streets Again 02:31  
08. Spare Change 03:45  
09. Love And Pain 05:50  
10. It Ain't For Real 03:15  

Adam Holt & The Blues Congregation - Who I Am (2002)

                                                                      Adam Holt
 "A hot & sweaty night down in the basement of an old warehouse on the Southside with an up-n-comin' young cat and his entourage of vets makin' the place move, groove, and roar"

This 11 song CD pulls from a traditional blues sound but introduces the modernized blues guitar work of Adam Holt. 'Who I Am' defines the sound of Mobile, Alabama and pays respect to the traditional blues artists. The album is a blend of Texas style rockin' blues and Delta blues, with a couple of acoustic songs. You can hear the blistering string bending of Adam Holt on guitar, and the powerful bite and growl of his vocal range. You can hear the tinkering of white keys on a barrelhouse piano. You can hear a whining, note-bending harmonica. And you can hear a fat robust drum and bass rhythm section holding the beat. Adam Holt hails from the delta of Mobile, Alabama, the 'Port City', which is noted as the backdoor of New Orleans. Adam is a noted musician among an unnoted melting pot of talent from the 'Port City'. His blood runs thick with southern culture, heritage, and music. However, even though he is steeped in acoustic/slide Delta blues, his most powerful playing comes from the electric guitar. Adam defines the sound of Mobile, Alabama, which is a southern blend of blues, roots and soul. From the Mobile river and delta and the famed Dauphin St. music scene of downtown Mobile, to the cotton fields across the Baldwin County region and to the white sands of Gulf Shores, you can hear the influences of Adam Holt through his music.
Adam Holt has shared the stage with several major artists, including Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf), and Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, members of the one and only Muddy Waters band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Drivin' n' Cryin', Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown bassist, Harold Floyd, and many more.
 
With a fast and furious blast of fretwork, Adam Holt wastes no time in declaring himself by opening with the title track from his debut, "Who I Am." Yup, he's young (mid-twenties), and yes, he's got chops to burn. And while leading a tough quartet - Henry Jolley on drums, bassist Paul Williams, with Bo Roberts handling keys and John Brock on harp - through an all-original set, Adam shows considerable promise.
The second cut, "Killer On The Loose," serves to reinforce that impression, but one can already see that Mr. Holt has some songwriting chops as well; this one's buoyed by some great organ, and features a few tricky changes that raise the bar a bit. By the third track we know Adam's capable of much more than simply recycling 12-bar riffs. Driven by acoustic guitar, "The End" is a rootsy road song with Adam's gruff vocals achieving an appropriate world-weariness. "Drunk On Love" is a bit of a rave up that unfortunately doesn't quite work as well as it should. I suspect it has to do with the production, as each of the constituent parts is okay - it's more about the glue that doesn't quite hold it together. "Holding On To Your Love" is a soul ballad, admittedly far removed from blues but one of the disc's high points nonetheless, evidence again that Adam has a sure compositional hand. "Honey-Do's" is a breezy shuffle, with another excellent vocal turn and some interesting harp accents from Mr. Brock; "Going Back To Mobile" is (not surprisingly) a southern funk workout, with Mr. Jolley's drums providing a slippery and irresistibly propulsive foundation. Adam breaks out the acoustic guitar again for a solo "Queenie Makes Me Feel (Like A King)," taking the opportunity as well to show that he himself is no slouch on the Lickin' Stick. Entirely different from Mr. Brock's high, lightning-fast style, his is a thick-toned and raw sound, entirely appropriate for the tune. "How Do I Love Thee," borrowing the famous opening line from Elizabeth Barret Browning, puts a decidedly bluesy spin on the question, in the form of a grinding shuffle with more of Bo Robert's exemplary organ work. "Knockin' At Your Door" is a mid-tempo tune that's not quite blue, not quite rock, but works anyway; the listed tracks wrap up with "Hole In My Pocket," a nice slow tune that'll ring a bell with anyone who's ever had to explain where all the money went (new guitar?) to a significant other. Nice, restrained picking is contrasted by some extraordinary harmonica work from Mr. Brock; I'd caution him, however, not to become too enamoured of his own virtuosity; a little goes a long way. The by-now-almost-obligatory hidden track is a version of "Mojo Workin" that doesn't add anything new but is fine anyway. Adam wrote almost everything here, also handling production and design. While there are a few glitches (notably a glaring typographical error, probably caused by a font substitution) that should have been fixed prior to release, all in all this is a satisfying release by a younger player who looks to have a great future ahead of him. No, it's not essential. But Mr. Holt's next outing just might be . . . keep an eye out for it!


Tracklist:

01. Who I Am 03:33 
02. Killer On The Loose 05:22 
03. The End 06:21 
04. Drunk On Love 03:55 
05. Holdin' On To Your Love 04:46 
06. Honey Do's 04:47 
07. Goin' Back To Mobile 05:06 
08. Queenie Makes Me Feel (Like A King) 03:14 
09. How Do I Love Thee 04:37 
10. Knockin' At Your Door 06:28 
11. Hole In My Pocket 17:26 

Jimmy James - Blue Moon Rising (2001)

                                                                    Jimmy James
 Jimmy James’ fingers fly at such incredible speeds when he’s playing his guitar that they seem at odds with his calm and easygoing nature.


An icon of the Quebec blues scene for 35 years, he’s jammed with impressive names like Jeff Healy, King Crimson and David Bowie and plays at such renowned events as the Montreal Jazz and Mont Tremblant International BScreen Shot 2016-07-24 at 11.35.11 PMlues Festivals.


Credits:

Cliff Gelfand - Bass   
Dave Devine - Drums   
Jimmy James - Guitar, Vocals   

Tracklist:

01. Last Night 04:07
02. Ride That Train 04:09
03. Addicted 07:43
04. Thank You 04:32
05. Blue Moon Rising 06:14
06. Do The Thing 07:38
07. Cry Me A River 06:50
08. It's Time 07:31
09. H2O 03:59
10. Spread Your Wings 07:57

Smoky White Devils - New Old Stock (2018)

                                                               Smoky White Devils
 American-Blues-Rock Supergroup emerges from NASHVILLE! This quartet of veteran players is fronted by Richie Owens on vocals, slide and rhythm guitars, and harmonica. Nick Kane, from the platinum years of The Mavericks, plays lead guitar. Forming the granite-tough rhythm section are Michael "Fergie" Ferguson, consummate session player and touring musician for Country Rock duo, Trailer Choir and bassist John Reed, of longtime Nashville punk rock rebel pioneers Raging Fire. Owens is also the scion of mountain music royalty. His great-grandfather was the musician who inspired the Jack White character in the movie Cold Mountain. His father, also picker, managed and wrote songs for Dolly Parton. Owens himself has produced high-profile albums for Parton, the Georgia Satellites and the Kentucky Headhunters, among others, and has several signature instruments under the Washburn brand. Kane, a Grammy winning musician, has led his own post-Maverick bands and is a master of rock, blues, rockabilly, country and just about any style he dives into with his unrelenting prowess. Reed continues his long standing musical partnership with Owens, with whom he performed in Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau along with Ferguson who has also spent time as a session and stage drummer for Dolly Parton and other country and rock notables.


Tracklist:

01. Hoppin' John 03:58
02. You Must Be from Nashville 04:13
03. All Night Wrong 03:24
04. Operating in the Blue 03:30
05. Western Avenue 04:54
06. Murder Me 04:48
07. Not My Time to Go 03:03
08. Everything She Needs 02:42
09. Black Leather Woman 03:07
10. Popcorn Sutton 04:40

Danny & The Thunders - Prime Time (2014)

                                                              Danny & The Thunders
 Danny and The Thunders are a Finnish rock and roll and rockabilly band formed in 1978. The band members were from Jakomäki, Helsinki.

The band won the Favorite magazine organized by the competitions of the Kingdom of Finnish Rock in 1980, the members of the band were about 15 years old. This produced a recording contract for the duration of an EP album. The four-song album included a song by the band, the others were cover songs. The songs from the EP were also used in the subsequent release of the Teenage Party from the album Rockin '. The band played for four years and ended operations in 1983. After that, its members played in several bands.

In 2002, Thunders came together to make appearances. Guitarist Henry Roth was replaced by Danny's younger brother, Joona Nurminen, who later also founded his own band called Jonatan and the Band. Today, Danny and The Thunders also present their own material in style. 
   

Credits:

Danny Nurminen - Vocal, Guitar Solo
Henry Roth - Vocals, Guitar
Atte Ahonen - Bass
Kari Nyman - Drums

Tracklist:

01. Crazy 'Bout the Van 02:50
02. Cold Beer 03:03
03. Prime Time 02:10
04. Late Night Stranger 04:06
05. The One True Love 03:05
06. Daddy Got Dulled 02:53
07. Memories Still Go On 04:05
08. Happy Fools Song 02:45
09. The Hottest Woman 03:48
10. Ol' Gigolo Fell in Love 03:40
11. Sailed Away 03:27
12. Gonna Leave the Jail 03:18
13. Boogie Woogie Mama 03:03

The Average Blues Band - Endless Journey (2001)

                                                         The Average Blues Band                                                      
 A.B.B. are the finest exponents of contemporary Blues and one of the top Blues Bands in the UK. 


Tracklist:

01. Don't Get Out Much 05:30
02. So Many Days 03:27
03. You Ran My Heart Away 04:04
04. The Only Way Back From The Bottom 02:48
05. I'm Cryin' 05:15
06. Old Love 04:55
07. Taste Of The Blues (Millennium Version) 04:47
08. I Believe 03:01
09. Helpin' Out At Rudi's 03:38
10. Your Love And Mine 06:17
11. Endless Journey 04:45

Brett Ellis - Redemption At The Mojo Circus (2014)

                                                                      Brett Ellis
 Hailing from San Diego, CA, Brett Ellis gives us his 11th recording – Redemption at the Mojo Circus. Brett has been part of the CA music scene since the ’80s and was originally a rock player who has worked hard to craft a style of blues rock that is uniquely his own. He combines rock rhythms over a blues format and throws in rapid fire bebop jazz influenced guitar solos that are atypical for the blues.

The first three tracks on the album roar out of the gate. “My Own Way” starts things out and “Keeping The Rock Alive,” which is a basically Grooveyard Records Mission statement put to music are sure to satisfy your need to rock. “Complain” has spoken word sections combined with the chorus section to give the song a Henry Rollins “Liar” vibe  just at a much faster tempo.
Things slow down a bit for “Nine Tons of Soul” at least for the first minute of the song. After that we are back to rocking it out. Brett is correct when he says “You all can steal licks, and if you could you wouldn’t sound like me.” His solos are so rapid fire and harmonically unpredictable because of the alternative scales that he utilizes which gives him a unique sound that is all his own. Things get a little confused with the almost 12 minute “Freight Train,” which starts out with three minutes of guitar shredding soloing that doesn’t quite fit with the rest of the song. While it showcases his pyrotechnic fret board skills it thankfully just sort of fades away to a quite excellent acoustic blues line that is the basis for the rest of obvious double entendre filled jam.
Then things get really interesting with the sensitive “As Much as The Blues,” which is where Brett’s slow blues chops really shine. This is followed with the growling “Furthest In The Sky,” which is a rolling dark, brooding bass filled ride. “Peacemaker” is a good blues and “Like A Man” with its didgeridoo filled opening fill the remained of the time until we get to the excellent “Blues is Everything” to close the album out.

Brett Ellis uses his unique guitar skills mastered over his career to combine the skills of a guitar shredder with jazz influenced harmonic lines over basic blues forms to deliver a distinctive blues rock sound. If you’re a fan of the guitar shredders of the late ’80s and ’90s but want something slightly different yet contained in a blues experience then Redemption at the Mojo Circus is going to be the right choice for you.


Credits:

Rick Nash - Bass   
Brett Ellis - Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica, Drums  
Calvin Lakin - Drums
Ben Moore - Organ   

Tracklist:

01. My Own Way 03:51
02. Keeping the Rock Alive 04:43
03. Complain 03:57
04. Nine Tons of Soul 06:39
05. Freight Train 11:49
06. As Much as the Blues 06:06
07. Furthest in the Sky 07:12
08. Piecemaker 04:00
09. Like a Man 07:32
10. Blues Is Everything 08:36

Jimmy James - Feels Good (2005)

                                                                 Jimmy James
 Feels Good dates from 2003, and features Cliff Gelfand on bass and Dave Devine on drums. It’s a tight little jewel of an album with lots of great originals – mostly blues with some country, rock and jazz fusion in the mix.


Credits:

Cliff Gelfand - Bass   
Dave Devine - Drums   
Jimmy James - Vocals, Guitar  

Tracklist:

01. Ride That Train 03:54
02. Feels Good 04:55
03. Come Back Home 06:59
04. Should've Been Gone 03:50
05. Just One Of Those Days 05:46
06. Make You Feel Good 04:00
07. Walking With My Baby 04:15
08. There Used To Be Tree On Pine 07:36
09. Power To Choose 05:47
10. Fool No More 05:04
11. Starry Night 06:12

JP Stingray - Lowland Blues (2020)

                                                                     JP Stingray
 JP Stingray began playing the guitar at age 13, inspired by his older brother Ramblin' Wayn, who is also a country/rock recording artist in Holland. Soon, JP discovered the music of his first guitar hero Rory Gallagher, who would become a great influence upon him. Later, he would hear the music of the great Stevie Ray Vaughan, who would ultimately become his greatest influence.


Tracklist:
 
01. Going Down 04:59
02. Crosscut Saw 04:19
03. Born Under a Bad Sign 03:51
04. Hoochie Coochie Man 04:34
05. Boogie Man 04:30
06. Don't Start Me Talking 03:29
07. Fool for Your Stockings 04:28
08. Messing with the Kid 03:31
09. King Bee 05:00
10. I Thank You 03:36
11. Thrill Is Gone 04:54
12. Statesboro Blues 03:36
13. Tulsa Time 03:06
14. Baby,What Do You Want Me to Do 03:27
15. Texas Flood 05:15

Michael Katon - Hard On! (The Boogie) (2012)

                                                                 Michael Katon
 Mystic Records are proud to release the first studio CD from Michael Katon for nearly eight years. Michael originated from Hell in Michigan which is where he learnt how to really set a CD and stage alight! Michael Katon released his first record thirty years ago and is renowned for playing rock and roll and blues with a raw, mean and spirited boogie sound. Michael started playing with local bands in the clubs around Detroit from age of 15 and has infused the traditional blues sound with his own Michigan attitude and is considered one of the world's finest exponents of power blues rock. It is his dirty boogie style, hoarse vocals and hard-hitting riffs that have helped Katon win popularity with fans of hard rock and metal music as well as blues fans. This release has twelve high powered Blues Rock and Boogie tunes and will be welcomed by his many fans worldwide and will be touring to promote the album. Track listing: Hard On! (The Boogie); Watermelon & Black Coffee; Check Out The Blues; Gas Money; Hey Jimmy We Need Ya; Bring Me My Morphine; Boogie From Hell; Whisky Hill; The Ballad Of Johnny Bloodheart; Hold On Memphis; Younger Man; Hard On! (The Boogie) (Part 2)

Tracklist:

01. Hard On! (The Boogie) 03:58
02. Watermelon and Black Coffee 06:11
03. Check Out the Blues 04:49
04. Gas Money 03:46
05. Hey Jimi We Need Ya 04:33
06. Bring Me My Morphine 06:51
07. Boogie From Hell! 04:05
08. Whiskey Hill 04:46
09. The Ballad of Johnny Bloodheart 03:54
10. Hold On Memphis 07:02
11. Younger Man 04:51
12. Hard On! (The Boogie) (Pt.2) 06:07

 

Jeff Wyatt - My Christmas Guitar (2014)

                                                                      Jeff Wyatt
 My Christmas Guitar, Jeff’s November 2014 release, is a contemporary approach to traditional Christmas favorites, with an obvious emphasis on guitar as the featured instrument. Electric and acoustic, finger-style and slide; the guitar playing styles vary, but the BLUES influence is evident?

“My work has been described to me as an interesting mix of styles resembling that of artists like Ry Cooder, David Wilcox, Mark Knopfler, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot, Jeff Beck and others. Well,...I'm truly humbled at the mere thought of any such remote comparisons to these musical giants. Personally I just think I sound like me,... whatever that is,... however, all those personalities have certainly influenced my playing and writing.”  

Jeff, originally from the Saskatchewan prairies (where he performed with the popular 70's prairie band EDEN), has been involved with the Canadian west coast music scene (writing, recording and performing live) since 1991, prior to his 24 year involvement with the Canadian prairie music scene.


Tracklist:

01. Go Tell It On The Mountain (Instrumental) 04:04 
02. What Child Is This 03:34 
03. The First Noel 04:42 
04. Christmas Guitar Medley: Good King Wenceslas/Joy To The World/Jingle Bells/Silent Night 04:57 
05. Oh Holy Night 05:55 
06. Oh Christmas Tree 03:13 
07. Silent Night 04:18 
08. Auld Lang Syne 01:50 
09. Go Tell It On The Mountain 04:04 

Michael Katon - Diablo Boogie (Blues Brewed In Hell) (2006)

                                                                       Michael Katon
 From the tiny town of Hell, MI comes Michael Katon, a flame-throwing guitarist-singer/songwriter-producer who plays straightforward blues-rock with no pretense whatsoever. Recording out of his house, Katon has fashioned a recording career that now spans over two decades, with more to come. His music is strongly rooted in the time he spent early on working in garage rock & roll and hillbilly bands around Ypsilanti, MI. He is the consummate roadhouse musician, whose loud 'n' proud boogie credo can get an audience rocking in a manner of minutes.

While nowhere near as well-known in his native country, Katon's reputation and success has entirely derived from his guitar-hero status in Europe. Releasing his first album, Boogie All Over Your Head, in Sweden in 1984, Katon has recorded for the Danish Provogue label and others, releasing a spate of similarly themed albums, equal parts blues and rock, with his original tunes highlighting the best of them. Constant touring overseas has also strengthened his reputation there, as well. Exploring all avenues of American roots rock while he continues to produce his own records in his basement home project studio, Michael Katon is a true American blues-rocker deserving of a far wider hearing.

The guitarist, wheezing boogie-rock opuses for at least 20 years, is one of the most die-hard followers of heavy blues. Whoever listened to at least one of his albums will want to listen to the rest.


Tracklist:

01. Diablo Boogie 03:26
02. Fried Jalapenos 05:10
03. The Man From Hell 07:02
04. Big Twin 04:06
05. Love Hoo Doo 04:38
06. The Devil’s Daughter 04:19
07. ‘Till The Hounds Of Hell Come Home 06:16
08. Boogie Man 04:45
09. Need It Awful Bad 06:56

The Blues Hopman - Snooze You Lose (2020)

                                                              The Blues Hopman
 Blues Hopman Anderson is a bluesman from De Mayfield (Kentucky). In this album he brings us to great blues, with great vocals and guitars.
  

Tracklist:

01. You Don't Know 06:28 
02. Ludy Low 05:06 
03. Live My Life 05:24 
04. It's Too Late 08:13 
05. It's All AboutYou 06:09 
06. I Got Something For You Baby 05:07 
07. I Got My Eyes On You 06:01 
08. Country Breezin  04:45 
09. Baby It's My Time 04:23 
10. Snooze You Lose 06:09 

Ron Thompson and the The Resistors - Resister Twister (1987)

                                                                   Ron Thompson
 After honing his chops behind Little Joe Blue and John Lee Hooker, guitarist Ron Thompson went solo in 1980, forming his own blues/roots-rock trio, the Resisters. Just Like a Devil, a 1990 release on pianist Mark Naftalin's Winner label, was culled from Thompson's appearances on Naftalin's Blue Monday Party radio program.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Thompson began playing guitar when he was 11, picking up slide guitar shortly afterward. When he was in his late teens, he was playing slide guitar with Little Joe Blue. For about five years, he worked in local Bay Area clubs, both as a solo artist and a supporting musician. In 1975, John Lee Hooker asked Thompson to join his backing band and the guitarist accepted. For the next three years, he played with Hooker, developing a national reputation.

Thompson left Hooker in 1978. Two years later, he formed his own band, the Resistors, and landed a contract with Takoma Records. Thompson's debut album, Treat Her Like Gold, appeared in 1983. Although he launched a solo career, Thompson continued to play with a number of other musicians, including Lowell Fulson, Etta James, and Big Mama Thornton. In 1987, his second album, Resister Twister, was released; it was followed shortly afterward by Just Like a Devil. Thompson continued to perform throughout the late '80s and '90s, although he didn't record quite as frequently.


Credits:

Byron Sutton - Bass    
Evan Palmerston - Bass   
Mike Lewis - Bass  
Steve Evans - Bass  
Gary Silva - Drums    
Harold Banks - Drums    
Larry Vann - Drums   
Ron Thompson - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica   

Tracklist:

01. Nervous Breakdown 02:43
02. The Gamble 02:25
03. Pedal To The Metal 02:36
04. I'm Shakin' 03:00
05. Freight Train (Let Me Ride) 04:03
06. Resister Twister 01:18
07. 13 Women 02:27
08. Swing Down Chariot 02:19
09. Way Yoo Early 03:40
10. Lookin' For Trouble 07:05

Texas Cannonballs ‎- Texas Cannonballs (2013)

                                                             Texas Cannonballs
 "Raw yet sleek, with an underlying sense of menace and drive rarely heard since Exile On Main Street, and unrelentingly cool".


Credits:

Temple Ray - Backing Vocals   
Travis Green - Backing Vocals, Tambourine   
Preston Hubbard - Bass  
Jim Starboard - Drums  
Chris Ruest - Guitar, Vocals  
Hector Watt - Guitar, Vocals 

Tracklist:

01. Texas Tumbleweed 03:48
02. Blew My Head 03:27
03. Hard Way 04:19
04. Fly Away 04:42
05. I Want Somebody To Love 03:02
06. One Slip 03:40
07. King Of The Blues 03:55
08. I Was Wrong 03:00
09. Nobody Cares About Me 02:16
10. Geronimo Rock 02:46
11. King Of The Jungle 04:40
12. Me And The Devil 03:39
13. Dreaming 04:39