Various Artists - Antone's: Clifford's Picks

Year: 2000
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:55
Size: 154,8 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. Doyle Bramhall - Too Sorry (2:46)
2. Toni Price - Chain Of Love (3:37)
3. Miss Lavelle White - You Gonna Make Me Cry (4:45)
4. Kim Wilson - If I Should Lose You (3:24)
5. Sue Foley - Gone Blind (3:44)
6. Matt Murphy - Way Down South (4:34)
7. ZuZu Bollin - Hey Little Girl (3:37)
8. Lazy Lester - Irene (3:45)
9. James Cotton - Call It Stormy Monday (6:48)
10. Barbara Lynn - I'm A Good Woman (3:17)
11. Doug Sahm - She Put The Hurt On Me (2:45)
12. Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton & Angela Strehli - I Idolize You (3:37)
13. Eddie Taylor - Big Town Playboy (4:18)
14. Memphis Slim - Having Fun (4:22)
15. Pinetop Perkins - Ida B (7:20)
16. Earl King - Things I Used To Do (4:12)

When Clifford Antone talks about the blues, folks listen. And when he speaks, he uses superlatives that he has earned the right to use. For the last quarter-century, the Port Arthur native has struggled to give blues a home and at the end of the century, the club, a record store and recording label bear his name in Austin. Not too shabby for a man who just wanted to give back a little of what he got from the blues.

"One of the things I have been trying to deal with all my life is why we don't honor these great musicians. It's just a real shame. How can anybody see Barbara Lynn and not want to make her one of the biggest stars in America?" Sadly, the ailing reply is that artists like Barbara Lynn, Lazy Lester, and Lavelle White aren't heard enough.

Fortunately, Cliff's Picks will remedy that social ill with 16 of the finest doses of the blues recorded over the last 15 years from performers like Memphis Slim and Eddie Taylor to Sue Foley. "I recorded everyone - Angela, James Cotton, even recorded a Kim Wilson album before 1986", says Clifford Antone. "There is so much history in the Antone's vaults, it's unbelievable." Small wonder then that Clifford Antone's label asked him to choose his favorites. /Excerpt from the liner notes

(Note: There is also another version of this album entitled "Cliff's Picks", also released in 2000, containing 14 tracks plus a bonus track featuring a 15 minutes interview with Clifford Antone.)

Antone's: Clifford's Picks mc
Antone's: Clifford's Picks gofile

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Sugar Ray & The Bluetones - Living Tear To Tear

Year: 2014
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:30
Size: 137,3 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Rat Trap (3:44)
2. Here We Go (4:45)
3. Things Could Be Worse (5:31)
4. Living Tear To Tear (4:16)
5. Misery (8:12)
6. It's Never As Bad As It Looks (4:17)
7. Short Ribs (3:14)
8. I Dreamed Last Night (6:53)
9. Ninety Nine (3:49)
10. Our Story (4:28)
11. Hungry But Happy (4:50)
12. Nothing But The Devil (5:26)

Another strong release from this talented group of musicians, they seem to get better every time. In a multi decade career, Sugar Ray has consistently brought out a combination of swingin' up-tempo tunes together with real gut bucket grinders. This set cover both sounds with real style and substance. More than just singing the words, Ray gets inside the feeling and delivers the real deal.

Personnel: Sugar Ray Norcia (vocals & harmonica), Monster Mike Welch (guitar), Anthony Geraci (piano & Hammond organ), Michael Mudcat Ward (acoustic & electric bass), Neil Gouvin (drums).

Living Tear To Tear mc
Living Tear To Tear zippy

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Andy Poxon - Must Be Crazy

Year: 2015
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:59
Size: 133,7 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. You Must Be Crazy (3:52)
2. Living Alone (4:50)
3. Next To You (3:11)
4. Give Me The Chance (4:28)
5. Cold Weather (5:28)
6. Don't Tell Your Mama (4:33)
7. Harder Everyday (5:42)
8. I Want To Know (3:38)
9. Already Gone (5:16)
10. Making A Fool (4:24)
11. Don't Tell Me What To Do (5:27)
12. Too Late (3:37)
13. Rebound (3:27)

The red headed guitar wiz kid is back for his third album and it’s a superb one! Sporting a much shorter hair style on the album cover and photos, his trimmed back mane does not detract from his prowess on the six string! Featuring 13 new original tunes written by Poxon with some help on a few by Kevin McKendree (his keyboard player) and on one by McKendree’s 14 year old son, Yates, this is another impressive effort by this fine young East Coast musician! In addition to those mentioned we have Kenneth Blivens on drums, Steve Mackey on bass and Jim Hoke on saxophones. Excellent backing musicians all, they add a lot of depth and soul to this CD.

The albums opens to the strains of the title track. A stinging guitar lead is vibrant with solid vocals by Poxon. The piano and horns are integral to the mix and add a great dimension. The song is a winner! “Living Alone” follows; Andy tells us that living alone is not as bad as you would think, especially after a bad break up. Saving money, spending money on yourself, playing guitar, not having any restrictions are positives. He offers a cool little solo on his guitar, too, in addition to the fun lyrics. Poxon and Company swing to “Next to You,” a song that easily could be a Room Full of Blues hit. Poxon and the band are tight and shout out the chorus together. Poxon’s guitar solo is clean and precise, the horns are well orchestrated, the keys are pounding and it’s just another great tune!

“Give Me the Chance” slows things down and Poxon sings with passion and the McCrary Sisters behind him help to testify along with his impassioned plea. Poxon offers another solo with bite and vigor. “Cold Weather” is sloooow and dirty blues, the kind lovers get up to and grind together on the dance floor as the guitar is picked with greasy and dirty aplomb. The intro lasts about a minute before Poxon wails about being a remedy for cold weather. Another great solo by Poxon adds to the intensity before he closes things out. On “Don’t Tell Your Mama” we get another great original tune where Poxon has a story to tell. Nice piano solo followed by a nice guitar solo here, too. The organ returns on “Harder Everyday”as Andy sings a mournful ballad and the band supports the mood. You can feel the pain in his voice and their playing.

“I Want To Know” has a bit of a bounce as the horns reply to each of the lines of the verse. Andy tries to understand the mind of his woman as he asks over and over how to make this girl fall in love with him. He picks out a distinctive and precise, slow beat on his solo which fits the song nicely. He stays with a slow beat in “Already Gone,” a breathy cut where he sings of a relation gone sour. Chloe Kohanski is also mournful behind his vocals as a drum beats out a slow beat and the organ slides in around their vocals.

The pace picks up nicely with “Making a Fool,” a mid to faster tempos tome about his clumsiness and ability to do what the title says. He ignores his friends’ pleas about impending heartbreak and sings to tell about it. A cool little swing tune with the guitar and piano supporting each other. The guitar solo is stinging again as Poxon plays with feeling. “Don’t Tell Me What to Do” is another slow bluesy ballad where Poxon is adamant about not taking direction from his woman. Really cool and well done stuff here. With “Too Late” Poxon and the band take a musical stroll in what appears to be a little bit of a take off on Freddie King.

Poxon concludes with “Rebound” where he and the organ introduce and provide the main basis of this instrumental tune. Yates McKendree helped write the song and appears on organ. Well paced and cool, the song works as Poxon picks at the strings and McKendree deftly fingers the keys. Nicely done once again!

Now 20 years old, Poxon is an experienced musician who has released three great CDs in four years. I think he’s got a bright future as each of his CDs show growth from the prior and build on their level of excellence. He’s a fantastic guitar player, singer and songwriter - I highly recommend this CD!

Must Be Crazy mc
Must Be Crazy zippy

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Rita Chiarelli - Just Gettin Started

Size: 105,8 MB
Time: 45:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Just Gettin Started (4:57)
02. Shallow Water (3:44)
03. Hurtin Chain (5:21)
04. Tupelo (5:30)
05. Heartbreak Of The Week (4:14)
06. Satisfied (4:47)
07. Blue Rain (4:45)
08. 72nd Street (5:11)
09. Lawless (4:17)
10. Love Me (2:52)

Rita Chiarelli is one of the most exciting new singers in Canada. Her unique blend of rock and blues has been compared favorably to Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, and Susan Tedeschi. In 2000, she was named the "top blues singer" at Canada's Maple Leaf Awards. The world's discovery of Chiarelli comes after years of her paying dues. Singing with Hamilton, Ontario-based group Tempest at the age of 15, she toured throughout North America with a nine-piece R&B band, Battleaxe, after graduating from high school. Chiarelli continued to sharpen her chops as a member of Toronto-based rockabilly pioneer Ronnie Hawkins' group. After a year, however, she moved to Italy, where she worked as a studio vocalist for six years. Returning to Canada in the late '80s, Chiarelli had her first success when her tune "Have You Seen My Shoes?," which was featured in the film Roadkill. Releasing her debut album, Road Rocket, in 1992, she took things a step further with her second effort, Just Gettin' Started, three years later. Produced by Jane Siberry-producer John Switzer, the album showcased Chiarelli's hook-laden songwriting, with all but one song -- a cover of Elvis Presley's "Love Me" -- original. Long John Baldry covered Chiarelli's song, "Midnight in Berlin," on his 1996 album Right to Sing the Blues. Breakfast at Midnight, released in 2001, includes such guests as ex-Band keyboardist Richard Bell and guitarist Colin Linden. ~ Craig Harris

Just Gettin Started

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Nancy Wright - Playdate!

Size: 130,1 MB
Time: 55:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, Soul, R&B
Art: Front

01. Why You Wanna Do It (With Wee Willie Walker) (4:35)
02. I Got What It Takes (With Tommy Castro) (4:27)
03. Yes He Do (With Victor Wainwright) (3:22)
04. Blues For The Westside (With Joe Louis Walker) (4:33)
05. Been Waiting That Long (With Frank Bey) (4:35)
06. Trampled (With Jim Pugh) (3:43)
07. Satisfied (3:47)
08. Warranty (With Terrie Odabi) (4:53)
09. Cherry Wine (2:52)
10. There Is Something On Your Mind (With Elvis Bishop) (4:30)
11. Back Room Rock (3:48)
12. Good Loving Daddy (4:27)
13. Soul Blue (With Chris Cain) (5:59)

PLAYDATE! is a freewheeling showcase for Wright's soulful playing, singing and songwriting, and a celebration of the thriving West Coast roots music scene that is her playground. Nancy decided to follow her heart and have fun with this album, so she enlisted the help of many of her friends and touring partners, including: producer Kid Andersen; guitarists Tommy Castro, Elvin Bishop, Joe Louis Walker, Mike Schermer and Chris Cain; vocalists Frank Bey, Wee Willie Walker and Terrie Odabi; and keyboardists Victor Wainwright and Jim Pugh.

The album features Nancy's songs and favorites, including a song by her friend and mentor Lonnie Mack that he never released. Nancy Wright lives in the San Francisco Bay area, and tours regularly around the United States, Canada and Europe, playing major Festivals and clubs with headlining artists and her own band. Recent appearances include New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bayfront Blues Festival, San Diego Blues Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and festivals across Italy and the Canary Islands. She is a popular regular on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, performing this year with Tommy Castro and the Painkillers.

Her two previous albums, Moanin' (2008) and Puttin' Down Roots (2014) won her critical acclaim, a top-20 spot in the DownBeat Reader's Poll, and a place in the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame.

Playdate!

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Philip Sayce - Scorched Earth Vol. 1 (Live)

Size: 99,4 MB
Time: 39:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Steamroller - Powerful Thing (Live) (6:22)
02. Blues Ain't Nothing But A Good Woman On Your Mind (Live) (4:37)
03. Standing Around Crying - Aberystwyth (Live) (5:45)
04. Beautiful (Live) (2:59)
05. A Mystic (Live) (5:08)
06. Out Of My Mind (Live) (7:20)
07. Alchemy (Live) (7:33)

Philip Sayce's new release is a powerful and dynamic live album that never overstays its welcome. Scorched Earth Volume 1 comes 20 years after Philip Sayce's first album, and includes seven high-octane tracks recorded at Toronto's Silver Dollar Room. Although the tracklisting is relatively short for a live record, it packs some impressive performances, adding up to 40 minutes of unrelenting blues rock.

The album opens with "Steamroller," a slow-burning tune that the band quickly turns into a roaring rendition of "Powerful Thing." It's a strong introduction to the record, showcasing Sayce's spirited vocals and featuring an extended jam from the power trio.

The production on the album is decidedly raw, with evident plosives, and the unmistakable hum of Sayce's vintage Stratocaster, but it's by no means sloppy. The bass and drums are balanced and punchy, and Sayce's lightning-quick guitar playing is well-defined throughout the record.

There are standout performances throughout the seven tracks, but perhaps the most impressive is "Out of My Mind," a blazing cut with monumental riffs and jaw-dropping shredding. Sayce's intensity is equalled by drummer Kiel Feher, and bassist Joel Gottschalk holds down an infectious groove throughout the song. During his blistering solo, Sayce mixes in the riff from Jimi Hendrix's "Third Stone From The Sun" and his Fender amps sound as though they might explode from his relentless attack.
The album closes with "Alchemy," which Sayce dedicates to his wife. It's a passionate instrumental with superb dynamics and tempo changes, rounding out the record nicely.

The first instalment of Scorched Earth is an electrifying collection of blues fury. Bring on volume two. ~by Brandon Choghri

Scorched Earth Vol. 1

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Joanne Shaw Taylor - Wild

Size: 114,9 MB
Time: 49:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Dyin' To Know (2:58)
02. Ready To Roll (4:05)
03. Get You Back (3:47)
04. No Reason To Stay (4:46)
05. Wild Is The Wind (7:07)
06. Wanna Be My Lover (5:07)
07. I'm In Chains (3:49)
08. I Wish I Could Wish You Back (3:58)
09. My Heart's Got A Mind Of It's Own (4:30)
10. Nothin' To Lose (3:35)
11. Summertime (5:30)

Joanne Shaw TaylorTaylor embodies all the elements of modern blues, even if she sings with a distinctively British accent. Given her extraordinary dexterity as a guitarist and well-developed vocal chops, Taylor was already a sensation on the blues festival circuit in both the U.S. and Great Britain when only in her mid-twenties. Taylor caught the blues bug as a young teenager growing up in the Birmingham area. She heard guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, and Jimi Hendrix and knew then that was the kind of music she wanted to pursue, eventually full-time. Producer Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) said of Taylor, several years previously when he first heard her: "I have played with all sorts of blues musicians all over the world. I even made a film, Deep Blues, where I went to Mississippi and recorded with some legendary players such as R.L. Burnside and Jesse Mae Hemphill. Last year I heard something I thought I would never hear: a British white girl playing blues guitar so deep and passionately it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end!" (Taylor was just 16 years old at that time.) Stewart was so impressed with her playing and musicianship that he asked her to accompany his supergroup, D.U.P., in touring Europe in 2002. She was also offered a record deal but the company went bankrupt. Seven years later, in May 2009 and with Taylor 23 years old, she released her stunning debut album, White Sugar, for Ruf Records, a German label with U.S. offices and a strong U.S. presence. She followed it up with extended U.S. touring, including shows with pianist and singer/songwriter Candye Kane. For her debut, Taylor went to the producer she most admired, Jim Gaines, who also produced good albums by her favorite blues players, including Jonny Lang, Luther Allison, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Carlos Santana. Accompanying her on White Sugar were veteran Memphis recording session players Steve Potts on drums and Dave Smith on bass. Good things are in the offing for this up-and-coming blues and blues-rock talent, and a glance at her website reveals a frantic touring schedule. She's clearly willing to work at her craft and put in the kind of air and ground miles needed to build a grassroots following in today's music business. ~ Richard Skelly

Wild

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Luke Winslow-King - I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always

Size: 101,7 MB
Time: 37:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, Folk, Country
Art: Front

01. On My Way (3:42)
02. I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always (4:16)
03. Change Your Mind (3:30)
04. Heartsick Blues (3:41)
05. Esther Please (4:36)
06. Watch Me Go (4:43)
07. Act Like You Love Me (3:14)
08. Louisiana Blues (4:58)
09. No More Crying Today (5:08)

The spare, high lonesome bluesy slide guitar that kicks off the opening gospel-inspired “On My Way” for Winslow-King’s third Bloodshot release (and fifth overall) is an indication of the distraught nature of the majority of what follows. The breakup theme running through this set is different and deeper than many we’ve heard before. The intensity of the sorrow infused through the songs on the somewhat deceptively upbeat I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Always Last is reflected on titles such as “Heartsick Blues,” “Change Your Mind,” “Act Like You Love Me” and, perhaps most powerfully, a direct plea to his soon to be ex — by name — in “Esther Please.”

Winslow-King has proven himself to be a respected musicologist of American roots over his past releases. Additionally, his history of teaching music as well as being a street musician in his adopted home of New Orleans has resulted in albums that reflect a decidedly retro spirit. While nothing here screams contemporary, the singer/songwriter/guitarist and his six piece band shift into a blues-inflected vibe that feels natural and doesn’t mimic styles of the past. Songs such as the sorrowful “Watch Me Go” (“tell me if you love me/ otherwise watch me go”) and the acoustic country folk that quotes Hank Williams in “Heartsick Blues” use traditional styles but never appear musty or overly referential of the older sounds that have dominated Winslow-King’s earlier releases.

The singer’s grainy, everyman voice works beautifully with this often sorrowful material, making it believable and potent. He belts out the repeated riffs associated with Mississippi Delta blues on the gutsy guitars of the title track, a song that may imply better days are coming but reflects Winslow-King’s turbulent feelings about the split both musically and lyrically. Even though the tunes are credited to him, it’s hard not to think of Muddy Waters, one of whose hits shares its “Louisiana Blues” title with this album’s similar sounding tune. Regardless, it provides Winslow-King a palette to display his formidable slide skills on the disc’s most openly blues moment.

It’s no coincidence he closes with the hopeful, sweet mid-tempo “No More Crying Today,” where he tries to shake off the bitter feelings and look to a more positive future, having reflected on his sadness and anger over the previous eight selections. It’s a wonderful way to wrap an album that’s almost painfully honest and forthright and shows Winslow-King doesn’t need to relive America’s musical past, or even his own, in order to create moving songs influenced by it. ~ Hal Horowitz

I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always

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Phil Gates - The Twelve Rhythms

Size: 145,9 MB
Time: 62:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Funk, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. New Kinda Funky ( 3:48)
02. We Are The Ones ( 4:51)
03. Your Needs Were More ( 3:26)
04. Honey Hush ( 5:44)
05. You Want Me ( 4:12)
06. You Cannot (Feat. Eric Gales) ( 4:29)
07. We're Together ( 4:41)
08. We Havin' Us (Feat. Kenny Neal) ( 4:58)
09. Turn Me Up ( 4:37)
10. The Machine (Feat. Kenny Neal) ( 3:52)
11. Let Yourself ( 6:41)
12. I Love The Way (Feat. Poncho Willaims & Rob Mullins) (11:07)

Phil Gates was born in Chicago Ill., into a family of musicians that helped form his music style, and ability. Phil began playing musical instruments at the age of eight, and listening to a wide array of music has always been his main source of inspiration. Phil has played venues from small clubs, to the U.S. Air Force’s “Tops in Blue” World Tour, which performed in sixteen countries as well as the halftime show of the NFL Superbowl.

Phil has performed at many venues all over the world with his band. Also, the band was featured for five consecutive years on Hornblower Cruise’s “Friday Night Blues Dinner Cruise”. Phil’s style is reminiscent of the early high energy Buddy Guy, mixed with a special blend of flavors from Jazz, Fusion, New Orleans, and the Chicago, Delta, and Mississippi Blues styles.

The Phil Gates Band won the “Beale Street Blues Kings” Competition in Memphis, and competed in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge.
Phil has been steady contributor to the Blues Community in Southern California. He founded the Los Angeles Blues Society, and has been a valued judge for the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and also at many of the Guitar Center “King of the Blues” competitions in Hollywood, CA

Phil has also performed at great venues such as B.B. King’s, Cozy’s, Biscuits and Blues San Francisco, Highway 99 Seattle, WA, The Coach House, CA, The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, The Santa Clarita Blues Festival, The Topanga Canyon Blues Festival, The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival, The Blues Music Awards Blind Raccoon Showcase, The Blues Nights Gossau(Blues Festival in Gossau, Switzerland), The Rock und Blues Festival in Gams, Switzerland.

Phil had the opportunity in his early years to listen and study great talent. As front of house engineer at the Caravan of Dreams Performing Arts Centre in Fort Worth, Texas, Phil worked with some of Blues and Jazz’s greatest performers to include: Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Dizzie Gilespie, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Eartha Kitt, Dianne Reeves, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and many others.

The Twelve Rhythms

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Catfish Keith - Honey Hole

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:37
Size: 125.1 MB
Styles: Acoustic blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:22] 1. Sweet Honey Hole
[3:32] 2. Best Jelly In The Neighborhood
[3:32] 3. Jailbird Love Song
[5:46] 4. Weed Smoker's Dream Why Don't You Do Right
[3:30] 5. Tomi Tomi
[3:41] 6. Take Me Back
[4:05] 7. Who's Been Here
[4:09] 8. She Got Washed Away
[3:49] 9. Someday Baby
[3:50] 10. Rowdy Blues
[4:13] 11. God Don't Like It
[4:01] 12. Frisco Town
[4:21] 13. Lotus Bloosom
[2:41] 14. Poor Howard Green Corn

Catfish Keith is a throwback to a different era, a wandering troubadour who travels the globe playing solo acoustic country blues. He is a frequent visitor to Europe and the UK in particular; indeed he toured this album (his fifteenth!) extensively October to November 2013 when it was released in the UK (the US release date was early 2014). The core of his repertoire is songs from the pre-war period and here we find versions of songs from Blind Boy Fuller, Mississippi Sheiks and Sister Rosetta Tharpe amongst others. These tracks were all recorded live in one take apart from two where Keith has overdubbed a harmony vocal and second guitar. Keith plays both acoustic and National guitars and often uses a stomp board for rhythm as well as providing all vocals in a deep and expressive tone. ~John Mitchell

Honey Hole mc
Honey Hole zippy

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Dave Orban & The Mojo Gypsies - I Heard You Twice The First Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:03
Size: 153.5 MB
Styles: R&B, Electric blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:41] 1. Got That Woman On My Mind
[4:52] 2. Ain't No Lie
[5:17] 3. Baby, Take Your Time
[6:05] 4. Big-Boned Baby
[5:53] 5. I Want To Be With You Tonight
[4:27] 6. I Can't Help Myself
[5:46] 7. Dallas
[4:49] 8. I'm Sayin' 'yes' To Everything
[3:16] 9. I Heard You Twice The First Time
[3:02] 10. Someone Else's Woman
[4:05] 11. The 'told You So' Blues
[5:29] 12. Trouble-Makin' Woman
[3:28] 13. What's Wrong
[5:48] 14. Lookin' For A Woman

Founded in 1998 and based in the Central NJ/Philly area, Dave Orban & the Mojo Gypsies are a high-energy quartet that play a unique blend of up-tempo blues and old-school R&B. At a Gypsies gig, you’re likely to hear songs by such classic blues artists as T-Bone Walker, Ray Charles, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Louis Jordan, Freddie King and Albert Collins, as well as music from contemporary blues performers including Rick Estrin, Rod Piazza, Kid Ramos, Paul DeLay, and James Harman, along with original material in the same vein. Active since 1998, they have performed with or supported such national acts as James Harman, Debbie Davies, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Murali Coryell, and Selwyn Birchwood.

Led by founder – and International Blues Hall of Fame inductee – DAVE ORBAN on guitar and vocals, the Gypsies feature MIKE SCOTT from Langhorne, PA on tenor sax and vocals, along with Flourtown, PA resident FLOURTOWN FATS on the upright and electric bass, while Philadelphia-based MARK SHEWCHUK keeps the groove goin’, on drums and percussion. The band’s music integrates many influences from the greater blues tradition – from Chicago and West Coast electric blues to southern country blues and even New Orleans-styled marches. With a repertoire that shines a light on lesser-known but compelling tunes from the pioneers of the blues form, the band looks to impart a contemporary feel to a traditional form, while not departing drastically from the foundational elements of this type of music.

I Heard You Twice The First Time mc
I Heard You Twice The First Time zippy

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Ten Foot Polecats - 2 albums: Undertow / I Get Blamed For Everything I Do

Jay Scheffler (Vocals, Harp); Jim Chilson (Guitar); Chad Rousseau (Drums).

Their sound, though hard to define, has been referred to as “punk-blues”, “gutbucket soul” and “explosive stomp and groove”. This high-octane trio from Boston, MA has been touring every year since 2008, taking their unique form of roots and blues all across the United States.

In 2013, Ten Foot Polecats were featured in Relix Magazine and their song, "Moonshine and Mud", was featured on the accompanying October/November CD, along with songs by North Mississippi Allstars, Jack Johnson, and others. The band also had two songs ("Moonshine & Mud" and "So Good To Me") featured on episodes 8 and 10 of the History Channel show, "Hatfield and McCoy's".

Album: Undertow
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:08
Size: 110.2 MB
Styles: Juke joint blues, Hill country blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:33] 1. Do That Thing
[2:57] 2. Shibble
[4:33] 3. Someday (Your Pain Is Gonna End)
[4:55] 4. Lost At Sea
[4:15] 5. Out In The Rain
[2:53] 6. Worried Sick
[7:59] 7. Undertow
[2:26] 8. Prescription
[4:22] 9. Moonshine And Mud
[4:23] 10. All Over Again
[5:46] 11. Leave Well Enough Alone

Undertow mc
Undertow zippy

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Album: I Get Blamed For Everything I Do
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:52
Size: 143.9 MB
Styles: Juke joint blues, Hill country blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:23] 1. Chicken Head Man
[5:10] 2. So Good To Me
[3:14] 3. Tears On My Windshield
[5:12] 4. Big Road
[5:54] 5. Scratch Ticket
[5:10] 6. Dryspell
[5:54] 7. Brokenhearted
[3:44] 8. I'm Goin' Crazy
[4:48] 9. Couple More Miles
[4:32] 10. Squeeze
[3:01] 11. Bar Hoppin'
[4:58] 12. Peavine
[6:47] 13. See What My Buddy Done

I Get Blamed For Everything I Do mc
I Get Blamed For Everything I Do zippy

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Terry Blersh - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:46
Size: 88.8 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:33] 1. Tryin'
[3:15] 2. Wearin' Out My Heart
[4:12] 3. Walkin'
[3:50] 4. Fire
[4:31] 5. Annalena
[4:35] 6. Flyin'
[4:10] 7. Doin' All Right
[3:54] 8. I Don't Need No
[3:09] 9. Dreamin'
[2:33] 10. Jammin'

“I was on a three week stint in northern Ontario. Late one night after the gig we were listening to a radio station out of Minnesota somewhere that was playing all this great old 50’s rock & roll, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Elvis. It hit me that Elvis needed a killer comeback back song, so I stayed up all that night and wrote him one. As the sun was coming up I crawled into bed and fell asleep. When I woke up, Elvis was dead. I never played the song again until this year, “Tryin”, it’s the first tune on my record”.

The record features nine of Terry’s original tunes and one blazing cover, Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire”. Blues, rhythm & blues, rock ‘n roll and jazz influences are all evident, with Terry’s smooth vocals, fiery guitar and clever writing, tying it all together. There’s some rock ‘n roll (Tryin’), some blues (Wearin’ Out My Heart, Walkin’), rhythm & blues and soul (Doin’ All Right, I Don’t Need No), southern rock (Annalena) as well as three instrumentals (Flyin’, Dreamin’, Jammin’).

Terry assembled some of Canada’s finest musicians for the project. Denis Keldie (Serena Ryder, Carlos Del Junco), Garth Hudson and Lance Anderson (Shakura S’Aida, Anderson/Sloski) on piano and organ. Al Cross (Jimmy Bowskill, Jerome Godboo), Mike Sloski (Cameo Blues Band, Anderson/Sloski) and Charlie Cooley (Long John Baldry, Ronnie Hawkins) on drums. Tom Griffiths (Colin Linden, Willie P. Bennett), Garth Vogan (Midnight Walk, Chuck Jackson) and Alec Fraser (Jeff Healey, David Wilcox) on bass and John Mays (Fathead) on background vocals. Recording and mixing was done by ace engineer, Jeremy Darby (Lou Reed, Eric Clapton) at The Canterbury Music Company.

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James Buddy Rogers - By My Side

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:27
Size: 104.0 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:07] 1. Come Back To Me
[4:26] 2. By My Side
[2:26] 3. Can't Get You Off My Mind
[3:45] 4. You Belong
[3:54] 5. Goin' Down
[4:30] 6. Hell To Pay
[3:45] 7. Baby
[2:49] 8. Runnin'
[2:59] 9. You & I
[3:38] 10. Am-Ola-Dora
[3:05] 11. Change
[3:33] 12. You Belong (Acoustic Version)
[2:24] 13. Can't Get You Off My Mind (Acoustic Version)

The CD ‘By My Side’ is an 13 song CD which includes 10 originals by Rogers and 1 cover made famous by Freddie King called ‘Goin’ Down’ plus acoustic versions of two of the songs.

Rogers is backed by long time band mates Mike Wedge on bass and James Badger on drums. Joining the CD on piano, B3 and wurly is Texas native Lewis Stephens who is known for his work with Freddie King, Delbert McClinton and Mike Zito. Lewis recently appeared on Gary Clark Jr’s CD ‘The Story of Sonny Boy Slim’.

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Various - Sun Record Company Southern Soul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:58
Size: 125.9 MB
Styles: Soul
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:29] 1. Danny White - Natural Soul Brother
[2:36] 2. Wallace Brothers - These Arms Of Mine
[2:58] 3. Willie Hobbs - Yes, My Goodness, Yes
[2:19] 4. Frank Ballard - Do Wa Didi
[2:38] 5. Wallace Brothers - Lover's Prayer
[3:55] 6. Johnny Adams - Reconsider Me
[3:00] 7. Double Soul - Blue Diamonds
[2:38] 8. Mickey Murray - Got You On My Mind
[3:45] 9. Wilbert Harrison - Your Three Letters
[2:43] 10. Johnny Soul - Come And Get It
[2:25] 11. Mickey Murray - Are You Ready
[2:18] 12. Betty Harris - All I Want Is You
[2:46] 13. Leroy Lloyd & The Dukes - A Taste Of The Blues
[2:49] 14. Johnny Barfield & The Men Of S.O.U.L. - Soul Butter
[2:43] 15. Jerry Lee Lewis - Sick And Tired
[1:45] 16. Wallace Brothers - Who's Fooling Who
[2:15] 17. Billy Adams - I'm Like Poison Ivy
[2:50] 18. Brad Suggs - My Gypsy
[2:56] 19. Johnny Adams - Lonely Drifter
[3:00] 20. Frank Ballard - After Hours

Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump), country, early rock and roll, and a strong gospel influence that emanated from the sounds of Southern African-American churches. The focus of the music was not on its lyrics, but on the "feel" or the groove. This rhythmic force made it a strong influence in the rise of funk music.

Pioneers of southern soul include: Georgia natives Ray Charles and James Brown; Little Willie John, Bobby "Blue" Bland, New Orleans R&B artist Allen Toussaint; and Memphis DJ Rufus Thomas and Elvis Presley who was steeped heavily in not only country and western and the jump blues of the south, but also heavily influenced by gospel music. At its core, gospel is the main influence of soul music.

Southern soul was at its peak during the 1960s, when Memphis soul was created. In 1963, Stan Lewis founded Jewel Records in Shreveport, Louisiana, along with two subsidiary labels, Paula and Ronn. Jewel and Ronn Records were the leaders[according to whom?] for R&B, blues, soul and gospel tunes. Lewis signed artists such as John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown, Bobby Rush, Buster Benton, Toissaint McCall, Lightin’ Hopkins, Ted Taylor, Little Johnny Taylor and The Uniques. The Carter Brothers in 1965 landed Jewel Records its first national hit on the R&B charts. Southern soul music is still being recorded and performed by artists such as Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, Barbara Carr, Willie Clayton, Bobby Rush, Denise LaSalle, Reggie Sears, TK Soul, Joyce Cobb, O.B. Buchanan, Ms Jody, Karen Wolfe, LeBrado, Redd Velvet, Vick Allen, Floyd Taylor, Bigg Robb, Omar Cunningham, Jeff Floyd, Mel Waiters, Roni, Theodis Ealey, Roy C, Donnie Ray, Millie Jackson, Sam Dees, Ms. Jody and among many other known Southern Soul artists that receive world wide recognition and airplay

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Husky Burnette - Ain't Nothin' But A Revival!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:26
Size: 97.2 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:56] 1. Best I Can
[4:12] 2. Kick Rocks
[4:47] 3. 36 Degrees
[6:50] 4. Pay By The Hour
[2:00] 5. Chicken Grease 2
[3:45] 6. Southbound High Head
[4:42] 7. Dog Me Down
[4:02] 8. Busted Flat
[4:26] 9. See, I Moan The Blues
[3:41] 10. Dirty Getting' Down

The Blues are a religion and Brian "Husky" Burnette sho nuff preaches it. You can feel the testimony as he blends Electric Blues and Rock n Roll. His music is gritty, soulful, southern, low-down and dirty.

Husky, who hails from Chattanooga, TN, has followed in the musical family footsteps of rockabilly kings Johnny and Dorsey Burnette. Husky has written and recorded his own music for several years and toured with such greats as Roger Alan Wade and Hank Williams III. He has shared the stage with many others such as Leon Russell, T-Model Ford, Kenny Brown, Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Toxic Shock Tiffany, Shooter Jennings, Scott H. Biram and J.J. Grey & Mofro.

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Bryan Lee - 2 albums: Six String Therapy / My Lady Don't Love My Lady

Born on March 16, 1943 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Bryan Lee lost his eye sight and was legally blind by the age of eight. Bryan Lee had an avid interest in early Rock and Roll and Blues Music which was fostered through the 1950’s late night listen The man now known as “Braille Blues Daddy” started out playing for Midwest crowds at the early age of 15. In the late 1950’s, Bryan Lee opened for Bill Haley & The Comets with his band “The Glaciers” performing cover music of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

By the early 1960’s and throughout the 1970’s, Bryan Lee’s musical interest turned to the sound of Chicago Blues while touring throughout the Midwest. He was heavily influenced by Chicago Bluesmen Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Hubert Sumlin and Freddie King. While on tour in the 1980’s Bryan opened for one of his hero’s Muddy Water’s. After the show Muddy told Bryan: “Bryan, stay with this, one day you will be a living legend.” – “I went home and I cried” says Lee. Although his acceptance in the Chicago Blues Scene didn’t come until later in his career, Bryan has the respect of his friends and peers such as Buddy Guy and Lonnie Brooks. Bryan Lee and his band frequently pack the Legend’s house performing authentic blues.

Album: Six String Therapy
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:13
Size: 124.1 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[ 3:03] 1. You Better Believe It
[ 4:32] 2. Go On Fool
[ 4:38] 3. Just Like A Fish
[ 4:34] 4. Now I Got A Woman
[ 2:51] 5. Bumpity Bump
[ 3:14] 6. You May
[10:12] 7. Six String Therapy
[ 3:22] 8. Beautician Blues
[ 3:54] 9. Three Handed Woman
[ 5:13] 10. The Little Prince
[ 4:30] 11. Shipyard Blues
[ 4:04] 12. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You

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Album: My Lady Don't Love My Lady
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:05
Size: 153.6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:22] 1. Imitation Of Love
[6:54] 2. I Don't Know
[5:20] 3. Three Can Play The Game
[6:39] 4. Early In The Morning
[2:34] 5. Let Me Up I've Had Enough
[5:38] 6. Heartbreaker
[6:22] 7. Too Many Wolves
[6:16] 8. My Lady Don't Love My Lady
[6:02] 9. When I Been Drinking
[6:53] 10. Me And My Music
[5:00] 11. Reconsider Me
[5:00] 12. Just To Prove My Love To You

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Rick Gibson Band - Junkyard Son

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:36
Size: 122.7 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[6:22] 1. Cabin Fever
[4:17] 2. Crossroad Blues
[6:12] 3. Curtis Lee
[3:30] 4. Dark Cloud Hangin
[1:42] 5. Journey Down Pippin Road
[3:57] 6. Junkyard Son
[4:48] 7. New Madrid Line
[3:43] 8. Osceola Cheese
[4:06] 9. Run Rubi Run
[5:26] 10. Shadow Of The Mountain
[1:01] 11. Sweet Tea And Chocolate Gravy
[3:46] 12. Two Dollar Shine
[4:41] 13. Whatcha Gonna Do

"Junkyard Son" is Rick Gibson's latest blues album. Rick has written a collection of memorable songs telling the story of the people of the Ozarks. The album was written and produced by Rick were he also played the guitars tracks along with Rick Huyett on bass, Joel Shipley on drums and Dave Patmore on vocals. This is Rick's 2nd album with Rob Rebeck and Chapman Recording and it was mastered by Neil Simpson.

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Various - Booze & The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:48
Size: 148.3 MB
Styles: Assorted blues styles
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. State Street Swingers - You Drink Too Much
[2:50] 2. Charley Jordan - Cherry Wine Woman
[2:49] 3. Memphis Minnie - Drunken Barrel House Blues
[3:30] 4. Mississippi Sheiks - Bootleggers' Blues
[3:06] 5. Barbecue Bob - Me And My Whiskey
[2:38] 6. Kid Prince Moore - Bug Juice Blues
[2:36] 7. Charlie Spand - Rock And Rye
[2:50] 8. Memphis Jug Band - Rukus Juice And Chittlin'
[2:34] 9. Merline Johnson - Bad Whiskey Blues
[3:04] 10. Amos Easton - Part I
[3:08] 11. Amos Easton As Bumble Bee Slim - Part Ii
[2:43] 12. Little Bill Gaither - Moonshine By The Keg
[2:54] 13. Lucille Bogan - Drinking Blues
[2:59] 14. Peetie Wheatstraw - More Good Whiskey Blues
[3:00] 15. Joshua White - Pigmeat And Whiskey Blues
[2:42] 16. Casey Bill Weldon - Give Me Another Shot
[2:55] 17. Rosetta Howard - When I Been Drinking
[2:53] 18. Lewis Black - Corn Liquor Blues
[3:07] 19. Sloppy Henry - Canned Heat Blues
[3:14] 20. Big Bill Broonzy - When I Been Drinking
[2:46] 21. Jack Newman - Blackberry Wine
[3:04] 22. Rev. W.M. Mosley - Drinking Shine

Booze & the Blues is a thoroughly entertaining collection of 22 pre-war blues songs about wine, drinking, whiskey and blues. It's a gimmicky excuse for a collection, but it works, not only because the songs and performances are good, but because the tracks all have a similar spirit. Among the highlights are tracks by Memphis Minnie, Mississippi Sheiks, Robert Hicks, the Memphis Jug Band, Amos Easton, Lucille Bogan, Peetie Wheatstraw and Joshua White. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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Matthew Skoller - Blues Immigrant

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:49
Size: 100.3 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. Big Box Store Blues
[4:19] 2. The Devil Ain't Got No Music
[5:57] 3. Blues Immigrant
[2:50] 4. Only In The Blues
[4:55] 5. Tear Collector
[4:10] 6. Story Of Greed
[3:54] 7. 747
[2:50] 8. Organ Mouth
[3:58] 9. My Get It Done Woman
[3:58] 10. Get Down To The Nitty Gritty
[3:07] 11. Blue Lights

One of Chicago’s most in-demand harmonica players is back with his fifth solo release. If you’re not familiar with Matthew Skoller, absorb these credentials. As a producer, he has produced two award-winning albums by Lurrie Bell and figures prominently in Bell’s recent release, Can’t Shake This Feeling. His tune “The Devil Ain’t Got No Music,” from Bell’s gospel album of the same name, received a BMA nomination as “Song of the Year.” He does a version of it here too. Skoller has also played harmonica on three Grammy nominated albums in the last five years: Chicago Blues: A Living History, Still I Rise, by Heritage Blues Orchestra, and Muddy Waters 100. So, respected both by critics and fellow musicians in Chicago, the relocated New Yorker is back with his knack for rather offbeat blues material, revealing a cool mix of both humor and a keen grasp of topical social issues.

Of the eleven tunes, nine were written by Skoller and his co-producer, Vincent Bucher. The title track is autobiographical, punctuated by that clever line, “…I need a green card to play the blues.” The opener, “Big Box Store Blues,” is a tribute and rewriting of John Lee ‘Sonny Boy’ Williamson’s “Welfare Store Blues,” lamenting the loss of mom and pop stores and the often deplorable life of the retail worker. “Only in the Blues” talks about the Blues music industry with a dry sense of humor, while “Story of Greed” is his own interesting take on the 1% syndrome. Yes, there are the requisite love and lost love songs too. The slow simmering “Tear Collector” with its burning chorus “I need someone to cry for me tonight” and the shuffling “747,” with its lines “She caught a 747/Greyhound runs too slow/Ain’t no tracks up in the air/I wonder where did my baby go,” are especially memorable.

As you might expect, Skoller assembled some of the city’s top musicians for this recording including Johnny Iguana on keyboards, Felton Crews on bass, Marc Wilson on drums and stellar guitarists Giles Corey and Eddie Taylor Jr. (son of legend Eddie Taylor). Guitarist Carlos Johnson plays on “Tear Collector” and “747.” Background vocalists Mike Avery and Stevie Robinson join in. Given that Skoller relocated to Chicago almost 30 years ago, it is clear that is deeply entrenched and well-versed in the Chicago blues sound. What separates him from many are his thoughtful songs that reflect a social conscience without a preachy approach. He delivers them clever and classy. ~Jim Hynes

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Louise Hoffsten - From Linkoping To Memphis

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:12
Size: 98.9 MB
Styles: Retro soul, Country blues
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Good For You
[3:47] 2. Slow Train
[4:00] 3. Fall Like Babylon
[3:44] 4. My Favorite Lie
[3:21] 5. I Wish You Had My Heart
[4:13] 6. Make The Most Of It
[3:42] 7. Myggan
[4:23] 8. Rise
[3:56] 9. Shut Up & Kiss Me
[3:57] 10. Heart Of Stone
[4:24] 11. I Still Believe In Us

Louise Hoffsten is a megastar in her native Sweden. Since 1987 she has released recordings that have captured the hearts of her countryfolk and left them wanting more. As both a singer and a songwriter she has an uncanny knack for delivering pictures of the human condition in all its frailty, ambition, desire, vulnerability, and bravado. She is loved by performers from Marcia Ball to k.d. lang to Nancy Sinatra. From Linköping to Memphis is, in its own way, the story of a journey from her native village in Sweden to the heart of soul and funk, Memphis (and she records for the Memphis International record label now). Recorded at Ardent Studios, From Linköping to Memphis features some of the storied city's finest session men, including guitarist Steve Selvidge, keyboardist Lester Snell, bassist David Smith, and drummer Steve Potts. The horn players include stalwarts Jim Spake on saxophone and Scott Thompson on trumpet. Hoffsten co-wrote all but one track on this set with her songwriting partner, Peter Kvint, and others. Tracks range from the gritty soul-funk of "Good for You" and the reeling "Slow Train" to steamy jazzed-up soul ballads like "Fall Like Babylon," with Spake doing his best Ben Webster imitation. But there's more. There's the acoustically flavored country-ish ballad "Make the Most of It" and the folksy heartbreaker "Rise," which is pure poetry. Then there's sweltering straight-up gritty soul of "I Wish You Had My Heart" and the pumped-up rock & roll sass of "Shut Up & Kiss Me." There's so much here and it's all so utterly naked and honest, brimming with emotion and attitude, that there's something here for everyone. From Linköping to Memphis is a small marvel, a jewel in the rough that deserves to be heard and embraced. . ~Thom Jurek

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Greg Izor & The Box Kickers - 2 albums: Close To Home / I Was Wrong

A mash-up of Louisiana grit, Austin soul, and low-down Chicago heat, blues harmonica powerhouse Greg Izor is on a roll. Izor’s music is grounded in a deeply rooted traditional sound and shaped by the influence of the harmonica masters, as well as Louisiana blues, southern soul, swamp pop, early jazz, and R&B. His playing is evidence of the records he’s gotten his hands on and the greats he has played with over the years. Izor’s songwriting and playing are not to be missed, and his newest record, “I Was Wrong” is described as “filled with swinging, deep-fried fat back licks.”

A Vermont native and an old soul, Izor moved south to New Orleans to get his hands dirty. He fell in with one of today’s harmonica greats, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone, who mentored young Izor and helped him develop his style. Izor became a Bourbon Street regular, earning a nightly residency at the Funky Pirate Club and playing around town in New Orleans’ clubs, from the well known Maple Leaf Bar and Tipitina’s to the funky neighborhood bars, and the clubs on the now legendary Frenchmen Street. His weekends were spent venturing to swampland juke joints, playing steamy gigs that lasted well into Sunday morning. During his Louisiana years, Izor played with Eddie Bo, Jerry “Boogie” McCain, Henry Gray, Wolfman Washington, Oliver “La La” Morgan, and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown – even earning a spot in the all-star house band at Gate’s barbecue joint in New Orleans.

After a successful run in Louisiana and appearances at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival and Jazz Fest harmonica shows, Izor packed up his harps and set his sights on Austin. In Austin, Izor connected with the blues icons that have called Austin home– Pinetop Perkins, Gary Primich, Derek O’Brien, Denny Freeman, and Marcia Ball- and newer players like the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ Mike Keller, Johnny Moeller, and Nick Curran. Izor was a welcome addition to the musical scene and established his reputation for intense, high energy performances, stunning technique and musical ear, playing regularly at The Continental Club and Antone’s. His band, the Box Kickers, has turned heads in a town saturated with great players. He has been described by Living Blues Magazine as “That all-too-rare total package- a creative vocalist, harp player, songwriter, and showman.”

Izor also landed the gig fronting the legendary Texas band Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets. Blowing heavy riffs and singing the band’s hits, Greg has upheld the tradition set forth by one of his heroes, Sam Myers. Most days, Greg Izor can be found playing for the crowds at Evangeline Cafe or leading bands in legendary juke joints on the east side of town. Stick around and you just might get lucky enough to sample his homemade barbecue or gumbo at a late-night jam at the Izor house – his meticulous precision on harmonica is reflected in his efforts in the kitchen, as his fortunate friends will attest. After successful tours of the US and Europe, he is looking forward to continuing to bring his fresh riff on a classic American sound to audiences everywhere and introducing newcomers to The Blues. ~Ashley Moore

Album: Close To Home
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:12
Size: 98.9 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Get My Money
[3:25] 2. Can't Get Right
[3:19] 3. Straight Time
[2:12] 4. Three Eyed Tiger
[2:47] 5. What's It Gonna Take
[3:51] 6. The Rub
[4:18] 7. Call Me Lonesome
[6:49] 8. Broadway Joe
[2:19] 9. Hooper Street
[3:30] 10. From Hello
[3:23] 11. G.I. Blues
[4:36] 12. Close To Home

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Album: I Was Wrong
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:47
Size: 93.4 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:07] 1. Who You Lying To
[2:24] 2. I Thought It Would Be Me
[2:54] 3. I'm Yours
[2:58] 4. Broken Heart
[3:47] 5. Turkey Necks
[3:38] 6. I Was Wrong
[3:12] 7. Old Friend
[3:09] 8. Stuck In Texas
[2:34] 9. Swiss Krissly
[2:14] 10. I Don't Want To Be The One
[3:08] 11. Young Girl
[2:22] 12. Voleur
[3:20] 13. Jail
[2:53] 14. Soul Survivor

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Mavis Staples - Livin' On A High Note

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:27
Size: 88.1 MB
Styles: Memphis soul-blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:15] 1. Take Us Back
[3:18] 2. Love And Trust
[3:05] 3. If It's A Light
[3:06] 4. Action
[3:28] 5. High Note
[2:48] 6. Don't Cry
[3:19] 7. Tomorrow
[3:53] 8. Dedicated
[2:06] 9. History, Now
[3:09] 10. One Love
[4:02] 11. Jesus Lay Down Beside Me
[2:53] 12. MLK Song

From her first performances as a teenager in the 1950s through her era-defining hits in the 1970s and even up to her Grammy-winning comeback albums with Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples has created some of the most joyous music ever. For her latest solo effort, however, she wanted something even more exuberant, even more celebratory—something in the vein of Pharrell Williams’ "Happy." "When I heard it, wow, it just lifted me up," she told the Guardian recently. "I told my songwriters I wanted songs just like that, that would make people smile, also because I’ve been making people cry for so long."

Certainly Livin’ on a High Note sounds like a happy album. Featuring production by M. Ward and boasting songwriting credits from Nick Cave, Neko Case, Justin Vernon and others, its burst of beneficent energy is refreshing after the cloistered prayer of last year’s Your Good Fortune and two thoughtful Tweedy records. The tempos on here percolate amiably, with flashes of horns and bold basslines supplied by members of her longtime backing band. Ward doesn’t have much facility for groove, so the celebration often sounds muted and controlled—more studio than church. But he knows to keep things airy and light and to give Mavis’ voice some space to move around.

"I’ve been making people cry for so long" isn't entirely true. But the statement does hint at her own place in the complicated history of civil rights in an era defined by dignity and social progress as well as by systemic prejudice and even outright hatred. She has shared stages with MLK and Southern jail cells with her father and siblings. Livin’ on a High Note nods to that history, especially on the opening track, "Take Us Back," penned for her by Benjamin Booker. As her back-up singers encourage her along ("Mavis, take us back! Mavis, take us back!"), she reminisces sweetly about her early days as a teenager on the gospel circuit: "Chicago wasn’t always easy, but love made the Windy City breezy."

From other artists such a sentiment might sound too pat or prescribed, but Staples’ voice infuses it with affection and joy. "They don’t call me Bubbles for nothing," she declares. Seventy years into her singing career, her voice has lost none of its ecstatic expressiveness and only a bit of its technical agility. She can still swing low into a baritone range, and she can still soar into a churchly higher register. But really it’s the way she shapes her words that makes these songs so distinctive: The way she fawns over a word like "darling" makes you want to wrap the syllables around you like a warm blanket.

It might seem like an odd time for an upbeat message, but Livin’ on a High Note is as well timed as her 2008 live album, Hope at the Hideout, released just a week before Obama was elected the country’s first African American president. Eight years later, we’re deep into a confounding election cycle that has already defined itself by blatant concession to voters’ basest prejudices. At the same time, some of our best artists—D’Angelo, Kendrick, and Beyoncé—are making race and class dominant subjects in pop music, with songs like "Alright" and "Formation" prompting heated discussions about black identity and police brutality.

High Note complements rather than contradicts those bleaker depictions of 21st century America and casually argues for Staples’ legacy as an agitgospel singer. Would we have Beyoncé singing, "I like my Negro nose and my Jackson 5 nostrils" in 2016 without the Staples singing, "I like the things about me that I once despised," at Wattstax in '72? In that regard, the most crucial song on here is also the shortest: "What do we do with all of this history now?" Staples asks on "History Now," penned by Neko Case. Bearing all this weight can’t be easy for anyone, but with that divine voice of hers, in fact, Staples seems uniquely suited for it. And Livin’ on a High Note suggests she may even be happy to have that responsibility, if only because it reminds her that happy doesn’t have to mean complacent.

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Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Terry - Last Night Blues (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:27
Size: 83.5 MB
Styles: Texas blues, Harmonica blues
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[4:57] 1. Rocky Mountain
[4:01] 2. Got To Move Your Baby 2
[4:21] 3. So Sorry To Leave You
[5:05] 4. Take A Trip With Me
[5:15] 5. Last Night Blues
[4:55] 6. Lightnin's Stroke
[4:00] 7. Hard To Love A Woman
[3:50] 8. Conversation Blues

Bass – Leonard Gaskin; Drums – Belton Evans; Harmonica – Sonny Terry; Vocals, Guitar – Lightnin' Hopkins. Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; October 26, 1960.

Outside of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lightnin' Hopkins may be Texas's most distinctive and influential blues export. His easy, fluid fingerpicking and witty, extemporaneous storytelling are always a delight, and his performances on LAST NIGHT BLUES are no exception. The album is spare and acoustic, with Hopkins's voice and guitar accompanied by minimal percussion and Sonny Terry's harmonica.

Terry's contributions really add a lot to these tunes, threading a high, lonesome whine on the downtempo tunes and a chugging, propulsive shuffle on the faster ones. Hopkins is, of course, one of the kings of the blues boogie, but he's equally compelling on the slow blues, and he never missteps throughout this fine set. All told, this dynamite disc represents what the blues should be: stripped-down, soulful, and full of truth. ~AllMusic

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Granada Blues Band - The Grand Sessions (Feat. Otis Grand)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:26
Size: 113.2 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Goodbye Baby
[3:49] 2. Hoochie Coochie Man
[3:07] 3. Booggie Rambler
[3:05] 4. Little Latin Lupe Lu
[4:33] 5. I Want To Make Love To You
[7:29] 6. Pendejo Blues
[4:39] 7. Monkey In The Limb
[3:20] 8. Reconsider Baby
[4:53] 9. Black Eyed Blues
[3:25] 10. No More Dogging
[4:39] 11. Rock My Baby
[2:48] 12. Gulty

Spain’s oldest blues band (founded 1989) teams up with cosmopolitan – but long-time UK-based – guitarist Otis Grand and the result is a fine CD that reflects several of the best aspects of the contemporary sound. Otis has been at the forefront of many of the innovations that have resulted in the blues being more popular than ever these days – though conversely he also has a purist outlook that is becoming rarer by the day – and for this release he produces, arranges, contributes incisive and instantly recognisable solos to five of the dozen tracks, and he supplies three of his own numbers.

The approach is relatively traditional, but none the less effective for that; standards are given original and imaginative treatments, the sound is beefed up with some fine horns, vocals may be accented but are perfectly acceptable, and numbers are kept focussed and to the point – and this is, thankfully, blues all the way. There may be nothing too ground-breaking, but this is an album that will satisfy many blues lovers. ~Norman Darwen

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Ty Curtis - Blame Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:09
Size: 101.1 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[2:50] 1. That Good
[3:15] 2. Blame Me
[3:40] 3. Back Again
[5:22] 4. I Can Say
[5:39] 5. Heaven Save Me
[4:08] 6. Shake It Up
[4:48] 7. Urge And Temptation
[3:47] 8. Blow Me Away
[5:36] 9. Who Are You
[5:00] 10. Never Get My Love (Feat. Carmelo Torres)

“Ty Curtis is a triple threat, since he is the band’s lead singer, as well as the primary composer of their material, and thirdly he’s a sonically incendiary, string-shredding electric guitar player.” ~ BLUES ROCK REVIEW.

Backed by his longtime drummer, Jerry Jacques, and bassist, Tony Valdez, “Ty and his fellow musicians bring us tight sounds as if they have been playing together for decades on many podiums with their combination of power blues & funk!” says Belgian Blues magazine ROOTS TIME. Ty’s energy-packed live shows draw from the rich blues tradition, but he has taken blues in new directions. Fresh out of the studio in Austin Texas, Ty released his sixth CD, BLAME ME July 1st 2016 at Portland Waterfront Blues Festival. Ty is a two-time winner of the Cascade Blues Association (CBA) Curtis Salgado Male Vocalist award and just recently opened for Robert Cray at Revolution Hall in Portland. "Watch out for Ty Curtis. He is a strong up-and-coming artist with a lot to say,” says Robert Cray Tour Manager Tim Aller. Ty has been featured on festival stages and in larger capacity clubs, where exuberant response is not limited to just the audience. World-renowned artists have come away impressed, and Ty has shared the stage and opened for Robert Cray, Eric Gales, Chris Cain, Walter Trout, Roy Rogers, Coco Montoya, The Doobie Bros, George Thorogood, Tommy Castro and many more. Perhaps the late great Paul Delay said it best about Ty Curtis: "He plays it like a young man should—straight ahead and from the heart"

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Christian Willisohn - 2 albums: Heartbroken Man / Lipstick Traces (A New Orleans R&B Session)

Album: Heartbroken Man
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:09
Size: 130.8 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. A Girl Like You
[5:18] 2. Heart Broken Man
[4:46] 3. Congo Square
[4:00] 4. Raven
[3:44] 5. New York City
[5:38] 6. Funeral
[5:00] 7. Unauthentic Blues
[3:52] 8. Macho Man
[7:41] 9. Drown In My Own Tears
[4:36] 10. On The Bayou
[3:09] 11. Little Voodoo Baby
[5:18] 12. The Man In Your Life

Accordion – Ludwig Seuss; Backing Vocals – Rick Hollander, Rocky Knauer; Bass – Rocky Knauer; Clarinet – Stephan Holstein; Drums – Rick Hollander; Guitar – Titus Vollmer; Organ – Ludwig Seuss; Piano – Christian Willisohn; Saxophone – Stephan Holstein; Vocals – Christian Willisohn.

Christian Willisohn is one of the outstanding figures on today's music scene. No matter where he performs, critics and audiences alike applaud his supreme musicianship, his creativity and his technical virtuosity. In his own compositions, pianist and singer Christian Willisohn goes back to the roots of the blues, taking his listeners on a trip from the basics to the myriad facets of the music. His musical career began in 1980 in the Munich clubs; from the mid-eighties onward he toured across Europe and the USA with blues greats like Zora Young, Aron Burton, Vince Weber, Lousiana Red and many others. Festival appearances including Montreux, Ascona, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Burghausen, Vienna, Hamburg, Lyons, Paris, Barcelona, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Sydney, and Auckland assured him of an impressive international following.

The same year, Christian and his good friend Lillian Boutté recorded their first duo CD, Lipstick Traces, at Allen Toussaint's legendary Sea Saint Studios in New Orleans, using Fats Domino's rhythm section. The ongoing success of this recording has secured the duo a multitude of tour dates and television appearances in Europe and the States.

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Album: Christian Willisohn, Lillian Boutte - Lipstick Traces (A New Orleans R&B Session)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:22
Size: 119.9 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues vocals
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[3:08] 1. Lipstick Traces
[4:20] 2. Why Don't You Do Right
[3:19] 3. One For The Highway
[4:56] 4. Music Is My Life
[4:12] 5. Rough And Ready
[2:21] 6. Cherry Red
[2:33] 7. Tribute To Jay Mc Shann
[3:10] 8. Something's Got A Hold On Me
[3:33] 9. The Sounds Of James Booker
[5:39] 10. Dr. Feelgood
[3:47] 11. Keep Your Hands Off Of Him
[4:05] 12. Boogie Woogie Stomp
[2:55] 13. Cry To Me
[4:17] 14. Downhearted Blues

Lillian Boutte's debut album, Lipstick Traces, is an appealing blend of classy New Orleans R&B, Southern soul, classic female blues and jazzy pop, all performed with a signature sense of swing. Boutte doesn't belt these songs out -- she caresses them and delivers them with style. Her phrasing is closer to jazz than blues, but her music is inarguably blues, which means that her singing, her music and her album have a classy, sophisticated flavor that is quite alluring. ~Leo Stanley

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Snake Alley - Blues In The Night

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:52
Size: 107.3 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Side Of Blues
[3:19] 2. Dynamite
[4:17] 3. Old Kidney Stew
[3:57] 4. I'm Tore Down
[4:10] 5. Matchbox
[5:43] 6. Second Chance
[3:54] 7. Love You Baby
[2:58] 8. Snatch It Back And Hold It
[4:09] 9. Tore Up
[4:05] 10. I Wish You Would
[6:40] 11. Blues In The Night

Snake Alley are USA blues quartet, whose members posses a respectable performing experience. They are active some period, but what is more important, a musicians from band have cooperated with many well and less known names / acts during the previous years.

"Blues In The Night" is their actuelle album, with 11 tracks in, packed in Digi CD format. USA fellows performs own version of Chicago style, with upbeat rhythms and repeatable choruses. Some influences coming out from 70's period, but a Snake Alley has showed that as a band posses a energy of our time. Some of the songs are authors works of guitarist and vocalist Indiana Slim, and he is also responsible for productional works. A group also covered tracks from well-known authors as a Willie Dixon, Junior Wells, Ike Turner, Hank Ballard... but complete materials has sounded as a coherent and cohesive pieces. " Blues In The Night" is a pretty enjoyable and listenable album, and there's no doubt that Snake Alley is also convincible act in concert forms and variants....

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Joe Bonamassa - Wetzel Motor Cycle Club Party Ohio 2003 (booty)

Styles: blues-rock, rock
Released: 2003
File: MP3 @ 320K/s from WAV
Size: 177,1 MB
Time: 77:23
Scans: outside, tray, front

1. Intro - 0:17
2. Burning Hell - 7:18
3. Mountain Time - 8:13
4. You Upset Me - 6:20
5. Blues Deluxe - 8:29
6. Takin' The Hit - 12:34
7. If Heartaches Where Nickels - 9:02
8. Guitar Jam - Are you Experienced - 20:32
9. Woke Up Dreaming - 4:34

This is a booty friends. No information found.

Wetzel Motor Cycle Club Party Ohio

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Joe Blues Butler - Down On Beale Street

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:53
Size: 111.9 MB
Styles: Soul-blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:11] 1. Hundred Dollar Bill
[4:16] 2. Mississippi Bound
[4:38] 3. Down On Beale St
[5:09] 4. Hound Dog
[4:01] 5. Fire
[4:27] 6. She's Gone
[3:49] 7. Been Good To Me
[4:51] 8. 40 Acres And A Mule
[4:35] 9. Crumb Snatchers
[4:25] 10. Don't Rush Me
[4:26] 11. Blues Man

Joe Butler is one of these shadowy figures who inhabits the soul/blues world of the American Southern states but is virtually unknown beyond his core audience. Yet this is a good, enjoyable release of almost all blues which deserves a wider audience. It is a typical production of the genre with the synthesiser much in evidence and very occasional backing voices; there is an ok blues guitarist throughout. The tracks seem to be all original with reasonable lyrics, which inevitably include some of the double entendre associated with the Southern soul/blues idiom. Highlights include Crumb Snatchers and an aggressive Don't Rush Me, with added harp. Don't look for the emotional intensity and rich instrumental interplay of older blues recordings but if you like contemporary blues and want to hear what still sells in the South then this is well worth the cost of a download. Recommended. ~Alexander Sinclair

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Jill Sharpe - Swing It On Home

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:33
Size: 88.3 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[4:06] 1. Voodoo Man
[3:38] 2. Why Don't You Do Right
[5:38] 3. Evening
[5:55] 4. It Just Ain't Right
[4:08] 5. Got My Eye On You
[9:49] 6. Dreamin'
[5:16] 7. The Thrill Is Gone

West Coast Swing girl Jill Sharpe pulls in some of the finest talent in Los Angeles on this CD. Recorded live in Hollywood Ca at a studio built by early film star Charles Chaplan and produced by long time manager for Robert Lucas, MR. BERKELY GREENE.

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