Jason Ricci & New Blood - Done With The Devil

Year: 2009
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:01
Size: 142,2 MB
Styles: Modern electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Done With The Devil (5:11)
2. Sweet Loving (3:48)
3. Holler For Craig Lawler (6:27)
4. Broken Toy (5:55)
5. Ptryptophan Pterodactyl (4:12)
6. I Turned Into A Martian (3:07)
7. As Long As I Have You (5:21)
8. How It Come To Be (3:42)
9. Life Of Denial (3:52)
10. Afro Blue (8:55)
11. Keep The Wolf From My Door (5:41)
12. Enlightenment (4:44)

When Jason Ricci & New Blood launched Rocket Number 9, their debut release for Eclecto Groove Records, they turned the blues world on their respective ear with a visionary and sonically bombastic recording that created a legion of new fans and spent a total of 7 weeks on the Billboard Blues Charts peaking at #4. Done With The Devil is easily Ricci & New Blood's most ambitious project yet.

An album filled with a diverse array of instrumentation that includes chromatic, diatonic, chord and polyphonia harmonicas; tuba, bass harmonica, electric and upright bass; electric, acoustic and dobro guitars; Hammond B-3 and various percussion, plus additional special guests including ace blues guitarist Shawn Kellerman. /Amazon

Done With The Devil mc
Done With The Devil zippy

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Black River Bluesman & Bad Mood Hudson - Moonshine Medicine

Released: 2016
Size: 62.6 MB
Time: 27:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Dirty Blues, Rock
Art: Front

1. Moonshine Medicine [2:26]
2. Big Alligator [2:46]
3. Latest Stranger [2:52]
4. Bucket Hot Water [2:31]
5. Chicken Song [2:46]
6. Candy Box Blues [3:24]
7. Knock Knock [2:20]
8. Gasoline [2:46]
9. Digital Ghost [2:27]
10. Going Down with a Lowebow [2:51]

Blues critics say: "It's not a blues album but we love it!" - Rock critics say: "It's a blues album but we love it!"
"The Black River Bluesman and Bad Mood Hudson deliver the goods on Moonshine Medicine . They're in with the big Alligators, Witch doctors , Chickens, and Lowebows. Not your soccer mom blues cruise blues. Something more dangerous . It's as if Tony Iommi and Jessie Mae Hemphill had a love child with John Bonham and Sam Carr as delivery doctors. They dig Deep with the Lowebow to tones of earth shaking power and vocals and beats that bring to mind the howl of a beast in the wilds of the Finnish tundra." John Lowe

Black River Bluesman: vocals & Lowebow guitars
Bad Mood Hudson: drums & vocals

All songs written by Jukka Juhola except:
”Candy Box Blues” lyrics Viktor Juhola, music Jukka Juhola
”Big Alligator” and ”Latest Stranger” lyrics Andres Roots, music Jukka Juhola

Moonshine Medicine

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Earl Thomas - Soul'd / Intersection

Album: Soul'd
Size: 96,0 MB
Time: 41:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Blues Soul, Memphis Blues, R&B
Art: Full

01. I'll Love You No Less (3:47)
02. I'm Broken Hearted (3:11)
03. Rather Go Blind (4:57)
04. Stranger Than My Flame (4:48)
05. Look At Granny Run Run (2:27)
06. I Won't Be Around (4:32)
07. Little Brother (4:52)
08. First And Last Thing On My Mind (4:27)
09. Take It Like A Man (4:11)
10. Midnight In Memphis (4:18)

The third release from singer Earl Thomas seems like it emerged out of a mid- to late-'60s Muscle Shoals session. Jerry Wexler, producer of R&B legends like Etta James, Wilson Pickett, and Solomon Burke, is a fan and supporter of the vocalist. He contributes liner notes comparing Thomas to some of the greats, reinforcing the connection. But after one spin, anyone who loves great soul music will instantly appreciate this terrific album. It's as if Thomas has tapped into the spirit that created the classic R&B/soul sound. Not only is the production free of almost all contemporary flourishes (a synthesizer sneaks in unobtrusively on a few cuts), but the songwriting and playing -- especially the horn section -- is so authentic you'll be checking the credits for the recording date. Thomas wrote or co-wrote six of the ten songs, and they are nearly as good as the recognizable covers of "I'd Rather Go Blind," Ragovoy/Shuman's "Look at Granny Run Run," and Tony Johnson's "Midnight in Memphis." The singer's voice -- smooth but gutsy -- nails these tracks, but he never hogs the show or the arrangements, which are crisp and tight. Guitars and horns solo, then retreat to make room for Thomas' emotive vocals. A gospel-infused chorus helps bring religion to "I Won't Be Around," adding even more authenticity to the sound. "Stronger Than My Flame" fuses organ, snappy drums, punchy horns, and a searing performance from Thomas to make the tune fire on all cylinders. Those who have lost faith in the ability of contemporary soul music (circa 2003) to capture the warmth, inspiration, and intensity of the '60s need to add this, as well as the previous two Earl Thomas albums, to their collections. ~Review by Hal Horowitz

Soul'd

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Album: Intersection
Size: 102,8 MB
Time: 44:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Blues Soul, Memphis Blues, R&B
Art: Full

01. Workin' Together (4:19)
02. The Higher Ground (Everything Is Alright) (4:34)
03. The Bright Side Of You (Let Me See) (4:33)
04. Bang A Gong (4:59)
05. Sweet Like Sugar (3:59)
06. The Lucky One (4:42)
07. Life Of My Broken Heart (4:41)
08. No Two Wrongs (4:24)
09. Your Daddy's Eyes (4:27)
10. Brown Sugar (3:48)

Although Earl Thomas was initially marketed as a blues artist, he is really more of a soul singer in the classic 1970s Al Green mold, and nothing on Intersection, his third album (and second on the Memphis International label) falls very close to the blues camp. Recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Intersection mixes soul with rock and funk (and even some light Europop elements), and while Thomas isn't quite yet the honeyed singer that Green is, neither is he full of the kind of overdramatic melismatic keening that passes for contemporary soul these days. Retro it is, full of Stax-like horns and the kind of Hammond B3 organ sound that Hi Records specialized in, and Thomas holds his own here, finding interesting new corners in versions of Ike Turner's "Workin' Together" and a funked-up "Bang a Gong" (yep, the T. Rex song). The clear highlight on Intersection, though, is the final cut, a churning version of the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" that brings out more of the story and history inherent in the song, mostly because Thomas clearly enunciates the lyrics. We really haven't seen all that Thomas is capable of yet, and while Intersection is a solid album, even more than that, in spots it still feels transitional, and one gets the feeling that it might be the next one he records that will really put it all together. ~Review by Steve Leggett

Intersection

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R.B. Stone - Some Call It Freedom (Some Call It The Blues)

Size: 102,6 MB
Time: 37:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock, Delta Blues
Art: Front

01. Hill Country Stomp (3:57)
02. Some Call It Freedom (3:58)
03. 35 Miles To Mobile (3:02)
04. Yoyo Lover (3:17)
05. Mind Your Bizzness (3:13)
06. Another Thief (3:22)
07. Nickajack (1:58)
08. You Don't Want Me (2:22)
09. Won't Stop Rockin' (3:30)
10. Weapons Of Mass Persuasion (4:05)
11. Standin' On Top Of The World (4:33)

RB Stone’s parents were huge music lovers; his father, a blues/boogie, rock ‘n’ roller and his mother, a fan of Tennessee Ernie Ford, Janis Joplin, Herb Alpert, Johnny Cash, Sly and the Family Stone, Elvis and the wide variety of hits from the 60’s. At 12, his mother showed him some chords on the piano and Bill Withers’ hit “Lean On Me” was the first song he learned, which started the ball rolling in his long blues/boogie composing career.

Eighteen and just out of high school, music was still a dream that seemed to belong to others, so he hired on with the railroad traveling the Midwest with a 90-man rail gang four days a week. After two years he accepted an offer as an assistant manager at a plumbing, electric and heating store in Ohio, rose to the level of manager and accumulated a house, two cars, two trucks, and two motorcycles.

Restless at 23 RB sold everything but a truck, some harps and a guitar and headed to Colorado to be a cowboy and play music. There he met a horse trainer and lived on an Indian Reservation in Ignacio where he slept in a barn learning horses by day and teaching himself guitar at night. A few months later he got good enough at both and started getting hired by local outfitters to run back-country horse packing, wrangle horses and entertain the guests around the campfire.

Since those early beginnings, RB’s life and career have taken many twists, turns, bumps and bruises accompanied by significant accomplishments. Independent and flying under the radar he has 15 albums under his belt, toured 32 countries & 5 continents, sold over 40,000 albums most of them at his shows. He has a song catalog with Gwen Gordy of the Motown Dynasty at EMI. He’s had principal roles in national commercials, appeared in national music videos and his songs have been recorded by artists such as The Marshall Tucker Band. RB has worked with many major acts from Jazz Greats Hiroshima to The Charlie Daniels Band, has a 14 piece Roots Music Production Show featuring his songs, a Billboard Magazine Songwriting award, to name just a few of his achievements.

Some Call It Freedom (Some Call It The Blues)

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The Blues Swingers - Just A Little Something From

Size: 138,1 MB
Time: 59:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. With Out You (Aint No Us) (2:51)
02. Jump In (3:20)
03. Next Day Blues (4:12)
04. You Can Keep The Change (4:37)
05. Play It Cool (4:52)
06. My Brown Skin Girl (4:53)
07. Little Princess (3:08)
08. Swinging The Blues (5:02)
09. Double Your Love (4:38)
10. Dont Get Much Sleep (6:08)
11. Check Your Shuffle (5:21)
12. Smooth Talker (6:17)
13. Hookem (3:43)

Personnel:
Nicolas Wernekinck – Vocals, Guitar
Felipe Ruf – Guitar
Erwin Iost – Harmonica
Eduardo Grez – Drums
Johan Pasten – Bass

The Santiago, Chile, based band just released their fifth album. Formerly known as Nico and the Blues Swingers, The Blues Swingers are still led by led by Nicolas Wernakink, who wrote all thirteen tunes on this thirteen song joy ride through various blues styles from the Chicago, Texas and mostly West Coast traditions. Wernakink is also the band’s vocalist, who plays guitar and piano in this five piece ensemble. The Blues Swingers are anchored by the rhythm section of bassist Johan Pasten and drummer Edward Grez. The band’s fine harp player is Erwin Lost. Felipe Ruf plays guitar and shines throughout the entire CD. This little something is worth a listen... The entire record is a lot of fun and like the band’s name implies, it swings hard.

Just A Little Something From

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VA - The Blues In... Asia

Size: 176,4 MB
Time: 75:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

01 Cannonball - Suzie Wong (3:59)
02 The Unseen Guest - Listen My Son (3:55)
03 The Curtis King Band - Sweet Home Chicago (3:20)
04 Julian Mokhtar - Walking The Dog (3:39)
05 O'Donel Levy - Guinness World Book On The Blues (4:26)
06 Universal Blues Band - Get On The Blues Train - Gospel Version (4:35)
07 Matthew Cooper - Need Your Love So Bad (6:09)
08 The Big Easy Band - Hotstuff (3:48)
09 Rita Lestariani - Ilusi (5:00)
10 Al & The Coholics - Scratch My Back (3:54)
11 John Hanson - If You Be My Baby (4:47)
12 Suzuki Band - Hard To Handle (4:11)
13 Celluloid - Spring Weather (Mandarin Version) (4:50)
14 The New Vintage Blues Band - The Stumble (2:35)
15 Santa Band - Yakitori Boogie (3:50)
16 LRD - Mojo Workin' (4:54)
17 Mojo Freddie - Whammer Jammer (2:15)
18 Various Artists - Tianmi Beijing (Sweet Home Beijing, Mandarin Version) (2:48)
19 John Chee - Been Down So Long (Part 1) (2:32)

The Blues In... Asia

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Buick 6 : Cypress Grove / Juice Machine

Vocalist and guitar player Roger Hubbard from Brighton, Sussex (UK) started in the mid 1960s with playing blues. He gained a reputation as an authentic and precocious player of the Delta blues. But he also played with Tony McPee, Alexis Korner, Sam Mitchell, Dave Kelly and Jo Ann Kelly. In 1970 he recorded "Brighton Belle Blues" for Blue Goose. In the early 1980s Hubbard became disillusioned with a declining English music scene and quit performing professionally. In 1985, Hubbard started playing again with other Sussex based musicians. With the arrival of Colin Gibson and Liam Genockey, he formed in 1989 a trio Buick 6. They played a sophisticated form of music that was country blues based with pleasing elements of folk. Although their first album was very successful, the band’s members all had busy careers and this meant that Buick 6 (named after a Bob Dylan song) was never really a full-time entity. They continued to play together when opportunities and conflicting schedules allowed.

Album: Cypress Grove
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1990/1992
Styles: Blues
Time: 42:47
Size: 98,7 MB
Art: Full (8 page booklet)

(3:16) 1. From a Buick 6
(3:59) 2. Cypress Grove
(2:57) 3. Stealin'
(3:27) 4. The Puller
(5:28) 5. Joshua Gone Barbados
(4:01) 6. A Few of Your Lines
(3:40) 7. Nobody's Fault But Mine
(3:36) 8. Statesboro Blues
(3:41) 9. Stones in My Passway
(3:01) 10. Jitterbug Swing
(2:28) 11. Sugar Cane Train
(3:07) 12. Barrelhouse Woman

Cypress Grove
Cypress Grove artwork

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Album: Juice Machine
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1995
Styles: Blues
Time: 54:06
Size: 124,4 MB
Art: Full (24 page booklet)

(5:29) 1. Hard Times Here
(3:23) 2. Nothin' Leftto Lose
(3:28) 3. What I Love
(3:53) 4. Believe I'm Outa Luck
(3:56) 5. When You Need Somebody
(2:20) 6. Juice Machine
(3:02) 7. Foolin' With This Heart
(3:40) 8. Circles
(4:15) 9. Is This Love
(3:32) 10. King Bee
(4:26) 11. So Easy
(4:43) 12. Shiftin' Sand
(4:01) 13. Sugar Coated Love
(3:50) 14. Corisande

Juice Machine
Juice Machine art pt 1
Juice Machine art pt 2

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Lowell Fulson - Classic Cuts 1946-53

Lowell Fulson (March 31, 1921 – March 7, 1999) grew up in Oklahoma with his younger brother Martin in a musical family; his parents and his uncles all played guitars, mandolins and violins. Young Lowell learned chords and played occasionally at picnics and parties. At eighteen he left home and played with seveveral bands the popular music of that time at parties and he even got married. Meanwhile his mother had remarried and lived in Texas and Lowell and his wife moved there. In 1943 Fulson was drafted in the Navy and after his discharge in December 1945, he moved to Oakland, California. Fulson played in bars and nightclubs and was discovered by Elko label owner J.R. Fullbright. After his first 45 Fulson visited Bob Geddins record store. Geddins was also a producer and he recorded artists for his own Big Town and Trilon labels. Fulson's releases for Big Town did very well but because the limited distribution, Fulson also recorded for Jack Lauderdale's Down Beat and Swing Time labels. Because of the succes Fulson's gig price continued to rise and he gave up his day job at the shipyard. In 1948, his brother Martin came over from Florida and they recorded a session as a duo. "Three O'Clock Blues" became a nice hit succes, but B.B. King scored a much bigger hit with his version (Three O'Clock in the Morning). Same story with Lowell's song "Every Day I Have The Blues". Fulson got a young Ray Charles in his touring band and they toured in a package with T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner and others. In the mid 1950s Fulson signed with Chess and started a new chapter in his legacy.

Album: Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc A
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues
Time: 79:10
Size: 182,8 MB
Art: Full

(2:38) 1. Crying Blues (Crying Won't Make Me Stay)
(2:16) 2. You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)
(2:48) 3. Miss Katy Lee Blues
(2:50) 4. Rambling Blues
(2:51) 5. Fulson Blues
(2:45) 6. San Francisco Blues
(2:26) 7. Crying Blues
(2:37) 8. You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
(2:32) 9. Miss Katie Lee Blues
(2:43) 10. Rambling Blues
(3:01) 11. Fulson's Blues
(2:22) 12. San Francisco Blues
(2:58) 13. Trouble Blues
(2:40) 14. I Want to See My Baby
(3:23) 15. Black Widow Spider Blues
(3:11) 16. Don't Be So Evil
(2:45) 17. I Want to See My Baby
(2:46) 18. Don't Be So Evil
(2:58) 19. Scotty's Blues
(3:12) 20. The Train Is Leaving
(3:00) 21. Jelly, Jelly
(2:57) 22. Mean Woman Blues
(2:59) 23. 9.30 Shuffle
(2:55) 24. Thinkin' Blues
(2:45) 25. Fulson Boogie
(2:49) 26. Mean Woman Blues
(2:54) 27. Thinkin' Blues
(2:56) 28. Tryin' to Find My Baby

Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc A
Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc A artwork

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Album: Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc B
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues
Time: 78:43
Size: 181,7 MB
Art: Full

(2:57) 1. Let's Throw a Boogie Woogie
(2:48) 2. Highway 99
(3:08) 3. Whiskey Blues
(3:14) 4. Tell Me Baby
(3:02) 5. Fulson Boogie
(2:44) 6. Highway 99
(2:54) 7. Trying to Find My Baby
(2:53) 8. Midnight Showers of Rain
(2:32) 9. So Long, So Long
(2:58) 10. Wee Hours in the Morning
(2:28) 11. My Gal at Eight
(2:37) 12. The Blues Got Me Down
(3:09) 13. Black Cat Blues
(2:47) 14. Just a Poor Boy
(3:09) 15. Sweet Jenny Lee
(2:42) 16. My Baby
(2:59) 17. Television Blues
(3:05) 18. Don't You Hear Me Calling You
(3:04) 19. Demon Woman
(2:38) 20. Tears at Sunrise
(2:37) 21. Jam That Boogie
(2:58) 22. Blues and Misery
(2:34) 23. My Woman Can't Be Found
(3:10) 24. Three O'Clock Blues
(3:27) 25. Wild About You Baby
(3:13) 26. Prison Bound
(2:43) 27. My Baby Left Me

Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc B
Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc B artwork

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Album: Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc C
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues
Time: 78:39
Size: 181,6 MB
Art: Full

(3:15) 1. Night and Day
(3:34) 2. Double Trouble Blues
(2:51) 3. Stromin' and Rainin'
(3:17) 4. Good Woman Blues
(2:49) 5. Western Union Blues
(3:21) 6. Lazy Woman Blues
(2:42) 7. River Blues Pt. 1
(2:36) 8. River Blues Pt. 2
(2:52) 9. I Walked All Night
(2:30) 10. Between Midnight and Day
(2:32) 11. The Blues Is Killing Me
(2:35) 12. Did You Ever Feel Lucky
(2:41) 13. Ain't Nobody's Business
(2:44) 14. Jimmy's Blues (I've Got a Mind to Ramble)
(2:32) 15. Every Day I Have the Blues
(2:37) 16. Rocking After Midnight
(2:37) 17. Rock This House
(2:58) 18. Cold Hearted Mama
(2:38) 19. Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home
(2:29) 20. Low Society Blues
(3:02) 21. Blue Shadows
(2:31) 22. Back Home Blues
(2:37) 23. Baby Won't You Jump With Me
(2:30) 24. Come Back Baby
(2:56) 25. Country Boy
(2:55) 26. Rainy Day Blues
(2:49) 27. Miss Lillie Brown
(2:58) 28. Sinner's Prayer

Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc C
Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc C arworl

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Album: Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc D
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues
Time: 77:37
Size: 179,4 MB
Art: Full

(2:11) 1. Sinner's Prayer
(2:30) 2. Blues With a Feelin'
(2:39) 3. Why Can't You Cry for Me
(2:49) 4. Let Me Ride in Your Little Automobile
(2:31) 5. Lonesome Christmas, Pt. 1
(2:15) 6. Lonesome Christmas, Pt. 2
(2:36) 7. I'm a Night Owl, Pt. 1
(2:39) 8. I'm a Night Owl, Pt. 2
(2:52) 9. Fillmore Mess Around (Fulson's Guitar Boogie)
(2:49) 10. Let's Live Right
(2:48) 11. Guitar Shuffle (The Day Is Passing On)
(2:28) 12. Mean Old Lonesome Song
(2:36) 13. The Day Is Slowly Passing
(2:29) 14. The Highway Is My Home (Why Can't You Cry for Me)
(2:30) 15. Upstairs
(2:35) 16. I Love My Baby
(2:35) 17. I've Been Mistreated
(2:34) 18. You're Going to Miss Me When I'm Gone
(2:45) 19. I've Been Mistreated
(2:23) 20. It's Hard to Believe
(2:30) 21. Ride Until the Sun Goes Down
(2:54) 22. Christmas Party Shuffle
(2:59) 23. The Blues Come Rollin' In
(2:17) 24. My Daily Prayer
(2:23) 25. Juke Box Shuffle (9:30 Shuffle)
(3:19) 26. Is Your Friend Really Your Friend?
(2:37) 27. Let Me Love You Baby
(1:55) 28. Cash Box Boogie "Lowell Jumps One"
(2:23) 29. Market Street Blues
(2:34) 30. Best Wishes

Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc D
Classic Cuts 1946-53 disc D artwork

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King Daddy Zeb - Get The People Together

Released: 1997
Size: 93.0 MB
Time: 40:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Piano Blues
Art: Full

1. Gisela Told Me [4:20]
2. Messin' Around [3:23]
3. Get The People Together [3:46]
4. Walking Backwards [3:41]
5. Leeway [2:39]
6. Yellow Rose [3:36]
7. The Way [4:48]
8. Mellow [3:55]
9. Bullfrog Blues [3:51]
10. Loser [5:59]

Athens-based musician Jason Fuller - who's played in, oh, about 2,000 bands - formed his own group, King Daddy Zeb. The guys toured the region for a good two years, bringing what they called original piano-based New Orleans Boogie Woogie to a number of stages around the Southeast. In late '97, King Daddy Zeb released Get the People Together, an album of original music set to get the crowd shifting back and forth, dancing and sweating like it was any ol' gnat-filled bayou night. In late '98, however, the members of the group decided to go their separate ways, and Fuller focused on working with many collaborators (how's this: Tishamingo, Ween, Stewart and Winfield, the Charlie Mars Band, Kinchafoonee Cowboys, the Healers, Don't Know Blues Band, the Nathan Sheppard Band, Cosmic Charlie, the Blue Dogs, Park Bench Blues Trio and Sister Hazel).

Get The People Together

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Etta James - Life, Love & The Blues

Year: 1998
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:39
Size: 136,9 MB
Styles: Blues, soul-blues
Scans: Full

1. Born Under A Bad Sign (3:29)
2. I Want To Ta Ta You, Baby (5:56)
3. Here I Am (Come And Take Me) (4:55)
4. Running Out Of Lies (5:03)
5. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (7:01)
6. Spoonful (4:09)
7. Life, Love & The Blues (5:17)
8. Hoochie Coochie Gal (4:25)
9. Cheating In The Next Room (4:57)
10. If You Want Me To Stay (5:21)
11. The Love You Save May Be Your Own (4:01)
12. I'll Take Care Of You (4:59)

Etta James' fine self-produced Life, Love & The Blues touts itself as a straight blues album, the one Etta says she always wanted to record. This isn't entirely accurate, since the smart choice of tunes here includes Al Green's "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" and Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues". But why quibble with a legend, especially since she delivers the goods with such class and professionalism?

By 1998, her voice had lost some of its upper purity but hardly any of its flexibility and force. She's not riding any past glory as she steps forthrightly into Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign" like she owns it, as well as modern blues classics like Willie Dixon's "Spoonful" and "Hoochie Coochie Man (Gal)". Speaking of ownership, Etta co-wrote the title song - a smoldering statement of purpose cut with some fine slide acoustic work courtesy of her ace back-up guys, The Roots Band.

Personnel: Etta James (vocals); Josh Sklair (guitar, dobro); Leo Nocentelli, Bobby Murray (guitar); Jimmy "Z" (saxophone, harmonica); Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone); Tom Poole (trumpet); Dave Mathews (keyboards); Mike Finnigan (Hammond B-3 organ); Sametto James (bass); Donto James (drums, percussion).

Life, Love & The Blues mc
Life, Love & The Blues zippy

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Ray Bonneville - Rough Luck

Size: 97,7 MB
Time: 42:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Folk Blues, Country Blues
Art: Full

01. What Was I To Do (3:33)
02. Two Bends In The Road (3:40)
03. Rough Luck (3:13)
04. I'm Not Alone (3:34)
05. Sylvie's Got A New Man (2:53)
06. The Last Time (3:46)
07. Just Before Dawn (3:36)
08. Wild Thing For You (2:57)
09. Street Singer (2:19)
10. Down On The Ground (3:35)
11. Laughing Heart (4:12)
12. Roll With The Punches (3:51)
13. Raven Bill (0:51)

Ray Bonneville is not a young man. And sometimes age helps to avoid taking the wrong musical paths. Despite more than three decades of touring, Rough Luck is only Bonneville's fourth album. Deciding that "less is sometimes more," he went into the studio to record a live solo album album. The idea was to recreate the experience of a small venue.

On 13 tracks, the Canadian accompanies himself on several electric and acoustic guitars, a National steel guitar, the harmonica and the footboard.

Bonneville shows his love for the country blues, the slow and easygoing sort. The rock influences of the earlier releases are moved right to the back, as everything about this record whispers "laid back." The former bush pilot's vocals are somewhat reminiscent of a J.J. Cale or a Mark Knopfler. Listen to "Sylvie's Got A New Man" and you can watch your toes go berserk, as they just have to move with the groove of a song with an incredibly funky guitar. Impeccable guitar style, great sense of rhythm, no wonder that the album scores on all points.

The man is in no need of a band, he sounds like one himself. The lyrics deal with, no surprise there, people having the blues, whether it's the small blues as in "Rough Luck," where the upbeat melody seem to betray the slightly darker words ("I took a room at the Heartwreck Inn / wasn't to sure whether I'd come out again") or whether it's the big blues as in "Down On The Ground." It's the story of a bleak and depressive day, a day that will pass eventually: "I hear the mail come through the slot / I don't care much what I got / Let the machine answer the phone / I got nothin to say to anyone I know."

This is a spellbinding record that will justly enhance Bonneville's reputation as a first-rate country blueser. A record like a thunderstorm, just much more quiet. ~Review by Michael Gasser

Rough Luck MP3
Rough Luck FLAC

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Gary B.B. Coleman - One Night Stand / The Best Of

Album: One Night Stand
Size: 95,5 MB
Time: 40:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1988
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. Baby Scratch My Back (4:26)
02. I Wrote This Song For You (4:18)
03. Sitting And Waiting (3:17)
04. As The Years Go Passing By (7:58)
05. I Just Can't Lose These Blues (4:05)
06. I Fell In Love On A One-Night Stand (5:42)
07. I'll Take Care Of You (6:26)
08. Going Down (4:16)

Born 1947 in Paris, Texas. As hinted at by the "B.B." moniker added to his name Coleman was an admirer of B.B. King, but more so Albert King (who he mostly resembled as a guitar player) and of course Freddie King. When he was 15, he was working with Freddie King and later supported Lightnin' Hopkins and formed his own band, which played around Texas. Gary also began booking blues musicians into clubs in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. He continued to play gigs and book concerts for nearly two decades. In 1985, he formed Mr. B's Records, his own independent label. Coleman released his debut album, "Nothin' But The Blues" the following year. The album was popular and gained the attention of Ichiban Records, who signed Coleman and re-released the record in 1987, which managed a #74 placing on Billboard's R & B Albums chart. A fruitful relationship ensued with the label. In addition to his own records he began producing albums for a number of other artists, as well as writing songs for other musicians and acting as an A&R scout for Ichiban. Between 1988 and 1992, he released six records and produced another 30. Some of his productions include albums by Little Johnny Taylor, Blues Boy Willie, Chick Willis, Vernon Garrett and Buster Benton. Coleman died in 1994.

One Night Stand

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Album: The Best Of
Size: 132,4 MB
Time: 56:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. One Eyed Woman (4:20)
02. Baby Scratch My Back (4:26)
03. Cloud 9 (5:37)
04. A Word Of Warning (5:08)
05. I Fell In Love On A One-Night Stand (5:45)
06. Merry Christmas Baby (3:51)
07. Watch Where You Stroke (6:06)
08. Think Before You Act (4:59)
09. If You Can Beat Me Rockin' (You Can Have My Chair) (3:26)
10. St. James Infirmary (4:49)
11. I Won't Be Your Fool (4:26)
12. Christmas Blues (Instrumental) (3:59)

After a career as a local bluesman and blues promoter in Texas and Oklahoma, Gary Coleman found his niche when he signed over his first album, a self-produced outing originally issued on his own label, to the fledgling Ichiban company out of Atlanta in 1986. Since that time, both Coleman and Ichiban have made their marks in the blues field: not only did Coleman release half-a-dozen of his own albums, he also oversaw production of the bulk of Ichiban's hefty blues catalog, bringing to the studio a number of artists he'd booked or toured with in his previous career (Chick Willis, Buster Benton, and Blues Boy Willie, among others). A singer/guitarist on-stage, Coleman often took on a multi-instrumentalist's role in the studio. His music remained true to the blues and to the King legacy saluted in his "B.B." moniker and in his acknowledged debt to fellow Texan Freddie King.

Coleman began listening to the blues as a child and by the time he was 15, he was working with Freddie King. Following his association with King, Coleman supported Lightnin' Hopkins and formed his own band, which played around Texas. Gary also began booking blues musicians into clubs in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. He continued to play gigs and book concerts for nearly two decades. In 1985, he formed Mr. B's Records, his own independent label. He released his debut album, Nothin' But the Blues, the following year. The album was popular and gained the attention of Ichiban Records, who signed Coleman and re-released Nothin' But the Blues in 1987.

If You Can Beat Me Rockin', Coleman's second album, was released in 1988. That same year, he began producing albums for a number of other artists, as well as writing songs for other musicians and acting as an A&R scout for Ichiban. Between 1988 and 1992, he released six records and produced another 30, including albums for Little Johnny Taylor and Buster Benton. Coleman continued to be active until his untimely death in the mid-'90s, both as a performing and recording artist, as well as a producer. ~by Jim O'Neal

The Best Of

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Julie Rhodes - Bound To Meet The Devil

Size: 99,9 MB
Time: 39:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, Rock, Country, Folk
Art: Front

01. In Your Garden (3:46)
02. Collector Man (4:47)
03. Faith (5:01)
04. Hey Stranger (2:23)
05. Hurricane (2:49)
06. See The Sun (3:18)
07. Grinnin' In Your Face (2:59)
08. Holes (3:21)
09. Skyscraper Blues (4:04)
10. End Of The Line (4:30)
11. Key Won't Unlock My Door (2:54)

Personnel:
Julie Rhodes - Vocals
Danny Roaman - Guitar
Jonah Tolchin - Guitar
Michael Bosco - Drums & Percussion
Matt Murphy - Upright Bass

Special Guests:
Spooner Oldham - Organ & Wurlitzer
Sara Watkins - Violin
'Sonny Jim' Clifford - Harmonica
Greg Leisz - Pedal Steel & Lapsteel
Cindy Richardson Walker - Vocals
Marie Lewey - Vocals
Eric Lichter - Wurlitzer & Vocals
Will Gramling - Organ
Doug Moffet - Saxophone

There aren’t many unknown artists who get to record their debut albums partially at Muscle Shoals’ Fame Studios with legends such as keyboardist Spooner Oldham, guitarist Greg Leisz and fiddler Sara Watkins sitting in. But, there aren’t many new singers as impressive as Julie Rhodes either.

Plucked from the audience at a Jonah Tolchin show in Providence, Rhode Island by Tolchin’s opening act was the unlikely start to Rhodes’ first release. With a voice that mixes the grit of Susan Tedeschi, the sass of Janis Joplin, the slinky qualities of Billie Holiday and the subtlety of Norah Jones, Rhodes combines bluegrass (“Skyscraper Blues”), folk/country (“End of the Line”), raw Delta blues (“Grinnin’ in Your Face”), gospel infused rock (“Faith”) with more soul and self-confidence than seems possible for a new act. She kills it on every track.

Everything here is dragged through the swamp, but when she rocks out on the blues-soaked stompers like “Collector Man” and the spirited, swaggering opening “In Your Garden,” it’s obvious Rhodes has the talent and poise to appeal to the same audience that quickly gravitated to the gutsy R&B/rock of the Alabama Shakes.

It doesn’t hurt having Tolchin as co-producer (along with Rhodes) to keep the sound raw, rugged but clean enough for mass consumption. And the key supporting players help bring her sound to fruition. Between songs that feel fresh yet lived in, and Rhodes’ sure sense of restraint that maintains taut control of her attack, this is a debut most musicians strive for.

Between churchy country ballads like “See the Sun” that you’ll sing along with after the first spin, the gritty blues harp-infused riff rocking “Holes” (whose lyrics provide the disc with its ominous title), the Tower of Power-styled funk of “Hurricane” and sultry/sassy fare such as the closing all acoustic double-entendre “Key Won’t Unlock My Door,” Rhodes covers a wide musical swath. But she weaves genres together seamlessly with her tough, plucky voice and just enough attitude to make it clear she’s the real deal and this is just the promising start of a career that, with luck and good management, promises great things to come.

Bound To Meet The Devil

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Jeff Chaz - Sounds Like The Blues To Me

Size: 134,3 MB
Time: 57:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Sounds Like The Blues To Me (3:58)
02. Make Love To You In The Sand (4:17)
03. Hitchhiking In The Rain (4:35)
04. I Am The Blues (3:38)
05. You Look So Good To Me (4:12)
06. Mysterious, Exotic Lady (4:28)
07. I'm Goin' After Moby Dick In A Rowboat (4:14)
08. Four In The Morning (3:11)
09. Will You Be Mine (6:12)
10. Walkin' With My Baby (5:46)
11. The Mt Vernon Blues (3:59)
12. You're Bound To Get Us Both Hung (8:39)

Jeff Chaz is an electrifying blues guitarist based in New Orleans. Ironically, at one time the guitar bored him and he turned to other instruments like the trombone. Before he discovered that his true talent lay in the blues, he even made an attempt to play country music and found the genre to be a challenge for him. A native of Lake Charles, LA, Chaz was raised in Creole, LA. His father was a practicing physician who sometimes visited his patients by a type of canoe called a pirogue rather than by car, and they paid his fees with ducks and other foodstuffs. Despite this simple way of life, there was nothing provincial about the backwoods healer's taste in music. Thanks to him, Chaz grew up surrounded by the sounds of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Jack Teagarden, and Duke Ellington. As a youngster, Chaz played the jazz trombone and later moved over to the trumpet. He also played in the school band and spent his high school years in California with his family. His grades suffered due to the extensive amount of time he devoted to playing local dances and weddings. Upon graduation, he played trombone with a traveling band and when the band's guitar-playing vocalist unexpectedly dropped out, the other group members tapped Chaz to take his place. When he went home to California, he enrolled as a music student in San Bernardino College. After an attempt to play country music, he realized that his desire rested with the blues and he took off for Memphis. There he played back road blues joints and even played some gospel. Since then, he has played guitar with Cab Calloway, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Albert King. He has taken home a Beale Street Blues Award during the awards' inaugural year, and has sung at the National Civil Rights Museum. By 1996, he was back in New Orleans and working at the Famous Door on Bourbon Street. ~Linda Seida

Sounds Like The Blues To Me

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Johnny Winter - Live Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (Limited Edition)

Size: 120,8 MB
Time: 52:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Intro ( 1:21)
02. Blues Jam (15:08)
03. Mother Earth (10:42)
04. Black Cat Bone ( 7:51)
05. Unseen Eye ( 5:07)
06. Slow Down ( 8:16)
07. White Line Blues (Acoustic Instrumental-Bonus Track) ( 3:44)

Remastered by Joe Reagoso and Paul Nelson.

Live Bootleg Series Vol. 12

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Big Boy Bloater & The Limits - Luxury Hobo

Size: 99,3 MB
Time: 39:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Devils Not Angels (3:57)
02. It Came Out Of The Swamp (5:06)
03. I Love You (But I Can't Stand Your Friends) (4:07)
04. The Devils Tail (4:35)
05. I Got The Feeling Someone's Watching Me (4:46)
06. Luxury Hobo Blues (4:42)
07. Robot Girlfriend (3:51)
08. All Things Considered (4:35)
9. Not Cool Man (4:03)

Personnel:
Big Boy Bloater – Vocals/Guitar
Matt Cowley – Drums
Dan Edwards – Keyboards
Steven Oats – Bass

Making his name early on as an icon with the 6 piece R&B the Southside Stompers, Big Boy Bloater has proved himself to be one of the finest guitarist and performers of his generation and has drawn praise from his contemporaries for his powerful voice and dynamic and instantly recognisable guitar style with luminaries such as Imelda May who has confessed to being a “massive fan”, Jools Holland has declared him “one of the greatest bluesmen of our time” and Mark Lamarr who even personally funded a vinyl run of the single Whammy just so he could have a copy.

His career has taken him around the world and has seen him perform at the top of the World Trade Centre, was voted the ‘Best Band of the Weekend’ at the Viva Las Vegas Festival, Nevada – has supported Carl Perkins, played with Wanda Jackson, Paloma Faith and appeared at festivals such as; Latitude, Secret Garden Party, Hop Farm, Jersey Live, ABC Roskilde, BluesFest, Barcelona’s Hayride, Sweden’s A-Bombers. He has lead the Rhythm Riots Kings of Rhythm band at the Rhythm Riot Festival since its inception and was personally invited to record at Abbey Road for Paul McCartney.

He has also toured, guested with and played guitar for Imelda May (including shows at the Roundhouse and Somerset House) who also featured Sweet & Brown and Every Path Has Its Puddle from the 2011 album Big Boy Bloater and The LiMiTs along with jazz-funk legend Snowboy (Jamiroquai, Mick Hucknell, Amy Winehouse, Lisa Stansfield). Following tours supporting Imelda he was asked to be a guest for the first series of The Imelda May Show on Irish RTE Television alongside The Boomtown Rats but no stranger to TV and radio has been a guest on BBC Radio for Jools Holland, Paul Jones, Craig Charles and Mark Lamarr.
Also immortalised in book form he has been featured as an ‘R&B Guitar Icon’ in; Rock & Pop: The Complete History, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Music and Blues: The Complete History.

Luxury Hobo

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Robert Cray Band - Bad Influence

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1983
Styles: Blues
Time: 42:42
Size: 98,3 MB
Art: Full

(3:32) 1. Phone Booth
(2:56) 2. Bad Influence
(4:09) 3. The Grinder
(2:53) 4. Got to Make a Comeback
(4:01) 5. So Many Women, So Little Time
(4:03) 6. Where Do I Go from Here
(3:31) 7. Waiting for the Tide to Turn
(2:25) 8. March On
(3:25) 9. Don't Touch Me
(4:14) 10. No Big Deal
(3:37) 11. I Got Loaded
(3:50) 12. Share What You've Got, Keep What You Need

One of Robert Cray's best albums ever, and the one that etched him into the consciousness of blues aficionados prior to his mainstream explosion. Produced beautifully by Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker, the set sports some gorgeous originals ("Phone Booth," "Bad Influence," "So Many Women, So Little Time") and two well-chosen covers, Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Don't Touch Me" and Eddie Floyd's Stax-era "Got to Make a Comeback." Few albums portend greatness the way this one did. -- Allmusic.
When the Washington-state-based bluesman cut this album for Hightone in 1983, his second, Robert Cray was still four years away from his major-label and Top 40 hit "Smoking Gun." Nonetheless, his signature sound is intact: horn-colored Stax-style arrangements, a backbeat laced with funk, Cray's own gospelized vocals, and the stiletto-tipped notes that he rips from his Stratocaster. What's most fun here is listening to Cray pay homage to his good influences. He covers numbers by Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Eddie Floyd, and charges into his guitar solos with a brittle tone and bristling attack that at times recalls the underrated Watson, Cray's mentor Albert Collins, and Chicago legend Buddy Guy. But it's really the sound of a modern virtuoso distilling his craft from the raw material of blues history. -- Amazon.

Bad Influence

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Curley Bridges - Keys To The Blues / Live At The Silver Dollar Room

Album: Keys To The Blues
Size: 132,1 MB
Time: 56:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999
Styles: Soul-Blues, Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. You Talk Too Much (3:36)
02. Rock Me , Baby (3:13)
03. Thank You, Pretty Baby (4:43)
04. I'm Tore Down (3:10)
05. Since I Met You, Baby (3:42)
06. Honey Hush (2:16)
07. Early In The Morning (3:03)
08. Summertime (4:32)
09. Every Day I Have The Blues (2:47)
10. Stagger Lee (3:12)
11. Every Beat Of My Heart (3:48)
12. Walkin' The Dog (4:19)
13. I Hear You Knockin' (3:29)
14. Reconsider Baby (3:00)
15. Good Rockin' Tonight (3:30)
16. Three O 'Clock Blues (4:28)

"Keys to the Blues" is Curley Bridges' first release as a frontman since he all but gave up recording in 1961 after receiving his one and only royalty check for just $62.20. Thankfully, Bridges, who played piano and sang with the Motley Crew from 1953 to 1966, was recently persuaded to reconsider. "Keys to the Blues" will make you glad that he did. From the moment the band comes crashing in on "You Talk Too Much," right through to the closing bars of "Three O’clock Blues," this is a CD that will keep you interested and entertained throughout.

All the tracks are covers, but Bridges adds new life into some of the finest Blues, R&B and Jump Blues songs from the 1950's and '60's. He adapts his vocals to match the mood, whether it be as a Blues shouter on "Stagger Lee," or getting mellow and soulful on Johnny Otis' "Every Beat of My Heart." And if a song needs a lazy drawl, that's no problem to Bridges either. He's also more than a match for most of today's Blues pianists, as evidenced by songs like Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You, Baby." Add in a sympathetic band, complete with horns and you've got the recipe for success.

Bridges has been living in Canada since 1966, most recently in Ontario, where he frequently performs solo. He received rave reviews when he played at the 1997 Toronto Harbourfront Soul'n'Blues festival, and on the basis of "The Keys to the Blues" it's easy to see why -- the man comes across as a natural born entertainer, even in the studio.

"Keys to the Blues" is recommended fare for all those who know and love real R&B. It succeeds on two levels. First it's a good introduction to Curley Bridges, and second it provides useful pointers to some very fine R&B songs and musicians. Buy it and help to give Curley Bridges the payday he so richly deserves. Buy it anyway, just to check out his shirts on the cover. ~Review by Gordon Baxter

Keys To The Blues

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Album: Live At The Silver Dollar Room
Size: 140,8 MB
Time: 60:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Soul Blues
Art: Front

01. Where Did My Baby Go? (Live) (3:40)
02. Honey Hush (Live) (4:51)
03. Since I Met You Baby (Live) (6:07)
04. Walk On (Live) (4:53)
05. 3 O'Clock Blues (Live) (6:13)
06. Give Me One Reason (Live) (5:00)
07. Happy Birthday Curley Boogie - Julian Fauth (Bonus Track) (2:43)
08. Mr. Rock 'N' Soul (3:17)
09. Caledonia (6:20)
10. Sloop John B (5:52)
11. You're The One (5:21)
12. Mojo Re:worked (6:13)

Personnel:
Curley Bridges - Vocals, Keyboards and lip Trumpet
Chris Whiteley - Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica & Trumpet
Omar Tunnoch - Bass
Bucky Berger - Drums
Julian Fauth - Vocals & Piano on Track 7

Curley Bridges is not a long lost and forgotten Bluesman playing obscure songs, instead he harkens back to an era when men never left home without their hat, women go-go danced in cages, everyone enjoyed 3 martini lunches and perhaps most surprising of all, Blues music was part of the Popular Culture, particularly in Canada where Curley Bridges played a major role beginning in 1955, in introducing live R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, as the vocalist and keyboard player for Frank Motley and his Motley Crew, the first African American unit to tour Canada playing this music, to both eager audiences and a whole generation of younger Canadian musicians.

Born February 7th, 1934 in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, Curley snuck out as a child to hear Big Joe Turner and Louis Jordan when they passed through nearby Raleigh, but it was not until after he attended a U.S.O. performance by piano titans, Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson, after being drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Washington, D.C., that he himself considered making music. Soon drawn into the Red Hot Jazz and Blues scene in D.C. then thriving around the Howard Theatre. He was soon gigging and recording regularly with Dual Trumpeter extraordinaire Frank Motley. Their Pre-Elvis Atomic powered version of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog” perked up a lot of ears, including those of Colonel Harold Kuddlets of Hamilton, who offered them a week of work in Toronto, which was soon extended to alternating six week stands between Toronto and the Esquire Show Bar in the then wide open City of Montreal. The success of the Motley Crew in Canada emboldened the Colonel to look even further south the next year and to next import Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins from Arkansas, whose locally recruited group The Hawks would soon evolve into The Band.

After touring the U.S. extensively through the late 50’s, Curley and Motley returned to the more racially tolerant Toronto permanently in the early 60’s, just in time to play a major role in the Golden Age of the Toronto Music Scene. The Coffee House’s in Yorkville featured Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and believe it or not transplanted U.S. bluesman Lonnie Johnson. Gordon Lightfoot worked the Taverns on Yonge Street. The Sparrow evolved into Steppenwolf. Oscar Peterson had a residency at the King Cole Room and Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, now featuring Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson, ruled the roost, with competition from David Clayton Thomas and The Shays. Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf were frequent visitors at the Colonial Tavern, and a steady wave of Jamaican immigrants sparked up a vital local Reggae and Ska scene presided over by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. In the midst of this musical melting pot thrived Curley Bridges, still working with the Motley Crew, as well as fronting his own band the Bridge Crossings, and guesting on a great sonic snapshop of the era 1968’s “Jackie Shane Live” LP.
Tipped off by Toronto Music aficionado Bill Munson in 1997 that Curley Bridges was living about an hour north of the city in semi-retirement, and having long admired his seminal R&B recordings from the 50’s and 60’s. I made the trek up to see him play a solo gig at an upscale supper club where the median age of the audience was about 80. After introducing myself to him at the break I enquired if he ever still sang the Blues, shaking his head Curley replied nobody had asked him to do that in over 20 years, but he advised me to come back for the last set when the club would have emptied out of it’s elderly patrons, and he’d see what he could do. True to his word he launched into a set of Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson, Freddie King and Ivory Joe Hunter classics that made my head spin. That evening led to 1998’s “Keys To The Blues” and 2001’s “Mr. Rock and Soul” on Electro-Fi, his first new recordings in over 25 years. “Live At The Silver Dollar Room” was both a chance to celebrate the 75th Birthday of a dear friend and R&B icon and to share with you an evening of a consummate professional at work. ~Andrew Galloway

Live At The Silver Dollar Room

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Supersonic Blues Machine - West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco

Size: 130,8 MB
Time: 55:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Miracle Man (4:24)
02. I Ain't Fallin' Again (3:28)
03. Running Whiskey (Feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (2:39)
04. Remedy (Feat. Warren Haynes) (5:41)
05. Bone Bucket Blues (3:11)
06. Let It Be (5:24)
07. That's My Way (Feat. Chris Duarte) (4:51)
08. Ain't No Love (In The Heart Of The City) (5:24)
09. Nightmares And Dreams (Feat. Eric Gales) (4:42)
10. Can't Take It No More (Feat. Walter Trout) (6:11)
11. Whiskey Time (Running Whiskey's Extended Ending) (2:12)
12. Let's Call It A Day (Feat. Robben Ford) (3:30)
13. Watchagonnado (3:47)

Real blues is the music of life experience. It is simple, but contains multitudes - feelings and knowledge accrued over decades. Collectively, the trio of musicians that make up Supersonic Blues Machine (SBM) have experienced more than three typical lifetimes. These world-class musicians have banded together in Supersonic Blues Machine, bonding in their love of this uniquely American genre and motivated by a desire to help its spirit evolve.

Fabrizio Grossi (bass/producer/engineer/wordsmith) worked his artistry in his birthplace - Milan, Italy - before migrating to London, Canada, New York, and currently Los Angeles.

Texan Lance Lopez (guitar/vocals) accrued at least one lifetime of experience before he was out of high school while playing bars in Louisiana and Florida. College came in the form of tours with R&B legend Johnny Taylor and blues masters Lucky Peterson and Bobby Blue Bland.

Kenny Aronoff (drums) has a resume that spans four decades and reads like a “Who’s Who” of roots rock legends, including John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Eric Clapton, Jack White, Billy Gibbons, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, and Dr. John.

Supersonic Blues Machine stems from Fabrizio Grossi’s desire to return to his roots. “The blues is what makes me tick. It is the main ingredient of any successful musical recipe,” he explains. “It is like pasta in Italian food. You can add all the ingredients you like and any sauce, but the pasta is the core of the dish. I’m the chef and blues is my pasta.”

Like a great recipe, Supersonic Blues Machine adds carefully chosen flavorings to its blues stock. “Blues is my passion but my favorite bands have always been eclectic, like the Beatles, Queen, Toto, and Earth, Wind and Fire,” Grossi continues. “I wanted to apply their lessons to Supersonic Blues Machine, and my band mates totally get that.” Aronoff calls it “a blast from the past aimed at the future.” Says Grossi, “You will feel B.B. King’s presence on stage even though we might be wearing space suits.”

Grossi found a magical connection with Kenny Aronoff when the two toured as the rhythm section of Toto guitarist Steve Lukather’s side Jam band “Goodfellas.”
The next step came when Lance Lopez contacted Grossi about working on the Texas guitar whiz’s new solo project. While they were recording, Grossi got a call from Billy Gibbons, whom he had met on a Los Angeles session. The ZZ Top guitarist had known Lopez as a young blues prodigy, and strongly suggested Grossi and Lopez join forces. It was the Reverend Billy G’s blessing that helped birth Supersonic Blues Machine, and a stronger imprimatur for a nascent blues-rock project would be hard to find.

The first tune recorded for the Supersonic Blues Machine project was “Running Whiskey,” written by Gibbons, Grossi, and Tal Wilkenfeld. It features Gibbons on guitar and vocals and helped forge the sound of this new blues-rock supergroup. “It had the twist on the blues that infuses all the other songs on the record,” says Grossi.

The guest guitarists on Supersonic Blues Machine’s debut West of Flushing, South of Frisco are not a random selection of famous names, but more like members of an extended family. “I have worked on projects with Warren Haynes [guest and co-writer on ‘Remedy’], and when he tours anywhere near Dallas, he will always have Lance sit in,” Grossi explains. Lopez and Chris Duarte (“That’s My Way”) have been friends for years, and the SBM guitarist grew up with guest Eric Gales (“Nightmares and Dreams”). Walter Trout (“Can’t Take It No More”) is yet another member of this blues fraternity who, despite battling health issues, was anxious to contribute to the project. Finally, Grossi describes Robben Ford (“Let’s Call It a Day”) as the “classiest guy” he knows. “All these people light up the room when they walk in,” he says.

West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco

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Titty Bar Tim Blues Band - Milk Shaka

Size: 108,3 MB
Time: 47:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Milk Shaka (3:31)
02. Second Hand Snuff (2:16)
03. High On The Night Train (3:54)
04. Weed Smokin' Man (5:34)
05. Saw Mill Man (2:52)
06. Pity The Horse (5:40)
07. T.K (3:18)
08. Evil Weed (3:44)
09. Mike's Boogie (6:37)
10. Helsinki Bound (9:46)

Now if you're going to perform in an establishment like that mentioned in the title of this album then you sure as hell need to shout pretty loudly just to get some attention with all the other delights on offer. This mob do that and then some with their energetic, raw and raucous take on Chicago blues.

Opener 'Milk Shaka' sets the tone as it boogies fiercely with rough vocals, blueswailing harp and an extraordinary distorted guitar sound. It's horrible and I love it. Having announced their presence the band keep up the intensity with 'Second Hand Snuff' which rocks along in fine style with growled vocals, fierce harp riffing and the band joining in on the shouted vocal chorus.

The material is all self-penned, authentic sounding and well written and although nothing particularly new these guys have obviously learnt their lessons well. 'High On The Night Train' features a rocking train rhythm and some frenetic slide guitar licks. 'Weed Smokin' Man' rides on a funky electric piano riff and female backing vocals. The slow blues 'I Pity The Horse' allows the band to stretch out a little with some more considered guitar and piano solos. A touch of rockabilly is introdoced with 'T. K.' and then we get three tracks recorded live at House Of Rock Kouvola, Finland.

Yes, this 5 piece band come from Finland although you cannot tell from the playing or vocals. Titty Bar Tim does his best Kim Wilson impression on vocals and harp to warn us of the dangers of the 'Evil Weed' and then we get a long Slim Harpo style instrumental workout on 'Mike's Boogie'. The album closes with the even longer 'Helsinki Bound' a slow blues featuring a guest sax player and also a guest mobile phone tinkler in the audience.

I enjoyed this unpretentious, rough and ready album and the next time I'm in downtown Helsinki on a wet Monday night in February I shall keep my eyes open for the Titty Bar and I expect a rollicking good night out. - Dave Drury, bluesmatters.com

Band:
Timo Heikkilä: vocals, guitar, harp
Mike Kurkiin: guitar
Antti Sunna: piano
Pasi Väkevä: drums
Aarni Ruuhimäki: bass

Special guests:
Antti Takalo: electric piano, Weed Smokin' Man & T.K.
Juulia Rihu: sax, Helsinki Bound
Angel choir on Weed Smokin' Man: Sanni, Wenla-Sofia, Sointu, Aatu & Eetu
Hog choir on Second Hand Snuff: Jatte, Teppana, Rymben

Milk Shaka

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Alabama Lovesnakes - Everybody's Gotta Go

Size: 109,4 MB
Time: 46:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Prison Of Love (2:22)
02. Your Little Key (5:23)
03. Something You Got (2:52)
04. Searching High And Low (2:51)
05. I Need You Tonight To Keep The Devil Away (3:08)
06. Everybody's Gotta Go (4:52)
07. The Matters Of The Heart (6:28)
08. Daddy's Beard (3:35)
09. Got To Get Back To New Orleans (2:31)
10. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (3:04)
11. I Got To Take You Back Home (3:06)
12. Back In Town (3:18)
13. Kokobello Blues (2:44)

The Alabama Lovesnakes was formed in 2006 in Karlstad, Sweden, during the recording of Claes Nilsson's country project "The Wheels" (also available on CD Baby). Late nights in the studio aroused an irresistible feeling of the band that just had to break loose - with the blues. Ten years down the road, the band is still made up of the same members, and has logged countless miles and gigs all over Sweden. The band has been a regular headliner at the largest blues festival Åmåls Bluesfest and they attract great attention wherever they play.

The members of the band are vocalist and guitarist Claes "Crocodile" Nilsson (b. 1977), bassist Fredrik Nilsson (b. 1974) and drummer Henrik Gillgren (b. 1977). The songs are written by Claes and the whole band picks covers they want to do as the rest of their material. The repertoire consists mainly of trio-based music and the band’s sound mixes elements of both Chicago and Texas, combined with a Nordic roughness, which puts a special touch on the band's attitude and groove. Over the years the band has repeatedly appeared at major blues festivals in Sweden and has also played live on national radio several times.

Everybody's Gotta Go

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Jon Spear Band - Live Music Is Better

Size: 157,1 MB
Time: 68:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Devil's Highway (Live) (7:39)
02. Nothing To Nobody (Live) (5:54)
03. Shake Your Boogie (Live) (4:13)
04. Before The Bullets Fly (Live) (3:51)
05. Cissy Strut (Live) (8:04)
06. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (Live) (8:19)
07. Old Soul (Live) (6:21)
08. Blues About You Baby (Live) (3:39)
09. I Love My Skin (Live) (4:32)
10. Paid In Full (Live) (6:35)
11. Beginner At The Blues (Live) (4:01)
12. Live Music Better (Live) (5:11)

“Live Music is Better” was recorded by the Jon Spear Band before a live audience at the Southern Café & Music Hall in Charlottesville VA on November 27, 2015. On that night, the band not only reprised some of their award-winning original songs from their first CD “Old Soul,” but also covered several red-hot blues songs in the imaginative style that has made them a favorite among a growing list of blues lovers.

The release of their 2nd CD caps off a year of increasing success for the Jon Spear Band which saw extensive airplay, numerous favorable reviews, and opportunities to appear with several major artists, while their first CD “Old Soul” captured the #24 spot on the Roots Music Report's Top Contemporary Blues Album Chart for 2015.

The personnel on the new CD includes special guests Haywood Giles on saxophone, and Adrian Duke on keyboard, along with the band’s core members: Dara James (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Andy Burdetsky (bass and backing vocals), John Stubblefield (drums) and Jon Spear (guitar and vocals). Adrian Duke – a semi-finalist at the 2016 International Blues Challenge – also lends his unique vocal talents to a rollicking New Orleans-style version of “I Love My Skin,” one of the award winning originals from the band’s first CD.

The title song of the album, “Live Music is Better,” is the band’s homage to all those who make live music possible including club owners and concert venues, hardworking musicians, stage and sound crews, local blues and other music societies and, most important, the fans who come out and support their favorite performers. As the song says: “Pay a DJ if you will, it don’t give the same thrill – Live Music is Better!”

Live Music Is Better

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Hubert Sumlin & His Friends - Kings Of Chicago Blues Vol. 2

Year: 1971/2011
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:24
Size: 95,0 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Scans: Full (front, back, cd)

1. Blues For Elmore James (2:41)
2. Funky Roots (3:48)
3. I Can't Lose (3:42)
4. One Down (3:41)
5. Willie's Back In Town (2:48)
6. Minor Feelings (3:14)
7. Everyday I Have The Blues (3:32)
8. Straight Talk (3:45)
9. Little By Little (3:34)
10. When Evelyn's Not Around (4:04)
11. It Hurts Me Too (5:30)

Quiet and extremely unassuming off the bandstand, Hubert Sumlin played a style of guitar incendiary enough to stand tall beside the immortal Howlin' Wolf. The Wolf was Sumlin's imposing mentor for more than two decades, and it proved a mutually beneficial relationship; Sumlin's twisting, darting, unpredictable lead guitar constantly energized the Wolf's 1960s Chess sides, even when the songs themselves (check out "Do the Do" or "Mama's Baby" for conclusive proof) were less than stellar. Sumlin started out twanging the proverbial broom wire nailed to the wall before he got his mitts on a real guitar. He grew up near West Memphis, AR, briefly hooking up with another young lion with a rosy future, harpist James Cotton, before receiving a summons from the mighty Wolf to join him in Chicago in 1954.

Sumlin learned his craft nightly on the bandstand behind Wolf, his confidence growing as he graduated from rhythm guitar duties to lead. By the dawn of the '60s, Sumlin's slashing axe was a prominent component on the great majority of Wolf's waxings, including "Wang Dang Doodle," "Shake for Me," "Hidden Charms" (boasting perhaps Sumlin's greatest recorded solo), "Three Hundred Pounds of Joy", and "Killing Floor". Although they had a somewhat tempestuous relationship, Sumlin remained loyal to Wolf until the big man's 1976 death. But there were a handful of solo sessions for Sumlin before that, beginning with a most unusual 1964 date in East Berlin that was produced by Horst Lippmann during a European tour under the auspices of the American Folk Blues Festival (the behind-the-Iron Curtain session also featured pianist Sunnyland Slim and bassist Willie Dixon).

Personnel:
Hubert Sumlin - lead guitar
Jimmy Dawkins - second guitar
James Green - bass
Freddie Below - drums

Special guests:
Billy Boy Arnold - harmonica, vocals on tracks 3 & 7
Eddie Shaw - saxophone, vocals on track 9
Joe Carter - guitar, vocals on track 11

Recorded on January 20, 1971 at the P.S. Recording Studios Chicago, Illinois

Kings Of Chicago Blues Vol. 2 mc
Kings Of Chicago Blues Vol. 2 zippy

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The Johnny Otis Show - Live At Monterey

Year: 1971/1993
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:09
Size: 169,7 MB
Styles: R&B, blues
Scans: Full (front, back, cd)

1. Willie And The Hand Jive (3:18)
2. Cry Me A River Blues (Feat. Little Esther Phillips) (4:46)
3. Cleanhead's Blues (Feat. Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson) (4:55)
4. I Got A Gal For Every Day In The Week (Feat. Big Joe Turner) (2:57)
5. Since I Met You, Baby (Feat. Ivory Joe Hunter) (2:38)
6. Baby, You Don't Know (Feat. Roy Milton) (3:01)
7. Preacher's Blues (Feat. Gene Connors) (3:28)
8. Good Rockin' Tonight (Feat. Roy Brown) (3:27)
9. The Time Machine (Feat. Shuggie Otis) (3:30)
10. Margie's Boogie (Feat. Margie Evans) (3:33)
11. Little Esther's Blues: Blowtop Blues/T Bone Blues/Jelly Jelly (Feat. Little Esther Phillips) (6:50)
12. Kidney Stew Blues (Feat. Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson) (3:07)
13. The Things I Used To Do (Feat. Pee Wee Crayton) (5:00)
14. R.M. Blues (Feat. Roy Milton) (3:01)
15. Shuggie's Boogie (Feat. Shuggie Otis) (4:06)
16. You Better Look Out (Feat. Delmar Evans) (4:09)
17. Goin' Back To L.A. (Feat. Delmar Evans) (2:45)
18. Plastic Man (Feat. Big Joe Turner) (4:51)
19. Boogie Woogie Bye Bye (2:38)

The Historic Rhythm & Blues Extravaganza That Rocked The 1970 Monterey Jazz Festival

The blues never has been, to my recollection, the occasion for a more joyous celebration of its uniquely vibrant spirit than on a certain day in the late summer of 1970, when Johnny Otis brought his entire azure-indigo caravan of giants to spread their talents over an afternoon on the fairgrounds at Monterey, California. Here was the consummate proof that where today's music may set up communication and generation gaps, the blues destroys them. On stage, where Shuggie Otis, 16; rhythm guitarist Jim (Supe) Bradshaw, 23; singers Margie Evans and Delmar "Mighty Mouth" (no relation) Evans, both in their 20's; and the rest of the singing and blowing battalion representing every decade on up to Pee Wee Crayton and Big Joe Turner, both in their very late 50's, and Roy Milton, who's up there at the Social Security borderline.

The same with the roaring receptive, over capacity audience. Those who stood up on their seats hollering and testifying, or boogalooed along the aisles, were mostly in the 15-25 bracket, while others, less extroverted, exchanged reminiscences about the first time they had heard the call of the blues, perhaps at some half-remembered dance in the 30's, or on a 78 record player at high school in the 40's and 50's. That's what this album is all about. This is no gallery of museum pieces set up to rekindle a lost past, no futile exercise in nostalgia; instead it is a meeting ground were ages, races, and backgrounds coalesce, where grooving together is all that matters. /Leonard Feather

Live At Monterey mc
Live At Monterey zippy

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Johnny Hoy & The Bluefish - You Gonna Lose Your Head

Year: 1996
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:15
Size: 120,5 MB
Styles: Modern electric blues
Scans: Full

1. You Better Listen (3:35)
2. Glad She's Gone (2:29)
3. Made For One Another (4:35)
4. Stand Tall (3:04)
5. Gong, Gong (3:32)
6. Believer's Blues (3:58)
7. I Want To See Her (3:19)
8. Mellow Chick Swing (4:08)
9. Red Door (3:07)
10. Beer Bellied Man (2:38)
11. I Ain't Got No Home (4:16)
12. Nobody Else (3:07)
13. Can't Stand To Sleep Alone (3:38)
14. Just To Be With You (6:45)

The Hoys (singer/songwriter/harmonica ace Johnny and his rock-solid bass-playing partner, Barbara Puciul Hoy) get way more adventurous on their second album with a brace of fresh tunes and finely picked covers. Johnny wrote nine of the 14 tracks on here and demonstrates a big jump forward in the songwriting department with "Beer Bellied Man", "Red Door" and "Made for One Another", heading the band into new waters this time around. Great covers of Lazy Lester's "You Better Listen", John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson's "Mellow Chick Swing" and Muddy Waters' "Just to Be With You" are worthy additions to the track lineup. While Jeremy Berlin's fine piano is still aboard, but the infusion of new blood in the ranks (Slim Bob Berosh on guitar for five tracks and Tauras Biskis kicking the drums around steadily) makes this second effort far more fun and interesting than the debut disc, showing that here's a band in it for the long haul. The party just keeps getting better. /Cub Koda, AllMusic

You Gonna Lose Your Head mc
You Gonna Lose Your Head zippy

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Gary B.B. Coleman - Too Much Weekend

Size: 101,7 MB
Time: 39:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1992
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Full

01. Too Much Weekend (6:09)
02. The Elk Slide (4:03)
03. The Sky is Crying (9:11)
04. Uncle Bud (3:55)
05. Welfare Cadillac (5:56)
06. Crosscut Saw (5:58)
07. Neckbone (4:10)

After a career as a local bluesman and blues promoter in Texas and Oklahoma, Gary Coleman found his niche when he signed over his first album, a self-produced outing originally issued on his own label, to the fledgling Ichiban company out of Atlanta in 1986. Since that time, both Coleman and Ichiban made their marks in the blues field -- not only did Coleman release half a dozen of his own albums, he also oversaw production of the bulk of Ichiban's hefty blues catalog, bringing to the studio a number of artists he'd booked or toured with in his previous career (Chick Willis, Buster Benton, and Blues Boy Willie, among others). A singer/guitarist onstage, Coleman often took on a multi-instrumentalist's role in the studio. His music remained true to the blues and to the King legacy saluted in his "B.B." moniker and in his acknowledged debt to fellow-Texan Freddie King.

Too Much Weekend

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Karin Rudefelt & Doctor Blues - Out Of The Blues

Size: 125,2 MB
Time: 52:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Big And Mean Machine (Feat. Pierre Sward & Peter Nande) (5:21)
02. Life Is Such A Bore (Feat. Clas Yngstrom, Peter Nande & Henric Svensson) (2:58)
03. I Have To Be Strong (Feat. Brian Kramer) (4:01)
04. Seven Seas (Feat. Clas Yngstrom) (3:56)
05. Arabian Nights (Feat. Pierre Sward & Brian Kramer) (5:21)
06. Peace At Last (Feat. Pierre Sward & Peter Nande) (4:24)
07. It Rains In Moscow (3:45)
08. Dying By The Hour (Feat. Erja Lyytinen & Pierre Sward) (3:56)
09. Blind (Feat. Pierre Sward & Peter Nande) (5:01)
10. Love Child Running Wild (Feat. Erja Lyytinen, Peter Nande & Pierre Sward) (4:05)
11. Time For Revenge (Feat. Peter Nande & Pierre Sward) (3:30)
12. Tombs In Their Eyes (Feat. Peter Nande) (3:47)
13. Can't Take It No More (Slide Version) (Feat. Pierre Sward) (2:46)

This is how press wrote about the Swedish band’s visit to the German blues scene 2015: “The magnificent singer Karin Rudefelt and Doctor Blues presented a completely new form of blues; living, innovative and unconventional. A charismatic band with international status” Neue Press Kronach in Franke – Germany

A description that corresponds exactly with the band’s ambitions. They are making blues that has influences from so many directions that it is a simplification to call them just a bluesband. The blues is rather a starting point than a border that must not be passed. In other words nothing for blues purists. The band has its starting point and form in current events and mindsets, with the roots well anchored in the traditional blues soil.

Karin Rudefelt & Doctor Blues releases hereby the bands 5th album with own material only. Guest acts on the album are the Finnish Blues Queen of Slide Guitar Erja Lyytinen, the Swedish guitar equilibrist Clas Yngström, the legendary blues man Brian Kramer from New York, the Danish harmonica player Peter Nande, and the world famous Hammond tamer Pierre Swärd.

Karin Rudefelt & Doctor Blues is:
Karin Rudefelt – lead and background vocals
Lennart Olofsson – lyrics and music, lead, slide, rhythm guitars, lead and background vocals, piano, keyboard
Peter Borgström – bass
Tobias Magnusson – drums

In October 2015 Karin Rudefelt & Doctor Blues was elected into the Blues Music Hall of Fame.
Worth mentioning is also that the band’s latest album “Walk the Walk” was selected to the nomination process for the Blues Music Award in USA.

Thanks to MapleBlues.
Out Of The Blues

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