Tab Benoit - The Sea Saint Sessions

Album: The Sea Saint Sessions
Size: 125,8 MB
Time: 54:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Blues, Louisiana blues
Art: Full

1. Baby Blue (4:33)
2. Boat Launch Baby (5:08)
3. Sufferin' Mind (4:32)
4. Hustlin' Down In New Orleans (5:27)
5. Solid Simple Thing (3:49)
6. What I Have To Do (5:00)
7. Monk's Blues (5:25)
8. Making The Bend (4:13)
9. Howlin' For My Darling (5:35)
10. Darkness (4:39)
11. Plareen Man (6:04)

Tab Benoit's third album in just over two years (including his collaboration with Jimmy Thackery) is, like his previous few releases, a loose and homey affair. Recorded at the titular New Orleans studio and featuring Crescent City guests Cyril Neville and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, along with funky Meters Brian Stoltz and George Porter sitting in on various tracks, this is a live-sounding disc with few obvious overdubs. Benoit's road band, comprised of bassist Carl DuFrene and drummer Darryl White, knows how to keep the pocket mean and lean yet flexible, giving the guitarist room to roam against the funky rhythm section.

Except for an explosive cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Howlin' for My Darling" and Eddie Jones' slow blues "Sufferin' Mind," the tunes are written or co-written by Benoit. As the title of "Solid Simple Thing" suggests, these songs aren't breaking new ground, but they do allow the singer to stretch out, albeit in territory familiar to his fans. So even though "Darkness" is a straight slow blues, Benoit's gutsy voice, powerful delivery, and swampy guitar make it a perfect vehicle to showcase his strengths. A call-and-response duet with Boudreaux featuring Benoit playing slinky slide was probably written as it was first played, providing a friendly living-room vibe that feels as comfy as a pair of old jeans.

Neville adds some frothy funk when he sings on a sexy "Plareen Man," trading verses with Benoit, who contributes a frisky, sinuous solo as Boudreaux slaps his tambourine. "Hustlin' Down in New Orleans," with guitarist Stoltz, won't exactly give Bob Dylan a run for his money lyrically, but sets up an easygoing R&B stride with alternating guitar solos. It, like the rest of this fiery, foot-tapping album, could not have been recorded anywhere else in the world. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

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Travellin' Brothers - Coming Home

Album: Coming Home
Size: 93,4 MB
Time: 40:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: R&B/Soul
Art: Front

1. Everything To Me (4:53)
2. Movin' On (3:48)
3. Goodbye Louisiana (4:25)
4. Someone To Love (4:14)
5. Adelene (3:11)
6. Wonderland (4:34)
7. Coming Home (4:41)
8. Say Yeah! (4:22)
9. Angel Cry (6:00)

Travellin’ Brothers are certainly one of the most well-established groups of the Spanish blues and rhythm and blues scene. Over the years they have reached an unquestionable experience and reliability, so their professionalism is beyond dispute. On stage they immediately establish a total communication with the audience. That’s why they have got a legion of admirers and followers which makes them to be highly demanded in countless national and international festivals.

Winners of the European Blues Challenge in Brussels and finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, they have recently published their latest recording, that becomes a faithful example of the band evolution, as they now perform a much more elaborate songs than they did in the beginning of their career. Nine tracks that drive us from New Orleans to West Coast big bands without forgetting some drops of Chicago blues or even a country ballad, that become a good example of the way the group is now following on.

Jon Careaga on vocals, Aitor Cañibano on guitars, Eneko Cañibano on bass, Alain Sancho on saxos, Mikel Azpiroz on keyboards and Isi Redondo on drums form the band core, with the special contribution of Inés Goñi and Noa Egiguren on backing vocals, Javi Pérez on trumpet, Iker Figueroa on trombone and Steve Krase on harmonica. With their knowledge The Travellin’ Brothers enrich the Spanish black music scene than can now be found in our country and this recording really proves it.

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Bywater Call - Remain

Album: Remain
Size: 117,3 MB
Time: 50:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Rock/Blues mix
Art: Front, back

1. Falls Away (4:07)
2. Lover Down Slow (4:28)
3. Remain (5:42)
4. Let Me Be Wrong (4:33)
5. Left Behind (5:54)
6. Sea We Swim (3:59)
7. Ties That Bind (4:30)
8. Fortune (4:49)
9. Go Alone (5:01)
10. Locked (5:14)
11. Bring It Back (2:31)

Powered by the dynamic vocals of Meghan Parnell and the blistering slide guitar work of Dave Barnes, this Toronto-based band has been generating acclaim throughout their native Canada and now the rest of the world. Formed in 2017, Bywater Call has been Maple Blues and Independent Blues Award nominated and has made waves in the Canadian Festival Circuit. The band has also had the opportunity to tour Europe twice, including most recently in May and June of 2022, featuring a main stage appearance at the Netherlands’ premiere blues festival Moulin Blues. Performances there have been praised in Dutch and German media, with references to Parnell as one of the best singers in blues and roots today.

Remain features prominently Parnell’s raw, soulful vocals and Barnes’ emotional singing slide guitar. It was produced by Gypsy Soul Records’ Renan Yildizdogan, engineered by Ross Hayes Citrullo and recorded at Jukasa Studio near Hamilton, with follow up sessions at RHC Studio in Toronto. Born out of a love for Southern Soul, Blues and Roots music and a passion to create a powerful and moving experience for listeners, Bywater Call is completed by Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on bass, Alan Zemaitis on keyboards, Stephen Dyte on trumpet and Julian Nalli on tenor sax.

For those who have been following the band since its inception, an evolution in sound and concept can be heard on Remain; and yet, the core values of raw emotion and strong musicianship are ever present.

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Tab Benoit - Nice And Warm

Album: Nice And Warm
Size: 135,3 MB
Time: 58:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1992
Styles: Blues, Louisiana blues
Art: Full

1. Nice And Warm (7:18)
2. Open Book (3:01)
3. So High (3:58)
4. I Put A Spell On You (5:34)
5. Bone Pickin' (3:12)
6. Shining Moon (4:50)
7. The Killing Floor (4:03)
8. Up And Gone (3:02)
9. She's Out There Somewhere (3:49)
10. Drownin' On Dry Land (6:41)
11. Down In The Swamp (4:38)
12. Voodoo On The Bayou (3:22)
13. Ramblin' On My Mind (5:09)

Tab Benoit's debut album Nice & Warm is a startingly fresh debut. The guitarist has a gutsy, fuel-injected style that adds real spice to his swampy blues. Benoit draws equally from the Louisiana and Texas traditions and Nice & Warm proves it; not only does he carry on the tradition, he offers a fresh take on it as well. /Thom Owens, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Bad Brad & The Fat Cats - Eyes On The Prize

Album: Eyes On The Prize
Size: 114,2 MB
Time: 49:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front, back

1. Payin' My Dues (3:24)
2. Backburner (2:55)
3. Eyes On The Prize (4:56)
4. I'd Like To Stay (5:52)
5. What I Want (3:39)
6. Thunder On The Mountain (5:18)
7. You Left Us Here (9:01)
8. Sleep When I'm Dead (5:23)
9. This World Is Insane (4:53)
10. Got Drunk (4:08)

Bad Brad & Nic Clark are a team of energetic, raw, and fearless blues musicians that are creating a name for themselves in the music business through their dedication to serving the music. They have been recognized by many as a new force in the blues. Brad represented the Colorado Blues Society in the 2011 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis as their Youth Showcase entrant and has been compared to Jonny Lang and Bernard Allison. Nic has represented the Wyoming Blues & Jazz Society making his way to the finals in Memphis with his previous band, "Another Kind Of Magick", in 2012.

This year, Brad collaborated with Nic Clark, one of the youngest Hohner Harmonica sponsored players ever, and also one of the nation's most talented harmonica players. Nic started playing out in public only after 6 months of playing, and since then he has played at many great venues such as the Boulder Outlook Hotel, the Fox Theater, and at the Orpheum Theater during the 2012 International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. He has also opened shows for blues greats such as Chris Cain, John Nemeth, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. In less than a year, "Bad Brad & the Fat Cats" have played some of Colorado’s hottest music festivals including Bohemian Nights/NewWest Fest, The Greeley Blues Jam, and The Carbon Valley Music Festival. Brad and Nic’s soulful interplay between guitar and harmonica defies their youth.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Freddie King - Electric King... Plus (3 CD)

Album: Electric King... Plus
Size: 184,4 + 181,9 + 95,0 MB
Time: 79:53 + 8:47 + 40:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues
Art: Front, back

CD 1:
1. San-Ho-Zay (2:17)
2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (4:53)
3. Hideaway (4:26)
4. Play It Cool (4:05)
5. Sen-Sa-Shun (3:54)
6. Something You Got (4:11)
7. Intro Jam (1:25)
8. Big Legged Woman (6:43)
9. Woman Across The River (5:36)
10. Look Over Yonder Wall (7:09)
11. Ain't No Sunshine (13:57)
12. Red Light, Green Light (6:57)
13. Drums (1:37)
14. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (12:37)

CD 2:
1. Let The Good Times Roll (2:11)
2. Let The Good Times Roll (Continued) (6:42)
3. Goin' Down (6:08)
4. Big Legged Woman (5:00)
5. Woman Across The River (4:29)
6. While The Moon Is Shining Bright (6:19)
7. Ain't Nobody Business (7:52)
8. Key To The Highway (4:15)
9. Hideaway (5:14)
10. Goin' Down (5:16)
11. Early One Morning (6:28)
12. Come On (Part III) (7:09)
13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (9:54)
14. KZEW Outro (LSB Commercial) (1:44)

CD 3:
1. Hide Away (2:39)
2. Butterscotch (3:03)
3. Sen-Sa-Shun (2:52)
4. Side Tracked (3:06)
5. The Stumble (3:13)
6. Wash Out (2:35)
7. San-Ho-Zay (2:38)
8. Just Pickin' (2:31)
9. Heads Up (2:32)
10. In The Open (3:09)
11. Out Front (2:39)
12. Swooshy (2:20)
13. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me (4:13)
14. It's Easy Child (3:14)

Texas born Freddie King was one of the all time great blues guitarists, and was a major influence in the sixties on the likes of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. The first two CDs showcase live recordings from his classic repertoire over a period from 1969 to 1975. His signature tune “Hide Away” was named after a nightclub on Chicago’s Westside; “Mel’s Hideaway Lounge”.

The third CD is King’s studio album Let’s Hide Away And Dance Away which contains all his best known tracks including “Sen-Sa-Shun”, “Side Tracked”, and “San-Ho-Zay”, as well as “Hide Away”.

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Ted Vaughn Blues Band - The Ted Vaughn Blues Band

Size: 111,7 MB
Time: 47:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Them 12 Bar Blues (3:58)
2. Boom, Boom (3:06)
3. Killin' Floor (feat. Clay "Bone" King on Vocals) (4:13)
4. Nothin' But Trouble (7:10)
5. Swang Thang (2:28)
6. The Thrill Is Gone (6:20)
7. I Love You Baby (Hug and Squeeze You) (feat. Clay "Bone" King on Vocals) (4:38)
8. How Blue Can You Get ? (7:21)
9. Don't Put No Headstone On My Grave (4:03)
10. Treat Her Right (feat. Ted Larson on Vocals) (4:29)

Due to the popularity of their original music, the band was listed as one of the "Top Ten" bands for worldwide airplay on Jango internet radio and their self titled debut album garnered a nomination for "CD of the Year " from Indie Music Digest. The album caught the ear of Peter Holmstedt of the public relations firm Hemifran in Sweden resulting in massive airplay on the top radio stations throughout Europe and plans for upcoming European tours. Texas born Ted Vaughn, heads up the band on blues harp and vocals. Ted was heavily influenced by the local music scene in his hometown of Dallas that included musicians like Bugs Henderson, Anson Funderburgh, Sam Myers and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He studied music from the age of twelve and played trumpet in various bands including a stint in the Navy Jazz Band. As the son of a funeral director and grandson of a Baptist preacher, he honed his vocal skills in church choirs across the region. Although the blues is in his blood, he is also a fan of country music, especially artists like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and the Texas swing of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Ted incorporates elements of those musical styles into his songwriting and playing. He became friends with and was mentored by the late Texas blues icon Willie Willis , a member of the legendary Freddie Kings touring band. After leaving Texas and traveling the country , he garnered tips from some of the worlds top blues harp players including Sam Myers, James Harman and Charlie Musslewhite.

The Ted Vaughn Blues Band MP3

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Rare Amber - Rare Amber

Size: 103,9 MB
Time: 45:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1969
Styles: Blues-Rock, Blues
Art: Front, tray, inside

1. Malfunction Of The Engine (3:50)
2. You Ain't Made Yet (2:58)
3. It Hurts Me Too (3:34)
4. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss (3:35)
5. Night Life (5:16)
6. Custom Blues (3:11)
7. Popcorn Man (2:15)
8. Heartbreaker (2:49)
9. Solution (7:00)
10. Amber Blues (2:31)
11. Blues Never Die (2:05)
12. Malfunction Of The Engine (single A-side,1969) (3:24)
13. Blind Love (single B-side,1969) (2:30)

A short-lived blues rock quintet from London

Rare Amber MP3

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Tab Benoit - Night Train To Nashville

Album: Night Train To Nashville
Size: 130,9 MB
Time: 56:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Blues, Louisiana blues
Art: Full

1. Night Train (4:58)
2. Solid Simple Things (4:46)
3. Darkness (5:18)
4. Too Sweet For Me (4:54)
5. Moon Comin' Over The Hill (3:29)
6. Lost In Your Lovin' (4:16)
7. Rendezvous With The Blues (6:46)
8. Fever For The Bayou (3:34)
9. New Orleans Ladies (5:44)
10. Muddy Bottom Blues (6:33)
11. Stackolina (6:15)

Tab Benoit has gone the live route before on his recordings, and he's smart to keep reminding listeners every so often that that's where he's at his best. Which is not to take away from Benoit's studio recordings, all of which - including last year's excellent Power of the Pontchartrain - are admirable showcases for his consistently solid blues guitar chops and gritty vocalizing. As on the last effort, Benoit is backed here by the New Orleans fixture Louisiana's Leroux, who provide the kind of muscular foundation that makes Benoit's funk that much funkier.

They're all most at home when churning out a basic boogie like "Muddy Bottom Blues," one of a trio of songs on which Benoit and band are joined by Wet Willie's Jimmy Hall, and "Too Sweet for Me," which spotlights Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds on harp. But on the occasions when they lay low, like "Fever for the Bayou," with guest Jumpin' Johnny Sansome sailing on the accordion, Benoit finds a deeper connection with the soul of New Orleans, a soul that, in this post-Katrina age, we all need to connect with more than ever. /Jeff Tamarkin, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Tab Benoit - Best Of The Bayou Blues

Album: Best Of The Bayou Blues
Size: 179,3 MB
Time: 77:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Blues, Louisiana blues
Art: Full

1. Voodoo On The Bayou (3:19)
2. Drownin' On Dry Land (6:40)
3. Somehow (3:26)
4. Jambalaya (3:39)
5. Nice And Warm (7:16)
6. Rainy Day Blues (3:46)
7. Gone Too Long (4:27)
8. What I Live For (4:25)
9. Mother Earth (3:47)
10. Crawfishin' (4:20)
11. Standing On The Bank (5:30)
12. The Seventh Son (3:19)
13. You Got What I Want (4:06)
14. Cherry Tree Blues (6:47)
15. Hot Tamale Baby (5:30)
16. These Blues Are All Mine (7:01)

Tab Benoit's funky, ragged blend of Louisiana swamp blues and East Texas guitar, with hints of funk, soul, and country thrown in to give the gumbo just the right spice, has served him well since he burst on the scene in the early '90s. Since Benoit hasn't essentially changed his sound since, this collection of sides made up largely from his early releases for Houston-based Justice Records (all of Benoit's Justice albums have been reissued by Vanguard Records in recent years) makes an ideal introduction to what this guy is all about, and although Best of the Bayou Blues covers a five-year span from 1992 to 1997, the tracks all fall together in a completely coherent sequence.

Opening with the Benoit original "Voodoo on the Bayou" from 1992's Nice & Warm and running through several originals and some interesting covers (including country-funk takes on Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" and Willie Nelson's "Rainy Day Blues"), this set spotlights Benoit's southern Louisiana take on contemporary blues. He also delivers a stomping version of Willie Dixon's classic "The Seventh Son" and turns zydeco for a fiery live take of Clifton Chenier's "Hot Tamale Baby." Initially one is drawn to Benoit's laser-guided guitar tone, but he is also a fine and soulful singer, and there is more than a little country in his approach as well.

What makes him stand out in the crowded field of contemporary blues guitar wizards is the fact that he is fully grounded in the Louisiana bayou region, and he embraces local musical traditions while also bringing a distinctly modern vision to what he does. Benoit knows what he wants to do, he knows where to draw inspiration, and with his strong guitar playing and warm, flexible vocals, he knows how to make it happen. /Steve Leggett, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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The Jorgensens - Americana Soul

Album: Americana Soul
Size: 77,5 MB
Time: 33:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Soul/Roots/Blues mix
Art: Front

1. Old Black Crow (3:20)
2. Miles (3:21)
3. Boom Boom Boom (2:05)
4. Hey Baby (3:06)
5. Shake It (4:20)
6. Out Of My Mind (2:53)
7. Leave Your Light On (3:16)
8. Dark Road (3:43)
9. Twenty Years (3:34)
10. State Line (3:42)

Acclaimed blues/folk/jazz group The Jorgensens demonstrate how compelling and creative contemporary roots music can be on their new album Americana Soul. The platter blends heavy-duty grooves, sublime vocal harmonies, and razor-sharp playing with superior songwriting and a modern recording approach with impressive results. Led by dual vocalists and married couple Kurt and Brianna Jorgensen, the group has carved out an original sound by managing to fit their many influences together without being pretentious or heavy-handed. The pair use blues, bluegrass, spirituals, jazz, and more as flavors in their process in a natural way that emphasizes the connections the genres share.

The story of The Jorgensens began in 2014. That was the year that singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Brianna Tagg met vocalist/songwriter/guitarist/producer Kurt Jorgensen in St. Paul, Minnesota. They felt enough chemistry to start working together, writing songs and recording an album as a duo. Both artists were getting sober during that time and their musical and personal bonds grew stronger, culminating in a relationship and a marriage. The two are obvious soulmates who use that special connection and energy to power their songwriting and live performances. Along the way, they expanded their duo into a full band with the inclusion of Andra Lee Suchy (vocals), Brenda Lee King (bass), Jeff King (saxophone, clarinets), Jeff Levine (trumpet), Mark O’ Day (drums, percussion), and C Harris (percussion). They’re an agile and flexible unit able to shift beats and styles at the drop of a Fender Medium.

Americana Soul is an honest record that’s authentic to the people who made it. The Jorgensens aren’t here to teach history but to arrive at the future of roots music the way they hear it. From the opening cut “Old Black Crow,” which is also their current single, the band doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before. It’s constructed on a quarter-note pulse and topped with slide guitar, velvet-covered vocals, an R&B chorus hook, and a Latin groove at the end. Kurt Jorgensen is a stinging slide player and a fine singer who makes the most of every measure on this one. “Miles” is a road song and an ideal soundtrack for some all-night driving. Briana Jorgensen takes the lead vocal spot on this pumping mid-speed track that’s loaded with more of Kurt’s slide work. Briana has a strong presence in front of the band and adds a smoldering vibe that’s instantly addictive. The horns contribute their own glowing smoothness to the cut, as do the backup vocals.

The funky “Boom Boom Boom” is lighthearted and acoustic at its core and spotlights Kurt’s singing talents. It’s a fun song that celebrates the best parts of a great woman and the salvation she brings. It’s only a bit more than two minutes in length, so don’t let it slip by you. The Jorgensens get moody on the banjo-enhanced “Shake It” that pushes forward with the inevitability of rising flood waters. Kurt and Briana conjure a spiritual vibration on it that speaks of both hard times and survival at the same time. Even though the overall sound is contemporary, The Jorgensens handle the components of the song in a vintage, human way that never lets you forget where this music comes from.

Americana Soul is full of such bright spots and you’re going to want to bask in them all. Be sure to catch “Leave Your Light On,” “Dark Road,” and the final cut “State Line.” The Jorgensens are at the vanguard of roots music and are taking it to places it has never been. They rise above their influences and have developed something of their own, which is pretty rare these days. Get this record into your headphones and smile! /Mike O'Cull

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Howard Tate - Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 009)

Source: Vinyl (clean)
Size: 52.1 MB
Time: 22:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Acoustic Blues
Art: Full

01. Look At Granny Run (2:35)
02. Sweet Sixteen (5:04)
03. Louisiana 1927 (3:45)
04. I'll Be Home (4:49)
05. Dear Lord (3:43)
06. Ain't Nobody Home (2:30)

All tracks were recorded live, direct-to-disc at Blue Heaven Studios, Salina, Kansas.
Singer Howard Tate cracked the R&B Top 20 three times in the late 1960s, left music and endured hardship and anonymity for nearly 30 years and beginning in the early 2000s returned to his rightful place as one of America's most revered soul performers.

Tate was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1939 and moved with his family to Philadelphia as a young boy. In his teens, he joined a north Philadelphia gospel group, the Gainors, that also featured to-be star Garnet Mimms. The group recorded in the early 1960s for Mercury Records and Cameo Records before Tate left to become the featured singer of organist Bill Doggett's group.

In the mid-'60s, Mimms urged producer Jerry Ragovoy to check out Tate, and from 1966 to 1969 Tate and Ragovoy recorded about 10 singles, the first for the Utopia label, the rest for Verve. "Ain't Nobody Home" (1966), "Look At Granny Run Run" (1966) and "Stop" (1967), all written or co-written by Ragovoy, each charted R&B Top 20. But to rock audiences, Tate was best known as the original performer of "Get It While You Can," which became one of Janis Joplin's signature tunes. Tate's debut album, Get It While You Can, was released in 1966 to tremendous acclaim. Rolling Stone called the album "a spectacular showcase of suave, muscular good-powered singing, heavily influenced by Sam Cooke, with a joyous, shrieking falsetto that became Tate's trademark."

Tate recorded a few more singles for Lloyd Price's label, Turntable, before reuniting briefly with Ragovoy for sessions on Atlantic. After one more single on Epic in 1974, Tate all but vanished. Despite his success, he was unhappy with how the music business was treating him, never having seen any royalties.

Tate sold securities in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas into the 1980s when he succumbed to substance abuse and endured a very tumultuous period of homelessness and personal loss. He turned his life around and began work as a minister and counselor in the early 1990s. Then in 2001, a musician Tate had toured with back in the 1960s saw him in a supermarket and within hours Tate's old producer, Jerry Ragovoy, was calling, resulting in a return to the studio for the Grammy-nominated Rediscovered. He followed up with Howard Tate Live in 2006, A Portrait Of Howard - with guests Lou Reed, Carla Bley and Larry Goldings - in 2007 and Blue Day in 2008.

Music luminaries have recognized and celebrated Tate's trademark voice throughout the years, with Elvis Costello calling him "the missing link between Jackie Wilson and Al Green." Among the well-known musicians that have covered songs originally recorded by Tate are Joplin ("Get It While You Can"), Jimi Hendrix ("Stop"), Hugh Masekela ("Stop"), B.B. King ("Ain't Nobody Home"), Ry Cooder ("Look At Granny Run Run") and Grand Funk Railroad ("Look At Granny Run Run").

Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 009) MP3
Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 009) FLAC

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Nico Wayne Toussaint - Burning Light

Size: 108.7 MB
Time: 46:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Remembering John Cambell (3:55)
02. Wanna Try Somebody (3:50)
03. Valentine (2:49)
04. One More Day (4:37)
05. Burning Light (2:40)
06. Lonely Number (3:08)
07. Living On The Highway (3:32)
08. Jesse James (3:46)
09. Give Me Back The Key (2:48)
10. Go On Greyhound (4:07)
11. How Long To Heal (4:54)
12. My One Last Chance (3:26)
13. I Thank The Lord (2:48)

Nico, alone in the studio, guitar-harmonica-vocal format, reinterprets 7 of his old compositions and brings 6 new original songs to his repertoire. A 13 tracks album, which sounds like an ode to the roots blues, a tribute to Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker and Louisiana Red.

Burning Light MP3
Burning Light FLAC

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Little Jenny & The Blue Beans - At The End Of The Day (Live)

Size: 134.4 MB
Time: 57:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Lily Sue (3:15)
02. Move My Wings (5:32)
03. Here And Gone (4:31)
04. Blue Bean Boogie (5:30)
05. The Reason Why (5:46)
06. What You Have Done To Me (2:58)
07. Surgery Blues (4:52)
08. Never Coming Back (3:00)
09. Peacock Man (4:31)
10. First Time (4:38)
11. Nothing Can Stop You Now (3:48)
12. Led Blues (5:08)
13. Ocean Waves (3:50)

Personnel:
Little Jenny - Vocals, Harmonica and Guitar
Mia Kempff - Bass and Vocals
Lotta Partapuoli - Guitar
Justina Lakin - Drums

This album was recorded on tour in 2009, little more than a year before leadsinger and bandleader Jenny Bohman left us.

It was a dark weekend in mid-November 2010 as the Swedish blues singer and muli-talented musician Jenny Bohman died from cancer, only 47 years old. A sad day for both music lovers and all of us whose lives are enriched by Jenny's heat and warm personality. Jenny was a true musician. She belonged to the lustful kind of music that had played in whatever age she had been born - and whether there was money to be or not. Maybe she did not become rich from music, but she was certainly rich in music.

Little Jenny & the Blue Beans were a sultry Blues Rock act from Scandinavian. The band was first formed in 1997 and since then their career had seen them feature at many of the major European festivals including: Belgium RnB Fesitval, Peer; Copenhagen Blues Festival, Denmark; Åmåls Bluesfestival, Sweden and the Lahti Blues Festival, Finland. They also regularly toured in France as well as Scandinavia and had recently begun to break through in the United Kingdom.

They were four experienced, skilful positive funny and dynamic ladies that just loved to improvise and surprise you on their musical jorney. Little Jenny herself had been the recipient of two of the top Swedish blues awards: the Jan Rosenqvist award in 1998 and the Amal blues festival award in 2001.

She is now considered to be one of Sweden’s greatest blues harmonica players. Little Jenny has a fine blues pedigree having toured and recorded with the likes of Eric Bibb between 1990 and up till today, and had toured Germany dozens of times with Monaco Blues Band.

Other career highlights include her performing at the Mustique Blues Festival with the English blues diva Dana Gillespie. Alongside Little Jenny, all the band members have years of experience backing a large number of Sweden’s most famous artists and enjoy endorsements from some of Scandinavia’s top industry players.

The Blue Beans had also a strong desire to spread the world of blues to the younger generation. They were regularly making school concerts and workshops for adolescents. Combining concerts with workshops was also an option for those interested.

So what could you expect from a Little Jenny and the Blue Beans gig? They played a suggestive bluesrock mix. Harmonica and guitar duels were commonly interspersed with refreshing drum solos when least expected. 90% of the songs are originals and their philosophy was that they are best experienced LIVE - the connection between the audience and the band being the most essential element in their playing.

At The End Of The Day (Live) MP3
At The End Of The Day (Live) FLAC

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Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm - Rocks The Blues

Album: Rocks The Blues
Size: 138,4 + 148,5 MB
Time: 59:20 + 63:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Blues/R&B
Art: Full

CD 1:
1. Ike Turner - Cuban Getaway (Bayou Rock) (3:12)
2. Ike Turner - You're Driving Me Insane (2:25)
3. Ike Turner - Troubles And Heartaches (2:36)
4. Dennis Binder - Nobody Wants Me (2:37)
5. Dennis Binder - Early Times (2:29)
6. Dennis Binder - You Got Me Way Down Here (2:46)
7. Dennis Binder - I Miss You So (3:05)
8. Little Johnny Burton - Talking About Me (2:34)
9. Little Johnny Burton - Why Did You Go Away (2:15)
10. Little Johnny Burton - Walk My Way Home (2:37)
11. Little Johnny Burton - One Day (2:41)
12. Lover Boy - The Way You Used To Treat Me (2:38)
13. Lover Boy - Why Did You Leave Me (2:31)
14. Clayton Love - Why Don't You Believe In Me (2:53)
15. Clayton Love - Wicked Little Baby (2:34)
16. Mary Sue - Everybody's Talking (2:44)
17. Mary Sue - Love Is A Gamble (3:06)
18. Ike Turner - Go To It (Stringin' Along) (2:24)
19. Ike Turner - Loosely (The Wild One) (2:31)
20. Mat Cockrell - (Baby) Please (2:00)
21. Mat Cockrell - Gypsy Blues (3:13)
22. J.W. Walker - Why Won't You Be True (3:18)

CD 2:
1. Ike Turner - Cubano Jump (Hey Miss Tina) (2:17)
2. Ike Turner - All The Blues All The Time (8:44)
3. J.W. Walker - J.W.'s Blues (2:34)
4. J.W. Walker - Sitting Here Wondering (2:43)
5. J.W. Walker - Can't You See My Baby (2:02)
6. Johnny Wright - The World Is Yours (2:51)
7. Johnny Wright - Suffocate (2:44)
8. Billy Gayles - I Miss You So (2:48)
9. Billy Gayles - Night Howler (2:12)
10. Billy Gayles - My Heart In Your Hands (2:31)
11. Billy Gayles - A Woman Just Won't Do (2:15)
12. Billy Gayles - I'm Tired Of Being Dogged Around (2:24)
13. Ike & Bonnie - Lookin' For My Baby (2:30)
14. Ike & Bonnie - My Heart Belongs To You (2:53)
15. Lover Boy - Love Is Scarce (2:19)
16. Lover Boy - Nobody Seems To Want Me (2:32)
17. Lonnie 'The Cat' - I Ain't Drunk (2:24)
18. Lonnie 'The Cat' - The Road I Have To Travel (2:05)
19. Eugene Fox - Fox's Dream (4:13)
20. Brother Bell - Whole Heap Of Mama (2:35)
21. Brother Bell - If You Feel Froggish (3:03)
22. Johnny Wright - The World Is Yours (Tk. 5) (2:51)

Rocks The Blues is the first album credited to musician Ike Turner. Released in 1963 from Crown Records, it contains mostly previously released singles from the 1950s. After the release of "Rocket 88" in 1951, Ike Turner became a session musician and production assistant for the Bihari brothers at Modern Records. They also contracted him as a talent scout to exploit his connections in the Delta Blues scene. Unaware of songwriter's royalties, Turner was also paid to write new material which they copyrighted under their own names.

A majority of the tracks on Rocks The Blues were written by Turner, but credited to him and the Bihari brothers. The Biharis were not songwriters, they used pseudonyms for songwriting credits: Julius Bihari was credited as Jules Taub, Joseph Bihari as Joe Josea, and Saul Bihari as Sam Ling. The album starts off with the blues rock instrumental "Hey Miss Tina" and culminates with a nearly 9-minute blues medley titled "All The Blues, All The Time" for the closing song. Dennis Binder is the lead vocalist on "I Miss You So" and "Nobody Wants Me." "Cubano Jump," "Loosely," "Cuban Getaway," and "Go To It" which were originally released on Flair Records in 1954, have a different title on this album.

Rocks The Blues was released on Crown Records, a subsidiary of Modern Records. By the time the album was released in 1963, Turner had already had a string of hit records as half of the R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner. Rocks The Blues was reissued by P-Vine Records as a 2-CD compilation in 1993. It features many more recordings from Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm. /Wikipedia

Rocks The Blues (2 CD) mc
Rocks The Blues (2 CD) zippy

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Blue Largo - Got To Believe

Album: Got To Believe
Size: 121,8 MB
Time: 52:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Soul/Blues/Roots mix
Art: Front, back

1. A World Without Soul (6:07)
2. Got To Believe (4:26)
3. Soul Meeting (6:56)
4. What We Gotta Do (5:33)
5. Disciple Of Soul (3:27)
6. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (5:18)
7. Soldier In The Army Of Love (4:16)
8. Ronnie (4:07)
9. Gospel Music (3:49)
10. Rear View Mirror (5:59)
11. Santa Fe Bound (2:39)

Blue Largo’s Got to Believe is the long-awaited follow up to 2018’s Before the Devil Steals Your Soul. The new disc includes 10 original songs from the pen of guitarist Eric Lieberman and one fresh take on a legendary classic. All 11 tracks reflect a deep and personal perspective on some of life’s most defining moments. The record speaks to love, loss, and reconciliation but the real, underlying theme here seems to be one of encouragement and optimism. In a world where we could all use a glimmer of hope, Blue Largo says you just “got to believe.” The sound is definitely beefier, with two horns, a Hammond, and choral arrangements, but this collaboration of artists and friends continue to demonstrate their ability to play almost any musical style or genre - and have one hell of a time doing it.

The opening track, “A World Without Soul,” is a call for action. Get rid of your tech gadgets and take some time to enjoy the artistry and beauty that surrounds you. This particular track highlights the rollicking piano of Taryn “T-Bird” Donath and really sets the tempo for the entire album. The title track, “Got to Believe,” is a statement of fact on the downbeat. Whatever the world throws at you, you have the ability to deal with it and come back even stronger. Eddie Croft and that rich, tenor sax just kills. “Soul Meeting” is a love song that spans this life and possibly, the next. Vocalist Alicia Aragon, backed by the angelic Ajuzie sisters, take you to church. The weeping Hammond of Jody Bagley puts you squarely in the front pew. Simply put, there are no heartbeats more important than those beating inside the ones you love. The song “What We Gotta Do” is a fast-paced romp through every juke joint and barrelhouse this side of Memphis. Between the Bagley and Donath exchange on keys and the locomotive horn section of David Castel de Oro and Eddie Croft, this band can and does rock.

Guitarist Scot Smart guests on the reggae-influenced “Disciple of Soul.” The song was inspired, according to Lieberman, by Little Steven Van Zandt, who’s been an influence since his teens. There is only one cover song on this album and that’s the track “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” You have to feel that both Nina Simone and the Animals would get a kick out of this version. And yes, that is a baritone guitar. “Soldier in the Army of Love” comes right out of today’s headlines. Blue Largo dedicated it to the people of Ukraine, but it’s really a shout out to the world; the clock is ticking. “Ronnie” is a tribute to the late guitarist Ronnie Lane, who was a mentor and lifelong friend of keyboardist Taryn Donath. Yes, it’s the story of loss but you definitely get a sense of joy coming through Donath’s fingertips. It’s a reminder that friends never really leave you. The straight-forward “Gospel Music” is motivational and inspirational ‘cause it makes you “feel so good.” Get on your feet; put your hands in the air and shout Hallelujah!

The nostalgic “Rear View Mirror” is a look back at the road we’ve traveled and just how far we’ve come. No matter what life has in store, we face it together. The full chorus and the Hammond organ…and the angels sing! The last track on the album was a real surprise and Lieberman titled it “Santa Fe Bound.” It’s a straight-up country tribute to old friends. No trucks or dogs but it does feature the stellar pedal steel of David Berzansky. You can’t praise the rhythm section of this band enough. From big band charts and gospel praise to country music and reggae, drummer Marcus Bashore and bassist Mike Jones are masterful in their chosen crafts. But then, the Southern California dance community has known Blue Largo for a very long time. /Tim Mattox, San Diego Troubadour

Got To Believe mc
Got To Believe zippy

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Joe Beard - Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 021)

Size: 54.5 MB
Time: 23:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Acoustic Blues
Art: Full

01. New York Woman (4:39)
02. Going Back To Mississippi (4:43)
03. I Want To Get Close To You (2:51)
04. No More Cherry Rose (3:26)
05. Every 60 Seconds (3:18)
06. Tired Of The Way We Are Living (4:32)

All tracks were recorded live, direct-to-disc at Blue Heaven Studios, Salina, Kansas.

Born and raised in Ashland, MS, guitarist Joe Beard grew up with the Murphy brothers, one of whom later found an international following as Matt "Guitar" Murphy. Guitarist Nathan Beauregard lived with Beard's cousin, so he was surrounded by aspiring and veteran blues musicians while growing up, and he began singing at an early age. Beard became interested in playing guitar via the Murphy brothers, who sat in with a young B.B. King when he played at the Roosevelt Lake Club. Beard began to learn guitar at age 17 from Ernest Scruggs, a neighbor, before heading to Chicago.

Beard moved to Rochester, NY, and from time to time would visit one of his brothers in Chicago. He quickly became enamored of the blues being played in clubs there by people like Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson. Beard sat in with John Lee Hooker one night and received encouraging words from Hooker, and also later sat in with his idol, Muddy Waters.

While in Rochester, he formed the Soul Brothers Six, playing bass and singing, but he didn't perform in public on guitar until 1965. Beard befriended classic blues guitarist Son House, who was a neighbor in Rochester, and played a concert for students at the University of Rochester in 1968. Beard worked as an electrician by day and would occasionally play out at night and on weekends for most of the '60s on through to the '80s. He has a reputation as one of the best local players around, and though he may not be a household name in other parts of the U.S., he toured Europe in 1983 and did studio and stage work with Buster Benton, Lafayette Leake, and Memphis Slim. At the famed BK Lounge, Beard and his backing bands opened for Bobby Bland, Albert King, and others. More recently, Beard performed at President George H.W. Bush's inaugural gala. In 1990, he recorded an album for Kingsnake Records, No More Cherry Rose, which was well received by the blues radio community.

Beard recorded an album with Ronnie Earl's band for the California-based AudioQuest label, Blues Union (1996). Accompanying him are Hammond B-3 organist Bruce Katz and tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman. The album was a critical success, winning Offbeat Magazine's Blues Album of the Year award. He followed it up with 1998's For Real and 2000's Dealin', both records featuring Duke Robillard. ~Richard Skelly

Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 021) MP3
Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 021) FLAC

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Paolo Demontis & The Good Gheddo - Live Blues Blast

Size: 169.4 MB
Time: 73:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Talk Is Cheap (Live) (3:41)
02. I Wish You Would (Live) (7:16)
03. Lollipop Mama (Live) (4:18)
04. Talking To You (Live) (5:45)
05. Hoochie Coochie Man (Live) (5:40)
06. Born In Chicago (Live) (3:19)
07. I Believe (Live) (6:40)
08. Don't Touch My Blues (Live) (7:01)
09. Tequila Nights (Live) (3:43)
10. Another Fine Day (Live) (5:25)
11. Juke (Live) (4:17)
12. Shake Your Hips (Live) (6:09)
13. Triple Trouble (Live) (5:20)
14. The Creeper (Live) (4:56)

When reviewing Paolo Demontis’ previous releases Blues Blast writer Greg Szalony suggested that “after two CDs of much the same, it may well be time to add a few musicians into the mix”. Well, looks like Greg’s advice has been heeded, as Paolo has joined forces with established trio Good Gheddo to form this quartet: Paolo on harp and vocals, Vincent Petrone on guitar and vocals, Paolo Sclaverano on bass and Luca Bozzola on drums. This album was recorded live in April 2022 in Rivoli, Italy and we get to hear the whole show here, a substantial fourteen tunes, three originals and eleven covers.

As Greg noted in his previous reviews, Paolo sings with a heavy accent, but is clearly a master practitioner on his chosen instrument. The accent is less of a problem on familiar tunes like Billy Boy Arnold’s “I Wish You Would”, rather more so on less frequently heard songs like William Clarke’s “Lollipop Mama”, but both tracks have great solo work from harp and guitar. Many of the tunes are reprised from the cream of harp players’ repertoires and there are some familiar names there, Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, James Cotton as well as more ‘modern’ exponents like Gary Primich and Tim Gonzalez. The Butterfield selection is “Born In Chicago” (though actually written by vocalist Nick Gravenites) and is given a rough and ready treatment, the shortest cut on the album. Little Walter’s “Juke” is the classic for harp players to strut their stuff and Paolo really impresses here, the tune placed at the start of a rousing finale to the album, immediately followed by the familiar sounds of “Shake Your Hips” (complete with vocals through the harp mike), Primich’s “Triple Trouble” (distorted vocals did not help here) and Cotton’s famous instrumental “The Creeper” which closes the show in fine fashion.

Material from outside the harp players’ union includes Johnny Winter’s “Talk Is Cheap” which opens the set, Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man”, played in a slightly more funky style than we usually hear, and “Another Fine Day” by Patrick Ford, the drummer brother of guitarist Robben. The three originals are neatly shared across the band: Vincent’s shuffle “Talking To You” sounds good and the vocals are clearer (perhaps Vincent singing on his own song?); as on most of the tunes here, the instrumental features are strong, this time mainly the guitar. “Don’t Touch My Blues” is a slow blues from Paolo which opens with an extended statement from Vincent before Paolo enters on vocals; at seven minutes there is ample space for both men to feature at length. The third original “I Believe” is credited to the whole band and works off a nagging riff from which Paolo launches a fine solo.

Overall this live recording shows what the band is all about with plenty of guitar and harp work on show.

Live Blues Blast MP3
Live Blues Blast FLAC

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VA - Seasons Greetings From The Mojo Man (KMCD171)

Size: 167.2 MB
Time: 72:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B, Christmas
Art: Front & Back

01 Johnny Otis, Little Esther & Mel Walker - Christmas Greeting (0:33)
02 Billy Eckstine - Christmas Eve (3:04)
03 Chuck Edwards - Let's Rock N' Roll (2:53)
04 Big Bud - Snow Man Rock (2:04)
05 Lord Nelson - A Party For Santa Claus (3:02)
06 Lionel Hampton - Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus (2:48)
07 The Platters - Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer (1:55)
08 Roy Tan & The Combo - Happy New Year (2:17)
09 Sonny Boy Williamson - Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues (2:36)
10 Sugar Chile Robinson - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (2:37)
11 Jerry Butler - O Holy Night (2:55)
12 The Gospel Solotones - Ride In The Chariot (2:18)
13 Nina Simone - Children Go Where I Send You (2:52)
14 Clarence Garlow - Let Me Be Your Santa (2:57)
15 The Staples Singers - Born In Bethlehem (2:04)
16 Sandy Baron - Swingin' Santa (2:21)
17 Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) (3:11)
18 The Uniques - Rock 'n' Rudolph (1:42)
19 Big Tiny Little - Tiny's Christmas Medley (2:50)
20 Singing Sammy Marshall - Jingle Mint Twist (1:52)
21 Jessie Belvin - I Want You With Me Christmas (3:39)
22 Bobby Nunn - Christmas Bells (2:47)
23 Chubby Checker & Bobby Rydell - Jingle Bell Rock (2:32)
24 Lowell Fulson - Lonesome Christmas (2:11)
25 Jerry Butler - Silent Night (2:41)
26 Roy Milton - Christmas Time Blues (3:05)
27 John Lee Hooker - Blues For Christmas (3:29)
28 Amos Milburn - Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby (2:54)

The Mojo Man presents another album for the festive season with 'The Mojo Man Christmas'. With twenty-eight handpicked tracks, The Mojo Man Christmas' sets out to live up to its title with a variety of numbers to get you in the mood for this special time of year. Its Overfilled with a variety of Christmas tracks, and serves as a reminder of the quality that has gone before, such as Lord Nelson - A Party For Santa Claus and ending with a bang via early Rhythm and Blues of Amos Milburn - Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby, this is one neverending Christmas party you won't want to miss.

Seasons Greetings From The Mojo Man (KMCD171)

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Mitch Ryder - Air Harmonie: Live In Bonn 2008 (Feat. Engerling)

Size: 169.3 MB
Time: 72:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Rock, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Moondog House (Live) (4:35)
02. Long Hard Road (Live) (6:50)
03. All The Fools It Sees (Live) (5:37)
04. When You Were Mine (Live) (3:45)
05. Rock 'n' Roll (Live) (5:38)
06. Heaven Takes You Back (Live) (6:10)
07. Yeah You Right (Live) (4:36)
08. 21St Century (Live) (3:41)
09. The Testament (Live) (6:58)
10. The Thrill Of It All (Live) (4:27)
11. Jenny Take A Ride (Live) (3:40)
12. Take Me To The River (Live) (9:20)
13. Gimmie Shelter (Live) (7:32)

30 years after his move to Germany to find acceptance in a market that responded to him, 40 years after the hits he still has to lean on to get a job in the United States, Mitch Ryder can still deliver the goods. Air Harmonie, a live recording from his 2008 European tour, finds the rock legend in top form throughout a thirteen-song set recorded at a show in Bonn, Germany. Backed by his German band Engerling, Ryder peppers the set list with favorites old and new but they all sound fresh and vital. Despite introducing himself as “from Detroit” (as if no one in the audience would recognize him), Ryder has been touring Europe annually and has always played shows deep in catalogue, and this one is no exception. (It’s a far cry from his stateside profile, where his few appearances have been relegated to oldies shows like Hippiefest.)

Engerling is tight and versatile and an excellent match for Ryder’s material, with guitarist Pitti Piatkowski a particular standout. On leadoff track “Moondog House”, he flaunts a greasy slide riff that would make David Lindley jealous, and his flashy fretwork on “Long Hard Road” and others is extremely tasty. But what is most impressive is Ryder’s voice, a better instrument now than in his heyday. He can still shout and wail, but his timbre and control make him a far better blues singer at sixty-four than he ever was before. “All the Fools It Sees” and “The Testament” are soulful and pleading, and the pain expressed in these songs of mistrust and abandonment might have deeper roots in the truth than he’s willing to admit. They are mesmerizing.

Two tracks are from his last American release, Never Kick a Sleeping Dog, the 1983 album produced by John Mellencamp. His cover of Prince’s “When You Were Mine” is a live staple and as much his song now as is Lou Reed’s “Rock ’n’ Roll” (also in this set). But the live version of “The Thrill of it All” is a revelation. Where Mellencamp buried the track in echo and handclaps, Ryder is able to dig into the meat of the song and really drive it home with a fiercer arrangement. The Detroit Wheels days are represented by a spirited “Jenny Take a Ride”, which leads into the expansive set-closers “Take Me to the River” and “Gimme Shelter” (another long-time concert favorite). Those not familiar with his vast catalogue will no doubt be surprised by the jazzy honky-tonk that permeates both “Yeah You Right” and “The 21st Century”. It’s a well balanced, masterfully performed set of songs that must have been a thrill to witness in the flesh. I’m thankful it was captured for posterity.

Air Harmonie was released by BuschFunk, Ryder’s German label also responsible for his two most recent studio efforts The Acquitted Idiot (2006) and You Deserve My Art (2008). He also recently recorded new material with producer Don Was, and the result (tentatively titled The Promise) is slated to be his first album in his homeland in over a quarter-century. America doesn’t know what it’s been missing all these years, but between this live album and the prospect of that new one, they’ll soon have the chance to kiss and make up with one of the true legends of rock music.

Air Harmonie: Live In Bonn 2008 (Feat. Engerling) MP3
Air Harmonie: Live In Bonn 2008 (Feat. Engerling) FLAC

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Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton - The Stardust Sessions EP

Size: 59 MB
Time: 9:06
File: FLAC
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Brand New Cadillac (2:37)
02. Feelin' Good (2:24)
03. I'll Be Here In The Morning (4:04)

Guitar badass Samantha Fish and outlaw country maverick Jesse Dayton have released their first collaborative effort, ‘The Stardust Sessions.’ This EP is available digitally HERE.
It started out as an innocent co-writing session between the two musicians. They envisioned a sound that married the explosive blues with alt-rock. On the last day in their New Orleans studio, they jammed on some songs that embodied this musical aesthetic and were eager to hear how their voices and guitars meshed. So, they let tape roll, and the unexpected result was “The Stardust Sessions.” The pair recorded “Brand New Cadillac,” made famous by The Clash but originally written in the late 1950s by Vince Taylor, “I’ll Be Here in The Morning” by Townes Van Zandt, and “Feelin’ Good” by Magic Sam.

Joining them in the studio were bassist Austin Clements (Omari Neville), and drummer Mike Dillon (Rickie Lee Jones, Les Claypool Garage Jazz Band), with Rueben Williams wearing the producer’s hat. “The Stardust Sessions” will precede a full-length album containing 10 new original songs written by the pair and produced by the legendary Jon Spencer. The album, “Death Wish Blues,” will be released in late spring via Rounder Records.

Fish and Dayton plan on unleashing the three new cover songs in concert as well as unveiling several of their new tunes that will see the light of day with the release of Death Wish Blues.

An award-winning singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Samantha Fish has released six albums over the course of her acclaimed career, with 2019’s Faster and 2021’s Kill or Be Kind both appearing on Rounder Records. “It’s not pure rock and roll, it’s not pure blues, it’s not pure soul, it’s not pure pop — it’s a mixture of everything,” she says of her genre-bending sound, which has regularly taken Fish around the world. A road warrior, she performs 200 shows yearly, both domestically and abroad.

Jesse Dayton has been bringing his unique mashup of East Texas/Louisiana Blues, old-school country, and punk rock to the world since he released his debut album in 1995. Thirteen records later, he remains a staple on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country and the Americana Radio charts, where his debut LP Raising Cain reached Number 1. Jesse’s career reads like a veritable “who’s who” of American music. He’s toured with Social Distortion, Supersuckers, George Strait, Ryan Bingham, and L.A. punk pioneers X and has recorded with legends such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and Willie Nelson. He has also recorded three soundtracks for filmmaker Rob Zombie. One can read about Dayton’s storied past in his 2022 memoir, Beaumonster.

The Stardust Sessions EP

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VA - Delmark Harmonica Blues Collection

Size: 154.2 MB
Time: 65:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01 Junior Wells - Yonder Wall (4:10)
02 Little Walter - I Just Keep Lovin' You (2:56)
03 Magic Sam - That Ain't It (Shakey Jake On Harmonica) (2:50)
04 Alfred 'Blues King' Harris - My Life Blues (3:06)
05 Al Miller - I Got It (3:04)
06 Little Arthur Duncan - My Baby Left Me Out On The Road (3:45)
07 Sleepy John Estes - Martha Hardin (Hammie Nixon On Harmonica) (3:43)
08 Big Walter Horton - Hard Hearted Woman (3:05)
09 Mad Dog Lester Davenport - Goin' Away (3:27)
10 Tail Dragger - So Ezee (Little Mac Simmons On Harmonica) (3:48)
11 Golden 'Big' Wheeler - Connie (3:30)
12 Louis Meyers - That's All Right (1:51)
13 Demetria Taylor - Big Boss Man (Billy Branch On Harmonica) (4:48)
14 Little Sammy Davis - That's My Girl (3:54)
15 Mississippi Heat - Calypso In Blue (Pierre Lacoque On Hamonica) (5:35)
16 Omar Coleman - Sit Down Baby (3:18)
17 Syl Johnson - Talkin' Bout Chicago (3:39)
18 Carey Bell - Sad Dreams (4:45)

A compilation of works with great harmonica playing from the vast amount of recordings left on Delmark Records, Chicago's prestigious blues label, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary (as of 2018). Included are masterpieces by Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Tail Dragger, Little Walter, and others.

Delmark Harmonica Blues Collection MP3
Delmark Harmonica Blues Collection FLAC

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VA - Blues Singles Collection Vol. 55

Size: 239.3 MB
Time: 101:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Electric Blues, Rock Blues
Art: Front

01 Feather & The White - Mary-Ann (2:16)
02 Taj Mahal - Baby, It's Cold Outside (4:31)
03 Bai Kamara Jr. - Lover, Oh Lover (2:42)
04 Red Beans & Pepper Sauce - Gonna Dance (4:04)
05 The Michael Mills Band - Merry Christmas Baby (Feat. Tom Hambridge) (4:31)
06 Chris Kramer - If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time (Feat. Jens Filser) (2:56)
07 T Bear - Christmas On The Row (Live) (5:44)
08 Mick Clarke - Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart (4:02)
09 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - Elevate Yourself (4:15)
10 Nuno Mindelis - So Excited (5:49)
11 Among Lynx - Lola Luna (3:36)
12 Joe Louis Walker - The Weight Of The World (4:25)
13 Jimmy Johnson - Steal Away (3:24)
14 The Sheepdogs - I'm Ready For Christmas (2:25)
15 GA-20 - Atl (5:12)
16 Muddy What? - Dead Cigars (5:31)
17 Jeremy Edge - Move On (Feat. Derek Sherinian) (4:52)
18 Fantastic Negrito - Oh Betty (Acoustic) (4:06)
19 Milk'n Blues - Push (3:11)
20 Charlie Argo - Merry Christmas From Me (3:14)
21 Harlis Sweetwater - Down To The Delta (4:42)
22 Gugun Blues Shelter - Down And Dirty (4:23)
23 Chris Kramer - Wade In The Water (Feat. Jens Filser) (2:24)
24 Fernando Noronha & Black Soul - Sea Of Blues (4:34)
25 Mike Sponza - Let It Fall (4:26)

A collection of blues singles released in November/December 2022 compiled by myself.

Blues Singles Collection Vol. 55

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VA - Desperate Man Blues: Discovering the Roots of American Music

Size: 185 MB
Time: 58:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. We Live a Long Time to Get Old (2:29)
2. Cross Road Blues (2:41)
3. When I'm Gone (3:13)
4. Death Valley Is Just Half Way to My Home (3:30)
5. Whoop 'Em Up, Cindy (2:51)
6. Statesboro Blues (2:34)
7. It Won't Be Long (3:22)
8. Death Letter Blues (4:32)
9. Hard Time Blues (3:18)
10. Indian War Whoop (3:09)
11. Paddlin' Madeline Blues (3:19)
12. Mandolin Blues (2:43)
13. Coo-Coo Bird (2:57)
14. John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man (2:56)
15. Lost Child (3:07)
16. Bugle Call Rag (2:46)
17. Sail Away Lady (2:59)
18. Original Stack O' Lee Blues (2:42)
19. Dark Was the Night--Cold Was the Ground (3:17)

Desperate Man Blues: Discovering the Roots of American Music FLAC

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Tom Hubbard - Slidin' at Ya Live

Size: 298 MB
Time: 50:10
File: Flac
Released: 1999
Styles: Blues, slide blues
Art: Full

1. Country Boy (5:37)
2. Look Over Yonders Wall (5:43)
3. Hard Times on the Farm (9:11)
4. Ace of My Heart (4:18)
5. Baby, Please Don't Go (3:42)
6. Nawlins' Time (4:46)
7. You Told Me (5:41)
8. Love Me or Leave Me (3:58)
9. Kind Hearted Woman (7:10)

Tom Hubbard is a virtuoso of the slide guitar. With over seven worldwide album releases and a constant exhaustive touring schedule globally, Tom Hubbard's energetic performances have attracted followers on all continents. ...

Slidin' at Ya Live FLAC

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T. Leino Band - Dynamite Boogie

Size: 223
Time: 35:37
File: Flac
Released: 2009
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Jumpin' At Main Street (3:37)
2. Juke Joint Boogie (3:52)
3. Meet Me At Midnight (3:21)
4. I Had A Dream (3:50)
5. Dynamite Boogie (3:24)
6. Hello Stranger (3:26)
7. Drinkin' And Hidin' (4:03)
8. Snake Bite (3:02)
9. Stranger In My House (3:41)
10. Big Fat Woman (3:19)

Towards the top of the year Tomi Leino and his bands play with a nice mood on their first long-awaited album "Dynamite Boogie". The album is one of the best of the year in the field of blues, says Kake Kiirikki. The T. Leino Band , which belongs to the absolute top guard of domestic blues bands , has become known as a hard-working foursome. Domestic clubs and parties have been able to enjoy high-quality Chicago Blues for several years, and they have often been seen accompanying foreign guests as well. The band has collaborated with, for example, RJ Mischo, West Weston and Steve Guyger . With the latter, the album " Keep It Moving " was also born in 2007. This band's first self-titled album "Dynamite Boogie" continues with the same uncompromising style. Led by guitarist-singer-harpist Tomi Leino , poppoo has managed to capture a very live-like atmosphere on the album. The unadorned sound world of the old union works perfectly. Jonne Kulluvaara , who worked as a producer, must have taken care of this matter, and has not smoothed the sounds too much in the style of the modern world. All ten songs on the album are written by Tomi Leino. The album starts with the swinging instrumental "Jumpin' At Main Street", where Tom's virtuoso harmonica comes into its own. The rocking "Juke Joint Boogie" sung by Tom will get your feet moving. Nuances can be found in the harmonica, and guitarist Sammeli Palovaara takes turns in solos comfortably. Tomi Leino gets to show his nails on the guitar in the second instrumental "Meet Me At Midnight". Very stylish soloing. In the song "I Had A Dream" you can hear a very original harmonica sound. The sly sly voice is probably the so-called gimmicky third. The upbeat title song "Dynamite Boogie" also goes well. Mullikooro plays the name funny in the background in the chorus. To the beat of Ränttä blues , familiarity with the unknown is rubbed in the song "Hello Stranger", and we look in the mirror with cloudy eyes in "Drinkin' And Hidin'". There is always talk about drinking , at least afterwards. "Snake Bite" is a nice-sounding guitar instrumental with familiar picks here and there. Kari Karpo's bass patterns roll and Jarkko Lepistö paces in a sopa style. "Stranger In My House" offers grating harmonica and an introspective mood . Pretty dull,

Dynamite Boogie FLAC

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Tab Benoit & Jimmy Thackery - Whiskey Store

Album: Whiskey Store
Size: 120,4 MB
Time: 51:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. I Ain't Broke (3:12)
2. Whiskey Store (3:27)
3. Away, Away Too Long (3:29)
4. Strange Things Happen (4:40)
5. Nice And Warm (7:38)
6. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (5:50)
7. Unknown Legend (4:45)
8. Bad Luck Blues (6:15)
9. Freddy's Combo (4:25)
10. The Last Time (3:47)
11. Bone Pickin' (4:25)

The first summit meeting for these two journeymen roots-blues-rock guitarists is a rousing triumph. On paper, Tab Benoit's less aggressive New Orleans style wouldn't seem to mesh with Jimmy Thackery's boozy, tough, rough and tumble approach. But like Lennon and McCartney, each complements the other. Benoit lets his Delta and Texas-styled roots seep into the proceedings, tempering Thackery's more bombastic leads. Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble rhythm section and keyboardist Reese Wynans provide dexterous support, as does ace harp master Charlie Musselwhite. Most importantly, this isn't just a bunch of songs built around endless jams.

The selections are mostly covers, but the wide range of writers involved - from Bob Dylan, the Stones, and Neil Young to obscurities from legends like Percy Mayfield and Eddie Jones - shows the scope of the guitarists' influences. Only on the Benoit-penned slow blues "Nice and Warm" - reprised from his solo debut and at almost eight minutes the album's longest track - do the guitar pyrotechnics overwhelm the song. But even here, the musicians are obviously inspired by each other and deliver dazzling solos, each more jaw-dropping than the last. Everything sizzles, yet a mid-album detour into a laid-back version of Neil Young's country-ish ballad "Unknown Legend" works surprisingly well, especially with Musselwhite's poignant harp solo.

Jagger/Richards' "The Last Time" gets a rootsy rave-up treatment, as does Dylan's "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," and the duo clicks into shuffle mode on Thackery's instrumental Freddie King tribute, "Freddy's Combo." For the most part, the over the top guitar shenanigans this partnership threatens thankfully never materialize, with both six-string benders providing short, succinct, yet scorching solos within the framework of the tunes. Lead vocals are shared, although Benoit is clearly the better singer, with Thackery's rasp getting by on sheer enthusiasm. A treat for fans of both artists as well as a stirring contemporary electric blues album by any yardstick, Whiskey Store successfully joins two gifted guitarists in a session that proves greater than the sum of its very talented parts. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Whiskey Store mc
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Dedicated Men Of Zion - The Devil Don't Like It

Album: The Devil Don't Like It
Size: 88,9 MB
Time: 38:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Soul/Blues/Gospel mix
Art: Front

1. Lord Hold My Hand (3:12)
2. The Devil Don't Like It (4:22)
3. One River To Cross (3:07)
4. Rock My Soul (3:49)
5. God's Got His Eyes On You (4:08)
6. A Change Is Gonna Come (4:41)
7. I'm Going Home (3:55)
8. I Know I've Been Changed (4:35)
9. Up Above My Head (2:37)
10. I'm A Soldier In God's Army (3:47)

The Dedicated Men of Zion caused a global sensation with 2020's Can't Turn Me Around, their debut for Bruce Watson's Bible & Tire Recording Company. Their sacred soul amalgam of funk, R&B, and Black gospel resulted in a triumphant NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and performances at globalFEST and Fresh Grass Fest. The Devil Don't Like It was again produced by label founder Bruce Watson. Singers Anthony "Amp" and Antwan Daniels, Marcus Sugg, and Dexter Weaver are backed by Watson's session group, the Sacred Soul Sound Section. Their lineup includes guitarists Will Sexton and Matt Ross-Spang, bassist Mark Edgar Stuart, organist Al Gamble, and drummer George Sluppick's steady drumming. The majority of these ten tunes are gospel standards rendered in radical new ways.

Opener "Lord Hold My Hand" is a case in point. While the singers retain the original melody, the band reinvents it rhythmically, dynamically, and harmonically in a direct nod to James Brown's Famous Flames, complete with bumping bass, swelling B-3, and whammy bar guitars. The bubbling, strutting tempo frames the sweeping call-and-response vocals to match the funky intensity. By contrast, the title track offers a slow gospel processional framed by simmering Delta blues as the singers testify. It is only after the protagonist encounters God's grace that the Devil appears with his fiery yet impotent anger and discontent. "One More River to Cross" is an altar-calling uptempo stomper, complete with unruly handclaps, soaring choruses, and biting guitars.

"Rock My Soul (In the Bosom of Abraham)" is a swaggering, sultry gospel-blues that stacks tight, resonant vocal harmonies against spiky organ fills and biting guitar lines. "God’s Got His Eyes on You," arguably the album's finest track, is offered at a driving tempo, the conversation between lead vocals and harmonies are seamlessly tight, as rapturous piano, organ, drums, and a popping bassline push hard toward spiritual ecstasy. The wah-wah guitar funk in "A Change Is Gonna Come" (not the Sam Cooke classic), is a choogler that weds funky, sacred soul to a vocal chart that recalls War's "Slipping Into Darkness."

"I'm Going Home" channels the Delta juke joint boogie of John Lee Hooker and R.L. Burnside while claiming the backbone-slipping groove for Jesus. By contrast, "I Know I've Been Changed" weds deep soul to backcountry hymnody and steamy blues. Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Up Above My Head" is rendered faithfully as a fingerpopping rocker with fat distorted guitars, a wafting B-3, and swinging drums. Set-closer "I'm a Soldier in God's Army" is a slow, stirring waltz in four-part harmony that weds polished post-war gospel to deep, '70s soul and folk-blues.

As an album, The Devil Don't Like It is stronger than its predecessor. It contains better source material offered in a looser, more relaxed presentation; it's due to these singers and players being better acquainted with one another. If it has a shortcoming, it's that at 38 minutes, we're left wanting more. That's a good problem to have. /Thom Jurek, AllMusic

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The Devil Don't Like It zippy

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Martin Lang & Rusty Zinn - Mr. Blues, Mr. Blues

Album: Mr. Blues, Mr. Blues
Size: 123,4 MB
Time: 53:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front, back

1. W-A-S-T-E-D (4:51)
2. Mr. Blues, Mr. Blues (4:50)
3. Mickey (3:02)
4. You've Gotta Stop This Mess (4:50)
5. Money In My Pocket (3:42)
6. Rose & Kelly's Boogie (4:01)
7. Crying The Blues (3:43)
8. Say It One More Time (3:29)
9. Don't You Want A Man Like Me (3:39)
10. Jet Stream (2:26)
11. The Things You Say (4:23)
12. Loan A Helping Hand (3:18)
13. Figure Head (4:04)
14. Glad I Don't Have To Worry (2:58)

Rusty Zinn, a West Coast blues (and reggae) artist with a smooth tenor voice, teams up with gritty, deep-voiced Chicagoan Martin Lang for this new album. The album also features the Bad Man Blues Band, a group of veteran musicians who have backed an earlier generation of blues musicians. In his liner notes, Mark Baier of Chicago Blues Guide writes: "Rusty and Martin met in part through their mutual friendship with Dave Meyer and Robert Jr. Lockwood, both legendary guitarists and members of Little Walter's Aces, and became aware of each other's amazing talent."

Mr. Blues, Mr. Blues mc
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