Charles Walker and the New York City Blues Band - Blues From the Apple

Size: 196 MB
Time: 40:12
File: Flac
Released: 1974
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Scratch My Back (3:23)
2. Black Cat Bone (2:37)
3. Gladly (2:43)
4. Decoration Day (3:12)
5. I'm A Good Man But A Poor Man (2:24)
6. Juice Headed Woman (4:08)
7. Bluebird's Blues (Medley) (7:31)
8. Fast, Fast Women And A Slow Race Horse (3:47)
9. It's Changin' Time (4:37)
10. Meeting You (5:44)

Blues from the Apple, released in 1974 by Oblivion Records, is the only album under the leadership of guitarist and vocalist Charles Walker. Featured players include New York City based musicians Lee Roy Little (piano & vocals), Bill Dicey (harmonica), 'Foxy' Ann Yancey (electric guitar), Larry Johnson (harmonica), Tom Pomposello (bass guitar), Bobby King (rigged snare drum), and Ola Mae Dixon (drums), among others. The recording of this album began in March 1973 when contemporary country blues musician Larry Johnson was interviewed on Tom Pomposello's WKCR-FM Saturday blues program "Something Inside Me." He introduced Tom—and New York radio listeners—to his friend Charles Walker, and they played a spontaneous acoustic duet. Pomposello sensed a window on a rare breed and immediately made plans to produce an entire album showcasing the New York blues community.

Blues From the Apple FLAC

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Charles Walker Blues Band - Keep Takin

Album: Keep Takin
Size: 123,5 MB
Time: 53:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. I Got Ways (6:16)
2. Broken Child (5:50)
3. Trouble (7:16)
4. Cryin And Moanin (4:48)
5. Jack Daniels (3:53)
6. Hot Gritz (7:40)
7. Keep Takin (3:15)
8. What's The Matter (5:11)
9. Melancholy Blues (5:29)
10. Gotta Find Me A Man (3:34)

The Charles Walker Band, formerly known as the Charles Walker Blues Band, was formed by tenor saxophonist and keyboard player Charles Walker in Milwaukee, WI, in 2003. Walker had studied jazz at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, leading to an extensive career as a jazz saxophonist. Prior to forming the Charles Walker Band, he was a member of Muddy Blue, which released the album Low Down Dirty Blues.

Lead singer Shanna Jackson, a native of Milwaukee, began singing at the age of five and attended the city's School of Fine Arts, after which she sang in female vocal groups. Lead guitarist Misha Siegfried (who replaced Emre Alp) is from St. Paul, MN, but moved to Milwaukee in 2002. His prior affiliations include Fire on Your Sleeve, the Genie Halliday Revue Band, the Mixx, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Alter Boys, Blues Wagon, and Mississippi Gun & Gun Smoke.

Bassist Kent Hamele of Madison, WI, had been playing for over 30 years before joining the Charles Walker Band. Drummer Joey B. Banks (who replaced Nic Fugate) began playing the drums at the age of six and studied at the Musicians Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. He joined James Earl Tate and the Million-Dollar Blues Band in 1991. He also has backed a number of different performers including, in 1996, the Spinners and the Four Tops.

The Charles Walker Band released Keep Takin and Hotel Room Blues in 2005. Live and Low Down followed in 2007. The World and Things, initially issued in 2007 and re-released on Lucky 13/BC Records on January 15, 2008, was the group's first to be billed to the Charles Walker Band. /Biography by William Ruhlmann, Allmusic

Keep Takin mc
Keep Takin gofile

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Charles Walker - I'm Available

Size: 175,5 MB
Time: 75:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999/2010
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front & Back

01. Homewrecker Legs (3:36)
02. Leavin' This Old Town (3:35)
03. Fleetwood Cadillac (4:19)
04. Make It Rain (5:11)
05. Nothing A Young Girl Can Do (4:10)
06. Need Somebody (5:48)
07. I'm Available (3:17)
08. Judge Of Hearts (3:24)
09. The Monkey Song (6:03)
10. You Got The Walk (3:29)
11. The Tattler (4:13)
12. When I'm Gone (3:35)
13. The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (5:02)
14. 99,000 Watts Of Soul Power (Bonus Track) (3:09)
15. They All Look Better In Green (Bonus Track) (3:09)
16. Even The Sky Is Blue (Bonus Track) (6:02)
17. Young Girl (Bonus Track) (3:31)
18. The Blues Is In The House (Bonus Track) (3:45)

Digitally re-mastered and expanded edition of this album from the Soul great. Recorded in 1999, I'm Available is regarded by many as his best work. Included on this reissue is the complete album plus four outtakes from those sessions, as well as a duet track Charles recorded with Johnny Jones. More recently, Walker has gained fame since 2005, when he hooked up with the Dynamites and began a relentless touring schedule. Their 2007 release Kaboom! Was a great success.

b. 26 July 1922, Macon, Georgia, USA, d. 24 June 1975, New York City, New York, USA. Walker’s career as a blues singer and guitarist began in Newark, New Jersey, in 1955, and he recorded for a number of small labels in the late 50s and early 60s. Changing audience tastes and marriage prompted him to retire from music in 1962, but after his wife’s death in 1968 he began to perform and record again, and was just beginning to be promoted to white audiences at the time of his death. Not to be confused with the soul singer of the same name. ~AMG

I'm Available

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Charles Walker & The Dynamites - Love Is Only Everything

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:16
Size: 99.0 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:29] 1. So Much More To Do
[5:01] 2. Wakie, Wakie
[4:40] 3. Still Can't Get You Out Of My Heart
[4:00] 4. I Just Want To Know
[5:11] 5. Yours And Mine
[3:44] 6. Love Is Only Everything
[4:29] 7. Get Up On Living
[3:58] 8. Keep Close
[2:59] 9. Serendipity
[5:41] 10. Please Open Up The Door

Formed in 2008-2009, in a sudden fit of generosity, Ave The Sound (non profit-making organization / Collective of musicians, labels, artists, DJs, etc.) draws its influences from the 60's and the friendship. Bands and friends are members : Les Beberts, Les Playboys, The Cryptones, Stereoscope Jerk Explosion, Cosmic Groove, The Rebels of Tijuana, Doc Vinegar, Le Pop Club, etc.

Love Is Only Everything mc
Love Is Only Everything zippy

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Various - The Blues Meets The Beatles

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:36
Size: 138.7 MB
Styles: Pop/Rock/Blues
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:11] 1. Stan Webb - She Loves You
[3:16] 2. Earl Green - From Me To You
[2:28] 3. Fred James - I'm Down
[3:58] 4. Charles Walker - Don't Let Me Down
[3:38] 5. Paul Lamb - Norwegian Wood
[4:08] 6. Johnny Jones - Come Together
[6:07] 7. Stan Webb - I Saw Her Standing There
[3:10] 8. Earl Green - Run For Your Life
[2:31] 9. Al Garner - The Word
[3:13] 10. Ruby Turner - You Can't Do That
[2:49] 11. Earl Gaines - Oh Darling
[4:28] 12. Fred James - Why Don't We Do It In The Road
[4:03] 13. Mo'indigo - I Call Your Name
[3:13] 14. Paul Lamb - Get Back
[3:46] 15. Roscoe Shelton - Let It Be
[3:30] 16. Tony Wilson - I Feel Fine
[2:00] 17. Lee Moses - Day Tripper

The Blues Meets The Beatles

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Various - The End Of An Era: 20 Years In Bluesland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:05
Size: 139.8 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:29] 1. Roscoe Shelton - She's The One
[5:37] 2. Earl Gaines - I Believe In Your Love
[5:24] 3. Johnny Jones - I Can't Do That
[3:12] 4. Al Garner - Fatback
[4:23] 5. Herbert Hunter - Her Love Is Killing Me
[4:37] 6. Larry Ladon - Automobile
[3:27] 7. Charles Walker - You Got The Walk
[5:11] 8. Freddie Waters - Full Moon On Main Street
[4:09] 9. Dave Riley - Heat Up The Oven
[3:21] 10. Sam Lay - I'm The One
[6:43] 11. Homesick James Williamson - Crawlin' Kingsnake
[4:24] 12. Frank Frost - Born To Be Wise
[3:23] 13. Sam Carr - All My Life
[3:36] 14. Fred James - Herb Stuffing

Although the liner notes to this 14-track blues collection are otherwise thorough, one not so insignificant element is missing: the original release and recording dates of the material. The common thread seems to be that they were all produced by Fred James, who also plays guitar on all of the cuts, one of which, the instrumental "Herb Stuffing," is credited to James himself. Though James also wrote the notes, the time frame of the tracks (four of which were previously unissued) is maddeningly unspecific, though it can be deduced that they were all done sometime in the 20 years prior to this 2010 release. At any rate, these are pretty average, workmanlike contemporary electric blues, not many of them by big names in the field, with Earl Gaines, Frank Frost, Sam Lay, and Johnny Jones being the biggest. Sometimes performances of particular strength cut through to get noticed, especially Gaines' ballad "I Believe in Your Love," which has a rich and moving vibrato vocal. James is a decent and versatile guitarist, too, but in part owing to the substandard documentation, it's not a notable compilation of 20th into 21st century blues. ~Richie Unterberger

The End Of An Era: 20 Years In Bluesland mc
The End Of An Era: 20 Years In Bluesland zippy

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The Charles Walker Blues Band - The World And Things

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:39
Size: 104.5 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Dog Catcher
[4:17] 2. Slow Thunder
[5:02] 3. Outta Mind
[4:04] 4. Ain't No Doors
[3:12] 5. Hand Clappin
[9:59] 6. Gamblin On Love
[2:33] 7. Mil Town Blues
[5:08] 8. Cold As Hell
[4:24] 9. Queen Bee
[3:50] 10. Holdin Out

The Charles Walker Blues Band is a five piece band that performs various styles of blues and R&B with precision and energy. What adds to the band uniqueness, apart from award winning musicians (together for 3 years), is the richness of both the original and cover (BB King, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Muddy Waters) material. A quote from the Livin’ Blues magazine describes us best, “…so much energy, you can’t resist but fall in love with every song. You’re drawn in and held for show after show with Charles Walker band.”

Charles Walker, tenor saxophone, keyboard, songwriter & band leader, received formal jazz training at UW Eau Claire. He has played saxophone for over 17 years. His last band was Muddy Blue, who released a CD entitled “Low Down Dirty Blues”. He has played with such greats as Big Al from New Orleans and JJ Johnson at BB’s in St. Louis. His influences are Luther Allison, Louis Jordan, Stan Getz, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, Sax Gordon, Keb’ Mo, and John Coltrane.

The World And Things

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Johnny Jones & Charles Walker - In The House: Live At Lucerne Vol. 2

Size: 134,3 MB
Time: 57:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Memphis Blues
Art: Front

01. I Can't Do That (5:44)
02. The Drifter (3:33)
03. Slave To Love (5:24)
04. Gypsy Woman (4:17)
05. Finger Lickin' (4:38)
06. They All Look Better In Green (3:56)
07. Can I Get An Amen (6:32)
08. Chicken Scratch (3:52)
09. Storming And Raining Blues (5:13)
10. Strain On My Heart (4:48)
11. 99, 000 Watts Of Soul Power (3:54)
12. Nothing A Young Girl Can Do (5:41)

Personnel:
Johnny Jones – gtr/voc
Charles Walker – gtr
Billy Earheart – org
Mary-Ann Brandon – voc
Fred James – gtr
Jeff Davis – bass
Andy Arrow – drums

Volume 2 is a trip way down to Memphis as Johnny Jones and Charles Walker can really cook the blues meets soul stew. (…) Both of them can sing and nail down every song they perform. Plus, their backing band is as soulful as it get, especially on churchy songs like “Strain On My Heart”. Not only the music is absolute high class (…) but the sound quality, production values and packing also set high standards. I love this kind of live production, real concert played from the first song to the last one, no silence or fading. If there is something as good as being there in Lucerne, sitting in a first row and listening to the blues, this is it, “In The House”. This series is as essential as “The Bluesville Years” classic blues series releases some years ago by the Prestige/Fantasy label. A must have for all serious blues fans.

Thanks to Marc.
In The House: Live At Lucerne Vol. 2

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Charles Walker - Soul Stirring Thing

Size: 151,7 MB
Time: 65:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Blues Soul, R&B, Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Soul Stirring Thing (4:38)
02. There Is Nothing I Can Do (4:23)
03. That's A Lie (4:17)
04. One Step Closer To The Blues (4:24)
05. Magic Man (4:02)
06. No More Tears For You (4:41)
07. Third Time's A Charm (3:37)
08. The House That Love Lives In (5:55)
09. Tomorrow Night (4:27)
10. San Diego Serenade (3:26)
11. My Buddha (5:30)
12. Time To Kill (6:14)
13. The Danger Zone (4:12)
14. Giant Switches (5:41)

Now that Charles Walker has reestablished himself on the funk/R&B scene as lead singer of the Dynamites, the gospel-charged singer takes a side road by recording this authentic old-school blues/soul set. It's helmed by veteran blues producer/musician Fred James, who plays all the instruments except for organ (Billy Earheart from the Amazing Rhythm Aces handles that) and pulled the project together. Often roots albums that rely heavily on overdubbed backing from a single musician can't escape a sterile feel at odds with the interactive concept of the organic sound so integral to the genre. Thankfully, James is a talented enough producer to keep the approach clean yet gritty, holding the listener's attention with Walker's deep Southern gospel attack. Add a batch of above average songs, many co-written by James, a few co-composed by Walker and a sweet and raw cover of an old Tom Waits chestnut ("San Diego Serenade") for an hour's worth of top-shelf soul that could have been recorded in the '70s. That's a high compliment for an album that clearly holds the moody urban music of that decade close to the hearts of the participants. James rescues his own slow blues "The House That Love Lives In" from an obscure Stan Webb solo album he worked on in 2001. But Walker gives it a new lease on life with a stunning, heart-stopping performance that's one of this disc's finest. Most of the material leans toward midtempo ballads, but the groove never gets repetitious due to Walker's striking singing and the overall quality of the songs. Luther Allison was scheduled to record Mary-Ann Brandon's "Time to Kill" before he passed, but was too ill to do so. It finally appears here and it's unlikely that even the great Allison could have pulled off a soul-searing performance of the social commentary tune as powerfully as Walker does. The opening title track, propelled by Earheart's Memphis-styled organ, perfectly lays down the classy R&B mood that never lets up for the remainder of the other 13 tracks. They show Charles Walker to be one of the finest, and perhaps most overlooked, practitioners of authentic soul-stirring music. ~Review by Hal Horowitz

Soul Stirring Thing

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