Bill Blue - The King Of Crazy Town

Size: 103,6 MB
Time: 43:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Do What I Do Don't Do What I Say (2:50)
02. Carolina Time (4:08)
03. I Want It All (3:17)
04. Everybody's Leaving Town (3:27)
05. Hunker Down (5:45)
06. The King Of Crazy Town (4:23)
07. Indianola (6:00)
08. You Ain't Fun Anymore (3:23)
09. Enough Blues To Give You The Blues (3:33)
10. Closing Time (3:27)
11. Mojolation (3:27)

Bill Blue, yep, his real name, one of the original blues road warriors, follows up his 2013 comeback album Mojolation with another standout blues collection, The King Of Crazy Town. Bill learnt his chops on the road playing guitar with Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup, including opening for Bonnie Raitt on her first national tour.

After Arthur died in 1974, Bill went out on his own, signed with Adelphi, and for a decade toured the world extensively. Tired of the road in the ‘80s, he settled down on a houseboat in the Florida Keys and didn’t record for 25 years, until a chance meeting with with British record producer Ian Shaw led to 2013’s comeback album Mojolation.

The King Of Crazy Town, on Key West’s new Conch Town label, crackles with energy and edgy guitars, most of which were recorded live in one or two takes with the full band, topped with Bill’s authentic and gritty vocals. The album features an arsenal of top Florida artists plus ace guitarist Matt Backer, whose credits include Joe Cocker, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Julian Lennon and Aimee Mann. Horns were recorded in New York with the Funky In The Middle Horns.

Standout tracks on the record include “Carolina Time” a tribute to Bill’s home state; “The King Of Crazy Town,” which depicts a Key West night out; and “Indianola,” which is a tribute to BB King, who encouraged Bill to go out on his own when Crudup passed. “Hunker Down” is a hurricane-season favorite in Bill’s show, and “You Ain’t Fun Anymore,” a duet with Matt Backer, was inspired by a throwaway comment made by Bill’s wife, Bev.

The King Of Crazy Town

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Bill Blue - Mojolation

Size: 89,0 MB
Time: 43:49
File: MP3 @ VBR ~281K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Blues Rock, Slide Guitar Blues
Art: Front

01. It's Gotta Change (3:56)
02. Brand New Man (3:10)
03. Guitar Whore (3:48)
04. Sing Like Thunder (5:06)
05. Poor Boy Blues (2:29)
06. Who Do You Think You Are? (4:23)
07. Barbecue Store (4:17)
08. I Ain't From Mississippi (4:15)
09. Ain't It Funny (3:43)
10. Who Let That Stranger In? (3:58)
11. On The Road For Big Boy (4:38)

Mojolation is the first studio release in thirty years from blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, Bill Blue. An authentic, old school, backyard blues player, Bill, nearly seventy, still performs six nights a week around his home in Key West, Florida.

Bill attributes getting back into the studio to UK record producer Ian Shaw, who Bill claims, “…found me and resurrected me!” Shaw says, “I thought it was historically important to document Bill’s contribution to the Blues so I coaxed him back into the studio to record. We’re both very happy with Mojolation and feel it’s a true reflection of Bill and his extraordinary talent.”

Bill Blue learned his chops playing for many years with the legendary Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup (author of Elvis’ hit “That’s Alright Mama”). Bill’s shared the stage with ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Johnny Winter and Hank Williams Jr. He was signed to the prestigious Adelphi Records, one of the best blues labels in the US. Adelphi’s international distribution offered Blue the opportunity to be heard around the world. After touring with his own ensemble, The Bill Blue Band, Bill decided eighteen years on the road was enough. He moved to Key West in the early 1980s, venturing from the island only occasionally to play festivals and to tour Europe.

Mojolation features many of Bill’s friends who came together to help him make the record, including drummer Richard Crooks who has played with Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen and UK guitarist Matt Backer who has played with Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker and Emmylou Harris, and was Julian Lennon’s band leader for eight years. A mighty contribution to Mojolation was the Funky in the Middle Horns from New York. Also featured on Mojolation is Nashville guitarist Michael McAdams who’s played with Steve Earle and Mary Chapin Carpenter, along with many local Key West musicians.

Mojolation was largely recorded live in the studio and is chock full of energy; raw, edgy guitars and funky horns power Bill's unique blues growl. It's music that's at once fresh, yet captures the authentic spirit of old blues recordings. After thirty years as the elder statesman of music in Key West, Bill Blue crashes back into the international blues music scene with Mojolation, a record that is punchy.

Mojolation

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