Billy Boy Arnold - Come Back Baby, I Wish You Would

Album: Come Back Baby, I Wish You Would
Size: 128,3 MB
Time: 55:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front, tray

1. I Ain't Got No Money (2:31)
2. Hello Stranger (2:52)
3. Sweet On You Baby (2:36)
4. You Got To Love Me (2:29)
5. I'm A Man (3:02)
6. Little Girl (Can I Go Home With You) (2:35)
7. Bo Diddley (2:46)
8. You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care) (2:49)
9. She's Fine, She's Mine (2:45)
10. I Was Fooled (2:52)
11. I Wish You Would (2:43)
12. Don't Stay Out All Night (2:53)
13. I Ain't Got You (2:15)
14. Here's My Picture (2:12)
15. You've Got Me Wrong (2:40)
16. My Heart Is Crying (2:11)
17. Kissing At Midnight (2:20)
18. Prisoner's Plea (2:51)
19. Rockin' Itis (2:40)
20. No, No, No, No, No (2:38)
21. Every Day, Every Night (2:25)

Possibly the most complete collection of Billy Boy Arnold's early days as a top Chicago harmonic player. It features for the first time on one collection his debut for the tiny Cool label and his sessions with his friend Bo Diddley and his own recordings for Vee Jay Records. Herein are classic recordings, some of which would go on to be hugely influential over the British and European blues boom in the 1960s. "Don't Stay Out All Night" was a fixture of the early Rolling Stones playlists whilst "I Wish You Would" became a hit for The Yardbirds with Eric Clapton. "I Ain't Got You" and "Rockin' Itis" were also popular with blues groups around the world. From teen sensation to elder statesman and then some. Fans of the blues and blues harmonica will enjoy the art of Billy Boy Arnold - harmonica supremo! /Amazon

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Billy Boy Arnold - Blow The Back Off It

Album: Blow The Back Off It
Size: 78,1 MB
Time: 33:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1975
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: LP front & back

1. I'm Sweet On You Baby (2:31)
2. You Got To Love Me (2:23)
3. I Wish You Would (2:53)
4. I Was Fooled (2:51)
5. Don't Stay Out All Night (2:51)
6. I Ain't Got You (2:14)
7. Hello Stranger (2:49)
8. Here's My Picture (2:12)
9. You've Got Me Wrong (2:39)
10. My Heart Is Crying (2:29)
11. Kissing At Midnight (2:19)
12. Prisoners Plea (2:48)
13. Rockinitis (2:37)

Talk about a comeback. After too many years away from the studio, Chicago harpist Billy Boy Arnold returned to action in a big way with two fine albums for Alligator 1993's Back Where I Belong and 1995's Eldorado Cadillac. Retaining his youthful demeanor despite more than four decades of blues experience, Arnold's wailing harp and sturdy vocals remained in top-flight shape following the lengthy recording layoff.

Born in Chicago rather than in Mississippi (as many of his musical forefathers were), young Arnold gravitated right to the source in 1948. He summoned up the courage to knock on the front door of his idol, harmonica great John Lee Sonny Boy Williamson, who resided nearby. Sonny Boy kindly gave the lad a couple of harp lessons, but their relationship was quickly severed when Williamson was tragically murdered. Still in his teens, Arnold cut his debut 78 for the extremely obscure Cool logo in 1952. Hello Stranger went nowhere but gave him his nickname when its label unexpectedly read Billy Boy Arnold.

Arnold made an auspicious connection when he joined forces with Bo Diddley and played on the shave-and-a-haircut beat specialist's two-sided 1955 debut smash Bo DiddleyI'm a Man for Checker. That led, in a roundabout way, to Billy Boy's signing with rival Vee-Jay Records (the harpist mistakenly believed Leonard Chess didn't like him). Arnold's I Wish You Would, utilizing that familiar Bo Diddley beat, sold well and inspired a later famous cover by the Yardbirds. That renowned British blues-rock group also took a liking to another Arnold classic on Vee-Jay, I Ain't Got You. Other Vee-Jay standouts by Arnold included Prisoner's Plea and Rockinitis, but by 1958, his tenure at the label was over.

Other than an excellent Samuel Charters-produced 1963 album for Prestige, More Blues on the South Side, Arnold's profile diminished over the years in his hometown (though European audiences enjoyed him regularly) and he first ended up driving a bus in his hometown of Chicago, then working as a parole officer for the state of Illinois. Fortunately, that changed Back Where I Belong restored this Chicago harp master to prominence, and Eldorado Cadillac drove him into the winner's circle a second time. After a six year lull between recordings, 2001's Boogie 'n' Shuffle on Stony Plain found Arnold still in fine form, backed by Duke Robillard and his band on a set of rough and ready blues. Biography by Bill Dahl, AllMusic

(Compilation of Vee-Jay recordings made and released between 1953 and 1957, except A1 and A2, which were released for the first time on this LP. For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Billy Boy Arnold - Sinner's Prayer

Album: Sinner's Prayer
Size: 76,4 MB
Time: 32:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1976
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: LP front & back

1. I Was Fooled (3:41)
2. Hi Heel Sneakers (3:01)
3. Back Door Friend (3:41)
4. Tomorrow Night (3:14)
5. Annie Lee (4:04)
6. Ooh Wee (4:02)
7. Blues In A Natural (2:41)
8. I'm Gonna Move (3:40)
9. Sinner's Prayer (4:49)

Talk about a comeback. After too many years away from the studio, Chicago harpist Billy Boy Arnold returned to action in a big way with two fine albums for Alligator: 1993's Back Where I Belong and 1995's Eldorado Cadillac. Retaining his youthful demeanor despite more than four decades of blues experience, Arnold's wailing harp and sturdy vocals remained in top-flight shape following the lengthy recording layoff.

Born in Chicago rather than in Mississippi (as many of his musical forefathers were), young Arnold gravitated right to the source in 1948. He summoned up the courage to knock on the front door of his idol, harmonica great John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, who resided nearby. Sonny Boy kindly gave the lad a couple of harp lessons, but their relationship was quickly severed when Williamson was tragically murdered. Still in his teens, Arnold cut his debut 78 for the extremely obscure Cool logo in 1952. "Hello Stranger" went nowhere but gave him his nickname when its label unexpectedly read "Billy Boy Arnold."

Arnold made an auspicious connection when he joined forces with Bo Diddley and played on the shave-and-a-haircut beat specialist's two-sided 1955 debut smash "Bo Diddley"/"I'm a Man" for Checker. That led, in a roundabout way, to Billy Boy's signing with rival Vee-Jay Records (the harpist mistakenly believed Leonard Chess didn't like him). Arnold's "I Wish You Would," utilizing that familiar Bo Diddley beat, sold well and inspired a later famous cover by the Yardbirds. That renowned British blues-rock group also took a liking to another Arnold classic on Vee-Jay, "I Ain't Got You." Other Vee-Jay standouts by Arnold included "Prisoner's Plea" and "Rockinitis," but by 1958, his tenure at the label was over.

Other than an excellent Samuel Charters-produced 1963 album for Prestige, More Blues on the South Side, Arnold's profile diminished over the years in his hometown (though European audiences enjoyed him regularly) and he first ended up driving a bus in his hometown of Chicago, then working as a parole officer for the state of Illinois. Fortunately, that changed: Back Where I Belong restored this Chicago harp master to prominence, and Eldorado Cadillac drove him into the winner's circle a second time. After a six year lull between recordings, 2001's Boogie 'n' Shuffle on Stony Plain found Arnold still in fine form, backed by Duke Robillard and his band on a set of rough and ready blues. /Biography by Bill Dahl, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Johnny Iguana - Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular!

Size: 90,7 MB
Time: 38:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. 44 Blues (3:31)
02. Hammer And Tickle (2:56)
03. Down In The Bottom (2:35)
04. You're An Old Lady (3:35)
05. Land Of Precisely Three Dances (2:48)
06. Lady Day And John Coltrane (3:58)
07. Big Easy Women (2:05)
08. Burning Fire (4:31)
09. Shake Your Moneymaker (2:38)
10. Motorhome (2:50)
11. Stop Breakin' Down (3:36)
12. Hot Dog Mama (3:18)

The adventurous, chameleon-like, affable Chicago pianist Johnny Iguana is finally making his blues debut as a leader. He’s been a sideman on countless Delmark albums and yes, he’s the same Johnny Iguana who leads the blues/jazz/rock band The Claudettes, who we reviewed on these pages in March. If you were unaware of his blues resume then, it’s time to shed light on what might be as strong a litany of names as any player has, and he’s adding to that esteemed list with the guests he’s invited to Delmark’s Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular!, a grand and upright celebration of Chicago blues piano. He began as a sideman for Junior Wells and has since recorded with Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Taildragger, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Eddy Clearwater, Lurrie Bell, Billy Branch, and more, some of whom appear on this effort, notably John Primer, Lil’ Ed, and Billy Boy Arnold. Other luminaries appearing include Bob Margolin, Matthew Skoller, Billy Flynn, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Bill Dickens, Philip-Michael Scales, and Michael Caskey.

Iguana (christened Brian Berkowitz) grew up in Philadelphia but became obsessed with Chicago blues and especially Junior Wells and Otis Spann at the age of 15. As stated, he passed an audition and was a key member of Wells’ band for three years, eventually moving to and calling Chicago home. Johnny, though, as hinted in the opening line, is not exactly your traditional blues pianist. He respects and honors the tradition but puts his own stamp on the music as evidenced by his four originals here and the inclusion of Gil Scott-Heron’s “Lady Day and John Coltrane.” He’s fluent in the blues language but takes in influences of jazz and rock as well. But, one thing that is indisputably clear is that he has plenty of friends and admirers.

He covers tunes from two of the most acclaimed blues pianists – Roosevelt Sykes and Otis Spann, as well two from Sonny Boy Williamson, and one each from Elmore James, Willie Dixon, and Big Bill Broonzy along with his four originals. He begins with Sykes barrelhouse tune “44 Blues” with John Primer on the vocal and Bob Margolin on guitar before rumbling into his own skittering, creatively chordal “Hammer and Tickle.” Primer joins again on guitar for Dixon’s “Down In The Bottom” while harmonica great Billy Boy Arnold sings and blows, joined by guitarist Billy Flynn on Williamson’s “You’re An Old Lady,” a standout track. Iguana then delivers another of his wild boogie-woogie heaven originals with the crashing, undulating “Land of Precisely Three Dances,” like most herein, of the two- or three-minute variety.

B.B. King’s nephew, newcomer Phillip Michael-Scales, takes the lead vocal on the Gil Scott-Heron tune which is followed by another wild original, “Big Easy Woman.” Lil’ Ed Williams assumes the lead on both vocals and stinging guitar for Otis Spann’s slow blues, “Burning Fire” and for the Elmore James rave-up “Shake Your Money Maker,” one that he’s likely played countless times. While Lil’ Ed kills the slide guitar, Iguana is a veritable Jerry Lee Lewis and more on the piano here on his following original “Motorhome.” (which is barreling down the highway at highly dangerous speed).

Naturally, Iguana closes the album in the same frenetically energetic style, first taking Williamson’s “Stop Breaking Down,” perhaps made most famous by the Rolling Stones on Exile on Main Street. Matt Skoller takes the incendiary harp solo and takes no prisoners on his vocal as well with Billy Flynn returning on guitar. Broonzy’s “Hot Dog Mama” closes with Billy Boy Arnold singing and Flynn in the guitar chair.

Kudos to Larry Skoller, who wrote the liners, with statements like these – “This is no imitation. This is no pure homage. Half a century of blues piano greats are honored here, but Johnny Iguana has made an album that lets his own voice ring out. Accompanied by many of Chicago’s greatest living blues artists, Johnny has created a blues piano album like no other. It’s traditional, it’s contemporary, it’s audacious…” Throughout, this has all the hallmarks of a down-home, sweaty session in one of those tiny Chicago blues clubs. That studio was surely alive! ~Jim Hynes

Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular! MP3
Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular! FLAC

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Billy Boy Arnold & The Groundhogs - Live At The Virgin Venue

Size: 158,5 MB
Time: 67:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Night Before Last (Live) (4:54)
02. It Ain't Right (Live) (3:50)
03. Catfish (Live) (2:46)
04. I Ain't Got You (Live) (3:28)
05. Dirty Motherfuyer (Live) (7:09)
06. Prisoner's Plea (Live) (5:44)
07. Mary Bernice (Live) (5:28)
08. Trust My Baby (Live) (6:31)
09. Ooh Wee (Live) (6:50)
10. Riding The El (Live) (2:41)
11. Me And Piney Brown (Live) (3:56)
12. Shake Your Boogie (Live) (5:49)
13. I Wish You Would (Live) (4:03)
14. Blues Before Sunrise (Live) (4:30)

Talk about a comeback. After too many years away from the studio, Chicago harpist Billy Boy Arnold returned to action in a big way with two fine albums for Alligator: 1993's Back Where I Belong and 1995's Eldorado Cadillac. Retaining his youthful demeanor despite more than four decades of blues experience, Arnold's wailing harp and sturdy vocals remained in top-flight shape following the lengthy recording layoff.

Born in Chicago rather than in Mississippi (as many of his musical forefathers were), young Arnold gravitated right to the source in 1948. He summoned up the courage to knock on the front door of his idol, harmonica great John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, who resided nearby. Sonny Boy kindly gave the lad a couple of harp lessons, but their relationship was quickly severed when Williamson was tragically murdered. Still in his teens, Arnold cut his debut 78 for the extremely obscure Cool logo in 1952. "Hello Stranger" went nowhere but gave him his nickname when its label unexpectedly read "Billy Boy Arnold."

Arnold made an auspicious connection when he joined forces with Bo Diddley and played on the shave-and-a-haircut beat specialist's two-sided 1955 debut smash "Bo Diddley"/"I'm a Man" for Checker. That led, in a roundabout way, to Billy Boy's signing with rival Vee-Jay Records (the harpist mistakenly believed Leonard Chess didn't like him). Arnold's "I Wish You Would," utilizing that familiar Bo Diddley beat, sold well and inspired a later famous cover by the Yardbirds. That renowned British blues-rock group also took a liking to another Arnold classic on Vee-Jay, "I Ain't Got You." Other Vee-Jay standouts by Arnold included "Prisoner's Plea" and "Rockinitis," but by 1958, his tenure at the label was over.

Other than an excellent Samuel Charters-produced 1963 album for Prestige, More Blues on the South Side, Arnold's profile diminished over the years in his hometown (though European audiences enjoyed him regularly) and he first ended up driving a bus in his hometown of Chicago, then working as a parole officer for the state of Illinois. Fortunately, that changed: Back Where I Belong restored this Chicago harp master to prominence, and Eldorado Cadillac drove him into the winner's circle a second time. After a six year lull between recordings, 2001's Boogie 'n' Shuffle on Stony Plain found Arnold still in fine form, backed by Duke Robillard and his band on a set of rough and ready blues. ~Bill Dahl

Live At The Virgin Venue

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Billy Boy Arnold - Back Where I Belong

Year: 1993
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:19
Size: 125,8 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. I Wish You Would (3:39)
2. Move On Down The Road (3:00)
3. Fine Young Girl (5:02)
4. You Got Me Wrong (3:41)
5. Fool For You (3:34)
6. Wandering Eye (4:19)
7. Shake Your Hips (3:26)
8. Whiskey, Beer And Reefer (4:29)
9. Prisoner's Plea (4:56)
10. High Fashion Woman (3:18)
11. Young And Evil (5:56)
12. Shake The Boogie (2:43)
13. Worried Life Blues (3:25)
14. Streetwise Advisors (2:48)

Recorded in Los Angeles with a crew of young acolytes offering spot-on backing (guitarists Zach Zunis and Rick Holmstrom acquit themselves well), Arnold eases back into harness with a remake of "I Wish You Would" before exposing some fine new originals (the Chuck Berry-styled rocker "Move on Down the Road" is a stomping standout) and an homage to his old mentor Sonny Boy (a romping "Shake The Boogie").

This is an absolute killer, and the production is unbeatable, not a track on it that isn’t excellent, total empathy from the superb backing band - has to be his finest hour! Arnold hasn't lost anything to the years. He still blows his mouth harp and his vocals have grown deeper, darker and fuller with age.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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VA - Chicago Plays The Stones

Size: 125,6 MB
Time: 53:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01 John Primer - Let It Bleed (4:00)
02 Billy Boy Arnold - Play With Fire (3:44)
03 Buddy Guy - Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (4:51)
04 Ronnie Baker Brooks - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (3:43)
05 Billy Branch - Sympathy For The Devil (5:55)
06 John Primer - Angie (4:55)
07 Leanne Faine - Gimme Shelter (4:01)
08 Jimmy Burns - Beast Of Burden (3:48)
09 Mike Avery - Miss You (4:15)
10 Omar Coleman - I Go Wild (5:43)
11 Carlos Johnson - Out Of Control (4:34)
12 Jimmy Burns - Dead Flowers (4:20)

Chicago Plays The Stones

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James Cotton - Two Sides Of The Blues

Size: 66,3 MB
Time: 28:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Good Time Charlie (2:31)
02. There Is Something On Your Mind (3:48)
03. Turn Your Lovelight (2:23)
04. Jelly, Jelly (5:41)
05. South Side Boogie (2:38)
06. So Glad I'm Living (3:09)
07. Diggin' My Potatoes (2:10)
08. V-8 Ford Blues (4:00)
09. Polly Put The Kettle On (1:49)

Acoustic Material:
James Cotton: Harmonica, Vocals
Elvin Bishop: Guitar
Paul Butterfield: Harmonica
Billy Boy Arnold: Harmonica

Recorded in Chicago 1963.

Electric Material:
James Cotton: Harmonica, Vocals
Luther Tucker: Guitar
Alberto Gianquinto: Piano
Robert Anderson: Bass
Sam Lay: Drums
Delbert L. Hill: Tenor Sax
McKinley Easton: Baritone Sax
Louis E. Satterfield: Trombone
John M. Watson: Trombone

Recorded in Chicago 1967

Two Sides Of The Blues

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Billy Boy Arnold, Tony McPhee & The Groundhogs - Chicago Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:08
Size: 135.4 MB
Styles: Chicago blues, Harmonica blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Riding The El
[4:22] 2. Mary Bernice
[3:48] 3. Just Got To Know
[3:13] 4. Just A Dream
[4:08] 5. It's Great To Be Rich
[3:08] 6. I Wish You Would
[2:03] 7. Eldorado Cadillac
[6:16] 8. Blues And Lonesome
[3:14] 9. Don't Stay Out All Night
[6:52] 10. Dirty Mother Fuyer
[4:18] 11. 1-2-99
[3:43] 12. Catfish
[4:24] 13. Sweet Miss Bea
[3:20] 14. Christmas Time
[3:28] 15. Ah'w Baby

Bass – Alan Fish; Drums – Wilgar Campbell; Guitar – Tony TS McPhee; Vocals, Harmonica – Billy Boy Arnold.

Born in Chicago rather than in Mississippi (as many of his musical forefathers were), young Arnold gravitated right to the source in 1948. He summoned up the courage to knock on the front door of his idol, harmonica great John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, who resided nearby. Sonny Boy kindly gave the lad a couple of harp lessons, but their relationship was quickly severed when Williamson was tragically murdered. Still in his teens, Arnold cut his debut 78 for the extremely obscure Cool logo in 1952. "Hello Stranger" went nowhere but gave him his nickname when its label unexpectedly read "Billy Boy Arnold."

Arnold made an auspicious connection when he joined forces with Bo Diddley and played on the shave-and-a-haircut beat specialist's two-sided 1955 debut smash "Bo Diddley"/"I'm a Man" for Checker. That led, in a roundabout way, to Billy Boy's signing with rival Vee-Jay Records (the harpist mistakenly believed Leonard Chess didn't like him). Arnold's "I Wish You Would," utilizing that familiar Bo Diddley beat, sold well and inspired a later famous cover by the Yardbirds. That renowned British blues-rock group also took a liking to another Arnold classic on Vee-Jay, "I Ain't Got You." Other Vee-Jay standouts by Arnold included "Prisoner's Plea" and "Rockinitis," but by 1958, his tenure at the label was over.

Other than an excellent Samuel Charters-produced 1963 album for Prestige, More Blues on the South Side, Arnold's profile diminished over the years in his hometown (though European audiences enjoyed him regularly) and he first ended up driving a bus in his hometown of Chicago, then working as a parole officer for the state of Illinois. Fortunately, that changed: Back Where I Belong restored this Chicago harp master to prominence, and Eldorado Cadillac drove him into the winner's circle a second time. After a six year lull between recordings, 2001's Boogie 'n' Shuffle on Stony Plain found Arnold still in fine form, backed by Duke Robillard and his band on a set of rough and ready blues.~ Bill Dahl

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VA - Hard Core Harp: 20 Years Of Blues Harmonica Masters On Electro-Fi Records

Size: 179,4 MB
Time: 76:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Paul Oscher - Alone With The Blues (5:24)
02. Billy Boy Arnold - Mellow Chick Swing (2:21)
03. James Harman - Bonetime (3:10)
04. Mark Hummel - It's Too Late Brother (4:11)
05. George Harmonica Smith - Crazy 'bout You Baby (4:10)
06. Harmonica Shah - She Used To Be Beautiful (4:39)
07. Snooky Pryor - Rock-A-While (4:58)
08. Sam Myers - Ninety Nine (3:36)
09. Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith - Don't Think I'm Crazy (4:20)
10. Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would (3:49)
11. Al Lerman - Liquified Boogie (2:29)
12. Little Mack Simmons - Leaving In The Morning (3:49)
13. Sam Myers - Coming From The Old School (4:25)
14. Bill Boy Arnold - Sweet Honey Bee (4:37)
15. Harrison Kennedy - Afraid To Fail (3:25)
16. Rip Lee Pryor - Pitch A Boogie Woogie (3:12)
17. Snooky Pryor - Headed South (7:21)
18. George Harmonica Smith - Juke (2:49)
19. Mark Hummel - Harpoventilating (3:39)

20 Years of Blues Harmonica Masters on Electro-Fi Records. Electro-Fi Records celebrates it's 20th Anniversary with the release of HARD CORE HARP featuring the very best of today's Blues Harmonica Artists: MARK HUMMEL, JAMES HARMAN, HARMONICA SHAH, PAUL OSCHER, BILLY BOY ARNOLD and more, along with Blues Harp Masters of the 20th Century: SNOOKY PRYOR, GEORGE HARMONICA SMITH, SAM MYERS, LITTLE MACK SIMMONS, WILLIE BIG EYES SMITH and more. The 19 track collection from CD's released between 1997 and 2016 features 4 members of the Muddy Waters Blues Band. Special Guests include Grammy winner PINETOP PERKINS, BMA winner BOB STROGER, and Guitar Legends: MEL BROWN, BILLY FLYNN, JACK DE KEYZER and RUSTY ZINN.

This is Blues Harmonica at it's finest.

Hard Core Harp

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Various - Back Porch Americana Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:37
Size: 157.1 MB
Styles: Assorted styles
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:20] 1. Marcia Ball - Married Life
[2:47] 2. Cephas & Wiggins - All I've Got Is Them Blues
[3:37] 3. Corey Harris - Bound To Miss Me
[3:31] 4. Ann Rabson - Serial Love
[3:36] 5. Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women - Too Much Butt
[4:04] 6. Tinsley Ellis - The Sun Is Shining
[4:28] 7. Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - Diggin' My Potatoes
[4:42] 8. The Siegel-Schwall Band - Afraid Of Love
[2:00] 9. Kenny Neal - Bad Luck Card
[3:19] 10. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Steady Rollin' Man
[3:44] 11. Charlie Musselwhite - Make My Getaway
[2:58] 12. John Jackson - She's So Sweet
[3:22] 13. Bob Margolin - Big Tree Blues
[3:55] 14. Buckwheat Zydeco - Throw Me Something, Mister
[5:54] 15. Billy Boy Arnold - Young And Evil
[5:48] 16. Lonnie Brooks - Two Trains Running
[3:42] 17. The Holmes Brothers - Close The Door
[3:41] 18. Koko Taylor - I Got What It Takes

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Various - Music Of The World: Blow That Harmonica

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:16
Size: 170.0 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:11] 1. Sleepy John Estes - Policy Man
[4:40] 2. Saffire - I'll Be Your Sweet Black Angel
[2:31] 3. Dr. Ross - Juke Box Boogie
[3:02] 4. Harmonica Frank - Rockin Chair
[2:58] 5. Howlin' Wolf - All In The Mood
[2:25] 6. Junior Wells - Messin' With The Kid
[3:40] 7. Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would
[3:12] 8. Big Walter Horton - Little Boy
[3:32] 9. James Cotton - West Helena Blues
[3:57] 10. Charlie Musselwhite - Just You
[4:08] 11. Lazy Lester - Raining In My Heart
[4:48] 12. Carey Bell - Bad Habits
[6:53] 13. Big Mama Thornton - Rock Me Baby
[4:46] 14. Sonny Terry - Sonny's Whoopin' The Doop
[2:34] 15. Coy Love - Harmonica Jam
[2:49] 16. Joe Hill Louis - Boogie In The Park
[3:15] 17. Raful Neal - You Don't Love Me (Anymore)
[1:56] 18. Frank Frost - Crawl Back
[7:30] 19. The Siegel-Schwall Band - Hush, Hush
[2:19] 20. Onie Wheeler - Jump Right Out Of This Jukebox

Beginning sometime in the late 1940s, harmonica players started using amplification in a new way. With a small, portable amplifier and a cheap microphone, they would cup the mic in their hands, together with the harmonica, to create a highly concentrated sound that was loud enough to project over the din on street corners and in small nightclubs. By the start of the 1950s, electric guitars and amplified harmonicas were the rule in Chicago blues bands, backed by drums, bass, and piano.

Early postwar attempts at recording transplanted rural artists reveal an uncomfortable grafting of country blues onto an urbane, jazz-influenced backing that doesn’t serve the direct, earthy character of the featured artists. Small, independent record companies have long been important vehicles for blues artists to get their music to consumers. Some of the better-known regional companies highlighted blues harmonica and promoted early rock-and-roll. This combination later influenced the adoption of the harmonica by rock artists in the 1960s, who heard blues harmonica alongside the latest hits. By the late 1950s, white teenagers were obsessed with rock-and-roll, while black audiences had largely moved on from the blues. The folk music movement of the 1950s presented Americans with an alternative to current popular music. Folk fans began to see blues musicians as a part of the folk movement. European and British music fans, who had been fascinated for several years with American music, especially jazz and blues, began promoting blues concerts in the UK and on the European continent. Young British musicians started emulating the blues records they heard, resulting in British rock bands with notables on the mouth harp.

Musicians worldwide have been bitten by the blues harp bug, and the virus often mutates and starts to interact with its new host. Artists and the stylistic crossbreeding they’ve been working between blues and other styles include jump and swing’s Dennis Gruenling, beatboxing’s Son of Dave, and soul’s Bobby Rush.

Music Of The World: Blow That Harmonica

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Various - Live In Long Beach 1997

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:25
Size: 145.2 MB
Styles: Contemporary blues
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[5:01] 1. Dave Alvin - Barn Burning
[3:37] 2. Dave Alvin - Woman In East Texas
[4:17] 3. Dave Alvin - Tell Me How You Want It Done
[4:30] 4. Dave Alvin - Dry River
[4:59] 5. Dave Alvin - Chains Of Love
[7:02] 6. Dave Alvin - Long White Cadillac
[5:57] 7. Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would
[2:48] 8. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - San Antonio Rose
[2:13] 9. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Wabash Cannonball
[4:53] 10. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Beer Barrel Polka
[1:16] 11. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Jolie Bon
[1:32] 12. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Jambalaya
[8:47] 13. Dave Alvin & Friends - Long Beach Blues
[6:26] 14. Dave Alvin & Friends - It's A Long Way Home

This is the first time I heard Dave Alvin (co-founder of band The Blasters) sing and it is not surprising he was able to maintain a long lasting solo career. His 'blues' singing is kind of deep and just fine. As for this LIVE IN LONG BEACH 1997 recording let me explain this Blues Festival inspired, annual 'get-togethers' at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of Cal State University Long Beach continuously scheduled musicians who had not performed together before and, well, threw them together for a Blues Unplugged night of blues. On this 1997 show in LONG BEACH Dave Alvin played a solo set of 6 songs paying homage to 'Big Joe Turner" on a slow blues version of "Chains of Love"; as well as a slow version of Alvin's own "Long White Cadillac". Eventually, playing a duet with Alvin is harp and songwriter Billy Boy Arnold performing Billy Boy's own "I Wish You Would" originally done in 1955 (this song also played by "Yardbirds" and the "Red Devils").

Gatemouth Brown comes out for 5 (quick) songs playing his fiddle and challenging the crowd, it seems, with country, polka, and a cajun tune "....you wanna' hear a Cajun tune...?" Gate almost seems surprised the max 1000 fans in attendance seem SO enthusiastic in their 'Yes" response. He had just played "Beer Barrel Polka" turning the "Roll out the barrell...bring out a barrel of fun..." polka beat into a country racing fiddle ditty. It's surprisingly fun ... but not for all blues fans, I'm sure. But, the crowd seems to like it; with Dave Alvin playing backup country and Cajun guitar sounds when appropriate. Gate eventually says "This guy's great ... he did not know I was going to play that..." Again, it is a fun 'get-together' the crowd seems to be laughing 'with'.

On the final 2 songs all 4 musicians (including a real nice, cool Joe Louis Walker guitar sound...I think he's plugged-in...) get together for 12 minutes of "Long Beach Blues" (instrumental) and some Gatemouth vocals on his own "Long Way Home". It is a solid ending to about an hour of music with additional minutes added between songs with 'dialogue' mostly by Dave Alvin (and some 'aforementioned' Gatemouth 'clowning'...) ~a. walther

Live In Long Beach 1997

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VA - The Night Train Route 1: Rare Blues, R&B And Soul For The Dancefloor

Size: 151,9 MB
Time: 63:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues, R&B, Soul
Art: Front

01. James Brown - Night Train (3:29)
02. Sugar Boy Williams - Little Girl (2:30)
03. Billy Boy Arnold - Rockin' It Is (2:36)
04. King Coleman - Down In The Basement (2:30)
05. Ivory Joe Hunter - I'm Cuttin' Out (2:13)
06. Lightnin' Slim - Mean Ole Lonesome Train (3:10)
07. McKinley Mitchell - You're Not Gonna Break My Heart (2:21)
08. Little Willie John - I'm Shakin' (2:25)
09. Roy Brown & His Mighty-Mighty Men - She's Gone Too Long (2:14)
10. Muddy Waters - Trouble, No More (2:38)
11. Jerry McCain - The Jig's Up (2:30)
12. John Lee Hooker - You Gotta Shake It Up And Go (2:13)
13. Jesse Powell - The Walkin' Blues (Walk Right In, Walk Right Out) (Feat. Fluffy Hunter) (2:52)
14. Annie Laurie - Nobody's Gonna Hurt You (2:21)
15. Danny Cobb - My Isabella (2:51)
16. Dee Irwin - Anytime (1:35)
17. Honey Brown - Ain't No Need (2:40)
18. Otis Blackwell - Let The Daddy Hold You (2:19)
19. Jessie Mae - Don't Freeze On Me (2:13)
20. Wade Jones - I Can't Concentrate (2:26)
21. Rex Garvin - Emulsified (2:32)
22. Vicki Evans - Don't Talk That Talk To Me (1:56)
23. Nellie Rutherford - Laughing At Me (2:24)
24. Phil Flowers - The Dances (2:29)
25. Frances Faye - St. James Infirmary (3:18)

This series of albums from Jasmine charts the evolution of soul music across America through genres like R&B, blues and proto soul, spanning the fifties and early sixties. The music reflects those sounds that after sixty plus years or more, still burn up the dancefloor at new breed R&B, popcorn, northern soul and mod venues across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

The Night Train Route 1

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Various Artists - Born With The Blues Vol. 1

Year: 1994
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:30
Size: 161,3 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. King Biscuit Boy & The Ronnie Hawkins Band - Neighbour Neighbour (3:06)
2. Louisiana Red - Sometimes I Wonder (5:33)
3. Houston Stackhouse - Cool Drink Of Water (3:16)
4. Tommy Tucker - Alimony (4:33)
5. Earl Hooker - The Foxtrot (1:57)
6. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - She Put The Wammee On Me (3:00)
7. Buster Benton & Carey Bell - Born With The Blues (4:48)
8. Lightnin' Hopkins - Got Me A Louisiana Woman (3:04)
9. Albert Collins - The Things I Used To Do (3:43)
10. The Paul deLay Band - Rode Myself Crazy (2:38)
11. Muddy Waters - Honey Bee (4:00)
12. Billy Boy Arnold - Sweet Miss Bea (4:23)
13. Jimmy Reed - Down At The Corner Grocery Store (3:22)
14. Matt 'Guitar' Murphy - Taking Off (3:49)
15. The Mighty Houserockers - Play The Blues For You (5:39)
16. Paul Butterfield - Loaded (2:51)
17. The Clovers - He Sure Could Hypnotize (3:06)
18. Eddy Clearwater - Came Up The Hard Way (6:35)

Haven't been able to find any specific info for this compilation, but I think the featured artists will give you an idea of what this is all about. This is a good un folks!

Born With The Blues Vol. 1 mc
Born With The Blues Vol. 1 zippy

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VA - Lost Blues 1950 To 1970

Size: 110,4 MB
Time: 47:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

01 James Cotton - Blow Wind Blow (3:47)
02 Joe Carter - Stormy Monday (5:57)
03 Big Bill Broonzy - It's A Low Down Dirty Shame (2:54)
04 Billy Boy Arnold - Back Door Friend (3:40)
05 Big Walter 'Shakey' Horton - That Ain't It (3:29)
06 Robert Lockwood Jr. - Take A Little Walk With Me (3:26)
07 Memphis Slim - El Capitan (2:54)
08 Sammy Price - How Long Blues (3:48)
09 Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign (5:26)
10 Fenton Robinson - Somebody Loan Me A Dime (3:46)
11 Mississippi Fred McDowell - I Asked For Whiskey, She Brought Me Gasoline (2:55)
12 Lightnin' Hopkins - One Eyed Woman (5:19)

Lost Blues 1950 To 1970

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Various Artists - Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear

This compilation contains 33 tracks of rare 1970s blues, courtesy of the long-lost Big Bear label! Includes sides by Homesick James, Doctor Ross. Eddie "Playboy" Taylor, Lightnin' Slim, Snooky Pryor, Billy Boy Arnold, Mickey Baker, Billy Emerson and others.

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2003
Styles: Blues
Time: 60:02
Size: 138,4 MB
Covers: Front, CD, Tray, Inside

Album: Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear Disc 1
(3:20) 1. Snooky Pryor - Shake Your Boogie
(3:55) 2. Homesick James & Snooky PryorAfter You There Won't Be Nobody Else
(3:48) 3. Homesick James - Crossroads
(4:19) 4. Homesick James - Highway 51
(2:18) 5. Big John Wrencher - Honeydripper
(4:00) 6. Eddie Taylor - Seems Like a Million Years
(3:29) 7. Eddie Taylor - Ready for Eddie
(5:29) 8. Doctor Ross - Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear
(4:14) 9. Doctor Ross - I'm a Mannish Boy
(4:12) 10. Doctor Ross - Got Something to Tell You
(2:01) 11. Erwin Helfer - Sneaky Pete
(2:56) 12. Erwin Helfer & Bob Hall - Homage to AA and PJ
(3:47) 13. Whispering Smith - Texas Flood
(2:27) 14. Lightnin' Slim - Walkin' in the Park
(2:25) 15. G.P. Jackson - 12th Street Boogie
(7:13) 16. Johnny Mars & Boogie Woogie Red & Baby Boy Warren - Meet Me in the Alley

Album: Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear Disc 2
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2003
Styles: Blues
Time: 61:58
Size: 142,8 MB
Covers: Full

(4:33) 1. Eddie 'Guitar' Burns - She's in L.A.
(3:29) 2. Eddie 'Guitar' Burns - Do It If You Wanna
(1:58) 3. Boogie Woogie Red - Viper Song
(3:42) 4. Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would
(6:03) 5. Johnny Mars - It's My Own Fault
(2:29) 6. Johnny Mars - I've Been Down So Long
(3:54) 7. Willie Mabon - Klickety Klock
(3:48) 8. Mickey Baker - Blues Fell This Morning
(3:29) 9. Mickey Baker - I'll Always Be in Love With You
(4:32) 10. Tommy Tucker - Alimony
(3:51) 11. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson - Buzzard Luck
(5:24) 12. Charles Brown - Blues for My Baby
(3:02) 13. Gene Connors - So Tired
(3:51) 14. Gene Connors - Let the Good Times Roll
(4:22) 15. Gene Connors - Honky Tonk
(3:23) 16. Cousin Joe - When a Woman Loves a Man

Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear Disc 1
Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear Disc 2
Don't Worry 'Bout the Bear Disc artwork

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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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Various - Cold Hearted Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 103:53
Size: 237.8 MB
Styles: Assorted styles
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Junior Wells - You Don't Love Me, Baby
[5:13] 2. Rufus Thomas - That Woman Is Poison!
[4:10] 3. Koko Taylor - Save Your Breath
[3:23] 4. Roomful Of Blues - Love Grown Cold
[3:37] 5. Kinsey Report - Corner Of The Blanket
[4:34] 6. Johnny Winter - Bad Girl Blues
[5:56] 7. Billy Boy Arnold - Young And Evil
[3:30] 8. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - She Don't Love Me No More
[3:14] 9. W.C. Clark - Cold Blooded Lover
[4:32] 10. Tinsley Ellis - So Many Tears
[4:02] 11. Floyd Dixon - Mean And Jealous Man
[5:38] 12. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - If This Is Love
[3:39] 13. Lucky Peterson - Locked Out Of Love
[4:24] 14. Michael Burks - Mean Old Lady
[2:47] 15. Janiva Magness - Your Love Made A U-Turn
[3:52] 16. Fenton Robinson - You Don't Know What Love Is
[3:50] 17. Hound Dog Taylor - She's Gone
[4:13] 18. Guitar Shorty - True Lies
[3:54] 19. Son Seals - I Think You're Fooling Me
[5:41] 20. Coco Montoya - Can't See The Streets For My Tears
[6:18] 21. Carey & Lurrie Bell - Heartaches And Pain
[5:40] 22. Lonnie Brooks - Cold Lonely Nights
[4:27] 23. Kenny Neal - The Truth Hurts
[4:14] 24. Corey Harris - If You Let A Man Kick You Once

Cold Hearted Blues

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Various Artists - Sweet 'N' Tough: The Blues From Chicago

Year: 1996
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:43
Size: 165,0 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Scans: Full

1. Charlie Musselwhite - The Blues Overtook Me (4:44)
2. Maurice John Vaughan - Watching Your Watch (4:56)
3. Billy Boy Arnold - Fool For You (3:36)
4. A.C. Reed - My Buddy Buddy Friends (3:17)
5. Son Seals - Gentleman From The Windy City (4:09)
6. Lonnie Brooks - A Man's Got To Do What A Man's Got To Do (4:05)
7. Hound Dog Taylor - She's Gone (3:52)
8. Big Walter Horton - Christine (4:02)
9. The Jimmy Johnson Band - Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home (4:45)
10. The Sons Of Blues/Chi-Town Hustlers - The Only Thing That Saved Me (3:18)
11. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - Everything I Do Brings Me Closer To The Blues (4:10)
12. Albert Collins - Master Charge (5:11)
13. The Kinsey Report - Love's Overdue (3:32)
14. Carey Bell - Tired Of Giving You My Love (3:52)
15. Fenton Robinson - I'm So Tired (3:55)
16. Detroit Junior - If I Hadn't Been High (4:05)
17. James Cotton - High Compression (2:43)
18. Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows - The Sweet Sound Of Rhythm & Blues (3:21)

To call Chicago the 'Home Of The Blues' is something of a misnomer, for the music that brought the city its reputation was made by generations of musicians who migrated from the southern states of Arkansas, Tennessee and especially Mississippi. Each brought his own particular experience and expertise, and Chicago's clubs and bars became the melting pot in which all these different elements were fused.

The blues is more popular today than it's ever been. The bedrock of its appeal remains as strong as ever and Chicago remains its strongest bastion. Sweet 'N' Tough encompasses this intriguing music in all its facets. /Excerpts from the liner notes by Neil Slaven

Sweet 'N' Tough: The Blues From Chicago mc
Sweet 'N' Tough: The Blues From Chicago zippy

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