Showing posts with label Eric Gales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Gales. Show all posts

Friday, August 29, 2025

Eric Gales - A Tribute To LJK

Album: A Tribute To LJK
Size: 111,0 MB
Time: 47:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues, blues-rock
Art: Front

1. You Shouldn't Have Left Me (4:50)
2. Rockin Horse Ride (Feat. Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram) (4:04)
3. Guitar Man (4:41)
4. Don't Wanna Go Home (Feat. Joe Bonamassa) (5:23)
5. Something Inside Of Me (5:31)
6. Baby Baby (4:37)
7. It Takes A Whole Lot Of Money (Feat. Joe Bonamassa & Josh Smith) (5:58)
8. Worried Man (4:33)
9. Blues Been Too Good To Me (4:05)
10. Somebody (Feat. Buddy Guy & Roosevelt Collier) (3:59)

Eric Gales honors his late brother Little Jimmy King with A Tribute To LJK - a powerful, genre-blending album packed with passion and legacy. Co-produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the record features nearly all original songs by King, reimagined through Gales’ electrifying guitar work. "This record has been a long time coming. I wanted it to be the ultimate tribute to my late brother, Little Jimmy King, to keep his memory alive and make sure people remember who he was and still is. All of these songs, except one, are his originals. I wanted to deliver his tunes to the world through my eyes. And I wanted it to be badass – and that’s exactly how it turned out”, Gales says. With guest spots from Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Roosevelt Collier and Josh Smith, this modern tribute captures both raw emotion and deep musical roots.

A Tribute To LJK mc
A Tribute To LJK gofile

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Eric Gales - Crown

Size: 150.5 MB
Time: 64:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Death Of Me (4:35)
02. The Storm (6:15)
03. Had To Dip (0:29)
04. I Want My Crown (Feat. Joe Bonamassa) (4:19)
05. Stand Up (4:50)
06. Survivor (5:37)
07. You Don't Know The Blues (4:34)
08. Rattlin' Change (1:01)
09. Too Close To The Fire (7:06)
10. Put That Back (3:46)
11. Take Me Just As I Am (Feat. LaDonna Gales) (3:02)
12. Cupcakin' (0:43)
13. Let Me Start With This (2:48)
14. I Found Her (6:43)
15. My Own Best Friend (4:58)
16. I Gotta Go (3:36)

Eric Gales is a blues firebrand. Over 30 years and 18 albums, his passion for the music and his boundless desire to keep it vital has never waned, even when his own light dimmed due to his substance struggles. Throughout it all, he continued to reinvigorate the art form with personal revelation in his lyrics and bold stylistic twists in his guitar playing and songwriting. Five years sober, creatively rejuvenated, and sagely insightful, Eric is ready for the fight of his career. Aptly, he calls his masterful new album, Crown. Here, Eric opens like never before, sharing his struggles with substance abuse, his hopes about a new era of sobriety and unbridled creativity, and his personal reflections on racism. The songs are delivered with clarity and feature Eric's personal experiences and hope for positive change. In addition, the 16-track collection boasts his finest singing, songwriting, and his signature guitar playing that burns throughout. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, this is Eric at his most boldly vulnerable, uncompromisingly political, and unflinchingly confident. The Crown album journey is exhilarating, and, much like Eric's life, winds through moments of victory and vulnera-bility. Along the way, Eric shares his story and his feelings through the majesty of the blues. He says: "When I play, the core is always the blues, and on this album, we go through a theme park of the blues, exploring all kinds of blues. We visit the carousel, the bumper cars, the water rides, the concession stands, and we all come out with smiles."

Crown MP3
Crown FLAC

Friday, November 29, 2019

VA - Blues Christmas

Size: 107,4 MB
Time: 45:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock, Xmas
Art: Front

01 Joe Louis Walker - Christmas Comes But Once A Year (2:44)
02 Larry McCray - Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' (3:05)
03 Steve Cropper - Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby (5:08)
04 Popa Chubby - Back Door Santa (2:12)
05 The Paul Nelson Band - Christmas Tears (3:26)
06 Kenny Neal - I'll Be Home For Christmas (3:06)
07 Eric Gales - Little Drummer Boy (2:24)
08 Chris Spedding - Blue Christmas (3:00)
09 Pat Travers - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (4:03)
10 Leslie West - Silent Night (2:19)
11 Foghat - Run Rudolph Run (2:57)
12 Wolf Mail - I Want To Spend Christmas With You (3:06)
13 Debbie Davies - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (2:24)
14 James Montgomery Band - Deck The Halls (1:46)
15 Harvey Mandel - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (3:33)

Blues Christmas

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Gales Bros. - Left Hand Brand

Year: 1996
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:32
Size: 130,9 MB
Styles: Blues-rock
Scans: Full

1. Fight The Power (3:44)
2. Hand Me Down (3:44)
3. Somethin's Got A Hold On Me (5:45)
4. House Of Blues (5:17)
5. Worried Man (4:25)
6. You Don't Love Me (5:05)
7. Talking In Your Sleep (4:10)
8. Horse Ride (4:25)
9. Talk Is Cheap (4:39)
10. Somebody (2:45)
11. Sign Of The Times (4:02)
12. This Deck Is Stacked (3:17)
13. Guitar Man (5:10)

The Gales Brothers, all born and raised in the same house in Memphis, have all forged their own musical paths in the blues world, but when the three get together for a live performance or a studio outing, a treat is in store for the blues guitar aficionado. Eric and Eugene formed the Eric Gales Band, while Manuel (b. Dec. 4, 1968) took the stage name Little Jimmy King (after Jimi Hendrix and Albert King).

King has recorded two albums for the Bullseye Blues/Rounder label, Little Jimmy King and the Memphis Soul Survivors and Something Inside of Me. Eric, however, was the first family member to break out; at age 15, he signed his first recording contract and released two albums, The Eric Gales Band and Picture of a Thousand Faces. By 1991, the critics were calling him the next guitar prodigy; Gales won a poll in Guitar World magazine as "Best New Talent," appeared several times on The Arsenio Hall Show, and found some prominent fans in Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.

As a unit, the Gales Brothers released one album, Left Hand Brand, on the House of Blues/Private Music label in March, 1995. Although House of Blues has since formed an alliance with another label and Private Music was consolidated into another unit of BMG, the record should still be available. While the Gales brothers have played together all of their lives, this remains the first time they've ever recorded together in a good studio. Recorded at House of Blues Studios in Memphis, it was produced by David Z., who has also worked with Prince, the Fine Young Cannibals and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. /Biography by Richard Skelly, AllMusic

Left Hand Brand mc
Left Hand Brand zippy

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Matty T Wall - Transpacific Blues, Vol. 1

Size: 84,3 MB
Time: 35:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Boom Boom (Feat. Dave Hole) (3:24)
02. Hi Heel Sneakers (Feat. Eric Gales) (4:37)
03. Quicksand (Feat. Kid Ramos) (3:12)
04. She's Into Something (Feat. Walter Trout) (4:11)
05. Stormy Monday (6:13)
06. Born Under A Bad Sign (Feat. Kirk Fletcher) (4:58)
07. I'm Tore Down (4:14)
08. Crossroads (4:58)

The career of Australian blues-barnstormer, Matty T Wall, has been on a rising path since his debut album, 2016’s Blue Skies, was nominated as Best Blues Album (International) at the 15th Annual Independent Music Awards. The follow-up, 2018’s Sidewinder subsequently reached the upper echelons of blues airplay charts in Australia, the US and Europe, opening doors all around for this firebrand singer/songwriter/guitarist.

Wall’s newest step forward may be a tad unexpected, but it’s certainly welcome. A love of blues traditions combined with a thirst for new and different approaches to the genre has resulted in a collaborative album of classic blues songs with creative twists.

So aptly titled Transpacific Blues Vol. 1, the album finds Wall reaching across the oceans to trade licks with some of the greatest blues players right now, such as the likes of Eric Gales, Walter Trout, Kirk Fletcher, Kid Ramos, and fellow West Australian, Dave Hole.

The album features three standards purely showcasing Wall and his band, namely Stormy Monday, Tore Down and Crossroads.

In any and all cases, it sounds like everyone’s having a whole lot of fun.

With the experience complete and ready for release one can’t help but note that Vol 1. would suggest more of these to come. It’s entirely possible, but Wall continues to write his own new music and there is no doubt some future surprises in store. Meanwhile, Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 is ready and waiting for those who want to take something from its bluesy goodness.

Transpacific Blues, Vol. 1

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Eric Gales - The Bookends

Size: 119,0 MB
Time: 50:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Intro (1:55)
02. Something's Gotta Give (Feat. B. Slade) (4:19)
03. Whatcha Gon' Do (3:27)
04. It Just Beez That Way (4:20)
05. How Do I Get You (4:13)
06. Southpaw Serenade (Feat. Doyle Bramhall Ii) (8:31)
07. Reaching For A Change (4:49)
08. Somebody Lied (4:02)
09. With A Little Help From My Friends (Feat. Beth Hart) (6:03)
10. Resolution (5:05)
11. Pedal To The Metal (Feat. B. Slade) (Remix Bonus Track) (3:46)

Eric Gales returns with his latest offering The Bookends and it is an absolute beauty. Highly regarded by the best in the business, Gales swaggers his way across eleven banging tracks that ebb and flow beautifully, whilst taking their listener on an audible rollercoaster that just blows the mind.

Kicking off the album is a tasty intro that fuses Hendrix, Tom Morello and Joe Satriani in a whirlwind piece that demands the attention, right there and then you realise you’re not in Kansas anymore! The first full track on the album is relatively sedate compared to what’s to follow, luring you onto a false sense of security Gales throws out a funky little ditty that’s easy on the ear and beautifully delivered as always. ‘Whatcha Gon Do’ is where things get interesting, Gales starts to let loose with the solo work and unleashes a blistering tone with a WhaWha that just pulls at your heart-strings. Screaming it’s way across a classy solo and an outro to make the hairs stand o the back of your neck. There’s asomething for everyone here as Gales showcases his range across the length and breadth of The Bookends.

Gales brings along a few of his friends along for the ride, Doyle Bramhall II, B.Slade and Beth Hart to sprinkle a little additional magic on their chosen tracks, as if Gales majestic playing and delivery weren’t enough? The solo work on the likes of ‘Southpaw Serenade’ just blows the mind, with Gales and DB interchanging licks. It’s a marvel for any young players out there to relish and embrace how the old guard still mix it up like the best of them.

It would be very easy for an established artist to get stale and not challenge himself or herself musically, not here. Gales has reached deep within and pulled out a savage side with a collection of intriguing songs, which pull on a number of influences. You get nuances of artists from Hendrix to Prince and beyond in the song writing, add in his brutal attacking guitar playing into the mix and you have a melting pot that is just too good to ignore.

An audible rollercoaster, The Bookends delivers on all fronts. If you’re searching for something that isn’t your usual cookie cutter, going through the motions Blues album then this is for you. Stunning from start to finish.

The Bookends

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Supersonic Blues Machine - Californisoul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:55
Size: 144.0 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. I Am Done Missing You
[4:40] 2. Somebody's Fool (Feat. Robben Ford)
[4:29] 3. L.O.V.E
[3:55] 4. Broken Heart (Feat. Billy F. Gibbons)
[5:06] 5. Bad Boys
[5:23] 6. Elevate (Feat. Eric Gales)
[3:54] 7. The One
[7:42] 8. Hard Times (Feat. Steve Lukather)
[4:04] 9. Cry
[4:57] 10. The Stranger
[6:16] 11. What's Wrong (Feat. Walter Trout)
[3:24] 12. Thank You
[4:33] 13. This Is Love

SUPERSONIC BLUES MACHINE is Lance Lopez (guitars/vocals/songwriter), Fabrizio Grossi (bass, producer, songwriter), and Kenny Aronoff (drums). As they’ve proven on their first album and round of shows, it’s not a party unless you invite some friends, and for Californisoul, they’ve brought along some heavy hitters. Guests on the album include Billy Gibbons, who returns with pen and guitar (“Broken Heart”), Steve Lukather (Toto) throws down some stunning licks (“Hard Times”), Eric Gales is back in the fold (“Elevate”), Robben Ford brings his bag of soulfully sophisticated chops (“Somebody’s Fool”), Walter Trout brings some silky slow blues (“What’s Wrong”), and the party is rounded out with Alessandro Alessandroni Jr. on keyboards, Serge Simic (co-writer and background vocals on “Love” and “Hard Times”), and Andrea and Francis Benitez Grossi (background vocals). You may come for the stars, but you’ll stay for the whole show.

Fabrizio Grossi adds, “Lots of people have been saying to me ‘why does Supersonic Blues Machine always bring guests around? You guys can stand your own ground’, and there are three answers to that : 1) we’re all super friends and we’re having a blast, 2) most of them don’t give lessons and for us it’s only way to learn their secret “ways”, and three because the inspiration and the challenge they bring to the table!” Supersonic Blues Machine is truly a family as well as a band, and these guests don’t mail it in, they stay for dinner. The community aspect is very real, and one of the band’s great treasures.

Californisoul mc
Californisoul zippy

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

VA - Rockin' The Blues

Size: 153,3 MB
Time: 65:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01 Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Diamonds & Gold (5:15)
02 Quinn Sullivan - Midnight Highway (5:53)
03 Eric Gales - Been So Long (4:45)
04 Walter Trout - We're All In This Together (Feat. Joe Bonamassa) (7:55)
05 Beth Hart - Love Is A Lie (3:12)
06 Gary Hoey - Dust & Bones (4:07)
07 Lance Lopez - Mr Lucky (Previously Unreleased) (4:07)
08 Simo - People Say (3:57)
09 Thomas Wynn And The Believers - Wade Waist Deep (3:33)
10 Supersonic Blues Machine - L.O.V.E. (4:29)
11 Jonny Lang - Stronger Together (3:34)
12 Sonny Landreth - Blues Attack (Live) (5:21)
13 Black Stone Cherry - Champagne & Reefer (3:43)
14 Ronnie Baker Brooks - Times Have Changed (Feat. Al Kapone) (5:17)

Provogue is home to some of the worlds’ finest modern Blues artists and the Label are thrilled to announce their first Rockin’ The Blues 2018 Tour featuring the exceptional talents of Eric Gales, Quinn Sullivan, Gary Hoey and now added to the bill as a special end of show guest is Texan guitar slinger Lance Lopez guitar hero extravaganza. The tour will be calling through Germany, The Netherlands and the UK in March next year.

To celebrate this, Rockin’ The Blues, the album features 14 stellar performances from Eric Gales, Quinn Sullivan, Gary Hoey, Black Stone Cherry, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Beth Hart, Walter Trout, SIMO, Supersonic Blues Machine, Thomas Wynn & The Believers, Jonny Lang, Lance Lopez, Sonny Landreth and Ronnie Baker Brooks.
Guitar whirlwind Eric Gales’ Been So Long is taken from his critically acclaimed new album Middle of the Road which was released early 2017, Eric Gales is a man on form and on fire right now. His fourth album on Provogue/Mascot Label Group (15th album in total) sees him at his most expressive yet, his rebirth in fact; it is a deeply personal and reflective record that echoes where he is in his life right now and he allows himself to open up and really flourish. The who’s who of guitarists are declaring their admiration for him; Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction) exclaimed that “How Eric Gales isn’t the hugest name in rock guitar is a total mystery”, modern blues icon Joe Bonamassa said he is “One of the best, if not the best guitar player in the world”, whilst Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) said ‘this guy could be the best player on Earth” not to mention an admirer in the shape of Carlos Santana.

18 year old guitar prodigy and Buddy Guy protégé Quinn Sullivan has been a music professional for more than 75 percent of his life. He’s shared the stage with Buddy Guy aged eight, Eric Clapton, Los Lobos, The Roots, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi and Joe Bonamassa, and he opened for B.B. King, who later invited him to play his treasured “Lucille” guitar. He’s also appeared on national TV, with guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Oprah, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan with Jeff Bridges and twice on The Ellen DeGeneres show aged six and fourteen. Sullivan has packed some extraordinary experience into his decade-long career, Midnight Highway is taken from the his new album of the same name which was produced by multi GRAMMY® winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Winter).

It’s just so right-with-the-universe that Gary Hoey’s 20th album, Dust & Bones is an exuberant fusion of blues and rock. After all, this accomplished and diverse guitarist has explored several styles in his career—hard rock, rock, surf, and prog, to name a few. The title track is a bonafide Hoey classic. In 1987, the Boston-born guitarist caught the ear of Ozzy Osbourne—no slouch at picking great guitar players—and almost ended up in his band (The gig ultimately went to Zakk Wylde.) Hoey scored a major-label record deal where his version of Focus’ “Hocus Pocus” brought him huge success.

There’s no doubt about it, the state of Texas is well known worldwide for its fiery blues guitar players, and Lance Lopez (also singer/guitarist for Supersonic Blues Machine) perfectly encapsulates that fire on Mr Lucky with some furious piece of fretboard mastery.

The album is awash with some of the finest blues artists in modern times; powerhouse Beth Hart is unstoppable on Love is A Lie, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter is riding a creative tidal wave, firing out acclaimed albums, hooking up with the biggest names in music and rocking the house each night with that celebrated burnt-honey voice. Arena rockers Black Stone Cherry returned to their roots in September releasing a blues cover record Black to Blues, here they explode in BSC style on Muddy Waters, Champagne & Reefer. Louisiana’s Kenny Wayne Shepherd prowls on Diamonds & Gold saying; Diamonds & Gold is a wink-wink kinda thing about how materialistic our society has become. It’s like, we should be living for bigger things than how much we can accumulate. If you look at the mainstream and what young people are led to believe they should work towards – it’s all just stuff. And stuff doesn’t have much substance. So that song is just to kinda inspire people to look for more in life.”

Nashville trio SIMO get funky on People Say, slide guitar maestro Sonny Landreth demonstrates his chops on this live version of Blues Attack taken from Recorded Live In Lafayette. Blues warrior Walter Trout shows why he is at the peak of his career with the formidable We’re All In This Together ft. Joe Bonamasssa. Jonny Lang returned with his first new album, Signs in 4 years in 2017 and Stronger Together is a soul crossover highlight. Chicago blues man Ronnie Baker Brooks, son of the late great Lonnie Brooks, delivers some fine blues, soul and funk with Times Have Changed ft. Al Kapone. Orlando’s favourite band Thomas Wynn & The Believers deliver an exquisite performance on Wade Waist Deep whilst Supersonic Blues Machine go from strength to strength and reach for the sky on the festival favourite, the hypnotic L.O.V.E.

Rockin' The Blues

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Various - Shrapnel Records Presents The Best Of Blues Rock

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 122:45
Size: 281.0 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:57] 1. Pat Travers - Statesboro Blues
[4:31] 2. Leslie West - Blues Before Sunrise
[3:56] 3. Zakk Wylde - Baby Please Don't Go
[8:29] 4. Indigenous - Don't Know What To Do
[7:55] 5. Schenker & Pattison Summit - Layla
[5:49] 6. Marc Ford - Don't Get Me Killed
[5:35] 7. Leslie West - The Thrill Is Gone
[6:43] 8. Pat Travers - Green Eyed Lady
[7:26] 9. Eric Gales - You Ain't The Boss Of Me
[5:30] 10. Frank Marino - I'll Play The Blues For You
[5:49] 11. Craig Erickson - Out Of Town
[7:33] 12. Eric Gales - Railroaded
[9:49] 13. Stoney Curtis Band - Blues Without You
[6:52] 14. Jon Butcher - Clean-Up Time
[6:20] 15. Craig Erickson - Closing Time
[6:13] 16. Michael Landau - The Darkness
[6:31] 17. Mato Nanji - I Was Wrong To Leave You
[9:19] 18. Chris Duarte Group - Sun Prairie Blues
[4:19] 19. Richie Kotzen - Broken Man Blues

Shrapnel Records Presents The Best Of Blues Rock

Friday, September 22, 2017

Paul Lamb & The Detroit Breakdown - Fly In4mation

Size: 99,3 MB
Time: 35:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

1. Fear Free (Feat. Eric Gales) (5:32)
2. Drinkin' Rain (3:41)
3. And A Little Bit More (I Want It All) (3:56)
4. Shape To Shadow (5:14)
5. Brotherhoos Of The Misunderstood (4:56)
6. One More Shot (3:09)
7. My Name (Feat. Joanne Shaw Taylor) (3:38)
8. Living Words (5:24)

Detroit. Few words draw up such emotion and imagery as that one word sentence. It’s really a novel on its own, and it says more about music than most books ever could. One of the things most people forget in this modern era of music is the deep root of blues that comes from Detroit. One man who hasn’t is Paul Lamb and his band The Detroit Breakdown.

Paul grew up in Detroit, listening to a mix of great rock radio like Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton and drew from other outside influences like Hendrix and Stevie Ray as he began to play guitar. After travelling the country seeking out his musical soul and playing with the best of the best, Paul has finally found what he was looking for right here at home.

Listening to Paul Lamb and the Detroit Breakdown is a musical time capsule. It will take you through the drive and riffs of the 70’s, but also has the modern pulse that comes from recording at the legendary Rust Belt Studios(Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker) that keeps it all fresh. He’s not rehashing a memory, he’s brought this music to life.

After extensively touring Europe, highlighted by appearances at Glastonbury and touring with Walter Trout, Peter Green and many others, Paul and the Detroit Breakdown are bringing their music back home, similar to the path Hendrix followed. It all comes back around, much like it does with music and Detroit. Paul carries the torch as well as any native from this great city could ever do.

Fly In4mation

Friday, February 24, 2017

Eric Gales - Middle Of The Road

Size: 116,7 MB
Time: 49:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues Rock, Blues Soul
Art: Front & Back

01. Good Time (2:52)
02. Change In Me (4:37)
03. Carry Yourself (5:23)
04. Boogie Man (4:55)
05. Been So Long (4:43)
06. Help Yourself (4:34)
07. I've Been Deceived (3:58)
08. Repetition (4:59)
09. Help Me Let Go (4:07)
10. I Don't Know (4:17)
11. Swamp (5:17)

Middle of the Road is Eric Gales fourth album on Provogue/Mascot label Group (Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Black Stone Cherry, Warren Haynes, The Robert Cray Band, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band) after Transformation (2011), Relentless (2010) and The Psychedelic Underground (2007) and it sees him at his most expressive yet; it is a deeply personal and reflective record that echoes where he is in his life right now and he opens himself up and allows himself the chance to really flourish. Middle of the Road is the running theme throughout the record. "It's about being fully focused and centered in the middle of the road. If you’re on the wrong side and in the gravel you're not too good and if you're on the median strip that's not too good either, so being in the middle of the road is the best place to be", according to Eric.

Personnel are Aaron Haggerty – drums, Dylan Wiggins – B3 Organ, LaDonna Gales – All backing vocals, Maxwell ‘Wizard’ Drummey – Mellotron on Repetition, and Eric Gales provides all lead vocals, guitar, and bass.

There are several guests on the album including Gary Clark Jr., mentor and older brother Eugene Gales, Lance Lopez and Christone ‘Kingfish‘ Ingram.

These 11 tracks run 55 minutes, and they are a revelation. The sound quality, production, and mix are fresh, with an almost sparkling clarity. The backing vocals by LaDonna Gales are a transcendent backdrop draped throughout this musical masterstroke.

Excellent all the way through, we still had our favorites. “Good Time” says, “I’m back and I’m bad!” It will absolutely school players, the same way Prince cut a whole new landscape with Musicology. This is a stunning example of “new soul.” “Change In Me” is a new beginning; rocking, soulful, with a perfect lead. Gales is still fast, but now, slow enough to digest. Gales said, “I changed up some things in life and decided to go a new route.” Arhythmic wonder, “Been So Long” has just the slightest echoes of Living Colour’s Vernon Reid coursing through it.

“Help Yourself” features the young guitar Jedi knight Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. This is a truly deep cut; rocking, bluesy, percolating, and just a great listen. “I’ve Been Deceived” showcases deliciously stout guitar lines, and once again, LaDonna Gales’ off-the-chain vocals. “I Don’t Know” is what the Red Hot Chili Peppers would sound like in overdrive!

Middle of the Road is a huge step forward in both contemporary blues and soul.

Middle Of The Road

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Ken Valdez - Soul Renegade

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:05
Size: 142.1 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. Soul Renegade
[3:37] 2. Rio Grande Blues
[4:40] 3. Sugar Shakin' Boogaloo (Feat. Chris Duarte)
[4:10] 4. Make It
[3:49] 5. Sometimes (Feat. Eric Gales)
[4:36] 6. Far From Gone
[4:33] 7. Detroit Iron
[4:41] 8. Final Season
[5:48] 9. Whiskey And Water
[4:58] 10. Angels
[4:07] 11. Wang Dang Doodle
[3:37] 12. One Hand On The Bottle
[4:21] 13. Come Together
[4:21] 14. Come Together (Outlaw Remix)

Santa Fe, New Mexico native Ken Valdez now calls St Paul, Minnesota home. On this release Ken wrote seven of the songs and had a hand from some illustrious collaborators – Doyle Bramhall II and Curtis Salgado get co-write credits on a track each – and there are two covers. The material appears to have been recorded over several sessions so there are quite a large number of musicians involved: Paul Peterson and Tucker Sterling Jensen are on bass, Mario Dawson, Pancho Lopez, Michael Bland, Joe Diaz and Jay Corkran share the drum stool and Brant Leeper, Ricky Peterson and Adam Daniel add keyboards. Additional players include Greg Jennings on slide guitar and Kevin BF Burt on harp on one cut each with Hazel Miller, Jason Peterson Delaire, Mary Cutrufello and Shalo Lee on backing vocals. Ken handles lead vocals and guitar and there are also guest spots for guitar slingers Chris Duarte and Eric Gales. The style is definitely at the rocky end of the blues with plenty of screaming guitar leads, as on “Sometimes” with Eric Gales’ buzzsaw guitar or “Make It” on which Ken needs no assistance in the guitar stakes. Chris’ contribution is on the shuffle “Sugar Shakin’ Boogaloo” that rocks along well.

Ken’s gruff vocals suit the blues rock style that is the main element on this album. The title track is a rock tune with a rousing chorus and almost prog rock organ work from Ricky; “Rio Grande Blues” may have the ‘B’ word in the title but it is also high energy rock with plenty of Ken’s trademark guitar. Curtis Salgado’s Rn’B influence pervades “Far From Gone” which was, for this reviewer, the standout track here. Ken drops the pace, his acoustic guitar well supported by Greg Jennings’ slide work, on a tale of barroom woe in the late Mike Jordan’s “Whiskey And Water”. Willie Dixon’s “Wang Dang Doodle” has been covered far too often and Ken’s histrionic version did not appeal. Those who are keen on blues-rock with plenty of revved-up guitar may well like this one. ~John Mitchell

Soul Renegade mc
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Friday, September 30, 2016

Phil Gates - The Twelve Rhythms

Size: 145,9 MB
Time: 62:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Funk, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. New Kinda Funky ( 3:48)
02. We Are The Ones ( 4:51)
03. Your Needs Were More ( 3:26)
04. Honey Hush ( 5:44)
05. You Want Me ( 4:12)
06. You Cannot (Feat. Eric Gales) ( 4:29)
07. We're Together ( 4:41)
08. We Havin' Us (Feat. Kenny Neal) ( 4:58)
09. Turn Me Up ( 4:37)
10. The Machine (Feat. Kenny Neal) ( 3:52)
11. Let Yourself ( 6:41)
12. I Love The Way (Feat. Poncho Willaims & Rob Mullins) (11:07)

Phil Gates was born in Chicago Ill., into a family of musicians that helped form his music style, and ability. Phil began playing musical instruments at the age of eight, and listening to a wide array of music has always been his main source of inspiration. Phil has played venues from small clubs, to the U.S. Air Force’s “Tops in Blue” World Tour, which performed in sixteen countries as well as the halftime show of the NFL Superbowl.

Phil has performed at many venues all over the world with his band. Also, the band was featured for five consecutive years on Hornblower Cruise’s “Friday Night Blues Dinner Cruise”. Phil’s style is reminiscent of the early high energy Buddy Guy, mixed with a special blend of flavors from Jazz, Fusion, New Orleans, and the Chicago, Delta, and Mississippi Blues styles.

The Phil Gates Band won the “Beale Street Blues Kings” Competition in Memphis, and competed in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge.
Phil has been steady contributor to the Blues Community in Southern California. He founded the Los Angeles Blues Society, and has been a valued judge for the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and also at many of the Guitar Center “King of the Blues” competitions in Hollywood, CA

Phil has also performed at great venues such as B.B. King’s, Cozy’s, Biscuits and Blues San Francisco, Highway 99 Seattle, WA, The Coach House, CA, The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, The Santa Clarita Blues Festival, The Topanga Canyon Blues Festival, The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival, The Blues Music Awards Blind Raccoon Showcase, The Blues Nights Gossau(Blues Festival in Gossau, Switzerland), The Rock und Blues Festival in Gams, Switzerland.

Phil had the opportunity in his early years to listen and study great talent. As front of house engineer at the Caravan of Dreams Performing Arts Centre in Fort Worth, Texas, Phil worked with some of Blues and Jazz’s greatest performers to include: Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Dizzie Gilespie, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Eartha Kitt, Dianne Reeves, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and many others.

The Twelve Rhythms

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Eric Gales - A Night On The Sunset Strip (Deluxe Edition) - Live

Released: 2016
Size: 221.1 MB
Time: 96:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Live Blues Rock
Art: Front

1. Intro (Live) [ 0:47]
2. Make It There (Live) [ 8:48]
3. The Change In Me (Live) [ 6:35]
4. Block The Sun - I Got You (I Feel Good) (Live) [ 8:34]
5. The Open Road (Live) [ 9:45]
6. Sea Of Bad Blood (Live) [ 2:45]
7. Bass & Drum Solos/Guitar Solo (Live) [ 7:47]
8. Don't Fear The Reaper (Live) [ 6:29]
9. Swamp (Live) [ 6:04]
10. 1019 (Live) [11:55]
11. Good For Sumthin' (Live) [ 9:12]
12. Miss You (Live) [ 6:55]
13. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live) [ 5:15]
14. Kashmir/Back In Black (Live) [ 5:28]

Blues rock phenom Eric Gales brings his fiery six-string pyrotechnics deep into the heart of Hollywood's famed music scene on this spectacular concert package! Gales let's loose on a string of Southern fried soulful blues favorites from his back catalog including "Block The Sun" and "The Open Road" plus tracks from his most recent album Good For Sumthin' including a smokin' hot cover of The Stones's "Miss You!" Features a special guest appearance by Good For Sumthin' producer Raphael Saadiq bass.


A Night On The Sunset Strip (Deluxe Edition)

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Bernard Allison - Chills & Thrills

Year: 2007
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:34
Size: 141,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues, funky blues
Scans: Full

1. Chills & Thrills (4:37)
2. Boogie Man (4:14)
3. So Devine (4:26)
4. When I'm Gone (4:12)
5. Missing Tyrone (5:01)
6. Just My Guitar And Me (6:12)
7. Compromising For Your Needs (4:13)
8. Black & White (3:29)
9. Serious (5:31)
10. Heart Of St. Paul (3:20)
11. That's Why I'm Crying (5:26)
12. Groove With Me (4:03)
13. Serious (After Hours) (5:42)

"Luther Allison gave his son some of the greatest gifts a father can give a son. He gave him a comfortable home environment filled with the music that inspired his career and he taught him what he knew about his art. Bernard has a new album, Chills & Thrills, that proves eleven years after Dad's death that the Allison legacy is indeed intact and that, while he performs some of his dad's songs, Bernard Allison has indeed found his own voice." (Don Wilcock, Blueswax)

On his latest effort, which was recorded in New Hope, Minnesota in the autumn of 2007, he's joined by Eric Gales on second guitar, Rusty Hall on keyboards, Jassen Wilber on bass and Mario Dawson on drums. Guests: Bruce McCabe (piano, clavinet), Kathleen Johnson (background vocals), Jose James (sax). /Amazon

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Friday, February 26, 2016

Supersonic Blues Machine - West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco

Friday, December 18, 2015

Various - 2 albums: Blues Bureau's Rowdy Roadhouse Blues / Blues Bureau International's Burnin' Blues Shuffles

Blues Bureau International is a guitar oriented, blues, blues guitar and blues rock record label.

Blues Bureau is a member of Mike Varney's Shrapnel Label Group, which also includes Shrapnel Records, another guitar oriented label which features shred guitar, hard rock, metal and progressive metal, and Tone Center Records, a jazz oriented label featuring fusion guitar as well as a number of jazz tributes. The Blues Bureau catalog is a reflection of Mr. Varney's desire to provide a platform for talented young blues guitarists, and to allow established artists to pursue their artistic vision.

Blues Bureau artists include Rick Derringer, Eric Gales, Marc Ford, Chris Duarte, Leslie West and Pat Travers.

Album: Blues Bureau's Rowdy Roadhouse Blues
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:19
Size: 112.9 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Pat Travers - Party Tonight
[6:00] 2. S.F.Blues Guitar - Roadhouse Stomp
[3:50] 3. Leslie West - Riot In Cell Block #9
[4:02] 4. Jon Butcher - High Heel Shoes
[2:09] 5. Rick Derringer - Red Hot
[5:07] 6. Stoney Curtis Band - That's Right
[3:19] 7. The Chris Duarte Group - Let's Have A Party
[3:15] 8. Pat Travers - Tore Up From The Floor Up
[4:07] 9. Leslie West - Baby Please Don't Go
[4:23] 10. Eric Gales - Someday
[5:51] 11. Rick Derringer - Electra Blues
[3:09] 12. Stoney Curtis Band - World Without You

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Album: Blues Bureau International's Burnin' Blues Shuffles
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:15
Size: 126.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:41] 1. Eric Gales - Wake Up Call
[5:05] 2. Rick Derringer - Trouble In Paradise
[3:58] 3. Pat Travers - Statesboro Blues
[4:31] 4. Leslie West - Blues Before Sunrise
[5:07] 5. Stoney Curtis Band - That's Right
[7:18] 6. The Chris Duarte Group - Hard Mind
[4:05] 7. Eric Gales - I Got Me A Woman
[4:05] 8. Rick Derringer - Let The Good Times Roll
[3:53] 9. Pat Travers - Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash
[3:57] 10. Leslie West - Talk To Your Daughter
[5:37] 11. Stoney Curtis Band - Mulholland Shuffle
[3:53] 12. The Chris Duarte Group - Satisfy

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Various - Blues Bureau's Slow Jams Vol. 1: Down And Dirty Blues Collection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:46
Size: 159.7 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[6:25] 1. The Chris Duarte Group - Something Wicked
[5:30] 2. Rick Derringer - You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling
[4:16] 3. Leslie West - Third Degree
[7:26] 4. Eric Gales - Freedom From My Demons
[5:47] 5. Pat Travers - Too Much (Is Never Enough)
[9:47] 6. Stoney Curtis Band - Blues Without You
[5:46] 7. Schenker Pattison Summit - Voyager
[4:54] 8. Neal Schon - Blues For Miles
[7:17] 9. Michael Landau - Worried Life Blues
[6:21] 10. Marc Ford - Freedom Fighter
[6:13] 11. Scott Henderson - That Hurts

Not all blues artists use the phrase "low down and dirty" as a badge of honor. There are also the uptown blues artists, who are gritty and soulful but also pride themselves on their jazz-influenced sophistication. Typically, uptown blues artists love jazz (especially soul-jazz); are likely to use a Hammond B-3 organ; and have influences like Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Percy Mayfield, and Jimmy Rushing. But in most blues circles, "low down and dirty" remains a big selling point -- and that continues to hold true in everything from acoustic Mississippi country blues to electric Chicago blues to blues-soul. On this compilation, low down and dirty usually means blues-rock. Tough, muscular, ballsy blues-rock dominates Blues Bureau's Low Down and Dirty Blues Collection, Vol. 1: Slow Jams, and there is no shortage of grit on performances by Pat Travers ("Too Much Is Never Enough"), Eric Gales ("Freedom from My Demons"), Stoney Curtis ("Blues Without You"), and Leslie West ("Third Degree"). Any CD with names like Travers, West, and Rick Derringer is bound to have a lot of rock appeal, and this 2009 release maintains a strong rock element even when it detours into more jazz-minded territory on two instrumentals: Neal Schon's "Blues for Miles" (as in Miles Davis) and Scott Henderson's "That Hurts." Henderson and Schon, however, aren't combining blues and jazz in the way that the honkers of the 1940s and 1950s or organ combos of the 1960s combined blues and jazz; "Blues for Miles" and "That Hurts" are straight-up fusion -- and despite being more cerebral than most of the other tracks, they still have plenty of guitar-powered rock bravado and don't detract from the compilation's loud-and-proud aesthetic. Blues Bureau's Low Down and Dirty Blues Collection, Vol. 1: Slow Jams isn't the last word on the label's contributions to blues-rock, but it's still a rewarding and generous sample of what the Blues Bureau catalog has to offer. ~Alex Henderson

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Monday, December 14, 2015

Various - Shrapnel Records Presents The Best Of Modern Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:00
Size: 174.0 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:52] 1. Chris Duarte & Bluestone Co. - Back In Town
[4:20] 2. Leslie West - Whiskey Train
[5:36] 3. Jay Jesse Johnson - Rollin' And Tumblin'
[5:59] 4. Paul Gilbert - Enemies (In Jail)
[4:35] 5. Blindside Blues Band - Gravy Train
[3:56] 6. Craig Erickson - Back At The Roadhouse
[3:56] 7. Rick Derringer - Pride And Joy
[4:45] 8. Eric Gales - Layin' Down The Blues
[3:09] 9. Stoney Curtis - World Without You
[3:15] 10. Pat Travers - Tore Up From The Floor Up
[7:52] 11. Michael Schenker - Layla
[6:43] 12. Joe Louis Walker - New Direction
[3:32] 13. Neal Schon - Whiskey, Women & Blues
[7:17] 14. Chris Duarte Group - One More Cup Of Coffee
[6:07] 15. Leslie West - Mississippi Queen

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Eric Gales - Layin' Down The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:33
Size: 152.3 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:45] 1. Layin' Down The Blues
[4:15] 2. I Ain't No Shrink
[4:05] 3. I Got Me A Woman
[3:54] 4. Retribution
[7:26] 5. Freedom From My Demons
[5:38] 6. Save Yourself
[4:24] 7. The Psychedelic Underground
[4:23] 8. Crystal Vision
[6:15] 9. Dark Corners Of My Mind
[3:33] 10. The Sound Of Electric Guitar
[3:41] 11. Wake Up Call
[4:47] 12. Sleepy Time Time
[4:22] 13. The Open Road
[4:58] 14. The Kind Of Love You Feel

Eric Gales (not to be mistaken for jazz trumpeter Eric Gale) wears his electric guitar influences on his sleeve as he reaches for a hard rock contemporary blues style that is not difficult to discern or identify. While similar to Freddie King, Albert Collins, Jimmy Dawkins, and especially Stevie Ray Vaughan, he's also heard his share of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix. Gales is a competent to good singer whose soul quotient is quite pleasing, but his amped-up guitar overwhelms his singing and the whole band, as subtleties or any semblance of nuance are generally thrown out the window. This is a compilation of two of his latter-period albums, tracks equally split between The Story of My Life and Crystal Vision, with two previously unreleased songs included here. The music is cohesive if not all that original, a visceral stance for sure and in your face from start to near finish. On the slightly toned-down side, "I Ain't No Shrink" (a slicker, cooler shuffle), the evil femme fatale tale "I Got Me a Woman," and the very slow and liberating organ-complemented "Freedom from My Demons" are the most authentic tracks. But Gales prefers to crank it up on the title selection, "Retribution," "Save Yourself," and "Wake Up Call," where his steel-toned electric guitar completely dominates the proceedings. Variations include a funkier, Hendrix-derived "The Psychedelic Underground," with aural visions of the original voodoo chile; the more soulful, internal, insular, and personalized "Dark Corners of My Mind"; and a well-done cop of Cream's "Sleepy Time Time." The previously unreleased cuts are much mellower, even sweet, as the sensitive and laid-back "The Open Road" and acoustic-electric combo on "The Kind of Love You Feel" show a completely different side of Gales not represented by the rest of the material. While Gales can be considered a throwback guitarist showing wannabe tendencies instead of developing his own voice on his instrument, Layin' Down the Blues represents both the continuation of a tradition from acclaimed urban blues legends and the identity of a guitar hero who still has roads ahead to travel and explore. ~Michael G. Nastos

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