The Hitman Blues Band - Calling Long Distance

Album: Calling Long Distance
Size: 112,8 MB
Time: 48:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Calling Long Distance (4:53)
2. Edge Of The Bed (3:47)
3. Blood Alley (3:32)
4. Folsom Prison Blues (5:38)
5. Side Pocket For A Toad (2:31)
6. Foolish Pride (3:49)
7. We're Gonna Party Tonight (4:01)
8. I Know You Rider (4:37)
9. Back To The Blues (3:20)
10. Watch That Thing (4:15)
11. Sunday Morning Coming Down (4:42)
12. Wide Old River (3:14)

From the upbeat, ear catching opening title track to the moody closer, this is an album you’ll listen to over and over – and still find new things in each song. Featuring 8 originals and four covers, done in the unique Hitman style, you’re sure to find lots of songs you’ll want to share with friends. Everyone who has ever shared a bed with a “bed hog” will relate to “Edge Of The Bed”, and in these times of strong opinions we need to recognize our “Foolish Pride”. The risqué “Watch That Thing!” and blues surf instrumental “Blood Alley” will keep the excitement flowing, as “We’re Gonna Party Tonight” is a testament to making good times no matter what.

The original approaches to “Folsom Prison Blues”, as a genuine blues tune, and the funky blues arrangement of the classics “I Know You Rider” and “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down” will surprise you (in a very good way!) “Calling Long Distance” is a fun boogie with a mystical twist, and “Side Pocket For A Toad” honors one of Hitman’s favorite beers, from the UK Tring brewery. The thoughtful “Back To The Blues” sets you up for the album closer, “Wide Old River” – a modern take on the format of field hollers and work songs.

Personnel: Russell “Hitman” Alexander (guitar, vocals); Mike Porter (bass, backup vocals); Bob Stander (bass tracks 1,2); Guy LaFountaine (drums); Mike Katzman (keyboards); John Kelly, Tom Mineo (saxophone); Eric Altarac (trumpet); Al Alpert (trombone); Joanna Alexander, Nancy Hampton (backup vocals).

Calling Long Distance mc
Calling Long Distance gofile

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The Hitman Blues Band - Angel In The Shadows

Album: Angel In The Shadows
Size: 136,5 MB
Time: 58:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Slither (3:29)
2. Fine Piece Of Merchandise (3:31)
3. Angel In The Shadows (4:40)
4. Hammer Down (3:46)
5. Hitman Moan (3:33)
6. I Know That You Love Me (3:47)
7. Sharing This Christmas With The Blues (4:36)
8. Drinking My Blues Away (5:58)
9. Listen To The Wind Blow (3:09)
10. That's What It's Like To Be A Man (5:48)
11. Living In A Hurricane (3:25)
12. Two Minute Warning (5:15)
13. On The Rebound (4:34)
14. Mean Mistreater (3:20)

A sharp suit and a thousand songs. That’s what earned New York City native Russell Alexander his moniker, early in the vast musical career that made him the master guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the Hitman Blues Band that he is today. Earning that nickname took a lot of work. But the most important gigs Russell ever did on the way to getting it, he didn’t even get to play at. As a teen, he earned $10 a gig to set up gear for a band that played five shows every weekend.

The young guitarist learned hundreds of songs that way, just by ear. Russell soon made a name for himself as a sideman. He worked as a freelancer 25 nights a month for years, flying all over the country and playing orchestral swing, country, jazz, rock, Hasidic music, Salsa, Greek, and more. Whenever a band got a request that they didn’t know, Russell did. “I got a nick name as the Hitman because I knew all the hits,” he said.

He could play anything professionally, but for fun, Russell played blues. When he showed up for jam sessions at the Chicago Blues Club wearing a tux and hat, the jam co-host would yell, “It’s Hitman Russ!” When Russell finally got a chance to build his dream project, it could only be called The Hitman Blues Band. 7 albums and countless tours later, thousands of fans confirm it was the right choice.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Angel In The Shadows mc
Angel In The Shadows zippy

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The Hitman Blues Band - Hey, Can You Guys Play

Album: Hey, Can You Guys Play
Size: 112,9 MB
Time: 48:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues/Rock mix
Art: Front

1. Hoochie Koochie Man (7:32)
2. The Times They Are A-Changing (5:37)
3. Sunday Morning Coming Down (4:08)
4. Come On In My Kitchen (4:36)
5. John The Revelator (5:34)
6. Good Morning Judge (4:03)
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine (4:48)
8. Who Put The Benzedrine In Mrs Murphy's Ovaltine (3:17)
9. Death Letter (4:18)
10. Boom Boom (4:50)

A sharp suit and a thousand songs. That’s what earned New York City native Russell Alexander his moniker, early in the vast musical career that made him the master guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the Hitman Blues Band that he is today. Earning that nickname took a lot of work. But the most important gigs Russell ever did on the way to getting it, he didn’t even get to play at. As a teen, he earned $10 a gig to set up gear for a band that played five shows every weekend.

The young guitarist learned hundreds of songs that way, just by ear. Russell soon made a name for himself as a sideman. He worked as a freelancer 25 nights a month for years, flying all over the country and playing orchestral swing, country, jazz, rock, Hasidic music, Salsa, Greek, and more. Whenever a band got a request that they didn’t know, Russell did. “I got a nick name as the Hitman because I knew all the hits,” he said.

He could play anything professionally, but for fun, Russell played blues. When he showed up for jam sessions at the Chicago Blues Club wearing a tux and hat, the jam co-host would yell, “It’s Hitman Russ!” When Russell finally got a chance to build his dream project, it could only be called The Hitman Blues Band. 7 albums and countless tours later, thousands of fans confirm it was the right choice.

Hey, Can You Guys Play mc
Hey, Can You Guys Play zippy

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The Hitman Blues Band - Not My Circus Not My Monkey

Size: 116.3 MB
Time: 49:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Not My Circus (4:28)
02. Buy That Man A Drink (2:42)
03. Nobody's Fault But Mine (4:50)
04. John The Revelator (5:36)
05. No Place Like Home (4:43)
06. The Times They Are A-Changin' (5:39)
07. You Can't Say No (5:04)
08. Walk With You (2:36)
09. You Don't Understand (4:09)
10. Everybody But Me (5:45)
11. Go Down Fighting (3:49)

For a music artist, perhaps now more than ever, it is hugely important to keep on focusing and nurturing the love for one of the most fascinating and diverse art-forms existing and still trying, at the same time. to make a point on the current state of our society and the extremely difficult and unique time of the world in which we are all living.

In that respect, someone like the American Blues artist Russell "The Hitman" Alexander, has always been a master in blending his talent as a guitar player and as a singer/songwriter with his cutthroat views on the state of modern society, analysing all its pros and cons together with his band of brothers and sisters, through that splendid music machine called The Hitman Blues Band.

From a creative point of view, it might have been very challenging for the band to find the best inspirational platform to follow the worldwide success received through the band's last studio album, called The World Moves On, back in 2016, for their new record.

But nothing is impossible to achieve, when sheer determination, creativity and talent run in an artist's veins; The Hitman Blues Band's new album, called Not My Circus, Not My Monkey, due to be released on 15th March, sees the American collective penning one of the most inspired, both from a musical and lyrical prospect, records of their career to date.

Not My Circus, Not My Monkey displays in full the strength and the sonic power of a band able to reach some very high musical standards, thanks to the strong, individual skills of each musician part of this fabulous collective and to the dynamic level of perfection that they achieve, on each of the songs included in The Hitman Blues Band's new record.

Most certainly, the collective's front-man and band-leader Russell "The Hitman" Alexander deserves high praises, for the success of The Hitman Blues Band's new musical chapter. Alexander's musicianship, as a guitarist, a lyricist and as a singer, has always exudes, especially in the last two decades, brilliancy and creativity of the highest level but frankly, Not My Circus, Not My Monkey surpasses anything that the American artist has delivered before, bringing his and the band's musical message to a newer and higher level of artistic excellence.

The Hitman Blues Band's new album, among many qualities, it balances also extremely well the new material written by Alexander with the three covers included in the album, two by Blind Willie Johnson (Nobody's Fault But Mine and John the Revelator) and one by Bob Dylan (The Times They Are-A Changin'), in order to fit the main theme of the album, about radical changes happening in our society and where do we stand, as human being.

Musically, the album is a joy to listen to, thanks to the shuffled, exciting layers of Chicago Blues, mixed with R&B, Boogie and Soul, bringing in an intriguing and fascinating sonic mixture in the new record, greatly executed in all its angles. Together with one of the best kick-ass Rhythm Section in the Blues business, brought by Mike Porter on bass and Guy LaFountaine on drums, Alexander adds to his personal music formula, on Not My Circus, Not My Monkey, also a Horns Section of first class, with Mikey Vitale on Alto Sax, John Kelly on Tenor Sax, Eric Altarac on Trumpet and Nick Cliifford on Bari Sax, giving to the whole record that Big Brass Blues Band groove that runs strongly, throughout the whole of the record.

Then last, but not least, there are Alexander's new songs; from the swaggering R&B opener that is Not My Circus through a song like Walk With You, a wild, foot-stomping, irresistible Boogie, going straight to the album's closing tune Go Down Fighting, an authentic 5/4 Blues/Rock hymn to an artist's determination of keep on fighting for his right of expressing musical talent, Not My Circus, Not My Monkey is an exquisite kermesse of class, creativity and inspiration in singing and song-writing.

About the latter, a very special mention needs to be written about a song like No Place Like Home, one of the finest songs ever written and sang by Russell Alexander. The song is a total masterclass in vocal delivery and lyrical intensity, where also the whole band shines in its entirety by creating a delicate sonic carpet, with a sublime work especially from Guy LaFountaine on drums and Adam Minkoff on Organ.

Through a record like Not My Circus, Not My Monkey, it is very safe to say that The Hitman Blues Band has not only released their personal masterpiece to date, as a collective, but also one of the most inspired Contemporary Blues records of 2021. ~Giovanni "Gio" Pilato

Not My Circus Not My Monkey MP3
Not My Circus Not My Monkey FLAC

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The Hitman Blues Band - Live At Stonybrook University

Year: 2006
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:29
Size: 130,5 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Front

1. Green Thing (4:28)
2. Raining Up In Harlem (6:28)
3. Two Minute Warning (5:33)
4. Boom Boom (4:50)
5. Slither (4:08)
6. Fine Piece Of Merchandise (5:50)
7. Sharing This Christmas With The Blues (5:21)
8. The Blues Can't Hit (What The Blues Can't Catch) (4:07)
9. Red Hook (5:09)
10. I Know About The Blues (6:34)
11. Mean Mistreater (3:56)

After two studio CD releases, here is a live CD that captures the fun and excitement of a live performance by the Hitman Blues Band. Featuring the core US band – Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander on guitar and lead vocals, Kevin Rymer on keys, Mike Porter on bass and backup vocals, Jay Sharkey on drums and backup vocals, and a guest appearance by bassist Jeff Philips, this CD contains live versions of favorites from the first two CDs plus three new tunes.

Live At Stonybrook University mc
Live At Stonybrook University zippy

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The Hitman Blues Band - The World Moves On

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:25
Size: 145.2 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:45] 1. Bad, Bad Man
[5:44] 2. That's What It's Like To Be A Man
[3:23] 3. Don't You Tempt Me
[5:27] 4. Moving On
[5:15] 5. Two Minute Warning
[4:43] 6. The World Moves On
[3:42] 7. Hammer Down
[6:17] 8. Two Trains Running
[4:08] 9. Catch 22 Blues
[4:35] 10. Angel In The Shadows
[3:32] 11. Jenny Goodbye
[4:15] 12. I'm All About You
[7:32] 13. Hoochie Koochie Man

Russell "Hitman" Alexander (guitar, vocals); Kevin Rymer (keyboards); Mike Porter (bass); Guy La Fountaine (drums); Mike Snyder (sax, clarinet); Eric Altarac (trumpet); Mike Vitale (bari sax).

Russell Alexander is the founder and creator of “The Hitman Blues Band”. Thus, he has become: Russell “Hitman” Alexander, or more simply, Hitman. He grew up with in a musical thanks to his father, Ray Alexander. Ray was a jazz musician (drummer and vibist), who performed worldwide with many of the jazz greats that we hold so dear today, as well as having three recordings out and playing on several others. Ray received a lifetime achievement doctorate at Long Island’s Five Towns College, a music oriented accredited university.

The World Moves On

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