John Nemeth & The Blue Dreamers - Live From The Fallout Shelter: Celebrating 20 Years (Live)

Size: 171.9 MB
Time: 73:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Sweep The Shack (5:16)
02. Work For Love (7:22)
03. Come And Take It (3:19)
04. Testify My Love (7:41)
05. Elbows On The Wheel (5:17)
06. Chain Breaker (5:38)
07. Deprivin' A Love (5:34)
08. I Can See Your Love Light Shine (4:47)
09. My Baby's Gone (4:36)
10. Feelin' Freaky (7:29)
11. Get Offa Dat Butt (4:28)
12. Country Boy (7:17)
13. Fountain Of A Man (4:54)

Twenty years of writing and performing award-winning blues is a significant career milestone for anyone, but for John Németh it represents so much more. Having emerged from a debilitating case of infectious arthritis in 2019 with the material for his Stronger Than Strong (October 2020) album, only to be knocked back down again and grounded by a global pandemic; then receiving a new diagnosis of a benign but aggressive tumor which required amputation of his lower jaw; all combined as the catalyst for a series of outstanding performances during Németh's Spring 2022 tour. This live recording captures the last show on the tour, described by venue owner William Hurley as "one of the most electric shows we've ever hosted" at The Fallout Shelter, and a perfect commemoration of the strength and determination of one of today's most dynamic contemporary blues artists.

Live From The Fallout Shelter: Celebrating 20 Years MP3
Live From The Fallout Shelter: Celebrating 20 Years FLAC

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John Nemeth - May Be The Last Time

Size: 108.9 MB
Time: 46:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. The Last Time (3:35)
02. Rock Bottom (4:32)
03. Sooner Or Later (3:53)
04. Feeling Good (3:41)
05. Stealin' Watermelons (4:26)
06. I Found A Love (4:24)
07. Sexy Ways (2:40)
08. Come On In This House (4:22)
09. Elbows On The Wheel (5:58)
10. Shake Your Hips (3:53)
11. I'll Be Glad (4:58)

"I recorded this album before my jaw amputation surgery, which took place in late May. It's called May Be The Last Time because I didn't know then and I still don't know, if I will ever sing or play again like I used to. I have to say the magic of this performance is beyond this world and maybe the greatest of my life." ~John Nemeth

Musicians are always among the first to respond in times of crisis and offer up aid and lend their time and talents to support a cause. When word got around that award-winning bluesman John Németh was facing surgery to treat a potentially career-ending and life-threatening illness, several of his old friends stepped up to help him record May Be The Last Time, before his operation.

Organized by vaunted guitarist Kid Andersen, who hosted the sessions at his Greaseland studios in California and brought in fellow West Coast musicians and living legends Elvin Bishop and his Big Fun Trio (Bob Welsh and Willy Jordan) with Alabama Mike joining in for good measure. For two days in May this year, they recorded old favorites and new tunes from Németh in a freewheeling jam session that resulted in eleven new tracks that capture the urgency and cathartic essence of the music and the brotherhood they share.

The set opens with a heart-felt interpretation of “The Last Time,” a traditional Gospel chorus made famous by The Staples Singers, with Németh taking joyous liberties with the lyrics. The fellas then burn through the Elvin Bishop Band classic from 1972 “Rock Bottom;” the lowdown blues never sounded so good. Németh examines life’s lessons on a stripped-down version of his tune, “Sooner Or Later,” that first appeared on his Memphis Grease album that won the Blues Music Award (BMA) for “Best Soul Blues Album” in 2015. Andersen struts the upright bass on a swinging arrangement of J.B. Lenoir’s social commentary from 1966, “Feeling Good,” that remains poignant to this day. No one else could deliver the vocals the way he does, so it goes without saying that Bishop stepped up to the mic to lead the band through his swampy romp “Stealin’ Watermelons.”

Németh then demonstrates his award-winning vocal chops on the Wilson Picket soul classic “I Found A Love,” performed as a duet with Willy Jordan. The crew has some fun with “Sexy Ways,” from early rhythm & blues and doo-wop pioneer, Hank Ballard of The Midnighters. Németh steps into the shoes of Junior Wells for the bump and grind blues “Come On In This House.” Welsh plays honky-tonk piano on another tune from Memphis Grease, the rollicking road song “Elbows On The Wheel,” and Jordan thumps the Cajon hard during the Slim Harpo blues ramble “Shake Your Hips.” The session ends on an upbeat note via the foot stomping Elvin Bishop tune “I’ll Be Glad,” and all its cockeyed optimism.

May Be The Last Time MP3
May Be The Last Time FLAC

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John Nemeth & The Jacks - The Jack Of Harps

Size: 92.4 MB
Time: 39:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Mother In Law Blues (3:14)
02. Nothin's Too Good For My Baby (5:03)
03. Late Night Hour (4:25)
04. Love Zombie (4:17)
05. Up To No Good (3:46)
06. Wake Up Baby (4:31)
07. Time Won't Wait (3:19)
08. Fetch That Wood (4:03)
09. Every Night 'Bout This Time (3:44)
10. Grizzly Bear Blues (3:06)

Born in 1975 in Idaho, John Németh grew up in Boise, where his first exposure to music was singing in the Catholic Church. He branched out from there, though, and was playing in local bands as a teenager. He was 17 when a friend, Tom Moore, exposed him to the blues, and together they formed Fat John & the 3 Slims, which is still regarded as a legendary band in the Boise region. Németh began playing with the Junior Watson Band in 2002 as well as gigging with his own band, the Jacks. A vocalist with great range, ability, and soulfulness, Németh had also developed into a top-notch blues harmonica player, which led to a spot with Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, where he filled in for the great Sam Myers. A self-released album with the Jacks, The Jack of Harps, appeared in 2002, followed by a second self-release, Come and Get It (which featured the Junior Watson Band) in 2004. That same year, Németh left Boise and relocated to San Francisco. In 2006, he signed with Blind Pig Records, which released Magic Touch (produced by Anson Funderburgh and featuring Junior Watson on guitar) in 2007. Name the Day!, also on Blind Pig, followed in 2010. The Scott Bomar-produced Memphis Grease, recorded in Bomar's Electraphonic Studio in Memphis with the Bo-Keys, arrived early in 2014. In 2017, he returned with his ninth album, the Luther Dickinson-produced Feelin' Freaky, recorded with his backing band the Blue Dreamers. ~Steve LeggettSandra Hall - American Roots: Blues

The Jack Of Harps MP3
The Jack Of Harps FLAC

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John Nemeth - Stronger Than Strong

Size: 123,6 MB
Time: 52:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Come And Take It (2:54)
02. Fountain Of A Man (4:31)
03. Sometimes (3:35)
04. Throw Me In The Water (4:23)
05. Chain Breaker (4:29)
06. Bars (4:55)
07. I Can See Your Love Light Shine (3:16)
08. Deprivin' A Love (4:38)
09. Work For Love (6:11)
10. Guess Who (6:45)
11. She's My Punisher (3:20)
12. Sweep The Shack (3:45)

Many an artist dreams of making a pilgrimage to the source of their inspiration and to commune with the muse. Idaho born John Németh made that trek moving to Memphis from the West Coast in 2013, entrenching himself in the city’s rich and historic musical scene. The two-time Blues Music Award (BMA) winner and multi-BMA nomineesoon fell in with producer Scott Bomar, who leads the Memphis Soul band, The Bo-Keys, and is the owner and operator of the acclaimed Electraphonic Recording studios to create the album of Soul classics “Memphis Grease”in 2014. Németh returned to Electraphonic in December of 2019 with his seasoned road band of young gun players, The Blue Dreamers, featuring 19 year old guitar phenom from Philadelphia, Jon Hay, drummer Danny Banks and Matt Wilson on bass for a rough and rowdy southern swamp roots session resulting in his 10th album, “Stronger Than Strong.” The dozen new tracks feature soaring soul blues tenor and hot blues harp playing that has garnered Németh a loyal fan base and international attention for over twenty years.

Bomar capitalized on the chemistry of Németh’s small combo, capturing the intimate, live off the floor, definitively retro sound. Some very fuzzy tones from Hay’s lead guitar fill the air on the Hill Country two-beat opener ‘Come And Take It’ that works the dynamic spectrum with precision. The Fat Possum influence can be felt hard on the rambling ‘Fountain Of A Man’ with Danny Banks getting a chance to roll out all his formidable chops. Németh is a serious student of history, who is well known for mining the depths of early R&B. He once again rejuvenates a lost gem by setting the 1958 Little Junior Parker B side ‘Sometimes,’ to a slower swamp pop tempo, and tremolosaturated guitar riffs from Hay help with milking the emotion out of the lyrics. The boys in the band do their best hippy-hippy-shag boogie while Németh pleads for mercy on the rockin’ ‘Throw Me In the Water.’ The straightahead shuffle, ‘Chain Breaker,’ is a tasty serving of driving Chicago Blues, with Németh and Hay playing the roles of Wolf and Sumlin to perfection.

Wilson’s sublime bass line brings us into the soul blues commentary ‘Bars,’ on which Németh uses hit razor-sharp wit to examine the troubles we are enduring in the world today with just enough humor to keep us from crying. He continues his mission to spread goodwill on the gospel-fueled ‘I Can See Your Love Light Shine,’ and the dancehall number ‘Deprivin’ A Love.’ He then gets down to business on the slinky ‘Work For Love,’ plying his vocal charms and formidable skills on the blues harp. John pays tribute to another unsung R&B hero with a faithful reading of the ballad ‘Guess Who,’ the biggest hit for singer/songwriter Jesse Belvin, whose life was cut short at 27 years old in 1959. Matthew Wilson also pulls double duty on the track playing guitar and bass. Németh further shows off his love for classic R&B on the swinging doo-wop inspired ‘She’s My Punisher,’ before closing the set with the feel good boogaloo ‘Sweep The Shack’ that playfully utilizes familiar blues music euphemisms from Németh and more strong lead guitar from Hay. “Stronger Than Strong” from John Németh is another fine benchmark in the tireless working blues man’s career.

Stronger Than Strong MP3
Stronger Than Strong FLAC

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John Nemeth - Blues Live

Size: 152,3 MB
Time: 65:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Every Night 'Bout This Time (Live) (5:48)
02. Country Boy (Live) (4:59)
03. Aint Too Old (Live) (3:05)
04. She Belongs To Me (Live) (4:00)
05. Blues In My Heart (Live) (8:23)
06. Just Like You (Live) (4:50)
07. She Did Not Show (Live) (5:16)
08. You Know (Live) (3:41)
09. Daughter Of The Devil (Live) (4:42)
10. Love Gone Crazy (Live) (5:26)
11. You're An Angel (Live) (4:41)
12. Stop Breaking Down (Live) (5:30)
13. Mother In Law (Live) (4:47)

Since the release of John Nemeth’s major blues label release on Blind Pig Records just five years ago, the Idaho native has taken the blues world by storm. He has risen to the top echelon of performers with a combination of first rate recordings and relentless touring. As Charlie Lange, the owner of Blue Beat Music, mentioned to me recently, “Nemeth doesn’t seem capable of making a bad record.” One could add he doesn’t seem capable of putting on a bad show either for that matter. It would reason that a live album by the 37 year old California transplant would be cause for celebration. It is. Not only that, John has released two live albums. These albums, entitled, Soul Live and Blues Live capture the excitement and stellar musicianship of a Nemeth performance. On top of that, the combined running time on these CDs clocks in at very generous 120 minutes. I think it is high time our readers hear from the one and only John Nemeth.

Blues Live MP3
Blues Live FLAC

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John Németh - Love Me Tonight

Year: 2009
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:54
Size: 104,0 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues, soul
Scans: Full

1. Love Me Tonight (2:47)
2. Just Like You (4:02)
3. Fuel For Your Fire (4:39)
4. Too Good To Be True (2:42)
5. Daughter Of The Devil (4:02)
6. My Troubled Mind (3:50)
7. Where You Been (3:02)
8. She's My Heart's Desire (4:36)
9. Love Gone Crazy (4:51)
10. Country Boy (4:13)
11. Blues In My Heart (6:05)

Blues and soul musicians noted for their harmonica skills usually aren't top-notch vocalists or songwriters. There are a few exceptions, of course; Little Walter and the Fabulous Thunderbirds' Kim Wilson come to mind, but generally those who put hours into learning the blues harp don't spend as much effort perfecting their singing skills. That's what makes John Nemeth so special. He's a terrific player, blowing hard and heavy while punctuating the tracks with throbbing solos. But he's primarily a soulful vocalist, slinging out his emotional voice like a young Howard Tate. Blues veterans from Bob Margolin and Anson Funderburgh, the latter whose band he joined for a while after the death of Sam Myers, to Elvin Bishop (who appears on two cuts here), have lauded his skills, and Nemeth's sophomore release for Blind Pig shows that his impressive 2007 label debut was no fluke.

He has gained confidence in his singing, and his presence is unusual for a relative newcomer. Better still, his songwriting has also advanced a few notches, with the gospel laced "Fuel for the Fire" a ringer for a great old Southern soul track. It's not though. The tune is one of ten newly penned songs that seem so authentic to the southern '60s R&B/blues genre you'll be shocked to find Nemeth's name as sole composer. There's only one cover, a raging take on the Falcons' "She's My Heart's Desire" which is faithful right down to a guitar solo straight out of the late Robert Ward's arsenal, that gives the original a powerful contemporary spin. A few selections, such as "Too Good to Be True" punch out singalong choruses with pop hooks in under three minutes that would have been natural for '60s radio.

Others, such as the swamp stomping "Daughter of the Devil," which seems like a lost Howlin' Wolf B-side, take a little more time to build tension, but still pack a sizeable wallop in about four minutes. Nemeth never sounds less than committed to this material and often pushes the performances into the red zone with assistance from a sturdy backing quartet. Whether he's singing or working the harp, Nemeth is one of the finest young additions to the soul-blues scene. He's a spiritual offspring of Curtis Salgado who treads similar territory, but his future is assured if he keeps releasing albums as powerful and consistent as this. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Love Me Tonight mc
Love Me Tonight zippy

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Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions

Size: 134,9 MB
Time: 57:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Pickpocket Fingers (Feat. James Harman & Kid Ramos) (3:51)
02. They Call Me John Primer (Feat. John Primer & Bob Corritore) (6:21)
03. A Woman Named Trouble (Feat. Jake Friel & John Nemeth) (5:09)
04. Becky Ann (Feat. Mitch Kaxhmar & Ronnie Shellist) (3:36)
05. That's Alright (Feat. Charlie Musselwhite & Aki Kumar) (6:33)
06. Three Way Party (Feat. Mitch Kashmar & Ronnie Shellist) (5:09)
07. Special Friend (Feat. James Harman & Kid Ramos) (5:11)
08. Hip To It (Feat. Mitch Kashmar & Ronnie Shellist) (3:17)
09. Blues Hit Big Town (Feat. John Nemeth) (1:37)
10. Tell Me Baby (Feat. John Primer & Bob Corritore) (3:03)
11. Goin' To Court (Feat. James Harman & Kid Ramos) (4:24)
12. Coin Operated Woman (Feat. Johnny Burgin) (4:23)
13. This Time I'm Gone For Good (Feat. William G. Kidd & Ronnie Shelllist) (4:57)

Tony Holiday is a vocalist and harp player who is rapidly emerging as a star on the international blues scene. He has been recognized by blues legends like Charlie Musselwhite and Rick Estrin as one of the finest up-and-comers in the game right now and is steadily building his own legend one gig at a time. Speaking of gigs, he plays up to 200 of them a year across the US and has brilliantly recorded his latest album Porch Sessions in between them on the actual porches of some of the blue’s best-known musicians. Hitting the streets January 25th, 2019 on the VizzTone Label Group, Porch Sessions by Tony Holiday is reminiscent of Alan Lomax’s landmark field recordings and the live recordings that have surfaced from Chicago’s famed Maxwell Street era over the years. It is all about the real blues captured live as it happens.

Tony, along with his partner Landon Stone, have crisscrossed America in pursuit of this project and have ended up on some pretty significant front porches. Live sessions were tracked featuring some of the blue’s biggest names, including Charlie Musselwhite, John Primer, Kid Ramos, John Nemeth, Kid Andersen, Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, and more. The down-and-dirty format is a genius move, as it connects listeners directly to the live blues experience. Studio slickness is replaced by in-the-moment performances and off-the-cuff deliveries. It’s like sitting in on a rehearsal or impromptu jam where the musicians are playing for the simple joy of doing so.

Highlights abound on Porch Sessions by Tony Holiday and hardcore blues fans will love every inch of this record. The opening cut features guitarist Kid Ramos and singer/harpist James Harman getting down on a number called “Pickpocket Fingers,” a Jimmy Reed-ish shuffle about a girl with a “Buster Keaton smile” that’s immediately engaging and sets the tone for what’s to follow. Ramos’ rhythm playing is absolutely popping and will make you want to move, even in this intimate context. Chicago guitarist and Muddy Water’s bandleader John Primer checks in with “They Call Me John Primer” and brings the classic interwoven Windy City sound with him. Bob Corritore adds harp in all the right places and Primer sounds as full of life as he ever has.

One of the best cuts on Porch Sessions is the humid and sultry “A Woman Named Trouble,” which showcases Jake Friel on vocals and John Nemeth on harmonica. Built on a subtle-yet-simmering funk groove, the track creates that smoky 3AM headspace that made many of us fall in love with the truth of the blues. When Friel tells us his woman “can make a baby out of a full-grown man,” we are left with no choice but to believe.

Charlie Musselwhite and Aki Kumar guest on the venerable standard “That’s Alright” with Kumar handling vocals. The two harps fill the track with lonesome, moaning licks that will keep listeners in a trance and put the full emotional power of the instrument on display. Tony Holiday and guitarist Rockin’ Johnny Burgin team up on the low-key bounce of “Coin Operated Woman” to great effect, keeping everything right in the pocket, and the set closes with “This Time I’m Gone For Good,” a slow, heavy minor blues spotlighting William G. Kidd on vocals and Ronnie Shellist on harmonica that’s pure midnight heartbreak.

Porch Sessions is nothing but fun from beginning to end and it’s immensely refreshing to bask in its casual glory. This is the raw, homespun blues, the kind of music that made possible all that came after it, and Tony Holiday deserves praise for recording these folks playing it in the most human setting there is.

Highly recommended. ~Mike O’Cull

Porch Sessions

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John Nemeth - Magic Touch

Size: 104,9 MB
Time: 44:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Blues Hit Big Town (3:39)
02. Blue Broadway (3:27)
03. Magic Touch (3:50)
04. My Future (3:20)
05. She's Looking Good (2:53)
06. She Did Not Show (4:18)
07. You're An Angel (3:35)
08. Sit & Cry The Blues (4:08)
09. You Were Wrong (3:32)
10. Let Me Hold You (4:43)
11. Up To No Good (3:40)
12. Come On (3:14)

With his amazing and versatile voice, and his equally as versatile harmonica skills, John Nemeth brings a lot of potential to the table in Magic Touch, his first nationally distributed album (Nemeth's earlier albums, 2002's The Jack of Harps and 2004's Come and Get It, were self released). Sounding a bit like Ray Charles crossed with a veteran Chicago bluesman, Nemeth knows his way around a blues tune (he covers Willie Dixon's "Sit & Cry the Blues" here, for instance), but he shines brightest when he moves from his beloved blues into more soulful R&B territory, which allows his truly expressive voice to work its wonders. The best tracks on Magic Touch, including the striking "Blue Broadway," the sly "You're an Angel" and the she-done-me-wrong ballad "Up to No Good," all of which are Nemeth originals, exhibit a kind of bluesy R&B feel, bolstered by the presence of the Texas Horns and Nemeth's own horn-like harmonica lines. Each of these songs feels like it has been around for years, and Nemeth's singing finds all the right corners in them, blending a soulful approach with a refreshing dose of sly humor. One gets the impression that Magic Touch is just a starting point, though, and that Nemeth's best work is yet to come. He's got a voice that can sing anything, and his harmonica playing is bright, jazzy and inspired, but it's his writing that is the silver bullet here. If it continues to develop to keep pace with his performing skills, Nemeth may well have a truly monster album coming just down the road. ~by Steve Leggett

Magic Touch

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The Love Light Orchestra - The Love Light Orchestra (Live) (Feat. John Nemeth)

Size: 103,2 MB
Time: 40:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues, Memphis Blues
Art: Front

01. See Why I Love You (Live) (2:30)
02. Bad Breaks (Live) (4:22)
03. I've Been Wrong So Long (Live) (2:24)
04. It's Your Voodoo Working (Live) (3:36)
05. Sometimes (Live) (3:36)
06. What About Love (Live) (3:35)
07. Poverty (Live) (2:34)
08. Lonesome And High (Live) (3:49)
09. Singin' For My Supper (Live) (3:02)
10. This Little Love Of Mine (Live) (3:18)
11. Please Send Me Someone To Love (Live) (3:17)
12. Love And Happiness (Live) (4:07)

The Blues and Memphis are joined at the hip. The rich history of musicians who passed through this modest river town is nothing short of stunning. The Lovelight Orchestra is no exception. A ten piece band of veteran Bluff City musicians with resumes ranging from rock legends like Paul Rodgers and Gregg Allman to blues masters like Mose Allison and Bobby "Blue" Bland. The group's repertoire draws from the gospel and swing influenced rhythm and blues of the 50s and 60s. The band consists of John Nemeth on vocals, Joe Restivo on guitar, Tim Goodwin on bass, Earl Lowe on drums, Gerald Stephens on keys, and a five piece horn section that includes Marc Franklin, Scott Thompson, Art Edmaiston, Jason Yasinky, and Kirk Smothers.

The Love Light Orchestra

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John Nemeth - Feelin' Freaky

Size: 102,2 MB
Time: 38:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. Under the Gun (3:39)
02. S.T.O.N.E.D (3:03)
03. Feelin' Freaky (3:28)
04. Rainy Day (3:27)
05. You Really Do Want That Woman (2:51)
06. My Sweet Love (3:40)
07. Gave Up On You (3:57)
08. Get Offa Dat Butt (3:09)
09. I'm Funkin Out (3:21)
10. Kool Aid Pickle (3:41)
11. Long Black Cadillac (4:04)

One of the best vocalist working today, John Németh has received a multitude of nominations for Blues Blast and Blues Music Awards, with four consecutive BMA nominations for the B.B King Entertainer Of The Year Award. His live shows highlight his dynamic stage presence, super-tight band, and a wealth of original songs that range from down-home blues to fervent ballads.

His latest release offers eleven originals in a variety of styles, ranging from the tender love song, “My Sweet Love,” to a taut appeal to rise up and dance on “Get Offa Dat Butt”. Breaking out his harmonica, the singer punctuates the title track with potent wails while beseeching a woman to take a walk on the wild side. “You Really Do Want That Woman” builds on one of Németh’s best known songs, “Do You Really Do Want That Woman”. He acknowledges the effort and sacrifices necessary to maintain a relationship over a horn-driven arrangement complete with a loopy guitar line.

“S.T.O.N.E.D” is not a celebration of getting high – instead, Németh lifts up a passionate plea for open minds, truth and righting the wrongs of the world. “I’m Funkin’ Out” doesn’t offer much lyrically but Marc Franklin on trumpet & flugelhorn plus Art Edmaiston on tenor & baritone sax command the listener’s attention, adding a dose of spice to the brooding track. Németh pours out his troubles on “Kool-Aid Pickle,” trapped by a conniving woman with no end in sight.

Several tracks could have been part of Németh’s previous project, the award-winning Memphis Grease. “Rainy Day,” complete with strings, finds him lamenting the error of his ways that left him broken and alone. The track is brimming with the classic Hi Records sound, especially with Charles Hodges from the Hi Rhythm section on the Hammond organ. The band creates a similar groove on the dark tale of love gone bad, “Gave Up On You”. Németh tries to exorcise his pain, reflected in blasts from the horns while Hodges adds an additional layer of tension with well-placed organ swells.

Saving the best for last, Németh showcases the full range of his vocal skills on “Long Black Cadillac”. As they do throughout the disc, the rhythm section of Matthew Wilson on bass and Danny Banks lay down a rock-solid foundation and guitarist Johnny Rhoades stokes the fire with shimmering fills. It is a fitting ending for a disc that provides plenty of highlights while proving that John Németh continues to be one of the top-tier performers for soul & blues music. You certainly can’t go wrong with this one! ~by Mark Thompson

Feelin' Freaky

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Big Band Splash - Another Apple

Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:34
Size: 101,0 MB
Styles: Soul-blues, R&B, jazz, big band
Scans: Front

1. Walk A Mile In My Shoes (w. John Nemeth) (4:51)
2. Drowning On Dry Land (w. Sven Zetterberg) (4:34)
3. I Had A Fight With Love (w. Greta Bondesson) (3:55)
4. That's What Happens (w. Marino Valle) (3:15)
5. Another Apple (4:57)
6. It's Crazy (3:38)
7. You Used Me Baby (w. Sven Zetterberg) (3:34)
8. Esso (4:10)
9. Valerie (w. Marino Valle) (4:46)
10. East Of The Funk (4:16)
11. Looking Up (1:31)

What do you get when you combine traditional, Americanized blues and soul edged with modern flavor and interpreted through some of Sweden's most accomplished vocalists and musicians? If you don't know, now you know, because that's what you get an earful of when you encounter Another Apple.

A bold and brassy collection of songs and instrumentals led by saxophonist, arranger and producer, Jakob Norgren, the collection is deliciously diverse, combining delicate tones of a flute buttressed by brassy horns and a smattering of Auto-Tune in the catchy "East of the Funk" and honing in on the paralyzing pain of a lovelorn rebound victim in "You Used Me Baby" (sung liltingly by Sven Zetterberg). "Walk a Mile In My Shoes," sung by John Nemeth, is its rollicking opening number, soon followed by Greta Bondesson's "I Had a Fight With Love," which smacks of a 70s-era Betty Wright jam in its mix of knowledge and naiveté. The spirited big band stylings of "That's What Happens" takes the edge off its resolute "told you so" message (delivered by Marino Valle). "Esso" is a sax-anchored instrumental soaked in traditional down-home stateside blues, and "Valerie" is (unintentionally?) comical in its detour from a typical "I miss you" type of song to its wagging a finger at the behavior that eased her out of his life to begin with: "Did you have to go to jail? Put your house up out for sale/did you get a good lawyer?"

Far from traditional, but never boring, Another Apple is part big band, part jazz and steeped in unmistakable elements of R&B. If you're open-minded and ready to leave the expected American approach behind for some Swedish-flavored soul, Big Band Splash's Another Apple delivers. /Melody Charles

Another Apple mc
Another Apple zippy

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Big Band Splash - The Soul Collection

Year: 2014
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:59
Size: 168,2 MB
Styles: Soul, R&B, big band
Scans: Front

1. Suga Mama (Feat. Graciela Chin A Loi) (4:25)
2. Well I Done Got Over It (Feat. Sven Zetterberg) (3:26)
3. I Had A Fight With Love (Feat. Greta Bondeson) (3:55)
4. That's Where It's At (Feat. Sven Zetterberg & Marino Valle) (3:05)
5. Valerie (Feat. Marino Valle) (4:46)
6. Working Man (Feat. Knock-Out Greg) (4:51)
7. Ruler Of My Heart (Feat. Stella Bondesson) (2:45)
8. Good Things Don't Happen Every Day (Feat. Sven Zetterberg) (4:26)
9. Esso (4:08)
10. Walk A Mile In My Shoes (Feat. John Nemeth) (4:48)
11. It's A Man's World (Feat. Marino Valle) (3:06)
12. Drowning On Dry Land (Feat. Sven Zetterberg) (4:33)
13. Sailing Shoes (Feat. Sunniva Bondesson, Stella Bondesson & Greta Bondesson) (7:40)
14. That's What Happens (Feat. Marino Valle) (3:15)
15. You Used Me Baby (Feat. Sven Zetterberg) (3:34)
16. Tell Mama (Feat. Sunniva Bondesson) (2:35)
17. You're No Good (Feat. Greta Bondesson) (3:44)
18. Cuttin' In On You (Feat. Marino Valle) (3:49)

Recording a cover of a well-loved or vintage song selection can seem like sheer laziness, but it can actually be a daunting task when there's reverence for the culture and material. One would be hard-pressed to find a band that would successfully interpret modern and classic soul music that originated over a continent away, but Big Band Splash has accomplished just that with their latest release, The Soul Collection.

Delving into a smorgasbord of modern-day and back-in-the-day favorites, Big Band Splash closely follows the nuances of the originals without attempting to outright 'Xerox' every inflection and ad-lib. The 24-member ensemble whittles itself down to a dozen or so main performers when it comes to stage work and vocalizing (Gracelia Chin A Loi, Greta Bondesson, Sven Zetterberg, John Nemeth, Knock-Out Greg, Marino Valle and Sunniva Bondesson), but the sound stays brassy and exuberant.

For every cover that shadows its source of origin - Willie Hightower's "You Used Me Baby", Ann Sexton's "I Had a Fight With Love", Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good", Buddy Guy's "Well I Done Got Over It" - there are others that differ in texture, tempo and feel. Albert King's "Drowning On Dry Land" is tweaked and polished, yet grittier, but "Valerie", most recently popularized by the late Amy Winehouse, feels pensive this time around rather than jaded.

If their Swedish roots make it hard to believe that Big Band Splash can convincingly convey soul, think again: there are some major skills and chutzpah at work in channeling the spirit of Sam Cooke ("That's Where It's At"), the fervor of James Brown ("It's a Man's World"), Etta James' irony ("Tell Mama") and yes, even the sugary soul-lite of Beyonce's "Suga Mama" with energy and intent. The difference in accents is noticeable in their interpretations, but not so much that they detract from the sound. /Melody Charles

The Soul Collection mc
The Soul Collection zippy

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VA - Blind Pig Presents: Harmonica Blues

Size: 156,1 MB
Time: 67:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Charlie Musselwhite - Harpin' On A Riff (Instrumental) (3:35)
02. George Smith - Blowing The Blues (4:13)
03. Norton Buffalo - Hoodoo Roux (6:56)
04. Big Walter Horton - The Honeydripper (Instrumental) (3:38)
05. Carey Bell - So Easy To Love You (5:25)
06. James Cotton - Honest I Do (4:11)
07. Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - Baby Please Don't Go (4:59)
08. John Nemeth - Blues Hit Big Town (3:40)
09. Carey Bell - St. Louis Blues (Instrumental) (4:32)
10. Big Walter Horton - Tin Pan Alley (4:42)
11. Norton Buffalo - Harmonica Mambo (Instrumental) (3:16)
12. Snooky Pryor - Telephone Blues (4:29)
13. Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - Buzzin' (Instrumental) (9:51)
14. Harper - Last Cup Of Coffee (3:34)

Blind Pig Presents: Harmonica Blues

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John Németh - 2 albums: Come And Get It / Name The Day

Album: Come And Get It
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:06
Size: 121.6 MB
Styles: R&B, Electric blues
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. She Belongs To Me
[2:59] 2. Aint Too Old
[3:38] 3. Come And Get It
[3:27] 4. Bring It On Back
[3:07] 5. What Have I Done Wrong
[2:22] 6. Romance With Out Finance
[3:39] 7. I Don't Think I Could
[4:32] 8. Don't You Talk
[4:22] 9. Late Night Hour
[4:48] 10. Let Me Hold You
[2:22] 11. I'm Gonna Drop You
[3:56] 12. Love In Vain
[2:37] 13. Yes, My Darlin'
[5:00] 14. Careless Love
[2:34] 15. She's Gone Away But, She'll Be Back

“Out of the Blue” and “Old Soul” are the expressions that keep running through my mind as I listen to John Nemeth’s Come and Get It. If you hear these songs on the radio for the first time, you’ll presume you’re listening to one of the ‘50s Rhythm and Blues legends. If you know a lot about music, it will drive you nuts that you can’t identify the singer, because he must be one of the great ones. You hear vocalisms that remind you of Ray Charles or Junior Parker or Fats Domino, but it’s not them. So you’ll stop whatever you’re doing and wait ‘til the DJ tells you who’s singing. John WHO!?!

You’ll do what it takes to find out who John Nemeth is, and you’ll crack up when you find that he’s a young white man from Idaho and that this recording was made in the 21st Century. His demographics are ironic because this “Old Soul” has arrived “Out of the Blue,” not from a potato. John Nemeth is a natural-born Bluesman, and he proves it with every note he sings, shaping each one with emotion, taste and inspiration. As with the best singers, every phrase delivered is just right, neither over-sung nor under-powered. The subtle inflections and references to masterful singers bring fresh surprises with repeated listening. John Nemeth makes it sound easy.

Come And Get It mc
Come And Get It zippy

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Album: Name The Day
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:47
Size: 95.7 MB
Styles: R&B-blues-soul
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:15] 1. Breakin' Free
[3:36] 2. Name The Day
[3:40] 3. Do You Really Want That Woman
[4:09] 4. Heartbreak With A Hammer
[3:07] 5. Tuff Girl
[5:09] 6. I Said Too Much
[2:35] 7. Home In Your Heart
[3:41] 8. Save A Little Love
[3:05] 9. You Know
[4:38] 10. Why Not Me
[3:47] 11. Funky Feelin'

Since bursting onto the scene in 2007 with his dazzling national debut album (Magic Touch), John Németh has wowed critics and audiences alike with his riveting vocals and harmonica prowess. The Philadelphia Inquirer testified to his standing in the current music scene with the comment, "Classic soul and R&B styles have been revitalized by artists such as James Hunter, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, and Sharon Jones. You can include John Németh on any list of the best of them."

On his release, Name The Day!, the dynamic soul sensation continues to reinvigorate vintage American rhythm and blues with his uncanny ability to skillfully blend retro and modern blues and soul into compelling music that is simultaneously old and new.

Name The Day mc
Name The Day zippy

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Jim McCarty - 2 albums: Live! / Live From Callahan's

James William McCarty (born June 1, 1945) is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train. He also recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger. He plays in a heavy blues-rock style that has inspired fledgling guitar players for more than 40 years.

In 2006, he participated in a Cactus reunion, performing in New York City, Sweden, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It coincided with the release of a new Cactus album, Cactus V. In 2007, Cactus played a Detroit date, a McCarty homecoming, to a sold-out, standing room only house.

In 2005, Les Paul recorded Les Paul and Friends: American Made, World Played, with an all-star band. He covered 69 Freedom Special, an instrumental tune co-written by McCarty and recorded while in the Buddy Miles Express. In February 2006, Les Paul won a Grammy for his cover of the song, thus propelling McCarty into another award-winning arena as songwriter. In 2009, a new band, the Hell Drivers were created. The members are Jim McCarty, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, Marvin Conrad(bass), and Jim Edwards(vocals). A high-energy band, they play a variety of Detroit rock'n'roll from Iggy, The Rockets, Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger and more to great critical acclaim.

Album: Live!
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[ 5:35] 1. Treat Me Right
[10:50] 2. Temperature Is Rising
[ 7:45] 3. Killing Floor
[10:21] 4. The Thrill Is Gone
[10:04] 5. Help Me
[ 6:29] 6. Shake Your Money Maker
[ 6:20] 7. Oh Well

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Album: Live At Callahan's
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 73:36
Size: 168.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. J&A Jump (Feat. Johnny A)
[7:13] 2. South Boulevard Blues (Feat. Johnny A)
[8:35] 3. Help Me (Feat. Jason Ricci)
[8:20] 4. Hi-Heel Sneakers (Feat. Duke Robillard)
[9:42] 5. West Helena Blues (Feat. Duke Robillard)
[4:52] 6. Tell Me What's the Reason (Feat. The Millionaires)
[5:22] 7. No Fun (Feat. The Millionaires)
[4:06] 8. Strollin' With the Bone (Feat. The Millionaires)
[7:57] 9. Sweet Sixteen (Feat. John Nemeth)
[4:23] 10. There's A Train Coming Down The Track's (Feat. Johnny Bee Badanjek)
[3:43] 11. School Days (Feat. Jimmy Thackery)
[5:33] 12. Cristo Redentor (Feat. Mystery Train)

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John Nemeth - Memphis Grease

Size: 125,2 MB
Time: 53:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Memphis Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. Three Times A Fool (5:02)
02. Sooner Or Later (3:11)
03. Her Good Lovin' (4:03)
04. Stop (3:24)
05. If It Aint Broke (4:39)
06. I Can't Help Myself (3:35)
07. Crying (3:53)
08. My Baby's Gone (2:59)
09. Testify My Love (5:28)
10. Bad Luck Is My Name (4:31)
11. Keep The Love A Comin' (4:31)
12. Elbows On The Wheel (4:28)
13. I Wish I Was Home (3:34)

''Németh is one of the finest young additions to the soul blues scene.'' -----AllMusic

'Németh has been bringing in new fans by the bushel. ... Németh is the fastest rising star in the blues firmament, a supremely versatile performer who has made true believers of some of the biggest names in the business.'' -----Seattle Times

''Classic soul and R&B styles have been revitalized in recent years by a cadre of young and relatively young artists such as James Hunter, Eli ''Paperboy'' Reed, and Sharon Jones. You can include John Németh on any list of the best of them.'' ----Philadelphia Inquirer

John Németh was probably the only kid in Boise who grew up in the 1980s listening to Chicago blues... In the three decades since, Németh has transformed himself from a fan to a modern soul-blues purveyor of the highest order, receiving five Blues Music Award nominations in 2012 and two in 2013, including the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. It's a journey that took him to San Francisco, then Oakland, California, followed by a relocation to the birthplace of blues, soul and rock-and-roll, Memphis. He landed in the perfect place: Electraphonic Studio, home of producer and musician Scott Bomar, who composed the film scores for ''Hustle & Flow'' and ''Black Snake Moan' and produced Cyndi Lauper's ''Memphis Blues.'' Support by the Bo-Keys, Bomar's group of veteran Memphis performers who made their names backing the likes of Al Green, O.V. Wright, Rufus Thomas and the Bar-Kays, Németh quickly laid down thirteen tracks that as he describes it, ''Live in the style like I live in the style.'' That style is a deeply forged amalgamation of scorching harmonica-driven blues and sweet blue-eyed soul ala The Box Tops or Roy Head, delivered via two fistfuls of originals and a trio of carefully chosen covers. ''Memphis Grease,'' the long-awaited follow up to 2010's ''Name The Day!'', embodies everything that sets Németh apart from the soul-blues revivalist pack: it's innovative and unique while epitomizing the absolute best of the genre.

Memphis Grease

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John Nemeth - Soul Live

Size: 127,8 MB
Time: 55:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Blues Soul, Memphis Soul
Art: Full

01. Blue Broadway (3:51)
02. Love Me Tonight (3:14)
03. Do You Really Want That Woman (4:57)
04. Said Too Much (5:59)
05. Funky Feelin' (6:30)
06. Magic Touch (4:47)
07. Fuel For Your Fire (5:16)
08. Too Good To Be True (3:11)
09. Name The Day (4:23)
10. Home In Your Heart (3:53)
11. My Future (4:20)
12. She's Looking Good (5:01)

"Soul Live" was recorded in February at three venues in the San Francisco Bay Area . The tracks are a collection of John's best original material and few choice covers by artists that have influenced him greatly(Solomon Burke and Roger Collins). This is a two guitar soul recording featuring the very talented Kid Andersen and A.C. Myles.

"Classic soul and R&B styles have been revitalized in recent years by a cadre of young and relatively young artists such as James Hunter, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, and Sharon Jones. You can include John Németh on any list of the best of them." ~Nick Cristiano

Thanks to Kempen.
Soul Live

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