James Armstrong - Blues Been Good To Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:49
Size: 86.6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. Blues Been Good To Me
[2:58] 2. Second Time Around
[4:03] 3. Addicted To Love
[5:18] 4. Early Grave
[2:50] 5. Old Man In The Morning (Young Man At Night)
[4:50] 6. Change In The Weather
[3:38] 7. How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
[3:59] 8. Ain't Another Love Song
[3:10] 9. Sleeping With A Stranger
[4:05] 10. Shot Gun Wedding

James Armstrong (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Bryan Fritz, Quincy Watson, Corey Fritz, Kasimu Taylor (horns); John Kattke (Hammond b-3 organ); Matt Murdick (keyboards); Andrew Thomas (drums); Kimberlie Helton, Amy Slack (background vocals). Recorded at Bessie Blue Studio, Stantonville, TN; Frequincy Studio, Springfield, IL; Sawhorse Studios, St Louis, MO.

Blues Been Good To Me is the third album on Catfood Records by road warrior James Armstrong. James tours the U.S. non-stop and has toured Europe twice in 2017. His unique style, including masterful slide guitar and his expressive vocals make him an in demand live act. He is a true original, writing intelligent lyrics and well-crafted songs. Three of his songs have been used in movie sound tracks. He has assembled a strong studio group who have worked with a Who's Who of blues music. Produced by James along with Blues Music Award Winner Johnny Rawls with an assist from multiple Grammy winner Jim Gaines. This is his strongest album yet as James is reaching the pinnacle of his career.

Blues Been Good To Me

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James Armstrong - Sleeping With A Stranger / Got It Goin' On

Album: Sleeping With A Stranger
Size: 111,0 MB
Time: 47:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. Sleeping With A Stranger (3:05)
02. From Time To Time (3:18)
03. Hard, Hard Blues (4:38)
04. Midnight Again (3:41)
05. Baby's Catwalkin' (3:58)
06. The Devil's Livin' There (4:47)
07. Don't Kiss And Tell (4:44)
08. Wrong Address (3:38)
09. Six Bar City (3:28)
10. Away From Home (4:03)
11. That Kind Of Feeling (3:50)
12. Devil's Moon (4:34)

L.A. guitarist James Armstrong’s first recording, 1995’s Sleeping With a Stranger on HighTone Records, invited comparison to Robert Cray, whose 1983 Bad Influence (HighTone) bore the stamp of label honcho Bruce Bromberg, who also wrote songs for both men. Each album featured their fondness for soul blues (for which their voices are admirably suited) versus the straight-ahead gritty 12-bar blues of, say, Muddy Waters. The comparisons to Cray still apply as Armstrong’s supple voice is heard to good effect here on 11 songs (more soul than blues) that depict various dilemmas facing modern man. The title track, for example, is a litany of border-crossing problems that would be funny if it weren’t so close to the truth. Set to a catchy rhythm enhanced by his slide guitar, Armstrong warns “Have your papers in order, you see the world has changed—we’ve got blues at the border” and goes on to list what you need to cross the Mexican border, e.g., “your passport, a picture of your grandmother, your uncle’s shoe size.” “Devil’s Candy” (it takes the form of a woman whose kisses are like candy) also features his potent slide guitar. Best song: “Brand New Man,” a peppy blues. Worst song: the over-produced “Baby, Can You Hear Me?” ~Review by Miles Jordan

Sleeping With A Stranger

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Album: Got It Goin' On
Size: 105,5 MB
Time: 45:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Got It Goin' On (4:22)
02. Pennies And Picks (4:21)
03. Another Dream (5:21)
04. 2 Sides (3:45)
05. Mr. B's (3:27)
06. Love Will Make You Do Wrong (4:26)
07. Beat Up By Love (4:31)
08. Shut My Eyes (3:55)
09. Likes Her Lovin' (3:15)
10. Lucky Guy (4:15)
11. I'll Learn Some Time (3:34)

Got It Goin' On is an apt title for this third release from California bluesman James Armstrong. While his previous release, Dark Night, was steeped in a soul/blues vein, this album is a solid, stripped-down blues session. Armstrong's guitar chops (especially on slide guitar) and impassioned vocals continue to gain strength following the horrendous attack on his life in 1997. Making an encore appearance is guitarist Michael Ross, who blends in with the dominant role Armstrong assumes, while the keyboard work is provided by Jimmy Pugh of the Robert Cray Band. The majority of cuts were written or co-written by Armstrong, including the heartfelt ballad "Another Dream," the funky rocker "2 Sides," included in the movie Speechless, and the New Orleans-influenced "Mr. B's." ~Review by Al Campbell

Got It Goin' On

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James Armstrong - Blues At The Border

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:52
Size: 102.7 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[4:04] 1. Everything Good To Ya (Ain't Always Good For Ya)
[3:19] 2. Somebody Got To Pay
[3:24] 3. Baby Can You Hear Me
[5:09] 4. Blues At The Border
[4:27] 5. Devil's Candy
[3:30] 6. Nothing Left To Say
[3:55] 7. High Maintenance Woman
[3:31] 8. Good Man Bad Thing
[5:49] 9. Young Man With The Blues
[4:30] 10. Brand New Man
[3:08] 11. Long Black Car

An 11-year break separates blues singer/guitarist James Armstrong's third album, Got It Goin' On (2000) from his fourth, 2011's Blues at the Border, and in the latter album, he acknowledges that "the world has changed" in the interim. Specifically, the title song, in which that statement is made, explores a major change for a working musician, especially one who must maintain a following overseas. The 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001 have made travel much more difficult, and that's the subject of "Blues at the Border," the song, in which Armstrong, co-writing with his girlfriend Madonna Hamel (who lives outside the U.S.), details the impediments to getting around by air and from country to country, eventually expanding into comic hyperbole. This, of course, is not the usual topic for a blues song, but Armstrong also manages to address more conventional matters in songs like "Nothing Left to Say" and "Devil's Candy," in which romantic travails predominate over intercontinental travel. Yet Armstrong continues to be attracted to more individual concerns, such as in "High Maintenance Woman," which extols the virtues of such a person (and in which Hamel makes a guest appearance as the title character), and the autobiographical "Young Man with the Blues," in which he reflects on his father and his sons. Such material gives the singer, whose voice resembles the relaxed, soft-spoken tenor of Buddy Guy, a distinct persona, even as the songs' arrangements generally stick to familiar blues structures. Those structures leave Armstrong plenty of room for some stinging solos, and he also makes space for organist George Papageorge, who turns in some strong playing. It all adds up to a good blues workout from an artist who has been away from recording for too long. ~William Ruhlmann

Blues At The Border mc
Blues At The Border zippy

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Black Magic Johnson - 2 albums: Walk With You Baby / Call Me

Black Magic Johnson has been known for his fun collection of southern delta and Chicago new age blues. He may have been pumping originals and covers for only the past 15 years but he’s been playing the blues for over 25 years with some of the old greats like “Eddie Snow & the Snow Flakes, Oysters Rockefeller, Tom Irwin and many other music groups. The players in his band, Dan Grover, Alexis Rodgers, Robert Hagler and Willie Chrismon, bring over 50 years of experience to the table. Also BMJ has opened for some of the greatest blues acts around today such as KOKO Taylor, David Dee, Lonnie Brooks and Ronnie Baker Brooks just to name a few. In 2004, 2005 and 2007. BMJ was nominated as one of the best blues act in central Illinois and performed at the Great Performers of Illinois concert at Chicago’s Millennium Park with KOKO Taylor, David Dee and many more in 2006. In 2010 BMJ became the official blues band of the Springfield Milers Motorcycle Club and the most popular act among other Motorcycle Clubs and Blues Societies throughout Illinois and Iowa and other surrounding states

Album: Walk With You Baby
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:31
Size: 95.0 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[5:30] 1. The Call (Feat. James Armstrong)
[3:31] 2. Magic Man
[3:52] 3. Can't Get Over You
[2:53] 4. Happy Holiday Baby
[5:12] 5. Hooked On Something
[3:55] 6. Asleep In The Doorway
[4:35] 7. Who Dat
[4:03] 8. Walk With You Baby
[3:53] 9. Thnk You Baby
[4:02] 10. Goodbye Good Morning

Walk With You Baby mc
Walk With You Baby zippy

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Album: Call Me
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:24
Size: 117.7 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 4:02] 1. Crazy About You Baby
[ 4:32] 2. Loving Ways
[ 3:20] 3. Standing Byme
[ 2:25] 4. Hey Baby
[ 4:18] 5. Water From A Rock
[ 3:53] 6. Call Me
[ 7:52] 7. She's Got Everything
[10:18] 8. Love So Cold
[ 4:53] 9. Blues Traveler
[ 3:03] 10. All Tore Up
[ 2:42] 11. Thank You Baby

Call Me mc
Call Me zippy

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James Armstrong - Guitar Angels

Size: 104,6 MB
Time: 45:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. Grandma's Got A New Friend (3:46)
02. Healing Time (4:07)
03. Take It To The Limit (3:01)
04. Guitar Angels (4:55)
05. Moving To Nashville (4:42)
06. Goodbye Kiss (3:54)
07. Bank Of Love (4:22)
08. Saturday Night Women (3:52)
09. Blues Ain't Nothin' (4:06)
10. Runaway Train (3:30)
11. Guitar Angels (Radio Version) (4:47)

Opening with a swinging shuffle tune, Grandma's Got A New Friend, Armstrong picks up where he left off on Blues at the Border with clever lyrics and stinging guitar work. Healing Time has a Curtis Mayfield/Wolfman Washington groove with a nice R&B feel and sweet vocals. A total redo of Glenn Frey's Take It To The Limit is actually almost unrecognizable in a good way. This track has a lot of attitude and drummer Rick King adds that drum attitude. With a real nice loping groove Armstrong lays down BB King like riffs and sings one of the coolest covers I've heard in a long time. Guitar Angels is a really nice Mayfield like R&B style ballad. Possibly my favorite track on the release, Armstrong sings in the pocket and Eric Tinsley lays down a nice bass line for Armstrong to solo over. Very nice! Moving To Nashville has a bit of a two step feel with nice slide work from Armstrong. Goodbye Kiss is a straight up ballad with solid vocals and melody. Dan Ferguson carries the basis of the track on keys. Bank Of Love is a hot potato with Rick King laying down a strong drum line. Armstrong really grips the vocal part on this track and with complimentary guitar riffs tears this track up! Another of my favorites on the release. Saturday Night Women has a cool strut to it featuring cool bass lines from Malcolm Gold and perfect rockin key work from George Papageorge. Armstrong has the perfect feel for guitar accent demonstrating it well on this particular track. Johnny Copelan's Blues Ain't Nothin' establishes a terrific groove with Gold again on bass and Warren Grant on drums. Armstrong does a great job of strokin this classic funky blues track. R&B style Runaway Train has the support of a great horn section includingAndy Roman (sax) Mike Middleton (trumpet) and Robert Claiborne (trombone). With a slick funky jog this track hits home. Finishing up the release with the radio version of Guitar Angel, this is a great conclusion to a sweet release. Jimi Hendrix melodies swirl through soul track with blues guitar riffs. Very very nice. ~Bman

Guitar Angels

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