Laurie Morvan Band - Find My Way Home

Album: Find My Way Home
Size: 102,2 MB
Time: 44:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues/Rock/Americana mix
Art: Full

1. Big Love (3:23)
2. Hold On To You (3:43)
3. Find My Way Home (5:36)
4. I Can't Get Enough (2:52)
5. Tightrope (4:25)
6. Holy War (5:32)
7. Rock Me Right (3:35)
8. Only Beautiful People Fall In Love (3:43)
9. Once In My Life (3:49)
10. Let Me Go (4:54)
11. Let Me Love You Baby (2:29)

Guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader Laurie Morvan is so much more than a touring musician. Morvan is also a licensed pilot who worked in the aerospace industry in Southern California for a number of years before launching her blues career. She majored in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois and also played on that school's volleyball team, earning herself a scholarship for her last two years in college. Not unlike the ladies in Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women, Morvan gave up the security of a nine-to-five day job for a much crazier, much less stable life on the road as a touring musician. Her first band played Top 40 and covers, but found plenty of work at casinos in Nevada and hotels and clubs in California.

Like hundreds of others by now, Morvan had a revelatory moment and a life-changing experience when she first heard Texas blues master Stevie Ray Vaughan. She was completely engrossed by Vaughan's powerful, expressive playing and began getting a blues education via her passion for his music. She began creating her own brand of blues-rock and writing her own songs, and financed her first outings in recording studios by earning her master's degree in applied mathematics and teaching college math classes.

In 1997 she released her first album of originals, Out of the Woods, with her band Backroad Shack. By 2004 she had changed the group name to the Laurie Morvan Band, and the release of second and third albums under that name got her additional media attention via some magazine feature stories and airplay on the syndicated radio show House of Blues Radio Hour. In 2008 the band advanced to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and made connections to tour in the Midwest. She then worked with producer Steve Savage (Elvin Bishop, Robert Cray) on Fire It Up!, which was issued in 2009. Fire It Up! neatly showcases a dozen original tunes by Morvan that avoid the tired old themes and clichés in blues. In the process, she and her band - which began to tour nationally in 2009 and 2010 - are taking the blues in much-needed new and vital directions, so the form can continue to evolve. /Biography by Richard Skelly, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Laurie Morvan Band - Breathe Deep

Album: Breathe Deep
Size: 127,6 MB
Time: 55:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Blues
Art: Front, tray

1. No Working During Drinking Hours (4:11)
2. Saved By The Blues (4:56)
3. Mojo Mama (4:57)
4. Back Up The Train (3:39)
5. It Only Hurts When I Breathe (6:33)
6. I've Had Enough (6:21)
7. Bad Love Blues (4:53)
8. Beat Up From The Feet Up (4:14)
9. Hurtin' And Healin' (5:18)
10. Thelma And Louise (5:02)
11. Long Time 'Til I'm Gone (5:16)

One can anticipate the music to be enthusiastic and lively before hearing the first note on Laurie Morvan’s fifth release, because that’s how Morvan albums have begun in the past. This one is no different in that respect. The lively opening song, “No Working During Drinking Hours,” immediately sets the stage for a festive atmosphere. The upbeat blues song begins with a catchy riff sequence performed by Morvan with Stratocaster flamboyance. The appealing dual vocals complete the signature Morvan sound and groove.

Morvan’s music stresses fine melody, polished musicianship, and catchy vocal harmony yet again. Along with her sultry voice, at times reminiscent of Christine McVie, Lisa (Grubbs) Morvan’ tasteful accompaniment gives it an Andrews Sisters’ harmonic flair. It becomes threefold on two songs when Carolyn Kelley joins in. The rest of the band deserves credit too, as the piano, bass, and drums are watertight. But although the vocals are a huge part of the music, Morvan’s guitar playing is what the excitement is all about. Her dazzling chops and fluid licks have that buttery texture at times, heard when a torrent of notes flow effortless about the frets.

The funky “Back Up The Train” and “Thelma And Louise” contain catchy riff hooks that are the backbone of the songs. The band gets downright moody in slow blues mode in “It Only Hurts When I Breathe” and “Long Time ‘til I’m Gone.” The interesting lyrics in “Saved By The Blues,” in which she searches for Jesus and meets Robert Johnson down at the crossroads (what a twist), are augmented by a swaying melody and wah-wah induced lead guitar trails. “I’ve Had Enough” starts in a mellow blues manner, but slowly transforms into rock mode. The rhythm section pours it on in the chorus, the rhythm guitar gets downright potent, and Morvan’s lead scorches. Other songs in this upbeat groove are “Mojo Mama” and “Beat Up From The Feet Up.”

Laurie Morvan’s known for tasteful contemporary songs as well, and has proved in the past that she can go off in different directions musically. But she appears to be completely covered in the blues lately, and she’s wearing it well. Though there are many talented blues guitar women on the scene, Morvan’s staying power and undeniable brilliance make her a prime example. She’s got the guitar fire a player acquires after playing hours on end daily, when the instrument becomes second nature. And she appears to be getting better with each CD release. /Brian D. Holland, Blues Revue Magazine

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Laurie Morvan Band - Cures What Ails Ya

Album: Cures What Ails Ya
Size: 118,4 MB
Time: 51:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Blues/Rock/Americana mix
Art: Front, tray

1. Kickin' Down Doors (3:22)
2. My Baby Says (4:10)
3. Where Are The Girls With Guitars (4:34)
4. One Little Thing (0:32)
5. One Little Thing (4:09)
6. A Long Time Ago (3:57)
7. When I'm Queen (6:01)
8. Family Line (4:35)
9. Wiggle Room (3:22)
10. Keep On Believin' (6:54)
11. Don't Give It Up (4:55)
12. In The River (4:35)

Laurie Morvan is a Stevie Ray Vaughan devotee based in Southern California. When she isn't performing, she works as a college math instructor. For her third album, a self-produced collection of 12 blues-rock originals with pop and folk flourishes, Morvan dispersed her regular touring band (exept for bassist Pat Morvan and backing vocalists Lisa (Grubbs) Morvan and Carolyn Kelley) in favor os seasoned players with connections: B-3 organist Sammy Avila (Walter Trout), drummer Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal), bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt), and well-traveled pianists Doña Oxford and George Duke.

This polished set offers few surprises for those familiar with the work of artists such as Debbie Davies, Deborah Coleman, Michelle Malone, and Ana Popovic. But Morvan's lyrics deserve scrutiny - especially the poignant "Family Line," which includes lines such as "I've got my mother's eyes/They're my little piece of home/I always thought I would give them/To a child of my own." The strikingly autobiographical dirge is Morvan's mea culpa to her mother for not producing grandchildren.

In contrast to that tune's stabbing melancholy, Morvan rocks hard on strident anthems "Kickin' Down Doors" and "Where Are the Girls With Guitars." She proves adept at tough shuffles on "My Baby Says" and "A Long Time Ago," then switches to slide for the swampy pep talk of "Don't Give It Up." The disc's lone instrumental, the wah-wah-infused "Wiggle Room," directly recalls Vaughan. Morvan's sweet, soaring voice will draw comparisons to Raitt, and her wiry, fiery solos demonstrate that she's in full command of her Stratocaster. For fans of any of the aforementioned artists, Laurie Morvan's most personal album to date is a fitting introduction to an artist who deserves recognintion beyond the West Coast. /Thomas J. Cullen, Blues Revue Magazine

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Laurie Morvan Band - Fire It Up!

Size: 129,5 MB
Time: 54:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Pop / Rock / Blues
Art: Front

1. Nothin' But The Blues (4:23)
2. Come On Over To My BBQ (4:47)
3. Good Girls Bad Girls (4:53)
4. Lay Your Hands (4:51)
5. I Speak The Blues (4:12)
6. Livin' In A Man's World (7:08)
7. Let Me Carry Your Troubles (4:12)
8. You Don't Know About Me (3:57)
9. Skinny Chicks (3:06)
10. Testify (4:52)
11. Ooh Ooh Baby (3:55)
12. Cafe Boogaloo (4:08)

'Fire It Up'! has won the 2010 Blues Foundation award for 'Best Self-Produced CD' at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The Laurie Morvan Band is a red hot blues rock band from California fronted by female blues guitarist Laurie Morvan, whose unique, fiery guitar style has been highlighted in feature articles in various guitar magazines. Not just a wailin' guitar slinger, Laurie is a compelling lead vocalist and talented songwriter. LAURIE MORVAN - gtr/voc, PAT MORVAN - bass, KEVIN MURILLO - drums.

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Laurie Morvan - Gravity

Size: 120,1 MB
Time: 51:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. My Moderation (4:30)
02. Twice The Trouble (4:58)
03. Stay With Me (4:29)
04. Money Talks (4:06)
05. The Extra Mile (4:14)
06. Gravity (4:03)
07. Dance In The Rain (3:55)
08. Gotta Dig Deep (4:26)
09. The Man Who Left Me (3:57)
10. Shake Your Tailfeathers (3:21)
11. I Want Answers (4:29)
12. Too Dumb To Quit (4:44)

Laurie Morvan (More-Van) delivers a double dose of fun on her new album, Gravity, as she shines on stellar guitar work and soaring vocals. For her sixth full-length album, Morvan partners with acclaimed drummer/producer Tony Braunagel and his team of A-list players at Ultratone Studios to record 12 fresh tracks of commercial Blues Rock and Soul. Originally scheduled to be recorded back in 2014, the project was delayed when Laurie suffered a wrist fracture that required two surgeries over the next couple of years. Releasing this album is especially meaningful for Laurie, and the whole band is energized to be sharing this exciting new music with fans.

The album opens appropriately with bass drum thump and Stratocaster boogie, on the hard driving ‘My Moderation,’ demonstrating the alliance between the drummer and the lead vocalist/guitarist, which sets the tone for all to come. Morvan’s voice draws comparisons to Christine McVie as her throaty alto leads the charge on the edgy ‘Twice The Trouble,’ and the persuasive blues ‘Stay With Me,’ while her stinging guitar leads are braced by hot Hammond B3 from ace Mike Finnigan. The Texas shuffle ‘Money Talks,’ and the southern funk of ‘The Extra Mile,’ shows her paying tribute to both sides of Freddie King. Morvan then testifies to the power of love with complex fret and lyrical work on the expansive title track ‘Gravity,’ pushing the boundaries of jazz, pop and rock. A touch of SRV sneaks into the uplifting groove of ‘Dance In The Rain,’ and she gets greasy on the swamp rocker ‘Gotta Dig Deep.’ Morvan plays the role of a blues diva on the Bessie Smith styled southern gothic ‘The Man Who Left Me,’ and then lays down some straight-ahead R&B under a lesson on how to brush off your troubles for ‘Shake Your Tailfeathers.’ Some more gritty guitar work highlights the evocative ‘I Want Answers,’ and album closer ‘Too Dumb To Quit,’ features slick slide guitar, witty lyrics and a sweet New Orleans street beat. ~Rick J Bowen

Gravity

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