Showing posts with label Shirley Johnson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shirley Johnson. Show all posts

Friday, September 27, 2019

Michael Coleman & The Delmark All-Stars - Blues Brunch At The Mart

Year: 2006
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:16
Size: 160,1 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Little Arthur Duncan - Knockin' On Your Door (4:34)
2. Michael Coleman - The Sky Is Crying (6:48)
3. Lurrie Bell - I Need You So Bad (4:20)
4. Lurrie Bell - Reconsider Baby (6:51)
5. Willie Kent - Something New (4:35)
6. Bonnie Lee - Sad & Evil Woman (6:06)
7. Steve Freund - My Little Playhouse (4:31)
8. Zora Young - Toxic (6:50)
9. Steve Behr - Memories Of Albert Ammons (4:53)
10. Shirley Johnson - As The Years Go Passing By (6:23)
11. Tail Dragger - Be Careful (5:22)
12. Aaron Moore - Wading In Deep Water (3:34)
13. Michael Coleman - You're Going To Miss Me (4:22)

More than 50-years-old and still going strong, Delmark records is Chicago's oldest jazz and blues label and arguably the most important one still operating. They've released stone-cold classics in both genres over the years and currently maintain one of the best rosters of Chicago talent in the field. You can thank Bob Koester for that; a nominee for "Patron Saint of Chicago Jazz and Blues" if ever there was one. He also heads up the world's largest blues and jazz retail store: Chicago's Jazz Record Mart. Every year during the Chicago Blues Festival, Jazz Record Mart hosts the blues brunch, where members of the Delmark blues family put on a free show (and brunch!) inside the store.

In 2005, Michael Coleman & the Backbreakers acted as house band, backing a variety of other Delmark artists in a great informal setting, and Blues Brunch at the Mart was recorded for posterity. Aside from the two solo piano numbers (Steve Behr and Aaron Moore), the Backbreakers back all performers giving the album a unified sound, even as the lead performers come and go. But don't think this all sounds the same.

You go from an updated version of "The Sky Is Crying" by Michael Coleman to the gritty blues of Lurrie Bell to the gospel-informed sounds of Shirley Johnson to the growling, extroverted Tail Dragger. The late, great Willie Kent takes a final bow as well. From the between-song patter, one gets the sense that this isn't just a group of musicians united by their label; this is the Delmark blues family, and the patriarch is Bob Koester (who turns in a couple of priceless introductions). Part label roster sampler and part historical souvenir, Blues Brunch at the Mart is a fine snapshot of Delmark blues circa 2005. /Sean Westergaard, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Blues Brunch At The Mart mc
Blues Brunch At The Mart zippy

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

VA - Angels Sing The Blues

Size: 171,9 MB
Time: 73:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Al Short - A Real Mother For Ya (4:31)
02. Danny O'Connor - Cold Women With Warm Hearts (Live) (4:25)
03. Johnny Drummer - Gonna Sell My Cadillac, Buy Myself A Mule (Live) (5:18)
04. Johnny Drummer - Born In The Delta (Live) (5:01)
05. Shirley Johnson - Get Your Lovin' Where You Spend Your Time (3:42)
06. Mary Lane - Just As Grown As You (Live) (3:38)
07. Mary Lane - Ride In Your Automobile (Live) (4:22)
08. Johnny Drummer - Rockin' In The Juke Joint (Live) (4:48)
09. Shirley Johnson - I'm Going To Find Me A Lover (Live) (4:35)
10. Shirley Johnson - Unchain' My Heart (Live) (4:48)
11. Shirley Johnson - You Can Have My Husband But Please Don't Mess With My Man (Live) (5:56)
12. Johnny Drummer & Liz Mandeville - Introduction (Live) (1:35)
13. Liz Mandeville - Use What You Got (Live) (5:14)
14. Liz Mandeville - I Just Want To Make Love To You (Live) (5:15)
15. Liz Mandeville, Mary Lane & Shirley Johnson - Angel From Montgomery (4:53)
16. Jake & Ellwood Blues Brothers Bit - Please Don't Kill Us (Live) (1:35)
17. Mary Lane - Run A Red Light (3:45)

The angels in this live performance recorded in 2007 at Chicago's Taste Entertainment Center--Liz Mandeville, Mary Lane and Shirley Johnson--are truly the voices you will hear when real angels sing the Blues. Backed by keyboard player Johnny Drummer, known as a "storyteller under a groove," and his soulful, funky band The Starliters, these blues divas ease from rowdy and risque, to sweet and soulful and everything in between. The album also has several studio tracks with an equally stellar backing band of crack Chicago session players. One of the highlights is "Angel From Montgomery," on which Shirley, Mary and Liz trade off lyrics, bringing a deep blues feel to this classic tune. Mary Lane also debuts her new tune on this album, "Red Light."

Angels Sing The Blues

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Various Artists - Red Hot Mamas

Year: 1997
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:25
Size: 141,6 MB
Styles: Blues, Chicago blues
Scans: Full

1. Karen Carroll - Sweet Home Chicago (5:36)
2. Lynne Jordan - Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean) (4:03)
3. Liz Mandville Greeson - 20% Alcohol (5:24)
4. Bonnie Lee - Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On (3:52)
5. Patricia Scott - Something You Got (5:38)
6. Shirley Johnson - Unchain My Heart (5:19)
7. Lynne Jordan - One Good Man (7:02)
8. Peaches Staten - Honey Don't (3:22)
9. Liz Mandville Greeson - What Have I Done Wrong (4:10)
10. Bonnie Lee - Wee Baby Blues (3:42)
11. Patricia Scott - Not That Kind Of Girl (5:22)
12. Shirley Johnson - Hold What You've Got (4:40)
13. Karen Carroll - Blue Chicago Blues (3:09)

Red Hot Mamas highlights the talents of up-and-coming female blues performers, many from the Chicago area. Except for Peaches Staten, each artist is featured on two tracks; strong performances abound, with singers Shirley Johnson and Patricia Scott making the strongest impressions. Others present include Karen Carroll, Lynne Jordan, Bonnie Lee, and Liz Mandville Greeson. /Steve Huey

Red Hot Mamas mc
Red Hot Mamas zippy

Thursday, June 14, 2018

VA - Tribute: Delmark's 65th Anniversary

Size: 113,5 MB
Time: 48:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front & Black

01 Omar Coleman - Train I Ride (4:09)
02 Lurrie Bell - One Day You're Gonna Get Lucky (3:34)
03 Linsey Alexander - All For Business (6:09)
04 Demetria Taylor - Riverboat (4:39)
05 Jimmy Burns - She Left Me A Mule To Ride (2:48)
06 Lil' Ed - Speak My Mind (3:55)
07 Jimmy Johnson - Out Of Bad Luck (5:00)
08 Corey Dennison - Broke And Hungry (4:38)
09 Mike Wheeler - So Many Roads (5:18)
10 Shirley Johnson - Need Your Love So Bad (4:17)
11 Ken Saydak - Boot That Thing (4:00)

Tribute MP3
Tribute FLAC

Friday, May 20, 2016

Shirley Johnson - Killer Diller

Year: 2002
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:53
Size: 148,5 MB
Styles: Blues, Chicago blues
Scans: Full

1. Not For The Love Of You (3:08)
2. Killer Diller (3:29)
3. Your Turn To Cry (4:54)
4. Somebody Have Mercy (5:10)
5. As The Years Go Passing By (5:47)
6. No Deposit, No Return (4:23)
7. Hard-Lovin' Mama (3:31)
8. The Blues Is All I've Got (4:58)
9. Little Wing (3:30)
10. For You My Love (4:58)
11. Love Abuse (7:06)
12. It Hurts Me Too (4:16)
13. Missed The Best Chance (4:35)
14. Saved (4:03)

Shirley Johnson is an outstanding vocalist who finds herself in the vanguard of a remarkable revival of the Chicago female blues singer. For many years she has been an able ambassador, here and abroad, representing both the blues and gospel traditions. Shirley has a passionate, strong voice that can deliver a chugging Chicago blues shuffle with uncommon conviction, and infuse a slow ballad with the reassuring power of her own personal experience. Shirley Johnson is an entirely modern blues singer with ample talent, heart and class. Killer Diller is Shirley's American debut CD.

With Robert Ward, John Primer, Johnny B. Moore, Maurice John Vaughn.

Killer Diller mc
Killer Diller zippy

Saturday, October 26, 2013

VA - It Ain't Over!: Del... Celebrates 55 Years Of Blues

Size: 147,1 MB
Time: 63:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Zora Young - Til The Fat Lady Sings (7:38)
02. Jimmy Johnson - Cold, Cold Feeling (5:37)
03. Jimmy Johnson - You Don't Know What Love Is (6:49)
04. Aaron Moore - Wading In Deep Water (3:43)
05. Little Arthur Duncan - Pretty Girls Everywhere (5:38)
06. Lurrie Bell - Don't You Lie To Me (5:17)
07. Shirley Johnson - As The Years Go Passing By (5:45)
08. Eddie Shaw - For You My Love (5:00)
09. Eddie Shaw - Sun Is Shining (5:43)
10. Tail Dragger - Tend To Your Business (5:29)
11. Tail Dragger - My Woman Is Gone (7:02)

In 1953 a 21-year old jazz fan in St. Louis started a label, naming it after his street address - Delmar. Five years later, Bob Koester moved to Chicago, opened a record shop and revived his label (with a 'k' added). The blues catalogue he initiated with old-timers such as Big Joe Williams and Sleepy John Estes would accrue Magic Sam, Junior Wells, Luther Allison and many other up-and-coming names in Chicago blues of the '60s and '70s. Those greats are gone but Delmark lived on, to be celebrated in a 2008 gig featuring stalwarts of the label: Lurrie Bell, Zora Young, Eddie Shaw, Shriley Johnson, Aaron Moore, Tail Dragger, Little Arthur Duncan (who died soon afterwards) and the underrated Jimmy Johnson, heart piercing in Cold, Cold Feeling and You Don't Know What Love Is. Such time-honored songs symbolize Koester's role as a solid supporter of Chicago Blues - a blues rock impervious to blues-rock. --Mojo, March 2010

Delm...'s 55th anniversary blues bash at Buddy Guy's Legends on March 7, 2008 featured most of Delm...'s local blues roster, a Delmark Day proclamation from Mayor Daley and a Grammy Hall Of Fame Award for the groundbreaking Hoodoo Man Blues album. Live performances by Lurrie Bell, Tail Dragger, Zora Young, Jimmy Johnson with Dave Specter, Aaron Moore, Little Arthur Duncan, Eddie Shaw and Shirley Johnson.

It Ain't Over!