Showing posts with label Paul Filipowicz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Filipowicz. Show all posts

Monday, November 3, 2025

Paul Filipowicz - Breakwater

Album: Breakwater
Size: 113,5 MB
Time: 49:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Tuff Girl (4:04)
2. I'm Leaving (3:48)
3. Breakwater (3:35)
4. Sonny Boy (4:08)
5. This Time I'm Gone For Good (4:55)
6. Lefty Philips (3:32)
7. Conversation With JR (5:20)
8. Ashes In The Wind (4:20)
9. That's The Truth (3:25)
10. That's Why I'm Crying (5:34)
11. Poor Boy (3:37)
12. Rollcage (2:41)

Paul Filipowicz was born in Chicago in 1950, and his lifelong love affair with the blues began early. One night, while listening to the radio, he heard both Sonny Boy Williamson II and Muddy Waters—and the blues bug bit hard. His first exposure to live blues came when his father took him to see Otis Rush. As Paul recalls, “The only way my dad could get out of the house on a Saturday night was to take us boys along—and man, did we see some joints!” Self-taught and proudly rough-hewn, Filipowicz learned to play without a pick, drawing inspiration from the greats—Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Dawkins, and Luther Allison. Over the years, he’s opened for Hound Dog Taylor, Mighty Joe Young, and many others, carving out a legacy as one of the Midwest’s most authentic torchbearers of gritty, West Side blues.

He released his debut album in 1996, and in the years since has built a loyal following through relentless touring and honest, hard-hitting records. His recent releases include 2015’s Rough Neck Blues Live, recorded at The Knuckle Down Saloon in Madison, Wisconsin; 2018’s Unfiltered on Big Jake Records; and 2022’s Pier 43, also on Big Jake. Now, after fifty-four years on the scene, Filipowicz returns with Breakwater, his twelfth recording—featuring seven originals and five handpicked covers. Filipowicz handles guitar and vocals throughout and plays harmonica on one track. He’s joined by an all-star supporting cast: harmonica ace Martin Lang; saxophonist Erik Beraud; keyboardist Jimmy Voegeli; bassist E.G. McDaniel; and drummer Steven Doughtery. Vocalist Maggie “Blues Chic” Aliotta also makes a guest appearance.

Blues historian and critic Richard Shurman summed it up perfectly: “Gritty, rocking blues with a lot of West Side in the mix. One of your best. It’s the kind of album I’m glad is still getting made, though not often enough. I hope it gets the notice and praise it deserves.” Indeed, Breakwater is everything you want from a Paul Filipowicz album—unfiltered, unpretentious, and unapologetically alive. After more than five decades in the trenches, Filipowicz proves once again that real blues is about heart, not hype. /Richard Ludmerer, Making A Scene

Breakwater mc
Breakwater gofile

Friday, January 20, 2023

Paul Filipowicz - Pier 43

Size: 123.8 MB
Time: 53:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Old Time Superstition (4:07)
02. Angle Face (5:01)
03. Pier 43 (4:51)
04. When I Get To Town (3:23)
05. Spit Shine (2:46)
06. Hip Shake (6:10)
07. Poor Man's Throne (4:17)
08. Humdinger (4:13)
09. Cut You Loose - Texas Out (6:15)
10. Aint No Use (4:44)
11. Use My Imagination (7:13)

Fifty years of one nighters and 10 albums. What does a bluesman do next? How about "Old Time Superstition" side guitar and voodoo drums? How about a gut-bucket Howlin' Wolf-style shuffle called "Angel Face"? How about a little old and a little new?

Find all that and more on Filipowicz's 11th album, "Pier 43". A moody guitar instrumental called "Pier 43" which harkens back to Filipowicz's stint tossin' bags and pullin' hides on the Milwaukee longshore docks in the early 1970's. A take on the timeless waterfront sound. Nine fresh tracks and a Mississippi Hill Country track called "When I Get To Town" that is bone rattlin' enough to make you want to boogie and dance all night long, or at least until the cops come.

But wait! Why not throw in a couple of songs featuring Paul's hard-driving band from a live 1979 radio show featuring the one and only Clyde Stubbelfield (James Brown) on drums and Fat Richard Drake on alto sax? You won't be getting that anywhere but here. "Pier 43" proves that Blues with Soul is alive and well in the good old USA.

Pier 43 MP3
Pier 43 FLAC

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Paul Filipowicz - Unfiltered

Size: 118,0 MB
Time: 50:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. All My Whole Life Baby (2:52)
02. Brand New Hat (5:48)
03. Unfiltered (3:50)
04. Canal Street (4:54)
05. Howlin' For My Darling (3:39)
06. Everything Gonna Be Alright (3:32)
07. I Found A New Love (5:18)
08. My Woman (6:13)
09. Tin Pan Alley (6:00)
10. Reconsider (4:20)
11. Riding High (3:55)

Personnel:
PAUL FILIPOWICZ: All guitars and Vocals
BENNY RICKUN: Harp
Chris Sandoval: Drums
Rick Smith: Bass
Tony Menzer: Bass "My Woman"
Jimmy Voegeli: Yamaha C7 grand p1ano "Howln' for My Darl1ng"
Tom Sobel: Tenor and IJantone saxophones
Jack Naus: Trumpets

Paul Filipowicz was born in Chicago in 1950. One night while listening to the radio he heard songs by both Sonny Boy Williamson II and Muddy Waters and got bitten by the blues bug. His first exposure to live blues music was going to see Otis Rush. Paul says “The only way my dad could get out of the house on a Saturday night was to take us boys along, and man did we see some joints!” Self taught he learned to play without a guitar pick and his influences include Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Dawkins and Luther Allison. He has opened for Hound Dog Taylor, Mighty Joe Young and many others. Filipowicz released his debut album in 1996. His last release was 2015’s “Rough Neck Blues Live!” recorded at The Knuckle Down Saloon in Madison, WI. Filipowicz is a member of The Chicago Blues Hall of Fame.

This is Filipowicz’ 10th recording. The band includes Filipowicz, guitars and vocals; the rhythm section of Rick Smith, bass; and Chris Sandoval (who worked with Tommy Castro), drums; and Benny Rickun, harp (from Reverend Raven and The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys). Also featured is the horn section of Tom Sobel, saxophones; and Jack Naus, trumpet. The album was recorded at “Makin Sausage” Studios, in Milwaukee.

Filipowicz says he “wanted to pay homage to the sounds that were in the air when I was growing up”. Included are Jimmy Wilson’s 1953 “Tin Pan Alley” released on Big Town Records; two Magic Sam covers, the beautifully sung “All My Whole Life Baby” and “Everything Gonna Be All Right” both recorded on Cobra Records in 1958; Little Milton’s “I Found A New Love” from 1959; Howlin’ Wolf’s “Howling For My Darling”, featuring pianist Jimmy Voegeli, originally released on Chess Records in 1960; and Lowell Fulsom’s “Reconsider Baby” from 1962 with a great horn arrangement. These are performed with a reverence.

Five Filipowicz originals are also included. “Brand New Hat”; “My Woman” and “Riding High” are well written songs with some especially fine guitar. My favorites however are the two instrumentals. “Canal Street” is “the street sounds from the ears of a ten year old out past eleven o’clock at night” featuring Rickun on harp. While the guitar shuffle and title track “Unfiltered” is “an attempt to condense…all the music drifting through the air during these excursions”.

This is Paul Filipowicz, his heritage and his tribute. ~Richard Ludmerer

Unfiltered MP3
Unfiltered FLAC

Friday, November 20, 2015

Paul Filipowicz & The Madison Blues All Stars - Never Had It So Good

Size: 106,1 MB
Time: 45:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Chicago Blues, Texas Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. Nuckle Buster (4:18)
02. Hot Chili (3:21)
03. Fresh Off The Farm (7:22)
04. 55 Miles (5:27)
05. Guitar Jones (3:55)
06. Mean Dog Blues (3:25)
07. Blue Bird Lounge (4:34)
08. Mr. Lucky (3:51)
09. Wind That Howls (4:55)
10. Hi Heel Sneakers (3:52)

Singer, songwriter, guitar, harp. Born Chicago 3/24/50. He was raised in the Lockport, Ill. corn fields in the 1950’s. "My sisters played piano in church and of course we all sang there. About the only other music we could get was the radio." One night while cruising the dial Filipowicz pulled in a radio station out of Tulsa, OK. They played Wolf, Sonny Boy (II) and Muddy Waters back to back. That was his first exposure to blues. He first witnessed live blues in 64 or 65, while waiting outside a club on Chicago’s South Side “It was boiling hot about 2p.m. and these people were all dressed up and going into this air-conditioned club.” Otis Rush and his band were tearing it up right there in broad daylight. Electric guitar was it! Learning by ear was about the only way to go about a blues education in those days. “I was playing without a pick and the first time I heard Magic Sam it clicked. The phrasing was what I was hearing.”

Over the 30 plus years of fronting his own band, Filipowicz has played venues from the mid-west to Denver to stints in Texas and Mississippi. Some of his fondest memories are the shows with “Hound-Dog Taylor “and “Mighty Joe Young” in the 70’s. “That’s where I met Ken Saydak, he was with Joe then, I never thought we’d be working together some day”. Ken appears with Paul on “Chinatown”.

After a version of Sam’s “All Your Love” Joe told Paul “That was nice, keep it up”. “Mr. Taylor would even grunt when he’d see me”. Lefty Dizz “Man he just won a thousand bucks playin cards the night before, did we have a time.” Jimmy Dawkins would take Paul aside and give him pointers.

Luther Allison was a great friend. He once told Paul “I know you’re a bluesman and you know you’re a bluesman and every time you take the stage you got to prove it”. “That knowledge is always with me, It seems just like yesterday, I am truly blessed” Paul said. He will make a special guest appearance at the “2004 Luther Allison Celebration” August 15, 2004, “Luther’s Blues” Madison WI.

With 4 critically acclaimed CD’s under his belt, including two “Top 20 Texas Blues New Releases” in a row (1998 “Never Had It So Good”#14 and 1999 “What Have You Done For Me Lately” #7 Real Blues mag.) Paul’s original slashing guitar style has been established and documented.

His latest release “Chinatown” is the logical next-step for a bluesman that has over the years warranted comparisons in such publications as, “Living Blues”, “Blues Revue”, “Soul Bag”, “Blues Access” and “Big City Blues", to such a diverse group of great’s as John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Albert Collins just to name a few.

Thanks to Marc.
Never Had It So Good

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Paul Filipowicz - What Have You Done For Me Lately / Chinatown

Album: What Have You Done For Me Lately
Size: 113,2 MB
Time: 47:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999
Styles: Chicago Blues, Texas Blues
Art: Front

01. Every Night About This Time (3:16)
02. Black Spider (5:21)
03. Sportalaters Boogie (4:02)
04. Can't Take It With You (6:07)
05. Hound Dogin' (4:10)
06. Curly Sue (2:25)
07. Whiskey Man (5:21)
08. Cold Cold Cold (2:25)
09. Bone Chill (4:24)
10. Blind Eyes (2:45)
11. Heather's Mambo (2:04)
12. Fried Chicken (5:26)

This recording checked in at number seven TEXAS BLUES new releases 1999 from Real Blues magazine. What more can you say? Harp and slide that will take you there!!! This is raw, tough blues and Filipowicz plays a mean-sprited guitar with a style all his own. He is supported by a cast of musicians including harp, keyboard and sax. This is stress-busting blues for its purging properties. Filipowicz kicks butt with some totally scorching slide-guitar work that must be heard to be appreciated. The more one listens to "What Have You Done For Me Lately" the more on is inclined to realize that Paul Filipowicz is a major-league and very unique talent with a truckload of potential. This is as tough as it gets; down right nasty blues. Not for sissies.

Review:
...brutally realistic honesty...phenomenal writting with often witty and real lyrics. This one is handsdown a winner. five hats -- Big City Blues Feb-Mar 2000

...guitarist who specializes in greasy, low-down blues ...plays & sings hard, investing every ounce of emotion into his music. -- Blues Revue Jan/Feb 2000

...originals that suit his growling vocals and biting Fender-generated leads with his band offering trusty support. -- Living Blues Mar/Apr 2000

What Have You Done For Me Lately

Album: Chinatown (Feat. Ken Saydak)
Size: 101,7 MB
Time: 43:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Chicago Blues, Texas Blues
Art: Front

01. Jackson Transfer (6:54)
02. Chinatown (5:22)
03. Who Loves You (4:07)
04. Wichita Falls (5:37)
05. Too Hot To Boogie (2:18)
06. 199 Lonely Tear Drops (6:44)
07. My Kind Of Baby (5:17)
08. Nightclubbing (4:48)
09. Bootie On Duty (2:25)

CHINATOWN is Paul Filipowicz' fifth release. In thirty years plus of performing and recording blues, he has learned that "FEELING is EVERYTHING".

On this recording Paul Filipowicz and the music are one, original, just the facts, from the soul of a true blues man. You have a sample of Paul's feeling for the blues . A peak through the doorway of his live sweat drenched emotionally charged guitar workouts. He always lets it all out.

"This session was a powerful experience. These people feel the music exactly like I do. It's incredible to work under such conditions. We got 199 (#7, 199 Lonely Tear Drops) in one take. I just cranked it up and they grabbed on an away we went, talk about a gas! That's the stuff that life is all about."

"Jackson Transfer" (#1), opens the disc with an intimidating finger picked groove, Paul never uses a pick, reminiscent of the Mississippi Hill Country master R.L. Burnside or a heavier Delta, T-Model Ford. "Comparisons are great but it's my take on it. The groove came to me and the story, you get the picture."

"Chinatown" (#2) its that feeling Thing again, West Side Chicago?
"Ken Sadayak on piano, he's the best, he lays it right in there."
"This isn't supposed to be a tribute album or a return to the roots recording. This is just the way we play, straight from the shoulder. I guess my age is catching up to me."

Chicago, Memphis, Delta and Texas it's all here. A personal take, a slice of reality Paul Filipowicz' feeling that is the Blues

Chinatown

Paul Filipowicz - Go For The Throat / Chickenwire

Album: Go For The Throat
Size: 120,0 MB
Time: 51:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1996
Styles: Texas Blues, Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Big Jake (9:38)
02. What's The Matter With That Jenny (3:36)
03. I Wasn't Born In Hell (4:08)
04. Dancing On The Bar Room Floor (2:49)
05. 24 Hour A Day Blues Man (5:46)
06. Blue Angel (3:18)
07. Donna Mae (3:35)
08. Fender Bender (3:45)
09. Passionate Crime (7:43)
10. Mule Box (7:01)

PAUL FILIPOWICZ is one of the last blues guitar players that literally was brought up on Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Hound-Dog Taylor.

With strong Chicago roots you can hear Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Sammy Lawhorn, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Dawkins and Luther Allison in his playing. PAUL FILIPOWICZ 30 years of one nighters, touring, parties, clubs fairs, festivals, radio, TV appearances, excursion boats and just about any other venue namable. He has molded his playing into a distinct original immediately identifiable sound. 'This guy ain't no copy cat.' FILIPOWICZs song writing has matured over his period and with the help of the Dallas based 'GILA MONSTER' label has been able to showcase his talent by recording two CDS in the past year.

SINGER, SONGWRITER, GUTAIR and HARP. Born Chicago 3-24-50. Raised in the Lockport, III. corn fields in the 1950's. My sisters played piano in church and of course we all sang. About the only other music we could get was the radio.

One night while cruising the dial Filipowicz pulled in a radio station out of Tulsa. They played Wolf, Sonny Boy (II) and Muddy back to back. That was his first exposure to blues. He first witnessed live blues in 64 or 65. "While waiting out side a club on Chicago's South Side (it was boiling hot about 2 p.m. and all these people were going into this air conditioned club) Otis Rush and his band were tearing it up right there in broad daylight. Electric guitar was it".

Learning by ear was about the only way to go about a blues education in those days. "I had been playing without a pick and the first time I heard Sam (Magic Sam) it clicked. The phrasing was what I was hearing." Over the 30 plus years of fronting his own band he has played venues from the midwest to Denver, to stints in Texas and Miss, and opened for everybody from the "Thunderbirds" to "Edger Winter". But his fondest memories are of the shows with "Hound Dog TayJor" and "Mighty Joe Young" in the 70's. After a version of Sams's "All Your Love" Joe told him "that was nice, keep it up" and Mr. Taylor would even grunt when he'd see him. "I know you're a blues man and you know you're a blues man and every time you take the stage you've got to prove if' Luther Allison once told Paul.

With 4 CD's under his belt since 1996, 3 for the Dallas Texas Gila Monster label (#14 in 1998 and #7 in 1999, Texas Blues new releases, Real Blues mag.) and positive reviews in such publications as, "Living Blues", "Blues Access", "Blues Revue", "Big-City Blues", "Soul Bag", and many more Filipowicz remains true to the music he loves, Blues.

CHICAGO born PAUL FILIPOWICZ is probably the only Wiscinson-based Blues Guitar player that will ever make the Top 15 Texas Blues New Release Albums 2 years in a row. Real Blues mag., Victoria, Canada.

Go For The Throat

Album: Chickenwire
Size: 144,8 MB
Time: 61:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Texas Blues, Chicago Blues
Art: Full

01. Texas Strut (1:17)
02. K Buster (3:19)
03. Most Dogs (4:56)
04. Chickenwire (6:53)
05. Fire Fly (7:27)
06. Guitar Man (5:59)
07. Metro Line Mambo Aka Mambo Saint (3:55)
08. Chinatown (5:09)
09. Hot Chili (4:42)
10. She Used To Be My Baby (2:49)
11. Serves Me Right To Suffer (6:10)
12. Mongolian Twist (2:39)
13. 10,000 Footprints (6:27)

This is Paul's first "Live-No Jive" recording. Smokin' hot blues guitar with solid backing just jumps off the disc. You can feel the Saturday Night Juke Joint July heat sizzle as they bump, grind, slide and shuffle through.

Paul Filipowicz, singer, songwriter, guitarist, harmonica. Born Chicago, IL March 24, 1950. He was raised in the Lockport, Ill. corn fields in the 1950’s.

"My sisters played piano in church and of course we all sang there. About the only other music we could get was the radio."

One night while cruising the dial Filipowicz pulled in a radio station out of Tulsa, OK. They played Wolf, Sonny Boy (II) and Muddy Waters back to back. That was his first exposure to blues. He first witnessed live blues in 64 or 65, while waiting outside a club on Chicago’s South Side “It was boiling hot about 2p.m. and these people were all dressed up and going into this air-conditioned club.” Otis Rush and his band were tearing it up right there in broad daylight. Electric guitar was it! Learning by ear was about the only way to go about a blues education in those days. “I was playing without a pick and the first time I heard Magic Sam it clicked. The phrasing was what I was hearing.”

Over the 30 plus years of fronting his own band, Filipowicz has played venues from the mid-west to Denver to stints in Texas and Mississippi. Some of his fondest memories are the shows with “Hound-Dog Taylor “and “Mighty Joe Young” in the 70’s.

“That’s where I met Ken Saydak, he was with Joe then, I never thought we’d be working together some day”. Ken appears with Paul on “Chinatown”.

After a version of Sam’s “All Your Love” Joe told Paul “That was nice, keep it up”. “Mr. Taylor would even grunt when he’d see me”. Lefty Dizz “Man he just won a thousand bucks playin cards the night before, did we have a time.” Jimmy Dawkins would take Paul aside and give him pointers.

Luther Allison was a great friend. He once told Paul “I know you’re a bluesman and you know you’re a bluesman and every time you take the stage you got to prove it”. “That knowledge is always with me, It seems just like yesterday, I am truly blessed” Paul said. He will make a special guest appearance at the “2004 Luther Allison Celebration” August 15, 2004, “Luther’s Blues” Madison WI.

With 7 critically acclaimed CD’s under his belt, including two “Top 20 Texas Blues New Releases” in a row (1998 “Never Had It So Good”#14 and 1999 “What Have You Done For Me Lately” #7 Real Blues mag.) Paul’s original slashing guitar style has been established and documented.

His latest release “Chinatown” is the logical next-step for a bluesman that has over the years warranted comparisons in such publications as, “Living Blues”, “Blues Revue”, “Soul Bag”, “Blues Access” and “Big City Blues", to such a diverse group of great’s as John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Albert Collins just to name a few.

Chickenwire

Monday, November 16, 2015

Paul Filipowicz - Roughneck Blues: Live!

Size: 139,0 MB
Time: 59:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Chicago Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Gambling Woman (Live) (3:25)
02. Most Dogs (Live) (4:51)
03. Black Spider (Live) (4:58)
04. Santa Fe Windows (Live) (8:49)
05. Junk In The Trunk (Live) (3:11)
06. Jackson Transfer (Live) (6:25)
07. Midnight At The Nairobi Room (Live) (3:29)
08. Chicken Wire (Live) (5:41)
09. Your True Lovin' (Live) (4:38)
10. Hootin' And Hollerin' (Live) (5:44)
11. Where The Blues Come From (Live) (8:02)

Paul Filipowicz is a product of his native Chicago upbringing. True to form his guitar playing was influenced by the likes of the many Muddy Watter's performances he attended featuring Muddy on slide and Muddy's sidemen, Sammy Lawhorn, Jimmy Dawkins Guitar Jr. Pee Wee Madison. When Freddie King came back through in the early 70's that turned up the heat on every thing.
Personal friendships with Luther Allison, Jimmy Dawkins, Lefty Dizz and Brewer Philips cemented the Chicago guitar style into Filipowicz psyche so deeply that on October 4th 2015 Paul was inducted into "The Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame".
This live recording is Chicago Blues.

Roughneck Blues