William Clarke Blues Band - Blowin' My Harp: Live At Dix

Size: 167.5 MB
Time: 72:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1988
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Chromatic Jump (4:00)
02. My Mind Is Working Overtime (3:34)
03. Lonesome Bedroom Blues (6:48)
04. I Had My Fun (8:46)
05. Educated Fool (5:59)
06. Let The Good Times Roll (5:14)
07. Trying So Hard (4:19)
08. All Night Long (7:46)
09. Chromatic Shuffle (4:26)
10. I Feel Like Jumpin' (7:02)
11. Drinkin' By Myself (7:34)
12. She's Dynamite (6:35)

Between his huge frame and the immense sounds he coaxed out of his harmonica, West Coast blues harmonica virtuoso William Clarke was a giant of the blues. A full-time blues musician since quitting his job as a machinist in 1987, Clarke regularly toured the U.S. and Europe before his untimely death in 1996. His mix of Chicago blues traditions with West Coast swing placed him at the forefront of contemporary blues harmonica players.

Clarke's harmonica playing, particularly his chromatic work, was simply astonishing. According to the Chicago Sun Times, Clarke was "the most dynamic harp player on the circuit." The Washington Post declared, "Few can match the imposing harp and vocal power of William Clarke."

Clarke was born March 29, 1951 into a blue-collar family in Inglewood, California. While most of his friends were surfing and listening to Beach Boys records, Clarke fell in love with the blues through the early Rolling Stones albums. By age 17 he began following his dream of becoming a bluesman. He befriended blues legends like T-Bone Walker, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson, Big Mama Thornton, Shakey Jake Harris, and the man who was to become his mentor, ex-Muddy Waters harmonica legend George "Harmonica" Smith. The two performed and recorded together from 1977 until Smith's death in 1983.

Between 1978 and 1988, Clarke recorded and released five self-produced albums all cut on shoestring budgets. He guested on nearly a dozen albums, as a sideman for Smokey Wilson, Shakey Jake, Long Gone Miles and other West Coast blues heavies. While fame eluded him, he built an impressive word-of-mouth reputation, receiving six Blues Music Award nominations (the Grammy of the blues community) despite the fact he hadn't yet had a nationally distributed record.

After Clarke produced his sixth album, he decided to send a tape along to Bruce Iglauer, president of Alligator Records. The explosive, soul-drenched performances caught Iglauer off guard, who said, "I couldn't believe how such a wonderful harp player and such a terrific writer, singer and arranger could have been a secret for so long. I knew we had to sign him." Clarke's Alligator debut, Blowin' Like Hell, was released in 1990.

Billboard called the album "a model of what a contemporary blues record should be...strong, soulful tunes, ballsy vocals and refined harmonica." Suddenly, Clarke and his band were in demand all over the country. They accepted over 250 bookings throughout the United States and Europe in 1991 alone, gaining new fans everywhere they played. In 1991 Clarke won a Blues Music Award for Blues Song Of The Year with his composition Must Be Jelly from Blowin' Like Hell.

Clarke's 1992 release, Serious Intentions, earned him the Australian Blues Award for Overseas Blues Album Of The Year. The album was filled with pulsating grooves, swinging shuffles and tasty harmonica playing. The Chicago Reader said, "Shimmering, wild chorded harp playing. He bends notes with the raucous abandon of a Chicago juker...some of the most honest, unpretentious blues being laid today."

Clarke's next album, 1994's Groove Time, earned him widespread critical acclaim. The Los Angeles Daily News called him "a modern day harmonica master." Clarke's mixture of 1950s Chicago blues with West Coast swing and funky jazz riffs brought him accolades from critics and fans alike.

In the last year of his life, Clarke delivered his most ambitious album, The Hard Way, and hit the road with a vengeance. He won the three top Blues Music Awards: Album of the Year, Song of the Year (for Fishing Blues) and Instrumentalist of the Year--Harmonica. Sadly, he didn't live to accept his awards. His death, at 45, robbed the world of a true blues giant. Alligator Records released Deluxe Edition in 1999, featuring songs from Clarke's Alligator recordings -- a fitting tribute to a true giant of the blues.

Blowin' My Harp Live At Dix

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William Clarke - Now That You're Gone (1951-1996)

Size: 96,9 MB
Time: 40:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. Now That You're Gone (2:56)
02. Feel Like A King (3:31)
03. Love You, Yes I Do (3:45)
04. Give Me Mine Now (4:19)
05. She's Gone (3:15)
06. When I Get Drunk (3:19)
07. Bite Again (2:50)
08. Can't You Hear Me Callin (3:57)
09. Let's Celebrate Life (1:34)
10. She's Dynamite (3:10)
11. Find A New Place To Live (3:45)
12. Watson, I Presume (4:32)

The heir apparent to Chicago's legacy of amplified blues harmonica, William Clarke was the first original new voice on his instrument to come along in quite some time; he became a sensation in blues circles during the late '80s and early '90s, stopped short by an untimely death in 1996. A pupil and devotee of George Harmonica Smith, Clarke was a technical virtuoso and master of both the diatonic harp and the more difficult chromatic harp (the signature instrument of both Smith and Little Walter). Where many new harmonica players had become content to cop licks from the Chicago masters, Clarke developed his own style and vocabulary, building on everything he learned from Smith and moving beyond it. His four '90s albums for Alligator earned wide critical acclaim and remain his signature showcases.

Clarke was born March 29, 1951, in the South Central L.A. suburb of Inglewood; his parents had moved there from Kentucky and lived a blue-collar life. Clarke dabbled in guitar and drums as a youth, and grew up listening to rock & roll, but eventually found his way to the blues by way of the Rolling Stones' early albums. He took up the harmonica in 1967, and soon found his way onto the Los Angeles blues scene while working a day job as a machinist. Clarke's early style was influenced by Big Walter Horton, Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, but he soon began to incorporate the influence of '60s soul-jazz, mimicking the lines of the genre's top sax and organ players. He was a regular in South Central L.A.'s blues clubs, often hopping from one venue to another in order to keep playing all night. In this manner, he met quite a few West Coast blues luminaries, including -- among others -- T-Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson, Big Mama Thornton, and George "Harmonica" Smith, who ultimately became his teacher and mentor.

Smith and Clarke first began to perform and record together in 1977, and kept up their relationship until Smith's death in 1983. In the meantime, Clarke guested on sessions by West Coast artists like Smokey Wilson and Shakey Jake Harris, and released several of his own LPs, all recorded for small labels. The first was 1978's Hittin' Heavy, which was followed by 1980's Blues From Los Angeles; both were released on tiny local labels. 1983's Can't You Hear Me Calling was more of a proper debut, though Clarke still hadn't quite hit his stride yet. That would start to happen with 1987's Tip of the Top, a tribute to Smith that was issued by Satch and earned a W.C. Handy Award nomination. Clarke finally quit his job as a machinist that year, and followed Tip of the Top with a live album, Rockin' the Boat, in 1988. By this time, his reputation was beginning to spread beyond Los Angeles, despite the fact that none of his albums had yet achieved full national distribution.

Clarke subsequently sent a demo tape to Alligator Records, and was immediately offered a contract. His label debut was the galvanizing Blowin' Like Hell, which earned rave reviews upon its release in 1990 and established him as a new, fully formed voice on amplified harmonica. Clarke hit the road hard, touring America and Europe over the next year; he also won the 1991 Handy Award for Blues Song of the Year, thanks to "Must Be Jelly." His follow-up, 1992's Serious Intentions, was equally blistering in its intensity. 1994's Groove Time added a horn section, bringing some of the jazz and swing undercurrents in Clarke's music forward. He pursued that direction even further on 1996's The Hard Way, his jazziest and most ambitious outing yet, which earned strong reviews once again.

Unfortunately, Clarke's health was deteriorating; always a large man, hard living on the road was taking its toll on his body. He collapsed on-stage in Indianapolis in March 1996 and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Despite losing weight and living clean and sober from then on, the damage had been done; Clarke resumed his heavy touring schedule a few months later and seemed to have recovered, until he collapsed on-stage again in Fresno. He was admitted to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer and died the next day, November 2, 1996, when surgical attempts to save his life failed. He was only 45 and in the prime of his career. Posthumously, Clarke won three Handy Awards stemming from The Hard Way: Album of the Year, Song of the Year ("Fishing Blues"), and Instrumentalist of the Year for harmonica. In 1999, Alligator released a best-of compilation titled Deluxe Edition. ~Steve Huey

Now That You're Gone MP3
Now That You're Gone FLAC

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William Clarke - Rockin' The Boat

Size: 120,9 MB
Time: 51:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1988/2011
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. Deal The Cards (7:20)
02. Keep It To Yourself (5:36)
03. All About My Girl (4:50)
04. I Had My Fun (7:21)
05. Red House Just A Little Love (5:00)
06. Iodine In My Coffee (9:09)
07. After Hours (7:53)
08. Boogie Woogie Woman (4:42)

Personnel:
Vocals, Harmonica – William Clarke
Guitar – Joel Foy
Bass – Willie Brinlee
Piano – Fred Kaplan
Drums – Eddie Clark
Vocals – Leonardo Watkins (tracks: 5)

Recorded live in 1987, this features Clarke and his regular working band on a wide variety of material showcasing his formidable talents as a vocalist and harmonica man extraordinaire.

Born in Inglewood, California, Clarke played guitar and drums as a youngster and learned the blues through The Rolling Stones records. He began playing harmonica in 1967 and played locally in Los Angeles, while he held a day job as a machinist. He soon struck up an association with George "Harmonica" Smith; the pair began playing regularly together in 1977, lasting until Smith died in 1983.

Clarke began releasing albums in 1978 on small local labels. In 1987 he was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for his record Tip of the Top, and after sending a demo tape to Alligator Records, he secured a national recording contract. His debut for Alligator, Blowin' Like Hell, arrived in 1990, and he followed the release with international touring. "Must Be Jelly", a song from the album, won the Handy Award for Blues Song of the Year.

Rockin' The Boat MP3
Rockin' The Boat FLAC

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William Clarke - Can't You Hear Me Calling [Vinyl]

Size: 95,4 MB
Time: 41:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1983
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. Ice Cream Man (5:19)
02. She's Dynamite (3:11)
03. Can't You Hear Me Calling (3:58)
04. Bite Again, Bite Again (2:51)
05. Looking For Trouble (4:31)
06. West Coast Walk (4:30)
07. Give Me Mine Now (4:21)
08. She's Gone (3:15)
09. The Pleaser (2:51)
10. No Lie (6:32)

The heir apparent to Chicago's legacy of amplified blues harmonica, William Clarke was the first original new voice on his instrument to come along in quite some time; he became a sensation in blues circles during the late '80s and early '90s, stopped short by an untimely death in 1996. A pupil and devotee of George Harmonica Smith, Clarke was a technical virtuoso and master of both the diatonic harp and the more difficult chromatic harp (the signature instrument of both Smith and Little Walter). Where many new harmonica players had become content to cop licks from the Chicago masters, Clarke developed his own style and vocabulary, building on everything he learned from Smith and moving beyond it. His four '90s albums for Alligator earned wide critical acclaim and remain his signature showcases.

Clarke was born March 29, 1951, in the South Central L.A. suburb of Inglewood; his parents had moved there from Kentucky and lived a blue-collar life. Clarke dabbled in guitar and drums as a youth, and grew up listening to rock & roll, but eventually found his way to the blues by way of the Rolling Stones' early albums. He took up the harmonica in 1967, and soon found his way onto the Los Angeles blues scene while working a day job as a machinist. Clarke's early style was influenced by Big Walter Horton, Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, but he soon began to incorporate the influence of '60s soul-jazz, mimicking the lines of the genre's top sax and organ players. He was a regular in South Central L.A.'s blues clubs, often hopping from one venue to another in order to keep playing all night. In this manner, he met quite a few West Coast blues luminaries, including -- among others -- T-Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson, Big Mama Thornton, and George "Harmonica" Smith, who ultimately became his teacher and mentor.

Smith and Clarke first began to perform and record together in 1977, and kept up their relationship until Smith's death in 1983. In the meantime, Clarke guested on sessions by West Coast artists like Smokey Wilson and Shakey Jake Harris, and released several of his own LPs, all recorded for small labels. The first was 1978's Hittin' Heavy, which was followed by 1980's Blues From Los Angeles; both were released on tiny local labels. 1983's Can't You Hear Me Calling was more of a proper debut, though Clarke still hadn't quite hit his stride yet. That would start to happen with 1987's Tip of the Top, a tribute to Smith that was issued by Satch and earned a W.C. Handy Award nomination. Clarke finally quit his job as a machinist that year, and followed Tip of the Top with a live album, Rockin' the Boat, in 1988. By this time, his reputation was beginning to spread beyond Los Angeles, despite the fact that none of his albums had yet achieved full national distribution.

Clarke subsequently sent a demo tape to Alligator Records, and was immediately offered a contract. His label debut was the galvanizing Blowin' Like Hell, which earned rave reviews upon its release in 1990 and established him as a new, fully formed voice on amplified harmonica. Clarke hit the road hard, touring America and Europe over the next year; he also won the 1991 Handy Award for Blues Song of the Year, thanks to "Must Be Jelly." His follow-up, 1992's Serious Intentions, was equally blistering in its intensity. 1994's Groove Time added a horn section, bringing some of the jazz and swing undercurrents in Clarke's music forward. He pursued that direction even further on 1996's The Hard Way, his jazziest and most ambitious outing yet, which earned strong reviews once again.

Unfortunately, Clarke's health was deteriorating; always a large man, hard living on the road was taking its toll on his body. He collapsed on-stage in Indianapolis in March 1996 and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Despite losing weight and living clean and sober from then on, the damage had been done; Clarke resumed his heavy touring schedule a few months later and seemed to have recovered, until he collapsed on-stage again in Fresno. He was admitted to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer and died the next day, November 2, 1996, when surgical attempts to save his life failed. He was only 45 and in the prime of his career. Posthumously, Clarke won three Handy Awards stemming from The Hard Way: Album of the Year, Song of the Year ("Fishing Blues"), and Instrumentalist of the Year for harmonica. In 1999, Alligator released a best-of compilation titled Deluxe Edition. ~Steve Huey

Can't You Hear Me Calling MP3
Can't You Hear Me Calling FLAC

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William Clarke Blues Band - Rockin' The Boat

Size: 121,0 MB
Time: 51:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Deal The Cards (7:20)
02. Keep It To Yourself (5:36)
03. All About My Girl (4:50)
04. I Had My Fun (7:21)
05. Red Housejust A Little Love (4:59)
06. Iodine In My Coffee (9:09)
07. After Hours (7:53)
08. Boogie Woogie Woman (4:42)

Born in Inglewood, California, Clarke played guitar and drums as a youngster and learned the blues through The Rolling Stones records. He began playing harmonica in 1967 and played locally in Los Angeles, while he held a day job as a machinist. He soon struck up an association with George "Harmonica" Smith; the pair began playing regularly together in 1977, lasting until Smith died in 1983.

Clarke began releasing albums in 1978 on small local labels. In 1987 he was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for his record Tip of the Top, and after sending a demo tape to Alligator Records, he secured a national recording contract. His debut for Alligator, Blowin' Like Hell, arrived in 1990, and he followed the release with international touring. "Must Be Jelly", a song from the album, won the Handy Award for Blues Song of the Year.

Rockin' The Boat

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William Clarke - Heavy Hittin' West Coast Harp

Size: 102,6 MB
Time: 43:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Let's Celebrate Life (4:10)
02. Home Is Where The Heart Is (4:55)
03. Chromatic Jump (Live) (4:26)
04. Going Home To My Baby (3:30)
05. Must Be Jelly (5:28)
06. That Ain't The Way To Do It (3:28)
07. I Got My Bags Packed (4:06)
08. Hittin' Heavy (2:49)
09. When I Get Drunk (3:19)
10. Tribute To George Smith (7:41)

Studio recordings, most of which had been posthumously released on now long deleted CDs on the small Watch Dog label.Including a previously unreleased recording with Luke 'Long Gone' Miles.Compiled by producer and harmonica player Bob Corritore, who also wrote the liner notes.Carefully remastered by Tom Meyer and pressed by Optimal media, 180-gram edition in a gatefold sleeve, limited to 1.000 copies.After some tough early years in which he managed to stay afloat with mostly poorly paid gigs in small clubs and only occasionally came out of Los Angeles or Southern California, William Clarke (March 21, 1951 - November 2, 1996) signed with the famous Alligator Records label. With his debut album 'Blowin' Like Hell' for the Chicago blues factory, the West Coast's blues secret became an endlessly touring international star of the scene!With 'Heavy Hittin' West Coast Harp' we pay tribute and respect to one of the greatest harmonica stylists. As an instrumentalist William Clarke was strongly influenced by George 'Harmonica' Smith, a Chicago contemporary of Little Walter and Walter Horton. Smith came to Los Angeles for a recording session in 1956 and settled on the West Coast. Similar to his iconic idol Smith, from whom he learned a lot of tricks in countless joint appearances, Clarke was equally at home on the cross harmonica as on the chromatic. The combination of Chicago-style harmonica and the cool groove and swing of West Coast blues and jazz met the open ears of blues fans all over the world. On his first album 'Hittin' Heavy' he is accompanied by Hollywood Fats on guitar, later recording sessions include Ronnie Earl, Junior Watson, Rick Holmstrom and Alex Schultz a.m.o.Bob Corritore, for many years a prolific blues musician and first-class harp player, producer and influencer, has compiled this album and written the liner notes for Bear Family.

Heavy Hittin' West Coast Harp

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Various - Blues In The Bar: Drinkin' Songs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 83:25
Size: 191.0 MB
Styles: Assorted blues styles
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:26] 1. Floyd Dixon - Hey, Bartender
[2:42] 2. Johnny Otis - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
[4:08] 3. Albert Collins - I Ain't Drunk
[3:30] 4. Koko Taylor - Beer Bottle Boogie
[4:24] 5. Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials - 20% Alcohol
[2:33] 6. Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women - Let The Gin Do The Talking
[4:50] 7. Rusty Zinn - Drinking My Last Dime
[4:51] 8. Roy Buchanan - Beer Drinking Woman
[8:13] 9. Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Stop Drinking
[3:48] 10. Bob Margolin - Brown Liquor
[3:19] 11. Cephas & Wiggins - No Ice In My Bourbon
[2:39] 12. Roomful Of Blues - Juice, Juice, Juice
[4:29] 13. Billy Boy Arnold - Whiskey, Beer And Reefer
[5:47] 14. William Clarke - Drinking By Myself
[2:35] 15. Lonnie Brooks - One More Shot
[3:56] 16. Joe Louis Walker - Too Drunk To Drive Drunk
[2:41] 17. Johnny Jones - Sloppy Drunk Blues
[5:24] 18. Elvin Bishop - My Whiskey Head Buddies
[5:16] 19. Carey Bell - When I Get Drunk
[4:47] 20. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - I Don't Drink Much

Booze Blues: The sorrow one occasionally feels when drunk. Usually occurs when one drinks when he/she is in a bad mood. The affected person will often be saddened by anything and/or everything wrong in that person's life, no matter how important or trivial (most often trivial). Often accompanied (but not remedied) by more drinking.

Blues In The Bar: Drinkin' Songs mc
Blues In The Bar: Drinkin' Songs zippy

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William Clarke - Live In Europe

Size: 113,8 MB
Time: 60:58
File: MP3 @ 256K/s
Released: 1999
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Looking To Th Future (Bremen, Germany 1988) (5:41)
02. I Cried Last Night (Bremen, Germany 1988) (6:31)
03. Lollipop Mama (Bremen, Germany 1988) (6:19)
04. A Good Girl Is Hard To Find (Bremen, Germany 1988) (8:46)
05. Blowin' Like Hell (Bremen, Germany 1988) (4:39)
06. Iodine In My Coffee (Bremen, Germany 1988) (6:44)
07. Mr.Pawnbroker (Utrecht, Netherlands 1990) (7:18)
08. Rock This House (Feat. Jimmy Rogers) (Utrecht, Netherlands 1990) (4:30)
09. Looking To The Future (London, England 1993) (3:38)
10. I Know You're Fine (London, England 1993) (3:39)
11. Eduacated Fool (London, England 1993) (3:08)

Between his huge frame and the immense sounds he coaxed out of his harmonica, West Coast blues harmonica virtuoso William Clarke was a giant of the blues. A full-time blues musician since quitting his job as a machinist in 1987, Clarke regularly toured the U.S. and Europe before his untimely death in 1996. His mix of Chicago blues traditions with West Coast swing placed him at the forefront of contemporary blues harmonica players.

Clarke's harmonica playing, particularly his chromatic work, was simply astonishing. According to the Chicago Sun Times, Clarke was "the most dynamic harp player on the circuit." The Washington Post declared, "Few can match the imposing harp and vocal power of William Clarke."

Clarke was born March 29, 1951 into a blue-collar family in Inglewood, California. While most of his friends were surfing and listening to Beach Boys records, Clarke fell in love with the blues through the early Rolling Stones albums. By age 17 he began following his dream of becoming a bluesman. He befriended blues legends like T-Bone Walker, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson, Big Mama Thornton, Shakey Jake Harris, and the man who was to become his mentor, ex-Muddy Waters harmonica legend George "Harmonica" Smith. The two performed and recorded together from 1977 until Smith's death in 1983.

Between 1978 and 1988, Clarke recorded and released five self-produced albums all cut on shoestring budgets. He guested on nearly a dozen albums, as a sideman for Smokey Wilson, Shakey Jake, Long Gone Miles and other West Coast blues heavies. While fame eluded him, he built an impressive word-of-mouth reputation, receiving six Blues Music Award nominations (the Grammy of the blues community) despite the fact he hadn't yet had a nationally distributed record.

After Clarke produced his sixth album, he decided to send a tape along to Bruce Iglauer, president of Alligator Records. The explosive, soul-drenched performances caught Iglauer off guard, who said, "I couldn't believe how such a wonderful harp player and such a terrific writer, singer and arranger could have been a secret for so long. I knew we had to sign him." Clarke's Alligator debut, Blowin' Like Hell, was released in 1990.

Billboard called the album "a model of what a contemporary blues record should be...strong, soulful tunes, ballsy vocals and refined harmonica." Suddenly, Clarke and his band were in demand all over the country. They accepted over 250 bookings throughout the United States and Europe in 1991 alone, gaining new fans everywhere they played. In 1991 Clarke won a Blues Music Award for Blues Song Of The Year with his composition Must Be Jelly from Blowin' Like Hell.

Clarke's 1992 release, Serious Intentions, earned him the Australian Blues Award for Overseas Blues Album Of The Year. The album was filled with pulsating grooves, swinging shuffles and tasty harmonica playing. The Chicago Reader said, "Shimmering, wild chorded harp playing. He bends notes with the raucous abandon of a Chicago juker...some of the most honest, unpretentious blues being laid today."

Clarke's next album, 1994's Groove Time, earned him widespread critical acclaim. The Los Angeles Daily News called him "a modern day harmonica master." Clarke's mixture of 1950s Chicago blues with West Coast swing and funky jazz riffs brought him accolades from critics and fans alike.

In the last year of his life, Clarke delivered his most ambitious album, The Hard Way, and hit the road with a vengeance. He won the three top Blues Music Awards: Album of the Year, Song of the Year (for Fishing Blues) and Instrumentalist of the Year--Harmonica. Sadly, he didn't live to accept his awards. His death, at 45, robbed the world of a true blues giant. Alligator Records released Deluxe Edition in 1999, featuring songs from Clarke's Alligator recordings -- a fitting tribute to a true giant of the blues.

Live In Europe

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Various - The Finest Southern Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 85:30
Size: 195.7 MB
Styles: Southern blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Charlie Musselwhite - Taylor, Arkansas
[3:23] 2. Johnny Shines - If I Get Lucky
[4:21] 3. Big Leon Brooks - Country Boy
[3:19] 4. Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Louisiana Zydeco
[2:44] 5. Willie Nix - Seems Like A Million Years
[5:52] 6. W.C. Clark - Tip Of My Tongue
[9:31] 7. Tinsley Ellis - Time To Quit
[3:21] 8. Phillip Walker - Roll, Roll, Roll
[6:28] 9. Johnny Copeland - Blackjack
[3:49] 10. William Clarke - Lollipop Mama
[7:13] 11. Big Mama Thornton - Ball 'n' Chain
[2:54] 12. The Song Trust - Dawg Tired
[2:37] 13. Carey Bell - That Ain't It
[2:36] 14. Bobby Lee Trammell - Come On And Love Me
[3:55] 15. C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band - Louisiana Down Home Blues
[2:09] 16. Willie Johnson Combo - So Long Baby Goodbye
[3:40] 17. Andrew Brown - Morning, Noon And Night
[4:34] 18. Carey & Lurrie Bell - Five Long Years
[6:29] 19. Hound Dog Taylor - Phillips' Theme
[3:42] 20. Rev. Gary Davis - I Won't Be Back No More

When you think of the blues, you think about misfortune, betrayal and regret. You lose your job, you get the blues. Your mate falls out of love with you, you get the blues. Your dog dies, you get the blues. While blues lyrics often deal with personal adversity, the music itself goes far beyond self-pity. The blues is also about overcoming hard luck, saying what you feel, ridding yourself of frustration, letting your hair down, and simply having fun. The best blues is visceral, cathartic, and starkly emotional. From unbridled joy to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotion.

The blues has deep roots in American history, particularly African-American history. The blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th Century. Its inventors were slaves, ex-slaves and the descendants of slaves—African-American sharecroppers who sang as they toiled in the cotton and vegetable fields. It's generally accepted that the music evolved from African spirituals, African chants, work songs, field hollers, rural fife and drum music, revivalist hymns, and country dance music. The blues grew up in the Mississippi Delta just upriver from New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Blues and jazz have always influenced each other, and they still interact in countless ways today. Unlike jazz, the blues didn't spread out significantly from the South to the Midwest until the 1930s and '40s. Once the Delta blues made their way up the Mississippi to urban areas, the music evolved into electrified Chicago blues, other regional blues styles, and various jazz-blues hybrids. A decade or so later the blues gave birth to rhythm 'n blues and rock 'n roll. ~Ed Kopp

The Finest Southern Blues

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Various - Automobile Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:44
Size: 155.1 MB
Styles: Assorted styles
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:50] 1. Guitar Shorty - Fine Cadillac
[3:28] 2. Coco Montoya - Back In A Cadillac
[4:23] 3. Magic Slim & The Teardrops - Stranded On The Highway
[3:16] 4. Phil Wiggins - Me And My Chauffeur Blues
[3:44] 5. C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band - Road Dog
[4:35] 6. William Clarke - Going Down This Highway
[3:31] 7. William Clarke - Drivin' My Life Away
[4:35] 8. Kinsey Report - Midnight Drive
[3:37] 9. Long John Hunter - V-8 Ford
[4:58] 10. Long John Hunter - I'm Broke
[3:33] 11. Carey Bell - Little Car Blues
[3:09] 12. Lonnie Mack - Me And My Car
[3:24] 13. Long John Hunter - Bugs On My Window
[2:35] 14. Junior Wells - Stop Breaking Down
[2:04] 15. James Cotton Blues Band - Rocket 88
[3:56] 16. Jim Kweskin - Chevrolet
[1:05] 17. Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Car Song
[2:52] 18. John Hammond, Jr. - My Starter Won't Start
[3:00] 19. Hound Dog Taylor - Fender Bender

Cars had become one of the centers of American life by the 1920s and plenty of blues musicians we’re singing about them. It’s interesting that Blind Lemon Jefferson sang in several songs about driving cars, something he could never do as a blind man. In 1931, Memphis Minnie sang about her house burning down, but the only thing she’s worried about is losing her car. Robert Johnson sang some of the most poetic lyrics sexualizing the car as a woman. Modern day bluesmen have continued singing about cars as these titles show.

Automobile Blues

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Various - Blues: S**t My Dad Listened To

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:10
Size: 149.2 MB
Styles: Assorted blues styles
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:49] 1. Hound Dog Taylor - Rock Me
[2:39] 2. Junior Wells - (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
[2:28] 3. John Hammond, Jr. - Seventh Son
[3:18] 4. Kenneth Banks - Blue Man
[5:29] 5. Michael Messer - Robert Johnson's Wake
[4:01] 6. Corey Harris & Henry Butler - King Cotton
[2:18] 7. James Cotton Blues Band - Cotton Crop Blues
[2:34] 8. Howlin' Wolf - Dorothy Mae
[3:13] 9. William Clarke - Fishin' Blues
[3:39] 10. Lil Charlie & The Nightcats - My Money's Green
[5:12] 11. Koko Taylor - The Man Next Door
[5:05] 12. Shemekia Copeland - The Fool You're Looking For
[2:41] 13. Charlie Musselwhite - My Road Lies
[2:32] 14. Kenny Neal - Early One Morning
[3:11] 15. Jimmy Johnson Blues Band - Ain't That Just Like A Woman
[3:01] 16. Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson - Just Like Mama Said
[3:48] 17. Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Digging New Ground
[2:58] 18. Billy Boy Arnold - Move On Down The Road
[3:07] 19. The Holmes Brothers - Rounding Third

Blues: S**t My Dad Listened To

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VA - Telephone Blues: 23 Rare Blues Tracks

Size: 229,3 MB
Time: 98:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01 Detroit Junior - Some Nerve (3:06)
02 John Hammond - Long Distance Call (3:17)
03 Son Seals - Telephone Angel Aka You're On My Mind (5:24)
04 Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women - 1-800-799-7233 (5:32)
05 Long John Hunter - Trouble On The Line (4:57)
06 Kinsey Report - Answering Machine (5:39)
07 Jimmy Johnson - Your Turn To Cry (5:51)
08 Lonnie Brooks - Wrong Number (3:17)
09 Son Seals - Call My Job (4:40)
10 Shemekia Copeland - Suspicion (3:56)
11 C.J. Chenier - You Used To Call Me (3:57)
12 Hound Dog Taylor - Talk To My Baby Aka I Can't Hold Out (3:13)
13 Lucky Peterson - Can't Get No Loving On The Telephone (3:18)
14 William Clarke - Telephone Is Ringing (4:48)
15 Big Mama Thornton - Private Number (6:20)
16 The Holmes Brothers - He'll Have To Go (2:57)
17 Son Seals - I Can't Hold Out (4:13)
18 Michael Hill's Blues Mob - Wrong Number (5:40)
19 Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials - Don't Call Me (3:06)
20 Bnois King - Don't Lose My Number (3:31)
21 Siegel-Schwall - 334-3599 (2:31)
22 Son Seals - No, No Baby (4:27)
23 The Robert Cray Band - Phone Booth (4:38)

Telephone Blues

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VA - Alligator Blues Piano

Size: 169,5 MB
Time: 72:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Piano Blues
Art: Front

01 Ann Rabson - Hallelujah, I Just Love Him So (3:00)
02 James Cotton - Second Hand Man (4:02)
03 Floyd Dixon - Got The Blues So Bad (3:24)
04 Johnny 'Big Moose' Walker - Would You, Baby (3:23)
05 Billy Boy Arnold - Sunny Road (5:16)
06 Corey Harris & Henry Butler - If I Was Your Man (4:37)
07 Roomful Of Blues - Shame, Shame, Shame (2:16)
08 Pinetop Perkins - Blues After Hours (5:03)
09 Katie Webster - I'm Bad (4:36)
10 The Holmes Brothers - Ain't It Funny What A Fool Will Do (3:58)
11 Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women - (No Need) Pissin' On A Skunk (3:39)
12 Professor Longhair - In The Wee Wee Hours (3:22)
13 Johnny Jones - I Believe I'll Give It Up (3:15)
14 Marcia Ball - Everybody's Looking For The Same Thing (3:24)
15 Rufus Thomas - Somebody's Got To Go (6:04)
16 Maurice John Vaughn - Small Town Baby (4:43)
17 Lovie Lee - I Dare You (2:45)
18 William Clarke - Drinking By Myself (5:46)

Alligator Blues Piano

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VA - Rare Harmonica Blues

Size: 159,5 MB
Time: 67:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01 Coy Love - Harmonica Jam (2:43)
02 Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - High Heel Sneakers (4:56)
03 Sonny Terry - Burnt Child (3:43)
04 Harmonica Frank - Rockin Chair Blues (3:03)
05 Big Mama Thornton - Rock Me Baby (6:53)
06 Big Leon Brooks - Country Boy (4:21)
07 Joe Hill Louis - Boogie In The Park (2:44)
08 Charlie Musselwhite - Cha Cha The Blues (3:08)
09 Lazy Lester - Patrol Wagon Blues (4:46)
10 Raful Neal - Honest I Do (2:58)
11 Billy Boy Arnold - Shake Your Hips (3:25)
12 Dr. Ross - Juke Box Boogie (2:31)
13 Carey & Lurrie Bell - Got To Leave Chi-Town (3:42)
14 The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - Love Me Or Leave (3:30)
15 Jimmy & Walter - Easy (2:59)
16 Sons Of The Blues - Prisoner Of The Blues (4:12)
17 William Clarke - A Good Girl Is Hard To Find (5:09)
18 Howlin' Wolf - Well That's Alright (2:55)

Rare Harmonica Blues

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Various - Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (2-Disc Set)

Blues Harmonica Blowouts are live events that Mark Hummel has been staging in various California venues for the last fifteen years, inviting the cream of America's blues harp blasters to come out and play with his band, The Blues Survivors. For this great double CD though, one or two special guitar players joined in too...Rusty Zinn appears with William Clarke and Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Watson clangs along on the James Harman and Paul DeLay tracks, Steve Fruend plays with Lazy Lester and, of course, Anson Funderburgh is the axe-man on Sam Myers contributions. Plus drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith also lends a hand on the Lazy Lester and Carey Bell songs.

In this double live selection of spectacular sucking and blowing, several performances stand out. James Harman pulls out every trick in the book on "Extra Napkins", easily demonstrating why Hummel's description of him as "showman extraordinaire" is spot-on. He has to be on top form to stop guitarist Junior Watson stealing the spotlight with his peppering fills and power chords. The late great William Clarke just scorches across the stage with his electrifying harp work on "Stretch My Money" and he just pours out the misery on the late-nite slow burner "Lonesome Bedroom Blues".

Rick Estrin sets the endurance record for breath control on his six and a half minute solo "Getting' Out Of Town". He gives this old Sonny Boy piece humour, flair and funkiness and probably needed to lie down in a dark room when he'd finished this marathon. The late Paul DeLay cools things down with his masterful playing on the long slow blues "Can't Stand Your Evil Ways", Lazy Lester re-creates his vintage Louisiana style on "Sugar Coated Love" and Sam Myers just howls on "Sweet Home Chicago" with some of the dirtiest harmonica on the CD. This track rocks likes crazy thanks to Anson Funderburgh's guitar work and the boppin' piano of piano player Bob Welsh.

Hummel had a damn good idea when created these Harmonica Blowout concerts. This 2 CD set will positively thrill any blues harmonica fan and, as the notes say, "here's your chance to get up close and personal with twelve of the greatest blues artists ever to draw breath through a harmonica".

Album: Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (Disc 1)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:38
Size: 131.9 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:06] 1. Lee Oskar - Harpo-Ventillation
[6:43] 2. Lee Oskar - In A Sentimental Mood
[6:20] 3. Magic Dick - Pontiac Blues
[3:34] 4. Johnny Dyer - You're Sweet
[8:50] 5. William Clarke - Lonesome Bedroom Blues
[5:15] 6. Paul Delay - Blues And Trouble
[5:32] 7. Carey Bell - I Got To Go
[5:20] 8. James Harman - Extra Napkins
[4:33] 9. Sam Myers - I Done Quit Getting Sloppy Drunk
[6:20] 10. William Clarke - Stretch My Money

Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (Disc 1) mc
Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (Disc 1) zippy

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Album: Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (Disc 2)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 63:34
Size: 145.5 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[7:59] 1. Rick Estrin - Gettin' Out Of Town
[4:30] 2. Billy Boy Arnold - Sugar Gal
[7:24] 3. Paul Delay - Can't Stand Your Evil Ways
[3:11] 4. Lazy Lester - Sugar Coated Love
[4:45] 5. Paul Delay - Mean Old Frisco
[5:05] 6. Mark Hummel - Hard Hearted Woman
[4:23] 7. Magic Dick - High Temperature
[6:12] 8. Sam Myers - Sweet Home Chicago
[9:15] 9. Lee Oskar - Lee's Blues
[4:55] 10. William Clarke - Chrome Jumpin'
[5:49] 11. Mark Hummel - Summertime

Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (Disc 2) mc
Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts (Disc 2) zippy

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Various - Blues: Live From Mountain Stage

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 58:35
Size: 134.1 MB
Styles: Blues-Country-Folk-R&B
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. The Nighthawks - Leave My Woman Alone
[4:24] 2. Tracy Nelson - It Hurts Me Too
[3:40] 3. Paul Geremia - Slidell Blues
[2:57] 4. Snooky Pryor - That's The Way To Do It
[3:22] 5. John Hammond Jr. - My Daddy Was A Jockey
[5:13] 6. Charlie Musselwhite - Blues Why Do You Worry Me
[4:21] 7. Chris Smither - The Devil's Real
[5:05] 8. Cephas - Black Cat On The Line
[4:04] 9. William Clarke - Lonesome Bedroom Blues
[2:25] 10. John Jackson - Louisiana Blues
[3:55] 11. Legendary Blues Band - Got Love If You Want It
[5:22] 12. Johnnie Johnson - That'll Work
[5:09] 13. Charles Brown - Quicksand Blues
[5:51] 14. Duke Robillard - Gee I Wish

The Blues Live from Mountain Stage series continues documenting contemporary roots music's finest performers with this fine collection of blues performances, featuring artists including Charles Brown ("Quicksand Blues"), Charlie Musselwhite ("Blues Why Do You Worry Me?"), and Tracy Nelson ("It Hurts Me Too").

Blues: Live From Mountain Stage mc
Blues: Live From Mountain Stage zippy

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Various - Christmas Blues

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 73:37
Size: 168.5 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. Marcia Ball - Christmas Fais Do Do
[3:36] 2. Carey Bell - Christmas Train
[4:46] 3. Lonnie Brooks - Christmas On The Bayou
[3:13] 4. Charles Brown - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
[3:13] 5. Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Christmas
[3:58] 6. Michael Burks - Christmas Snow
[4:53] 7. Lonnie Brooks - All I Want For Christmas (Is To Be With You)
[3:09] 8. Cephas & Wiggins - Christmas Day Blues
[3:23] 9. C. J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band - Zydeco Christmas
[3:51] 10. W.C. Clark - Christmas Party
[4:32] 11. William Clarke - Please Let Me Be Your Santa Claus
[4:20] 12. Shemekia Copeland - Stay A Little Longer, Santa
[3:22] 13. Tinsley Ellis - Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'
[3:03] 14. The Holmes Brothers - Back Door Santa
[3:21] 15. Roomful Of Blues - Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get The Blues
[4:35] 16. Kenny Neal - Christmas Time In The Country
[2:42] 17. Charlie Musselwhite - Silent Night
[4:27] 18. Coco Montoya - A Bluesman's Christmas
[2:55] 19. Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials - I'm Your Santa
[2:57] 20. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Santa Claus

Call it the blues if you want, but this is a joyous collection of holiday music from talented folks like Marcia Ball, Xlarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Little Charlie & The Nightcat, Roomful Of Blues, Charles Brown and others. 20 tunes in the blues, soul, roots-rock, and zydeco vein, guaranteed to brighten your Christmas morning.

Christmas Blues mc
Christmas Blues zippy

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Various - The Alligator Records Playlists: Money (2-Disc Set)

Everyone needs it -- and, increasingly, everyone around the world seems to be suffering from lack of it. The paradox of money is a subject well-represented in popular music, with rock getting so much of its fuel from blues and R&B. Enjoy these tunes about money from Alligator Records, the need for it, the things we do to get it, and, sadly, its highly volatile nature.

Album: The Alligator Records Playlists: Money (Disc 1)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 60:52
Size: 139.3 MB
Styles: Assorted blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. Cephas & Wiggins - Three Ball Blues
[4:37] 2. Elvin Bishop - Give Me Some Of That Money
[4:09] 3. Guitar Shorty - Cost Of Livin'
[3:37] 4. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - My Money's Green
[7:27] 5. Maurice John Vaughn - I Got Money
[6:45] 6. Koko Taylor - Money Is The Name Of The Game
[2:58] 7. Shemekia Copeland - Ka-Ching
[3:27] 8. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Money Must Think I'm Dead (#2)
[3:30] 9. Saffire The Uppity Blues Women - I Want My Money Back
[3:37] 10. William Clarke - Cash Money
[4:08] 11. Tommy Castro - Trimmin' Fat
[4:07] 12. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - A Ton Of Money
[2:43] 13. Kinsey Report - Poor Man's Relief
[2:42] 14. Saffire The Uppity Blues Women - The Richest Guy In The Graveyard
[3:22] 15. Kenny Neal - Money Don't Make The Man

The Alligator Records Playlists: Money (Disc 1)

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Album: The Alligator Records Playlists: Money (Disc 2)
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:46
Size: 132.2 MB
Styles: Assorted blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:37] 1. Katie Webster - Money Honey Or Honey Hush
[4:13] 2. Lonnie Brooks - Figurehead
[3:27] 3. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Hey Gold Digger
[4:22] 4. William Clarke - Pawnshop Bound
[4:58] 5. Long John Hunter - I'm Broke
[3:26] 6. Tinsley Ellis - Pawnbroker
[5:01] 7. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Deep Pockets
[5:08] 8. Albert Collins - Master Charge
[4:30] 9. C. J. Chenier - Richest Man
[3:22] 10. Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials - First I Look At The Purse
[2:51] 11. Eric Lindell - Low On Cash
[4:31] 12. Coco Montoya - Coin Operated Love
[3:58] 13. William Clarke - Trying To Stretch My Money
[4:16] 14. Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Payday In America

The Alligator Records Playlists: Money (Disc 2)

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Various - The Alligator Records Playlists: Hard Times

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 96:22
Size: 220.6 MB
Styles: Assorted blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:18] 1. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Living Hand To Mouth
[5:06] 2. Son Seals - Buzzard Luck
[4:12] 3. Guitar Shorty - Please Mr. President
[3:44] 4. Michael Hill's Blues Mob - Can't Recall A Time
[4:20] 5. The Kinsey Report - Nowhere To Go, Nothing To Lose
[5:59] 6. Son Seals - Now That I'm Down
[5:22] 7. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - Dog Eat Dog
[4:24] 8. Son Seals - Landlord At My Door
[3:58] 9. William Clarke - Trying To Stretch My Money
[2:26] 10. Cephas & Wiggins - Brother, Can You Spare A Dime
[3:39] 11. Ann Rabson - One Meatball
[4:58] 12. Long John Hunter - I'm Broke
[4:05] 13. Kenny Neal - Cost Of Living
[4:05] 14. Albert Collins - Broke
[3:01] 15. The Holmes Brothers - Edge Of The Ledge
[4:08] 16. Marcia Ball - Where Do You Go
[4:13] 17. Son Seals - Life Is Hard
[5:23] 18. Lonnie Brooks - Skid Row
[5:23] 19. Albert Collins - When The Welfare Turns Its Back On You
[2:55] 20. Bob Margolin - Tough Times
[3:05] 21. William Clarke - Broke And Hungry
[5:10] 22. Michael Hill's Blues Mob - Hard Blues For Hard Times
[3:18] 23. Eddie Shaw - Out Of Bad Luck

The Alligator Records Playlists: Hard Times mc
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