Tommy Castro & The Painkillers - Closer To The Bone

Album: Closer To The Bone
Size: 119,0 MB
Time: 51:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Can't Catch A Break (3:53)
2. The Way You Do (3:12)
3. One More Night (3:56)
4. Crazy Woman Blues (5:25)
5. Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee (3:05)
6. Keep Your Dog Inside (3:48)
7. She Moves Me (3:50)
8. Ain't Worth The Heartache (3:42)
9. A Fool For You (3:46)
10. Freight Train (Let Me Ride) (4:05)
11. Everywhere I Go (3:29)
12. Bloodshot Eyes (2:53)
13. Stroll Out West (3:01)
14. Hole In The Wall (2:52)

Tommy Castro’s music is blues for the soul. "Closer to the Bone", is as raw and unfiltered as he’s ever been and this return to his roots suits him well. The album strips away excess, dialing straight into Castro’s blistering guitar work, expressive vocals and airtight songwriting. It’s a back-to-basics blues record - one that feels both fresh and steeped in tradition. The 14 tracks carry the Tommy Castro stamp, and if you’ve been around for a while, you’re familiar with his brand of blues and soul magic.

A multiple award-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Castro knows how to surround himself with the best, and ‘Closer to the Bone’ is no exception. Backed by his road-tested band, The Painkillers - Mike Emerson (keys), Randy McDonald (bass/vocals), and Bowen Brown (drums) - Castro also brings in heavy hitters like Christopher “Kid” Andersen, Rick Estrin, Chris Cain, and Billy Branch. Saxophonist/vocalist Deanna Bogart and keyboard ace Jim Pugh round out a lineup that’s nothing short of elite.

Even though he’s known as a brilliant guitar player, Castro’s chops sometimes get overshadowed. Not here. "Closer to the Bone" showcases his fretboard finesse as a feel player and you’ll hear influences that hint of Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Freddie King, B.B. King and others. Part of Castro’s appeal is his personality - it comes through in the songs. He feels real. Perhaps that’s part of what contributed to Castro winning the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award three times, in addition to three Band of the Year Awards, and Album of the Year for his last release "A Bluesman Came To Town". /Martine Ehrenclou, Rock & Blues Muse

Closer To The Bone mc
Closer To The Bone gofile

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Tommy Castro - Tommy Castro Presents: A Bluesman Came To Town (A Blues Odyssey)

Size: 111.8 MB
Time: 47:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Somewhere (3:30)
02. A Bluesman Came To Town (3:57)
03. Child Don't Go (2:49)
04. You To Hold On To (3:53)
05. Hustle (3:36)
06. I Got Burned (3:36)
07. Blues Prisoner (5:16)
08. I Caught A Break (2:38)
09. Women, Drugs And Alcohol (4:19)
10. Draw The Line (4:14)
11. I Want To Go Back Home (3:41)
12. Bring It On Back (3:44)
13. Somewhere (Reprise) (2:39)

Throughout his long, constantly evolving career, guitarist, singer and songwriter Castro has always remained true to himself while exploring, growing and creating new music, and he has taken his thousands of devoted fans right along with him. Ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues to fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll, each of his 16 albums is solidly built upon Castro’s unshakable musical foundation—a dynamic mix of 1960s-influenced guitar-fueled blues, testifying Memphis-soaked blue-eyed soul and Latin-tinged East San Jose funk, all driven by Castro’s grab-you-by-the-collar vocals and passionate guitar work.

Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town is a roots music odyssey, a special project composed by Castro along with Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Tom Hambridge. Through its 13 songs, the album tells the tale of a young man, working on his family farm, who gets bitten by the blues bug. He masters the guitar and heads out on the road seeking fame and fortune, only to find what he’s left behind is the treasure he’s been looking for. “A Bluesman Came To Town isn’t a story about me,” says Castro. “It’s pulled from some of my friends’ and my experiences, though. I’ve seen first-hand for a lot of years what it’s like out there on the road.”

The road has always been Castro’s home away from home. He and The Painkillers will instantly ignite a crowd, turn them into loyal fans, and then keep those fans coming back for more. Castro has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and performed thousands of gigs at clubs, concert halls, and festivals all over the world. Famed guitarist Joe Bonamassa says, “Tommy has always been top of the heap among blues guitar players. He always puts on a great show.”

On the new A Bluesman Came To Town tour, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will perform fan favorites as well as songs from the new album. “I’ve made seven albums for Alligator,” Castro says, “and I’ve never made the same record twice. I will always try to be my most authentic self. I give it all I’ve got every time we hit the stage!” ~American Blues Scene

Tommy Castro Presents: A Bluesman Came To Town (A Blues Odyssey) MP3
Tommy Castro Presents: A Bluesman Came To Town (A Blues Odyssey) FLAC

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Tommy Castro & The Painkillers - Killin' It Live

Size: 130,0 MB
Time: 55:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Make It Back To Memphis (Live) (4:53)
02. Can't Keep A Good Man Down (Live) (5:40)
03. Leaving Trunk (Live) (5:56)
04. Lose Lose (Live) (6:31)
05. Calling San Francisco (Live) (5:24)
06. Shakin' The Hard Times Loose (Live) (4:29)
07. Anytime Soon (Live) (5:04)
08. She Wanted To Give It To Me (Live) (5:00)
09. Two Hearts (Live) (4:35)
10. Them Changes (Live) (7:56)

Whether he’s squeezing out the deepest blues or playing the funkiest soul grooves, legendary blues and soul giant Tommy Castro knows how to ignite a crowd. Over the course of his still-unfolding career, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has released 15 albums ranging from horn-fueled soul and R&B to piping hot blues to fiery rock ‘n’ roll. He’s performed all over the world, earning countless fans with his legendary, sweat-drenched, exhilarating live shows. Castro’s band, The Painkillers—bassist Randy McDonald, drummer Bowen Brown and keyboardist Michael Emerson—have now been playing together over four years. After hundreds of live shows, they have coalesced into one of the telepathically tightest units Castro has ever assembled, making them one of the most in-demand live roots music acts performing today. Billboard says the band plays “irresistible contemporary blues-rock” with “street-level grit and soul.”

With the group seemingly hitting new heights with every performance, Castro knew the time was right to answer his fans’ demands for a live album. Killin’ It–Live captures the band at the peak of their creative and improvisational powers, and features one unforgettable, unpredictable performance after another. “This is the best band we’ve ever had,” says Castro. We really got something going on beyond just being good musicians. Every song we play live now has that right feel—all the dynamics. It allows us to jam out more on stage. Killin’ It–Live is what you hear when you see us live.”

Featuring songs from throughout Castro’s career, Killin’ It–Live was produced by Castro and engineer/songwriter Ron Alan Cohen and recorded at venues in Texas, New York, Michigan and California during 2018. The album includes eight Castro originals spanning his entire career and two Castro-ized covers, each showing a slightly different side of his multifaceted musical personality. From fan favorites She Wanted To Give It To Me and Make It Back To Memphis to newer classics like Lose Lose and Two Hearts to Taj Mahal’s arrangement of Sleepy John Estes’ Leaving Trunk (a song Castro has never recorded before but has been playing live for years), Killin’ It–Live is a nonstop, spirited mix of blues, rock and soul, with rollicking, hypnotic grooves fueled by Castro’s animated, fervent vocals.

Killin' It Live

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Tommy Castro - Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue Live

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:43
Size: 164.2 MB
Styles: Blues, Soul
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[ 5:25] 1. Wake Up Call
[ 7:09] 2. Gotta Serve Somebody
[10:00] 3. Voodoo Spell (Feat. Michael Burks)
[ 4:19] 4. It's A Shame (Feat. Joe Louis Walker)
[ 5:49] 5. Never Say Never (Feat. Sista Monica Parker)
[ 5:55] 6. My Next Ex-Wife (Feat. Rick Estrin)
[ 6:23] 7. Fog (Feat. Trampled Under Foot)
[ 5:13] 8. Painkiller
[ 4:28] 9. Think (Feat. Janiva Magness)
[ 3:34] 10. This Time I Know (Feat. Theodis Ealey)
[ 6:39] 11. All I Found (Feat Debbie Davies)
[ 6:43] 12. Serves Me Right To Suffer

A direct descendant from the traveling bundled artist packages of the '60s right down to its retro "hatch show"-styled cover art, Tommy Castro and his band play host to a relatively diverse assortment of high-energy blues and soul acts. The concept originated on the yearly Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise where such musical collaborations are typical. Castro's concept was to take that concept on the road, resulting in this dozen-track live album cherrypicked from various tour stops. It's a rollicking, very plugged-in affair, perhaps not surprisingly geared toward some of Castro's current crop of Alligator labelmates such as Janiva Magness, guitarist Michael Burks, and ex-Little Charlie & the Nightcats frontman-gone-solo Rick Estrin. Still, a handful of non-Alligator names like Debbie Davies, Joe Louis Walker, and "Sista" Monica Parker also appear. The varied collective features youngsters Trampled Underfoot as well as lesser-known veteran Theodis Ealey, both of whom handily hold their own next to the more popular participants. Castro takes lead vocals on four tracks, and he, along with his horn-enhanced band, provide backup for the majority of the other artists. Everyone is at the top of their game with an electricity and vein-popping excitement that can only be generated when musicians feed off each other live. Castro in particular seems to relish his master of ceremonies role, charging through a soulful version of Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" and a sizzling "Serves Me Right to Suffer." The latter suddenly shifts tempos from a cracking slow blues to a driving "Radar Love" boogie beat and displays his sometimes underappreciated guitar skills. Most impressive, and rather unexpected, is the number of females in the lineup, a refreshing change from the typically male-dominated blues field. Not only do guitarist Davies and vocalist Magness turn in some thrilling performances (Magness on a tough, horn-punched, swampily rearranged version of James Brown's "Think"), but Monica Parker's slow blues boils, and Trampled Underfoot's bass-playing lead singer Danielle Schnebelen's sexy/angry vocals will have you checking the liner notes to see who this newcomer is. Estrin adds both humor and harp to the generally guitar-oriented lineup with "My Next Ex-Wife," and Michael Burks' ten-minute grinding blues "Voodoo Spell" will make an instant believer of anyone who might not be familiar with his slashing guitar attack. The disc moves from one highlight to the next with the primary detriment being that it's not a double CD to provide more of what's here. Perhaps volume two is in order. ~Hal Horowitz

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VA - S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 1, Vol. 2 & Vol.3

Album: S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 1 (Kevin Russell, Craig Erickson, T.J. Parker)
Size: 128,7 MB
Time: 55:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Roadhouse Stomp! (6:03)
02. She's Dangerous (5:32)
03. Down The Line (5:01)
04. Train Tonight (5:02)
05. Love You Too Much (4:58)
06. Seeds Of Soul (4:33)
07. Too Many Miles (6:03)
08. Bottom Line (4:45)
09. Better Days (7:39)
10. Train Pumpin' (5:39)

S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 1

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Album: S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 2 (Garth Weber, Chris Cobb, Dave Goodman)
Size: 129,0 MB
Time: 55:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Overdrawn On Luck (4:50)
02. You Saved Me (4:54)
03. Albert's Blues (6:40)
04. First Come, First Served (6:23)
05. Looks Ain't Everything (6:04)
06. Turning Your Love Away (5:46)
07. Wish You Were Mine (4:36)
08. King Of The Hill (5:41)
09. Worried About You (4:24)
10. Hurtin' Again (6:10)

S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 2

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Album: S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 3 (Tom Castro, Johnny Nitro, Kevin Russell)
Size: 146,2 MB
Time: 63:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Train Conductor (4:34)
02. You Know I Love Ya (5:18)
03. Nobody Else's Arms (6:49)
04. Alligator Alley (5:34)
05. I Tried (9:36)
06. Runnin' On Fumes (6:46)
07. Take It Like A Man (5:39)
08. You Got Something (5:29)
09. The Wrong Bed (8:03)
10. You Gotta Bell (5:15)

S.F. Blues Guitar Summit Vol. 3

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Tommy Castro - The Essential Tommy Castro

Size: 114,2 MB
Time: 49:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Can't Keep A Good Man Down (4:01)
02. Exception To The Rule (3:28)
03. Lucky In Love (3:58)
04. The Girl Can't Help It (3:10)
05. Just A Man (5:06)
06. Had Enough (4:55)
07. Nasty Habits (4:02)
08. Sho' Enough (4:01)
09. Take the Highway Down (4:30)
10. Right As Rain (4:22)
11. Hycodan (4:31)
12. Nobody Loves Me Like My Baby (3:45)

Ever since he first picked up a guitar and started making music, Tommy Castro believed. He believed he would not only be able to make a living playing music, but could develop his own signature sound and style. From his start playing in local Bay Area cover bands to joining the much-loved Dynatones to touring the world with his own band, Castro’s belief in himself has been rewarded. Today he is famed not only for his hard-hitting, impassioned vocals and his blues-infused, rocking R&B sound, but also for his striking, original songwriting and exhilarating stage show. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, “Castro navigates seriously funky Southern soul, gritty big city blues and scorching rock…his silvery guitar licks simultaneously sound familiar and fresh.” Castro (winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award as Entertainer Of The Year) is recognized as one of the absolute best blues and R&B players, singers and live performers in the world. With his Alligator Records debut, Hard Believer, Castro takes another major step forward in a career that never looks back.

In 2001 Blind Pig released a retrospective of Castro's recordings entitled The Essential Tommy Castro. It contains twelve of Tommy's time-tested fan favorites, including two tracks not previously available on CD, and video footage viewable on CD-ROM. Other additions to his discography include the 2001 album Guilty of Love from the fledging 33rd Street Records label, and the 2003 release Gratitude on his own Heart and Soul label, on which he paid tribute to his influences. He also appeared on the 2003 title from Telarc entitled Triple Trouble, which also features guitarist Lloyd Jones and harmonica/sax player Jimmy Hall.

The Essential Tommy Castro

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VA - Blind Pig Records 40th Anniversary Collection

Size: 172,0+166,7 MB
Time: 73:18+71:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

CD 1:
01 Magic Slim & The Teardrops - Gambling Blues (3:21)
02 Victor Wainwright & The Wildroots - Boom Town (3:16)
03 Albert Cummings - No Doubt (4:33)
04 Popa Chubby - Hey Joe (6:05)
05 Big Walter Horton - Everybody's Fishin' (3:00)
06 Deborah Coleman - I'm A Woman (4:49)
07 James Cotton - Dust My Broom (4:20)
08 Otis Rush - Crosscut Saw (4:51)
09 Elvin Bishop - Stomp (4:57)
10 Altered Five Blues Band - Charmed & Dangerous (3:40)
11 Sena Ehrhardt - Last Chance (6:24)
12 Damon Fowler - Thought I Had It All (5:17)
13 Kenny Neal - Old Friends (4:36)
14 Charlie Musselwhite - Chicago Sunset (3:36)
15 Eddy Clearwater - Crossover (4:35)
16 Pinetop Perkins - Just Keep On Drinking (3:01)
17 Commander Cody - Last Call For Alcohol (2:51)

CD 2:
01 Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working (4:59)
02 Big Bill Morganfield - You're Gonna Miss Me (3:24)
03 Webb Wilder & The Beatnecks - Human Cannonball (4:33)
04 Tommy Castro - It's That Time Again (4:11)
05 Deanna Bogart - In The Rain (4:07)
06 The Cash Box Kings - Baby Without You (3:55)
07 Luther Allison - Let's Try Again (6:45)
08 Smokin' Joe Kubek - Diamond Eyes (3:47)
09 Zac Harmon - Raising Hell (4:33)
10 Studebaker John & The Hawks - Blue Feelin' (3:56)
11 Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - Frankenbop (3:49)
12 Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88's - Chicken Shack Boogie (2:47)
13 Billy Branch - Back Alley Cat (2:18)
14 Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - Shut The Front Door (2:41)
15 Southern Hospitality - Southern Livin' (4:43)
16 Hubert Sumlin - Sitting On Top Of The World (4:18)
17 Otis Clay - When The Gates Swing Open (6:07)

Blind Pig Records 40th Anniversary Collection CD 1
Blind Pig Records 40th Anniversary Collection CD 2

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Tommy Castro & The Painkillers - Stompin' Ground

Size: 117,2 MB
Time: 50:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Nonchalant (3:55)
02. Blues All Around Me (3:42)
03. Fear Is The Enemy (3:34)
04. My Old Neighborhood (5:42)
05. Enough Is Enough (3:52)
06. Love Is (4:40)
07. Rock Bottom (4:30)
08. Soul Shake (3:59)
09. Further On Down The Road (4:17)
10. Them Changes (4:47)
11. Sticks And Stones (3:07)
12. Live Every Day (4:28)

On Stompin’ Ground, Castro, a native of San Jose, CA, opens windows both into his past and his always-evolving musical future. Produced by Castro and guitar wunderkind Kid Andersen and recorded at Andersen’s soon-to-be legendary Greaseland Studio in San Jose, Stompin’ Ground finds Castro letting loose on a set of 12 tracks featuring six originals and new versions of songs he learned and played as a young up-and-comer. He is simultaneously looking back with autobiographical originals and cover songs that inspired him, while forging a forward trail with modern lyrics atop blistering blues-rock.

In addition to the The Painkillers, Castro’s friends Charlie Musselwhite (harp and vocals on Live Every Day), Mike Zito (guitar and vocals on Rock Bottom), Danielle Nicole (vocals on Soul Shake) and Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo (guitar and vocals on Them Changes) add their talents to Stompin’ Ground. “I heard each one of my friends’ contributions on these songs in my head as I was working on them. Happily, when I reached out and actually asked, everyone said yes.”

Castro’s musical roots run deep. As he unleashes his high-energy music to fans all over the world, he is inspired by the sounds he absorbed while coming of age on the rough and tumble side of San Jose, California. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, this was Castro’s home turf – his stomping ground. It was a place where the street-tough Mexican Americans and the counter-culture hippies came together to drink, smoke, laugh, party and listen to tunes – the hippies with their blues and rock, the Mexicans with their soul music. Mixing the blues-rock he loved and the soul music he heard blasting out from the lowriders cruising the streets, along with the socially conscious message songs of the day, Tommy’s own sound was born. He honed his guitar playing to a razor’s edge on the city’s competitive bar scene, where he learned how to capture an audience with his intensely passionate vocals, stellar musicianship and dynamic performances. Almost every major rock and soul act, from Ike & Tina Turner to Janis Joplin to Elvin Bishop and Taj Mahal toured through the area, and Castro was at almost every show. He saw John Lee Hooker, Albert King and Buddy Guy & Junior Wells at the same local blues bar, JJ’s, where he often jammed, dreaming of one day busting out.

Castro began playing in a variety of Bay Area blues and soul bands in his early 20s. He joined Warner Brothers’ artists The Dynatones in the late 1980s, gigging all over the country. After forming the first Tommy Castro Band in 1991, Castro released a series of critically acclaimed CDs for Blind Pig, Telarc and 33rd Street Records, as well as one on his own Heart And Soul label. He signed with Alligator Records in 2009, releasing Hard Believer to massive acclaim. He won four of his six career Blues Music Awards including the coveted B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year Award (the very highest award a blues performer can receive). His relentless road-dog approach—gig after gig, night after night—has won him loyal, lifelong fans everywhere he plays. The Washington Post says Castro is “phenomenal and funky” with “soulful vocals and inspired blues-rock guitar.”

In 2012 Castro formed The Painkillers, creating a lean, mean four-piece lineup, capable of delivering soul-shaking, muscular music. The band released The Devil You Know in 2014 and Method To My Madness in 2015, with critics shouting praise and admirers cheering his every move. Castro had stripped his music down to its raw essence with the new, smaller band, sounding bigger than ever. On record and on stage, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers’ road-hardened, seemingly telepathic musicianship bring an unmatched passion to Castro’s blue-eyed California soul and hard-rocking, good-time songs.

With months of tour dates across the U.S. and Europe, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will be bringing the songs from their new album directly to their fans. No Depression says, “Castro plays gritty, string bending blues like a runaway soul train…a glorious blend that rocks the soul and lifts the spirits.” Blues Revue simply says, “Tommy Castro can do no wrong.” With Stompin’ Ground, he is clearly, once again, doing everything right.

Stompin' Ground

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Cathy Lemons Blues Band - Dark Road

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:13
Size: 142.4 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[4:17] 1. Rolling And Tumbling (Feat. Steve Freund)
[3:45] 2. Hard Headed Man (Feat. Rusty Zinn)
[4:01] 3. Dirty Man (Feat. Steve Freund)
[4:37] 4. Let Me Be Good (Feat. Tommy Castro)
[5:22] 5. Worry Worry (Feat. David Maxwell)
[3:04] 6. Sayin' It Plain (Feat. Steve Freund)
[5:51] 7. Good Morning Little Schoolboy (Feat. Steve Freund)
[6:05] 8. Dark Road (Feat. Steve Freund)
[3:23] 9. Lonesome Whistle Blues (Feat. Steve Freund)
[5:54] 10. Takin' A Train (Feat. Tommy Castro)
[3:44] 11. I Need You So Bad (Feat. David Maxwell)
[3:42] 12. Just Got To Know
[4:14] 13. Little By Little (Feat. Rusty Zinn)
[4:07] 14. You Belong To Me

Cathy Lemons is a vocalist, songwriter, song publisher, band leader, and show producer who has been a staple of the blues scene in the Bay Area for 25 years. She is the other half of the electrifying duo known as "The Lucky Losers," a male/ female headed indie blues band. She has been described as “the finest light-skinned female blues vocalist in the U.S.” (Real Blues 2010) with a “velvety and hypnotic voice—resonant of “a female Howlin’ Wolf” (Fulltimeblues 2010). Hailing from Dallas, TX she honed her chops with the likes of Anson Funderburgh and performed with Stevie Ray Vaughan. She has worked with some of the great names in blues including John Lee Hooker (she toured as his send-off singer in 1987), Tommy Castro, Ron Thompson, and many others. Cathy has five albums out to date--the last two with her singing partner and harmonica playing ace, Phil Berkowitz.

Dark Road mc
Dark Road zippy

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Tommy Castro, Jimmy Hall, Lloyd Jones - Triple Trouble

Time: 52:25
Size: 120.0 MB
Source: LL
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Blues
Released: 2003
Covers: Full

1. Sometimes {2:17}
2. If That Ain't Love {4:38}
3. Be Careful With A Fool {6:45}
4. Love Will {4:23}
5. Help! {4:04}
6. Whole Lotta Soul {6:48}
7. Good Good Lovin' {2:43}
8. Raised In The Country {6:07}
9. Mammer Jammer {5:34}
10. Midnight To Daylight {4:46}
11. Cold Funk {4:16}

With billing divided equally between three midlevel headliners, Triple Trouble simmers without ever quite catching fire. Despite backing from the former Stevie Ray Vaughan rhythm section and a clever gospel rearrangement of the Beatles classic "Help," performances tend to drag. No one seems to work up much of a sweat, and guitar solos add up to strings of ancient clichés, absent the intensity they once conveyed. Perhaps if Reese Wynans' organ had been mixed higher, some churchy element might have pepped things up; as it is, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton come through loud, clear, and listless. A feeling persists throughout this album that if this group had delivered this set before a rowdy crowd in some beery backwoods dive, results would have been far more persuasive. As it is, Triple Trouble is hardly trouble at all.
AllMusic Review by Robert L. Doerschuk

Triple Trouble

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Nancy Wright - Playdate!

Size: 130,1 MB
Time: 55:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, Soul, R&B
Art: Front

01. Why You Wanna Do It (With Wee Willie Walker) (4:35)
02. I Got What It Takes (With Tommy Castro) (4:27)
03. Yes He Do (With Victor Wainwright) (3:22)
04. Blues For The Westside (With Joe Louis Walker) (4:33)
05. Been Waiting That Long (With Frank Bey) (4:35)
06. Trampled (With Jim Pugh) (3:43)
07. Satisfied (3:47)
08. Warranty (With Terrie Odabi) (4:53)
09. Cherry Wine (2:52)
10. There Is Something On Your Mind (With Elvis Bishop) (4:30)
11. Back Room Rock (3:48)
12. Good Loving Daddy (4:27)
13. Soul Blue (With Chris Cain) (5:59)

PLAYDATE! is a freewheeling showcase for Wright's soulful playing, singing and songwriting, and a celebration of the thriving West Coast roots music scene that is her playground. Nancy decided to follow her heart and have fun with this album, so she enlisted the help of many of her friends and touring partners, including: producer Kid Andersen; guitarists Tommy Castro, Elvin Bishop, Joe Louis Walker, Mike Schermer and Chris Cain; vocalists Frank Bey, Wee Willie Walker and Terrie Odabi; and keyboardists Victor Wainwright and Jim Pugh.

The album features Nancy's songs and favorites, including a song by her friend and mentor Lonnie Mack that he never released. Nancy Wright lives in the San Francisco Bay area, and tours regularly around the United States, Canada and Europe, playing major Festivals and clubs with headlining artists and her own band. Recent appearances include New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bayfront Blues Festival, San Diego Blues Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and festivals across Italy and the Canary Islands. She is a popular regular on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, performing this year with Tommy Castro and the Painkillers.

Her two previous albums, Moanin' (2008) and Puttin' Down Roots (2014) won her critical acclaim, a top-20 spot in the DownBeat Reader's Poll, and a place in the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame.

Playdate!

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The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue - Command Performance

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:31
Size: 175.2 MB
Styles: Soul-blues, Urban blues, R&B
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. Can't You See
[7:03] 2. I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On
[2:31] 3. Whammer Jammer
[7:20] 4. Still The Girl In The Band
[7:36] 5. See You Hurt No More
[3:52] 6. If It Ain't Me
[6:18] 7. If I Had A Nickel
[6:14] 8. Will It Go Round In Circles
[7:39] 9. She's Nineteen Years Old
[4:14] 10. Tell Me Mama
[6:02] 11. Looking For A Love
[9:22] 12. High On The Hog
[3:54] 13. Sea Cruise

The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue is a dynamic collaboration of talent that features the Tommy Castro Band along with an all-star lineup that includes pianist, saxophonist, singer/songwriter Deanna Bogart, Ronnie Baker Brooks, the son of legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks, and Magic Dick, who is best known for his many years as the harmonica man in the J. Geils Band. This live recording spotlights many of the highlights of their recent tour on the highly regarded Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.

Command Performance

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Jim McCarty & Friends II - Live From Callahan's

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:53
Size: 164.6 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[ 9:38] 1. Fannie Mae
[11:00] 2. Put The Shoe On The Other Foot
[ 4:55] 3. Let Me Love You Baby
[ 5:19] 4. Jenny Jenny-Good Golly Miss Molly
[11:38] 5. Homesick For My Baby
[ 8:48] 6. Everyday I Have The Blues
[ 8:08] 7. Excello Boogie
[ 7:06] 8. I Got A Mind To Give Up
[ 5:16] 9. Born In Chicago

Detroit’s guitar-legend is back with a brand new CD “JIM McCARTY & Friends II.” The disc is a follow up to the original CD released a few years ago. Like the original CD the disc is a collection of “Live” recordings captured at the club when McCARTY got to jam with his peers. Featured on this disc are TOMMY CASTRO, COCO MONTOYA, JOE LOUIS WALKER, NICK MOSS, JASON RICCI, and the late “Gentleman of the Blues” JOHNNY BASSETT. Peter Jay captured the moment and mixed the disc down with McCARTY.

Live From Callahan's

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VA - Blind Pig Presents: Night Time Blues

Size: 393 MB
Time: 61:03
File: FLAC
Released: 2016
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Tommy Castro - The Crossanova (2:38)
02. Arthur Adams - Backup Man (3:45)
03. Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues - Song For My Mother (5:21)
04. Albert Cummings - Blues Makes Me Feel So Good (3:18)
05. Jimmy Vivino & The Black Italians - Animalism (4:21)
06. Bob Margolin - Not Dark Yet (5:04)
07. Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues - Function At The Junction (3:40)
08. Albert Cummings - Where Did I Go Wrong (2:58)
09. Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues - Back Alley Cat (2:18)
10. Arthur Adams - Back On Track (3:31)
11. Big Bill Morganfield - Anything Just For You (3:07)
12. Bill Perry - Can't Buy My Love (4:34)
13. Mighty Joe Young - As The Years Go Passing By (As Used In The Film Ali ) (4:41)
14. Magic Slim & The Teardrops - Sunny Road Blues (5:32)
15. Otis Clay - When The Gates Swing Open (6:07)

Blind Pig Presents: Night Time Blues

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Tommy Castro - The Very Best Of Tommy Castro

Size: 148,8 MB
Time: 64:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Lucky In Love (3:54)
02. Right As Rain (4:19)
03. Nasty Habits (3:58)
04. Had Enough (4:52)
05. Can't Keep A Good Man Down (3:58)
06. A Good Fool Is Hard To Find (With Coco Montoya) (4:38)
07. Like An Angel (4:37)
08. If I Had A Nickel (4:40)
09. Let's Give Love A Try (With Renee Austin) (3:39)
10. Big Sister's Radio (4:14)
11. Anytime Soon (4:24)
12. Love Don't Care (3:45)
13. Nasty Habits (Live) (5:18)
14. Sex Machine (Live) (7:49)

According to all the press and hype and hoopla for a time during the 1990s, Tommy Castro was pegged as the next big star of the blues. Long a favorite among Bay Area music fans, Castro -- in the space of two album releases -- took his music around the world and back again with a sheaf of praise from critics and old-time blues musicians alike. His music was a combination of soul-inflected rockers with the occasional slow blues or shuffle thrown into the mix to keep it honest. His vocals were laid-back and always a hair behind the beat, while his scorching guitar tone was Stevie Ray Stratocaster-approved. Crossover success did not seem out of the question.

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Castro started playing guitar at the tender age of ten. Initially inspired by Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and Elvin Bishop, he started the inevitable journey into the roots of his heroes and discovered and quickly became enamored of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King. His vocal styling came from constant listening to Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Otis Redding. After playing with numerous Bay Area groups honing his chops, he landed a gig playing guitar for the San Francisco band the Dynatones, who were then signed to Warner Bros. The two-year stint augured well for Castro, playing to the biggest crowds he had seen up to that point and backing artists as diverse as Carla Thomas and Albert King.

Returning to San Francisco, Castro formed his own group and in 1993 released his first self-produced album, No Foolin', on the dime-sized Saloon label. That same year also saw him winning the Bay Area Music Award for Best Club Band, an honor he duplicated the following year. In 1997, he won Bammies for Outstanding Blues Musician and for Outstanding Blues Album for his debut release on Blind Pig Records, Exception to the Rule. Also in 1997, Castro and his band began a three-year stint working as the house band on NBC's Comedy Showcase, which aired after Saturday Night Live.

Live at the Fillmore was released in early 2000, and with everyone from industry insiders to B.B. King singing his praises, Castro appeared to be headed for bigger and better things. It was not to be, however, as in 2001 he left Blind Pig Records and recorded Guilty of Love for the small 33rd Street label. Blind Pig closed the books on their association with Castro in 2002 by releasing the career retrospective The Essential Tommy Castro. Gratitude appeared from Heart and Soul in 2003, followed by Triple Trouble (with Jimmy Hall and Lloyd Jones) later that same year from Telarc. In 2005 Castro returned to the Blind Pig label for the release of Soul Shaker, followed by Painkiller in 2007.

The relatively smooth and polished Hard Believer appeared from Alligator Records in 2009, followed in 2011 by The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue: Live!, a collection of highlights from Castro's recent live performances, also on Alligator Records. The Devil You Know, which featured Castro's stripped-down new touring band the Pain Killers and a host of guest artists, appeared early in 2014. Working at Laughing Tiger Studio in San Rafael, California, Castro used a more skeletal approach for 2015's Method to My Madness. It was the first time the bandleader acted as his own producer and, as such, the feeling of the record, which was cut live from the floor, best reflected the group's concert performances. It was released in late October of that year. ~by Cub Koda

The Very Best Of

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VA - Blind Pig Presents: Live Blues

Size: 221,3 MB
Time: 95:09
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Magic Slim - I'm A Bluesman (Live) ( 3:59)
02. Otis Rush - Gambler's Blues (Live) ( 9:02)
03. Deborah Coleman - I Believe (Live) ( 3:37)
04. Albert Cummings - Barrelhouse Blues (Live) ( 7:18)
05. Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - My Heart's In Texas (Live) ( 2:40)
06. Popa Chubby - Ace Of Spades (Live) ( 2:55)
07. Webb Wilder - Tough It Out (Live) ( 3:48)
08. Elvin Bishop - Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket (Live) ( 4:40)
09. Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Burnin' To The Ground (Live) ( 4:16)
10. Tommy Castro - Nobody Loves Me Like My Baby (Live) ( 3:45)
11. Magic Slim - Full Load Boogie (Live) ( 2:38)
12. Otis Rush - I Wonder Why (Live) ( 7:58)
13. Deborah Coleman - Goodbye Misery (Live) (12:09)
14. Popa Chubby - Shake Down (Live) ( 5:31)
15. Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Better Be Getting It On (Live) ( 3:32)
16. Webb Wilder & The Beatnecks - Baby Please Don't Go (Live) ( 5:35)
17. Albert Cummings - Rock Me Baby (Live) ( 6:23)
18. Elvin Bishop - I'm Gone (Live) ( 5:17)

Blind Pig Presents: Live Blues

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Tommy Castro & The Painkillers - Method To My Madness

Size: 116,9 MB
Time: 49:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Common Ground (4:12)
02. Shine A Light (4:31)
03. Method To My Madness (3:12)
04. Died And Gone To Heaven (5:00)
05. Got A Lot (3:48)
06. No Such Luck (4:22)
07. Two Hearts (3:38)
08. I'm Qualified (3:07)
09. Ride (4:37)
10. Lose Lose (5:14)
11. All About The Cash (4:30)
12. Bad Luck (3:25)

Few have epitomized the workingman nature of the blues as much as Tommy Castro. A popular staple of blues festivals and cruises, and steadily in demand since he issued his debut in 1994, Castro nevertheless has always somewhat resided in the second tier of blues artists: Popular, well-liked, kept working steadily, but not considered one of the greats.

And yet, even as he heads into his 60s, the Bay Area resident keeps growing, keeps pushing -continues to show marked improvement on each album in both conceptualization and musicianship. Continues to keep redefining his own reputation.

His latest, "Method to My Madness" on Alligator Records, finds Castro stepping out of his stylistic comfort zone -out of the West Coast blues-rock roots format he has inhabited for most of his career. On his new CD, he incorporates more R&B than before, some Southern rock, a little funk, and a little boogie.

The album opens with "Common Ground," which reminds not a little of vintage late-'70s Little Feat -thickly layered harmony vocals, Hammond-style organ; and an arrangement that has as much Philly soul as West Coast blues. (His solo also hearkens to Paul Barrere, Little Feat's overlooked but immensely talented guitarist.)

"Shine a Light" is a psychedelic bit of swamp blues -a cross between John Fogerty and Kenny Neal. "Method to My Madness," the fourth track, is more typical of Castro's earlier recordings, while "Died and Gone to Heaven" is a rock ballad with a strong streak of soul running through it -and maybe Castro's finest recorded solo to date.

Belying the muscular brand of blues he plays, Castro's solos have always had a sophistication that belies the blues-rock vibe of his music. His guitar rig and setup might be closer to those of George Thorogood or Jimmy Vaughan, but his improvisations are closer in vision and tastefulness to, say, Fenton Robinson or Snooks Eaglin -with the kind of jazz-tinged imagination those comparisons suggest. "Died and Gone to Heaven" gives his guitar improvisation the kind of supportive framework his arrangements have not always provided; it is a near-perfect marriage of a stellar virtuoso, sympathetic arrangement, and strong material.

The musical exploration continues throughout much of the rest of the disc, from the Austin-styled Texas blues of "Two Hearts" to the John Lee Hooker-influenced "No Such Luck" (which features another stellar improvisational passage) through the shuffle of "Ride," the funk of "All About the Cash" and the Chicago blues of "Lose Lose" (with another extended improvised riff that, combined with the others, adds up to make the case Castro is highly underrated as a blues guitarist).

"Bad Luck" and "Got a Lot" could have been on any of his previous records, and serve to remind that Castro hasn't made some radical turn away from what has earned him a large, enthusiastic fan base -rather, he's used that sound as the foundation for a marked expansion of his musical territory.

It is the most interesting release he's given fans yet. ~By Jim Trageser

Personnel: Tommy Castro: guitar and lead vocals; Michael Emerson: keyboards; Randy McDonald: bass and background vocals; Bowen Brown: drums, percussion and background vocals; Ari Rios: percussion and background vocals; Amber Morris: background vocals.

Method To My Madness

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Tommy Castro - Gratitude

Year: 2003
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:07
Size: 130,8 MB
Styles: Blues, R&B, soul
Scans: Full

1. I Take What I Want (4:00)
2. Come Back Baby (5:39)
3. Lovey Dovey (4:45)
4. 44 (4:42)
5. Bad Case Of Love (4:53)
6. Tulane (4:10)
7. It Serves You Right To Suffer (6:51)
8. I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On (4:21)
9. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (4:56)
10. I Found A Love (4:13)
11. I Wants To Be Loved (2:16)
12. When My Left Eye Jumps (6:15)

As its title suggests, Tommy Castro's seventh album is a note of thanks to the artists who inspired the West Coast guitarist/vocalist. While rocking R&B and blues greats like B.B. and Albert King, Chuck Berry and Buddy Guy are obvious choices, Castro digs deep into their catalogs. He covers B.B. King's "Bad Case of Love," Albert King's "Everybody Want to Go to Heaven," Berry's "Tulane," and Guy's version of Willie Dixon's "When My Left Eye Jumps." More interesting, though, are Castro's '60s soul roots which he acknowledges in versions of songs made popular by Wilson Pickett (a powerful "I Found a Love"), Sam & Dave (Curtis Salgado joins in on a duet of "I Take What I Want"), Otis Redding (a thumping "Lovey Dovey" with Sista Monica Parker taking the Carla Thomas part) and James Brown (a swinging "I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On," which is a departure from Brown's usual funky work).

Less successful are Castro's takes on Howlin' Wolf's "44" where his direct approach loses the original's voodoo marching vibe. John Lee Hooker's "Serve You Right to Suffer" sounds more like the J. Geils Band's cover than Hooker's spooky approach, with an ill-advised rocking middle section that misses the song's intent. Much better is Castro's succinct, sharp cover of Muddy Waters' "I Wants to Be Loved" where he toughens up the attack but maintains the tune's defiant drive. Pianist John Turk helps fatten the sound, keeping it raw with his work on the album's slow blues workouts such as Guy's "...Left Eye" and Ray Charles' "Come Back Baby." Castro is loose and tough, with his gritty voice and thick, clean guitar lines sounding confident and assertive. More than just a holding pattern until he writes new tunes, Gratitude is not only an enjoyable peek inside Tommy Castro's influences but a fascinating compilation of generally underexposed material from blues, soul and R&B greats. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

Gratitude mc
Gratitude zippy

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Mitch Woods - Jammin' On The High Cs

Size: 159,4 MB
Time: 68:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jump Blues, Piano Blues, Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Big Mamou (Feat. Roomful Of Blues) (4:40)
02. Tain't Nobody's Business (Feat. Victor Wainwright & Julia Magness) (5:10)
03. Rip It Up (Feat. Tommy Castro & Roomful Of Blues) (4:47)
04. Story Of Club 88 (1:09)
05. Bright Lights, Big City (Feat. Lucky Peterson & Roomful Of Blues) (5:55)
06. Jambalaya (Feat. Dwayne Dopsie) (5:04)
07. Eyesight To The Blind (Feat. Billy Branch & Roomful Of Blues) (7:13)
08. I Want You To Be My Baby (Feat. Popa Chubby) (3:55)
09. 7 Mile Limit (0:25)
10. Rock Me Baby (Feat. Coco Montoya) (5:21)
11. Wine Spo Dee O Dee (Feat. Victor Wainwright) (5:10)
12. Friends Of Bill W. (0:52)
13. Broke (4:55)
14. Boom Boom (Feat. Billy Branch & Coco Montoya) (4:04)
15. Wee Wee Hours (Feat. Popa Chubby) (4:52)
16. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Feat. Dwayne Dopsie) (4:23)
17. Toast To The Legendary Blues Cruise (0:11)

I just received the newest release, Jammin' On The High C's from Mitch Woods' Club 88 recorded live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and the talent was really flowing. Opening with Big Mamou, Woods, along with members of Roomful of Blues lays down a full tilt boogie. An excellent trumpet, sax and piano solos on this track make it an excellent opener. Next up is Tain't Nobody's Bizness with a stripped down swing. Victor Wainwright and Julia Magness join in giving a different feel vocally... and great piano work contribute to an excellent track. Classic rocker, Rip It Up features Tommy Castro and he really adds some great rockin' guitar riffs to Woods' piano and vocal talents. Backed by the Roomful of Blues horns this track rocks. Lucky Peterson is featured on vocals on Bright Lights Big City, maintaining much of Jimmy Reeds original feel. Breakin down with a little Zydeco, Dwayne Dopsie brings Jambalaya on accordion and vocal. Woods tickles the ivories adding a real nice touch. Billy Branch brings it on Eyesight To The Blind. A lot of real Chicago feel and great harp work are the key to this track. Nicely executed guitar additions and Woods on piano add to the overall blue feel. Boogie track, I Want You To Be My Baby features Popa Chubby on vocal. Woods does an excellent job of driving the boogie and soloing. Popa throws down some wicked rockabilly riffs on guitar making this track shine bright. Coco Montoya takes the lead on Rock Me Baby which has a bit more of a rock swing/boogie feel. He soloing is intermixed with Woods piano work and crisp. Victor Wainwright is back for a real doozie of a boogie, Wine Spo Dee O Dee. This is easily the shining piano track on the release. Woods holds tight on Broke as he sings the story and pushes the rhythm on piano. With audience participation, this track is a lot of fun. Branch and Montoya are back on Boom Boom. A more laid back swing than the Hook wrote it, Woods keeps the rhythm as Branch and Montoya solo. Popa Chubby is back on Wee Wee Hours and a nice easy boogie. Woods takes a particularly nice piano solo on this track giving way to Popa for a plucky guitar solo of his own. Wrapping the release is a hot, fast paced boogie, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On featuring Dwayne Dopsie. Cool closer for a fun party release. ~bman

Jammin' On The High Cs

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VA - Blind Pig Presents California Blues

Size: 198,7 MB
Time: 85:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Tommy Castro - Can't Keep A Good Man Down (3:58)
02. Roy Rogers - Mercury Blues (6:01)
03. Debbie Davies - Picture This (3:57)
04. Craig Chaquico - Blue On Blue (5:26)
05. Roy Rogers - Walkin' Blues (4:32)
06. Chris Cain - You're The Kind Of Woman That Ain't That Hard To Find (4:15)
07. Commander Cody - Let's Rock (2:17)
08. Norton Buffalo - Is It Love (3:59)
09. Coco Montoya - Monkey See, Monkey Do (4:08)
10. Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - Bad Weather Blues (5:16)
11. Norton Buffalo - King Of The Highway (4:28)
12. Commander Cody - Truck Stop At The End Of The World (3:18)
13. Craig Chaquico - Lie To Me (4:35)
14. Tommy Castro - My Kind Of Woman (3:46)
15. Debbie Davies - Howlin' At The Moon (4:20)
16. Roy Rogers - Ramblin' Blues (5:21)
17. Chris Cain - Trouble Makin' Woman (7:07)
18. Coco Montoya - Gotta Mind To Travel (3:49)
19. Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - West Coast Midnight Blues (Instrumental) (4:57)

Blind Pig Presents California Blues

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