Showing posts with label Liz Mandeville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liz Mandeville. Show all posts

Friday, March 6, 2020

Liz Mandeville - Playing With Fire

Size: 127,2 MB
Time: 54:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Bailing The Titanic (Feat. Dario Lombardo) (3:35)
02. Online Love Affair (Feat. Dario Lombardo) (4:50)
03. Everybody Got Wings (Feat. Dario Lombardo) (5:17)
04. Comfort Food Blues (Feat. Minoru Maruyama) (5:04)
05. Keep On Workin' (Feat. Philippe Fernandez) (3:07)
06. I Just Cry (Feat. Philippe Fernandez) (4:58)
07. How Many Times (Do You Get To Break My Heart) (Feat. Philippe Fernandez) (3:45)
08. He Loves My Biscuits (Feat. Ilana Katz Katz) (3:37)
09. Just Give Her Chocolate (Feat. Ilana Katz Katz) (3:28)
10. Poor Robert Johnson (Feat. Peter Struijk) (4:08)
11. Joliet Town (Feat. Peter Struijk) (5:49)
12. Boss Lady (The Boss Is Back) (Feat. Peter Struijk) (4:40)
13. (Hey Babe) Ya Wanna Boogie? (Feat. Peter Struijk) (1:52)

Born and raised into a musical family in Wisconsin, guitarist and singer Liz Mandeville grew up in an arts-filled environment. Her father played guitar and sang folk songs while taking classes at the Art Institute of Chicago on the GI bill. He taught his daughter to paint and sing, and Liz often accompanied her father to art museums, gardens and art galleries, wherever his work took him. Her mother was an actress and she saw to it that her daughter had a proper education in the theater arts as well, something which came in handy many years later when Mandeville decided to pursue a career as a blues singer.

Musicians and artists were frequent guests in the Mandeville's home, and the young Mandeville was encouraged to write songs, poetry and short stories. Family vacations around the south exposed young Liz to blues, bluegrass, traditional country and folk music and New Orleans jazz and funk.

Her first professional gigs were in coffee houses around Wisconsin, playing songs her father had taught her. She cited as influences on her earliest attempts at music people like James Brown, Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins.

Known previously as Liz Mandeville-Greeson, Mandeville played the bars in and around Chicago for most of the '90s and 2000s, and she made occasional tours to points east -- New York City -- and West, to California, as well as many cities and towns in between. She spent much of the late '80 touring across the U.S. and Canada by van with her then-band, the Supernaturals. During the 2000s, she worked with a band called the Blue Points.

In 1994, she met Chicago bassist Aron Burton and subsequently performed with him at the 1994 Chicago Blues Festival. She recorded two tracks with him on his 1996 album, Aron Burton Live, and that led to her being signed to Michael Frank's Earwig Music Company.

Between 1994 and 1999, Mandeville was a frequent sight on stage at the Blue Chicago nightclubs, where she had the chance to work with a short who's-who of Chicago-area musicians, including Willie Kent, Maurice John Vaughn and Michael Coleman. She recorded her first two albums with musicians from that scene, including Burton on bass, Allan Batts, keyboards, and drummer Dave Jefferson.

Among her awards and distinctions: she was nominated for Blues songwriter of the year in 2008 by the American Roots Music Association, was named semi-finalist in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition for her composition, "Life Sentence of the Blues," and she received an award in 2005 for Best Songwriter in the USA Songwriting Competition, for her humorous tune, "He Left It in His Other Pants."

Her albums, showcasing her spry, sometimes humorous original songs, all for the Chicago-based Earwig Music label, include 2008's Red Top, Back in Love Again (2002), Ready to Cheat (1999) and Look at Me (1996). She has performed on a slew of other albums by Chicago-based blues performers, including Johnny Drummer's 2000 release, Unleaded Blues, Aron Burton's Live from Buddy Guy's Legends and a compilation of Chicago-area women blues singers, Red Hot Mamas for the Blue Chicago label. ~Richard Skelly

Playing With Fire

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Liz Mandville Greeson - Look At Me

Year: 1996
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:32
Size: 117,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Look At Me Look At Me (3:07)
2. I'm On A Rocket Tonight (3:42)
3. Fish Food (2:20)
4. Everybody's Breaking Up (Except You And Me) (4:11)
5. Shoulda Ben A Love Song (3:55)
6. I Don't Like Ya No More (1:46)
7. That's What A Man'll Do To You (2:31)
8. Gone Away, Problem Solved (5:35)
9. Someday You'll Win (3:24)
10. The Money's All Spent (3:35)
11. Life Sentence Of The Blues (4:11)
12. I'm So Blue (Cause Both Of My Men Are Gone) (3:24)
13. Trouble Times (4:38)
14. Look In Your Heart (4:07)

Chicago's blues diva wraps her four octave muscle around 14 roots originals stoked by talented musicians Albert King's and Albert Collins' rhythm sections. A tireless bandleader on the tough Chicago club circuit, Liz describes her blues as "about an indomitable fighting spirit that makes people keep facing adversity... in my show and on this CD I'm telling people, 'You're not by yourself... Get out there and do what you have to do because somebody understands.'"

Look at Me displays the wide range of Liz's lyric ideas and musical arrangements, including the hard-driving Life Sentence of the Blues, and I'm On a Rocket Tonight, the R&B groove of Everybody's Breakin' Up, the gospel-tinged Look In Your Heart, and the inspirational Somebody You'll Win, the coquetish humor of Fish Food and I'm So Blue, the intensely political blues of Trouble Times, and the forlorn Shoulda Been A Love Song and Gone Away, Problem Solved, plus four other hip-shakin', soulful grooves.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Look At Me mc
Look At Me zippy

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

VA - Angels Sing The Blues

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

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

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

Angels Sing The Blues

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Various Artists - Red Hot Mamas

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

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

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

Red Hot Mamas mc
Red Hot Mamas zippy

Monday, October 3, 2016

Liz Mandeville - The Stars Motel

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:01
Size: 93.9 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:01] 1. Too Hot For Love
[4:04] 2. Blues Is My Boss
[3:25] 3. Everybody Knew But Me
[4:54] 4. One Dance
[4:28] 5. Try Me
[3:25] 6. What Is Truth
[3:04] 7. Reefer And A Glass Of Wine
[3:50] 8. What Could Have Been
[4:04] 9. Bad Blues Habit
[4:12] 10. River Of Blood
[2:28] 11. What Do Blues Men Like

“The Stars Motel,” features 4 guitarists, famous in the world of blues, who each stayed at Liz Mandeville’s recording studio while co-writing the music for this project with her. They are: Guitarist for the late Phil Guy, Dario Lombardo (Turin, Italy), Blues Blast Award Nominee, Rochelle Coba (Miami), Scott Ellison (Tulsa) and Billy Branch alum, Minoru Maruyama (Japan). Doug Deming (Tampa) has also contributed a solo. Liz not only produced the project and plays guitar and washboard, she is handling all the vocals!

It started in 2013 when Scott Ellison called Liz. The two artists had met when each released an album on the Earwig Label in 2008. Scott said he and his band were coming to play in Chicago and had no hotel rooms. Liz said “You can stay in my studio, but the price of admission is we write and record 3 tunes while you’re here.” Scott agreed and the first three tunes were made. Scott’s Clapton-esque rock influenced blues married nicely with Liz’s witty lyrics for a trio of edgy swinging tunes.

The following year, Dario Lombardo was booked to play the Chicago Blues Fest. His accommodations fell through at the last minute and Liz stepped up and offered Dario the same deal. “You can stay but we have to write and record 3 tunes.” Liz and Dario did three weeks of gigs, drank a lot of red wine and wrote three great tunes including Reefer and a Glass of Wine that features a solo from Tampa’s master of Swing, Doug Deming.

Later that year Rachelle Coba, who Liz had met when both women were in Clarksdale playing the Juke Joint Festival, called to say her debut CD had been nominated for a Blues Blast Award. She said she could get from Miami to Chicago, but where the heck was Carbondale? Liz told her “Come to Chicago a few days early, lets write 3 tunes and then I’ll drive you to Carbondale!” So it was on! Rachelle’s collaboration yielded a trio that rings with Delta influence, from the New Orleans 2nd Line flavor of Everybody Knew But Me to the hauntingly hypnotic Hill Country Groove of River of Blood.

Nine tunes was just a bit short for a CD, so Liz approached Japanese born Minoru Maruyama, who had played on her 2014 Heart ‘O’ Chicago release. Minoru gave Liz the beautiful ballad that became One Dance, complete with a Memphis Horn treatment, as well as the West side blues firecracker, What Is Truth. Liz spent the last 6 months in the studio with engineer Jim Godsey who has worked on all Liz’s projects since the ‘90’s. Adding Horns, keys, blues harp, even tuba and washboard! The result is a party on a platter! Check in to the Stars Motel and see for yourself!!

The Stars Motel mc
The Stars Motel zippy

Monday, September 28, 2015

Liz Mandeville - Heart 'o' Chicago

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:20
Size: 110.6 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[5:18] 1. Cloud Of Love (Feat. Eddie Shaw)
[4:44] 2. These Blues (Feat. Joan Gand)
[4:46] 3. Don't Dobt My Love (Feat. Charlie Love)
[5:08] 4. So Called Best Friend (Feat. Billy Branch)
[4:44] 5. Quit Me On A Voice Mail (Feat. Eddie Shaw)
[4:17] 6. Party At The End Of Time (Feat. Billy Branch)
[4:25] 7. Silver Lining (Shirley's Blues)
[4:48] 8. Tic Tok (Feat Joan Gand)
[3:52] 9. Why Would A Woman Sing The Blues
[3:32] 10. Smart Woman Foolish Choices (Feat. Wade Baker & Charlie Love)
[2:41] 11. ( Life Is Like A) Wave (Feat. Dizzy Bolinski)

A fixture on the Chicago blues scene for more than thirty years, Liz Mandeville has brightened many a stage with her husky voice and energetic performances. After four releases for Earwig Records, she released Clarksdale on her Blue Kitty Music label in 2012. Her latest project on that label is a heartfelt tribute to the musical influences from Chicago that have inspired her from the start of her career.

One strength of the disc is the beautifully crafted program of eleven original songs. Mandeville is an award-winning songwriter, not content to recycle the basic 12-bar format. On “These Blues,” her voice rides the lightly swinging beat from drummer Jeremiah Thomas. Gradually the rest of the band joins in as Mandeville relates the comforting presence that blues music has in her life. She takes things uptown on “Silver Linings (Shirley’s Blues)” pushed along by Darryl Wright’s sturdy bass line; bright accents from the horn section comprised of Wade Baker on trumpet, Eric Campbell on trombone, and Oz Landessberg on sax punch it up. The song chronicles the singer’s attempt to quit smoking. Guitarist Minoru Maruyama underscores her struggles with one of his notable six-string interludes. Mandeville belts out her frustration as she impatiently waits for her man to return on “Tic Tok,” a driving number with Joan Gand giving her Hammond B-3 organ a real workout.

Several guest artists make significant contributions, starting with the legendary Eddie Shaw. His brawny sax finishes off the opener, “Cloud of Love,” the final horn embellishment around Mandeville’s red-hot vocal. He shares the solo spotlight with Maruyama on another high point, a modern version of the break up song, “Quit Me on Voice Mail”. Singer Charlie Love joins Mandeville for a magnificent soulful duet on “Don’t Doubt My Love” and sticks around to lend a helping hand on “Smart Women Foolish Choices,” a strutting shuffle with another exuberant vocal from the leader. Another highlight is “So Called Best Friend” with Billy Branch playing sinuous harp lines to accent Mandeville’s blunt tale of cheating in the next room. He also makes an appearance on the good-time romper “Party at the End of Time”, making his harp dance on his solo slot. It is definitely appropriate that Mandeville gets a chance to show off her guitar skills on the autobiographical “Why Would a Woman Sing the Blues”. Her distorted, soaring solo is powerful statement demanding the respect she deserves. The grinding pace of the closing track, “(Life is Like a) Wave,” gives Mandeville plenty of space for another taut solo while guest Dizzy Bolinski blows some mean harp in response.

An impressive effort from start to finish, this one deserves the label “All killer – no filler”! Mandeville’s songs connect on a very human level, especially when delivered by her commanding, soulful voice in combination with the magnificent efforts by the entire supporting crew. This one comes highly recommended! ~Mark Thompson

Heart 'o' Chicago mc
Heart 'o' Chicago zippy

Monday, June 1, 2015

Peter Struijk - Straight Blues

Size: 100,3 MB
Time: 37:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Acoustic Delta Blues
Art: Front

01. Shinin' Moon (3:00)
02. Fine Little Mama (2:50)
03. Big Legs, Tight Skirt (3:36)
04. Don't Be So Mean (2:35)
05. Going To Brownsville (3:42)
06. Good Friend Feeling Bad (4:08)
07. Ramblin' On My Mind (2:46)
08. Had The Blues Today (2:29)
09. Bump In The Love (2:29)
10. Dark Was The Night (3:17)
11. Lowdown Woman (2:55)
12. Going Down Slow (3:37)

Personnel: Peter Struijk – Resonator Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals; Rockin’ Johnny – Acoustic Guitar, Foot Stomping and Vocals on ‘Big Legs, Tight Skirt’, Acoustic Guitar on ‘Bump In The Love’; Liz Mandeville – Vocals On ‘Bump In The Love’. Riverside Jr. – Acoustic Gitar & Vocals on ‘Good Friend Feeling Bad’; Robin Van Roon – Harmonica on ‘Shining Moon’, Don’t Be So Mean’, Lowdown Woman’, ‘Going Down Slow’; Nicko Christiansen – Saxophone on ‘Fine Little Mama’; Peter van Zon – Harmonica on ‘Ramblin On My Mind’.

Peter was born on March 28th in Gouda, the Netherlands. He grew up in and around The Hague.

As a child, he visited the local Jazz clubs with his parents, which he hated at first, but learned to appreciate over the years. At a young age he started out on the piano but after a while when his older brother gave him his first real guitar a new love was born!

Peter works under his own name as musician, teacher and producer. For his debut solo album “Human Ways” he recorded with Dutch blues greats Robbert Fossen, Little Boogie boy, Hammie van Hall, Peter van Zon, Dihl Bennink and the legendary Chicago blues singer Tail Dragger, with whom he also shared many times the stage at blues clubs in the “windy city” Chicago USA!

In 2010 he launched his own blues & roots record & production label "Blueshine Records" where you can find albums of Ted Gerrits, Little Boogie Boy, Robbert Fossen, Big Wil & the Bluesmen, John Frick, Nicko Christiansen, Levee Dwellers, Riverside jr. etc

Now a days Peter combined forces with allround bluesman Robbert Fossen.
Together they formed the Fossen & Struijk band with Eduard Nijenhuis on drums and Jan Markus on bass. Their first album “Clubbing” is released worldwide in 2013 and brought them to a lot of great venues. As duo Robbert and Peter were the winners of the Dutch Blues Challenge 2012, and finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Peter was also nominated for “Best Dutch Blues Guitarist” 2013 and 2014!

On his new solo release “STRAIGHT BLUES” he got some very special friends like the one and only Liz Mandeville, Rockin' Johnny and Riverside jr. and more!

Straight Blues

Monday, August 25, 2014

Liz Mandeville - 2 albums: Clarksdale / Red Top

Album: Clarksdale
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 35:09
Size: 80.5 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:38] 1. Roadside Produce Stand (Feat. Willie Big Eyes Smith)
[3:03] 2. Mama & Daddy Blues (Feat. Willie Big Eyes Smith)
[1:53] 3. No Fear Everything
[3:42] 4. Walking & Talking With You (Feat. Willie Big Eyes Smith)
[3:58] 5. A Soldiers Wife (Feat. Donna Herula)
[3:44] 6. Clarksdale Riverside Hotel Blues (Feat. Willie Big Eyes Smith)
[2:21] 7. Bye Bye Blues (Feat. Donna Herula)
[3:04] 8. Sweet Potatoe Pie (Feat. Willie Big Eyes Smith & Eddie Shaw)
[4:44] 9. 4 20 Blues
[2:45] 10. Sand Baggin (Feat. Donna Herula)
[3:13] 11. My Mama Wears Combat Boots (Feat. Nick Moss)

April 28th, 2013, Liz Mandeville was honored for her life long commitment to the blues with induction into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame! Liz, who started her career in 1983 with a string of gigs at the notorious “Deadwood Dave’s Saloon” on the city’s north side, won the Windy City Blues Society’s 2011 Blues Challenge. Liz’s highly engaging shows often end in standing ovations; at the 2011 Lansing Blues Fest they were dancing in the street. They were on their feet in South Carolina, in Florida, and at WCBS’s show at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago.

Clarksdale, her first release for the new Blue Kitty Music label, an idea fostered by Grammy winner Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, dropped in May of 2012. Smith, best known for his work with the late Muddy Waters, contributed five tracks to the new disc. Clarksdale also features a riotous performance by long time friend and Howlin’ Wolf alum, the Legendary Eddie Shaw and includes tracks with Nick Moss and Donna Herula who was Liz’s partner in the IBC challenge.

Clarksdale mc
Clarksdale zippy

Album: Red Top
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 58:23
Size: 133.7 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:20] 1. Red Top
[4:25] 2. Corner Bar Blues
[5:27] 3. Dog No More
[2:59] 4. Spanky Butt
[5:21] 5. My Baby's Her Baby Too
[3:21] 6. Rub My Belly
[6:03] 7. So Smart Baby
[3:14] 8. Scratch The Kitty
[3:25] 9. Whoa, Whoa, Whoa
[2:47] 10. Bad Man Blues
[4:35] 11. Hold Me
[2:32] 12. Home Cookin'
[5:16] 13. Illinois National Guard Blues
[3:12] 14. Guilty Of Rockin' All Night
[2:19] 15. Little Queen

Liz Mandeville’s Red Top builds up a contemporary blues sound based on the stylistic bricks from its past.

Liz Mandeville draws her inspiration from more traditional sources, not just the electric blues from the 1950s on, but also from the swing and jazz of the 1940s, and, on “Rub My Belly,” from the blues rags of the 1920s, and on “Home Cookin’,” from the double-entendre acoustic folk blues of Mississippi John Hurt. (His classic “Candy Man” comes readily to mind.) Red Top is a CD of artist-penned music, 15 tracks of Mandeville originals that comprise contemporary electric blues, jazz swing, a rocked-up 1920s Bessie Smith-style rag, a straightforward acoustic folk blues, and on the last cut, “Little Queen,” a musically eclectic number that’s a mixture of country-rock with Chuck Berry influence.

Mandeville is not only an accomplished songwriter. She’s also an excellent guitarist and compelling vocalist with a style that’s her own, another showing of the diversity within contemporary blues on the distaff side. ~George Fish

Red Top mc
Red Top zippy