Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On The Jimmy Reed Highway

Size: 106,0 MB
Time: 45:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Full

1. Jimmy Reed Highway (4:03)
2. Baby What You Want Me To Do/Bright Lights Big City (5:09)
3. Big Boss Man (3:09)
4. Good Lover (3:06)
5. Caress Me Baby (5:07)
6. Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth (4:00)
7. You Upset My Mind (3:15)
8. I'll Change My Style (3:44)
9. Bad Boy (4:01)
10. Baby, What's Wrong (3:14)
11. Hush Hush (3:00)
12. You Made Me Laugh (3:49)

Some tribute projects to earlier greats seek to modernize and update their music. This project, co-led by singer Omar Kent Dykes and guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, instead focuses on revitalizing the music of Jimmy Reed in traditional settings. While not closely copying the original recordings, these new renditions are very much "in the tradition." With his deep and low voice, Dykes does justice to the lyrics and feelings in the music; Vaughan has plenty of fine guitar solos; and the guest spots of singer Lou Ann Barton and either Kim Wilson, James Cotton, Gary Primich, or Delbert McClinton on harmonica add to both the variety and the power of the music. As with the best tribute projects, this one will send listeners back to Jimmy Reed's original records while also standing by itself as a heartfelt and relevant homage to the great bluesman. /Scott Yanow, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

On The Jimmy Reed Highway mc
On The Jimmy Reed Highway zippy

---

Omar Kent Dykes - Big Town Playboy

Year: 2009
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:18
Size: 95,6 MB
Styles: Electric blues, Texas blues
Scans: Full

1. Big Town Playboy (4:12)
2. Upside Your Head (4:16)
3. I Can't Judge Nobody (3:48)
4. Think (3:50)
5. Mary Mary (2:44)
6. No More Doggin' (3:40)
7. Hello Mary Lee (2:28)
8. Close Together (2:43)
9. Dream Girl (4:02)
10. Since I Met You Baby (3:20)
11. Man Down There (2:57)
12. King Bee (3:13)

After years languishing in the blues-rock trenches, Omar Kent Dykes left his Howlers band behind in 2007, hooked up with friend and fellow Austin-ite Jimmie Vaughan, brought in some like-minded guests such as singer Lou Ann Barton, and cruised into one of the most popular blues albums of that year with a tribute to a major influence for both musicians; On the Jimmy Reed Highway. Little has changed on this follow-up from two years later. While only two tunes are penned by Reed, and Vaughan's billing has shrunk to a below the title "featuring" credit, this can't help but be seen as a logical extension of its popular predecessor.

Dykes digs into the lazy, Texas Reed shuffle from the opening title track (written by Reed's longtime guitarist Eddie Taylor), through the closing buzz of Slim Harpo's salacious "King Bee," 40 minutes later. But this is no case of sloppy seconds. Rather Dykes and Vaughan seem energized by the acclaim of their previous collaboration and loosen up with some returning friends (Barton, guitarist Derek O'Brien, and drummer Wes Starr, the latter who deserves more credit than he gets for capturing the loose yet crisp shuffle associated with Reed's approach) on a similarly styled session that is every bit the equal of the last.

Highlights include a tough, sassy duet with Barton on Jimmy McCracklin's "Think," and a swampy cover of John Lee Hooker's "No More Doggin'." Ronnie James' upright bass also adds a rootsy element captured by Vaughan's predominantly low-key solos. James Cotton swings by on harp for five selections including a peppy take on Lightnin' Slim's "Hello Mary Lee." The set sounds perhaps deceptively spontaneous as the players congeal around their mutual love for this laconic yet invigorating Texas blues. There is no sense trying to update this traditional sound, yet Dykes and co. succeed in blowing new life into it, and kudos if they can boost their careers in the process. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

Big Town Playboy mc
Big Town Playboy gofile

---

Omar Dykes - Runnin' With The Wolf

Year: 2013
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:26
Size: 134,9 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Runnin' With The Wolf (3:19)
2. Killin' Floor (3:44)
3. The Red Rooster (5:19)
4. Howlin' For My Baby (3:30)
5. Spoonful (3:11)
6. Ooh Baby, Hold Me (4:32)
7. Riding In The Moonlight (3:37)
8. Who's Been Talkin' (3:26)
9. Back Door Man (4:17)
10. Worried All The Time (4:25)
11. Smokestack Lightning (3:39)
12. Do The Do (3:15)
13. I'm Leavin' You (3:17)
14. Tell Me What I've Done (4:13)
15. Wang Dang Doodle (3:36)

Omar Dykes, of Omar & the Howlers, pays tribute to blues icon Howlin' Wolf on "Runnin' with the Wolf". All of the tracks on this disc were written by either Wolf or Willie Dixon except for the Omar original "Runnin' with the Wolf". Dykes stays close to the original versions of these songs, which most listeners have heard in some form or other: "The Red Rooster", "Back Door Man", "Smokestack Lightning", "Wang Dang Doodle", and "Killin' Floor". That doesn't mean these are straight covers. The passion in the performances is undeniable, but so is the fun these musicians are obviously having. Dykes has the perfect voice for this project and is complemented by Derek O'Brien on guitar, Ronnie James on bass, Ted Roddy on harp, and Wes Starr on drums along with Mark Kazanoff and Les Izmore on saxophones, Nick Connolly on organ, and Mike Buck on percussion. /Al Campbell, AllMusic

Runnin' With The Wolf mc
Runnin' With The Wolf gofile

---

Omar & The Howlers Feat. Gary Primich - Too Much Is Not Enough

Year: 2012
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:13
Size: 89,8 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Too Much (2:45)
2. I Gotta Let You Go (3:09)
3. Honest I Do (2:21)
4. I Ain't Got You (2:46)
5. High And Lonesome (3:56)
6. Going To New York (2:37)
7. Roll In Rhumba (2:23)
8. Take Out Some Insurance (3:11)
9. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (3:58)
10. I'm Gonna Ruin You (3:35)
11. Shame, Shame, Shame (3:44)
12. You Don't Have To Go (3:43)

Omar had wanted to do a Jimmy Reed tribute for more than 20 years. His original idea was to release an Omar and the Howlers record which featured guest artists playing on some of the tracks. "Too Much Is Not Enough" is the result of that vision. When Jimmie Vaughan joined the project, these tracks recorded for the Omar & The Howlers cd went on hold. Omar thought about separating the songs and dividing them up on different releases, but he realized they should be kept together as a collection in order to do them justice.

Besides the unstoppable talent of Gary Primich on harp, the release includes Gary Clark, Jr., Jay Moeller (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Ronnie James (Jimmie Vaughan band), and Derek O’Brien. Also playing on several tracks are Barry Bihm on bass and drummer, Jon Hahn, who were the Howlers’ rhythm section at the time.

Including a disclaimer as the liner notes, Dykes states that he knows he has already released a Jimmy Reed cd. He explains, “...damn the torpedoes, "Too Much Is Not Enough" is a completely different approach to Jimmy Reed. The common thread between the two releases is the incredible talent featured on the tracks. The most important reason to release these songs is they are the last recordings I did with my good friend Gary Primich. I believe these songs deserve to be shared and appreciated.”

Too Much Is Not Enough mc
Too Much Is Not Enough gofile

---

Gary Primich - Just A Little Bit More... With Omar Dykes (2 CD)

Just A Little Bit More... with Omar Dykes features 24 cuts of prime Gary Primich recordings that range from 1994 to 2006, the year before Primich passed away, and represent such CD titles as Travelin' Mood, Mr. Freeze, Doghouse Music and Ridin' the Darkhorse, as well as several previously unreleased tracks. Also included are several songs that first appeared on such Omar & The Howlers albums as Muddy Springs Road, Swingland and World Wide Open and highlight Gary Primich's unique talents as a harmonica player.

The musicians on the CD represent a veritable "who's who" of Austin's finest, including Gary Clark, Jr., Derek O'Brien, Sarah Brown, Wes Starr, Mark Korpi, Dave Biller, Jay Moehler, Nick Connolly, George Rains, Mark Rubin and Billy Horton. A number of the players were regular members of Gary Primich's band through the years, either on record or on tour.

Album: Just A Little Bit More - CD 1
Year: 2012
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:50
Size: 105,7 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Satellite Rock (2:25)
2. Sweet Fine Angel (3:54)
3. Caress Me Baby (4:06)
4. Boogie Woogie Baby (3:23)
5. Bad Dog (4:16)
6. Midnight Ramblin' Man (3:04)
7. Money Habit (4:14)
8. September Song (3:35)
9. House Rockin' Party (4:22)
10. Hoo Doo Ball (4:23)
11. Caravan (2:37)
12. School Of Hard Knocks (5:26)

Just A Little Bit More - CD 1 mc
Just A Little Bit More - CD 1 zippy

---

Album: Just A Little Bit More - CD 2
Year: 2012
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:42
Size: 98,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Dangerous Man (3:12)
2. Put The Hammer Down (3:43)
3. Mr. Freeze (3:55)
4. Jenny Brown (4:27)
5. One Room Country Shack (5:07)
6. Mail Order Mojo (2:40)
7. Pray For A Cloudy Day (5:34)
8. Keep On Talking (3:58)
9. Never Know When A Woman (3:43)
10. Down In Mississippi (3:25)
11. Indiana (2:51)

Just A Little Bit More - CD 2 mc
Just A Little Bit More - CD 2 zippy

---

Nalle, Omar & Magic Slim - Chapel Hill

Year: 2008
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:13
Size: 99,5 MB
Styles: Acoustic blues
Scans: Full

1. Meet Me In My Own Hometown (5:29)
2. Built For Comfort (2:58)
3. Little Red Rooster (3:56)
4. It's All Right (3:53)
5. Chapel Hill Boogie (3:46)
6. Scufflin' (1:58)
7. Come On Pretty Babe (3:00)
8. Country Girl (4:07)
9. Can't Get No Grindin' (2:13)
10. Come On In This House (2:24)
11. Mary Lee (2:44)
12. I'm A Stranger (2:42)
13. Love My Baby (3:59)

This album features an extraordinaire combination of three very special performers - all major players on the international roots/blues scene. Nalle started out in 1957 and in the sixities became Denmark's most famous rock and soul singer. After a personal setback in the late eighties and early nineties, Nalle made a remarkable comeback at the turn of the century. Lately Nalle has proved that he masters the acoustic roots-blues as well as rock 'n' roll and soul.

Texas blues man Omar Kent Dykes and his juicy, deep south three chord rough and tumble blues and trademark raw vocals has been a mainstay on the blues scene since the eighties. Magic Slim is probably the greatest living performer of the real electrified Mississippi to Chicago blues in the tradition of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Magic Slim is simply the last real Chicago blues man still standing. /Excerpt from the liner notes

Note: Morris "Magic Slim" Holt passed away on February 21, 2013. May he rest in peace.

Chapel Hill mc
Chapel Hill zippy

---

Omar - Blues Bag

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: from LL
Released: 1991
Styles: Blues
Time: 48:02
Size: 111,2 MB
Covers: Full

Personnel:
Omar - guitar, vocals & harp (3)
Greg Fingers Taylor - harp
Bruce Jones - bass
Gene Brandon - drums

(2:20) 1. Give Me Back My Wig
(2:52) 2. Bessie Mae
(2:14) 3. Big Chief Pontiac
(2:41) 4. Sleeping in the Ground
(2:13) 5. Lover Man
(2:42) 6. Come On, Pretty Baby
(2:35) 7. Gotta Good Friend
(2:55) 8. Leave Here Running
(3:12) 9. Big Round World
(4:44) 10. Omar's Blues
(3:57) 11. Angel Child
(3:54) 12. Tears Like Rain
(2:46) 13. Too Much
(3:12) 14. Wine Headed Woman
(5:36) 15. Blues in a Bottle

This CD was the solo debut of Omar Dykes, the leader of Omar & the Howlers. Although his musicianship is strong (as is the harmonica playing of Greg Taylor), it may take listeners a little while to get used to Omar's voice which is a mixture of Howlin' Wolf and dj Wolfman Jack! The first nine songs on the CD are essentially duets between Omar and Taylor with the final six tracks adding electric bassist Bruce Jones and drummer Gene Brandon. Many of the songs are light-hearted and, despite a certain lack of variety, blues fans will find the set difficult to resist. -- Allmusic.
Omar's guitar skills are fantastic and recall 1920's delta blues, mixed with a large dose of urban and jump blues. Often times recalling Robert Johnson and Leadbelly. His vocals are gritty and hit you like a bolt of lightning! His powerful vocals and exellent blues guitar technique make for a compelling and wonderful listen! A true great solo effort by Omar with occasional backup on harmonica. Although one should also acquire at least one cd with his full swingin' jump blues band "Omar & The Howlers", this is a great cd! -- Amazon.

Blues Bag

---

Birdlegg - Birdlegg

Size: 104,8 MB
Time: 45:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Modern Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Fanny May (3:07)
02. San Pablo (2:57)
03. Draw In Your Lip (4:25)
04. I'll Play The Blues You (3:44)
05. Barely Hanging On (2:57)
06. 747 (3:13)
07. You Up Set My Mind (4:08)
08. Restraining Order Blues (6:14)
09. Don't Set Down At The Table (3:49)
10. Blb (3:58)
11. Good Time Blues (2:59)
12. Down In My Shoes (3:48)

While practically every other blues harmonica player of his generation fell under the spell of Little Walter, Birdlegg is, and always was, different.
Instead, he was captivated by the generation before Jacobs — the one that inspired the virtuoso to completely redefine postwar blues harmonica in the early 1950s.
Harking back to a style reminiscent of two of the greatest early postwar and country blues harmonica players, Sonny Boy Williamson and Sonny Terry, Birdlegg’s expressive, full-tilt playing and singing also brings a fresh and distinctive approach to traditional gutbucket blues — something that has become all too rare these days.

Featured Artists:
Birdlegg: harp, vocals/Omar Dykes: guitar/Mike Keller: guitar/Jason Moeller: drums/Nick Connolly: piano/Johnny Bradley: upright bass

Birdlegg

---