Racky Thomas - Last of the Big Spenders

Size: 282 MB
Time: 49:41
File: Flac
Released: 1998
Styles: Modern Blues
Art: Cover

1. Sweet Dough Baker (3:27)
2. Mark's Boogie (2:03)
3. My Baby's Gone (5:11)
4. Death Letter Blues (2:51)
5. Don't Treat Me Like That (3:12)
6. Fire As Wine (3:46)
7. Standing On a Corner (5:33)
8. Rack 'em Up (3:12)
9. Last of the Big Spenders (4:40)
10. These Lowdown Blues (4:37)
11. Just a Fool (7:16)
12. Tears Fell Down Like Rain (3:47)

This is the bands first release from 1999 and is a great example of contemporary blues sounds. A first rate, soulful singer and harp player, Racky has an excess of talent in the songwriting department along with collaborator & bassist Todd Carson. After a decade of playing around the Boston area, the band has been building an audience along the east coast and developing into a fine traditional band. Once again, Nick Adams adds tasty string bending to the proceedings with shades of TINY GRIMES and HOLLYWOOD FATS evidenced. This is excellent modern blues...........

Last of the Big Spenders FLAC

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Racky Thomas And The Travelin' Medicine Show Revival Band - Good Medicine

Size: 274 MB
Time: 44:58
File: Flac
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues, Roots
Art: Front

1. Hard Travelin' (3:35)
2. When That First Trumpet Sounds (3:35)
3. Walkin' to New Orleans (3:29)
4. White Freightliner Blues (5:41)
5. Nails in My Coffin (3:08)
6. Eyes on the Prize (5:04)
7. Midnight Train (3:07)
8. Two Hands (3:14)
9. Louis Collins (4:43)
10. Goin' Home (4:30)
11. Mary Don't You Weep (4:49)

Racky Thomas & the Travelin’ Medicine Show Revival Band draws their repertoire from rich and varied 20th century musical influences. From country blues and gospel to Texas swing and Boogie-woogie - you'll feel the spirit of an old-time tent revival meeting. Led by renowned longtime Boston bluesman Racky Thomas on vocals, guitar and harmonica, he is supported by a seasoned wealth of talented musicians including Michael 'Mudcat' Ward on bass, John Juxo on piano, organ and squeezebox, Pete Henderson on guitar, Michael Avery on drums, and Ilana Katz Katz on the old-time fiddle. The Medicine Show serves up an eclectic gumbo that is sure to have you clapping your hands and stomping your feet with joy. Their new record 'Good Medicine' provides just what the doctor ordered for these turbulent times. It was selected as a "top pick" for all of 2021 by one Blues Music Magazine reviewer. “Ain’t nothing like a good dose of Spirituality on a Sunday Morning and Boston-Based Racky Thomas and his band of talented musicians deliver all you need on this uplifting album.”

Good Medicine FLAC

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Racky Thomas - Goin' Home

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:56
Size: 109.8 MB
Styles: Folk blues
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:40] 1. France Blues
[3:47] 2. Ready
[3:31] 3. Goin' Away Blues
[4:28] 4. Goin' Home
[5:40] 5. Must Have Been The Devil
[3:48] 6. Stack O' Lee
[4:56] 7. Down In The Bottom
[4:56] 8. Big Road Blues
[4:48] 9. Mary Don't You Weep
[3:16] 10. Roll 'em Pete
[4:01] 11. Good Night Irene

For almost two decades Racky Thomas has made some of the finest traditional blues records in the modern West Coast style. His strong & unaffected vocals and sturdy harp playing always shows the mark of a deep listener and original interpreter. Over the past couple releases he has moved towards a broader blues sound with solo- duo and small band recordings. This set features some great covers of OTIS SPANN- CHARLIE PATTON- TOMMY JOHNSON as well as some great boogie duets with piano ace MATT McCABE.

Goin' Home mc
Goin' Home zippy

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Various - Boston Blues Works Vol 1

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:48
Size: 98.0 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:28] 1. Ryan Hartt - No Blow, No Show
[3:19] 2. Jamie Lynn Hart - Comin' Home
[4:12] 3. Ryan Montbleau - Sho Nuff I Do
[2:28] 4. Jesse Dee - Spasms
[4:01] 5. Gracie Curran - That's All Right
[3:23] 6. Racky Thomas - Rock Lil' Baby
[4:25] 7. Dwight Ritcher - Ain't Nobody's Business
[3:30] 8. Rebecca Muir - I Just Wanna Make Love To You
[5:44] 9. Toni Lynn Washington - Give Me One Reason
[3:54] 10. Cheryl Aruda - Good Lovin'
[4:20] 11. Nicole Nelson - Oh, What A Dream

Every day humanity pushes the boundaries of what we are capable of further and further outward. The entertainment industry is no different. At present however, it occurs to me that the new frontiers in popular music those are being pioneered more by audio engineers than singers and musicians. Popular music today follows a fast food chain model: fast, cheap, and disposable. I do not foresee many of these songs lasting the test of time.

Boston Blues Works: Volume 1 offers an oasis, a respite from the thousand dissonant distractions offered elsewhere. Regardless of individual taste in music and preference in genre, everyone can appreciate the heart and soul of these local artists coming together and breathing some life and intimacy back into the music scene. There is a directness to these songs that speaks volumes of the dedication and love put into their creation. Whether a seasoned veteran of the blues scene or a newcomer, you would do well to pick up a copy of this album to add to your collection. ~Nilrem

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Boston Blues Works Vol 1 zippy

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Racky Thomas - Goin' Home

Size: 110,5 MB
Time: 47:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues Country, Louisiana Blues
Label: Racky Thomas
Art: Front

01. France Blues (4:39)
02. Ready (3:45)
03. Goin' Away Blues (3:28)
04. Goin' Home (4:26)
05. Must Have Been The Devil (5:38)
06. Stack O' Lee (3:46)
07. Down In The Bottom (4:53)
08. Big Road Blues (4:56)
09. Mary Don't You Weep (4:45)
10. Roll 'em Pete (3:14)
11. Good Night Irene (3:52)

Featuring support musicians like keyboardist John Juxo, keyboardist Matt McCabe, drummer Michael Avery, famed bassist Mudcat Ward, guitarist Peter Henderson, vocalist Carrie Johnson, and vocalist Shavonne Moore, Thomas’s new Goin’ Home finds him indulging himself in these traditional genres, especially Louisiana blues.

“I infused a lot of the country blues that I’ve had,” he said. “Mudcat Ward turned me onto some old Hank Williams gospel music, so I started getting more into gospel, and we brought that into the equation. We made it a mix of blues, gospel, country, this and that. It’s an amalgamation of those things. It kind of works, and I really discovered how I like singing that kind of stuff. When we went into the studio, that’ just what came out of it.”

RackyThomas4“Goin’ Away, Baby” is a Joe Turner/Pete Johnson song Thomas included. It has only vocals and piano, an approach that he and Matt McCabe have been using for a long time. “We thought it would be a nice change of pace,” Thomas said. “I’ve been a big fan of Joe Turner’s style so that’s why we added that song to that record.”

His next cut on that CD is title track “Goin’ Home.” The blues tune is a spiritual number about traveling back to one’s place of origin. Piano, accordion, harmonica and more are loaded with spiritual fiber. A choir like chorus carries the message even further.

“That’s a Charlie Patton tune that he just sang with guitar and the voice, and I just liked the whole gospel vibe to it,” Thomas said. “It’s going back to the roots. I just love the melody and the singing and everything and the girls just sang background. That really enriched the song. John Juxo’s great accordion playing just gives it a joyful feel. I love that tune. We pulled out all the stops on that. That might be my favorite track on the CD.”

The second half of the new Thomas album is more assertive. “Down In The Bottom” has a crisp vocal approach that makes everything sound urgent and harried. “It has a blending of ‘Rolling And Tumbling” and Down In The Bottom,’” Thomas said. “I just like that Delta feel and the slide guitar. You get an almost R.L. Burnside vibe or Junior Kimbrough.”

RackyThomas5“Mary Don’t You Weep” is a sleepy Louisiana blues that gets its layers of soul from an accordion melody, a girl choir, and slide guitar phrasing. “I’ve heard a few different versions of that song,” Thomas said. “That’s another gospel song. Bruce Springsteen’s done a version of it. Taj Mahal did a version in the major key. We went into the studio with that, and it came out with a Latin feel too. That’s just the way it evolved in the studio, and we went with it.”

Goin' Home

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The Racky Thomas Band - 2 albums: Hard Travelin' / Live At The Yardrock

The Racky Thomas Band has been a torchbearer for the blues since its formation in 1995, when Racky Thomas collaborated with bassist Todd Carson, guitarist Nick Adams, and drummer Ted Larkin to make a demo cd, and do some gigs around the Boston area. Thomas spent '96 and early '97 abroad before returning to Boston, with the intent of putting the band back together and taking another stab at cracking the blues scene.

After an invitation to enter Boston's 1997 Battle of The Blues Bands, and the addition of pianist Ron Poster, the band went on to win, and traveled to Memphis to compete on a national level. Failing to make the finals in Memphis, the band traveled home; humbled, yet with a stronger resolve.

Following the departures of Larkin and Poster; the band-- in various formations --has forged ahead; releasing four critically acclaimed, independently produced cd's, including their most recent effort, 'Hard Travelin', and making numerous club and festival appearances; opening for such luminaries as Luther 'Guitar' Jr. Johnson, Ronnie Earl, and Sue Tedeschi; highlighted by a trip to France in 2010, to perform at the Terri Thouars festival. Moving forward, Thomas plans to release a solo acoustic CD featuring his Delta and country blues influences, as well as make another trip to the studio (or club!) for a live recording. Stay tuned...

Album: Hard Travelin'
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:41
Size: 136.6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Ain't Gonna Do It
[3:38] 2. Someone To Keep Me Satisfied
[4:25] 3. If My Luck Don't Change
[6:14] 4. Break It To Me Easy
[6:00] 5. Dance With Your Daddy
[3:57] 6. Goin' Away Baby
[2:46] 7. Junker's Blues
[4:35] 8. She's All Right
[6:38] 9. Louise
[4:09] 10. Racketeering
[4:45] 11. Honey Bee
[3:33] 12. Travelin' Blues
[5:14] 13. Ride With Your Daddy Tonight

Hard Travelin' mc
Hard Travelin' zippy

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Album: Live At The Yardrock
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 68:57
Size: 157.9 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:23] 1. The Hustle Is On
[7:09] 2. Standing On A Corner
[6:25] 3. Sweet Dough Baker
[4:47] 4. Don't Treat Me Like That
[4:32] 5. Oh My
[3:49] 6. Rack 'em Up
[6:02] 7. Please Love Me
[4:21] 8. Tenor Madness
[6:53] 9. I Wonder Why
[4:25] 10. One Thing Mama
[9:39] 11. Can't Win For Losin'
[6:27] 12. Blues Keep Me Troubled

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