Showing posts with label Raful Neal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raful Neal. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Raful Neal - Louisiana Legend

Size: 226 MB
Time: 33:49
File: Flac
Released: 1990
Styles: Louisana Blues
Art: Front

1. Luberta (2:56)
2. Steal Away (4:12)
3. Blues On The Moon (2:56)
4. Down And Out (4:31)
5. You Don't Love Me (3:16)
6. No Cuttin' Loose (3:14)
7. Been So Long (4:33)
8. Late In The Evening (2:28)
9. Honest I Do (2:59)
10. Let's Work Together (2:40)

Kenny Neal's dad Raful is a longtime Baton Rouge swamp blues stalwart whose own discography is way sparser than it should be. This album, first out on Bob Greenlee's King Snake logo, is an atmospheric indication of what the elder Neal can do with a harmonica, mixing covers ("Steal Away," "Honest I Do," "No Cuttin' Loose") with spicy originals.

Louisiana Legend FLAC

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Raful Neal - I Been Mistreated

Year: 1991
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:17
Size: 93,1 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Front

1. I Been Mistreated (3:00)
2. Down In Louisiana (3:32)
3. Hard Times (3:49)
4. I Miss You Baby (5:16)
5. Man, Watch Your Woman (4:28)
6. Spill It On Me (3:08)
7. Starlight Diamond (5:27)
8. I Have Eyes For You (3:17)
9. Little Red Rooster (4:30)
10. Still In Love With You (3:46)

When he wasn't busy siring progeny (the Neal household produced ten kids, most of them seemingly now playing the blues), Raful Neal was staking his claim as one of the top harpists on the Baton Rouge blues front. Unfortunately, until recently, his discography didn't reflect that status - but albums for Alligator and Ichiban have righted that injustice.

Born in Baton Rouge in 1936, Neal took up the harp at age 14, tutored by a local player named Ike Brown and influenced by Chicago mainstay Little Walter. Neal's first band, the Clouds, also included guitarist Buddy Guy. This was the band Little Walter heard while in Baton Rouge and invited them to move up to Chicago and fill in at the gigs Walter couldn't make. Guy jumped at the chance but Neal decided to stay in Louisiana and raise his family. The harpist debuted on vinyl in 1958 with a 45 for Don Robey's Houston-headquartered Peacock Records. But "Sunny Side of Love," fine though it was, didn't lead to an encore for Peacock or anywhere else until much later, when Neal turned up with 45s on Whit, La Louisiane, and Fantastic.

Neal's debut album, the aptly titled Louisiana Legend, first emerged on Bob Greenlee's King Snake Records and was picked up by Alligator in 1990. I Been Mistreated, Neal's equally swampy follow-up, was released on Ichiban the following year; sons Noel (on bass) and Raful Jr. (on guitar) pitched in to help their old man out. Neal toured around the world and in 1997 he contributed harp to a couple of tracks on Tab Benoit's Live: Swampland Jam record. The understated but solid Old Friends appeared in 1998. Raful Neal died on September 1, 2004, after a long bout with cancer. /Bio by Bill Dahl, AllMusic

I Been Mistreated mc
I Been Mistreated zippy

Friday, June 15, 2018

George 'Wild Child' Butler, Frank Frost, Raful Neal - Harp And Blues

Year: 1983
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:10
Size: 84,1 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Scans: LP front & back

1. Frank Frost - Harpin' On It (2:56)
2. Frank Frost - Things You Do (2:32)
3. Frank Frost - Harp & Soul (2:52)
4. Frank Frost - Ride With Your Daddy Tonight (2:35)
5. George 'Wild Child' Butler - Axe And The Wind (2:25)
6. George 'Wild Child' Butler - Hold Me Baby (2:35)
7. George 'Wild Child' Butler - Do Something Baby (2:32)
8. George 'Wild Child' Butler - Jelly Jam (2:17)
9. George 'Wild Child' Butler - My 40 Year Old Woman (3:04)
10. George 'Wild Child' Butler - Open Up Baby (2:46)
11. George 'Wild Child' Butler - The Best Of Wild Child (2:12)
12. Raful Neal - Let's Work Together (3:03)
13. Raful Neal - Blues On The Moon (1:48)
14. Raful Neal - It's Been So Long (2:25)

Frank Frost’s skills encompassed keyboards and guitar, but like many other blues artists, he started with the harmonica. After moving to St. Louis as a teenager, he took up playing with Sonny Boy ‘Rice Miller’ Williamson in the mid-50s, appearing regularly with him on the famous radio show King Biscuit Time. He also teamed up with Robert Nighthawk and his son Sam Carr, before relocating to the south. In 1962 he recorded for Sam Phillips as part of the Nighthawks trio, featuring Carr on drums and guitarist Big Jack Johnson. One single and an album, Hey Boss Man!, resulted, featuring a very tough and raw, but tight, down-home blues sound, unusual on record at this time. A similar sound emerged from his next sessions in Nashville in 1966, produced by Scotty Moore, which produced three fine singles and, later, an album on Jewel Records. ‘My Back Scratcher’, Frost’s take on Slim Harpo’s ‘Baby Scratch My Back’, was even a minor R&B hit. Subsequently, Frost went back to mainly local performing in the juke joints around his home area in the Mississippi Delta, basing himself at Eddie Mae’s Café in Helena, Arkansas. He also continued to make records and tour with Carr and Johnson, releasing 1979’s Rockin’ The Juke Joint Down as the Jelly Roll Kings. Frost undertook some highly acclaimed appearances in Europe and, following his appearance in the 1986 movie Crossroads, recorded several well-received solo albums before his death in October 1999.

George Butler was born in Autaugaville, Alabama on October 1, 1936. His mother nicknamed him ‘Wild Child’ before he could even walk. George took up the harmonica by the age of six and at 14 he was already performing professionally. In the late 1950’s ‘Wild Child’ Butler moved to Chicago and became a blues sensation. His recording debut was released in 1964. Butler continued to record and tour extensively for decades. In the early 1980’s while on tour in the Yukon Butler met a Canadian named Elaine who would soon become his wife and manager. In order to remain in Canada but be close to Chicago the Butlers settled in the Windsor area in 1985. While living in Windsor, Butler recorded These Mean Old Blues in 1991 and Stranger in 1994. In the summertime Butler could be found enjoying a day of fishing and playing his harmonica at fishing holes and farm ponds around Stoney Point. George ‘Wild Child’ Butler passed away March 1, 2005 at the age of 68. Mr. Butler had been preparing to record his next CD and had finished writing all the songs for the album prior to his passing.

Born in Baton Rouge in 1936, Raful Neal took up the harp at age 14, tutored by a local player named Ike Brown and influenced by Chicago mainstay Little Walter. Neal's first band, the Clouds, also included guitarist Buddy Guy. This was the band Little Walter heard while in Baton Rouge and invited them to move up to Chicago and fill in at the gigs Walter couldn't make. Guy jumped at the chance but Neal decided to stay in Louisiana and raise his family. The harpist debuted on vinyl in 1958 with a 45 for Don Robey's Houston-headquartered Peacock Records. But "Sunny Side of Love," fine though it was, didn't lead to an encore for Peacock or anywhere else until much later, when Neal turned up with 45s on Whit, La Louisiane, and Fantastic. Neal's debut album, the aptly titled Louisiana Legend, first emerged on Bob Greenlee's King Snake Records and was picked up by Alligator in 1990. I Been Mistreated, Neal's equally swampy follow-up, was released on Ichiban the following year; sons Noel (on bass) and Raful Jr. (on guitar) pitched in to help their old man out. Neal toured around the world and in 1997 he contributed harp to a couple of tracks on Tab Benoit's Live: Swampland Jam record. The understated but solid Old Friends appeared in 1998. Raful Neal died on September 1, 2004, after a long bout with cancer.

Harp And Blues mc
Harp And Blues zippy

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Various - The Alligator Records Playlists: UFO Interstellar Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:09
Size: 114.8 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[11:16] 1. Anders Osborne - Black Eye Galaxy
[ 2:27] 2. Bob Margolin - Alien's Blues
[ 3:48] 3. Dave Hole - Beyond Jupiter
[ 5:03] 4. Albert Collins - The Moon Is Full
[ 2:45] 5. Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women - Rocket Ship
[ 6:26] 6. C.J. Chenier - The Moon Is Rising
[ 4:53] 7. Long John Hunter - Marfa Lights
[ 6:50] 8. Dave Hole - Cold Blue Moon
[ 3:41] 9. Bob Margolin - Falling Star
[ 2:56] 10. Raful Neal - Blues On The Moon

The Alligator Records Playlists: UFO Interstellar Blues mc
The Alligator Records Playlists: UFO Interstellar Blues zippy

Friday, April 15, 2016

Tab Benoit - Live: Swampland Jam

Year: 1997
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:21
Size: 145,8 MB
Styles: Electric blues, Louisiana blues
Scans: Full

1. Let Love Take Control (5:24)
2. Ain't Gonna Do It (5:14)
3. Moon Coming Over The Hill (2:59)
4. Too Many Dirty Dishes (w. Henry Gray) (7:53)
5. Keep On Moving (3:52)
6. Heart Of Stone (7:45)
7. Gone Too Long (4:35)
8. Garbage Man (w. Raful Neal) (5:02)
9. Crawling Kingsnake (w. Jumpin' Johnny Sansone) (4:41)
10. Louisiana Style (w. Jumpin' Johnny Sansone) (4:37)
11. It Takes A Long Time (w. Tabby Thomas) (5:07)
12. Hot Tamale Baby (w. Chubby Carrier) (6:07)

This is by far the best album this Louisiana blues/swamp-rocker has come up with to date. Benoit is playing with basically a three-piece, with Doug Therrien on bass and Allyn Robinson on drums. The rest of the sound is filled in by various guests, some exceedingly strong Louisiana players. Therein lives both the problem and the strength of this disc - the sound is a bit thin when there's no guest taking up some space. Only on the slow burner "Heart of Stone" and "Gone Too Long" does the basic band fill up the airwaves. The music is good, but without that fourth player, it doesn't have enough density. When there is another player, the sound is as gritty and raw as they come - Cajun-based blues with a swampy sensuality. Benoit's singing and guitar playing have taken giant steps forward and are up there with the best. /Bob Gottlieb, AllMusic

Live: Swampland Jam mc
Live: Swampland Jam zippy

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Raful Neal - Louisiana Legend

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:44
Size: 77.2 MB
Styles: Louisiana blues
Year: 1990/2015
Art: Front

[2:54] 1. Luberta
[4:13] 2. Steal Away
[2:57] 3. Blues On The Moon
[4:31] 4. Down And Out
[3:16] 5. You Don't Love Me (Anymore)
[3:13] 6. No Cuttin' Loose
[4:32] 7. Been So Long
[2:29] 8. Late In The Evening
[2:58] 9. Honest I Do
[2:38] 10. Let's Work Together

Bass, Saxophone – Bob Greenlee; Drums – Denny Best, Jim Payne, Scott Corwin; Executive Producer – "Boogie" Bob Snow, Bob "Soulman" Scheir, Bob Greenlee; Guitar – Bryan Bassett, Ernie Lancaster; Harmonica, Vocals – Raful Neal; Keyboards – Barry Rupp, Red Simpson; Lead Guitar – Kenny Neal; Producer – Bob Greenlee, Kenny NealSaxophone – Noble Watts; Trombone – Jon Paltishall; Trumpet – Bruce Staelens.

Kenny Neal's dad Raful is a longtime Baton Rouge swamp blues stalwart whose own discography is way sparser than it should be. This album, first out on Bob Greenlee's King Snake logo, is an atmospheric indication of what the elder Neal can do with a harmonica, mixing covers ("Steal Away," "Honest I Do," "No Cuttin' Loose") with spicy originals. ~Bill Dahl

Louisiana Legend mc
Louisiana Legend zippy

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Raful Neal - Old Friends

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 43:47
Size: 100.3 MB
Styles: Louisiana blues, Harmonica blues
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[3:11] 1. My Baby Left Me
[4:22] 2. Someday
[3:27] 3. I Got Over You
[4:50] 4. You Been Sweet To Me
[3:47] 5. Call Me Baby
[3:43] 6. Pride & Joy
[3:36] 7. Old Friend
[4:26] 8. Bleeding Heart
[3:40] 9. Crazy About You Baby
[4:14] 10. Change My Way Of Living
[4:26] 11. Sunny Side Of Love

Baton Rouge harmonica wizard Raful Neal, influenced by fellow Louisiana harp man Little Walter and the laconic swamp blues sound of Slim Harpo, might have enjoyed more mass recognition had he left the region for Chicago and other points north like many of the area's other postwar blues players did, but he chose to stay in Louisiana and raise a family (several of his children ended up musicians, including his oldest son, Kenny Neal), and he recorded rather sparingly. This set, from 1998, is typical of his output, featuring slow burning ballads like his impressive version of Ted Taylor's "Someday" and stomping shuffles like his own "Pride & Joy." A masterful, if sometimes understated, harmonica player (his take on Little Walter's "Crazy About You Baby," included here, shows him in full flight), Neal was also a fine singer, and if his songs lyrically often wandered into cliché territory, his subtle, emotional, and completely believable vocal phrasing yanked them right back out again. Seldom flashy, and working without a stable of gimmicks, Neal doesn't hit you over the head with what he does (which is probably part of the reason he isn't better known), but his steady, solid approach to his own brand of swamp blues makes this a comfortable outing that quickly grows on you. ~Steve Leggett

Old Friends mc
Old Friends zippy

Friday, September 13, 2013

Peter Novelli - S/T

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 71:40
Size: 164.1 MB
Styles: Texas blues, Louisiana blues
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[4:52] 1. Texas Tonk
[5:52] 2. Just These Blues
[5:30] 3. I'm Going To Louisiana
[4:22] 4. Lie No Better
[2:59] 5. Grand Isle Dawn
[3:53] 6. Wrong Number
[4:46] 7. Since The Hurricane
[4:59] 8. Nothin' To Say
[5:57] 9. Open The Gate
[6:41] 10. Real Man
[4:49] 11. Bulverde, Texas
[5:27] 12. Te-Ni-Ne-Ni-Nu
[2:51] 13. James Johnson On Scratch
[1:59] 14. Raful Neal On Slim Harpo And Scratch My Back
[4:41] 15. Baby Scratch My Back
[1:54] 16. Big Johnny Thomassie On New Orleans Drumming

Peter's guitar style evolved from the electric blues masters, mixed with his years playing Louisiana roots music in zydeco/cajun bands. This CD was recorded in Baton Rouge and New Orleans with former members of Gatemouth Brown's Gate's Express: David Hyde (bass), David Peters (drums) with guest appearances by other members of Gate's band (Joe Krown on B3, Bobby Henderson on alto sax, Chris Belleau on trombone. Brian Brignac (Sonny Landreth, Wayne Toups) played percussion and drums. Other guests include Dr John, Paul Barrere (Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, etc), Greg "Fingers" Taylor on harmonica, Raful Neal on harmonica, Augie Meyers on Vox organ (Texas Tornados, Sir Douglas Quintet), Olivier Scoazec (Buckwheat Zydeco, Zachary Richard), James Johnson, guitar (Slim Harpo band), David Torkanowsky on B3, Suzanne Leger (frottoir and percussion), Smoky Greenwell, harmonica (WAR), Curtis Coubello (fiddle), Nelson Blanchard on keys.

The CD includes a Tribute to Slim Harpo, two tracks (previously recorded, but unfinished) with members of Harpo's band (the late Raful Neal, James Johnson, Rudy Richard) and New Orleans legend, the late "Big" Johnny Thomassie on drums.

Peter Novelli