Midwest Blues Allstars - Covered Up

Size: 92,8 MB - 244 MB
Time: 40:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2009
Styles: electric blues, harp blues
Art: Front

1. Ying Yang (5:27)
2. Mellow Down Easy (4:00)
3. Killing Floor (3:37)
4. I Wanna Be Loved (2:10)
5. Snatch It Back and Hold It (4:15)
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do (4:57)
7. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (5:02)
8. Diamonds At Your Feet (2:59)
9. Same Old Blues (4:45)
10. Next Time You See Me (3:03)

The Midwest Blues Allstars have been performing their genuine and authentic brand of Chicago blues since 1999. If your festival, club, or venue needs a quality blues band, you've found the real thing. Without attempting to cross over to other genres, the band has managed to bring a modern updated feel to their favorite traditional blues tunes, leaving no one ever disappointed. In May of 2009, the band released "Covered Up", a collection of the band's most requested tunes. Positive reviews began arriving immediately and this has proven to be the band's most popular recording thus far. Real blues fans will love this band. The second studio album from this nationally renowned Milwaukee quintet plays fiercely on a set of remakes that the group-in the folk tradition in which its music is rooted-makes its own. You can believe harmonica-blowing lead singer Jimmie Davis when he gruffly bellows of romantic regrets and yearnings and how his mojo is working. Guitar phenom Sam McCue has a less gruff way with his voice, making for a mellower complement to his ace ax work. The Midwest Blues All-Stars play blues for the fun and joy of making music.

Thanks daba :)

Covered Up MP3
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Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women - DeLuxe Edition

Album: DeLuxe Edition
Size: 174,2 MB
Time: 74:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Blues, piano blues
Art: Full

1. Middle Aged Blues Boogie (Live) (4:52)
2. Sloppy Drunk (3:09)
3. It Takes A Mighty Good Man (3:26)
4. Ain't Gonna Hush (2:17)
5. Bitch With A Bad Attitude (Live) (7:14)
6. There's Lightning In These Thunder Thighs (3:43)
7. Tom Cat Blues (2:49)
8. (No Need) Pissin' On A Skunk (3:41)
9. Don't Treat Your Man Like A Dog (2:43)
10. Because Of You (2:38)
11. T'aint Nobody's Business (4:11)
12. Silver Beaver (Live) (5:46)
13. Elevator Man (3:13)
14. How Can I Say I Miss You (3:49)
15. In My Girlish Days (3:32)
16. School Teacher's Blues (3:40)
17. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (2:34)
18. Falling Back In Love With You (4:22)
19. Wild Women Don't Have The Blues (2:43)
20. The Equalizer (4:17)

There is plenty of fire in Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women, a trio of feisty multiracial middle-aged acoustic blues femmes who, rather surprisingly, were one of the top sellers from Alligator's male-dominated, plugged-in roster. This generous 20-track, 75-minute compilation collects highlights from the threesome's previous seven Alligator albums, spanning 1990-2001.

Led by pianist and co-founder Ann Rabson's barroom honky tonk piano and Gaye Adegbalola's gutsy vocals and guitar, the band hit a nerve for a previously untapped audience of older, predominantly female blues fans. With double entendre lyrics flying ("Silver Beaver," "Elevator Man," "Middle Aged Blues Boogie," "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues"), the aggressive sexuality boasted in the majority of these songs may have seemed sassy at the time, but was just a throwback to the similarly raucous style of classic female blues singers such as Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, and Ida Cox.

The big difference was that Saffire could play their instruments, and play them well, which added a layer of self-confidence to their shtick. With three distinctive singers and a strong sense of pacing, the music never gets boring, although at 20 cuts, this does start to feel repetitious in spots. There are no rarities, so fans won't need to take the plunge, but for newcomers this is a perfect introduction to a unique female group that proved it could hold its own in the testosterone-heavy world of blues music. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Slim Butler - Slim Butler's Inner Blues

Album: Slim Butler's Inner Blues
Size: 103,3 MB
Time: 44:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Full

1. (Call Me) Mr. Big Shot (3:35)
2. What Have You Done (5:22)
3. Never Lose My Soul (Over You) (4:24)
4. I Don't Want To Talk About It (3:57)
5. A Heart Of Ice (3:58)
6. Life On A Line (4:25)
7. Hey Bartender! (Give Me Back My Fender) (4:15)
8. Mexican Tears (3:11)
9. Got To Move (3:06)
10. I Can't Imagine Why (5:52)
11. Inner Blues (Bonus Track) (2:13)

Slim Butler's debut CD hails from the unfamiliar hot bed of Finland's blues scene, Rovaniemi. A Meeting of Finland's finest in Lapland's famous artic town on a beautiful autumn weekend produced a seriously hip-sounding CD with 10 songs. All the songs are written by Jarmo "Slim Butler" Puhakka himself way before he entered the studio. A number of true veterans of the local Finnish blues fraternity provided solid backup to Slim's highly personal songs. The icing on a cake are the album's vocalists who are both from USA. Sugar Ray Norcia is best known for being the front man and vocalist for Boston's legendary bands Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Roomful Of Blues and his own The Bluetones. Also sharing the vocal duties is a rising new star to watch out for, Andrew Black from Atlanta who adds a soulful southern flavor to the mix.

"Inner Blues" has that authentic sound and feel of an old recording because it was produced and mixed by the gentle giant of the blues, Otis Grand. Otis keeps an experienced eye on the proceedings and also provides stingin' lead guitar work on a couple of tunes. Incidentally, this album was recorded using old analogue recording equipment in a rustic cottage, Villa Willamo in the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi. This authentic live in the studio feel was captured perfectly on magnetic tape by Valanne Mobile Analogue Recording Service.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Sarah & The Tall Boys - Shiny and New

Size: 112,9 MB - 259 MB
Time: 49:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2009
Styles: blues, country-blues, rock
Art: Front, tray

1. Friday Night Man (3:46)
2. Heart That You Stole (3:11)
3. Who But A Fool (4:32)
4. Trainwreck (3:23)
5. Before (5:43)
6. Shadow of a Doubt (4:08)
7. Shiny & New (3:36)
8. Crush (2:37)
9. You Done Me Wrong (3:12)
10. North (4:51)
11. No Glory, No Fame (2:57)
12. Red Moon Rising (7:10)

Part Alt-Country, part Blues, this band is hard to categorize. Simply put, they play great American music. Sarah and The Tall Boys are a Chicago based Americana band specializing in original Country Blues music. The group is fronted by primary songwriter Sarah Potenza Crossman on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, with help from bassist/husband Ian Crossman, lead guitarist Dan Allen, and drummer Bryan Sansom. Sarah and The Tall Boys have been performing since 2007. The bands’ first release “Shiny and New” came out in 2008. Taxi A and R Company took a listen and said the album had “sensational blues infused vocal delivery. Soulful vocals take center stage. I’m a fan, and I’m very picky.” The songs are a collection of folksy, bluesy original material, much of which was written by Sarah prior to her forming The Tall Boys.

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Chris Tofield And The Blues Benders - Broken Strings

Size: 158,6 MB - 462,5 MB
Time: 69:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 1999
Styles: Blues, blues-rock
Art: Front, cd, inside, tray

1. Goin Nowhere Fast (6:03)
2. Dealin With The Devil (5:26)
3. Pickin On The Iceman (5:09)
4. My Baby's On My Mind (3:23)
5. Trouble With You (3:54)
6. Love Is Just A Gamble (6:07)
7. Insomnia (4:23)
8. My Baby's Long Gone (7:23)
9. Broken Strings (9:24)
10. Give Life One More Chance (5:39)
11. Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Better Day (5:08)
12. The Zone... (7:13)

Chris Tofield is a musician who has dedicated his life to sharpening his skill to a razor’s edge and who truly enjoys his trade. He has maintained a strong work ethic that has kept him in business for over 25 years and built his solid reputation as a down to earth, no-nonsense performer and person to deal with. Tofield, a seasoned journeyman musician, has performed with some of the top artists of the blues and rock world. Most recently, Chris was the guitarist and musical director for legendary soul/blues singer “Mighty” Sam McClain, a multiple Grammy Award and W.C. Handy Award nominee and an inductee in the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame. Other artists Chris has performed with include James Montgomery, The Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, Ronnie Earl, Savoy Brown, Toni Lynn Washington, Big Mike Griffin and many others. With McClain and others, Chris toured extensively across North America, Europe, U.K., Scandinavia and the Caribbean, appearing at many prestigious blues festivals and venues. In 2004, Chris headlined two highly successful tours of Eastern Europe, including performing on Romanian national TV. Tofield co-produced, arranged and appeared on McClain’s 2003 release “One More Bridge To Cross”, which was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for ”Best Soul / Blues Album of the Year”. He also wrote two songs for the CD, including the title track. Tofield has also released two critically acclaimed CDs; 1994’s “self titled” CD and 2000’s“Broken Strings”. Both received considerable airplay, earning Tofield the distinction of being “the 2nd most requested local artist of the year in 2003” on “Beef Stew’s Sunday Night Blue Show” on WCCC in Hartford, CT; a 6 hour blues show on one of Southern New England’s largest commercial radio stations, which reaches an audience of over 5 million listeners. As an international blues/rock act for over 16 years, “Chris Tofield and The Bluesbenders” have left audiences hot, sweaty and satisfied time and time again with their intense, high-energy shows. This reputation has earned Tofield and the band 7 consecutive “Hartford Advocate Readers Poll Awards” for “Best Blues/Rock Band” in Connecticut. They have been finalists numerous times in The Blues Foundation’s Blues Challenge competition and have opened for many legendary acts such as B.B King, Jeff Healey, Tower of Power, Robert Cray, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Edgar & Johnny Winter, Roomful of Blues and many others. Since relocating to Las Vegas, Chris has been carving a niche for himself in “the entertainment capital of the world” by working with some of the city’s top performers and musicians. As Chris is quoted as saying “If I’m not having a good time, how can I expect my audience to?” One thing for sure, when Chris Tofield plays, everyone has a good time!!

Broken Strings MP3
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Flat Five - This Is Not The Blues

Size: 92,8 MB - 256.8 MB
Time: 40:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2020
Styles: Rock/ Blues
Art: Front

1. Sit by the river (5:26)
2. Everything's gonna be alright (4:53)
3. I don't know how I feel (6:55)
4. I got a key (4:57)
5. Wonder why I sing the blues (5:13)
6. I've reached bottom (3:37)
7. Let's sing the blues (3:56)
8. Deep blue sea shuffle (5:17)

Young band from South Korea formed in 2017 and who have worked hard to present their first album to the world. It should not be easy in the Asian country to play blues music, and even less to carry out a project until obtaining results like this "This Is Not The Blues", recorded in Seoul and mixed in London, but these five musicians have succeeded. The result is these eight songs composed with a great predisposition, played with fidelity and generosity and sung by a female vocalist of temperament and good harmonic registers. Interesting to know about their work from a musical culture as different and distant as that of these young interlocutors.

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Greta van Fleet - From The Fires

Size: 73,7 MB - 221 MB
Time: 32:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2017
Styles: Rock
Art: Front

1. Safari Song (3:54)
2. Edge Of Darkness (4:28)
3. Flower Power (5:12)
4. A Change Is Gonna Come (3:17)
5. Highway Tune (3:00)
6. Meet On The Ledge (3:49)
7. Talk On The Street (4:08)
8. Black Smoke Rising (4:19)

Greta Van Fleet is a young American rock band formed in 2012 in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The band originally consists of the brothers Josh (vocals), Jake (guitar) and Sam Kiszka (bass, keyboards) and Kyle Hauck (drums). Drummer Hauck leaves the band in October 2013 and Danny Wagner takes his place behind the drum kits. The name of the band is a slight variation of the name of Gretna Van Fleet, a polka musician from Frankenmuth, who gives permission for the band to call itself that. In the original line-up, with drummer Kyle Hauck, Greta Van Fleet releases three songs, Highway Tune, Cloud Train and Standing On. On February 28, 2014, the band will record a live EP, which will be released on June 7, 2014. In April 2017, 'Black Smoke Rising', their debut studio EP, will be released. The double EP 'From The Fires' was released on November 11. There are eight songs on this EP. Four of these songs (tracks 1,3,5 and 8) previously appeared on their debut album 'Black Smoke Rising'. Tracks 2,4,6 and 7 are new songs. These new songs were recorded in September 2017 at the Rust Belt Studios in Detroit. Producers again this time were Al Sutton and Marlon Young, the duo that produced their first EP. With Safari Song, the band's second single, as the opener, the tone is immediately set. A hard-hitting Led Zeppelin-esque rocker. Heavy guitar work, a heavy rhythm section and vocals like a young Robert Plant. Also in Edge Of Darkness you can hear the very penetrating and dynamic vocals of Josh Kiszka over the pumping bass, the dry hard drumming and the flaming guitar. The ears are again not given a rest in Flower Power. Fat guitar work and nice keys at the end. There are two covers on the album. In Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, Josh alternately sings somewhat subdued and then again with Robert Plant-esque explosive riffs. The concrete rhythm section also thunders through here. That thunder continues in the hard-hitting guitar rocker Highway Tune, the band's first single from 2017. The second cover is Meet On The Ledge, the second single by the British folk group Fairport Convention from 1968, which was also recorded by Counting Crows in 2012. the plate was set. Greta Van Fleet's version is a melodic and relative resting point on the album, but what is called relative when Josh lets his vocal cords run free again. The vocals blast out of the speakers again in the ripping guitar rocker Talk On The Street. The album ends like it started, because Black Smoke Rising is another rock hard guitar rocker with the cement-cast rhythm section and the blaring vocals. The performance ends with a firm bang on drums.

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Laugesen All Stars - Playin' With My Friends - Live

Size: 134,1 MB
Time: 58:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Playin' With My Friends (4:38)
2. Get it Out of Your Mind (5:21)
3. Please Send Me Someone To Love (5:33)
4. Someone Else is Steppin' In (7:20)
5. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (3:40)
6. I Never Loved a Man (4:10)
7. Freedom is Just Beyond the Door (6:38)
8. Swinging Shepherds Blues (8:04)
9. Ain't Nobody's Business (5:04)
10. Dr. Feelgood (8:02)

In the autumn of 2013, Birgitte Laugesen gathered some of Aarhus' and the country's best musicians in what can rightly be called an "All Stars Band". The band had great success on the live stages in 2014 and a live album has now come out of it. Recorded live at home in Aarhus. At Fatter Eskil. Where all the musicians have stepped into their children-blues shoes. The album contains ten songs and here are interpreted soul and blues classics from among others Aretha Franklin, Ike Turner, Robert Cray and others. repertoires. Laugesen All Stars consists of Palle Hjorth (Poul Krebs, Savage Rose) Niels Mathiasen (Gnags) Uffe Steen (Shades of blue) Niels Nello Mogensen (Johnny Madsen) Esben Bach (Kenn Lending) and Birgitte Laugesen.

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Gary Hoey - Neon Highway Blues

Size: 111,3 MB - 321 MB
Time: 48:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2019
Styles: Blues, blues-rock
Art: Front

1. Under The Rug (feat. Eric Gales) (4:57)
2. Mercy Of Love (feat. Josh Smith) (6:21)
3. Your Kind Of Love (3:37)
4. Don't Come Crying (feat. Ian Hoey) (4:34)
5. Still Believe In Love (3:44)
6. Almost Heaven (3:37)
7. I Felt Alive (5:25)
8. Waiting On The Sun (4:14)
9. Damned If I Do (feat. Lance Lopez) (4:42)
10. Living The Highlife (3:53)
11. Neon Highway Blues (3:11)

I really liked the introduction to Hoey three years ago and this successor can also look forward to a medal of honour. The album contains eleven self-penned songs that are perfectly captured on tape. Hoey can also rejoice in the auxiliary troops that were at his disposal: Eric Gales makes an appearance on the funky rocking Under The Rug, Josh Smith offers his services on the delicious slow blues Mercy Of Love and Lance Lopez can be heard in Damned If I Do. Gary Hoey's 17-year-old son Ian is on Don't Come Crying for the first time. These four tracks are among the toppers on 'Neon Highway Blues', but the up tempo rocker Your Kind Of Love and the hard rock I Felt Alive are also among the elite songs. Hoey does not have a pronounced voice, but his slightly hoarse timbre is pleasant, while he can play a more than nice moppie guitar and also took care of the production himself. An excellent addition to his already long oeuvre.

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Barbara Blue - Fish In Dirty H2O

Size: 145.9 MB
Time: 62:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. My Heart Belongs To The Blues (5:23)
02. Johnny Lee (4:14)
03. Accidental Theft (3:59)
04. Dr. Jesus (4:40)
05. Meet Me In Memphis (5:35)
06. Fish In Dirty H2O (6:25)
07. Walk Away (4:59)
08. BBQ Man (3:15)
09. Wild Women (4:00)
10. Gravy Train (5:13)
11. That's Workin' For Me (4:33)
12. Slow Burn (5:11)
13. Come On In My Kitchen (4:39)

With 19 musicians and singers, a herd of techie helpers, and a full 63 minutes of down and dirty, heart-filled soul, blues, R & B, with a touch of hip-hop, you definitely get your money’s worth with this set. Known in Memphis as the “Reigning Queen of Beale Street,” Blue has been performing there five nights a week for the past two decades. But she hasn’t been limited to Memphis. She’s also done numerous tours in other parts of the U.S. plus far-flung venues like Australia, not to mention a long list of international blues festivals. So this is one blues lady who has done her time and honed her chops to a high polish. If you’re not familiar with her work, this is definitely a stellar introduction.

“My Heart Belongs to the Blues” sets the tone for the whole set, which is first class throughout. In “Johnny Lee” Barbara is joined by a female vocal group called ‘Sweet Nectar.’ “Meet Me In Memphis” brings in some horn work with a tribute to the good times that are always available on the banks of the Mississip. “Dr. Jesus” is a gospel cut about the Man who can heal any aching pain, whether in the heart or in the soul; and it’s all co-pay free. The title cut, “Fish in Dirty H2O” gives a nod toward hip-hop with some rap-like lyrics. “Walk Away” is about that painful time when you both know it’s over but you’re still having a hard time cutting those ties.

“Slow Burn” is another look backward, this time it’s those smoldering love letters that can still stir up achingly sweet pains long after the fireworks have turned to ash. “Gravy Train” tells us to sop up and appreciate every good time that comes our way.

All in all, this is a first class album by a first class blues lady: Barbara Blue. ~Russ Heitz (Suncoast Blues Society)

Fish In Dirty H2O MP3
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The Mick Schaffer Band - Back To The Blues

Size: 85.1 MB
Time: 36:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Over In The Corner (3:47)
02. If I Win Blues (5:12)
03. Virgin Mary (2:48)
04. Rainbow (4:22)
05. Husband Blues (4:24)
06. Astara (3:19)
07. She Woke Up (3:43)
08. Don't Wanna B Judged (3:50)
09. Rich Boy (4:36)

"Back to the Blues" has been a long time coming for Portland, Oregon guitarist, singer, songwriter and bandleader Mick Schafer. Like many top level blues vocalists, Mick started singing as a child in a church choir. He always knew he wanted music to be his life, and at 20, he dropped out of college and headed to Europe, spending the early '70s playing for tips and meals. Back home in the States, though, he wasn't able to make music full time. It was devastating, but he never gave up.

He kept playing at home during the next 20 years as he raised his adopted son Chris. But in 2000, when Chris went into the Navy, Mick went back into professional music, taking a gig fronting the legendary Pacific Northwest roots band Blackberry Jam.

In 2017, Mick assembled some of the best musicians of Portland's talent-saturated blues scene and built his own band, now on new Pacific Northwest blues label Lightening in a Bottle Records.

"Back to the Blues" was born during the pandemic, during which Mick recruited some truly legendary players, including Shemekia Copeland guitarist Ken "Willie" Scandlyn and drummer Jimi Bott, who has 20 BMA nominations and 13 Cascade Blue Society Drummer of the Year awards his name, among many other awards. The resulting album reflects Mick's lifelong passion for blues, and finally fulfills the long-held dream born in church choirs as a child, that of spending his life making the music he loves.

Back To The Blues MP3
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Kokomo - A Little Something From The Attic: Rarities, Alts, Demos

Size: 178.4 MB
Time: 75:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric/Acoustic Blues
Art: Front

01. GB Boogie (Alt Mix 1996) (3:48)
02. The Working Class Shuffle (Video Mix 1997) (3:20)
03. Nowhere To Go (Demo 1998) (2:57)
04. Baby's Getting Bigger (Bigger Mix 1998) (3:20)
05. Any Road Up (Demo 2001) (4:06)
06. Ruby (Demo 2001) (6:06)
07. Hesitation Blues (2001 Version) (4:08)
08. Crossroad Blues (2001 Version) (4:20)
09. Saturday Blues (Live 2005) (3:40)
10. Burden Down (Live 2005) (9:50)
11. Any Road Up (Live 2005) (8:45)
12. Cat's In The Well (Cocktail Mix 2008) (3:36)
13. Better Left Unspoken (Accordion Mix 2012) (5:29)
14. Homesick Blues (Acoustic Demo 2014) (3:55)
15. South Sea Song (Piano Demo 2014) (3:37)
16. Holed Up In Karamea (Bushband Demo 2017) (3:58)

A Little Something From The Attic is a collection of 16 rarities, alternative versions and demos spanning the band's history. None have previously appeared on digital platforms and several have never been heard outside the original studios.

Kokomo is a long-standing Kiwi blues & roots group, based in New Zealand's sunny Bay of Plenty.
The band has toured all over and released 14 albums and a full-length concert film.
This is also home for cult duo The Self-Righteous Brothers and other side-projects from Kokomo members.

A Little Something From The Attic: Rarities, Alts, Demos MP3
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Jon Spear Band - B-Side Of My Life

Size: 122.2 MB
Time: 52:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Big Talk (2:51)
02. Heartbeat Like A Samba (4:19)
03. The Shaman (3:35)
04. B-Side Of My Life (2:55)
05. Yellow Moon (5:42)
06. Follow The Light (3:53)
07. Kick In The Head (3:55)
08. Snakes And Spiders (4:29)
09. Can't Have Nothing (4:02)
10. Darker Side (5:35)
11. My Old T-Shirts (3:43)
12. The Muskie Grind (4:01)
13. Time For The Blues (3:20)

Celebrating ten years as one of hardest working bands in the mid-Atlantic area, contemporary blues/roots rock quartet, Jon Spear Band, are set to release their fourth album, B-Side Of My Life. Coming out of a lockdown that took the central Virginia band off the road and into the studio to record its third studio album allowed time to stretch out and explore new musical routes and journeys they call a collection of B-sides, like the old 45 records that sometimes yielded a surprise hit song. With a style built around the dual guitar attack of Jon Spear and Dara James, who share lead vocal duties with bass player Andy Burdetsky, while drummer John Stubblefield keeps the pulse deep in the pocket, they create a pallet of blues, funk, rock, soul, and Americana. Guest keyboardist, Skip Haga, added depth to the eleven new originals and two select covers that address a wide range of topics equally introspective and humorous in their scope.

Although Spear is the primary songwriter and the namesake of the band, he spreads around the lead vocals to suit the compositions as with the opening track “Big Talk,” a funk rocker about a man done wrong, followed by the Latin flavored “Heartbeat Like A Samba,” both sung with flair by James with his sparkling tenor. Spear then steps in to lead the band though the acoustic driven tale of meeting a traditional healer on a mountain top, who calmly gives us hope for the world in “The Shaman,” and the old-time rock ‘n’ roll title track that employs the metaphor of improbable hit records as a chance at redemption, and features barrelhouse piano from Haga. Burdetsky lays down a knee-deep bass groove for a faithful reading of Neville Brothers’ favorite “Yellow Moon.”

The mysterious and expansive “Follow The Light” pushes the group’s genre boundary far past the confines of a “Blues Band.” A gritty guitar lead matches the edgy vocals from Burdetsky on the driving reflection of the past year’s tumultuous times of a pandemic and mass protests during “Kick In The Head,” written by producer Andy Waldeck. James sings about his fear of creepy-crawly things on the jagged bumping “Snakes And Spiders,” but you get the feeling he isn’t talking about arachnids and reptiles but two-legged creatures that lurk in the shadows. The minor key rumble, “Can’t Have Nothing,” written and sung by Burdetsky, is a scathing examination of our so called “first world problems” of the modern west.

James sinks his teeth into the soul ballad “Darker Side,” from Jonny Lang’s debut album, delivering a stirring performance on lead guitar and vocals. Every middle-aged man can relate to the tale of an endearing pack rat “My Old T Shirts” and the fishing channel has a new theme song in the 70’s acid rock anthem about an angler’s obsession “The Muskie Grind.” Everyone gets into the act on album closer “Time For The Blues,” a swinging tribute to all the heroes past and present and the music that has brought so many of us together.

This fun-loving collection of B-sides from the Jon Spear Band is bound to bring joy to its listeners, if not a spot on the top of the charts. ~Rick J Bowen

B-Side Of My Life MP3
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Elles Bailey - Sunshine City EP

Size: 103 MB
Time: 15:23
File: FLAC
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Sunshine City (4:17)
02. Woman Like Me (4:04)
03. Walk Away (3:15)
04. Love Is Gonna Win (3:46)

Elles Baley is issuing a special, limited-edition, 4-track CD: ‘The Sunshine City EP’. This includes ‘Sunshine City’, ‘Woman Like Me’, ‘Walk Away’ & ‘Love is Gonna Win’.

Elles Baley is a smoky-voiced dynamo, who straddles the worlds of Americana and the blues, garnering accolades in both. She recently worked with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys in Nashville, writing the song “Little Piece Of Heaven” with him and Bobby Wood. It won UK Americana Awards Song Of The Year. Also in 2020 she scooped Artist Of The Year from the UK Blues Awards for the second time in succession.

Her singing and songwriting skills are equally stratospheric as evidenced on albums Wildfire and the UK Blues Awards winner of Album Of The Year, Road I Call Home. She has powered through the pandemic, releasing both a live album, Ain’t Nothin’ But, and her first child. She hopes to further her reputation as a road warrior as COVID restrictions lift.

Previously she has toured with Grammy Award winner Mike Farris, The Kris Barras Band and King King. She also shared the stage with Beth Hart at Ramblin’ Man, The Temperance Movement at Swing Wespelaar Festival and appeared at Nashville’s Americana Fest as part of the ‘House of Songs’ collaboration. There is much more to come from this hard-working chanteuse.

Sunshine City EP

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The Teskey Brothers & Orchestra Victoria - Live At Hamer Hall

Size: 131.6 MB
Time: 56:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul, Xmas
Art: Front

01. Let Me Let You Down (Live At Hamer Hall) (4:03)
02. Carry You (Live At Hamer Hall) (4:26)
03. Say You'll Do (Live At Hamer Hall) (4:49)
04. I Get Up (Live At Hamer Hall) (5:42)
05. Rain (Live At Hamer Hall) (4:36)
06. San Francisco (Live At Hamer Hall) (5:15)
07. So Caught Up (Live At Hamer Hall) (3:56)
08. Dreaming Of A Christmas With You (Live At Hamer Hall) (4:19)
09. Highway Home For Christmas (Live At Hamer Hall) (4:37)
10. Paint My Heart (Live At Hamer Hall) (9:15)
11. Hold Me (Live At Hamer Hall) (5:27)

On Live At Hamer Hall, the ARIA-winning, Grammy-nominated group’s songs were spectacularly reimagined by arranger Jamie Messenger and performed live onstage at the iconic Melbourne venue with Orchestra Victoria, led by conductor Nicholas Buc, and streamed live to fans across the world on YouTube, but unavailable on any other format until now. The 50-minute performance features hits from the band’s two critically acclaimed albums Run Home Slow (2019) and Half Mile Harvest (2017) and their two original Teskey Brothers Christmas songs, ‘Dreaming Of A Christmas With You’ and ‘Highway Home For Christmas’.

Live At Hamer Hall MP3
Live At Hamer Hall FLAC

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Owen Campbell - Owen Campbell & The Cosmic People Live

Size: 159.4 MB
Time: 68:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. The Cool Moonlight (Live) (4:25)
02. Love Your Woman (Live) (4:25)
03. Gourmet Baby (Live) (3:56)
04. Holy To Me (Live) (3:08)
05. Keep On Walking (Live) (5:57)
06. Medicine Man (Live) (5:15)
07. Driving Days (Live) (4:06)
08. Time To Start Again (Live) (3:49)
09. War In The East / Sunshine Road (Live) (9:11)
10. Holy Matrimony (Live) (5:48)
11. Rhythm Of The Ocean (Live) (4:07)
12. Breathing Bullets (Live) (4:31)
13. Dancing All Night Through (Live) (4:53)
14. Cosmic People (Encore) [Live] (4:36)

Owen Campbell has cemented himself as one of Australia’s premier alternative blues/rock exports with 3 best-selling studio albums, 2 EPs and over 12 years of national and international touring.

Owen has wowed audiences in all corners of the world from the USA, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, India and even performed at the highest blues festival in the world, The Himalayan Blues Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Every one of Owen’s albums has hit the Top 10 on iTunes Blues Charts in over 10 countries. One of which “Sunshine Road” reached Number 1 on the overall charts (Australia), knocking Adele of the top spot in 2014.

Owen Campbell & The Cosmic People are alternative blues and soulful cosmic rock at its best. Inspired by the tempo of the ocean, Owen’s sound is best described as smouldering guitar work running from bluesy riffs and soulful finger-picking to lap steel guitar solos using a shot glass slide, gritty caramel vocals and a sublime rhythm section.

“My parents were a big influence,” says Owen. “They introduced me to such an awesome collection of music from such a young age – Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones. I always loved the variety and diversity to their sounds. My sound has bits of country, soul, roots, and rock. I love the variations.”

In 2020 Owen released his 5th studio album “Rolling Thunder of Love” which debuted at number 2 on the independent music charts.

“I thought it was time to do something different, so I enlisted a group of talented friends and musical pilgrims and we congregated at a farm style studio in the hills outside of Cootamundra, NSW. We laid down the soul of the album over a few melting summer days and I quickly realised this was going to be something special. After so many years and albums I finally feel like I’ve found my musical homeland in this album. Easily one of the most rewarding rock n roll experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure to take part in.”

Owen Campbell & The Cosmic People Live MP3
Owen Campbell & The Cosmic People Live FLAC

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Ian Siegal - The Dust

Size: 139,0 MB - 348 MB
Time: 59:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2008
Styles: Acoustic blues
Art: Full

1. Stranger Clothed in Linen ( 4:37)
2. The Good Home ( 3:24)
3. The Silver Spurs ( 3:35)
4. CCKMP ( 3:30)
5. Between the Stirrup and the Ground ( 5:53)
6. The Gauntlet ( 3:35)
7. Southern Cross Blues ( 5:28)
8. I Drink ( 4:12)
9. I'll Fly Away ( 5:09)
10. High Sheriff Intro (Live) ( 0:55)
11. Brand New High Sheriff Blues (Live) ( 4:52)
12. Mary Don't You Weep (Live) ( 3:55)
13. Dirt Road/Call Me the Wolf (Live) (10:37)

The blues lovers can rejoice again with a new album of our blues pearl of today. Ian Siegal has already left an indelible impression during his performances in recent years, but has also caused quite a stir with his albums. This is the next in succession if you ask me. The album is mainly acoustic, but there are also a few live tracks on it. The accompaniment is very sober: Ian plays guitar and percussion and of course sings again as if the devil is after him. Also special contributions from BJ. Cole on pedal steel guitar and also Sam Hare who also throws in the money with his guitar playing and vocal contribution. The dust is an album that was to be expected, because Siegal also regularly does acoustic things during his gigs, and has also sold recordings in this trend before. In any case, he can do it all, and shows that he is one of the greatest in the blues scene, with comparisons like Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, but just as easily Tom Waits as well. Siegal goes into the darkest recesses of the blues world on this album, and the shivers run down your spine from his very expressive guitar sound. During his performance in Paradiso, Ian surprised the audience with a number of covers that were truly unparalleled, and a few of them can also be found on this unparalleled album. In this context I mention I Drink, a composition by Mary Gauthier, but beautifully designed by Ian. The song Southern Cross Blues is one of my absolute favorites on this album, in short Let yourself be carried away to the Mississippi and beyond, because Ian is a real treasure, and we have to cherish this one with all of our hearts.

The Dust MP3
The Dust FLAC

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Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women - Hot Flash

Album: Hot Flash
Size: 127,3 MB
Time: 54:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1991
Styles: Blues, piano blues
Art: Full

1. Two In The Bush Is Better Than One In The Hand (3:13)
2. Sloppy Drunk (3:07)
3. One Good Man (2:37)
4. Dirty Sheets (4:12)
5. Tom Cat Blues (2:47)
6. Learn To Settle For Less (4:32)
7. You'll Never Get Me Out Of Your Mind (3:12)
8. (Mr. Insurance Man) Take Out That Thing (3:52)
9. Hopin' It'll Be Alright (3:33)
10. A Little Bit Of Your Loving Goes A Very Long Way (3:01)
11. Shopping For Love (3:32)
12. Elevator Man (3:13)
13. Torch Song #1/Torch Song #2 (4:19)
14. Why Don't You Do Right? (2:41)
15. Prove Me Wrong (3:02)
16. (No Need) Pissin' On A Skunk (3:40)

In many ways, Hot Flash is the definitive Saffire album. Racy and sassy - and to some tastes cutesy - the album is a fun, free-thinking update of classic female blues, performed with gusto and verve. The instrumentation is sparse - a piano, guitar, bass, harmonica, and kazoo provide the foundation of the music - but the focus of these songs is solely on the vocals, which are vigorous and humorous. If you share Saffire's sense of humor, it's a rollicking good time. /Thom Owens, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Hot Flash mc
Hot Flash zippy

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The Blues Band - Scratchin' On My Screen

Size: 143.2 MB
Time: 60:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Mean Old Frisco (3:48)
02. Crossroads Blues (3:38)
03. Drop Down Mama (4:20)
04. Still A Fool (5:04)
05. Jesus On The Mainline (3:25)
06. Don't Sell It Don't Give It Away (3:14)
07. Alberta (3:46)
08. I Can't Be Satisfied (3:59)
09. Georgia On My Mind (3:42)
10. New Stockyard Blues (3:18)
11. Don't Let Them Grind You Down (4:26)
12. I'm Your Man (4:07)
13. Sus Blues (3:48)
14. I'm Your King Bee (3:36)
15. Lonely Avenue (4:28)
16. Captain Spalding's Rag (2:08)

Revisiting the songbooks of Slim Harpo ( I'm Your King Bee ), Arthur Crudup ( Mean Old Frisco ), Doc Pomus ( Lonely Avenue ), Hoagy Carmichael ( Georgia On My Mind ), and Robert Johnson ( Crossroads Blues ), this is an essential selection of stone classics enlivened by the band's original numbers.

Now in their 40th year, the Blues Band was formed by Manfred Mann lead singer/harp player Paul Jones and fellow bandmate, guitarist Tom McGuinness. The original line-up included bassist Gary Fletcher, slide-guitarist Dave Kelly (who'd previously played with the John Dummer Band, Howlin Wolf and John Lee Hooker), and drummer Hughie Flint, of John Mayall's Blues Breakers and McGuinness Flint, the outfit he formed with Tom McGuinness. When Flint left in 1982, he was replaced by Family's Rob Townsend.

Acknowledged throughout Europe and beyond as one of the finest exponents of authentic rhythm & blues, the Blues Band continue to cut the mustard, writing and playing with passion and conviction to appreciative cross-generational audiences wherever they go.

Scratchin' On My Screen MP3
Scratchin' On My Screen FLAC

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Dr. Harp's Medicine Band - Essentials

Size: 263.3 MB
Time: 112:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic/Electric Blues, Blues Rockk
Art: Front

01. Down At The Doctors (3:01)
02. One Morning In May (3:30)
03. Unchain My Heart (4:47)
04. The L & N Don't Stop Here Any More (5:07)
05. Walking To New Orleans (6:32)
06. Moanin' (3:47)
07. Sunny (3:22)
08. Mingulay Boat Song (4:22)
09. Sally Free And Easy (5:18)
10. Careless Love (4:57)
11. Nobody's Fault But Mine (3:15)
12. Patsy's Blues (4:41)
13. Gold Watch And Chain (4:53)
14. Hard To Forget (4:12)
15. The Lady Came From Baltimore (4:35)
16. Raglan Road (4:52)
17. I Have Had My Fun If I Don't Get Well No More (7:50)
18. Complicated (3:52)
19. Wang Dang Doodle (6:06)
20. The City Of New Orleans (5:16)
21. Back To Black (4:18)
22. Doctor Write Me A Prescription For The Blues (4:53)
23. Easy (Since My Baby Left Me, I Almost Lost My Mind) (4:36)
24. Lean On Me (3:47)

John McKinley:
John is the Birmingham musician's musician- a perfectionist of the electric and acoustic guitar, a real student and a master of all the musical forms he takes on. He has played with many of Birmingham's finest jazz, blues, ska and pop performers including Steve Ajao, Mick Hatton, Lupa, Saxa , Roger Hill and many more. He was
a member of the Brum jazz supergroup, Into the Blue with Mick Hatton and Danny MacCormack.
Over many years his blues bands have graced Birmingham pub stages. For Dr Harp's Medicine Band, John contributed a wide range of guitar styles but he also filled the role of principal musical arranger and adviser, his cool head and skilful musicianship fashioned many of the arrangements and earned him the title 'Professor'.

Patsy Fuller:
Patsy Fuller is well known to the jazz circuit in Birmingham and the Midlands. She has also performed in London, at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery and at the St Lucia Jazz Festival 2004, with the Emerson Nurse Quartet. She started her career in music in 2002, when she persuaded Alan Cross, the then promoter of Jazz at the Drum, to give her band Rhapsody a chance to bring something new! He did just that and from that point hence, Rhapsody, together with Patsy Fuller has entertained people in all types of settings, with an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, spirituals and soulful reggae that emanates a new and refreshing sound. She has worked with the likes of Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes, Steve Ajao, Edgar Macias, and James Renford to name but a few; and shared a set with the famous Gwen Dickey of the 'Car Wash' fame!
Her music is best described as soulful and spiritual, with a repertoire of music that ranges from Ellington to Miles. She believes the 'Blues' is the carrier for the original gospel music, bringing a message that remedies hope, liberation and freedom to a weary and downcast soul and attempts to project this within her original compilations. With the earthiness of Nina Simone, influences of Ella, and a hint of Dakota Staton, she delivers a gospel message in her own unique style.

Doctor Johnny:
The harmonica-toting Dr Harp, aka Dr Johnny, is none other than Dr John Middleton, director of public health for Sand-well Health Authority.
Doctor Johnny's earliest blues performances were with top South London blues performers, Jo-Ann Kelly, Steve Rye, Simon Prager and Bob Hall. During the 80s he recorded four albums with Southampton blues legend John F. Wands.
Since moving to the West Midlands in the late 80s DJ has mainly been found guesting with such Birmingham blues and jazz stars as Big Man Clayton, King Pleasure, Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes and Steve Ajao. Since 1998, there have been two spells with the McKinley Electric Blues Band with residencies at the Bear and the Red Lion in the Jewellery Quarter. Lately DJ has been caught at the Live Box at Birmingham's Drum - the hottest venue for live jazz and rap, jamming with Soweto Kinch, the Jazz Warriors, Abram Wilson and Eska.

Essentials MP3
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Victor Puertas & Marc Ferrer Trio - Hotcha!

Size: 119.8 MB
Time: 51:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Clockwise (4:02)
02. Smack Dab In The Middle (4:11)
03. Honest I Do (4:33)
04. Hot Barbeque (4:32)
05. Why Don't You Do Right (4:43)
06. I Got To Go (3:38)
07. Soft Winds (6:40)
08. One Mint Julep (4:18)
09. Hotcha (5:31)
10. Dark Eyes (5:00)
11. Shufflin' (4:20)

The singer and harmonica player Victor Puertas, a Hohner Harmonicas endorser, is one of the notable names in the Catalan scene. He takes part in many projects related to blues music and other African American musics (The Suitcase Brothers; Victor Puertas & The Mellow To- nes; Cool Grinders; Koko-Jean & The Tonics,...) and has shared the stage with many great in- ternational artists (Gary Primich, Little G Weevil, Steve James, Nathan James, Mark Hummel, Sandra Hall, JT Lauritsen, Steve Wes Weston, Grana Louise, Fred Kaplan, Peaches Staten,..).

Victor Puertas is well known as one of the best harmonica players in the Spanish blues scene. Representing a young “new” generation of established artists, Puertas has proven to be a working musician, ambitious and curious, being fascinated in many instruments and styles. Besides being a harmonica player, he works as a piano and organ player. His playing includes many different styles highlighting his virtuosity without losing any of the blues feeling at the same time, satisfying even sophisticated blues audiences. Victor’s career grew exponentially after winning 2nd place at the International Blues Challenge 2013 in Memphis TN and 1st place at the 28th Annual Blues Challenge in North Carolina the same year, along with his brother Santos Puertas, known together as The Suitcase Brothers.

Hotcha! MP3
Hotcha! FLAC

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VA - More Doo Wop Christmas Gems (KMCD95)

Size: 173.9 MB
Time: 73:09
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: R&B, Rock, Doo-Wop
Art: Front & Back

01 The Marquees - Santa Done Got Hip (1:47)
02 The Voices - Santa Claus Boogie (2:34)
03 Huey 'Piano' Smith & The Clowns - White Christmas Blue (3:34)
04 Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (3:21)
05 The Marcels - Merry Twist-Mas (2:02)
06 The Episodes - The Christmas Tree (1:53)
07 The Youngsters - Christmas In Jail (2:03)
08 Barry & The Highlights - Christmas Bell Rock (2:28)
09 Hank Ballard & The Midniters - Santa Claus Is Coming (2:45)
10 The Four Imperials - Santas Got A Coupe De Ville (2:29)
11 The Del-Vetts - I Want A Boy For Christmas (2:13)
12 Nat King Cole - Mrs Santa Claus (2:06)
13 The Crew Cuts - Dance Mr. Snowman Dance (2:04)
14 The Mills Brothers - You Don't Have To Be Santa Claus (When Christmas Comes Around) (2:43)
15 The Faces - Christmas (2:25)
16 Ella Fitzgerald - Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney (3:06)
17 George Hall - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (2:34)
18 The Pixes - Santa's Too Fat For The Hula Hoop (2:15)
19 The Classic Four - Limbo Under The Christmas Tree (2:12)
20 The Demensions - Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep (2:35)
21 Statues - White Christmas (2:38)
22 Blue Notes - Winter Wonderland (2:11)
23 The Pilgrim Travellers - Ill Be Home For Christmas (2:29)
24 Blue Notes - Oh Holy Night (3:06)
25 The Cool Breezers - Hello Mr New Year (1:57)
26 John Gaudet & The Laurels - Christmas Will Soon Be Here (1:37)
27 Marvin & The Chirps - I Will Miss You This Christmas (2:44)
28 The Del Vues - New Years Eve (2:45)
29 The Faces - New Years Resolution (1:46)
30 Dante & The Evergreens - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (2:33)

More Doo Wop Christmas Gems, Koko Mojo Records (KM-CD-95) is a thirty-song album that is full of Christmas cheer, and the plethora of sounds are compiled especially for the joyful holiday of goodwill. The season gets colder, but our hearts grow warmer as we sit around the fire, eating, drinking, and making merry with friends and family. More Doo Wop Christmas Gems are compiled to bring a smile to your face through the sourced musical memories based upon an Old-Fashioned/ Traditional Christmas.

The album continues the concept of Let's Have A Doo Wop Christmas (KM-CD-78) with a flashback to earlier times with songs about Santa Claus, either getting hip (The Marquees), doing the boogie, or getting the blues (The Voices and Huey "Piano" Smith). The coming together of family and friends I'll Be Home For Christmas (The Pilgrim Travellers), or sadness when away from someone, Marvin & The Chirps I Will Miss You This Christmas or the ultimate separation through incarceration, Christmas In Jail (The Youngsters).

The colorful aspect of Christmas is approached through decoration, The Christmas Tree (The Episodes) and excitement of things soon to happen, Limbo Under The Bed (The Classic Four). A sprinkling of seasonal humor is included Santa Claus Got Stuck (In My Chimney) (Ella Fitzgerald), merriment and fantasy, Dance Mr. Snowman Dance (The Crew Cuts), and childhood memories of the Winter Wonderland (Blue Notes).

The album furthermore emphasizes the latter part of the celebration namely the ringing of the bells and a brand-new year and the resolution made by people (The Dell Vues and The Faces), the proclamation of, Hello Mr. New Year (The Cool Breezers). The album is concluded with the question asked of family, friends, and lovers, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Dante and The Evergreens).

The album is compiled by Dee Jay and face on the music scene Mark "Let's Party" Armstrong, who has been Dee Jaying since his early teen years. The concept is brought visually to life by design artist and musician Urban Zotel, and the recordings are remastered by Heiko Schulz for Black Shack Recordings. By maintaining our integrity, and principles we are confident our competitively priced albums are perfect from beginning to end.

Koko Mojo doesn't make an album of average music our philosophy is to compile songs of quality! You are listening to music from the past with a remastered sound that will shake the speakers." Koko Mojo Records "are often imitated, never duplicated." ~Dee Jay Mark Armstrong

More Doowop Christmas Gems

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Calvin Leavy - The Best Of Calvin Leavy

Size: 81.6 MB
Time: 34:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Full

01. Cummins Prison Farm (4:44)
02. Going To The Dogs Part 1&2 (4:21)
03. Give Me Love That I Can Feel (2:10)
04. Enjoy Being Hurt By You (2:32)
05. Funky Jam (Inst.) (3:25)
06. Born Unlucky (4:07)
07. I Want To Be The Last To Cry (2:41)
08. Free From Cummins Prison Farm (3:56)
09. If Life Last Luck Is Bound To Change (3:00)
10. Is It All Worth That I Am Going Through (3:46)

Blues/Soul/Funk singer/guitarist Calvin Leavy (born in Scott, Arkansas on April 20, 1940) was a 1970s throwback to the classic Blues artists like Mississippi Fred McDowell, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Big Bill Broonzy) whose limited recording sessions resulted in just one nationally-charting single. Like many blacks in his early years he began singing in the local church choir, and when he turned 14 in 1954 he and brother Hosea formed The Leavy Brothers Band (Calvin was the youngest of 15 and also accomplished on piano, bass and drums), and soon they proved to be very popular in the Little Rock area. Sometime in the1960s they toured the West Coast, making Fresno their base, before heading back to Little Rock towards the end of 1968. One of the songs they worked into their repertoire was the old Patti Page hit Tennessee Waltz, but Calvin sung it more in the style of the 1964 Sam Cooke hit cover, and it was his performance of this tune in particular that a local club owner’s wife liked so much that she arranged for him to cut a demo version at Little Rock’s E&M Recording Studios.

In the meantime, the band was contacted by Bill Cole about the possibility of recording a song he had composed about Cummins Prison Farm. After working in some revised lyrics drawn from the experiences of another brother who served time at the facility, the recorded result, 4:20 in length, came out in 1968 on the local Soul Beat label b/w Brought You To The City as Soul Beat 100. With limited resources, the single could receive neither a wide distribution or any kind of proper promotion, but Cummins Prison Farm remained popular enough on a local/regional bases thanks mainly to its regular play over Memphis Radio Station WDIA (it reached # 1 on their private charts) that it was eventually picked up by the larger Blue Fox Records and, in May 1970, made it to # 40 R&B b/w Brought You To The City (2:23) as Blue Fox 100.

That would be the only time he’d make any national listings, however, although he would continue recording with Soul Beat as well as Acquarian/Downtown into the late 1970s (see some of his known sides in the Comments below). Then, in 1991, he ran afoul of the law and was the first to be indicted under the 1988 Drug Kingpin Law for multiple drug offences. In July 1992 he was convicted and sentenced to “life plus 25 years” - a bit of overkill to say the least - ironically starting his sentence at Cummins. A 1995 petition for a writ of habeas corpus was denied, and in 2004 the Governor commuted his sentence to 75 years. He applied under Arkansas law for clemency in 2007, something that earned the recommendation of the state parole board, but in 2008, then Governor Mike Beebe turned that down. On June 6, 2010 he passed away at age 70 at the Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff after learning that he was eligible for parole in late 2011.

This meagre 10-track 2000 release from the obscure Red Clay Records clearly has been compiled from the best vinyl sources available, and offers nothing in the way of liner notes, so on that basis it hardly warrants 5 stars. But it is about the only place you are apt to find both sides of his one national hit in that format. ~George O'Leary

The Best Of Calvin Leavy MP3
The Best Of Calvin Leavy FLAC

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Backwater Roll Blues Band - Live From The Platform

Size: 177.0 MB
Time: 76:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. So Mean To Me (Live) (5:15)
02. Walking The Dog (Live) (6:02)
03. Wait On Time (Live) (5:10)
04. Big Legged Woman (Live) (5:53)
05. Hoochie Coochie Man (Live) (7:16)
06. Mr Highway Man (Live) (6:13)
07. Who Do You Love (Live) (7:10)
08. I Don't Need No Doctor (Live) (8:10)
09. Devil Woman (Live) (8:08)
10. Big Boss Man (Live) (8:51)
11. Fistful Of Dirt (Live) (8:02)

Personnel:
Miff Smith - Vocals,Harmonica
Deano Matthias - Guitar
Tim Payne - Guitar
Reggie Winslade - Bass
Chris Pope - Drums
Ray Drury - Keyboards

Backwater Roll have been in the UK’s Two Biggest Blues Magazines, Blues in Britain and Blues Matters many times including The Legendary German online Magazine ROCKTIMES.DE BLUES which showcased a review of one of the gigs from their Tour throughout Holland at the Famous Bluesmoose Cafe, Backwater Roll have had lots of reviews of some of the biggest festivals and blues Clubs of the British Blues Scene, They continue to grow and play more and more iconic venues and festivals.

They reached number 5 in the IBBA’s most played album on the blues radio shows in the first month of the release of the their Highly acclaimed Live Album, Backwater Roll - Live at The Platform and secured an ongoing position of number 25 over a 3 month period.

Live From The Platform MP3
Live From The Platform FLAC

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Hans Theessink & Big Daddy Wilson - Pay Day

Size: 130.9 MB
Time: 55:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic Blues
Art: Full

01. Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right (2:46)
02. Walking (2:58)
03. Pay Day (3:18)
04. Little Nora Maj (2:19)
05. Vintage Red Wine (5:02)
06. I Got Plenty (4:00)
07. Virus Blues (3:35)
08. Hard Time Killing Floor (4:06)
09. Denomination Blues (3:26)
10. Ballerina (2:49)
11. Old Man Trouble (4:08)
12. Who's Dat Knocking (3:46)
13. Build Myself A Home (2:57)
14. Hurry Hurry (2:56)
15. Train (4:00)
16. Roll With The Punches (3:24)

Hans Theessink and Big Daddy Wilson are charismatic entertainers and soulful performers that have made a name for themselves as musicians and songwriters. Both Theessink and Wilson are very popular performers on the blues & roots circuit. Both have many albums to their name.
PAY DAY is their first duo album. Hans Theessink is known as a sensitive virtuoso on almost anything with strings on it and Wilson can be relied on as a rock steady percussionist; but the icing on the cake is the vocal interplay of Theessink and Wilson that really makes “PAY DAY” a terrific album.
“PAY DAY” is a twist of fate. These two guys had to meet and get together. Their vocal dialogues - be it blues, roots, folk or gospel - merge as if they had never done anything else.

For many, many years I’ve been wanting to work with Hans. It was one of the most beautiful experiences that I ever had as an artist. (Big Daddy Wilson).
I really enjoyed singing and playing with Wilson - we had a ball. Wilson and I had picked songs for the session – some old, some new, some borrowed. We had lots of fun cooking up our special musical stew with all the natural ingredients, spices and flavors - enjoy! (Hans Theessink).
Theessink and Wilson discovered the blues in completely different ways.
On the one hand there is the Dutch boy, who’s love and fascination for blues and roots-music got ignited when he heard Big Bill Broonzy on late night radio in his native Holland - a “white boy lost in the blues” who’s been on the blues trail for more than 50 years.
On the other hand, the North Carolina born African American who first got exposed to the music of his ancestors as a US soldier, stationed in Germany - a "stranger far from home" who has come full circle.

Pay Day MP3
Pay Day FLAC

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