Andrew 'Jr. Boy' Jones - Watch What You Say

Size: 134.3 MB
Time: 57:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1998
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Watch What You Say (4:27)
02. Party Man (3:25)
03. Fast Woman (4:57)
04. The Memory's Fading (7:18)
05. Shuffle On (2:33)
06. Make Some Changes (3:48)
07. Little By Little (6:13)
08. Time To Move On (3:08)
09. Blues Queen (4:30)
10. Stinky Dink (3:44)
11. Lost Love Blues (4:04)
12. Soul Serenade (5:26)
13. Got To Win The Lottery (3:36)

On his second full album (he shows up on some JSP multi-artists blues compilations), Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones brings his brand of Texas blues to 13 tunes firmly in a contemporary mode. Jones' guitar is highly influenced by Freddie King, but every once in a while you'll catch a strain of Albert Collins or Johnny Copeland popping in as well. Nine of the 13 tunes aboard come from Jones' pen, while bandmembers Tommy Hill and Ronnie Bramhall contribute one tune apiece. Nice covers of King Curtis' "Soul Serenade" and Junior Wells' "Little by Little" complete the package. Jones' vocals are less than thrilling, but a load of solid playing and well-thought-out arrangements wedded to well-above-average material makes this album worth a listen for fans of modern blues. ~Cub Koda

Watch What You Say MP3
Watch What You Say FLAC

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Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice John Vaughn - 3by3

Size: 275.5 MB
Time: 119:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Seventh Son (6:16)
02. Don't Take My Monkey (4:05)
03. Everything I Do Got To Be Funky (Live) (6:13)
04. Same Thing (7:12)
05. I Just Want To Make Love To You (6:59)
06. Like A Dog With A Bone (5:40)
07. Twenty Nine Ways (6:42)
08. It S Too Late Baby (5:58)
09. I Don't Care (Live) (4:44)
10. Little Red Rooster (5:05)
11. Traveling Man (6:51)
12. I Want To Be Your Spy (7:59)
13. Back Door Man (5:25)
14. Farther On Up The Road (2:57)
15. If I Hadn't Been High (3:25)
16. I Ain't Superstitious (6:18)
17. As The Years Go Passing By (7:54)
18. Without That Bread (3:42)
19. You Shook Me (8:11)
20. Stealing Love Is A Crime (2:47)
21. Help Your Fellow Man (4:29)

Chicago Blues Hall-Of-Famers MAURICE JOHN VAUGHN, FREDDIE DIXON and JOHN WATKINS have not been idle these past months. When gigs dried up from the pandemic, the 3 veteran bluesmen put their heads and musicianship together to record a cd titled “3 by 3” on Vaughn’s Reecy Records label.

“We’d meet for a session in masks, the studio would be disinfected afterwards, and we’d kick it back in the following day” said Vaughn. “Painstaking at first, we managed to get in a groove in short order. I’m proud of it and it’s kept us in good spirits during this tough time.” Sessions took place in the Beecher, IL studio known as On The Moon utilizing the highly sensitized hearing and empathetic soul of blind proprietor/engineer Byron Harden. “Byron’s got a great ear,” says Dixon. “He can hear things no one else can and he communicates from a deep place.”

The three principal musicians have been friends since their days as Blues journeymen. Vaughn first crossed paths with Watkins during the latter’s Kingston Mines club period and later during John’s stints with James Cotton and his uncle Jimmy Johnson. Freddie met Maurice as bassist with A.C. Reed and Vaughn played guitar. Freddie and John were co-members of Willie Dixon’s touring band known as the Chicago Blues All Stars in the last decade of the elder Dixon’s life. Since then, they have often worked together under each other’s leadership in Chicago clubs, and festivals both in the US and Canada.

“This cd is both a collaboration and a way for each of us to fulfill separate purposes. And everyone’s got something to contribute that a solo project would not have had,” says Vaughn. “It’s a 21 song double cd, 7 cuts for each of us. We play on some of each other’s tracks and John and I brought some cuts together from various sessions with other friends from recent years.”

Dixon’s aim is to “pay tribute to the artistry of my dad, so my cuts are Willie Dixon songs” he says. “I’ve wanted to do this for some time and this was the perfect opportunity. In the future I’ll include originals of mine but this is a way to honor my father. We’re reaching out to young people with the blues. It’s time to mentor and to pass this music on to the next generation. Willie Dixon was all about that, that was his legacy. He felt Blues music was the most powerful thing on earth. And it is.”

John Watkins has been looking forward to recording again since he rejoined the re-formed All Stars (who have now gone their own way) in 2017. This rekindled a performing spark that he continued to pursue in his adopted town of Detroit. “This is like a new lease on life, man. Maurice and Freddie made the call and I was there. We all brought so much to this combination. It’s been a gathering of kindred spirits.” Maurice enthusiastically echoes his bandmate’s sentiments that creating this cd has been a successful joint effort: “I’ve enjoyed the independent production aspect and the teamwork of “3 by 3.” The sound and the end product are on me and my partners. And it’s brought us closer since we’re all positive and motivated to do this.”

The beauty of the 3-Star lineup is in the varying sensibilities of each. Vaughn’s “The Spy” has one foot in a Southern Blues style reminiscent of Bobby Rush, Dixon’s treatments of Willie Dixon’s tried-and-true Blues standards like “Little Red Rooster” are given new life with horn arrangements combined with a wry vocal delivery, and Watkins brings his gutbucket blues funk back up from the days of his classic original “Here I Am” to “Traveling Man” (written by Vaughn) and his own “Stealing Love is a Crime.”

Given the results under the duress of COVID 19, Vaughn, Dixon and Watkins might have created a new paradigm for an independent recording project that features three leads. With its equal numbers of songs per artist, shared sit-ins on many tracks, and a brilliant mix of originals and covers, “3 by 3” is both an economic and creatively brilliant venture of fantastic results. ~Peter M. Hurley

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VA - Southern Bred Vol. 19: You Better Believe It (KMCD69)

Size: 159.3 MB
Time: 67:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues, R&B, Rock
Art: Front & Back

01 Fats Domino - Ain't That Just Like A Woman (2:24)
02 Tommy Ridgely - Early Dawn Boogie (2:18)
03 James (Sugarboy) Crawford - I Don’t Need You (2:31)
04 Little Sonny James - Winehead Baby (2:20)
05 Nellie Lutcher - He's A Real Gone Guy (3:02)
06 Jay Nelson - Don't You Wanna Man Like Me (2:03)
07 Chuck Martin - Emma Lee (1:52)
08 Chick Carbo - In The Night (2:18)
09 Cookie - That's What You Do To Me (2:42)
10 Herb Hardesty - Why Did We Have To Part (2:26)
11 Eddie Bo - Hey Bo (2:08)
12 Paul Gayten - You Better Believe It (2:22)
13 Eddy Lang - I'm Beggin' With Tears (2:21)
14 Ray Johnson - A Yellow Mellow Hardtop (2:07)
15 Rolling Crew & Orchestra - Cryin' Emma (2:06)
16 Chuck Carbo - Lucy Brown (2:24)
17 Lester Robertson - My Girl Across Town (2:35)
18 Lonesome Sundown - Learn To Treat Me Better (2:06)
19 Sidney Simien - She's My Morning Coffee (2:04)
20 Cookie & The Cupcakes - Close Up The Back Door (2:50)
21 Guitar Gable - Walking In The Park (2:18)
22 Lester Robertson - Oh Babe (2:18)
23 Little Willie Egans - Treat Me Right (2:16)
24 Chris Kenner - Grandma's House (2:38)
25 Clarence Garlow - No No Baby (2:37)
26 Lennie Lecour - Jungle Rock (2:56)
27 Clarence Samuels - Boogie Woogie Blues (2:44)
28 Tal Miller - B-A-B-Y (2:08)

Also on volume 19 in the 'Southern Bred' series, we remain in Louisiana and New Orleans and we refresh ourselves again with the traditional music from the half of the last century, which is rich in the region. This rich tradition is once again translated into a beautiful mix of blues, rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll, in short danceable party songs. It is the seventh and penultimate album that places the region in the spotlights. The eighth and final album about the region will focus on the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Striker Stripper is an instant New Orleans class act. None other than Fats Domino is present with 'Ain't That Just Like A Woman', a typical New Orleans rhythm and blues from 1961. Even more piano, but already rocking James 'Sugarboy' Crawford in 'I Don't Need you'. Although the song dates back to 1957, it still sounds completely contemporary. And so does Jay Nelson's 'Don't You Wanna Man Like Me'. Jay recorded it in 1960 for the Excello label. The song actually had everything to become a hit, but the lack of airplay prevented that. The one who listened to the success-scoring artists of his time was Chuck Martin. His 'Emma Lee' is therefore full of clichés. Better and moreover a typical New Orleans rhythm & blues is Cookie's 'That's What You Do To Me', including the obligatory piano playing, embellished with a nice ripping sax. Saxophonist Herb Hardesty is known for his collaboration with Fats. He can be heard on Domino's classics like 'Blueberry Hill', 'Ain't That A Shame' and 'Blue Monday' to name a few. Here he takes the vocal lead in the bluesy 'Why Did We Have To Part', which he recorded together with guitarist Walter 'Papoose' Nelson. The latter was also occasionally hired as a session musician for Fats. "Why Did We Have To Part" was Hardesty's only vocal recording. Eddie Bo is well known, but chances are you haven't heard 'Hey Bo' yet. After all, it is one of his early recordings and completely different from his later work. It is a mainly, with the exception of the cry 'Hey Bo', instrumental, somewhat exotic-looking beautiful song. This is followed by 'You Better Believe It' a cool jump blues by Paul Gayten. For an authentic New Orleans rhythm you can go to Eddy Lang and 'I'm Beggin' With Tears' afterwards. That he pushed her hard with the nose to the facts that he left her, will be continued in the uptempo 'Cryin' Emma' by Rolling Crew. Together with The Upsetters, Lester Robertson canned the rockers 'Oh Babe' and 'My Girl Across Town'. You will find both songs on this compilation. With his Excello recordings, swamp blues artist Lonesome Sundown enjoyed the greatest successes. You can hear a sample of his skills on the swinging 'Learn To Treat Me Better', released in 1960. The black and white keys are played by Tal Miller. The same Miller closes the album with "B-A-B-Y", a rock song recorded for Hollywood Records in 1958.
Despite the fact that seven compilations have already been devoted to the rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll from Louisiana and New Orleans, none of these albums contain inferior tracks. We are therefore already looking forward to volume 20, which is scheduled for September 17.

Thanks to Nappywrags
Southern Bred Vol. 19: You Better Believe It (KMCD69) MP3
Southern Bred Vol. 19: You Better Believe It (KMCD69) FLAC

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Pat Johnson - Come On In My Kitchen

Size: 108.7 MB
Time: 46:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Blues Folk
Art: Front

01. Shake That Thing / Trouble In Mind (4:24)
02. M & O Blues (3:55)
03. The Right Girl (5:36)
04. Come On In My Kitchen (4:44)
05. Fishin' Blues (3:39)
06. Freight Train (4:27)
07. Milwaukee Blues (4:14)
08. Love, Truth And Confidence (3:13)
09. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (6:09)
10. Make Me A Pallet (3:33)
11. Midnight Waltz (2:43)

Personnel:
Pat Johnson - Guitars & Vocal
Billy MacInnis - Fiddle
Maurice Roulette - Harmonica

I’ve really been enjoying the Pat Johnson record, Come On In My Kitchen. As the title suggests it’s an invitation into Pat’s world. He’s got a gentle way of breathing new life into some classic blues tunes, he’s made them his own while remaining faithful to the energy behind the originals. That’s not an easy task but Pat’s got the touch.

It’s often been said that you can judge someone by the company they keep and with Billy MacInnis and Maurice Roulette in the mix …judge away. The first tune that struck me was the Robert Johnson cover, and title track, Come on in My Kitchen, it feels raw around the edges and that’s what gives it life and in this performance he nails the mood. The recording itself is clear but homey- it really feels like it was recorded in a kitchen. I can smell the cornbread cooling on the counter.

Pat Johnson has played guitar and taught near his home in southern Ontario for a couple of decades now. I suspect his playing and his voice will age well, just like the blues players of the past – his idols. With that in mind I’m eager to hear what he does next. ~Doyle Dean

Come On In My Kitchen MP3
Come On In My Kitchen FLAC

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Miss Tjajkovski & The Hustle Hounds - Sum Kind Of Candye

Size: 91 MB
Time: 13:25
File: FLAC
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Til' You Go Too Far (3:46)
02. You Need A Big Great Woman (3:48)
03. I'm On The Bender (2:46)
04. I'm The Toughest Girl Alive (3:03)

No info.

Sum Kind Of Candye

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Mike Andersen - Raise Your Hand

Size: 85.7 MB
Time: 36:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

01. Slamming The Door (3:19)
02. Next Time You Call (3:35)
03. Finally Free (2:41)
04. If I Fall Again (4:41)
05. I Can Dance (3:31)
06. Midnight Coffee (3:48)
07. Raise Your Hand (2:30)
08. Down In His Room (4:14)
09. Because Of You (4:24)
10. What Can I Do (3:58)

Mike Andersen opens up his 9th album with a bang: a self biographical song, 'Slamming The Door'. A humorous piece about being aware of what kind of person you want to become, both in music and in life before you actually end up slamming a door you should have left open.

"I've been writing sad songs so long, and then it struck me: The only way to survive emotionally in these turbulent times is to embrace the chaos weve been thrown into and accept the fact that, Yes, we all get messed up sometimes but that's ok. We can face this together"

It was out of this, that the title song 'Raise your Hand' was born. The sound of this song is different from the rest of the album, -being more old school with upright bass and horns, different from we've been accustomed to hearing from Mike and the band.

The rest of the album moves effortlessly through the myriad of genres we know from earlier Mike Andersen Band albums: A personal mix of the blues and soul music Mike fell in love with at an early age, but without the tyranny of "genre dogma". Mike and the band demonstrates increasing inspiration from from today's music.

With these 10 new original songs, Mike Andersen (at the ripe age of 44) takes us through the life stories of a man who has made it halfway.

From the tale of a guy who is so beaten by life's hardships, that he fears he may not be able to get up again after another bout; to a song about those days when good energy streaming through our bodies, makes even the most hopeless dancer jump up on the dance floor and dance like he's never done anything else.

From the paradox of a coffee date at midnight; to magical moments when we break free from our worries and concerns; to the "murder ballad" of a man who fantasizes about emptying both barrels af a shotgun into the man his loved one betrayed him with.
Mike Andersen's characteristic voice, his intense guitar phrasing, and not the least, the fantastic band he's had on the road for more than ten years, have created an album of natural practiced elegance. To capture this nearness and authenticity, the album was recorded 'live in the studio' on analog tape.

Raise Your Hand MP3
Raise Your Hand FLAC

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Byther Smith - Blues On The Moon

Album: Blues On The Moon
Size: 151,6 MB
Time: 65:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Judge Of Honor (5:23)
2. If You Love Me (5:55)
3. Blues On The Moon (6:44)
4. Give Up My Life For You (6:02)
5. Hard Times (6:43)
6. Your Mama's Crazy (5:03)
7. If I Misused Someone (4:33)
8. Monticello (8:15)
9. So Mean To Me (5:51)
10. Rock Me Baby (6:34)
11. Don't Start Me Talkin' (4:46)

Urban Chicago electric blues is alive and well in the 21st century, and Byther Smith is assuring fans that this style is still full of energy, spirit, and the many topics that make life in the big city both difficult and able to overcome. Smith's electric guitar sound borrows from several sources, but his slightly gruff but endearing, shouted out, distinctive vocal style is all his own. He's another of the many bluesmen originally from Mississippi who headed north for a better life, and has endured the hardships and the thinning of the ranks of the true veterans. He's come out on the other side true to himself without pandering to more R&B flavored commercial pop blues.

These live recordings at the Natural Rhythm Social Club on the venerable African-American south side of Chicago has Smith with a solid five-piece band with second guitarist Anthony Palmer, utilizing many of the familiar devices, techniques, and rhythm changes that set bona fide blues apart from other affectations. The funkiest blues "Judge of Honor" is the opener, but then Smith digs in on his cousin J.B. Lenoir's 12 bar classic about his baby "If You Love Me," and keeps the groove going on the repeat two-chord based title track.

Adopting a B.B. King solo guitar style, Smith plays his personalized poignant "Hard Times," a talkin', autobiographical "Monticello" about being lonely upon leaving dear ol' Mississippi, offers up a typical Chicago blues "Your Mama's Crazy," singing at the top of his lungs, and does the slow and dirty downhearted "If I Misused Someone" with some outstanding piano from Daryl Coutts. The keyboardist also plays organ on several tracks including the preaching "Give Up My Life for You," with a lyric based on the Biblical tale of Jesus dying for our sins.

The performance ends with three classics - a John Lee Hooker styled "So Mean to Me," the Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup mellow down easy evergreen "Rock Me Baby," and Sonny Boy (Rice Miller) Williamson's steady rollin' "Don't Start Me to Talkin'," which is similar to "Rock Me Baby." A DVD of this show is also available with an extra track. Byther Smith consistently delivers, whether in performance or on CD time after time, and should always remain a well-liked and authentic figure of the real blues world. /Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic

R.I.P. Byther Smith (April 17, 1933 - September 9, 2021)

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The Barcodes - Independently Blue

Album: Independently Blue
Size: 123,9 MB
Time: 53:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Jazzy blues
Art: Front

1. Grits & Greens (5:04)
2. Be Cool (3:21)
3. Cast A Wider Net (5:56)
4. Turn My Back On The Blues (4:14)
5. Checking On My Baby (5:13)
6. T-Time (3:47)
7. Don't Go To Strangers (4:02)
8. Parchman Farm (4:01)
9. Any Which-Way (3:45)
10. Motya (2:17)
11. One More Chance With You (3:22)
12. No More Doggin' (4:06)
13. Sweet Lovin' Mama (4:37)

"Independently Blue" is the Barcodes first CD on the Note label and it's a stonker, a marriage of the best in blues, soul & jazz. It is a landmark in British blues, full of great tunes and sparkling arrangements. You will want this album in your collection.

Bob Haddrell writes with top Nashville artists, has recorded in the States with Billy Swan, and has toured and recorded with Chicago Jimmy Dawkins. Truly "in the groove", Bob has created the unique sound of The Barcodes.

Alan Glen is acknowledged as one of the UK’s finest harmonica players. He is also a fine guitar player as you can hear on this album. He has toured the world as a member of The Yardbirds, and he has also recorded with Nine Below Zero, Little Axe, Dr Feelgood & Junior Delgado.

Dino Coccia has played and recorded worldwide. His credits include jingles, work with pop, blues and jazz recordings. He has worked with Andy Shepard, Alan Barnes and Grace Jones. On the blues scene he has played with James Carr, Byther Smith and Homesick James.

Special guest: Nick Newall (tenor sax, flute).

Independently Blue mc
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Texas Meltdown - Feel The Heat

Album: Feel The Heat
Size: 90,4 MB
Time: 38:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Electric blues, blues-rock
Art: Front

1. Took Me All Day (3:16)
2. Goin' Out (3:17)
3. Maybe In The Morning (6:01)
4. Throw Me Down (3:27)
5. Get On The Floor (3:37)
6. Should've Known (4:13)
7. Send Her Home (3:25)
8. Something To Call My Own (4:15)
9. Here's The Blues (4:11)
10. Run My Bill Up High (2:59)

Red Laforme has been playing guitar since the tender age of 17 when he was sneaking into bars attending open jam sessions to show his talent and garner experience. He started his first band in '98, a driving blues trio. Since then he has played numerous shows with the Blues House Hustlers circuiting the Toronto blues scene in places such as Canada's Wonderland, Toronto Skydome and numerous blues bars throughout the city. He has also travelled the US festival scene where he shared the stage with legendary musicians like Lucky Peterson, Willy Big Eyes Smith and Eddy King just to name a few.

In Canada, he has toured all over Southern Ontario sharing the stage with Mel Brown & Miss Angel, Robbie Antone & Douglas Watson. In 2003 he started a new band called Texas Meltdown, a rock n blues band with a southern Texan style with influences from the south. In April 2008, they released their freshman CD titled "Feel the Heat" for which they won "Best Blues Album" at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in November 2008.

Feel The Heat mc
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Mance Lipscomb - Texas Songster, Vol. 2: You Got To Reap What You Sow

Size: 182.8 MB
Time: 77:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Country Blues, Texas Blues
Art: Full

01. Charlie James (3:37)
02. Come Back Baby (4:03)
03. Spanish Flang Dang (2:03)
04. You Got To Reap What You Sow (2:30)
05. Cocaine Done Killed My Baby (1:23)
06. Joe Turner Killed A Man (4:34)
07. Bumble Bee (3:16)
08. Boogie In "A" (2:30)
09. Hattie Green (3:43)
10. Silver City (3:36)
11. The Titanic (3:16)
12. If I Miss The Train (4:08)
13. Lord Thomas (1:40)
14. Tom Moore Blues (5:40)
15. So Different Blues (3:05)
16. Tall Angel At The Bar (2:42)
17. Mama, Don't Dog Me (4:12)
18. Long Way To Tipperary (2:59)
19. Willie Poor Boy (3:29)
20. You Rascal You (3:41)
21. I Looked Down The Road And I Wondered (3:51)
22. Sentimental Blues (2:42)
23. Police Station Blues (2:40)
24. Missouri Waltz (2:04)

The material on this album was re-released on compact disc in the '90s, with outtakes and whatnot bumping the song catch up to 20 songs. This original vinyl pressing features a baker's dozen tracks, all recorded one spring when the charming Mance Lipscomb was out in California doing the folk revival circuit. Like most of his albums, this one is a good example of his versatility. Just when a listener thinks they have the man's style mentally pigeonholed, then along comes something else quite surprising. It is instructive to hear his "Spanish Flang Dang" in comparison with Elizabeth Cotton. Both are talented fingerpickers, and both are relying on memory to reconstruct a hit instrumental record from the early '30s. The variations are fascinating. The blues material here is also strong, ranging from the tough "Cocaine Done Killed Me Baby" to the light-hearted "Boogie in A." Producer Chris Strachwitz did a great job with the sound, and it is the type of acoustic guitar tone that really sounds better in analog.

Texas Songster, Vol. 2: You Got To Reap What You Sow MP3
Texas Songster, Vol. 2: You Got To Reap What You Sow FLAC

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Light Blue - In This World You Will Have The Blues

Size: 141.2 MB
Time: 60:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Blues For The King (3:52)
02. Where Would I Be (6:30)
03. Treasure (7:39)
04. Dining At Dogtown (3:37)
05. Lead Me In The Way (6:06)
06. Great I Am (5:04)
07. Walkin' With Jesus (3:13)
08. Nobody Knows (3:31)
09. Said And Done (4:12)
10. World World (6:27)
11. Like A Lighthouse (5:09)
12. Lay Your Burden (5:08)

No info.

In This World You Will Have The Blues MP3
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Various - Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues Vols. 1-3

Album: Backroom Blues Vol. 1
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:03
Size: 86.5
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

01 Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs - Miss Stacey (3:06)
02 Blind Lemon Pledge - Sugar Rush (3:37)
03 Paula Boggs Band - Miss Ruby Kirby Blues (3:38)
04 Big Bone Daddy - All I Got To Say (3:09)
05 Vin Matteo - Inside My Head (4:02)
06 Big Bone Daddy - Promised Land (3:12)
07 KickBend - Gone (3:29)
08 Kimon & The Prophets - New York's Finest (4:15)
09 Vin Matteo - Rat Race (3:41)
10 Roadhouse Sons - Roadhouse Sons (Feat. Trevor Sewell) (4:50)

A modern blues and blues rock compilation, “Bongo Boy Records Backroom Blues Volume One” features several artists who showcase their own take on the blues. This album gathers blues and blues inspired artists from across the country, including those who are more established and those who are starting to gain a larger following. ~Steel Notes

Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues, Vol. One MP3
Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues, Vol. One FLAC

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Album: Backroom Blues Vol. 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:22
Size: 85.0 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

01 Jeanne Lozier - Beg And Plead (3:41)
02 Rocket 88 - Shake Your Hips (4:43)
03 The Red Bank Blues Band (RB3) - Wonder If (3:50)
04 Blind Lemon Pledge - Nag Nag Nag (2:48)
05 Trevor Sewell - So Tired (Goin' Home) (3:59)
06 Mike Daly & The Planets - Broken (3:58)
07 Blind Lemon Pledge - She Broke The Ten Commandments (3:08)
08 Miss Laurie Ann & The Saddletones - Good Time Charlie (3:40)
09 Big Bone Daddy - Pretty Baby (2:53)
10 Trevor Sewell - Hollow, Pt. 1 (3:38)

Blues and Blues based rock you will enjoy. It is definitely worthy of inclusion in any serious collector’s stash.

Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues, Vol. Two MP3
Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues, Vol. Two FLAC

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Album: Backroom Blues Vol. 3
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:26
Size: 88.0 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

01 Topham McCarty Band - All Your Love (4:21)
02 Plainfield Slim - The Ringing Phone (2:46)
03 Mia Moravis & Trevor Sewell Band - Work Me Baby (3:41)
04 Big Bone Daddy - Can You Tell Me (4:18)
05 C C Bronson - Must Be Somethin' Going On (3:58)
06 Alvin Madison & Plainfield Slim - Still The Same Young Man (3:57)
07 Lisa Coppola - Stuck To My Shoe (4:12)
08 Big Bone Daddy - Luv Me Up (2:41)
09 Billy Hamilton & Lowriders - Pay Some Money (3:00)
10 Blind Lemon Pledge - Moon Madness (4:28)

I am back with another review. This time, Bongo Boy has sent me a prerelease copy of their upcoming compilation album Backroom Blues Volume Three. It is always a good day when I get a new album from Bongo Boy. If you are not familiar with their work, you should be. Bongo Boy has carved out a niche in the compilation scene. Personally, I like what they are doing. They take relatively unknown artists who play the same type of music and stick some of their best tracks on an album. I say relatively unknown because this is not like the old K-Tel albums that were only available on television. The stuff on the Bongo Boy albums is fresh and compelling. Volume three of the Backroom Blues series is no exception. ~The Grouch

Originally posted on 22 July 2016. Updated by Bluestender.

Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues, Vol. Three MP3
Bongo Boy Records: Backroom Blues, Vol. Three FLAC

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Lachy Doley - Studios 301 Sessions

Size: 191.2 MB
Time: 82:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues, Rock, Soul, Funk
Art: Front

01. Give It (But You Just Can't Take It) (5:44)
02. Betcha I'll Getcha (2:57)
03. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (5:31)
04. Make It Up (4:55)
05. Get It While You Cankaren Lee Andrews (7:56)
06. Only Cure For The Blues Is The Blues (6:40)
07. I'm A Man (4:59)
08. Right Time (Feat. Clayton Doley) (7:37)
09. The Greatest Blues (5:47)
10. A Woman (5:06)
11. Love Come Around (Feat. Mahalia Barnes) (5:17)
12. Six Feet Under (4:05)
13. Conviction (7:00)
14. I Can See Clearly Now (8:32)

Recorded on Lachy's 43rd birthday, April 21, 2021 LIVE at Studios 301 in Sydney in front of a small audience of 20. An amazing show featuring 13 musicians including special guests Mahalia Barnes, Karen Lee Andrew, Lachy's brother Clayton Doley and a KILLER HORN SECTION.

Studios 301 Sessions MP3
Studios 301 Sessions FLAC

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Andy Frasco & The U.N. - Live On The Rocks

Size: 164.4 MB
Time: 70:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. The Walk (Live) ( 3:29)
02. Mature As Fuck (Live) ( 3:26)
03. Love, Come Down (Live) ( 5:19)
04. Dancin' Around My Grave (Live) ( 3:07)
05. Keep On Keepin' On (Live) ( 6:24)
06. Better Day (Live) ( 5:39)
07. I Fought The Law (Live) ( 2:55)
08. Talk About It (Live) (11:20)
09. Waiting Game (Live) ( 5:29)
10. Struggle (Live) ( 8:21)
11. Love Hard (Live) ( 2:51)
12. Animals Lean On Me (Live) ( 6:45)
13. Somedays (Live) ( 5:40)

Frasco has never been one to shy away from work. Born and raised in California, he built his audience the old fashioned way, crisscrossing the world performing hundreds of exhilarating shows each year with his ever-evolving band, The U.N. Since its inception, the group has released a series of acclaimed records, shared bills with the likes of Leon Russell, Galactic, Gary Clark, Jr., The Revivalists, and Marcus King among others, and slayed festival stages everywhere from Mountain Jam in the U.S. to Rock am Ring in Germany and COTAI Jazz & Blues in China (this summer, they’ll appear at both Bonnaroo and FloydFest). NME hailed Frasco and his bandmates as “party-starting touring stalwarts,” while Relix praised their “raucous energy,” and Clash lauded their live show as a “nightly high-octane experience that doubles as a celebration of life and music…energized by a powerfully entertaining multi-cultural soundtrack that will shake the foundations of all nearby structures.”

On top of his manic schedule as one of the hardest touring musicians working today, Frasco also hosts ‘Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast,’ which features conversations with musicians, comedians, and actors about life on the road, the creative process, and mental health.

Live On The Rocks MP3
Live On The Rocks FLAC

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Colin Linden - bLow

Size: 110.1 MB
Time: 47:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues/Rock
Art: Front

01. 4 Cars (3:29)
02. Blow (4:19)
03. Until The Heat Leaves Town (3:33)
04. Ain't No Shame (4:05)
05. Angel Next To Me (3:39)
06. Boogie Let Me Be (3:34)
07. When I Get To Galilee (4:59)
08. Change Don't Come Without Pain (7:02)
09. Right Shoe Wrong Foot (3:08)
10. Houston (4:30)
11. Honey On My Tongue (4:44)

bLOW is Colin Linden’s fourteenth solo album, following the first, Colin Linden Live, by forty years. It is his first electric blues record.

bLOW will bring you to the dance floor, or up your highway speed by ten or fifteen mph, but it’s also worth listening to in a more contemplative way. Most classic blues songs were written by more than one person over more than a few decades, and that’s what gives them their gravity. Colin has steeped himself in this tradition, on advice he got, at age eleven, from Howling Wolf: if you want to play this music, listen to the people I listened to. On 78 records, you might think, but a lot of those old bluesmen were still around in the 1970s, so Colin got to know and learn from Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines,Blind John Davis, Son House, and Robert, and Sam Chatmon, who invited him to Mississippi andgot him started on his first journey through the South.

bLow MP3
bLow FLAC

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Boogie Beasts - Love Me Some

Size: 90.4 MB
Time: 38:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Bring It On (2:23)
02. I Don't Care (2:49)
03. Favorite Scene (2:57)
04. Get Away (2:52)
05. The One (3:41)
06. Run You Down (3:57)
07. Get Me Out Of Here (3:27)
08. Like A Snake (3:10)
09. In Your Hands (3:24)
10. A Girl Like You (3:28)
11. Howl (3:37)
12. Mine All Mine (2:27)

Personnel:
Guitar, vocals – Jan Jaspers
Guitar, vocals – Patrick Louis
Harmonica – Fabian Bennardo
Drums – Gert Servaes

Dirty beats, hypnotising slide, screaming harmonica riffs and plenty of fuzz: all of these will be served by this four-men band from Liège-Limburg-Namur, Belgium.

Boogie Beasts translate their passion for (hill country) blues into a most characteristic sound of their own, which has a touch of The Black Keys jamming with John Lee Hooker at a rave in the wee hours of the morning, or Morphine on a psychedelic trip with Little Walter, or even RL Burnside backed up by the young Rolling Stones at a juke joint-gig.

The drive is infectious, the noise is pure filth, yet highly irresistible…

Are you ready to boogie with the Beasts?

Love Me Some MP3
Love Me Some FLAC

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Al Basile - B's Testimony

Size: 130.1 MB
Time: 55:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Lucky Man (3:31)
02. Don't Kid Yourself, Baby (6:05)
03. If All It Took Was Wishing (3:26)
04. I Got A Right To Be Lonesome (3:34)
05. I'm Bad That Way (3:31)
06. Up Close And Personal Best (3:23)
07. One Day At A Time (4:19)
08. When The Girl Says Yes (2:24)
09. I Oughta Be Your Monkey (4:39)
10. It's Your Pain (5:00)
11. Through Thick And Thin (5:58)
12. Would I Do That To You? (4:11)
13. He Said, She Said (5:33)

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B's Testimony, from Al Basile and it's a real cool mix of blues and jazz. Opening with Lucky Man, a lightly funky, New Orleans flavored track with loose drum rhythm by Mark Teixeira, Brad Hallen on bass and Bruce Bears on piano. Adding in a bit of rock to the blues on If All It Took Was Wishing, Basile on cornet works with Doug James and Doc Chanonhouse to get just the right sound. Funky blues, I'm Bad That Way features some real tasty guitar work from Kid Andersen under some of Basile's best vocals on the release as well as a real nice laid back cornet solo that flows perfectly. Horn backing by James and Chanonhouse give it just the right amount of soul. Andersen steps up early on Up Close And Personal Best with some real hot riffs and follows with some absolute stinging solo guitar lead and Basile's muted cornet soloing lays in the slot making this one of my favorites on the release. Shuffle, I Oughta Be Your Monkey, is a lot of fun with just Basile front and center on cornet and lead vocal and a cool interface between Andersen's fine guitar work and the horns of James and Chanonhouse. Very nice. Another tight guitar solo by Andersen highlights It's Your Pain. Kid blends chickin pickin styling with bluesy approach, Basile's own laid back cornet solo laid in and the rich organ work of Bears tying it all together. On Through Thick and Thin Andersen really gets loose on guitar and if you've never heard that, it's an absolute joy. The guy really can play and he's really inventive. He swings from riff to riff with wreckless abandon and blows the top off of this one. Excellent! Built around a similar musical theme as "A Thrill Is Gone" Would I Do That To You?, is a great R&B shaped blues number. Basile leads on vocal with horn response by James and Chanonhouse. This track is a real sweet showcase of his cornet work and again resolves with Andersen just slaying the guitar. His bends, mixed with his (what sounds like) whammy vibrato is off the hook. Soft horn backing by James and Chanonhouse really add warmth for a strong finish. Wrapping the release is He Said, She Said, a low slung blues number with a real nice piano display by Bears and solid vocals by Basile leading to another hot guitar solo by Andersen. Basile closes the show with a poised cornet solo line. Really cool release. ~Bman

B's Testimony MP3
B's Testimony FLAC

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Big Walter With Albert Collins - Texas Thunderbird

Size: 143.7 MB
Time: 60:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1988
Styles: Piano Blues, Texas Blues
Art: Full

01. My Tears (4:12)
02. If Blues Was Money (3:35)
03. Big Bad Woman (2:18)
04. I Wanta Be Your Chauffeur (2:24)
05. Nothing But The Blues (4:06)
06. My Tears (Original Version) (3:59)
07. Walking Across Tears (4:06)
08. Louise (2:07)
09. Clock On The Motel Wall (1:51)
10. Bloodstains On The Wall (3:58)
11. I Don't Know (3:00)
12. The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn (3:57)
13. I Thought I Heard My Baby Cry (2:25)
14. Walter's Boogie (2:52)
15. It Had To Be (2:09)
16. Long Way To Go (2:32)
17. I Won't Lie To You Anymore (3:07)
18. Walter's Boogie (Electric Piano Version) (2:23)
19. Someone Who Don't Understand (3:06)
20. I Wanta Be Your Chaffeur (2:15)

Tracks 1 and 5: Recorded in Houston, 1964.
Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6: Recorded in Beaumont, May 16, 1963.
Tracks 7-20: Recorded in Houston, July 1 and 15, 1971.

Personnel:
Vocals, Piano – Big Walter Price
Guitar – Albert Collins (tracks: 1-6), Chris Holzhaus (tracks: 7-20)
Bass – Hank Lamn (tracks: 7-20)
Drums – Jimmy Ford (9) (tracks: 7-20)

Big Walter Price borned 2 August 1917, Gonzales, Texas, USA. Like many other aspects of society today, the blues features personalities famous for being famous. Big Walter Price is one. Raised from the age of three by his uncle, C.W. Hull, and aunt, he moved with them to San Antonio in 1928. Throughout his schooling, he also worked in cotton fields, sold newspapers, shined shoes and washed dishes. Taking an interest in music, he played with the Northern Wonders gospel group. After school, he worked on the railroad until, in 1955, he made three records for TNT Records, the first, ‘Calling Margie’, achieving local success. Thereafter, he recorded ‘Shirley Jean’, on which his reputation rests, and four other singles for Peacock in Houston, several of them with Little Richard’s old band, the Upsetters, masquerading as the Thunderbirds. In the next 10 years, he recorded for Goldband, Myrl, Jet Stream and Teardrop, while other tracks recorded for Roy Ames and featuring Albert Collins on guitar were issued later on Flyright and P.Vine. In July 1971, also for Ames, he recorded an album eventually issued in England 17 years later. His ebullient personality tended to minimize the effect of his rather wayward timing; although described as an exponent of classic Texas piano blues, the influence is more geographical than musical.

Texas Thunderbird MP3
Texas Thunderbird FLAC

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Tommy Castro - Tommy Castro Presents: A Bluesman Came To Town (A Blues Odyssey)

Size: 111.8 MB
Time: 47:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Somewhere (3:30)
02. A Bluesman Came To Town (3:57)
03. Child Don't Go (2:49)
04. You To Hold On To (3:53)
05. Hustle (3:36)
06. I Got Burned (3:36)
07. Blues Prisoner (5:16)
08. I Caught A Break (2:38)
09. Women, Drugs And Alcohol (4:19)
10. Draw The Line (4:14)
11. I Want To Go Back Home (3:41)
12. Bring It On Back (3:44)
13. Somewhere (Reprise) (2:39)

Throughout his long, constantly evolving career, guitarist, singer and songwriter Castro has always remained true to himself while exploring, growing and creating new music, and he has taken his thousands of devoted fans right along with him. Ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues to fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll, each of his 16 albums is solidly built upon Castro’s unshakable musical foundation—a dynamic mix of 1960s-influenced guitar-fueled blues, testifying Memphis-soaked blue-eyed soul and Latin-tinged East San Jose funk, all driven by Castro’s grab-you-by-the-collar vocals and passionate guitar work.

Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town is a roots music odyssey, a special project composed by Castro along with Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Tom Hambridge. Through its 13 songs, the album tells the tale of a young man, working on his family farm, who gets bitten by the blues bug. He masters the guitar and heads out on the road seeking fame and fortune, only to find what he’s left behind is the treasure he’s been looking for. “A Bluesman Came To Town isn’t a story about me,” says Castro. “It’s pulled from some of my friends’ and my experiences, though. I’ve seen first-hand for a lot of years what it’s like out there on the road.”

The road has always been Castro’s home away from home. He and The Painkillers will instantly ignite a crowd, turn them into loyal fans, and then keep those fans coming back for more. Castro has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and performed thousands of gigs at clubs, concert halls, and festivals all over the world. Famed guitarist Joe Bonamassa says, “Tommy has always been top of the heap among blues guitar players. He always puts on a great show.”

On the new A Bluesman Came To Town tour, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will perform fan favorites as well as songs from the new album. “I’ve made seven albums for Alligator,” Castro says, “and I’ve never made the same record twice. I will always try to be my most authentic self. I give it all I’ve got every time we hit the stage!” ~American Blues Scene

Tommy Castro Presents: A Bluesman Came To Town (A Blues Odyssey) MP3
Tommy Castro Presents: A Bluesman Came To Town (A Blues Odyssey) FLAC

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Elly Wininger - The Blues Never End

Size: 117.3 MB
Time: 50:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Blues Folk
Art: Full

01. Let That Liar Alone (3:13)
02. Skinny Legs Blues (3:40)
03. Right Kind Of Trouble (4:21)
04. Special Rider Blues (4:04)
05. Alabama Blues (3:14)
06. The Blues Never End (5:54)
07. (I Wanna Be Like) Rosie (4:00)
08. As The Crow Flies (4:05)
09. Black Snake Moan (3:20)
10. God Moves On The Water (3:01)
11. Range In My Kitchen (3:04)
12. Leavin' Blues (4:23)
13. Old Riley (4:00)

"Before I could read or write, I was transported by my parents' 78s: Vera Hall's "Black Woman;" Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was The Night" and Lead Belly, who I used to try to sing like, much to my kindergarten teacher's dismay,” says Elly. “I had no idea what or who I was listening to, but it stirred something in my soul that has been swirling ever since."

Cutting school to hang out in the Village, Elly listened. There was Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, Dave Van Ronk, and newcomers like her teacher David Bromberg, and John Hammond Jr., Artie Traum, Geoff Muldaur, Danny Kalb and so many others picking up from the source. Eventually she got up the courage to play in the basket houses. 1973 found her on stage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, singing with Maria Muldaur and immersing herself in all the styles that made up the 'folk revival.'

Having played historic NYC venues such as Folk City, Kenny's Castaways, Dr. Generosity's, and the Bitter End, Elly now tours and performs nationally and is an annual feature at the Woodstock Invitational Luthier's Showcase. Elly's musical talents, however, don't end there. As producer of "Rockin' the Boat," a public radio series which chronicles the power of music in movements for social and political change, Elly won several awards, including one from the United Nations. As a composer, Elly's guitar, vocal work, and original songs, have been featured in theater productions, video games, and in the Clio award-winning public service campaign against drunk driving, "Friends." Elly produces her own albums as well as albums for other artists, and she hosts the live/podcast variety show: "Catskill Cabaradio." In addition to giving workshops and clinics, Elly has created a program called "Our Song" which has been used by many organizations including the ARC, to assist people of all ages and abilities in writing their own songs.

Harkening back to her start in Greenwich Village, festival promoter Kurt Henry called Elly a "folk-blues legend." And indeed- she played the very first set on opening night at CBGB and was offered a recording contract with Red Robin Records at age 16. "I saw an ad in the Village Voice that said 'Wanted: Blues Singers,' so I grabbed my guitar and took the subway to the Bronx. After wandering around the projects, I finally found the right door. I went in and played for a while- I think it was "Rock Me Baby" and "Key to the Highway." The woman auditioning me yelled for her partner to come in the room. 'Listen to this' she said, nodding at me, in my braces and pointy glasses. I was as surprised as they were when she handed me a contract."

“The Blues Never End” is Elly’s fifth album since the end of the 90’s, the penultimate being “Little Red Wagon” self-released in 2018. In 2014 Elly was inducted into the New York Blues Hall Of Fame.

The Blues Never End MP3
The Blues Never End FLAC

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Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1

Size: 113.7 MB
Time: 48:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Show Me How You Do It (3:35)
02. Takes One To Know One (4:08)
03. Rose-Colored Glasses (3:06)
04. I Got A Love I Wanna Hold On To (3:51)
05. All You Ever Bring Me Is The Blues (4:31)
06. Wish It Into The Cornfield (4:02)
07. Once The World Stops Ending (4:57)
08. Everybody Everybody (4:05)
09. Things Ain't Like That (4:17)
10. When My Baby Comes Home (3:45)
11. Rise Together (3:44)
12. Gimme Some Skin (4:21)

After five decades, a dozen albums, BMA and Grammy nominations, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps emerge with their new studio album Rose-Colored Glasses Vol 1 on Blue Heart Records. The timeless expression alludes to seeing the world from an optimistic point of view, one full of hopes and dreams, as B.C. Forbes said “optimism is a tonic. pessimism is poison.” James and her Rhythm Tramps have assembled a collection of a dozen new songs that reflect that point of view. Each one is filled with romantic notions of jubilant love, redemption, perseverance, strength, and joy.

James and her partner in crime, Terry Wilson, who produced the album, wrote/co-wrote all the songs, were again joined by a splendid cast of characters that make up The Rhythm Tramps, along with some special guests. Mainstay guitarist Billy Watts with Wilson on bass and alternating drummers, Jay Bellerose and Herman Matthews, maintain the rhythm section throughout, with a selection of exceptional Texas guitar players such as Yates McKendree, Anson Funderburgh, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell, and Snuffy Walden in the mix. They are joined by Paulie Cerra and Darrell Leonard on horns, with vocalists Richard Millsap, Nicki Bluhm, Michael Starr on strings, and Kevin McKendree on keys. The project, recorded over a year and a half in California, has that undeniable smooth West Coast Canyon Country sound.

James demonstrates her southern charms on the smoldering opener “Show Me How You Do It,” coaxing her lover to reveal his secrets like a demure coquette. The horn driven “Takes One To Know One,” swings with romance and flair as James’ vocals are mirrored was tasty leads from fellow Texan Funderburgh. Bay Area singer songwriter Nicki Bluhm co-wrote the title track with Wilson and sang backup vocals adding another layer to the beautifully crafted love song that is the album's shortest track, but possibly its sweetest. Bellerose delivers one of his signature hypnotic grooves on the seductive rumba “I Got A Love I Wanna Hold On To,” while the horns dart back and forth in the background. The cinematic jazz ballad “All You Ever Bring Me Is The Blues,” evokes images of 1950’s film noir, with James stepping into the role of the femme fatale for the provocative melodrama with deadly confidence. Taking its name from an episode of the Twilight Zone, the swampy “Wish It Into The Cornfield,” recants the tale of a homeless Vet, who despite a world of trouble holds on to hope. The celebratory boogaloo, “Once The World Stops Ending,” encourages us all to stay vigilant for better days are ahead. Jay B lays down the ‘one drop’ for “Everybody Everybody,” a reggae fueled call for unity and peace. Legendary country blues guitarist, Lee Roy Parnell, adds in some greasy slide playing and Kevin McKendree from the Delbert McClinton Band handles the keyboards on the slinky examination “Things Ain't Like That.”

The sophisticated arrangement and pure romance of “When My Baby Comes Home,” should ensure that the piano ballad is destined to become a classic. Guitarist Snuffy Walden, who worked with Wilson in the Eric Burdon Band, sits in on “Rise Together,” lending his Emmy-Award-winning skills on this call-to-arms anthem. Red Dirt ramble, “Gimme Some Skin,” takes us to the church for the finale with trumpets sounding a rallying cry as James encourages us by declaring “a little bit of love is still loving, any amount of forgiveness can move mountains, just a tiny touch, is still touching someone, we can do it.” Édith Piaf sang of living life in a pair of rose-colored glasses and John Lennon heeded her advice turning them into a symbol of modern counterculture. Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps have distilled their iconography into a musical portrait that reflects their personal world view earned through hard work and dedication to their art. ~Rick J Bowen

Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 MP3
Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 FLAC

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Ronnie Wood & The Ronnie Wood Band - Mr. Luck: A Tribute To Jimmy Reed (Live At The Royal Albert Hall)

Size: 159.9 MB
Time: 68:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Chicago Blues, Rockin' Blues
Art: Front

01. Essence (Intro) (0:29)
02. Good Lover (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:29)
03. Mr Luck (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (7:06)
04. Let's Get Together (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:38)
05. Ain't That Loving You Baby (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (2:54)
06. Honest I Do (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:56)
07. High & Lonesome (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:06)
08. Baby What You Want Me To Do (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:59)
09. Roll And Rhumba (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (2:47)
10. You Don't Have To Go (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:55)
11. Shame Shame Shame (Feat. Mick Taylor & Paul Weller) (Live) (4:39)
12. I'm That Man Down There (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (2:59)
13. Got No Where To Go (Feat. Mick Taylor & Mick Hucknall) (Live) (5:39)
14. Big Boss Man (Feat. Mick Taylor & Bobby Womack) (Live) (4:18)
15. I Ain't Got You (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (3:44)
16. I'm Going Upside Your Head (Feat. Mick Taylor) (Live) (4:28)
17. Bright Lights, Big City (Feat. Mick Taylor & Bobby Womack) (Live) (4:17)
18. Ghost Of A Man (3:02)

The 18-track album features The Ronnie Wood Band including Mick Taylor with special guests Bobby Womack, Mick Hucknall, Paul Weller, and pays tribute to one of Ronnie’s major influences: the Mississippi electric blues musician/songwriter Jimmy Reed.

Of Mr. Luck, Ronnie notes, “Jimmy Reed was one of the premier influences on the Rolling Stones and all the bands that love American blues from that era until the present day. It is my honor to have the opportunity to celebrate his life and legacy with this tribute.”

This album marks the second iteration in a series of personal albums by Wood and the band celebrating Ronnie’s musical heroes. Mad Lad, the first album, explored the work of Chuck Berry after Berry’s passing just over two years ago. Ronnie was a lifelong fan and had also toured with Berry.

Mr. Luck: A Tribute To Jimmy Reed (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) MP3
Mr. Luck: A Tribute To Jimmy Reed (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) FLAC

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Rusty Ends Blues Band - Rusty Ends Blues Band

Size: 122.2 MB
Time: 51:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. What Next? (2:21)
02. Secrets In The Street (2:55)
03. Blue Shadows (3:29)
04. I Wanna Know (2:17)
05. A Man Can't Understand A Woman (2:15)
06. Sinner's Strut (3:11)
07. High Powered Loving Man (2:34)
08. Something Wrong Going On (3:13)
09. Don't Call It Love (5:54)
10. Heart Stealer (2:17)
11. Broken Dreams For Sale (2:50)
12. Sloppy Joe Blues (2:50)
13. I'm Searching (2:48)
14. Whips And Chains (2:31)
15. One Step Forward (3:08)
16. High Beams (2:31)
17. The One Wish (4:31)

As far as Rusty Ends is concerned, constructing barriers between various roots music genres is an exercise in futility. The Louisville-based singer/guitarist has no compunctions about seamlessly blending those idioms into his own distinc-tive sound, which he’s been honing to a razor’s edge for well over half a century now. It’s been a long musical odyssey for Rusty, one that’s still going strong. What’s more, Ends happens to be a prolific songwriter; his albums are full of fascinating original material.

“When I was a kid I heard a lot,” says Rusty. “I grew up hearing blues, rock and roll, and country music. I heard all three of those things. And it was country guitar players that influenced me a lot, too. And sometimes it comes out and sometimes it doesn’t.

”Roadhouses were primarily where Rusty learned his trade, a wide-open breeding ground where all those genres intersected. Musically fertile Louisville spawned its own star-studded cadre of performers over the decades—everyone from accordion-wielding country bandleader Pee Wee King and beguiling jazz chanteuse Helen Humes to hearty blues shouter Cliff Butler and Harvey Fuqua’s classy R&B vocal group, the Moonglows — and Rusty yearned to follow in their famous footsteps.

In 1992, Ends was a primary member of the Rusty Spoon Blues Band, whose album Midnight Screams for producer Scott Mullins’ Rollin’ & Tumblin’ label featured guest singer Curtis Gaines. “I feel like it may have been a more honest CD if it had just been the four of us without the added vocals,” admits the sizzling guitarist, who was front and center vocally on this album Rusty Ends Blues Band, which was previously released in 1996 by Rollin’ & Tumblin’ Records, which folded shortly thereafter. Earwig Music Company is re-releasing this fun album which never got distribu-tion the first time around 25 years ago.

Rusty’s still on his crusade to illustrate the myriad connections between his favorite genres. “People going to the honky tonks and the juke joints, it’s the same kind of people. It’s the same kind of experiences. They’re wanting to do the same thing. They’re going there, they want to forget their troubles, have a good time.”That’s a guarantee anytime Rusty Ends hits the stage. ~Bill Dahl

Rusty Ends Blues Band MP3
Rusty Ends Blues Band FLAC

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Hector Anchondo - Let Loose Those Chains

Size: 114.4 MB
Time: 49:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic Blues
Art: Front

01. Let Loose Those Chains (3:55)
02. I'm Going To Missouri (3:34)
03. Just Forget It (4:49)
04. Current River (In Memory Of Libby) (2:57)
05. Candy Shop (3:37)
06. Legend (4:45)
07. Sometimes Being Alone Feels Right (4:36)
08. Strike It Down (3:59)
09. Vested Angels (5:10)
10. Heart And Soul (4:48)
11. Momma's A Hard Man (3:38)
12. You Know I Love You But You Got To Go (3:08)

Let Loose Those Chains is the acoustic album Hector Anchondo always wanted to make. Winning First Prize in the solo/duo category of the Blues Foundation's 2020 International Blues Challenge provided the inspiration, so Hector gathered two acoustic guitars and some favorite personal songs from his past twenty years of writing, and got to work in studio spaces in Bradenton, Florida and Crystal Lakes, Illinois. Hector created a powerful album that delivers insights into emotions across the spectrum of love and heartache, the ups and downs of his life so far. The twelve original tracks reflect Anchondo's many influences, including bluesmen like John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo and the Allman Brothers, plus some Folk, Americana, and a touch of Gypsy Jazz. A showcase for his songwriting, expressive singing and versatile guitar work, Let Loose Those Chains is a landmark work for a quickly rising star.

Let Loose Those Chains MP3
Let Loose Those Chains FLAC

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Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions Vol. 2

Album: Porch Sessions Vol. 2
Size: 140,9 MB
Time: 60:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. She's Tuff (Feat. Victor Wainwright) (4:14)
2. Honey Bee (Feat. Willie Buck) (3:20)
3. Change Is Inevitable (Feat. AJ Fullerton) (2:50)
4. Recipe For Love (Feat. Bobby Rush) (4:44)
5. Smokestack Lightnin' (Feat. Watermelon Slim) (4:36)
6. Going To Court 2 (Feat. James Harman) (6:23)
7. Go (Feat. Jon Lawton) (3:19)
8. Every Day I Have The Blues (Feat. Lurrie Bell) (2:37)
9. Brazilian Brothel (Feat. Richard 'Rip Lee' Pryor) (3:26)
10. Bad Bad Girl (Feat. Johnny Burgin) (3:24)
11. Find Me When The Sun Goes Down (Feat. Rae Gordon) (3:52)
12. That's How I Learned (Feat. Ben Rice) (5:56)
13. Cake Walk (Feat. Mark Hummel & Dennis Gruenling) (3:16)
14. Family Tree (Feat. JD Taylor) (3:54)
15. Peace Will Come (Feat. Southern Avenue) (3:03)
16. Get Outta Here (Dog Named Bo) (Feat. Bobby Rush) (1:43)

Here we find Holiday continuing to stakeout his turf as the master of the off the clock recording. Basically a collection of ‘field' recordings that are loose jams recorded in ad hoc settings with everyone from superstars to journeymen to background cats any blues fan should get to know better, the sound quality may be uneven but the performances are uniquely one of a kind and uniformly hot. It all feels like that twilight zone spot where Alan Lomax meets Leonard Chess. This is the smoking kind of set that gets you thinking about a pilgrimage to the crossroads.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Porch Sessions Vol. 2 mc
Porch Sessions Vol. 2 zippy

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