Chickenbone Slim - Serve It To Me Hot

Size: 117.0 MB
Time: 50:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Serve It To Me Hot (3:33)
02. Wild Eyed Woman (4:38)
03. Queen Of The Wires (3:08)
04. Ought To Be Loved (3:25)
05. Love To Be True (4:17)
06. Squares Everywhere (2:37)
07. Top Of The Clouds (3:54)
08. Laying In The Weeds (4:05)
09. Crying Tonight (3:37)
10. Hey Shakalo (4:48)
11. I Will Stand For You (4:12)
12. City Girl (3:23)
13. Hook Me Up (4:29)

Since forming his band in 2012, Chickenbone has created a reputation for pleasing crowds and impressing critics by mixing traditional Blues with West Coast swing, Americana and Rockabily in a distinctive way.

Serve It To Me Hot was recorded at Christoffer “Kid” Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, and features Slim’s current band: internationally acclaimed guitarist Laura Chavez (2020 BMA Best Guitarist nominee), drummer Marty Dodson (Fabulous Thunderbirds) and longtime bassist Andrew Crane. Andersen guests on piano, organ, and choice guitar licks, his wife Lisa adds background vocals, and harmonica player Aki Kumar guests on a track.The album is a collection of all original material Chickenbone calls Roots Rock —an eclectic mix of short stories with danceable grooves.

The album is a collection of all original material including the title track, “Serve It To Me Hot,” cowritten with Andrea Ryan. Chickenbone calls the album Roots Rock — an eclectic mix of short stories with danceable grooves. Slim states, “From my core I’m a blues guy: T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker… somewhere between Hound Dog Taylor and Dave Edmonds. I want people to listen to the songwriting.”

Serve It To Me Hot MP3
Serve It To Me Hot FLAC

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Marcia Ball - Gatorhythms

Album: Gatorhythms
Size: 80,4 MB
Time: 34:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1989
Styles: Blues, R&B, honky tonk
Art: Full

1. How You Carry On (2:41)
2. La Ti Da (3:42)
3. The Power Of Love (4:16)
4. Mobile (3:10)
5. Find Another Fool (4:21)
6. Mama's Cooking (3:03)
7. What's A Girl To Do (3:28)
8. Daddy Said (2:43)
9. You'll Come Around (3:54)
10. Red Hot (3:12)

Marcia Ball explored R&B and honky tonk country on this album, keeping her blues chops in order while expanding her repertoire. She included a pair of tunes by country vocalist Lee Roy Parnell, "What's a Girl to Do" and "Red Hot," doing both in a feisty, attacking fashion. She was also challenging and upbeat on Dr. John's "How You Carry On" and "Find Another Fool." Her third Rounder album, Gatorhythms was one of her most entertaining and dynamic, as Ball became less of an interpreter and more of an individualist. /Ron Wynn, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Gatorhythms mc
Gatorhythms zippy

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Cuby + Blizzards - Collected (3 CD)

Album: Collected
Size: 182,4+174,1+182,6 MB
Time: 79:04+75:33+79:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Blues, blues-rock, rock
Art: Full

CD 1:
1. Stumble & Fall (1:57)
2. Your Body Not Your Soul (2:19)
3. Back Home (A Man) (4:36)
4. Feeling Like A Suit-Case (2:38)
5. Nostalgic Toilet (3:37)
6. Desolation Blues (3:00)
7. Hobo Blues (6:18)
8. Just For Fun (2:50)
9. The Sunshine Of Your Shadow (2:47)
10. Another Day Another Road (1:52)
11. Somebody Will Know Someday (6:54)
12. Another Land (4:37)
13. Window Of My Eyes (3:28)
14. Checkin Up My Baby (3:14)
15. The Sky Is Crying (5:52)
16. Appleknockers Flophouse (2:30)
17. Go Down Sunshine (7:03)
18. Night Train (4:43)
19. Thursday Night (3:24)
20. Too Blind To See (5:14)

CD 2:
1. Birk's Works (3:55)
2. Simple Man (7:03)
3. Seasons Come And Seasons Go (5:09)
4. Backstreet (3:49)
5. Gave You My Word (4:44)
6. Sometimes (3:40)
7. Distant Smile (3:05)
8. Perfection (4:53)
9. Pigeon Girl (2:20)
10. Perfect Song (3:38)
11. (There Ain't No Real) Perfection (2:08)
12. Maybe We'll Need Another War (4:38)
13. Bad News (6:16)
14. Geronimo Weeps (5:27)
15. City Soldier (5:15)
16. The Legend (4:53)
17. Can You Tell Me What Love is (4:32)

CD 3:
1. I've Always Been Lonely (6:41)
2. So Many Roads (5:11)
3. Tough On Me, Tough On You (3:46)
4. Brother Booze (4:35)
5. Broken Wings (4:04)
6. Bluesman (4:17)
7. At The End Of The Bar (4:42)
8. Sky Songs On The Spot (4:55)
9. No News (5:15)
10. TV-Blues (3:59)
11. The Big Sleep (4:27)
12. Dancing Bear (5:28)
13. Faceless Voices (6:59)
14. Nobody In Town (4:52)
15. Low Country Blues (3:07)
16. Mama Won't You Buy Me A Dream (3:27)
17. My Old Jimmy (3:20)

Cuby + Blizzards – also known as Cuby & the Blizzards were a Dutch blues group, founded in 1964 by vocalist Harry Muskee, and guitarist Eelco Gelling. During the 1960s, the band's mixture of sound, drawing upon a variety of genres which included blues and rock and roll, gave them a pioneering sound which was completely different from any other Dutch band in the same time period, using the name Peter & the Blizzards. The spelling of the name varies, with 'Cuby' also written as 'QB' and the ampersand (&) also written as 'and' or '+' and the 'and' sometimes left out. The spelling 'Cuby + Blizzards' was used on the first albums.

The band's first single, a blues-based track bearing similarities to The Pretty Things output, was "Stumble and Fall" in 1965. From the start, they were a big hit in the Netherlands. In 1967 they toured with Van Morrison (after he had left Them), recorded an album, "Praise the Blues" with U.S. blues musician Eddie Boyd and scored a hit with "Window of my Eyes". That year, John Mayall stayed at their farm and the next year they regularly played with the "king of British blues" Alexis Korner, who is featured on their album Live in Düsseldorf (1968).

The line-up of the band changed regularly, but founders Harry Muskee and Eelco Gelling remained at the core of the band until 1976. Herman Brood was the pianist from early 1967 until mid-1968 (which kickstarted his career) and again in 1976. Also in 1976, Gelling left to join Golden Earring. Muskee then decided to drop the name C+B and to form the Harry Muskee Band. This band recorded one album before Muskee decided to leave the music business. In 1980 he formed the Muskee Gang with a line-up of Herman Deinum (bass guitar) and Hans la Faille (drums), who had both joined C+B in 1969, together with saxophonist Rudy van Dijk, Paul Smeenk (guitar) and Jeff Reynolds (trumpet).

In 1996 Cuby + Blizzards re-formed without Eelco Gelling, who was replaced by Erwin Java on guitar. In 2004 they went on a theatre tour to honor John Lee Hooker. C+B came to an end when Harry Muskee died of cancer on 26 September 2011.

Collected (3 CD) part 1 mc
Collected (3 CD) part 1 zippy

Collected (3 CD) part 2 mc
Collected (3 CD) part 2 zippy

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Umberto Porcaro & The Shuffle Kings - Pleasure Is My Business

Size: 142,6 MB
Time: 62:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Rockin' blues
Art: Front

1. Bad Town (4:23)
2. Melon Man (3:32)
3. I Wanna Love You (4:43)
4. Mambo Jumbo (5:28)
5. Hard To Love (3:16)
6. Take Me Back To Texas (3:19)
7. Dallas (3:49)
8. Rock Little Girl (3:58)
9. True Love (3:49)
10. Talking About My Babe (3:49)
11. Beautician Blues (3:31)
12. Pleasure Is My Business (4:48)
13. Forth Worth Bound (3:11)
14. You're Still Mine (4:12)
15. Jimmy Lee (2:38)
16. Drivin' Home (3:43)

“Pleasure Is My Business” has become an album with 16 dynamic songs, which don't really give you a moment of rest…

With “Bad Town” as the opener of the CD and with Umberto on slide guitar, the trend for this album has started immediately and clearly. This is music that the listener has to undergo… “Melon Man” sounds mystical, dreamy and could be a polyphonic Indian song. In “I Wanna Love You” Max Lugli again provides the intro with harmonica and all doors are opened a little further. The party is coming… “Mambo Jumbo” confirms and is carried by the dynamic rhythm with exotic slant of the rhythm section, with drummer Lele Zamperini. “Hard To Love” is a song with a very classic blues pattern and build. “Take Me Back To Texas” is rock & roll again. Umberto's voice sounds very American. The text refers to his American journey. It's a flood of Texas blues rolling out of the speakers. “Dallas” is partly started by the harmonica of Max Lugli. It is a drawn-out duel and interplay between guitar and harmonica. “Rock Little Girl” is a slow rock that provides a first rest on this album. “True Love” and “Talking About My Babe” are unobtrusive tracks in this expansive album. “Beautician Blues” is about a beautician and is the most rocking song on the album. It's another song with strong American influences. Henry Carpaneto, in Fats Domino style, can be heard here emphatically at the piano. He is also a guest on the following track: “Pleasure Is My Business”, the title track. The nasal vocals of Umberto give the song “Forth Worth Bound” extra color. “You're Still Mine” is another classic. Not an outlier, but very recognizable... “Jimmy Lee” is the transition to the final. Who is sung about in “Jimmy Lee”? A rocking American fan? In the last song “Drivin' Home” the rock & roll drips from the piano onto the stage. Strong ending full of glitter, gel and what belongs to rock & roll…

“Pleasure Is My Business” has become a blues rock CD with no room for detours or frills. Porcaro's voice and versatile guitar playing are central to all songs. The American influences dominate in this album. With the energy that the group radiates, she will quickly pack and carry the audience during the performances. Umberto Porcaro & The Shuffle Kings are power rockers, using an elaborate cocktail of uptempo jump blues from California and Chicago and unmistakable Texas rock.

Pleasure Is My Business MP3

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Papa Leg Acoustic Duo - Railroad Blues

Size: 100,4 MB
Time: 43:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Acoustic blues
Art: Front

1. Walking Blues (3:27)
2. In The Evening (4:12)
3. John Henry (3:04)
4. You Gotta Move (3:01)
5. Sweet Home Chicago (6:05)
6. Me And The Devil Blues (4:42)
7. Little Red Rooster (4:15)
8. Get Back (3:38)
9. When You Got A Good Friend (3:54)
10. Trouble In Mind (3:12)
11. Love In Vain (4:16)

Born in 1968, he is known in Italy as the leader of the Papaleg Blues Band. He has acquired his own and unique way of making his emotions his through the six strings of the resophonic guitar. Thanks to the intense study of the masters of the delta blues (Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bukka White, Furry Lewis, Mississippi Fred McDowell) the bottleneck has become for him the main way of expressing himself. He met Marco Tinari in 2002 and joined the Papaleg Acoustic Duo in 2005. They performed classic delta blues sounds trying to express their own style while respecting the tradition of the masters of blues (Son House, Bukka White, Big Bill Broonzy and Blind Lemon Jefferson) and listening to the latest voices of the genre: Eddie Cusic, Jimmy Anatra Holmes and David Honeyboy Edwards.

Railroad Blues MP3

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Vika Bull And The Essential R&B Band - At Last : The Etta James Story

Size: 98,8 MB
Time: 42:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. I Just Want To Make Love To You (3:23)
2. Something's Got A Hold On Me (3:05)
3. Roll With Me Henry (2:51)
4. Spoonful (3:00)
5. Fool That I Am (2:47)
6. Strange Things Happening Everyday (2:36)
7. Sugar On The Floor (4:37)
8. Lovesick Blues (3:14)
9. A Sunday Kind Of Love (3:55)
10. I'd Rather Go Blind (3:10)
11. Pushover (3:04)
12. At Last (3:03)
13. Take It To The Limit (4:04)

At Last: The Etta James Story saw its world premiere in 2013 and since then has played to packed theatres throughout Australia and New Zealand. Having recently completed a sell-out season at Arts Centre Melbourne the show came to the Sydney Opera House, for just one week.

Starring the sensational Vika Bull the show tells the story of soul legend Etta James turbulent life and features some of her most beloved songs including Something’s Got A Hold On Me, I’d Rather Go Blind, her iconic signature song At Last and many more. Vika puts her heart and soul into this unforgettable show and is joined on stage by The Essential R&B Band – seven talented, multi-instrumentalist musicians. At times their enthusiasm and the sound system encroached a little on Vika’s message.

The arrangement of songs interspersed with narration flowed well, with the relatively low-key end of the two Acts being sealed by Vika’s high energy encore. Etta’s story is an engrossing one. During a long career she won six Grammy Awards and a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Etta James influenced a vast array of artists from Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, to Amy Winehouse and Adele. Sadly, her frantic recording and touring schedule coincided with her ever-growing addiction problems including doing time in jail. She not only sang the blues…she lived the blues. Mercifully, her passion for life and strength of character saw her conquer her demons and she continued to record and perform into her seventies. This is her story.

At Last : The Etta James Story MP3

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Vala Cupp - One Thing On My Mind

Size: 79,9 MB - 240 MB
Time: 34:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 1990
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Six Eggs & A Pint Of Vodka (3:47)
2. Think Twice Before You Go (2:35)
3. Self Destructive Blues (2:46)
4. Don't Touch Me (5:11)
5. Man Size Job (3:32)
6. Crawling Kingsnake (Duet with John Lee Hooker) (5:37)
7. Any Old Arms (3:24)
8. Jailhouse Blues (3:41)
9. One Thing On My Mind (4:15)

Vala Cupp worked with and babied John Lee Hooker in the last few years of his life. She took her lessons with him seriously and put out this incredible CD. Why she is not more well known is something hard to understand. These lyrics and music that she wrote are really excellent, and do a top notch job of showing off her incredible voice and talent.

Vala was born in San Luis Obispo, California, in 1954 and has been singing Blues and R&B since age 15 (after hearing a recording of Bessie Smith). “It really struck me big time,” Cupp recalls. She became fascinated by “the most macabre tunes.” “The strong ones are a kick in the butt to sing, and they’re a strong emotional release. They are more colorful lyrically, give you more to work with when evoking a feeling.” Vala toured with John Lee Hooker as his opening singer and duets partner for 14 years (1987 through 2001), and has shared the stage with such luminaries as Ry Cooder, Elvin Bishop, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Albert Collins, Charlie Musslewhite, Greg Allman, Kenneth Threadgill, Hiram Bullock, Coco Montoya, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Dale Watson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lydia Pense, Carlos Santana, Susan Tedeschi, Tommy Castro, Buddy Guy and Derek Trucks.

Vala died on Oct. 31, 2005, in her Austin home.

One Thing On My Mind MP3
One Thing On My Mind FLAC

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Patrice Moncell - Woman Enough

Size: 114,2 MB
Time: 49:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Blues, soul-blues
Art: Front, inlay, note tray

1. No Deposit To Run (3:33)
2. Woman Enough (4:09)
3. It Ain't Cheaper To Keep Him (3:59)
4. Strokin' (6:50)
5. Built For Comfort (3:33)
6. Second Chance (4:33)
7. Down Home Blues Medley (7:14)
8. Blues Booty (4:24)
9. Stormy Monday (6:38)
10. It Hurts Me Too (4:56)

Mississippi music legend Patrice Moncell, 52, died the morning of Monday, July 13, following her hospitalization in Georgia three days earlier. She leaves behind her sons, Santiaugo and Benjamin Gathright. #Born Patrice Gathright in Meridian in 1962, Moncell had a complex and rich musical career that began as early as age 4 when she started singing publically for church. She later attended Meridian Community College, where she studied under Dr. Bob Hermetz and earned attention for her work with a music group called The Variations. #As a classically trained vocalist, Moncell once sang with the New England Vocal Ensemble in its performance of "The Mozart Requiem" and with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for its performance of "Beethoven's Mass in C Major." She was also gifted at singing French, Italian and German arias, and was invited to sing spirituals at the Vatican in 1999.

Woman Enough MP3

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Harlem Lake - A Fools Paradise

Size: 88,1 MB - 240,6 MB
Time: 38:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2021
Styles: blues, rock, southern rock, Americana
Art: Front

1. Deaf & Blind (3:13)
2. A Fool's Paradise (6:41)
3. The River (4:26)
4. Guide Me Home (5:05)
5. Please Watch My Bag (5:44)
6. My Turn To Learn (2:59)
7. I Won't Complain (5:26)
8. I Wish I Could Go Running (4:35)

"Undutch good," program maker Johan Derksen typifies the band Harlem Lake around keyboardist Dave Warmerdam, guitarist Sonny Ray and singer Janne Timmer. You can find anything from the Oracle from Grolloo, but the mustache does have a point here. By the way, never judge a book by it's cover, Derksen has encyclopedic knowledge about blues. Plus, Harlem Lake was Walter Trout's support act, which is possibly an even better recommendation. Well, what can you add to the blues? The genre was at the cradle of rock 'n roll, R&B and our contemporary pop music. So it doesn't have to sound different or innovative at all. Authentic, that's what we want. And that fits perfectly with the band from the Haarlemmer Meer. Voila, hence the name. The trio is assured of a solid backbone in the person of bassist Kjelt Ostendof and drummer Benjamin Torbijn. The quintet opens full throttle with the beecher Deaf & Blind, on which singer Timmer can immediately pull out all the stops. It is followed by the ballad A Fool's Paradise that calmly moves towards seven minutes without getting bored for a moment. The River comes in extra hard. The hearty track is an instant classic that will stand the test of time with ease. It's a well-executed showcase of how well blues, southern rock and americana do in the mix. With Guide Me Home we find the second ballad of the album. On this Timmer sounds more subdued and more fragile. If this were an audition for the Best Singers program, she would have passed immediately. With Please Watch My Bag, the pattern is broken hard-soft-hard. It is not a ballad, but a relatively quiet song that clocks in at almost six minutes, partly due to a number of typical blues solos that are reminiscent of the late Rory Gallagher. Via My Turn, which is again a successful cross-pollination of southern rock and blues, we arrive at the bluesy americana of I Won't Complain. And that also applies to me, because it is absolutely no punishment to listen to this album several times for this review. Finalist I Wish I Could Go Running is unadulterated blues rock. The fact that the band prefers to act as a 12-piece band with horns, backing singers and extra guitars and percussion makes you long for a live performance. I am also already looking forward to the sequel to this rock-solid debut, because the addition is full. 1 naturally suggests that there is more to this young blues band.

A Fool's Paradise MP3
A Fool's Paradise FLAC

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Marcia Ball - Live At Waterloo Studios EP

Size: 74.3 MB
Time: 31:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Louisiana Blues
Art: Full

01. Rockin' Is Our Business (4:57)
02. Foreclose On The House Of Love (5:01)
03. Dance With Me (4:33)
04. Give It Up (Give In) (6:02)
05. So Many Rivers To Cross (3:40)
06. Give Me A Chance (3:39)
07. If It Ain't One Thing (3:57)

Recorded live at Waterloo Records, Austin, TX.

Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949, Orange, Texas, United States) is an American blues singer and pianist raised in Vinton, Louisiana.

Ball was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist... where Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp meet." The Boston Globe described her music as "an irresistible celebratory blend of rollicking, two-fisted New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp rock and smoldering Texas blues from a contemporary storyteller." ~Wikipedia

Live At Waterloo Studios EP MP3
Live At Waterloo Studios EP FLAC

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Kent Burnside & The Flood Brothers - Kent Burnside & The Flood Brothers

Size: 75.2 MB
Time: 32:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Last Night (3:44)
02. Liar Cheater (4:51)
03. Daddy Told Me (3:37)
04. Can't Stop Me (2:48)
05. I'm In Love (3:45)
06. Hangin' Around (2:59)
07. Catfish Blues (4:23)
08. Be Your Man (1:47)
09. Thing Goin' On (4:04)

Performer Kent Burnside was born into the blues. Grandson of legendary blues man R. L. Burnside. Born in Memphis and raised in Mississippi, Kent learned from the masters. Carrying on in the Burnside family tradition, Kent is known for playing high energy, exciting blues shows around the world, keeping the South’s tradition of scratchy, rolling blues alive.

Kent is teaming up with The Flood Brothers who are a two man THUMP MACHINE and their infectious melodies and animal rhythms will have your bones shakin’ outta your boots! The Flood Brothers are heavily influenced by the early Rock ‘N Roll sounds of Memphis and Deep Blues of North Mississippi. Gabe Meyer and Jacob Best add their own bent to the boogie that could only come from the muddy banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Now based out of Columbia, Missouri Gabe and Jacob grew up in Hannibal, Missouri.

Kent Burnside and the Flood Brothers have played together for a decade but they recently teamed up for their first joint effort album, titled “Kent Burnside and the Flood Brothers.”

Kent Burnside & The Flood Brothers MP3
Kent Burnside & The Flood Brothers FLAC

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VA - Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 11

Size: 126.0 MB
Time: 54:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01 Sean Carney, Jimmy Thackery & The Red Hots - Much Later (3:31)
02 Miss Freddye's Blues Band - Hitting On Nothing (2:25)
03 Dany Franchi & Jimmy Thackery - Don’t Steal My Time (4:40)
04 Hoard & Jones Band - I Don’t Need No Doctor (6:17)
05 JP Soars & Jimmy Thackery - Bad Day To Stop Drinking (3:07)
06 Dany Franchi, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers - Backstroke (3:10)
07 Roger Hoard & Dany Franchi - Route 66 (6:23)
08 Miss Freddye's Blues Band - Same 'Ol Lies (3:11)
09 JP Soars & The Red Hots - Caravan (5:06)
10 Sean Carney & JP Soars - Me And My Woman (5:33)
11 Hoard & Jones Band - Time For Me (6:53)
12 Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers - Baby's Groove (3:56)

Listening to Mark Puskarich’s final mixes of Blues Cures Volume Eleven, I’m struck by how these live-in-studio jams have evolved into something much more than just a “jam" over the last decade, it’s a showcase of world class Blues talent assembled to raise money to fight cancer with heartfelt performances of the highest caliber. Jimmy Thackery, who returns for this volume, once described our concept as; “They lock us into the studio until we finish an album,” and in a way of speaking, he’s right, although he’d be the first to admit that folks are free to go when they please and he might even tell you that performers always look forward to returning for the next recording session.

Many of the performers on this volume have appeared on previous Blues Cures recordings beginning with two outstanding bandleaders and their bands who were both present on our second volume, J.P. Soars & The Red Hots and the aforementioned Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers. On the topic of blues guitarists, you won’t find more seasoned pros than Thackery and Soars, but young Italian guitarist and BFAC regular Dany Franchi contributes his considerable talents to the mix here and aptly demonstrates why he’s one of the most exciting new names on the international blues scene and he’s caught the notice of heavyweights like Joe Bonamassa, Jimmie Vaughan and Derek Trucks. A particular highlight for me is the red hot pairing of Dany with Thackery on Franchi’s own, “Don’t Steal My Time” - I think it was a highlight for Jimmy as well!

Another returning favorite is Miss Freddye Stover and this time she brought her fabulous band from Pittsburgh and they’re in tremendous form on the New Orleans gem “Hitting On Nothing” as well as the Mike Sweeney penned “Same Ol’ Lies.” Miss Freddye is as warm off stage as she is on stage and she’s become a Blues For A Cure favorite who truly connects with all ages and backgrounds and she takes the time to be personally exuberant with each and every fan. One of the things I’ve always loved about the blues is the accessibility fans have to performers and Miss Freddye personifies that in a very special and unique way with gospel roots that truly pour God’s love into the music and into the hearts of the audience.

The Hoard and Jones Band is new to Blues Cures recordings but guitarist Roger Hoard is a time-tested professional guitarist having been house guitarist at Jamboree USA with the 11/70 Band, the largest Saturday night country music live broadcast in the world, based out of Wheeling, WV and second only to The Grand Ole Opry. Roger’s guitar work has been praised by masters like Chet Atkins and Little Charlie Baty and he shows his bluesy side, joined by Dany Franchi, on the classic, “Route 66,” and the introspective, “Time For Me,” featuring Hoard on slide guitar and banjo.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to front a tune with Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers once again and we agreed that Ike Turner’s gem, “Much Later,” was a peppy number to record. I was also excited to collaborate with J.P. Soars, Chris Peet and up and coming drummer Brandon Pettiford on Shuggie Otis’, “Me And My Woman,” a funky workout where Soars really shines with his unmistakable guitar work. Both Soars and Thackery contribute outstanding instrumentals allowing them to really step out and incorporate elements of surf, rock and jazz. Perhaps the late Dick Dale was on J.P.’s mind as he rips into some stellar tremolo picking on, "Caravan”?

I’d like to acknowledge two friends, Natalie Walston Abbott and Austin Johnson, who were both real life heroes to loved ones recently lost to cancer. We make this music for you. Huge thanks also to Mark Puskarich, Cody Romshak and Lois Puskarich who provide the most incredible recording studio experience I’ve found! Thanks to you for listening and supporting our efforts! ~Sean Carney

Thanks to BluzBug.

Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 11 MP3
Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 11 FLAC

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VA - Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 4

Size: 139.5 MB
Time: 59:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01 Omar Coleman/Jonn Richardson/Sean Carney/Abdell B Bop/John Popovich/Jan Roll - Too Late (2:52)
02 Joey Gilmore/Manny Manuel/Dave Workman/John Popovich/Jan Roll - That's What Love Will Make You Do (5:17)
03 Ray Fuller/Manny Manuel/Dave Workman/Franc Robert/John Popovich/Jan Roll - So Many Roads (5:38)
04 Long Tall Deb/Manny Manuel/Dave Workman/Jonn Richardson/Sean Carney/John Popovich/Jan Roll - Every Day I Have The Blues (4:29)
05 Franc Robert/Ray Fuller/Omar Coleman/John Popovich/Jan Roll/Trent Sholl - The Sky Is Crying (6:23)
06 Joey Gilmore/Manny Manuel/Dave Workman/John Popovich/Jan Roll - Bluesman (9:50)
07 Long Tall Deb/Omar Coleman/Jonn Richardson/Sean Carney/John Popovich/Jan Roll/Marty Romie - Blues Don't Care (Married To The Blues) (5:25)
08 Jonn Richardson/Dave Workman/John Popovich/Jan Roll/Marty Romie - You're Gonna Make Me Cry (5:57)
09 Joey Gilmore/Jonn Richardson/Sean Carney/Abdell B Bop/John Popovich/Jan Roll - Shake, Rattle And Roll (6:46)
10 Hunter Wolfe & Are/Joey Gilmore/Omar Coleman/Abdell B Bop - Your Death (Is Killing Me) (3:10)
11 Jonn Richardson/Omar Coleman/Sean Carney/Marty Romie - Love The World (3:51)

Welcome to Blues Cures Studio Jam Volume 4, continuing a legacy of live in the studio Blues and passionate support of incredible, life saving programs such as The Stefanie Spielman Fund For Breast Cancer Research. We also support The Blues Foundation, which not only is responsible for The International Blues Challenge and The Blues Music Awards, but also programs like The HART Fund, created to assist musicians in need of medical care.

There are several exciting “firsts” on this recording, most notably a rare studio appearance from Dave Workman, who has become a BFAC favorite since bringing the house down at our “Columbus Blues” Showcase at Woodland’s Tavern in April, 2011. Dave set the bar for generations of Central Ohio and now San Francisco guitarists, myself included, and we were all truly honored he agreed to participate in this session.

Although I’ve seen Dave jam with Ray Fuller on a number of occasions, I know they’ve never recorded together. It was exciting to make that happen here on a smoldering version of Otis Rush’ Chess Records gem, “So Many Roads,” with Workman playing particularly inspired solos.

I wanted to pair Dave with 2006 IBC winner Joey Gilmore, whose appearance marks another “first” this year. I think that combo works particularly well with John Popovich on keys, Manny Manuel on bass and Jan Roll on drums on Little Milton’s groover, “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” and Z.Z. Hill’s, “Bluesman.” A combination I hope we’ll hear more from in the future.

Jonn Richardson ties together the IBC theme here with Gilmore and me spanning consecutive wins from 2005 to 2007. We chose Big Joe Turner’s proto-rock & roll anthem, “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” where we each take a stab at singing verses and trading guitar solos. Richardson also sounds fabulous paired with Workman for the soulful, “You’re Gonna Make Me Cry.” As always, Jonn proves to be a musician’s musician, and that’s why he’s been featured on all four of our sessions.

Another “first” here are exciting newcomers to the Blues, Hunter Wolfe & ARE. I first heard them on Beale Street at The IBC play their blues with a punk rock edge and I’m convinced they’re going to do big things. Hunter & ARE had a blast playing their own, “Your Death is Killin’ Me,” with guests Joey Gilmore and Omar Coleman lending their talents.

This is Omar Coleman’s second Blues Cures session. He and bassist Abdell Bouyousfi thought it would be fun to pay tribute to the Chess sound, once again, with Little Walter’s, “Too Late.” Jonn and I had a blast with Lockwood/Tucker/Aces interplay. Jonn, Omar and I, along with Marty Romie, also recorded an amazing version of Jimmie Vaughn’s “Love The World.”
“Long Tall Deb” Landolt is another first on this session and she brought a pair of tunes to the table: the classic, “Everyday I Have The Blues,” and her own hot original, “Blues Don’t Care.”

I want to thank Mark Puskarich and Cody Romshak for providing an amazing atmosphere and state of the art studio in Tony’s Treasures to capture the recording here. Thank YOU for listening! ~Sean Carney

Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 4 MP3
Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 4 FLAC

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Handsome Jack - Get Humble

Size: 96.6 MB
Time: 41:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues/Rock
Art: Front

01. Got You Where I Want You (3:42)
02. High Class Man (4:07)
03. Simple Kind Of Life (3:30)
04. Shoulder To Lean On (4:04)
05. Hard Luck Karma (3:33)
06. Old Familiar Places (3:50)
07. Servin' Somebody (3:19)
08. Get Humble (3:08)
09. New Home In The Sky (4:36)
10. Roll It (3:18)
11. Let Me Know (3:55)

With upcoming album Get Humble Handsome Jack digs again into the classic American musical lexicon (blues, soul, country, rock ‘n’ roll) to craft a timeless rock compositions ideal for house and block parties.

Get Humble is packed with soulful vocals, swampy guitars, countrified rock, and West Coast vocal harmonies. This is, without question, their most accomplished album to date.

Big Takeover is pleased to host the premiere of the LP’s heartfelt and socially relevant title track “Get Humble.”

The soulful Americana track kicks off with a laid-back drum-led pace, but the main and backing vocal harmonies resonate vibrantly – with hope and determination – amid an old-gold pattern of banjo pluck, shadowing bass line, and sporadic tambourine ricochet.

Get Humble MP3
Get Humble FLAC

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Amanda Broadway Band - The Ache

Size: 96.7 MB
Time: 41:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Blues, Rock, Funk, Soul
Art: Front

01. Leave Your Light On (5:15)
02. Bs Blues (3:19)
03. No More Giving It Away (3:55)
04. You Don't Love Me No More (3:52)
05. Leavin' (4:55)
06. Groove (3:00)
07. One Foot Out The Door (3:26)
08. Don't Keep Me Waiting (Interlude) (2:27)
09. Keep On Livin' For Love (5:01)
10. The Ache (6:33)

Personnel:
Amanda Broadway (Vocals)
Shane Lamb (Guitar)
Kent Toalson (Keys)
Max McKee (Bass)
Nate Felty (Drums)
Mikie Martel (Trumpet)
Ryan Latham (Sax)
Amber Woodhouse (Vocals)
Maureen Murphy (Vocals)

Blurring the lines between rock’n’roll and message-driven soul, the Amanda Broadway Band blends funky backbeats with bluesy guitar riffs and powerful songwriting. Based in Nashville, TN, the hair-flipping, tambourine-wielding Broadway captivates audiences with her authentic musical voice and soul-shouting enthusiasm. Grounded by a superb rhythm section, compelling background vocalists, and dynamic horn players, the band brings earnest and infectious energy to every performance.

Their debut LP, The Ache, was released on CD, Vinyl, and digital platforms on February 28th, 2020. Recorded over three days at Nashville’s famed analog studio, Welcome To 1979, the record captures the energy of the live band on ten original compositions. “This project is a collaborative and self-produced effort where each member’s voice shines through,” mentions Broadway. The result is music meant for the masses—a stellar and creative endeavor that deserves to be heard on festival stages.

Following the success of their debut album, the Amanda Broadway Band officially signed to Electric 3 Records, an independent label with roots in Nashville, Memphis, and Los Angeles.

Their first single of 2021, “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” presents a truly fresh and electrifying take on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic. Attention grabbing from the start, this rendition brings new meaning and a sense of urgency to the lyrical content while showcasing the band as a creative, captivating, and undeniably funky force. ~Ryan Madora (Writer, Bass Player, Author of Bass Players To Know)

The Ache MP3
The Ache FLAC

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Boco - My First Blues

Size: 86.2 MB
Time: 37:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Suffering Mind (2:58)
02. Bring It On Home (3:06)
03. Little Sister (2:35)
04. Last Morning (4:02)
05. Just Like I Treat You (3:25)
06. Just As I Am (4:25)
07. I Woke Up This Morning (4:27)
08. I Could Cry (3:23)
09. Get My Mojo (4:11)
10. Back Door Man (4:22)

Any info will be welcome.

My First Blues MP3
My First Blues FLAC

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Mike Bloomfield - The Gospel Truth

Size: 268 MB
Time: 1:54:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic/Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Peepin' An A Moanin' Blues (2:49)
02. Papa-Mama-Rompah-Stompah (3:30)
03. Frankie And Johnny (4:13)
04. Michigan Water Blues (3:37)
05. Effinonna Rag (4:36)
06. The Gospel Truth (4:42)
07. Pleading Blues (4:21)
08. Mood Indigo (5:26)
09. You Took My Money (3:58)
10. Lights Out (1:49)
11. Junker's Blues (2:35)
12. It'll Be Me (3:03)
13. Snowblind (5:02)
14. At The Cross (4:37)
15. Hilo Waltz (4:07)
16. Guitar King (4:09)
17. My Children, My Children (I Call You) (4:32)
18. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (4:52)
CD 2:
01. If You See My Baby (Live) ( 3:23)
02. Poor Kelly (Live) (12:58)
03. Statesboro Blues (Live) ( 4:04)
04. You Won't See Me (Live) ( 4:10)
05. I Found True Love (Live) ( 3:50)
06. Come Back Baby (Live) ( 4:11)
07. Drifting Blues (Live) (10:02)

New 2CD set - a combination of rarities, hits and previously unreleased live recordings from one of America’s first great white blues guitarists.

As one of America's first great white blues guitarists, Michael Bloomfield earned his reputation on the strength of his work in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. His expressive, fluid solo lines and prodigious technique graced many other projects, most notably Bob Dylan's earliest electric forays. Uncomfortable with the reverential treatment afforded a guitar hero, Bloomfield tended to shy away from the spotlight after spending just a few years in it; he maintained a lower-visibility career during the '70s due to his distaste for fame and his worsening drug problems, which claimed his life in 1981. During the late '70s, Bloomfield recorded for several smaller labels (including Takoma), usually in predominantly acoustic settings.

The Gospel Truth MP3
The Gospel Truth FLAC

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Kaye Bohler - Live At Moe's Alley

Size: 155,1 MB - 413.9 MB
Time: 67:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s - Flac
Released: 2003
Styles: Rock/Blues
Art: Front, tray

1. If You Know It (5:39)
2. Welcome Blues (3:22)
3. Hard To Sing The Blues (5:06)
4. I Just Couldn't Stand It Anymore (3:49)
5. Come To Mamma (6:34)
6. Wrong Man Blues (4:19)
7. I'd Rather Go Blind (7:48)
8. Broke & Hungry (4:21)
9. Blue Collar Mama (6:49)
10. Flamin' Mamie (3:32)
11. I Want To Know (8:15)
12. Waiting for My Time to Come (7:27)

Celebrated singer/songwriter Kaye Bohler has captivated audiences from Japan to Alaska for over 25 years. Kaye’s show is bathed in southern Soul, Blues, and Funk as she knocks you and rocks you out. She’s a songbird with a child’s heart and the fire in her belly of Tina Turner. An unmistakably powerful and engaging performer, Kaye Bohler really knows how to pull you in and make you dance, cry and laugh too.

Live At Moe's Alley MP3
Live At Moe's Alley FLAC

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Marcia Ball - Live! Down The Road

Size: 177.5 MB
Time: 76:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Louisiana Blues
Art: Full

01. Big Shot (Live) (4:00)
02. Right Tool For The Job (Live) (5:13)
03. Just Kiss Me (Live) (6:42)
04. That's Enough Of That Stuff (Live) (6:29)
05. Louella (Live) (6:28)
06. Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday (Live) (4:56)
07. La Ti Da (Live) (5:51)
08. It Hurts To Be In Love (Live) (4:09)
09. Down The Road (Live) (4:13)
10. No Ordinary Woman (Live) (4:11)
11. Crawfishin' (Live) (5:30)
12. Louisiana, 1927 (Live) (6:55)
13. Count The Days (Live) (3:39)
14. Play With Your Poodle (Live) (7:57)

Personnel:
Baritone Saxophone – Mark Kazanoff
Bass – Don Bennett (3)
Drums – Corey Keller
Guest, Vocals – Angela Strehli (tracks: 8)
Guitar – Pat Boyack
Lead Vocals, Piano – Marcia Ball
Organ [B-3] – Red Young
Tenor Saxophone – Brad Andrew
Trumpet – Al Gomez

Marcia Ball, born on the Texas/Louisiana border, has long been a superb live performer, delivering her swampy blend of zydeco, blues and gritty R&B with all the force of a Saturday night locomotive, and her many fans have been crying for a live album for years, and now, finally, she's delivered it. Recorded in September 2004 at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, CA as part of the Sierra Center Stage series broadcast on PBS, Marcia Ball Live: Down the Road also serves as a kind of greatest-hits set, with Ball and her gritty, horn-driven road band blasting through favorites that span her career. Make no mistake, Ball comes to party, and from the blistering stomp of "Big Shot" that opens the album, she hardly lets up, and even when she does ease it down, as she does on her wonderful version of Randy Newman's gorgeous "Louisiana 1927," you can still feel the heat of the swamp between the lines. Her zydeco-fueled original, "That's Enough of That Stuff," is a clear highlight, as is "It Hurts to Be in Love," which features a guest duet vocal from Angela Strehli. Ball's road band is tested and solid, providing a gutsy backdrop to her driving piano lines and steamrolling vocals. With the good-time, sassy energy on display here, Down the Road serves as an ideal introduction to Marcia Ball in her truest environment, live on-stage, and for her longtime fans, it is an album they have long been anticipating. A bayou party in a box. ~Steve Leggett

Live! Down The Road MP3
Live! Down The Road FLAC

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The Ragged Roses - Do Me Right

Size: 104.2 MB
Time: 44:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Rockabilly Blues
Art: Full

01. Hoodoo Voodoo (3:25)
02. Crying Over You (2:45)
03. Do Me Right (3:02)
04. Tell Me (4:00)
05. Falling Out Of Love (3:29)
06. Cravin' For Your Lovin' (3:21)
07. One Look (Tangled Up In Love) (4:40)
08. Sugar Coated Lovin' (2:24)
09. Never Gonna Break My Heart (2:42)
10. Runaway (5:42)
11. Right Track (3:06)
12. Way Back Home (5:37)

Now, take 2 gallons of Wanda Jackson,2 Gallons of Etta James, a spoonful Howlin’ Wolf, a shot of Dick Dale, Add some Cramps and a pint of Nick Curran, mix that all up, shake it, stir it, and light it on fire. The result you get : The Ragged Roses

The Ragged Roses combine the rock & roll spirit of the 1950’s with the attitude of modern roots gunslingers. It’s a new band, female fronted by Katrien, the embodiment of wild performing art, combining stunning vocals with stunning looks, being backboned by – you can call them although their relative young age and wild raging hearts – veterans of the Belgian roots scene. Watch out for that slapping, walking, gypsy swinging upright bass and lightning blot guitars, surfing on a wave of groovy drums.

The Ragged Roses are now releasing their Debut album “Do Me Right”, containing all self-written original songs and one cover of the great Del Shannon. So don’t hesitate to check out their album!!!

Do Me Right MP3
Do Me Right FLAC

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Hanna PK - Blues All Over My Shoes

Size: 92.4 MB
Time: 39:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Piano Blues
Art: Front

01. Mirror Mirror (4:35)
02. Bad Woman (3:34)
03. Insomnia Blues (4:44)
04. I'm Lost Without You (3:10)
05. Love Keeps Walking In (3:29)
06. It's Alright Baby (2:49)
07. No One Will Ever Know (3:41)
08. Ain't Gonna Be Looking Back No More (2:54)
09. It's Been Raining In My Heart (4:05)
10. Bad Habit (3:06)
11. Two And Four (3:11)

Hanna PK is a solid pianist, soulful vocalist, and vibrant performer, born and raised in South Korea, currently residing in Rochester, NY. She plays a wide variety of the blues & swing, old school folk, and boogie-woogie. She has a dynamic songwriting style ranging – from a funky tune with socially conscious lyrics to a mournful slow blues, from a pop-edged ballad to an uplifting swinging number, and from barrelhouse boogie to jazz. Her first Booga Music/VizzTone release, a full length album produced by internationally known bluesman Kenny Neal, presents what has been developed and honed over years in the woodshed and nights gigging with her band.

When meeting Hanna, it’s not uncommon to wonder how a young woman born and raised in Korea stepped into the Blues. But her music makes it clear she is not only touched by it, but also dedicated to this great art form. Hearing her strong left hand bass rocking steady with her swinging right hand on the piano, one cannot deny she has done her homework and is carrying on the tradition. Her original songs also prove her to be a creative artist who will continue to build her fans in a wide range of ages and backgrounds.

On stage, her warm personality invites the audience right to her heart — she is a soulful singer who can accompany herself on a piano, with an impeccably steady and strong left hand bass, and a swinging and shuffling right hand freely cascading over it. She also plays the guitar and a few other instruments. This all-in-one package allows her the flexibility of being able to play as a solo act or in any ensemble small or big.

For her first major outing, she’s packed the album with 10 originals, with just one cover song – yet no two songs are alike. World blues fans, especially piano blues fans, will get their fill from this smogasbord. Kenny Neal really wanted to focus this album on PK and her songs, showcasing her ability to lead a band with her roaring keyboard along with her resonating voice. But he also performs on a few track which is a special treat.

Blues All Over My Shoes MP3
Blues All Over My Shoes FLAC

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Dana Gillespie - Hot Stuff

Size: 157.6 MB
Time: 67:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Full

01. Lovin' Machine (2:23)
02. Pencil Thin Papa (2:57)
03. Easy Does It (3:58)
04. Meat On Their Bones (3:53)
05. Raise A Little Hell (3:51)
06. Empty Bed Blues (4:35)
07. Play With Your Poodle (3:02)
08. Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style Again (2:22)
09. Too Many Drivers (3:03)
10. Sailor's Delight (3:04)
11. Built For Comfort (3:01)
12. Fat Meat Is Good Meat (2:37)
13. Hot Stuff (2:54)
14. Tall Skinny Papa (3:31)
15. Big Car (3:36)
16. Spoonful (5:14)
17. Diggin' My Potatoes (3:39)
18. Mainline Baby (3:16)
19. Pint Size Papa (2:54)
20. Horizontal Boogie (3:11)

A big second helping of risque blues and R&B from Britain's Queen Of Bawdy Blues Dana Gillespie. Drawing on new material and from her albums Blue Job (Ace, 1982), Below The Belt (Ace, 1984) and Sweet Meat (Blue Horizon, 1989), Dana belts her way through such classic material as Howlin' Wolf's Spoonful and his boastful Built For Comfort (both from the pen of Willie Dixon), Big Bill Broonzy's Too Many Drivers, Leiber & Stoller's Mainline Baby and a slew of her own gritty compositions including Meat On Their Bones, Sailor's Delight, Horizontal Boogie and Raise A LIttle Hell.

The accompanying bands, cooking up the storm in the background, include saxophonist Pete Thomas, drummer Kieran O'Connor, guitarists Ed Dean, Sam Mitchell, bassist Charlie Hart and pianist (I said pianist! - Ed) Bob Hall. Production chores are handled by legendary Blue Horizon producer Mike Vernon and Dana herself.

Hot Stuff MP3
Hot Stuff FLAC

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Joe Louis Walker - Eclectic Electric

Size: 126.1 MB
Time: 54:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Uptown Girl Blues (5:46)
02. Wine (Feat. Waddy Wachtel) (3:25)
03. Bad Betty (3:22)
04. Gone And Alone (3:45)
05. Hotel California (8:03)
06. Regal Blues (Feat. The B.B. King Blues Band) (5:17)
07. Make No Mistake (Feat. Waddy Wachtel) (5:02)
08. Two Trains Running (2:49)
09. Werewolves Of London (Feat. Waddy Wachtel) (5:40)
10. Lady In Red (Feat. Bette Smith) (5:43)
11. All She Wants To Do Is Dance (5:08)

One of most celebrated and respected bluesmen working today, Joe Louis Walker, returns with some of the most electrifying recordings he's done in his over 4 decade long career!This extraordinarily diverse set includes both incredible new compositions including the blues stomping opener "Uptown Girl Blues" and horn-powered "Bad Betty" as well as killer cover versions of The Eagles' "Hotel California" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London!"Includes special guest performances by Waddy Wachtel, Doyle Bramhall II and the incomparable B.B. King Blues Band!

Eclectic Electric MP3
Eclectic Electric FLAC

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Eric Clapton - The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions (Live)

Size: 168.3 MB
Time: 72:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Acoustic/Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (3:05)
02. Golden Ring (3:24)
03. Black Magic Woman (4:21)
04. Man Of The World (3:07)
05. Kerry (2:27)
06. After Midnight (5:00)
07. Bell Bottom Blues (4:32)
08. Key To The Highway (3:41)
09. River Of Tears (6:54)
10. Rock Me Baby (4:17)
11. Believe In Life (4:52)
12. Going Down Slow (4:27)
13. Layla (5:29)
14. Tears In Heaven (4:34)
15. Long Distance Call (3:46)
16. Bad Boy (3:44)
17. Got My Mojo Working (4:44)

Rock and blues guitar legend Eric Clapton gives his fans a heartfelt career and character retrospective on his new album The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions. Set to drop November 12th, 2021 via Mercury Studios, the mostly acoustic set was an in-studio concert performed by Clapton and his band of Nathan East (bass and vocals), Steve Gadd (drums) and Chris Stainton (keyboards). They played unplugged versions of an assortment of Clapton standards along with a selection of other blues, country, and seldom-heard original tunes.

Eric’s longtime Grammy-winning producer Russ Titelman (James Taylor, George Harrison, Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, Rickie Lee Jones) ran the session, which was captured live at Cowdray House in West Sussex, England.

The record was an outgrowth of Clapton’s concerts scheduled for May 2021 at the Royal Albert Hall being forcibly cancelled due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. Clapton felt that his best alternative to playing for live crowds was playing for microphones and cameras, which led to this intimate set coming into existence. EC’s views on all things Covid have generated much discussion in recent months and have been covered extensively. No matter which side of the virus issue you’re on, a new Clapton release is also worthy of discussion because of his impact and influence on the guitar community and rock music in general. As we aren’t a political blog, we feel we can acknowledge his new music here and still debate his views elsewhere.

Clapton opens with a gently-shuffling version of Bessie Smith’s 1929 standard “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” that highlights the vocal melody and story of this hard-luck hymn. This kind of early blues sound doesn’t get nearly enough attention and it’s cool to hear someone of Clapton’s stature put it up front. EC also works his acoustic magic on the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac jam “Black Magic Woman.” He does it with a feel that references the ever-popular Santana version but converts the groove to a rough-and-tumble shuffle on the back end. Smooth and soulful, it’s everything people dig about our man Slowhand.

“After Midnight” appears in a pulsating new form that adds some muscle to this Clapton staple. Nathan East’s upright bass work is especially strong here and carries much of the vibe. Clapton’s vocals and guitar work are both tight and he grooves within the band like a master. “Bell Bottom Blues” is heartfelt and sweet, delivering some of Clapton’s most melodic playing on the record. The entire band sparkles in this mellow context and plays for the song like the pros they are.

“Rock Me” gets a lowdown, late-night articulation that lets Clapton shine while still leaving plenty of space between his notes. His unhurried lines hit a lot of happening spots in the form and his feel is timeless. “Layla” gets a gentle, almost jazzy treatment that gives it new legs and features some fine keyboard work from Chris Stainton. “Tears In Heaven” is as emotive as it’s ever been and Clapton seems to have a deeper relationship with this song in the years since the loss of his son. His always-understated style hits the mark right on and he gives the track a beautiful performance.

By the time he closes with the electrified “Got My Mojo Working,” Clapton has given us a glimpse of everything he does and is. Equal parts hardcore blues lover, expressive songwriter, bereaved father, and rock legend, Clapton is as complexly human as the rest of us and makes no bones about it. The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions is a fun, career-spanning set that Slowhand’s faithful will be spinning all winter. Take it for a ride and see. ~Mike O’Cull

The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions (Live) MP3
The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions (Live) FLAC

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Cold Blood - The Best Of Cold Blood

Album: The Best Of Cold Blood
Size: 167,5 MB
Time: 72:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Blues/Funk/Soul mix
Art: Full

1. I Just Want To Make Love To You (5:14)
2. I'm A Good Woman (3:37)
3. Let Me Down Easy (4:50)
4. You Got Me Hummin' (5:45)
5. Funky On My Back (6:54)
6. Lo And Behold (4:15)
7. Down To The Bone (5:43)
8. You Had To Know (5:49)
9. My Lady Woman (4:06)
10. Watch Your Step (5:26)
11. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (5:59)
12. If You Will (5:34)
13. No Way Home (3:28)
14. I'll Be Long Gone (5:36)

Aside from an almost-ran in "You Got Me Hummin'," Cold Blood never really had any hits to speak of, so assembling a best-of is less a matter of picking hit singles than of individual taste. As such, this is a decent compilation of this San Francisco workhorse. It's also the only release readily available on CD, probably because it's all most listeners will need. It includes all of their debut album, as well as some of their better later tracks like "Lo and Behold." Cold Blood stayed true to its female-belter and brass-band blues formula throughout its career, with the result that this retrospective coheres as an album in its own right. /Paul Collins, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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