Blues 127 Items

Celebrated by fans and fellow musicians as being among the blues’ most talented and exciting guitarists, Chris Cain is, according to Living Blues magazine, “turning out the best work of his career.” Good Intentions Gone Bad debuts 13 striking new songs, with Cain delivering top-shelf performances on blistering shuffles, slow-burning blues and joyful soul. Fellow Alligator artist Tommy Castro guests on one track.

Founded at the end of 2021, Blues Bizarre release now its self-titled debut album, which breaks the genre boundaries of blues and is a breath of fresh air for today's roots music and rock. Blues Bizarre is one of the pioneers of the new wave of blues in Nordic, which combines the tradition of the genre with different styles from Eastern music to progressive rock, also taking influences from the Allman Brothers and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The result is evolutionary music that lives in time and the cornerstone of the band's music are their own new songs. Gonna Be FineGood MemeriesPoor BoyDon't Go Blamin' On MeNow You Know How to Play the BluesThe DawnTrip to IndiaSmall Steps

The Blues is a unique sound that comes from particular times, places, and people. However, that sound is universal in that it can be used to articulate every human emotion. In this album, I invite listeners from all walks of life to the world of The Blues as it is in 2024. I invite people to engage with the ups and downs we all experience, through this music.

The blues was a black-American innovation in our history that had many facets to it. There are technical components to the blues - standards and vocal phrasing. There are also components to the blues that are more abstract, such as history, geography, even intellectual movements. In this album, I endeavored to use those building blocks to articulate the humanity I see around me - past, present, and future - without compromising the quality, the foundation that the blues provides.

These fifteen original songs are my invitation to everyone out there - whether you’re a blues aficionado or just passing through the genre, I hope you find plenty to engage with.

Celebrating the 75th anniversary of three top 10 R&B singles - “Hobo Blues”, “Hoogie Boogie” and “Crawlin’ King Snake.” This 4-track EP includes the bonus track, “Hastings Street Boogie,” which is also celebrating its 75th anniversary.

It was sixty years ago, in June 1964, when John Lee Hooker entered the British singles charts for the first time with “Dimples,” peaking at #23. The track had been cut for the Vee-Jay label in America some eight years prior in Chicago. “Boom Boom,” issued in the UK in 1963, had already caught the ears and feet of the nascent mod movement. Both songs became live staples on the British blues scene, with The Animals covering both on their debut UK LP issued later in 1964.

But in 1952, way before the sharp-suited mods were attracted to John Lee Hooker’s equally well-cut look and infectious music, the British Vogue label had issued “Hoogie Boogie,” recorded in 1949, on a 78rpm disc. Blues music was for the aficionado back then, and the four tracks on this EP hark back to those earliest recordings by John Lee Hooker. “Hobo Blues,” “Hoogie Boogie,” and “Crawlin’ King Snake” all went Top 10 in the US R&B chart in 1949.

This is unadorned John Lee Hooker, getting to the heart of his blues and boogie, just guitar, vocal, and tapping foot, 15 years before his music caught the ears of a wider and enthusiastic British audience. Decades may have passed, but the music remains fresh and vital.

This EP is housed in a beautiful period-era sleeve drawn and designed by Niall McCormack.

The Blues is a unique sound that comes from particular times, places, and people. However, that sound is universal in that it can be used to articulate every human emotion. In this album, I invite listeners from all walks of life to the world of The Blues as it is in 2024. I invite people to engage with the ups and downs we all experience, through this music.

The blues was a black-American innovation in our history that had many facets to it. There are technical components to the blues - standards and vocal phrasing. There are also components to the blues that are more abstract, such as history, geography, even intellectual movements. In this album, I endeavored to use those building blocks to articulate the humanity I see around me - past, present, and future - without compromising the quality, the foundation that the blues provides.

These fifteen original songs are my invitation to everyone out there - whether you’re a blues aficionado or just passing through the genre, I hope you find plenty to engage with.

A lost solo piano record from the Night Tripper! Originally put to tape in ‘82 & ‘83 for the Clean Cuts label, these tracks have remained unheard until now. Two numbers feature the doc's raspy growl while his solo piano navigates us through the rest of the train ride, past touches of blues, jazz, and foot stompin’ boogie-woogie jive. It's the kind of magic that can only come from a dusty tape box.

In 1981, Dr. John began recording his first of two solo piano albums. The “new” performances featured on this release are of the same quality as the music on Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack and The Brightest Smile In Town.

His left hand creates a three-note rhythmic pattern that forms the foundation for the performance while his right soulfully plays the melody and then builds off of it in the tradition of the New Orleans piano blues masters. In other songs, it begins as a nostalgic and heartfelt ballad, picking up steam during the performance and switching moods several times before returning to where it began.

While it is a real shame that he would never again record a full album of unaccompanied solos (Dr. John enjoyed leading a band too much), the release of Frankie & Johnny gives one an additional opportunity to discover just how brilliant and spirited a pianist Mac Rebennack was during his colorful career.

Love Is... Inï¬ünite is the debut album from Dallas soul artist Gypsy Mitchell. Born in 1952, Gypsy co-founded the legendary gospel funk group The Relatives (Heavy Light / Daptone)in 1970, then spent the following decadeson the Chitlin" Circuit playing guitar alongside R&B and funk titans such as Buddy Ace, Johnnie Taylor, The Bar-Kays and Joe Simon. Gypsy"s raw vocalsevoke Bobby Womack and Darondo, his guitar Nile Rodgers and Ernie Isley, yet this isn"t a reheated retro number but ten deeply personal 30th-century soul songs from an authentic Texan artist who manages to blend vintage, modern and interstellar sounds in the most natural way. Guests include Houston rap legend Paul Wall, Hi Rhythm keyboardist Archie Turner and arrangerPete Lanctot (Aaron Frazer,Durand Jones & the Indications). Lovingly produced by Zach Ernst and Matthew Strmiska (Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears), Love Is... Inï¬üniteis a refined,quintessentially Texan record that blurs the boundaries between vintage soul and contemporary psychedelic and breakbeat sounds. Despite all this, the album"s grace lies in the brilliant songwriting and musical knowledgeof an artist devoid of cynicism and calculation, who just says what he has to say.

After Funk, Soul and Reggae, discover all the Blues hits in the new volume of the Greatest Hits collection.Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, BB King, John Lee Hooker...All the greatest & legendary bluesmen on a nice vinyl 2LP

Alligator’s Grammy Award-winning, best-selling release of all time, remastered and reissued in honor of the title’s 40th anniversary on clear vinyl and packaged in a beautiful gatefold cover featuring previously unpublished photographs, plus reminiscences of the sessions by producer/Alligator founder Bruce Iglauer.

Over 310,000 units sold in all formats.

Universally recognized as one of the greatest blues albums of all time. A celebrated studio “cutting contest” between three legendary blues guitarists. Albert and Johnny are sadly no longer with us, but Robert Cray continues to record and tour, and is one of the best-selling blues artists in history with over 3.3 million career units scanned.

Volume #12 in this amazing series of slow grinding R&B/Soul/Exotica tunes as they arebeing played in a club in Melbourne/Australia.Around midnight on the last Saturday of every month, an assemblage of juiceheads,grifters, kittens, dandies and derelicts gather in a dimly-lit, smoke-filled room and dancetogether real slow. These are some of the records we dance to... Thanks to all the fluteplayers and backing singers of yore for flavouring these old records up just like we likethem. (Richie1250/Melbourne, 2019)Compilation and liner notes by SGF/mastermind Richie1250.

Strut is celebrating the holiday season with an exclusive reissue of The Qualities" 1961 single, "It"s Christmas Time" b/w "Happy New Year To You!" Originally released on Sun Ra"s Saturn label, this mysterious harmony group 45 captures a unique moment in music history.

The son of legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks steps into the spotlight with his Alligator debut, a fiery blast of guitar-stoked blues rock guaranteed to singe your whiskers.

Why you'll love it...
By combining her soulful, compelling voice and passion of incorporating fearlessness, honesty and humor into her revelatory music, award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland arrives with her new Alligator Records album, Done Come Too Far.

Done Come Too Far relates the emotional and personal journey of her liberated truths and struggles of being a young black woman in America. Copeland developed the powerful ability through her compelling voice and life experiences to bring audiences together. She expressed that Done Come Too Far ''is made by all sides of me — happy, sad, silly, irate — they’re all a part who I am and who we all are. I’m not political. I’m just talking about what’s happening in this country.'' Accompanying her on the album include amazing musical guests such as guitarist Sonny Landreth, keyboard legend Charles Hudges and more. Copeland's desire is to assert her full creative freedom by sharing her story and demanding change in America through her outstanding lyrics and music.

Limited to 500 copies, the VMP exclusive edition of Shemekia Copeland’s Done Come Too Far is pressed on 1LP Red vinyl at Independent Record Pressing. The record will arrive in a single direct-to-board, foil stamped and numbered jacket. Done Come Too Far is mastered by Jim DeMain of Yes Master Studio.

What Are You Waiting For is the the new release from The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan. The album contains 11 new original tracks in the Blues and Retro-Soul genres. A must have for all fans of this musical style. The APSO has toured the U.S. and Europe extensively, receiving enthusiastic responses everywhere they go! Willy Jordan brings new energy to The APSO which has a tradition of featuring world class soul singers such as Frank Bey, and Wee Willie Walker. An album not to be missed!

Texas born Freddie King was one of the all time great Blues guitarists. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and B. B. King, none of whom are related). Mostly known for his soulful and powerful voice and distinctive guitar playing, King had a major influence on electric blues music and on many later blues guitarists including the likes of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. This selection showcases live recordings from his classic repertoire over a period from 1969 to 1975. SIDE 1 1. San-Ho-Zay2. Hideaway3. Sen-Say-Shun4. Big Legged Woman5. Woman Across The RiverSIDE 21. Ain't No Sunshine2. Red Light, Green Light3. Let the Good Time Roll4. Key To The Highway