Paul Cebar - The Get-Go

Bitrate:320K/s

Year:1997
Time:57:16 
Size:131,8 MB 
Label:Don't Records 
Styles:R&B/Soul/Blues/Mix 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. She Found a Fool - 4:22
 2. Don't Let it Pour - 5:09
 3. Bungalowing Big Time - 3:31
 4. Trying - 4:49
 5. Clap for the Couple - 4:15
 6. Keep You (Going Away) - 4:04
 7. He Forgot What He Knew - 4:52
 8. Got to Grind - 4:19
 9. Sending My Love - 5:10
10. Spacelab Girls from Huntsville - 4:19
11. Lovely as the Day is Long - 4:41
12. Wasabi - 3:22
13. Itta Bena Boy - 4:16

The Get-Go is an album by the American musician Paul Cebar, released in 1997. Although not credited on the album cover, Cebar was backed by his band, the Milwaukeeans. The first single was "She Found a Fool". It was a hit on adult album alternative radio.
The album was produced by Jeff Hamilton, Cebar, and the Milwaukeeans. It was recorded at The Junkyard, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The studio was located next to a junkyard; the musicians took some auto parts for added percussion. A musicologist, Cebar incorporated many different musical styles in to the album's sound; Cebar considered it to be dance music.
The Washington Post thought that, "for all the obvious delight [Cebar] takes in celebrating older pop traditions, he never cheapens the music with false emotion." The Orlando Sentinel called "She Found a Fool" "a classic horn-fueled, Memphis-style soul tune, with glistening guitar lines that show an African pop influence." The Philadelphia Daily News labeled Cebar "Southside Johnny with more finesse, or a male equivalent of Bonnie Raitt."
Billboard stated that The Get-Go "explores an almost bewildering variety of styles: Motown soul, Memphis RB, gutbucket blues, New Orleans funk, Jamaican reggae, even Brazilian samba." The Star Tribune concluded that "the low-key, atypical tunes—the love-lorn reggae song 'Trying', the Delta-flavored blues groove 'Keep You' or the oddly romantic cantina ballad 'Spacelab Girls from Huntsville'—cut the deepest." The Daily Herald opined that the album's "encyclopedic range of soul burners, Cajun numbers, R&B stomps and reggae is breathtaking." The Dallas Observer listed The Get-Go as one of the best "obscure" albums of 1997. AllMusic wrote: "Dabbling in flavors of brassy R&B, calypso, reggae, ragtime and blue-eyed soul,delta blues, Cebar delivers an album filled with winning original tunes."

The Get-Go

Craig King - Breakthrough

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2007
Time:50:46 
Size:116,7 MB 
Label:Bonedog Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Breakthrough - 4:55
 2. A Love Like This - 3:20
 3. So Much In Love - 4:11
 4. The Blues Come A Knock'in - 4:29
 5. Feelin' Like A New 45 - 3:57
 6. How Deep Does This Go - 5:28
 7. Leave Your Love On - 3:31
 8. This Wasn't Right - 4:15
 9. It's What's On The Inside - 4:44
10. Am I Rushing You - 3:48
11. What's Right - 3:57
12. Rollin' Down The Highway - 4:06

Craig King Bio: Craig King was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and fell in love with music at a young age. As Craig puts it, 'I grew up within an R&B/old school environment, but I listened to all types of music. When I was twelve, I bought a Frank Zappa album and couldn't wait to get home to play it.' While listening to the album his mother commented to his father, "I think that boy has lost his mind!" Living in the Hill District of Pittsburgh afforded Craig the opportunity to hear and see many well known local musicians, as well as nationaly known musicians, at the Crawford Grill, a Pittsburgh institution for live jazz and blues. Craig began his playing career in grade school with the trumpet which he earned "All City" status. During this period he met and played with Dizzy Gillespie. This fueled his desire to learn more about music. While in high school he got his first guitar and started to develop his vocal and songwriting talents . Mr King has fronted or played in several bands over the years, playing in clubs and bars, or doing opening act features for national acts coming through Pittsburgh. Some of these included The S.O.S. Band, Con Funk Shun, Molly Hatchett, Bernard Allison, Carl Weathersby, Jimmy Vaughn and the fabulous Buddy Guy. His most memorable moments were playing with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic with his friend Billy "Bass" Nelson and backing up Martha Reeves and the Vandella's. Currently Craig plays with one of the top blues groups in Pittsburgh, The Mystic Knights and also has his own band. Craig is a part of the Bonedog Record Label family writing and collaborating with Mike Sweeney for his debut Bonedog release 'Breakthrough' (https://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Craig-King/dp/B000UZ4SCQ). 

Breakthrough

Kay Kay and The Rays - The Best Of Kay Kay and The Rays

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2011
Time:64:13 
Size:148,1 MB 
Label:Catfood Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Lone Star Justice - 4:35
 2. No Mama's Boys - 3:49
 3. Hey Big Boy - 5:00
 4. Junk Blues - 4:07
 5. Don't Have to Tell Me - 5:08
 6. Enron Field - 4:39
 7. Crossfire - 4:11
 8. Stop the Killing - 4:12
 9. Big Bad Girl - 3:46
10. Lord Save Me From L.A - 4:35
11. Hold On to What You Got - 4:31
12. Cheater - 3:29
13. Love Me Baby - 3:54
14. Texas Justice-Billy's Story - 4:13
15. There'll Come a Time - 3:57

Kay Kay and the Rays formed around the Abner Burnett Blues Band in 1997 when Abner was looking for a lead singer. El Paso, Texas native Kay Kay Greenwade joined the band which eventually changed its name to Kay Kay and the Rays. Standing over six feet tall, Kay Kay cut an imposing figure and her voice was bigger than Texas. Together, the band made three albums for Catfood Records before Kay Kay suffered a stroke and was possibly permanently sidelined. The Best Of Kay Kay And The Rays from Catfood Records brings together tracks from Kay Kay And The Rays Featuring Abner Burnett, Texas Justice, and Big Bad Girl.Label mate Johnny Rawls produced Texas Justice and he plays on four tracks included in this compilation including the lead off tune “Lone Star Justice.” Kay Kay’s incisive lyrics about the penal system in Texas and its detrimental disposition toward minorities and the poor immediately signal her interest in social injustice. She does raise an interesting point about all the money poured into jails instead of schools, and punctuating her incensed statements are equally fiery guitar licks. Elsewhere Kay Kay takes lyrical jabs at the insidious nature of corporate America in the brass-driven “Enron Field.” The song’s upbeat, funky rhythm is antithetical to the message which seems symbolic of the way some companies rob you blind while making you feel good about it.Kay Kay takes on the broken promises and soul-sucking nature of Los Angeles in “Lord Save Me From L.A.” and the stupidity of expecting a man not to cheat on you if he was cheating with you in “Cheater.” Kay Kay does not write run-of-the-mill lyrics, but occasionally the music seems a bit to polished, almost like its being presented for mass consumption. The band lacks a distinct signature sound apart from Greenwade’s voice. That’s not to say the band is bad or always bland. They are tight and seem to light up most on the Texas-style tracks like “No Mama’s Boys,” a strutting Texas shuffle with stinging guitar licks and a “Cold Shot-style” rhythm. “Big Bad Girl” has a stop start structure with biting guitar interjected throughout also pointing to an SRV/Albert King influence and they even burn through a raving version of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Crossfire” complete with stunning streams of Strat Magick that would make SRV proud.Fellow Texan Andrew “Jr. Boy” Jones turns up on “Hey Big Boy” providing some of his fine guitar work and Johnny Rawls shares the vocal spotlight on his originals “Hold On To What You Got” and “Love Me Baby” and Rawls has co-writing credit on “Texas Justice – Billy’s Story” with bassist Bob Trenchard who is one of only three musicians featured on every track. Some of Rawls’ songs are like syrupy easy listening blues and are perhaps the blandest of the tracks found on this collection. Bob Trenchard is the primary songwriter with Kay Kay and was a mainstay of the original Abner Burnett Blues Band. Abner himself left in 2000.I’ve often thought “Best Of” albums often present the least interesting music an artist has made since it is intended to have widespread appeal. Some of us are always on the look-out for music found on the path less traveled and most of the music on this collection has been heard before in one form or another. The saving grace is Kay Kay’s voice and her astute lyrics which overcome rote arrangements and non-descript guitar tones. However, The Trenchard/Greenwade duo has crafted some top notch songs and there is enough interesting material on The Best Of Kay Kay And The Rays to warrant checking out their other albums ~ Jim Kanavy.

The Best Of 

Kevin Gordon - O Come Look At The Burning

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2005
Time:50:37 
Size:116,1 MB 
Label:Crowvillle Collective 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Watching The Sun - 3:58
 2. Find My Way - 3:15
 3. Greenwood Girls - 4:57
 4. Casino Road - 4:20
 5. Joe Light - 3:58
 6. 24 Diamonds - 4:22
 7. Something Heavy - 4:48
 8. Make It Good - 3:12
 9. Flowers - 4:36
10. Calhoun - 3:37
11. Crazy Mixed Up World - 5:05
12. Heart's Not In It - 4:23

Singer/songwriter Kevin Gordon always had a few toes dipped in the swamp, but he dives into the murky waters on his third official album, and first in four years. The opening "Watching the Sun Go Down," with its thick, reverbed guitar and riff-based creep, could easily be a lost Creedence Clearwater Revival tune from the Bayou Country sessions. Gordon remains in that groove for the majority of this release, keeping the tempos on low boil and the humidity high. Echoes of Dave Alvin, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle float through these 12 songs, but Gordon's expressively ragged voice, sparse instrumentation, and picturesque lyrics stamp the album with his mark. There are also threads of Tom Waits circa Rain Dogs on "Flowers," with its gospel undertones and story-song words, as well as on "Casino Road"'s austere organ and clattery percussion. "Calhoun" is a slow, sad country waltz that wouldn't be out of place on an Emmylou Harris album. But Gordon's harder-rocking instincts surface on a Chuck Berry-styled cover of Willie Dixon by way of Little Walter's "Crazy Mixed Up World" that sounds like a loose one-take studio session. Co-produced with multi-instrumentalist Joe McMahan, who is nearly as much a part of this album's success as Gordon, the duo churns through almost an hour of music that is stark, honest, and obviously not commercially driven. Although it stays rooted in Americana, the album -- like its black-and-white cover shot -- is darker and more ominous than most of Gordon's work. It's a tough, uncompromising work and a logical step forward, even if it is unlikely to attract a larger audience outside of his established cult fan base.

O Come Look At The Burning

Sam Butler - Raise Your Hands

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2015
Time:47:20 
Size:109,4 MB 
Label:Severn Records Inc. 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Heaven's Wall - 3:54
 2. The Lord - 2:41
 3. Lead Me Father - 2:51
 4. Presence of the Lord - 4:21
 5. Gospel Train - 2:52
 6. Magnificent - 3:34
 7. Full Force Gale - 6:17
 8. All His Saints - 3:50
 9. God's Hotel - 3:47
10. Wherever You Leadeth - 4:14
11. Long Black Cadillac - 4:30
12. Sanctuary - 4:23

Sam Butler’s solo debut puts his own spin on an Americana compilation of bluesy spirituals written by some of the most important and compelling artists and songwriters of the last fifty years of rock and roll (Bruce Springsteen, U2, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, etc.), with some righteous results. Butler’s resume also includes work with Keith Richards, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagan and gospel legend Clarence Fountain, and he can currently be seen in the critically-acclaimed play, The Gospel at Colonus. On Raise Your Hands!, Butler is joined by an impressive list of stellar musicians, including Sacred Steel virtuoso Roosevelt Collier, drummer Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, Tom Jones) and bassist Viktor Kraus (Lyle Lovett, Bill Frisell).
“I wanted to make a bluesy and rootsy album of spiritual songs originally performed by traditionally secular artists,” says producer Brian Brinkerhoff about the recording sessions. “Having been familiar with Sam’s roots and gospel work with The Blind Boys of Alabama and Clarence Fountain, I approached him with the idea and we quickly enlisted an A-list team of players to join Sam on this musical adventure. Esteemed Sacred Steel player Roosevelt Collier was an obvious choice to bring his lap steel virtuosity; and when Nashville’s first call rhythm section of drummer Marco Giovino and bassist Viktor Kraus became available, a dynamic three-day musical worship service of sorts took place in Nashville, with the results being Raise Your Hands!”
Raise Your Hands! is a 12-song celebration that runs the gamut of energy and emotions – from the rollicking up-tempo to the quiet and introspective – and Butler delivers the performances of a lifetime. Raise Your Hands! will certainly make you do just that … and move your body and shout out loud! From Sam Butler’s lips to God’s ears.

Raise Your Hands

The Hungry Williams - Let's Go!

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2022
Time:33:22 
Size:77,5 MB 
Label:Rochelle Records/MAC Radio Promo 
Styles:Bluesy/R&B/Jump Blues/Retro R&B/Swing 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Mardi Gras Day - 3:35
 2. Movin' On - 2:21
 3. You’d Better Find Yourself Another Fool - 3:17
 4. One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show - 3:32
 5. Gee Baby - 3:15
 6. Boss Man - 3:42
 7. Big Mouth Betty - 2:53
 8. Oooh-wow - 2:27
 9. Then I'll Believe - 2:29
10. 669 (Across the Street from the Beast) - 5:47

2022 RELEASE LET’S GO! The Hungry Williams emerge from the pandemic with ten songs to liven up your bedroom, living room, patio, tavern, or festival. Recorded in Milwaukee with California Honeydrops engineer Jacob LaCally, this album is the perfect soundtrack to a post-pandemic house party. With five originals, five covers, and a special appearance from Lech Wierzynski of the California Honeydrops, this album will have you dancing from top to bottom.
In 1995 drummer John Carr heard in a Milwaukee bar a cd that left him completely K.O. John asked the bar owner what it was. It was a recently published Chess New Orleans anthology. The following day John bought a copy of it and, since that particular moment, started his fascination for 50’s rhythm and blues. As a result, he decided to set up a band to recreate that sound that had impressed him so much. There was the way The Hungry Williams Band was born. The musicians Carr selected to give shape to his project were singer Kelli Gonzalez, guitar player Joe Vent, keyboard player Jack Stewart, bass player Mike Sieger and, of course, he was on drums. After endless shows where they brought all the swing they were able to communicate to a variety of audiences, they decided to publish their first CD. When they were planning the album promotion, Covid truncated everything. During the time Carr was confined at home, he devoted himself to listen to lots of music and, one day, he discovered The California Honeydrops, a band that deeply impressed him. That was the sound he had been looking for years, so he immediately got in touch with Jacob LaCally, The California Honeydrops’ album sound engineer, and asked him to work together. The result is this recording that includes ten vibrant songs, with an amazing colorful swing and groove, spiced with some Latin touches, as well as an effective horn section, which reverts to the benefit of the Hungry Williams Band global sound, in a recording where all the musicians give the best of themselves.

Let's Go!

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal - Running from Love

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2016
Time:52:25 
Size:120,8 MB 
Label:Silver Street Records 
Styles:R&b/Soul/Blues/Funk 
Art: Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Natural - 2:58
 2. Parts of a Man - 4:35
 3. Running from Love - 3:50
 4. What We Got - 3:26
 5. Searchers - 4:12
 6. Talk to Me - 4:37
 7. Knockout - 5:41
 8. Soul Mechanic - 5:07
 9. The Evening Train - 4:23
10. Mixed Bag - 5:05
11. Natural, Soul Mechanic - 8:26

Musicians:
Josh Hoyer - Lead Vocals, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, and Piano
Benny Kushner - Guitars
Kennith “Memphis” Shepherd - Drums
Josh Bargar - Bass
Mike Dee - Saxophone
Marcus Lewis - Trombone

Nebraska-based singer/keyboard/songwriter Josh Hoyer turns up the heat to deliver a strong dose of old-school soul laced with blues overtones on this CD, fronting his tight band, Soul Colossal.
A former BluesBlast Awards nominee as Best New Artist when fronting his old unit, the Shadowboxers, which featured a full horn section and three female backup singers, Hoyer’s current unit is stripped to the basics, but still delivers a red-hot mix of original tunes that deliver a positive message while keeping fans up on the dance floor.
After long stints learning his craft in New Orleans and putting it to good use in the Pacific Northwest, Hoyer returned home to Lincoln, where he books bands for the legendary Zoo Bar during breaks from a national touring schedule that included 150 dates in 32 states last year alone, including dates where the band shared the bill with Booker T. Jones of MGs fame and funk master George Clinton.
Produced by Ken Coomer, whose credits include work with Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, this is the band’s fourth disc and third full-length CD since forming in 2012, two of which – Living By The Minute and Cooked Raw – debuted last year. Hoyer’s accompanied by longtime partners Benny Kushner on guitar, Mike Dee on saxophone and Josh Barger on bass as well as Kenneth “Memphis” Shepherd on drums and Marcus Lewis on trombone, all of whom assisted in writing the material. They’re aided by Coomer, who adds percussion, and Angie Primm and Gale Mayes, who provide backing vocals.
Recorded at the historic Sound Emporium in Nashville and released on vinyl in addition to CD and digital format, the funky minor-key title tune, “Running From Love,” sets the tone for what follows as Hoyer delivers a cautionary warning in rich, smoky, road-worn baritone that clearly puts his Crescent City background on display while giving his band space to have their musical say. The message: “It’s time that we ask ourselves why we try to make each other’s life so hard.”
“Parts Of A Man” is a smooth, slow-paced Memphis-style ballad that praises a lady for loving him the way she does and putting all the pieces of his soul together to make him the man he is today. The tribute continues in the sweet, medium shuffle “What We Got,” which juxtaposes the desire to remain in the fast lane and achieving more while also appreciating what he has at home. The horns kick off “Mixed Bag,” a syncopated number about handling a life in which you take two steps forward and one step back, before “Searchers,” which begins with a Latin feel, but quickly evolves into a fast-paced complaint about folks using one another as it delivers a plea for universal love and understanding atop a rapid, regimented drumbeat.
“Talk To Me” is an original, not the ‘60s hit by Little Willie John or the different Stevie Nicks chart-topper. This one is a tender plea for communication in a relationship where both parties appear to be unapproachable. “The Evening Train” follows. It’s a lament about riding the rails and wishing to make a bad situation right with a loved one.
The theme continues for “Knockout.” This time, it’s a statement that, even in the best relationship, evil lurks close by and even a simple glance at the wrong time can cause problems that last what seems to be an eternity. The disc concludes with “Natural,” which describes searching for love rather than just letting it happen, and “Soul Mechanic,” a plea for a repairman to set things right after being down for too long.
Running From Love is music for modern times. The blues runs deep in this one. While the musical approach is a little bit more upscale that most straight-ahead blues bands, Hoyer and Soul Colossal are totally soulful and have plenty to say. Each tune is a life lesson unto itself. Don’t hesitate to pick it up if your tastes run in that vein.

Running from Love

Delta Deep - Delta Deep

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2025
Time:43:55 
Size:101,6 MB 
Label:Cherry Red Records 
Styles:Rock/Blues Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Bang The Lid - 2:41
 2. Whiskey - 4:21
 3. Down In The Delta - 3:21
 4. Treat Her Like Candy - 3:46
 5. Miss Me - 3:37
 6. Burnt Sally - 3:59
 7. Private Number - 3:21
 8. Shuffle Sweet - 2:59
 9. Black Coffee - 3:32
10. Feelit - 3:39
11. Mistreated - 8:35

Phil Collen, lead guitarist of British rock band Def Leppard & alternative roots/rock band Manraze, started Delta Deep as an extreme blues project. The band has been likened to “Aretha Franklin & Chaka Khan performing with Led Zeppelin” thanks to the soulful vocals from singer Debbi Blackwell-Cook. The critical authority, Elmore Magazine said of the band, “If you’re into good old spiritual, emotional and thought provoking rock n roll, look no further than Delta Deep. ”Screamer Magazine accurately described Delta Deep’s music as “Sweltering hot, sorrow-drenched, deep southern blues.” 

Delta Deep

Delta Wires - them that's got

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2005
Time:46:45 
Size:107,7 MB 
Label:Mud Slide Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Them That's Got - 3:36
 2. T-bone Shuffle - 3:37
 3. Down Home Girl - 6:05
 4. 4274 Soulville Manor - 6:27
 5. Ain't That Lovin You - 2:42
 6. Crazy Crazy Lovin - 3:36
 7. Saturday Night in North Beach - 3:48
 8. Got Me Where You Want Me - 3:16
 9. Devil Got My Woman - 5:12
10. Runnin Blue - 4:34
11. Tippin (into the Blues) - 3:47

From the heart of West Coast Blues, Delta Wires blend soul and big band, harmonica and horn blues with the urban beat of the 60’s when Mississippi Delta and Chicago influences blended with early rock to create a hybrid of urban sound. Beginning and staying in Oakland for 35 years, the Delta Wires have been a stalwart in the Bay Area blues scene as well as playing with many top blues and rock acts, fans all over the world enjoy their music. Ernie Pinata has kept the band moving forward and is always striving to provide a high-energy performance to keep people all over movin’ and groovin’ to the blues.

REVIEWS:
“a tough, rocking, socking band, knocking out crowds…the WIRES are burning up! “ Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle/
“Great recording and killer arrangements make DELTA WIRES soar! Everything cooks, from the rhythm section through the piano, guitar and horns, to Ernie Pinata’s harp sizzling on top.” – Tom Hyslop, BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE/
“They blow hard from the get-go, a tight horn section blending comfortably with the spirited, intense harmonica from lead man Ernie Pinata – as fierce a Sonny Boy Williamson-influenced harp as you will find” – Bill Kisluik, BLUES ACCESS Magazine/.
“From jump rhythms to nasty, lowdown Windy City laments, DELTA WIRES electrifies the audience… It’s terrific! This rockin’ blues band is spectacular — tight, topical, and torrid. – Lee Cooper, Ph.D. – Rock & Blues News/

them that's got

Kerry Kearney Band - Black

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2016
Time:27:45 
Size:63,7 MB 
Label:Dwaz Entertainment 
Styles:Electric Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Pretty Baby - 5:23
 2. Long Tall Mama - 2:23
 3. Creole Woman - 5:27
 4. Wake Me, Shake Me, Bake Me - 4:03
 5. Statesboro Blues - 3:28
 6. Goin' to the Mardi Gras - 4:01
 7. Girl from Memphis - 2:57

Black (2016): Opening with blues rocker, Shakin' Like Jelly, Kerry Kearney on vocal and guitar leads this tight group with Mario Staiano on drums, Gerry Sorrentino on bass, David Bennett Cohen on keys, and Charlie Wolfe on harmonica. A driving blues vamp, nice guitar soloing and Chicago style blues harping tell the tell here. Cool opener. Light shuffle track, Long Tall Mama has a kind of JJ Cale feel with light, train like drums, easy vocals and super acoustic slide. Goin' To The Mardi Gras is again in the Cale vein with running snare lines and great slide work by Kearney. A particularly cool trombone solo by Victor Poretz gives this track a nice kick making it one of my favorites on the release. Creole Woman is a blues shuffle with guts. Kearney sets his stance and riffs freely, Clapton style. making this another real standout on the release. Wake Me, Shake Me, Bake Me has a cool southern funk and great piano work by Bennett driving Kearney into some of the most inspired guitar playing on the release. Girl From Memphis wraps the release in pure acoustic blues style. Kearney accompanies himself on acoustic guitar in the manner of Blind Boy Fuller. Tight and responsive  drums by Staiano, bass by Sorrentino and harmonica by Wolfe help take it home. Nice close.

Black

Halley DeVestern - Sugar Free

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:1997
Time:42:15 
Size:97,5 MB 
Label:Bagel&Rat 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. I'll Light Myself On Fire - 4:27
 2. Animal - 3:53
 3. Scary - 4:57
 4. They Ain't Got the Ways - 4:11
 5. Anthropologist - 3:41
 6. The Family Way - 4:03
 7. Tied - 4:46
 8. She Is a Bitch - 3:36
 9. Ring of Love - 4:35
10. I'm Over It - 4:01

Product Description
According the The ChickRock Pages, Halley DeVestern 'has been compared to both Melissa Etheridge and Joan Osborne, but she truly has a better voice than both.' Well, you can judge that for yourself, but Halley is one artist who doesn't mind comparisons. As she told The Long Island Voice in an interview, 'What you hear from the outside is more real than what you hear yourself.' Which, I think, is her way of saying that the customer is always right. Now, practically every female rock singer gets compared to Janis Joplin, because no one's come along to supplant Janis as the icon of rock goddesshood, and probably no one ever will. But how many are invited to be the lead singer for Janis's old band, Big Brother and the Holding Company? Halley toured with Big Brother in the fall of 1998 and had a blast. The guys even learned and worked into their set three of Halley's songs. And you can hear those songs and seven others, recorded by Halley and her crack team of musicians, on her debut album, 'Sugar Free.' Quoth Newsday, 'Why 'Sugar Free' wasn't released on a major label is anybody's guess. DeVestern's irascible manner is as radio-friendly as any Alanis Morissette or Meredith Brooks.' Well, we know why. If it had been released on a major label, you wouldn't get to discover it here at CD Baby, would you? In it's four-star review of 'Sugar Free,' The Music Paper said, 'Her tracks are vibrant, her melodies catchy and her delivery is soulful and sure.' And there's a catchy summing-up phrase if we ever heard one.
Review
DeVestern...has been compared to both Melissa Etheridge and Joan Osborne, but she truly has a better voice than both. -- The ChickRock Pages
Halley DeVestern is a pop pugilist. When she lashes out at her targets - lowdown men, broken relationships, timid parents - she doesn't swing wildly, she lands a shattering uppercut. With the bluesy inflection of a gin-joint queen, her voice soars over this razor-sharp collection of country-tinged, organ-drenched songs... Why 'Sugar Free' wasn't released on a major label is anybody's guess. DeVestern's irascible manner is as radio-friendly as any Alanis Morissette or Meredith Brooks. -- Isaac Guzman, Newsday
Her stage presence...is reminiscent of the great blues ladies, especially the unforgettable JANIS JOPLIN...'I'll Light Myself On Fire' has HIT written all over it. -- MTV Online
Put this CD right next to Maria McKee, Joan Osborne and Janis in your record collection... There is passion fused into every groove...with DeVestern's crack team of musicians matching her every step of the way. -- Jennifer Shields, The Music Paper/

Sugar Free

Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues - Give It Away

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2016
Time:50:33 
Size:116,5 MB 
Label:Pfob Music LLC 
Styles:Blues/Electric Blues/Chicago Blues/Harmonica Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Nickel and Dime - 3:51
 2. Don’t Burn My Cornbread - 4:53
 3. Uncle Dewitt’s Cafe - 3:23
 4. Damned If I Do - 4:25
 5. Give It Away - 3:41
 6. Fool Hearted Lover - 4:02
 7. Nitty Gritty - 2:32
 8. How I Need You - 2:09
 9. Train Smoke - 4:53
10. Relationship Man - 4:49
11. I'll Take Care of You - 3:43
12. Amos Moses - 3:43
13. Memories - 4:25

Mac Arnold was born in Ware Place, South Carolina in 1942. He was raised on a sharecropper’s farm. He and his brother Leroy used to make guitars from gas cans, wood and wire. Arnold’s first band was J. Floyd and The Shamrocks which also included a young James Brown on piano. Arnold moved to Chicago where he worked with A.C. Reed before joining Muddy Waters in 1966. The Muddy Waters band at the time included Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, guitar; Sammy Lawhorn, guitar; Frances Clay, drums; Otis Spann, piano; Arnold, bass, and Muddy. As a result Arnold also played with Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop.
Arnold formed the Soul Invaders and opened for B.B. King and The Tempations. He also played bass with King, with Otis Redding, and with Tyrone Davis. Arnold appears on Spann’s “The Blues is Where It’s At” and on John Lee Hooker’s “Live at Cafe Au Go Go”. Arnold played bass on the theme song of the television show “Sanford and Son”. He also played in the studio band for “Soul Train”.
Arnold retired from the music business in 1990 only to make a comeback in 2005 when he started his own band “Plate Full O’ Blues” and released “Nothin To Prove”. The follow up album was 2008’s “Backbone and Gristle”. In 2009 Arnold released two additional albums “Country Man” and “Blues Revival: Live At The Grey Eagle” featuring guest artists Kim Wilson, Bob Margolin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. The original “Plate Full O’ Blues” band is still together and they are Arnold, bass, gas can guitar and vocals; Austin Brashier, lead guitar and vocals; and Max Hightower, harmonica, keyboards, bass, and vocals. Sitting in is Scotty Hawkins on drums and percussion.
The three songs that open the album were written by Arnold. His voice is rich with nuance and soul. The songs are autobiographical. “Nickel and Dime” is about being on the road. “Don’t Burn My Cornbread” is about sittin’ in the kitchen with his wife and nephew. “Uncle DeWitt’s Café” is about a juke joint owned by his uncle. Brother Leroy built the gas can guitar played on this track.
Hightower and Brashier are family. Hightower has authored six of the tracks while Brashier contributes two of his own. Both Hightower’s harp and keys, and Brashier’s guitar are fabulous throughout the recording. Also covered are Brook Benton’s “I’ll Take Care of You” and country singer Jerry Reed’s “Amos Moses”  ~ Richard Ludmerer/

Give It Away

Hard Swimming' Fish - Gave You All I Got

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2020
Time:42:23 
Size:97,8 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues/Electric Blues/Harmonica Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Every Day Is a Holiday - 3:45
 2. Misspent Youth - 4:21
 3. Gave You All I Got - 2:52
 4. Deathly Cold Hands - 4:11
 5. Don't Get No Better - 3:19
 6. Demon Whiskey - 3:49
 7. Quiet Whiskey - 3:14
 8. Smokestack Lightning - 5:30
 9. Nearest to Heaven - 3:36
10. You're Gone - 3:07
11. Price I Paid - 4:34

Hard Swimmin' Fish is a blues quartet that has been honing their unique sound for over twenty years. The band plays a range of styles covering the country blues of Mississippi and The Piedmont, the urban blues of Chicago, and funk infused varieties with roots in New Orleans' second line. This versatility allows Hard Swimmin' Fish to offer either acoustic or electric performances and play any venue. The juxtaposition of old and new is also evident in both the band members and their play-list. The work of guitarist/vocalist Demian Lewis and harmonica player/vocalist Waverly Milor is deeply rooted in traditional styles and is powered by the sophisticated rhythms of drummer/percussionist Jason Walker, and the virtuosity of bassist Randy Ball. Together they churn out a vibrant combination of originals, rearranged traditional material, and recognizable standards.

Gave You All I Got

Catfish - Time To Fly

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2025
Time:54:12 
Size:124,7 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues/Rock/Blues Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Time To Fly -  5:47
 2. Change My Ways -  4:43
 3. Don't Turn Around -  7:45
 4. Sick Of It All -  6:29
 5. Forevermore And Again -  3:24
 6. Lost In Autumn -  4:23
 7. Breaking Up Somebody's Home -  6:23
 8. Broken Halo -  4:51
 9. Say The Word - 10:24

R.I.P. Matt Long
The blues community has lost one of its brightest lights with the passing of Catfish's charismatic frontman, Matt Long. Known for his electrifying guitar work, soulful vocals, and a stage presence that could fill any room, Matt passed away on 06/10/24 at the age of 29, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished for years to come.
Matt Long’s journey through the blues was one of authenticity and passion. Growing up in Dorking, Surrey, Matt found his calling in the classic records of the blues greats, but it was his unique, modern interpretation that made him a standout voice in today’s scene. As the frontman of Catfish, Matt delivered performances that were powerful, heartfelt, and always true to the blues tradition, yet with a fresh energy that appealed to audiences of all generations.
Whether tearing through a searing guitar solo or delivering a poignant, stripped-back ballad, Matt had an uncanny ability to make each note resonate. His music was more than just sound; it was storytelling at its finest, capturing the highs, lows, and everything in between. His performances were marked by an honesty that drew listeners in, making them feel each chord as deeply as he did.
Those who knew Matt will remember him not just as a musician but as a friend, a mentor, and a genuinely good soul. He was known for his generosity on and off the stage, always willing to lend an ear, offer advice, or just share a laugh. He inspired countless young musicians to pick up their guitars and share their voices, always encouraging them to keep the spirit of the blues alive.
The blues world feels a little emptier without him, but his music, his energy, and the indelible mark he left on the scene will continue to inspire and uplift. As we remember Matt Long, we are reminded of the power of music to bring people together, to heal, and to tell the stories that define us.
In his own words, Matt once said, “The blues is about living life – the good and the bad – and making something beautiful out of it.” He did just that, every time he stepped on stage. His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched, the performances that moved us, and the music that he left behind.  Rest easy, Matt. Your blues will play on forever ~ Blues Matters Magazine
"It is with some hesitancy that I begin a review with sad news, but it is nearly impossible to begin without relaying the sorrowful message of the passing of one of the key members of Catfish. Matt Long, lead singer and guitarist, passed away at age 29 in November of 2024 after a battle with cancer; while working on the band’s new album, Time To Fly. Remaining members, Paul Long (Matt Long’s father, and keyboardist/vocalist in the band), Adam Pyke (bass), and Phil Wilson (drums), made the decision to carry on in the completion of the new project. This is the 4th studio album (and they also have one live recording) released by the multi-award winning band, formed in 2014 and based in the South of England. Influenced by the likes of B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Matt Long once said this about blues music. “The blues is about living life, the good and the bad, and making something beautiful out of it”. I believe that the remaining members of Catfish were determined to make something beautiful out of this new recording. The band says that Time To Fly is comprised one half of the music that they were working on in the studio when Matt Long passed away and the other half is from recordings discovered after Matt’s death. It contains two demo songs discovered after his passing and two songs that were recorded live, where Matt Long’s vocals were removed and used on the studio cuts.
Time To Fly, a nine track recording, opens with the title cut “Time To Fly”. “You are so much more than you thought you were. Open your eyes. It’s your time to fly.” It’s a great piece to kick off this farewell, of sorts. There’s some really nice guitar work in this song that really implores you to dig further to see what Catfish will be offering up next. You don’t have to wait very long to find out, because the very next track, “Change My Ways” keeps that momentum flowing. This is a real “rocker” that features more of Matt Long’s superb guitar soloing, accompanied by the great work of the other Catfish band members. “Angel and devil on my shoulders; trying to take control. One trying to lead me right; one trying to lead me wrong. I’ve got to change my ways.” The recording takes a slight turn with the next tune, “Don’t Turn Around”; a well done Paul Long tune that leans slightly toward being a ballad. Soft and soothing at the beginning, with some really well done background vocal work, and tasteful guitar; the song picks up some intensity before easing back into the groove that makes this such an engaging piece. Track eight of Time To Fly is an admirable cover of the Al Jackson and Timothy Matthews traditional blues number, “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”; made famous by Albert King. Anyone familiar with this renowned blues standard, will appreciate Catfish’s excellent take on it.
All in all, Time To Fly is a fitting tribute and farewell to Matt Long, as well as a respectful way for Catfish, as a band, to draw to a close a great run of successes and accomplishments. If this is the last that we hear from the band, it is a proper goodbye. Only time will reveal to us the future of the remaining members, but here, we can wish them well and properly extend our thanks for the significant music contribution that they’ve given to us"(https://bluesrockreview.com/2025/03/catfish-time-to-fly-review.html).

Time To Fly

Chris Daniels & The Kings - 10

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2005
Time:47:23 
Size:109,0 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues/Soul/Funk 

Art:Front 
Tracks Listing:
 1. Howlin' At the Moon - 3:32
 2. Killing Floor - 4:31
 3. White Hot Lightning - 4:42
 4. Soul Mine - 5:03
 5. Bluz Cruz - 4:45
 6. Who's Making Love - 4:43
 7. Come On Sit Down in My Kitchen - 5:32
 8. Gimi What You Got - 4:10
 9. It's All Good - 4:26
10. Crossfire - 5:54

This week we have a CD by a first-rate blues band that may not yet qualify for a longevity award, but they have certainly been together for longer than most rock bands. Chris Daniels and the Kings are out with a new CD called 10, a title which is indicative of the ordinal number of this CD in the band's output, accumulated over a 21-year career.
This large Colorado-based blues group with horns, formed by its namesake, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Chris Daniels played its first gig in 1984, and set out to create upbeat funk-influenced music that borrows from both Memphis and New Orleans. Over the years, they have accumulated the plaudits of critics both in the US and abroad, where they have a good following especially in the Netherlands. Their sound lives up their goals, with a tight rhythm section and horn arrangements that makes this a great party band with classy musicianship. Live, they can also be part of the jam-band scene, especially coming from a state which has spawned such groups as the String Cheese Incident, and Leftover Salmon. Chris Daniels also originated the "after hours jam" at the Telluride Bluegrass festival, expanding the festival's musical scope some, and the band jammed over the years with Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien, Lyle Lovett and others.
The seven member band includes Daniels on guitars, both electric and acoustic, as well as most of the lead vocals. The rest of the current lineup of the Kings includes bassist Kevin "Bro" Lege, Christopher Stongle on drums, Dean Le Doux on keyboards, and Colin Bruce Jones on additonal guitars. There are two regular horn players, saxophonist Jim Waddell, and trumpeter Darryl "Doody" Abrahamson They are supplemented on some of the tracks by two more horns, as well as vocalist Hazel Miller.
Leading off is one of those party songs, Howlin' at the Moon. It lives up to expectations, with a great groove and strong horn-section work. 
Killing Floor is song written by Howlin' Wolf that has been covered over the years by people from the Electric Flag to David Bromberg. The lyrics are put in a different light by opening the track with quote from George W. Bush. Otherwise, the band takes it to more of a funky rock groove than the original.
Another of the covers is Soul Mine by the 1970s group the Average White Band. Daniels and company give the tune a more energetic spin, and the result is a strong track.
A bit of a change of pace is Bluz Cruz, on which Daniels plays an acoustic resonator guitar. The lyrics are pure party time, or at least the pursuit of it though the quest for blues music.
Admittedly influenced by the title of the blues classic Come On in My Kitchen is the Chris Daniels original Come Sit Down in my Kitchen, but the mood is decidedly different. It's the closest thing to a pop song on the CD.
One of the highlights of the album is the band's great version of the old Memphis soul song Who's Makin' Love, on which the band cooks. It sounds as if they have been playing this tune on the road forever, they way they are locked into the groove.
The group also gets some social commentary into an original composition by Daniels called It's All Good. Musically, it even sounds like a more serious song, with the band getting surprisingly atmospheric. 
The CD ends with probably its rockiest track, Crossfire, a song by the members of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble band. This band rises to the volume level, but except for a guitar solo by Daniels, the tune does not seem to catch fire as much as elsewhere on the album. 
Chris Daniels and the Kings' new tenth album called 10, which incidentally features ten songs, is one of the best yet from this long-running Colorado based soul, blues and funk band with horns. 

10