​"Outdated Emotion" is an outstanding album and a delightful surprise. McClinton celebrates his coming-of-age musical heroes with his smooth, charming voice while leaving his unmistakable footprint on the classics from his favorite songwriters. Backed by big horns and a strong rhythm section, the eclectic tracklist includes a Ray Charles tribute, Hank Williams' country classics complete with steel guitar and fiddle, and Little Richard’s 1956 rock and roll ballad “Long Tall Sally.” McClinton’s band brings the same sense of nostalgia and appreciation for 20th century American music as they reacquaint listeners with the tunes that have shaped the sounds of today (and a few songs McClinton either wrote or co-wrote himself).

'Branded', the title of the album that accompanies us on our fifth visit to Sadie's Gentlemen's Club, is open to several interpretations. On the one hand you can see the hot club atmosphere in it and on the other it just as well indicates the 'being branded' of the visitors. Richie Robin shares his experience. He recorded ‘Branded’ for Gone in 1959. Well, it really doesn't matter much. What is important, however, are the 30 tracks with hot rhythm & blues and smooth soul that this compilation contains and they are once again more than worth it.
Besides some lesser known but no less appreciated songs, this compilation features some legendary artists. Nina Simone is there with the beautiful 'Chilly Winds Don't Blow'. Another great lady arrives with Marilyn Monroe and her well-known plea 'I Wanna Be Loved By You'. King of Twist Chubby Checker traditionally puts on his dancing shoes for 'Dancin' Party', while Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm indulge themselves in the instrumental, somewhat Eastern-looking 'Katanga'. Ray Charles makes his wish known in his well-known way in 'Kissa Me Baby', while The Drifters go a step further in 'I'll Take You Home', with beautiful harmony vocals as always.
Needless to say that 'Sadie's Gentlemen's Club, Visit 05, Branded' once again contains qualitative toppers? I didn't think so, but it's still better to discover it for yourself. Enjoy!

​Zonderland is an audiovisual project with visual art from Lander Cardon with accompanying soundtracks composed by Ward Dhoore. Dexterous solo piano and fingerpicking guitar work reinforce the virtuosity that drips from the album.

​While Sass Jordan is celebrated as a multi-platinum selling premiere rock singer, her 2020 album, Rebel Moon Blues, demonstrated that she sings the blues with as much power and authenticity as she personified in the rock world. Following up on the rave reviews garnered by Rebel Moon Blues, Sass continues to mine her talent as a blues singer with 8 new tracks on Bitches Blues, on Stony Plain Records.

​Guitar driven songs with narrative lyrics.  Some groovy and catchy sounds make it all worth discovering.

​It has become a tradition that the releases of the Atomicat label are full of danceable tracks. To reinforce this, the label is now releasing the 'Dance-Craze-A-Rama' series, the first volume of which has now been released. Under the heading '28 Craze Hits From The Vault Of Atomicat!', the series bundles the pinnacle of danceable music, recorded from 1957 to 1963.
Dance fads sprang up like 'The Wobble', 'The Hoss', 'The Horse', 'The Slop Beat', 'The Scotch', 'The Whiz Wosh', 'The Slop Beat' and ‘The Drag’ in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Dances of which you get the songs here in vocal or instrumental versions and especially in the very best sound quality. Besides the lesser known artists, a number of greats also grace this compilation.
Since this is only volume 1, we are already curious what the next volumes will surprise us with. And also note the awesome illustrations with which Henrique San, as always, also brightened up this compilation.

Strong first ‘solo’-album from the Swedish singer-songwriter Tobias Bäckstrand, impossible without the contribution of the other skilled musicians.

​Yulian Taylor spreads his guitar skills with the help of many talented friends. The release 'Blues Friends' is the perfect album for lovers who embrace blues, rock and soul. Guitarist, singer, author, composer and producer Yulain Taylor has a new release on the shelves with 'Blues Friends'. Blues music is increasingly becoming an international musical manifesto. Born in the Mississippi Delta, emigrated to that urbanized sound and the neighborhoods of New Orleans. The blues has traveled around the world and picking up its disciples along the way. And one of them is now Yulian Taylor! Check it out.. you won't be disappointed..!

Not the most inspiring reggae album, but always good for a rhythmic  danceparty.

​So now there is the long-awaited album 'Nightwalk', which will be released on Delmark Records. Along with his Imperial Flames, Weld shares vocals with his partner Monica Myhre and his drummer Jeff Taylor. Soulmate Billy Branch plays harp on Hutto's original Now She's Gone. Weld also has a multi award-winning artist in the studio with producer/drummer Tom Hambridge. Together with his Flames, Dave opens with the storytelling song 'Mary Who'. And then things suddenly go up a gear in 'Don't Ever Change Your Ways' and 'Don't Tell Mama', where Monica does the vocal honours. And she has apparently grown into her role as a blues diva. The release ‘Nightwalk’ is authentic, diversify and expressive Chicago blues. Highly recommended !

​Just as white artists started playing the blues and rhythm & blues originally belonging to the black artists, there were also black artists who were influenced by the white country & western. Although it was not always easy to define those recordings as country & western. The black rhythm & blues still regularly resonated in those recordings and many records were also released as rhythm & blues. The title of this first volume 'When Two Worlds Collide' puts this fact even more in the spotlight. Compiler Little Victor aka The 'Mojo' Man collected 28 tracks that contain both rhythm & blues and country & western. Sublime songs by well-known and lesser-known black artists.
Koko Mojo kicks off the 'Rhythm & Western' series with a volume that already makes you longing for more.

​Now Fred Verhaegen is back in the spotlight with the captivating record 'Overkant'. A masterpiece comprising nine Dutch songs. The Schelde is of course not the Mississippi, yet Fred has that southern accent. He wrote all the songs together, sang and played almost all the instrumentation and he only found a lonely soulmate in accordionist Tinne Vandenbusche. And that's what the blues is really all about. In addition to his lived-in voice and acoustic strings, the songs are also swindled with that aged bluesy harmonica throughout his songs. Highly recommended...!

​John McDonough's acoustic guitar, passionate vocals and personal lyrics result in a modern folk and bluesy sound. Only five tracks color 'We'll Answer The Call', and yet the EP has so much variety in its arrangements. Each number has a symbolism and a legendary meaning. Wonderful EP! 

​Documentary of traditional Roma/Gypsy songs performed with lyrical and musical melancholy.  

​Jon Spencer is now on his second album with The Hitmakers. Garage rock is his trademark, fat New York rock 'n' roll. But not the well-trodden and popular disposition of these forms of music. Spencer is just in conventional form. Like a chameleon, Jon squeezes through his blackened sound. Get ready for a great party if you ever get the chance to see Jon Spencer live.

​A fascinating refreshing album that avoids the predictable.

​Gary Cain's raw, yet smooth vocals lend themselves perfectly to the movement music style. Just like he also plays guitar, bass, drums and percussion. The original songs dive right off the git with Gary's lively, agile guitar swings and catchy riffs. Handsome release! 

​Brad Absher sounds like the places he’s been. In his warm, Southern soul music, you can hear Tulsa’s earthy dignity and the swampy carpe diem of Lake Charles. Thundering sax with plenty of swing calls up New Orleans, while gritty grooves nod to Houston, and more subdued moments of empathy hint at time spent much farther away. Like two old friends telling us a story, Absher and his electric guitar trade lines with lived-in familiarity that invites the rest of us to listen––and dance. 

​What a great singer Alice DeMicele is, and with producer Bret Levick she forms a golden duo.  Strong arrangements, powerful and inventive vocals convince every skeptic.  Very recommended!

​Vaneese is an incredible talent that has been blossoming for quite some time. As the daughter of Rufus Thomas, she has a heavy legacy to bear. Vaneese switches smoothly from Beale Street to the Mississippi Delta and the Delta juke joints. Vaneese Thomas soars in gorgeous album, ‘Fight the Good Fight’.  Highly recommended ! 

​The double album includes a dozen vocal tunes and another disc of seven instrumental tracks, recorded in Boston and Brookline, MA between 1993, '94 and '96. Beautiful but also very surprising album! 

​Charlie Musselwhite is no less than a legend. He is not only a blues harp virtuoso, but also a country blues guitarist with a lot of depth, warmth and subtlety. With 'Mississippi Son' the circle is complete for Musselwhite. He returns to his Mississippi roots after decades of living in Memphis, Chicago and San Francisco. On each of the fourteen tracks, including eight originals, Musselwhite's vocals and deep harmonica playing perfectly in his simple and hypnotic guitar work The release ‘Mississippi Son’ is great front porch country blues. Highly recommended release !

​Two fantastic new releases on Fruits de Mer Records in June 2022.  The Chemistry Set will blast you away with excellent mindswirling songs and Rob Gould did brew another rich ‘Dome’ on his brilliant album of 2007.

​Muddy Waters sang ‘The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock 'n' Roll’. Babies do grow up, become adults, want to stand on their own two feet and leave the parental nest. That's how it went with rock 'n' roll and this immediately explains the title of this first volume 'My Baby Left Me', in the new Atomicat series 'R & B Goes R & R'. On this first compilation you get 28 songs, originally by black artists from the rhythm & blues, which were covered by white artists and thus became rock 'n' roll. In addition to well-known recordings, there are also a number of recordings that were originally released on small independent labels. An additional fact was that jukeboxes were often filled with covers of well-known songs, in order to circumvent copyrights.
Not only did rock and roll gladly borrow from the black artists within the rhythm & blues, but the genre also ensured that listeners went in search of the original so that many rhythm & blues artists still, although not always financially, got the recognition they deserved.
Our curiosity for this new series is already been aroused. The second volume, entitled 'Rock and Roll Music', will be released shortly. We will keep you informed!

​Where do you belong? What’s your home?  Miriam Moczko is digging in the family history with a lot of melancholy in her answers.