​The Amsterdam singer / guitarist and songwriter Johnny, in daily life Joost Abbel, has delivered a great album with this debut that makes the listener vibrate from the very first notes. Johnny must have an enormous musical background. He processes the influences of traditional folk, country and Indie in such a unique way, so that the 11 tracks are all little gold nuggets. Gold nuggets that also showcase Johnny's versatility. Musically it is all fine, but there is more. The cover is always the first introduction and it may be said, the image of Zdenek Burian illustrates the music wonderfully. Do you want more? No problem, the record contains another funny trick. With the camera of your mobile phone or with a stroboscope, the rotating vinyl reveals another surprising animation.
If you can deliver a debut album like ‘Collecting Dinosaurs’, then a bright musical future beckons.

​Dick Curless scored his greatest successes with ‘truck-driven songs’ such as ‘Drag Em Off The Interstate Sock It To Em J.P. Blues’, ’Travellin’ Man’, ‘Big Wheel Cannonball’, ‘Highway Man’ and ’A Tombstone Every Mile’. However, he started his career as a country artist singing both country and western. Songs that got a special touch due to its warm baritone. And it is precisely these songs that can be found on this Jasmine collector.
‘Don't Fence Me In, The Early Recordings 1956-1960’ is therefore more of an album for ‘die-hard’ Curless fans. They can boost their collection with these 'early recordings'.

​With ‘Wild Man Rock’, volume 5 in the ‘Hillbilly And Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ series, we dive back into the rich past of these genres. The treasury of hillbilly and rockabilly still contains countless recordings, which not only give a beautiful picture of this music, but which also still pleasantly surprise us today. Mark Armstrong once again looked for 28 songs that are defined as authentic hillbilly or rockabilly. The boundary between these genres is often filter-thin and the influences of the country often make it more difficult to say exactly which song belongs to which genre. All this poses a problem for box thinkers. A problem that does not exist for music lovers with an ‘open mind’. Just like us, they will love these songs. Like the previous 4 releases in the 'Hillbilly and Rustic Rockabilly Bop' series, this volume again contains superior American roots music.

​You probably don't know the name Billy Strange, yet chances are you've heard him and he might even be in your record collection as a companion to your favorite artists. Besides this work as a session musician, he also recorded under his own name.
What is striking is that Strange cannot be pinned down to one music genre. Whether he was hired for swinging rhythm & blues and rock and roll, a light jazzy feel, country, cowboy songs or pop, Billy always carries out his task with an enormous dose of talent and craftsmanship.
With ‘Climb Aboard The Hell Train’, compiler dee jay Mark Armstrong not only pays tribute to Billy Strange, but also makes Strange's work more public.

​In the 1950s guitarist Grady Martin made a not to be underestimated contribution to swinging country, hillbilly jump, rockabilly and rock and roll. This album contains 30 sublime tracks. The first 10 are by Grady and The Slew Foot Band or as a solo artist. The following 20 show his beautiful guitar parts as session musician of well-known and lesser-known artists.
‘Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves and Hot Guitar’ rightly puts Grady Martin's unique guitar style in the spotlight. Well done Mark Armstrong!

​This compilation makes it clear that not only rousing rock and roll flowed through his veins. Moreover, it is impressive how he manages to give those ballads collected here that inimitable ‘Lewis touch’. From the late 1960s onwards, country began to penetrate his repertoire more often, but the seeds were sown earlier. "The Ballads Of Jerry Lee Lewis" is a beautiful and timeless disc.

​The 26 tracks that contain a beautiful mix of traditional country, western swing and hillbilly will give you the ultimate feeling of a nostalgic country Christmas. And just like we did with ‘Headin 'For The Christmas Ball’, we once again can conclude that ‘Christmas On The Range’ can also be played without a corresponding Christmas tree.

​On this edition with pearls from the archives of Decca and Coral we get an impressive number of artists. Some well-known names such as Hank Penny, Grady Martin and Jimmie Davis, but also a number of completely obscure artists. And that is precisely the strength of compilation albums like this one. Not only do you make a lot of discoveries, but the question also arises, why these artists are not better known, because the quality of their songs could not possibly be the cause of this. They are not inferior to the repertoire of the big names.
In short, country, honky tonk and hillbilly that made the dancehalls shake to their foundations at the time. Music that also lost none of its strength and charm. Dancehalls may be a thing of the past, but this album certainly creates ambiance in the living room.

​The Jasmine label pays a nice tribute to this talented artist on this 32 track compilation. Rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country and hillbilly can always be found in the songs. Most of the songs are from Gunter's hand and show a super songwriter, who in addition to a beautiful voice also was a gifted guitarist.

​The release 'Down In The Den' is a outstanding new record by Ted Russell Kamp.
Many songs were mainly recorded in his home studio The Den, although for this occasion Ted also made many trips to other music studios such as Jim Doyle Audio in Santa Monica, the E-Studio in Helsinki, in LA they found a shelter in Station House and Hollywood Sound, and they went to the famous 16 Ton in Nashville. There, Russell Kamp got the cooperation of a whole host of guest musicians, some befriended musicians and many famous vocalists from the Americana circuit. Originally this was supposed to be a Memphis Southern soul record. But the whole grew into a more eclectic record and included some intimate singer-songwriter with a lot of Americana, roots, gospel and rock influences. Ted Russell Kamp has added another wonderful musical highlight to his rich career! Highly recommended….

​Not all drummers are butchers, Darlin’ Brando knows how to write a melody, even when it’s for guitar.  Very nice album.

Dramatic  songs about a few historical disasters but with hope for love.  Wonderful poetic lyrics and a classical musical setting that quietens. Beautiful in apparent simplicity.

​The approach that compiler Mark Armstrong used is quite original. "It's A Long Rocky Road" isn't a real "Best Of" nor a strictly tribute album. On this album we first hear Johnny in 10 songs, which he recorded under his own name between 1952 and 1959 for Abbott, Dott, Mercury and Columbia. Then 20 songs are added, which can be linked to Horton by their performers. Either it is Horton who perceives the vocal parts or they contains musicians linked to him.
Soon it will be 95 years since Johnny Horton was born. In this context, this album is not only a nice tribute, but also a nice addition for the Horton fans. Country and rockabilly at its best!

​Hank Williams was undoubtedly the greatest artist in the country genre. Not only was he a formidable performer, but also a super talented songwriter. His songs have been and are still being covered by many artists. Compiler Mark Armstrong collected 28 of those covers on this volume 1. Awesome edition!

The musical palette of the band White Owl Red offers a wonderful selection of Americana, Country and roots music.

​This is Americana with roots in real country music. 

​Now Lynn Hanson is promoting her seventh release "Just Words." Country is the main part, but we do find beautiful and punctuated Americana songs and a single swampy song.

If you don't know Torgeir Waldemar (yet), you can meet these tough Noor, on the Labadoux Festival on May 1, 2020 or on April 29 in De Roma room in Borgerhout. The release ‘Love’ is punctuated Americana with a beautiful country and rock undertone ..!

‘Songs Fro The Exile’ is a beautiful country rock album. There is not a single weak point to be found in these emotional songs.

​Tami Neilson is an artist with real range, whose powerful voice can take on big ballads, golden-age country, heartfelt Gospel, soul-infused R&B, Western swing, even old-style rock ‘n’ roll. Tami encompasses them all and is a personality-powered cyclonic force of nature in stylishly retro attire, long lashes and a stacked-high beehive.

​The release "Moon & Mercury", the debut album by Madison Galloway, is a collection of thirteen songs. Elements of folk, rock, country and blues are combined with worldly music that creates an eclectic sound. Brilliant! 

​The album "Ride Again" was produced by Sjaak de Bruijn and is the successor of his solo album "Harmonium" from 2005, which was only released in Japan. The release was recorded in his home studio in London . Shawn is a multi-instrumentalist and gets help from pedal steel guitarist Joe Harvey-Whyte, Carwyn Ellis on keyboard and saxophonist Andy Ross and violinist Everton Nelson on a few songs. The opening song "Wichita" has been gathering dust for twelve years, so it was high time to finish the album.

Darrin’s original lyrics form a unique perspective and his story lines are valuable listening pieces. Bradbury collects a lot of bizarre observations for his latest album "Talking Dogs & Atom Boms". Those who enjoy cozy country will not be disappointed here.

​In addition to being the owner / president of the Wandering Star Recording Studio, Bobbo Byrnes is also an active band member in formations such as The Fallen Stars and Riddle & The Stars. He is currently concentrating primarily on a solo career. Bobbo is ready for this third solo album. Two years ago we had "Motel Americana" is the store shelves. Last year he had the album "Two Sides To This Town" on sale. Now there is ‘The Red Wheelbarrow’. Country, blues, Americana and garage rock… cleverly conceived!

Catherine Maclellan has the roots in her blood.  Great as a singer-songwriter. Wonderful folkballads.​