​He was not only the designer and performer of the 'Diddley Beat' named after him, but also a talented songwriter. Not only did he write songs for himself, but fellow artists were only too happy to record Bo's songs. It is therefore nice that the Koko Mojo label is now paying attention to him in the 'Koko Mojo Songwriter Series'. Even better, this compilation pays attention to Bo as a performing artist as well as others who recorded his songs. He already looked striking with his red Gretsch guitar with a rectangular body and his checked jacket, but with his songs, based on a beat linked to African music, he did that even more. He was born Ellas Otha Bates McDaniel on December 30, 1928, in McComb, Mississippi. A performance he attended by John Lee Hooker awakened his music microbe. In 1955 he recorded ‘I'm A Man’ for Checker Records with ‘Bo Diddley’ on the flip side. And let's just say it was that flip side that immediately put him at the top of the R&B charts for two weeks. Bo Diddley passed away on June 2, 2008 at age 79.
For starters, you get 14 songs from Bo himself. Of course there are hits like 'Bo Diddley', 'Mona', 'Who Do You Love?', 'Run Diddley Daddy', 'Story Of Bo Diddley' and 'Bo Diddley Loose'. After that you also get 14 tracks with Diddley recordings, performed by fellow artists.
In short, this compilation pays a worthy tribute to Bo Diddley, who caused a shock in rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll with his typical sound. Since the album pays attention to the performer Diddley as well as to his compositions performed by fellow artists, you can consider this album as a very important release.

​Regina’s debut album 'Open Up Door' was released in 2015, followed three years later by the successful album 'Love Letter'. In 2022 there is 'Truth Hurts'. Regina co-wrote the songs with guitarist Tomas Doncker. The New York Blues Hall Of Farmer Bonelli is spotlighting the release on True Groove Records label. Six original tracks and three finely crafted covers set the stage for the album. Funky tunes are the main measure and danceable performance is commonplace. The title track is a beautiful illustration of that.

Onomatopoeia or creating sounds for imitating things can be very inspiring. You will listen once or twice, after that you want to create your own  reality with your voice.  Or you can use in a theatre or cinematographic production.

​Walk That Walk is one of the most important bands in the Boston blues scene. Frontman Chuck 'Poppa' C' Desnyder (vocals, guitar) founded the band in 1992. The release 'You Good.?!' is a collection of nine new songs that are infused with, blues, counrty, roots rock and Americana

Wonderful nine dance songs inspired by tradition.  It really invites you to dance (till you drop dead-don’t!).  Very enjoyable!

​Kathy has her place among Austin blues divas like Lou Ann Barton and Angela Strehli. An acclaimed Texan singer-songwriter, she earned a Grammy nomination in 2020 for her writing skills. Together with her partner and bandleader/guitarist Bill Jones and The Kilowatts, Murray recorded an energetic collection of eleven new original songs and three cheerful covers. The album diverges, is very enjoyable and therefore highly recommended.

Sixteenth album of Texan singer-songwriter George Enslé.  Once more he puts the finger on the wound.  Don’t look away of life and try to improve your social self.

​There is a whole story attached to this album, but rather a sad one that we certainly want to pass on, as it will undoubtedly give the listening of 'Sweet Dreams Forever' a different dimension. Let's move back to March 1963. At the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, country stars Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Randy Hughes and Patsy Cline give a benefit performance for the family of the late disc jockey Cactus Jack Call, who died in a car accident in December 1962. Two days later, on March 5, 1963, the foursome boarded a Piper PA-24 Comanche plane to take them back to Nashville. However, they would not arrive there. The plane crashed into a wooded area known as Fatty Bottom, about 5 miles west of the Tennessee River. A loss that hit the country world very hard. And the end was not yet in sight. Jack Anglin, known as a member of the duo Johnny & Jack, wanted to attend the funeral of the foursome. After het was at the joint service for Copas and Hughes, as well as the service for Hawkins, he hurried to the hairdresser before making his way to Cline's ceremony. The hairdresser visit took a little more time than desired, so Jack had to hurry. On the way he lost control of the steering wheel and died of a skull fracture. It was March 8, 1963.
It is therefore commendable that Mark Armstrong for the Atomicat label, once again brings this foursome to the attention. Hawkshaw is there with 6 tracks, Cowboy gets 8, Patsy is there with 6 tracks and Randy gets 9 to his name. What you can expect are rare authentic country songs at a high level and, as always with the label, of excellent sound quality. Hawkins immediately sets the bar high with his hillbilly boogie 'Dog House Boogie'. Can't believe this song dates back to 1948. And the level stays the same throughout the entire album. Randy Hughes provides rousing hillbilly boogies. He can do that for the first time with the beautiful 'Tatooed Lady', but don't worry it doesn't stop here. If you want to congratulate someone on his or her birthday in a unique way, be sure to send Hughes' ‘Birthday Cake’. It will certainly be enjoyed. Boogies with extremely clever flat-top guitar picking are the trademark of Cowboy Copas. Just listen to 'Tennessee Flat Guitar' for example. He shows that rocking is not foreign to him as Lloyd Copas in 'Circle Rock'. The harmonica in his 'Sleepy Eyed John' lifts the song to a handsome country blues. Until track 18 we have to wait until we hear Patsy Cline. That wait is more than made up for, however, by 'I Love You Honey', which she recorded for the Coral label in 1956. Although she rather falls for the man's car. Cline shines again in 'Crazy Dreams', an authentic country song. She sounds a bit more poppy in 'When I Get Thru With You (You'll Love Me Too)'.
With 'Sweet Dreams Forever' it's country boogie time. Occasionally the tempo is a bit slow down, as in 'Slowly' by Randy Hughes, a song with a wonderful fiddle and steel guitar. Patsy Cline also takes it a bit more calmly in the emotional 'Walkin' After Midnight'.
Fortunately, all these recordings were dusted off. With 'Sweet Dreams Forever' the Atomicat label throws another 'bullseye'. This is an absolute must and don’t say afterwards we didn’t warn you!

​TNT guitarist, Ronni Le Tekrø, will release his new solo album, Bigfoot TV, on March 18 through TBC Records via Cargo Records. ‘Bigfoot TV’ is Ronni Le Tekrø’s first solo album in six years, and old and new fans are in for a treat. Together with his tight band, ‘Bigfoot TV’ sounds inspired and vibrant, Ronni's brilliant guitar is a red thread through the album and you’ll find references to everything from TNT to Thin Lizzy, Beatles, David Bowie and his own progressive rock albums.

​Duffhues has been enriching us with his dark stories and songs since 2011. He tells and sings all this with a lived-in voice. Blues, mysterious songs and deep-thinking folk songs invariably challenge his repertoire. He has nine albums to his name, including this handsome 'Murder Call', which was recorded in mono by the way. A conscious choice that reminds us of our youth.

Karl Lundeberg will become one of the most known composers of the 21th century. His theatrical composing style lubricates the ear. Great album indeed!

​Zito now has many Blues Music Award awards in his trophy cabinet, is co-owner of the Gulf Coast Records label and has now made a statement with 'Blues From The Southside' with this live album. It was recorded on November 26, 2021 at the Old Rock House in St. Louis, Missouri, and produced by vocalist/guitarist Mike Zito. The album 'Blues From The Southside' is a first musical testament for Mike Zito. Highly recommended!

​Our second visit to Sadie's Gentlemen's Club, better known as 'the house of sin', immediately says what Sadie's club is all about, namely 'flirting'. The lights are dimmed which enhances the intimate atmosphere, the deejay chooses the appropriate music and the gentlemen fight to win the favor of Sadie and her colleagues. The 30 songs on this compilation highlight the game of 'attract, seduce and repel'. Once again you can enjoy swinging and rocking Rhythm & Blues of the highest quality, with or without soul, supplemented with catchy instrumentals.
The second visit to Sadie's Gentlemen's Club certainly won't be the last. After all, 'Visit 03, Taboo' will be released on March 11, of which you are guaranteed to find a review here.

Strong debut from the Dutch band Kaspar Baum. Lyrics with content, original melodies, perfect sounds.  You definitely will love Erny’s vocals.

​Musically the songs diverge somewhat, being an eclectic collection of instrumentation and pop-tinged songs. Parallel Universe is a pleasant musical candy box! Great….

​Just as rock and roll revolutionized music, Jack Kerouac shocked the literary world with his pop literature. His 1957 book ‘On The Road’ was revolutionary. Along with Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs, Kerouac formed the core of the Beat Generation, also known as The Beatniks. They were active from the late 1940s to roughly the mid-1960s. On March 12, 2022 it will be 100 years since Kerouac was born and for the Bear Family label the impetus for the release of the double CD 'Jack Kerouac, 100 Years Of Beatitude'. Kerouac and his companions had an ear for the music of their time. The Beatniks' favorite genre of music was be bop jazz. Bringing Beatnik poetry and jazz together found its way into World Jazz. This genre is also represented here, just like the rhythm & blues.
Even more interesting are the audio contributions spanning the period from 1946 to 1963, culminating in the over 15-minute interview Ben Hecht had with Jack Kerouac in 1958. In addition, the double album contains a 36-page booklet, in which Beat Generation expert Roland Heinrich Rumtreiber takes a closer look at the history and music of the Beatniks. Booklet beautifully illustrated with rare photos.
'Jack Kerouac, 100 Years Of Beatitude' is not only a beautiful tribute to Kerouac and the Beat Generation, but is also a time document to cherish.

​The debut album 'Another Life' is already from 2002. Now, twenty years later, there is a new release with 'Talkin About'. Eight original songs and two cover tracks fill the record. With a great musical diversity, Waterstreet Blues Band manages to surprise us again.

Slowly climbing up to the top, but still a lot to improve.  After the debut album Reflected, this beautiful EP proves the potential of Ykons.

​In 1967, Blossom Toes released a truly fine psychedelic album, pointing out how much British psych differed from its US counterpart.  Whereas guitarist Jim Cregan (later with Rod Stewart) contributed what he himself claims to be ‘freaky’ tunes, singer and guitarist Brian Godding is responsible for a number of wonderful songs. They are psychedelic only because of the arrangement and a number of special effects. Strip them and they remain wonderful songs, with  lyrics  perfectly in gear with the changing times. 
Cherry Red offers a re-mastered version of the LP, a live recording (Stockholm, 1967) plus a run of BBC sessions, demos, an interview, the single, etc. Three discs in all. Apart from the poorer sound quality of the live show, this is a wonderful psych artefact that has laid dormant in bottom drawers for too long. A nicely illustrated booklet tells you the story of the and how the recording came about.

​With rockabilly and rock 'n' roll from the archives of M-G-M Records and sub-labels Club and Metro, we are already at volume 40 in the 'That'll Flat…Git it!' series. M-G-M Records was founded in 1946 by the production company Metro Goldwyn Mayer for the purpose of releasing soundtracks. The label soon took a broader view, dating a wide variety of music genres to the catalog. In the mid-1950s, when rock 'n' roll and rockabilly exploded, it was logical that M-G-M set its sights on that too. It is therefore also logical that a large number of artists could grow into international celebrities. This volume focuses on these names. Well-known artists such as Conway Twitty, Johnny Rivers, Buck Griffin, Marvin Rainwater and Andy Starr are paired with lesser known, but no lesser talents such as Gary Walker, Randy Atcher, Kenny Lee Martin, Rita Faye, Bob Riley and Ronnie Isle. The result are 32 tracks most from the fifties and a few from the early sixties that relive the heyday of rockabilly and rock 'n' roll in detail. Expect danceable, excellent guitars, whether or not supplemented with beautiful harmony vocals, provided rocking tracks, in a great sound.
Just to mention that there are no overlaps with volume 7 in this series, which also featured rockabilly and rock 'n' roll from the M-G-M treasury. And as befits the series, you will again receive a 36-page booklet, in which Bill Dahl provides you with all the info about artists and tracks. More than worth buying!

Scandinavian look on celtic folk from Ireland over the Shetlands, cross Wales to England.  The Celtic Duo investigated history and searched for the unknown masterpieces. Great!

​Zoom's dynamic vocals, Shawn's energetic guitar and the funny, sexy and spicy lyrics in many of the songs are a real consternation. The release opens with the funky 'Are You Ready' and continues with the Chicago blues inspired 'Big Boss Woman'. The track 'Born To Sing The Blues' is almost a biographical song for Zoom. A discovery worth...!

Ambient and spiritual reflection on mother earth and his (human) species.  Wonderful compositions with an exotic feeling and a lovely interconnection between cultures.

​If the name Charlie McCoy doesn't sound familiar to you right away, there's a good chance that you'll find his achievements in your record collection without knowing it. After all, a visit to his website introduces you to an immense list of celebrities to whom Charlie has provided musical assistance. Among them are Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Steve Miller, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings…..and we could fill several more lines. Not surprising because McCoy is a multi-instrumentalist. When his mother gave him a harmonica as a little boy, it was the start of a glorious career. Later, Charlie taught himself to play guitar, bass, percussion, organ, sax and tuba. In 1941 he was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, but for health reasons he grew up in Miami. In 1961, Charlie's big break came. Chet Atkins heard him play and immediately hired him as a harmonica player and session musician. The 1970s gave Charlie's success a huge boost. He was heard on more than 400 recordings and in 2009 he was honored in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
With this compilation, the Bear Family label focuses on McCoy's early years, long before he became a celebrated country artist. The album contains recordings that he made in his own name, but also as Charlie McCoy & The Escorts or The Gas Lantern and this in the period 1961 – 1969. Charlie's talent and craftsmanship also make him feel various musical styles like no other. The album naturally contains enthusiastic rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues, blues and soul. In this way he works his way through a number of songs that have become classics. His unique harmonica playing is soon reflected in 'Gimme Some Lovin'', with which The Spencer Davis Group scored or 'Shot Gun' known from Jr. Walker, where he replaces the sax with the harmonica with verve. Masterfully he lets the harmonica sound on 'Harpoon Man'.
Also extremely beautiful versions of Little Walters 'Juke', 'My Babe', the rousing soulful 'Turn On Your Lovelight', Orbison's 'Candy Man', the poppy 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' by The Shirelles, Muddy Waters' ' I'm Ready' and The Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations', here in an instrumental harmonica version, just to name a few, but actually all tracks are absolute toppers. Charlie himself provided the foreword, after which Daryl Sanders elaborates on Charlie's career and his discography in the liner notes. Traditionally, everything is again illustrated with beautiful photos.
Screamin', Shoutin', Beggin', Pleadin'' by Charlie McCoy & The Escorts is an album of 29 captivating tracks, which sublimely showcases the talent of the young McCoy. A must without a doubt!

A turbulent life and the recent touch with loss are the sources of inspiration for Felix best album to date.