Keyboardist Graham Fields left Rare Bird (of ‘Sympathy’-fame) after two albums and started his own trio with bassist-singer Alan Barry and King Crimson drummer Andy McCulloch. The trio recorded the self-titled album ‘Fields’ (1971). Barry was replaced by former Supertramp member Frank Farrell for  ‘Contrasts’ (1972), the follow-up that would remain in the drawers for decades – after which the group split.
Graham Fields’ keyboards were important in Rare Bird, but understandably really carry the sound of this, his very own project. The difference between the two groups is obvious: both the compositions and the vocal output of Rare Bird sound more original and especially more consistent to me. Graham Fields is in charge of the wheel.
‘Fields’ starts with a pure British prog number: a long intro, crescendo, tempo change, high-pitch vocals and pounding drums. Baroque and bombastic. The band also offers songs based on trad folk (‘Three Minstrels’) and R&B piano lines (‘Someone to Trust’), while ‘Slow Susan’ is a piano work-out  and ‘The Old Canal’ comes close to a gentle, classic slow pop tune. No panic though, as Fields is usually rocking along fine in prog-style.
Both albums have their strong moments, but the versatility makes it difficult to judge them as self-contained projects.  Comparisons aren’t always fair, but ELP and Greenslade may help for the heavier side of things.
Cherry Red / Esoteric has brought together everything Fields ever put to tape: both albums and six bonuses, of which two BBC recordings. A nice booklet has the latest.
Radio 68  plays choice tracks on Wednesday 16 March from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m.

​Los Angeles-based accomplished artist Lady Coco describes her mission as a musician “like a covered pot with the top ready to blow, my moods overwhelm me and I must convey it through my music!”. The soulful wistfully poignant original composition exemplifies Lady Coco’s approach to her artistry; the track will included in Lady Coco’s forthcoming album, “Beside Myself.”

​The release ‘Gone, Long Gone’ is just the first of three new albums that Steve created during the lockdown.  The next two will come to light over three month intervals throughout 2022.  His subtle vocals in the title track are supported by fine guitar, pedal steel and a virtual string quartet with Ben Plotnick and Kaitlyn Raitz from Nashville. It shows how underrated Dawson as a singer really is. Jeremy Holmes keeps it all together with his bass lines, the drumming is split between Gary Craig and Jay Bellerose. Steve opens with the soul track 'Dimes', to continue his way with 'King Bennie Had His Shit Toghter', which is colored with upright bass, barrelhouse piano and a lot of bottleneck. With 'Bad Omen' we go to the deep Delta, and the pedal steel inspired 'Kulaniapia Waltz' rightly gives us a lot of goose bumps. Great stuff!

Texas Hall Of Fame musician Stehpen Doster made a fantastic acoustic album with his fingerpicking guitar.  Worth discovering!

​This Nashville Indie Recording Artist and Mississippi Soul Singer will rattle the rafters with her powerhouse vocals and rockin' soulful band. The record ‘Rise’ is already her fourth collaboration with Nashville-based producer Walter Scott. The release was partly recorded in Nashville and New Orleans, and diverges from blues ballads, Crescent City spirited tunes and a handsome jazzy ballad. Highly recommended release!

​On the anniversary CD 'Royal Ten', King Of The World shows that they are still that passionate and energetic band. Uptempo songs are interspersed with stylish slow blues songs. Handsome guitar riffs find an alteration with exciting vocals and Hammond B3. Aren't we missing the horn section? Well, no we aren't missing any brass instruments.

​It's always nice when a label releases compilation albums that highlight a certain time of the year. As the German Bear Family Records has been it doing for the Christmas period for many years, the label also does it for spring and Easter. Easter Parade is already their third compilation on these subjects. That compilation contains 29 nostalgic tracks that were released between 1932 and 1962. Tracks that contain a huge diversity of music genres. For example, the Easter Bunny, which is featured on the cover, lets you enjoy easy listening, blues, pop, country, jazz, doo-wop and rock 'n' roll. Both well-known and lesser-known artists ensure that. Sarah Vaughan, Bing Crosby, Pat Boone, Vera Lynn, Jimmy McCracklin, Frankie Lymon, Chuck Higgins and Chubby Checker are certainly not unknown names.
If you want to give spring a boost, this album suitable for the whole family can certainly help you.

Big Al has formed a solid line-up of musicians and together they consistently tour around the US. The current band consists Louisiana Music Hall of Fame pianist-vocalist Wayne Lohr, guitarist-vocalist Marcel Anton, solid basplayer Mark Parsons and drummer Big Al Lauro. The latest CD 'Love One Another', on the VizzTone Records label, is the band's seventh release and features some notable guest artists. The album was recorded at Suite Mix Studios in Slidell, Louisiana and produced by the band and George Curreau, known for his work with The Funky Meters. Special guests include Tom Larson (keyboard) guitarist Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars) and harmonica virtuoso Jason Ricci. The record 'Love And Another' is the band's most eclectic recording. Highly recommended.

​The expression 'The Memphis Sound' often evokes memories among some Sun-rockabilly fans or of Stax' 'deep soul' era of the mid-60s. But a style that is equally important in the city's rich music history. was the big band blues found on singles by Bobby "Blue" Bland, B.B. King and Herman "Junior" Parker. It's a sound that is proudly commemorated and heralded today by the band The Love Light Orchestra, a group of seasoned Memphis musicians whose band name is derived from Bobby Bland's 1961 hit "Turn On Your Love Light." The ten-piece band was originally conceived by guitarist Joe Restivo, vocalist John Nemeth and arranger/trumpeter Marc Franklin. Now they are promoting their new pitch 'Leave The Light On'. What a blast of a release…!

​Singer-songwriter Scott Ramminger is not only an agile saxophonist, but also an adept guitarist. Now there is Scott Ramminger's sixth album ‘Live At 3rd & Lindsley Nashville’. It is a live record that was canned in the summer of 2021. During two concert series in the popular club '3rd & Lindsley' in Nashville, we hear guitarist James Pennebaker at work during the first six songs. Four other songs are predestined for Joe V. McMahan's guitar strings. Maxwell Schaul is on the drum kit and the bass lines are touched by Ger Hofman. Scott Ramminger mainly concentrates on vocals and saxophone here. Nice release, which perfectly reflects where Scott presents live performances.

​With volume 24 of the 'Southern Bred' series, we reside in Tennessee and Arkansas for the fourth consecutive album. As we already noted with the previous three releases around this region, there were a large number of artists there. They often had to wait for recognition until the 1960s when a real blues revival arose. The fact that the Tennessee and Arkansas recordings had a full sound certainly contributed to their popularity in the 1960s. The 28 tracks on this volume, titled 'Dippin' Is My Business', once again feature rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll from the genre's heyday. Recordings that, because of their danceability, will still provide a lot of entertainment in this time.
It has gradually become a tradition, because again volume 24 contains only the best classy rhythm & blues, rock 'n' roll, piano blues and doo-wop. Anyone who owns the other volumes of the 'Southern Bred' series will certainly not want to miss this volume.

​Popa Chubby's new release 'Emotional Gangster' will be released on the prestigious label Dixiefrog Records. It is the successor to 'Tinfoil Hat', which appeared last year. Popa Chubby enjoys a special musical status after all these years. The tough blues rocker from the Bronx, New York, with a great gingerbread heart, shows us his most emotional side. With timeless classics such as 'Dust My Broom' by Elmore James and Willie Dixon's 'Hoochie Coochie Man', we dive deep into the blues arsenal. Chubby emphasizes here a lot of respect for his idols and the blues fathers. Popa Chubby, who plays all vocal work and instruments here, is only backed by harmonica virtuoso James 'Jason' Ricci on two songs. On the album 'Emotional Gangster' Popa Chubby shows his broad musical spectrum. His stormy, soulful guitar virtuosity has never been so powerful. What a release! 

Judy Nazemetz has lost her heart to the musical stage.  The perfect voice to enjoy her theatrical creativity.

​The album 'Shining In The Half Light' was recorded in the UK with Joe Wilkins on guitar, Jonny Henderson on Ivories, bassist Matthew Waer and Matthew Jones on drums. The record was recorded in December 2020 at Middle Farm Studios in Devon, and is produced by Dan Weller. And this while the pandemic was in full swing and Elles was pregnant. After recording the release 'Road I Call Home', Elles wanted her next record to feature gospel-like vocals, so she almost immediately found those incredible soulmates in backing vocalists Izo Fitzroy, Jade Elliot and Andrusilla Mosley. The lead single 'Cheats & Liars' got lots of airplay and critical acclaim. Great release! 

​The mention 'Man That's A Hit, Get It Covered' that appears on the cover of the 'Rockin' Rollin' Covers' series, covers it completely. The two previously released volumes already made us discover a few things. Hits that did less well in a cover version than the original, but also covers that left the original versions far behind and grew into true classics. Volume 3 also effortlessly lives up to those expectations, with thirty tracks that represent both energetic rhythm & blues and white rock 'n' roll from the period 1952 to 1963.
The attractive thing about series such as 'Rockin' Rollin' Covers' is that in addition to sublime music, you also get a piece of music history. You often only know the best-known version of songs, but through this series you also get to know other interpretations and that is definitely a plus.

​Bernard Allison can't be pushed into that one-sided musical corner, it's a nice collection of blues styles. Mostly bound together by his hallmark funk ! Now Bernard went with producer Jim Gaines, his band and some special guests in October 2021 to the legendary Bessie Blue Studios in Tennessee. In addition to nine new originals, Bernard also honors his father's legacy with two of his classics. The first song is the soul single 'Now You Got It' from 1974 from the album 'Luther's Blues'. Followed by 'Gave it All', from Luther's 1994 album 'Soul Fixin' Man'. 

Tender and powerful psychedelic songs, with a lot of emotion.  Definitely one of the best albums of the year.  Just love it, John!

Melancholic album made during the pandemic in Spain.  You feel his pain at the end.

​Karl Stoll and The Danger Zone is an energetic house rock blues band. The music is a unique mix of danceable rockin' blues with original songs and sounds. The release 'The Workhouse' diverges from start to finish. And turns all of this into a most enjoyable record!