The track listing for Blood Brothers Live in Canada album includes 10 live versions of songs that were originally included on the duo’s Blood Brothers studio album released to great international critical acclaim on Gulf Coast Records. 

Here Riviere, whose lead guitar infuses the album, is backed by McKendree on keys and guitars along with bassist David Santos and drummer Kenneth Blevins, just your basic four-piece, with the McCrary Sisters (Ann, Regina, & Freda) appearing on the closing gospel tune “Cold, Cold, River.” 

On January 17, 1920, the National Prohibition Act, came into effect in America. The law aimed to make the sale of intoxicating liquids illegal, as well as banning the consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, this ban did not have the desired result. Illegal cafes sprang up where illegally distilled drinks were sold. The criminal circuit took control of the banned liquor industry and gangsters such as Al Capone did golden business. The criminals stole industrial alcohol and turned it into somewhat acceptable and drinkable alcohol. That is why in 1926 the American government forced manufacturers of industrial alcohol to add substances such as kerosene, benzene, acetone or methanol. As a result, many users, including musicians such as blues pioneer Robert Johnson, died. Thirteen years after the introduction of the law, it was realized that things could not continue like this and the ban came to an end on December 5, 1933. It is now 90 years later and the Atomicat label  pays attention to the lifting of the Prohibition Act with 30 tracks on 'Booze Party, The Rockers'. Not all titles immediately hint at the link with alcohol. Sometimes it also shows up in the lyrics. 'F-B-I Story', rock 'n' roll with doo-wop by Rudy Grayzell, opens with the sound of machine guns and the criminal side of the law immediately becomes clear. The song is based on the actions of John Edgar Hoover, then director of the FBI. For the Indian population, alcoholic drinks were 'Firewater'. Packaged here by Premieres in a beautiful instrumental, with both guitar and sax in the leading role. More instrumental work will follow with The Wailers and 'Tall Cool One'. Illegally distilled alcohol, also called 'Moonshine', inspired Whitey Pullen, once Gene Vincent's road manager, for this rocking song. Later 'Moonshine' songs follow, with the same title, but completely different ones by Montie Jones and Cecil Moore. With the former it provides a wonderful hillbilly rocker and with Moore traces of honky tonk emerge.
The 'Bloodshot Eyes' that often appear after excessive alcohol consumption are transformed by Millie Vernon into infectious rock 'n' roll. The consequences of alcohol can lead to dangerous situations, as Gene Vincent shows in the well-known 'Pistol Packin' Mama', with Georgie Fame on the piano. Tequila and The Champs is always a good combination. This becomes clear once again in the instrumental 'Tequila Twist', a derivative of their mega hit. Chuck Rio was once part of The Champs. You can also hear that in his instrumental 'Margarita'. You get a dash of country via 'Too Many Bubbles' by Jay Chevalier. With the help of Eddie Cochran on guitar, Bo Davis rocks away his worries during 'Drownin' All My Sorrows'. Who knows the consequences of alcohol better than the legendary Carl Perkins, here with 'Dixie Fried' with Jerry Lee Lewis on the black and white keys. You undoubtedly know 'One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer' in other versions. The Five Encores version is extremely swinging. This also applies to The Tyrones who stick to 'Pink Champagne'. 'Trouble Bound' is Billy Lee Riley's inspiration for a great rockabilly song. The agent who had to check whether 'prohibition' did not lead to illegal things gets an image in 'Revenuer Man' by Bill Goodwin. Cowboy Jack Clement and Billy Riley join forces with Sonny Burgess in the instrumental 'Thunderbird', an ode to the cheap wine that was often consumed on sessions.
'Booze Party, The Rockers' is an album with many possibilities. At a party it will provide the necessary ambiance, in the car it will always invite you to press the gas pedal a little deeper and at home with a well turned up volume knob and a glass of wine, beer or whiskey in hand, for top-level musical entertainment. Highly Recommended!

You know them...songs where you can snap your fingers to the rhythm so wonderfully. Perhaps the most obvious song, on which the finger snapping is clearly present, is Peggy Lee's 'Fever'. Song that should not be missing from this compilation. Later you will also get Elvis Presley's version. Before we get that far, there is first striker Joe Henderson with the appropriate 'Snap Your Fingers', recorded in 1962. But they aren't the only artists who made recordings where you can snap your fingers along to the rhythm. Another example is Roger Miller's 'King Of The Road', which was also a hit with us at the time. Other well-known people pass by, including The Coasters, The Platters with 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy' written by Cole Porter, Sanford Clark, the then billed as 'Blues Boy' B.B. King with the '16 Tons' immortalized by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Connie Francis, Ruth Brown, Wynonie Harris and Bill Haley and His Comets, who take a somewhat quieter approach for once in 'Hawk'. '16 Tons' follows later in the separate version by Jimmy Dean. A popcorn song that is great for finger-snapping is 'My Nerves' by Little Willie John. You can also place 'Chills And Fever' by Ronnie Love in the same genre. For some cool rhythm & blues you can go to 'Cool Miner' by the famous Nappy Brown. You could easily place Brook Benton's 'Hotel Happiness' next to Peggy Lee's 'Fever' in terms of finger snapping. Things get swinging a little later on 'Lookout Mountain' by Chuck Miller. Country is the basis for 'I Cast A Lonesome Shadow' by Hank Thompson and The Brazos Valley Boys, who recorded it in 1958. Al Pittman called himself Dr. Horse. In that capacity he delivers a beautifully 'spoken' 'Jack That Cat Was Clean'. Dick Penner co-wrote Roy Orbison's 'Ooby Dooby'. Under his own name he recorded the 'Cindy Lou' selected here for the Sun label. If Ruth Brown was the leading queen in the first half of the fifties, LaVern Baker took on that role with class in the second half of the fifties. Convince yourself of this during 'Tiny Tim'. A hint of rock 'n' roll surfaces with Steve King and The Echelons in 'Satan Is Her Name'. Featuring Lorrie and Larry Collins as The Collins Kids, in 'Heartbeat' you can once again enjoy Larry's guitar work in addition to Lorrie's beautiful vocal performance.
In the beautifully illustrated booklet, music historian Bill Dahl delves deeper into the artists and tracks selected by Nico Feuerbach.
Of course you don't have to cut your thumb and middle finger blue during all 31 tracks, but if you really want to, you can and it is possible with this 'On The Dancefloor With A Fingersnap'.

Wh^rl, is a self-titled double LP, it is also a solo debut of Groninger Jurgen Veenstra (Avery Plains, Moan, Moonlizards). Jurgen is not hiding behind walls of noise anymore, but making a huge emotional impact with his bare & beautiful lo-fi songs. Jurgen Veenstra from Groningen (Netherlands) finally makes his debut as a solo artist, using the moniker wh^rl as an outlet for his morose musings in a lo-fi setting. On his self-titled debut, Veenstra delivers 15 songs that - for the untrained listener - fall into the 'singer-songwriter' idiom, but are much broader and deeper, filled with decades of life experience and listening to all kinds of music. Each song enhabits its own lo-fi universe, here and there hinting at indie rock, folk, blues, noise, americana and ambient. 

With 'Rhythm Rockin' Boogie', compiler and ex-member of The Kokomo Kings Ronni Boysen is on his fourth volume in the 'Black Pearls' series. As the title already indicates, you can expect some rocking blues boogies on this volume. The legendary king of the blues boogie John Lee Hooker can light the fuse with 'Who's Been Jiving You', a song that the then young Hooker recorded in Detroit in 1948. With the successor 'You're Too Bad' by Birmingham Junior and His Lover Boys, the blues harp also makes an appearance. Hound Dog Taylor is known for his raw, straight-from-the-heart boogies. 'Take Five' here is one of his best-known songs. J.B. Hutto, master of the slide guitar, was Taylor's uncle and he also taught him the tricks of the trade. Hutto himself comes up later with 'Lovin' You', on which you can clearly hear that Taylor modeled his sound on Hutto's. Betty James was born in Louisiana. The blues from that region is also reflected in 'Henry Lee'. Frankie Lee Sims has provided a number of beautiful songs in his career. Moreover, he was the cousin of that other great Lightnin' Hopkins. You can hear him later as an excellent guitarist on the instrumental 'Hopkins' Sky Hop'. You can hear Sims here on 'Yeh, Baby'. On this song Mercy Baby is on drums. In turn, you can hear Mercy Baby under his own name on 'Pleadin''. Sims was also often heard on Baby's recordings. Speaking of friendly services! For a nice intro on the blues harp you can go to 'My Sweet Woman' by Drifting Slim. At the piano was none other than Ike Turner. With Clifford King's 'Want To Jump With You Baby' you not only get a formidable boogie, but also an extremely rare recording. The song was only pressed 500 copies at the time. Another well-known figure in the blues world is Lightnin' Slim, often called the king of the Louisiana blues. Slim recorded for 12 years for the Excello label, which was also home to Lazy Lester. Slim delivers a stirring 'Wonderin' and Goin'' here. Little Junior was also not one of the least. He worked with Sonny Boy Williamson II and Howlin' Wolf, among others. Here he is present with the well-known 'Love My Baby' that he recorded for Sun. A versatile artist was Eddie Burns, also known as Eddy 'Guitar' Burns. In addition to being a guitarist, harmonica player and singer, he was also an excellent songwriter. He effortlessly convinces of this in 'Hello Miss Jessie'. Lena Hall really goes back to the essence of the blues in 'What You Gonna Do'. On washboard you hear Washboard Willie and guitarist was Calvin Frazier. Frazier is featured under his own name in 'Little Mae', a song dedicated to his wife. Confiners of Mississippi State Penetentary serve up a formidable instrumental blues boogie on the harmonica on the appropriate 'Harmonica Boogie'. Doctor Ross was known for his 'one man band' where he played guitar, harmonica and drums. He proves that he could do that excellently on 'Come Back Baby'. In the fifties and sixties, Earl Hooker was a respected guitarist in the Chicago blues scene. Rightly so, as he shows on the instrumental 'On The Hook'. James Cotton became one of the most famous harmonica players. On 'Hold Me In Your Arms', a Sun recording, he leaves the instrument behind and concentrates on the vocals. In addition to the aforementioned 'one man band' of Doctor Ross, Joe Hill Louis also operated on his own. He can close with 'Gotta Go Baby'.
With the fourth volume in the 'Black Pearls' series you get 28 sublime tracks that celebrate the blues boogie. An album that is guaranteed to ensure a packed dance floor at parties.

Now there is finally new work from the 11 Guys Quartet, ten instrumentals, alternated with one vocal song. The Quartet opens with the instrumental warm-up track 'Lightning Road', before continuing with the swampy 'Black Cat Bone' and the rock ballad 'Blues Beyond Midnight'. From the high-speed performed 'Drivin' A Fast Car' it goes quickly to the funky and Latin inspired 'Texicali Mojo' and the Texas blues rocker 'Stompin' Blues'. The heavily charged 'He Ain't Got You' is one of the few songs that contains some vocality.  'Jokers Blues' is also a cool guitar boogie. 'Possum Blues' is classified as country blues, just like 'The Rona Stomp' and the closing 'Rockin' The Blues' are swinging rockers. And know, replay please! 

”Richard Rozze is an artist who has successfully forged a unique approach to his playing and compositions. He glides effortlessly through multi-genre worlds, his solos flawlessly committed to his surroundings. ‘Lion’ is an electric guitar album, with a focus on song writing at its core. The songs have subjects that are personal yet universal.

Blues guitarist Johnny Laporte came to the Netherlands from Indonesia with his family in 1958. There ​his musical career began with the Oscar Benton Blues Band. In 1974 he and others started the blues band Barrelhouse, in which he and his brother Guus still form the guitar tandem. Next year, Barrelhouse will celebrate their 50th anniversary with an extensive farewell tour. Together with Oscar Benton, Johnny made the album 'I Am Back' in 2018 and 'Mirrors Don' Lie' a year later. Another year later, Oscar Benton died and the corona period arrived. Johnny found time for his own music during that period and started working in his home studio. The result of this can now be found on 'That's Me', Johnny's debut as a solo artist. At the same time he is also releasing his debut novel 'Zwijgen Zweeg Gezwegen'. A number of song lyrics on 'That's Me' are taken from the novel, of which you can soon read a review on this site. Anyway, let's take care of 'That's Me' first. Johnny is an extremely talented guitarist and this obviously manifests itself on this album. In addition, he also emerges as a multi-instrumentalist because he plays all instruments. With the exception of two songs, namely 'World's In A Tangle' by Jimmy Rogers and 'Ramblin' On My Mind' by Robert Johnson, all songs flowed from his pen. With a very special, somewhat Eastern-style intro and ditto riff, he starts with the uptempo 'Waitin''. Successor 'Better Run Through The Fire' is bursting with blues. Johnny does not follow well-trodden paths, but develops a wonderful 'Laporte blues'. He once again successfully continues that vision, supplemented with some soul, in 'Forbidden Fruit', a contemporary, but above all personal slow blues. Jimmy Rogers' 'World's In A Tangle' gets a clever contemporary makeover in Johnny's hands, not to mention his interpretation of Johnson's 'Ramblin' On My Mind' with heavenly piano and guitar parts. With 'Angel Fly Home' he has an original golden ballad and on 'We Gotta Tie Her Down' some reggae creeps in. The somewhat jazzy 'Storyteller' presents itself intimately with once again phenomenal performances on the black and white keys. With the currently applicable 'There's A War Outside' he significantly increases the tempo and creates a sublime blues rocker. Introduced by samples from Tony Joe White, the album closes with 'Play It', a heck of an instrumental swamp blues inspired by White.
Vocally, Johnny's voice has acquired a pleasantly raw edge over the years, which only makes the songs more convincing.
With 'That's Me' Johnny Laporte gives an impressive example of his performances as a solo artist. Hopefully it doesn't end with this first solo album.

Hailing from Teesside in the North of England, Emma Wilson with her fabulously dynamic voice moves effortlessly between heart-wrenching sweet soul licks & raw, real, powerful blues. Emma's unique, tender vocals & gorgeous tone lend themselves beautifully to recordings with shades of early Aretha Franklin & hints of another of Emma's all time favourites Ann Peebles. Sensational British Rhythm & Blues Singer releases her new album titled 'Memphis Calling,' beautiful nine track record which features the original members of the HI Rhythm Section and drummer Steve Potts (Booker T & the MG's) and recorded at Sam Phillips Record Studios in Memphis. 

Little Village Foundation is very excited about the stunning and revelatory brand new Marcel Smith soul and blues release, "From My Soul" from the good folks at Little Village!! This is a real classic SOUL album, done the right way- old school feeling, natural organic instrumentation, some modern flourishes, and fronted by a soul singer supreme who comes straight from the gospel church! Some killer originals from Marcel and Anthony Paule (be sure to check out "I'm Comin Home To You" and "Nothing Left To Burn") and some choice covers, including 2 duets with Marcel's bud, soul & blues singer star, Johnny Rawls - their versions of O.V. Wright's " There Goes My Used To Be" and Tyrone Davis' "Turn Back the Hands of Time" are so freakin' good!! Producer/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Kid Andersen and Greaseland Studios and pianist/organist Jim Pugh and Little Village have done it again! Special guests include harp ace Rick Estrin and backing vocals from Lisa Leuschner Andersen and the famed The Sons of the Soul Revivers of San Francisco, CA . Be sure to check out Marcel's show-stopping live bonus cut with special guest legendary bassist Jerry Jemmott, an amazing heart wrenching version of The Bee Gees via Al Green classic, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" a heavy tribute/dedication from Marcel, dealing with the loss of his recently departed mother. Highly recommended…! 

Although the Christmas period should be one where rest and relaxation come first, putting together the festive meal or looking for the right presents can also cause a lot of stress. To shake off that stress, composer Mark, designer Alf and quality advisor Franky, together with the entire team of Atomicat Records, present you 'Seasons Greetings'. 28 tracks that, provided you give the volume knob a good jerk to the right, will quickly make you dance and wave your stress away. The pace is immediately good with the swinging 'Dig That Crazy Santa Claus' by Ralph Marterie and Lola Dee, a song from 1954, after which Paul Anka presents a catchy and very personal version of the classic 'Jingle Bells'. Anka returns with the crooner-like 'Christmas In Japan'. In 1959, The Lollipops changed the well-known 'Mr. Sandman' into the more appropriate 'Mr. Santa'. 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!' may have been heard in many versions, but this swinging, slightly jazzy version by Ella Fitzgerald stands head and shoulders above the others. For beautiful gospel you can always contact The Staple Singers. Pops Staples and his children are here with 'The Last Month Of The Year'. We previously indicated that many associate doo-wop with Christmas. Well, they will definitely enjoy 'The Robin' by The Holidays.
Nice instrumental songs come from The Guitars, Inc. and their version of 'Sleigh Ride' and the sax-driven 'White Christmas' by Bill Robbin and The Blue Jays. You get the flip side of that single later with the equally instrumental 'Rockin' Bells', a remake of 'Jingle Bells'. It is rather cheerfully twisting in Jay Matty's 'Merry Twist Mas'.
An 'all time Christmas classic' is 'The Bells Of St. Mary's', although the lyrics have no direct link with Christmas, the melody clearly does. You get a nice version here from Lynn Taylor with The Peachettes. Fans of a cappella will certainly find something to their liking in the gospel 'Born In Bethlehem' by The Famous Blue Jay Singers Of Birmingham Alabama.
Also very atmospheric work by Louis Armstrong and The All Stars with 'Christmas Night In Harlem', beautiful harmonies by The King Sisters And Family with 'Over The River (And Through The Woods)', The Bookends in 'Christmas Kisses' and from The Voices Of Walter Schumann in 'Christmas Gift'. The country-like 'Cowboy Santa Claus' by Bill Lacey with Lil Armstrong and Her Ebony-Aires also sounds pleasant. Country is also the basis of Homer and Jethro's 'Santa's Moving On', which is based on Hank Williams' 'I'm Movin' On'. The flip side of 'Santa's Moving On', namely the 'Nuttin' For Christmas' with a dose of hillbilly, is also on this compilation. Kay Martin and Her Body Guards often performed on stage in nightclubs, no wonder that 'Come On Santa, Let's Have A Ball' evokes the prevailing atmosphere there. The 'Happy New Year To You' by vocal group The Qualities announces itself at the door, which immediately heralds the end of this album. With 'Seasons Greetings' the entire team of Atomicat Records sends you 28 atmospheric tracks bathed in various music genres for the upcoming Christmas period. Highly recommended!

The Groningen band Them Dirty Dimes is already a permanent fixture in the music firmament. They add color to the intended musical sounds with a lot of pleasant swing, blues, folk and many jazzy tunes. Them Dirty Dimes is a band that goes back to old genres and forges something new. With their varied set, the band moves from gypsy to blues and from Americana to Dixieland. After the well-received debut album, Them Dirty Dimes will present its successor ‘Empty Pockets’ in 2023. Highly recommended! 

A wonderful and joyful album, breaking boundaries in classical music. A very interesting fusion of styles. Recommended.

Christian Kjellvander releases the album "Hold Your Love Still" and goes on tour. There is a necessity over Christian Kjellvander's artistry. Regardless of whether the Swedish singer-songwriter dealt with Americana, indie rock or – as of late – free experiments with jazz and rock! This is the work of a skilled songwriter at its most essential. Floating on a cloud of an extensive musical sound palette, he expands our minds. 

Mighty Mo Rodgers' first solo album 'Blues Is My Wailin' Wall' from 1999 was immediately awarded with a W.C. Handy Award nomination. It was characterized by its philosophical views on humanity. Since then, Mighty Mo has continued to be committed to this matter. Mighty Mo is a striking and original singer-songwriter/keyboard virtuoso, who produces daring combinations between soulful and driven blues rhythms. Now there is 'Memphis Callin', Soul Music & The American Dream. A catchy release with the excellent rhythm section of Luca Giordano on guitar, Walter Monini on bass, Abramo Riti (organ) and drummer Alessandro Svampa. Special guests included Eric Cisbani (percussion), Darryl Dunmore (harmonica), Sax 'Gordon' Beadle saxophone), Alessandro Di Bonaventura (trumpet) and Maurice Gainen on tenor saxophone. Rodgers' gritty vocals and driving rhythms once again provide that personal panorama. This is Might Mo's best album in years!  Highly recommended! 

As we already showed in the first volume of 'Blues Meets Doo-Wop', doo-wop is often linked to the end of the year and more specifically to the Christmas event. However, Doo-Wop is more than just the soundtrack for a warm and cozy Christmas. But this aside, it is also a fact that this genre gives the Christmas period a special glow through the heavenly voices of its performers. To give that warm glow an extra boost, the Koko Mojo label is launching this compilation 'Doo Wop Christmas Party'. No fewer than 30 tracks that will undoubtedly make your Christmas a unique event this year. Many songs that you will certainly hear for the first time, but also a number of well-known names, such as The Drifters, Jan & Dean, The 4 Seasons, The Platters and Huey 'Piano' Smith and The Clowns, will immediately put you in the right mood. The Rhythm Aces can start with the sublime polyphonic, devoutly performed 'C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S'. Speeding up a bit and somewhat rocking, Debbie & The Teen Dreams continue with 'Santa, Teach Me To Dance' from 1962. The Martels also rock in 'Rockin' Santa Claus'. A song that certainly deserves our attention is 'My First Christmas With You' by The Eligibles. The instrumental accompaniment, reduced to its essence, ensures that the voices always grab you by the scruff of the neck. This also applies to 'Merry Christmas One And All' by The Rhythm Kings. Excellent and with an enormous dose of soul, The Midnighters deliver a formidable 'Christmas Time For Everybody But Me'. Soul is also part of 'A Very Special Birthday' recorded by The Cashmeres, as well as Dodie Stevens' 'Merry, Merry Christmas Baby'. No white Christmas, but a sultry 'Christmas In The Congo'. The Marquees will show you what that sounds like. The Stompers give you a tip about what you can do around the Christmas tree with 'Stompin' Around The Xmas Tree'. You don't even have to wait until Christmas to enjoy it. The Classic Four convince you of this with verve in 'Early Christmas'. Johnny Mendell serves the very special and especially twisting version of 'Jingle Bells' a little later as 'Jingle Bell Twist USA'. 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' would certainly have sounded a bit naughty in 1962, which once again puts the beautiful harmony singing of The 4 Seasons in the spotlight. In his typical style, Huey 'Piano' Smith, together with his inseparable The Clowns, closes the list with 'Happy New Year'.
You get classic Christmas songs from The Drifters with 'Bells Of St. Marys', 'White Christmas' by The Precisions, Jan & Dean and an energetic version of 'Frosty The Snowman', the very special 'Jingle Bells' by The 4 Seasons, 'Here Comes Santa Claus' with The Mills Brothers and 'Winter Wonderland' by The Ames Brothers.
'Doo Wop Christmas Party' not only contains impressive doo-wop, but also shows you how the genre graced Christmas in the fifties and early sixties and still does that today. I am extremely impressed. Recommended!

This album offers the listener a wide range of blues, a lot of blues rock, soul, funk and a dash of country

With 'Santa Swings……The Windup', the German Bear Family label launches a very special Christmas CD. 'The Windup' refers to the time when one still had to wind a record player, or rather gramophone, with a handle and 78 rpm records had to be played with a steel needle. It is therefore understandable that the album does not contain any obvious interpretations of Christmas songs, including the sound of the necessary bells. Instead you get 27 tracks from the thirties and forties of the last century by renowned orchestras. Naturally, these songs were released on fragile shellac records. So you can expect stylish swinging jazz, which is also ideal for doing some dance moves. Well-known names that come into the spotlight on this album include Glenn Miller, Paul Whiteman, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb and Stuff Smith. Among these well-known and lesser-known orchestras we also find The Ramblers, from the Netherlands, who, together with the Belgian singer Marcel Thielemans, recorded an orchestral arrangement of 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!' There is also a wonderful track with 'And The Angels Sing' by Count Basie's orchestra with that other legend, namely Helen Humes behind the microphone. The same song follows later in the version by Jan Savitt and His Tophatters. Legend Glenn Miller and his orchestra are present with a special version of 'Jingle Bells' that he recorded on December 24, 1941, one day before Christmas, for the legendary radio, Chesterfield Broadcast. Ella Logan's version sounds even more special, but also extremely original, as 'Jingle (Bingle) Bells'. Ella Fitzgerald can shine together with Chick Webb's orchestra on 'There's Frost On The Moon', a song from 1937. A swinging instrumental is undoubtedly 'Freeze And Melt' by Joe Turner and His Memphis Men, a pseudonym for Duke Ellington and his orchestra for the recordings at Columbia Records. You don't hear Big Joe Turner on this recording. He was already active as a blues shouter.
The album contains both instrumental and sung tracks, but the 'swing' is always present.
Although the recordings date from the thirties and forties, they sound impressively good. In addition, you will receive all information about the tracks in the accompanying booklet. It will not surprise you that many of these tracks appear on CD for the first time. However, if you like vinyl, there is also good news. Bear Family distilled 14 tracks from this CD and released them on red colored vinyl (BAF18074).
Of course you have to have a soft spot for authentic swinging jazz to enjoy this album to the fullest. If you do that, you have a pearl in your hands with 'Santa Swings…The Windup'.

​The future of the blues is in good hands with Mathias Lattin. He is an emerging young Texas guitarist and product of the acclaimed Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts. He’s heavily influenced by music legends B.B. King, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Albert Collins, and Wes Montgomery. Mathias’s love for music is reflected in the soulful blues, jazz-inflected chords, and funky bass lines. Trained as a jazz guitarist, he incorporates that knowledge in his playing and songwriting

Sue Foley breaks out with her first electric live album, Sue Foley Live in Austin, Vol. 1, on Guitar Woman Records. Drawing on the inspiration from her early heroes, Foley branches out on this new release and delivers some hard-hitting blues rock tracks. It’s real and it’s tough as nails. This is Sue at the top of her game. It’s a set of deeply rockin’ blues recorded at the legendary Austin, Texas nightspot, The Continental Club. This album features eleven tracks, songs culled mostly from Sue’s vast catalog of 14 albums, going all the way back to 1992’s Young Girl Blues. The set has all the immediacy and excitement of a live performance, the ecstatic crowd responding to the band’s deep Texas blues energy and giving back in kind. Sue is at the peak of her powers, working with the tight dynamics of her compact band (Sue Foley – guitar & vocals, Corey Keller - drums, Jon Penner – bass, and guitarist Derek O’Brien guesting on selected tracks) to deliver the magic

Lose yourself without any drug on the industrial sounds of this mesmerizing (dance)-album.

In my opinion The Searchers were the only real competition for The Beatles, but too little innovation and too many egos meant that their string of (eleven!) Top 20 hits ended in 1966 – before they could even have turned psychedelic.
‘Sugar and Spice’ is their second album. Released in 1963, we are treated to true Merseybeat, up-tempo, inspired by rock’n’roll, traditionally structured with nice harmonies. Happy music.  Listen to tracks like ‘Hungry for Love’, ‘Some Other Guy’, ‘Ain’t That Just Like Me’ or ‘Don’cha Know’.
The Searchers knew how to “Merseyize” a tune, as is clear from their beautiful rendition of ballad ‘All My Sorrows’.
BGO Records added four bonus tracks, including their 1964 hit ‘Someday We’re Gonna Love Again’. The label has also released a re-mastered vinyl version of their third album, ‘It’s The Searchers’.
Radio 68  will play a fine selection on Sunday 05 and Tuesday 07 November 2023, starting at 11 a.m. 

The release 'The Harvest' is a collection of great songs. Afton Wolfe is a master storyteller, not only with actual words, but also in creating that musical atmosphere.​

When voices blend beautifully, it gives us a pleasant and warm feeling. It is not surprising that for many doo-wop is associated with Christmas. After all, it is during that period that the heavenly singing of golden voices provide emotional warmth. Understandable but also a bit unfair to always link doo-wop to Christmas. After all, doo-wop also has the talent to express melancholic emotions vocally. These emotions can have their origins in economic hardship, for example, but can just as easily arise from relationships, both positive and negative. And what better way to bring emotions to life than through the voice. So emotions and doo-wop match perfectly. That immediately explains the title 'Blues Meets Doo-Wop' of this new series released by the Koko Mojo label. After all, blues is also about emotions. And in this music genre too, hardships and events in the relational sphere are usually the subject. Consequently, there is a clear connection between doo-wop and blues. It goes even further. Artists of both genres recorded their songs for the same labels, in the same studios and often used the same musicians. Reasons enough for compiler Little Victor aka The 'MoJo' man to find 28 tracks for this first volume of four volumes that meet these requirements, both in doo-wop and blues. We start with the well-known 'Got My Mojo Working', which is provided with beautiful vocals by Ann Cole together with The Suburbans. Jimmy Reed sought his inspiration for the bluesy 'I'm A Love You' in the relational sphere. When both genres come together in one song, it becomes very beautiful. Hank Ballard and The Midnighters achieved this in 'I Got A Mind To Leave You'. Lillian Offitt also achieved the same in 'My Man Is A Lover', where she receives support for the vocal work from The 4 Duchesses. The same 4 Duchesses are also present on Magic Sam's 'You Don't Have To Work'. The two genres also work in an uptempo song, such as in 'Baby Baby' by Pete Willis and The Four Royals. Another wonderful up-tempo song comes with 'Chicken Blues' by The Dominoes together with Rene Hall. Even Bo Diddley called on doo-wop group The Moonglows for his 'Diddley Daddy'. He hired Little Walter for the harmonica solo on the song. The Spaniels inject their rocking doo-wop into 'Hey Sister Lizzie'. The Andantes, in turn, provided heavenly backing vocals on John Lee Hooker's 'Frisco Blues'. The Golden Gate Quartet are probably the most famous vocal group in gospel and blues. Both genres are also present in 'I Wanna Know'. The Thunderbirds made a more than excellent doo-wop version of 'Baby Let's Play House', also covered by Presley. Memphis Slim was a singer and pianist best known for his boogie-woogie songs. In 'I Guess I'm A Fool' he slows down a bit and creates a formidable slow blues with The Vagabonds in the background. Pee Wee Crayton also does an excellent job in the bluesy 'I Found My Peace Of Mind', with wonderful background vocals from The El Dorados. You can expect swinging rhythm & blues with 'Red Light' by Roy Milton.
The songs mentioned here are just examples of what to expect. After all, all 28 tracks are of such a high level that they all deserved a mention. However, this would make the review far too long. Therefore, be sure to consult the 'DETAIL ALBUM' section.
The 'Blues Meets Doo-Wop' series brings you the very best recordings from both genres. 'The best of both worlds', brought together here for the first time in the series 'Blues Meets Doo-Wop'. We are already looking forward to the second volume.