Blues CDs New Releases - June 2013
With summer festival season in full swing, new blues releases generally begin to slow down a bit, but this month is rich in sounds with titles from heavy hitters like Walter Trout, Watermelon Slim, Lurrie Bell, Mike Zito, Delbert McClinton, and Rory Block as well as some cool reissue discs. No matter your taste in blues, here's what you'll be listening to in June...
Not a heck of a lot of information available on this one, so the old Reverend is just going to improvise based on what he knows...this 1976 appearance by the Climax Blues Band on the popular German Rockpalast TV show would have come during the tour for the band's U.S. Top 30 disc Gold Plated, which yielded the hit "Couldn't Get It Right" (#3 U.S. and #10 U.K.). At this point, the storied British blues outfit was more pop-rock than pure blues, but this version of the band still included founders Colin Cooper (vocals, sax), Peter Haycock (guitar), and Derek Holt (bass), so their live performances still retained more than a little of the former Climax Chicago Blues Band's blues roots. British archival label Repertoire has been reissuing the entire Climax Blues Band catalog and I couldn't recommend early 1970s albums like A Lot Of Bottle or Tightly Knit more highly! (Release date: 06/11/13)More »
Dayne Kurtz is a great singer and songwriter of the old school, underrated and often overlooked although people like Bonnie Raitt have sung her praises and she's been chosen to open for such blues world heavyweights as B.B. King and Dr. John. Secret Canon, Volume 2 is the second collection of classic blues and R&B covers from the singer, mixed in with a few of her carefully-crafted and expertly sung originals. Kurtz is said to have researched music for months for this project, purposely chosing material circa the 1940s-1960s that hadn't been worked to death. Should be an interesting and entertaining collection... (Release date: 06/04/13)More »
After 40 years of pursuing separate careers, roots 'n' blues legend Delbert McClinton has reunited with his former musical partner Glen Clark for a red-hot new album of Texas-brewed roots-rock, blues, R&B, and country twang. Blind, Crippled and Crazy is a twelve-song collection credited to Delbert & Glen, the band name they used for a pair of early 1970s album releases. Recorded in the Music City with a band that included guitarist Bob Britt, drummer Tom Hambridge, and keyboardists Kevin McKendree and Bruce Katz, Blind, Crippled and Crazy also features Texas blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh as a guest on the song "Oughta Know," written by McClinton's son Clay. McClinton's fans have been waiting for a new one from the Texas music legend since 2009's Acquired Taste, and this new one from Delbert & Glen should do nicely... (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
Another new release with a disturbing lack of information, I do know that King King is one of the hottest bands on the British blues scene, a real houserockin' outfit fronted by guitarist and charismatic frontman Alan Nimmo that won all sorts of awards for their debut album Take My Hand. The band's sophomore release, Standing In The Shadows promises more of the same sort of turbo-charged, Rolling Stones-influenced blues-rock and traditional blues sounds that has created a buzz throughout the European Union. While King King has yet to break through stateside, this will be one well worth checking out...your satisfaction guaranteed by the Reverend! (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
Second generation Chicago blues royalty, guitarist Lurrie Bell long ago shook off the shadow of his legendary father Carey to forge a distinctive and impressive musical legacy of his own. Bell has been on a bit of a roll lately, and his 2012 album The Devil Ain't Got No Music earned him all sorts of acclaim. Blues In My Soul carries on Bell's vision of traditional Chicago blues, the talented guitarist recording with keyboardist Roosevelt Purifoy, bassist Melvin Smith, and drummer Willie "The Touch" Hayes. Harp player Matthew Skoller drops by to add flavor to six of the songs, and Blues In My Soul was produced by blues veteran Dick Shurman. (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mike Zito comes away from his Royal Southern Brotherhood experience with a new perspective, a new record label, and a new album. Gone To Texas is part confessional, part catharsis, and part redemption, with Zito recording in New Orleans and pursuing his own unique vision of roots 'n' blues music. Recording with his road band, Zito brought guests into the studio like Delbert McClinton and Sonny Landreth to record a slew of new original tunes along with a pair of inspired covers: McClinton's "Take It Easy" and Blind Willie Johnson's "Let Your Love Shine On Me." (Release date: 06/11/13)More »
Scottish blues-rock guitarist Miller Anderson has made the rounds, lending his talents to such British musical institutions as the Keef Hartley Band, Savoy Brown, and Chicken Shack, among others. Bright City was Anderson's solo debut album; originally released in 1971 and reissued here with a lone live bonus track and remastered sound. Bright City is a scattershot affair, touching upon the guitarist's many obsessions, and the songs range from blues and hard rock to wan folk tunes reminiscent of Tim Buckley. Much better is 2008's Chameleon, also being reissued by MIG (Made In Germany) Music, the later album displaying more range and showcasing Anderson's underrated six-string skills. (Release date: 06/04/13)More »
Over the past few years, talented blues guitarist Rory Block has been paying tribute to her musical influences with albums dedicated to such stellar artists as Rev. Gary Davis (2012's I Belong To The Band), Mississippi Fred McDowell (2011's Shake 'em On Down), and Son House (2008's Blues Walkin' Like A Man). Block squares the circle with Avalon: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt, her fourth album honoring the bluesmen that inspired her career. Ten of the eleven tunes on Avalon are well-worn but time-tested songs from the Mississippi John Hurt canon, including such classic material as "Candy Man," "Frankie & Albert," "Spike Driver Blues, "Stagolee" and, of course, "Avalon." The album's single original track is Block's "Everybody Loves John," a heartfelt ode to the legendary bluesman's talent and influence. (Release date: 06/04/13)More »
Inspired by the music he heard on Chicago's Maxwell Street while working with his family's plumbing business, John Grimaldi taught himself to play the harmonica in the style of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. After witnessing the great Hound Dog Taylor perform, though, he fell in love with slide-guitar, and taking his stage name from a car he owned, Studebaker John has graced Chi-town stages (and elsewhere) with his guitar-heavy blues-rock sound since the early 1970s. The appropriately-named Studebaker John's Maxell Street Kings is Grimaldi's current outfit, Kingsville Jukin' his third album for the notable Delmark Records label. Featuring over an hour of all-new original tunes penned by the talented and prolific Grimaldi, Kingsville Jukin' serves up a red-hot slab o' Chicago-style houserockin' blues, Studebaker John backed by guitarist Rick Kreher, bassist Bob Halaj, and drummer Steve Cushing on an album that promises to be a heck of a lot of fun. (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
Walter Trout's first ever covers album is a heartfelt tribute to his friend and inspiration, the late blues guitarist Luther Allison. Featuring twelve red-hot performances, Trout has attempted to capture the electricity that surrounded Allison's best work while also introducing a new generation to the great guitarist's incredible catalog of material. Luther's Blues was recorded at Entourage Studios in Hollywood, California with producer Eric Corne, who also chaired Trout's best-selling 2012 album Blues For The Modern Daze, the sessions very much off the cuff and spontaneous. Says Walter says in a press release, "this album was all pretty much first or second takes. It's gotta have warts on it. It's gotta have a bit of grease in it." With Trout ripping through Allison's songbook, you just know that this one is gonna rock! (Release date: 06/11/13)More »
Bull Goose Rooster is the first album of new Watermelon Slim and the Workers music since 2008's No Paid Holidays and it promises to be a return to form for Slim and the band. The album features a mix of Chicago, Delta, and Hill Country blues styles while also incorporating rock, country, and folk influences as only Watermelon Slim is capable of pulling off. During his hiatus from the band, Slim recorded two critically acclaimed albums of twang-infused honky-tonk: 2009's Escape from the Chicken Coop and 2010's Ringers. Slim also recorded 2011's Okiesippi Blues, a musical collaboration with his friend and neighbor Super Chikan, but it's good to see the talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist reuniting with his road-tested band for some new high octane roots 'n' blues tunes. (Release date: 06/25/13)More »
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Climax Blues Band – 'Live At Rockpalast 1976' (Repertoire Records)
Not a heck of a lot of information available on this one, so the old Reverend is just going to improvise based on what he knows...this 1976 appearance by the Climax Blues Band on the popular German Rockpalast TV show would have come during the tour for the band's U.S. Top 30 disc Gold Plated, which yielded the hit "Couldn't Get It Right" (#3 U.S. and #10 U.K.). At this point, the storied British blues outfit was more pop-rock than pure blues, but this version of the band still included founders Colin Cooper (vocals, sax), Peter Haycock (guitar), and Derek Holt (bass), so their live performances still retained more than a little of the former Climax Chicago Blues Band's blues roots. British archival label Repertoire has been reissuing the entire Climax Blues Band catalog and I couldn't recommend early 1970s albums like A Lot Of Bottle or Tightly Knit more highly! (Release date: 06/11/13)More »
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Dayna Kurtz – 'Secret Canon, Volume 2' (M.C. Records)
Dayne Kurtz is a great singer and songwriter of the old school, underrated and often overlooked although people like Bonnie Raitt have sung her praises and she's been chosen to open for such blues world heavyweights as B.B. King and Dr. John. Secret Canon, Volume 2 is the second collection of classic blues and R&B covers from the singer, mixed in with a few of her carefully-crafted and expertly sung originals. Kurtz is said to have researched music for months for this project, purposely chosing material circa the 1940s-1960s that hadn't been worked to death. Should be an interesting and entertaining collection... (Release date: 06/04/13)More »
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Delbert McClinton & Glen Clark – 'Blind, Crippled and Crazy' (New West Records)
After 40 years of pursuing separate careers, roots 'n' blues legend Delbert McClinton has reunited with his former musical partner Glen Clark for a red-hot new album of Texas-brewed roots-rock, blues, R&B, and country twang. Blind, Crippled and Crazy is a twelve-song collection credited to Delbert & Glen, the band name they used for a pair of early 1970s album releases. Recorded in the Music City with a band that included guitarist Bob Britt, drummer Tom Hambridge, and keyboardists Kevin McKendree and Bruce Katz, Blind, Crippled and Crazy also features Texas blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh as a guest on the song "Oughta Know," written by McClinton's son Clay. McClinton's fans have been waiting for a new one from the Texas music legend since 2009's Acquired Taste, and this new one from Delbert & Glen should do nicely... (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
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King King – 'Standing In The Shadows' (Manhaton Records)
Another new release with a disturbing lack of information, I do know that King King is one of the hottest bands on the British blues scene, a real houserockin' outfit fronted by guitarist and charismatic frontman Alan Nimmo that won all sorts of awards for their debut album Take My Hand. The band's sophomore release, Standing In The Shadows promises more of the same sort of turbo-charged, Rolling Stones-influenced blues-rock and traditional blues sounds that has created a buzz throughout the European Union. While King King has yet to break through stateside, this will be one well worth checking out...your satisfaction guaranteed by the Reverend! (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
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Lurrie Bell – 'Blues In My Soul' (Delmark Records)
Second generation Chicago blues royalty, guitarist Lurrie Bell long ago shook off the shadow of his legendary father Carey to forge a distinctive and impressive musical legacy of his own. Bell has been on a bit of a roll lately, and his 2012 album The Devil Ain't Got No Music earned him all sorts of acclaim. Blues In My Soul carries on Bell's vision of traditional Chicago blues, the talented guitarist recording with keyboardist Roosevelt Purifoy, bassist Melvin Smith, and drummer Willie "The Touch" Hayes. Harp player Matthew Skoller drops by to add flavor to six of the songs, and Blues In My Soul was produced by blues veteran Dick Shurman. (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
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Mike Zito – 'Gone To Texas' (Ruf Records)
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mike Zito comes away from his Royal Southern Brotherhood experience with a new perspective, a new record label, and a new album. Gone To Texas is part confessional, part catharsis, and part redemption, with Zito recording in New Orleans and pursuing his own unique vision of roots 'n' blues music. Recording with his road band, Zito brought guests into the studio like Delbert McClinton and Sonny Landreth to record a slew of new original tunes along with a pair of inspired covers: McClinton's "Take It Easy" and Blind Willie Johnson's "Let Your Love Shine On Me." (Release date: 06/11/13)More »
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Miller Anderson – 'Bright City' (Made In Germany Music)
Scottish blues-rock guitarist Miller Anderson has made the rounds, lending his talents to such British musical institutions as the Keef Hartley Band, Savoy Brown, and Chicken Shack, among others. Bright City was Anderson's solo debut album; originally released in 1971 and reissued here with a lone live bonus track and remastered sound. Bright City is a scattershot affair, touching upon the guitarist's many obsessions, and the songs range from blues and hard rock to wan folk tunes reminiscent of Tim Buckley. Much better is 2008's Chameleon, also being reissued by MIG (Made In Germany) Music, the later album displaying more range and showcasing Anderson's underrated six-string skills. (Release date: 06/04/13)More »
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Rory Block – 'Avalon: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt' (Stony Plain Records)
Over the past few years, talented blues guitarist Rory Block has been paying tribute to her musical influences with albums dedicated to such stellar artists as Rev. Gary Davis (2012's I Belong To The Band), Mississippi Fred McDowell (2011's Shake 'em On Down), and Son House (2008's Blues Walkin' Like A Man). Block squares the circle with Avalon: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt, her fourth album honoring the bluesmen that inspired her career. Ten of the eleven tunes on Avalon are well-worn but time-tested songs from the Mississippi John Hurt canon, including such classic material as "Candy Man," "Frankie & Albert," "Spike Driver Blues, "Stagolee" and, of course, "Avalon." The album's single original track is Block's "Everybody Loves John," a heartfelt ode to the legendary bluesman's talent and influence. (Release date: 06/04/13)More »
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Studebaker John's Maxwell Street Kings – 'Kingsville Jukin' (Delmark Records)
Inspired by the music he heard on Chicago's Maxwell Street while working with his family's plumbing business, John Grimaldi taught himself to play the harmonica in the style of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. After witnessing the great Hound Dog Taylor perform, though, he fell in love with slide-guitar, and taking his stage name from a car he owned, Studebaker John has graced Chi-town stages (and elsewhere) with his guitar-heavy blues-rock sound since the early 1970s. The appropriately-named Studebaker John's Maxell Street Kings is Grimaldi's current outfit, Kingsville Jukin' his third album for the notable Delmark Records label. Featuring over an hour of all-new original tunes penned by the talented and prolific Grimaldi, Kingsville Jukin' serves up a red-hot slab o' Chicago-style houserockin' blues, Studebaker John backed by guitarist Rick Kreher, bassist Bob Halaj, and drummer Steve Cushing on an album that promises to be a heck of a lot of fun. (Release date: 06/18/13)More »
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Walter Trout – 'Luther's Blues' (Provogue Records)
Walter Trout's first ever covers album is a heartfelt tribute to his friend and inspiration, the late blues guitarist Luther Allison. Featuring twelve red-hot performances, Trout has attempted to capture the electricity that surrounded Allison's best work while also introducing a new generation to the great guitarist's incredible catalog of material. Luther's Blues was recorded at Entourage Studios in Hollywood, California with producer Eric Corne, who also chaired Trout's best-selling 2012 album Blues For The Modern Daze, the sessions very much off the cuff and spontaneous. Says Walter says in a press release, "this album was all pretty much first or second takes. It's gotta have warts on it. It's gotta have a bit of grease in it." With Trout ripping through Allison's songbook, you just know that this one is gonna rock! (Release date: 06/11/13)More »
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Watermelon Slim and the Workers – 'Bull Goose Rooster' (Northern Blues Music)
Bull Goose Rooster is the first album of new Watermelon Slim and the Workers music since 2008's No Paid Holidays and it promises to be a return to form for Slim and the band. The album features a mix of Chicago, Delta, and Hill Country blues styles while also incorporating rock, country, and folk influences as only Watermelon Slim is capable of pulling off. During his hiatus from the band, Slim recorded two critically acclaimed albums of twang-infused honky-tonk: 2009's Escape from the Chicken Coop and 2010's Ringers. Slim also recorded 2011's Okiesippi Blues, a musical collaboration with his friend and neighbor Super Chikan, but it's good to see the talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist reuniting with his road-tested band for some new high octane roots 'n' blues tunes. (Release date: 06/25/13)More »
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