Category Archives: Blues
THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE.
THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE-THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE. In 1955, Sean Bonniwell’s life changed when he heard The Platters’ Only You. That’s when he decided to become a musician. Eventually, his dream became a reality, and he became one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the mid-sixties. With his band The Bonniwell Music Machine, …
YOU TALK TOO MUCH-THE RIC AND RON STORY VOLUME 1.
YOU TALK TOO MUCH-THE RIC AND RON STORY VOLUME 1. Joe Ruffino founded his Ric and Ron labels in 1958. For the next five years, they were one of New Orleans’ premier independent R&B labels. During this five year period, artists of the calibre of Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, Eddie Bo and Eddie …
BOB FRANK-BOB FRANK.
BOB FRANK-BOB FRANK. In 2007, Jim Dickinson described Bob Frank as: “the best songwriter you never heard.” That’s no surprise. Jim Dickinson first met Bob Frank way back in the summer of 1963. Back then, Bob was part of a group of singers and songwriters hanging out in an old butcher’s shop in Crosstown Farmer’s …
STEIN URHEIM-STEIN URHEIM.
STEIN URHEIM-STEIN URHEIM. Last year, 2013, Stein Urheim’s collaboration with Mari Kvien Brunvoll, Daydream Twin was nominated for a Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy Award. No wonder. Over the last few years, Stein has established a reputation as one of Norwegian music’s most innovative artists. The story begins back in 2009. That’s when …
BLY DE BLYANT-HINDSIGHT BIAS.
BLY DE BLYANT-HINDSIGHT BIAS. Bly De Blyant are the equivalent of international musical superheroes. They dare to create innovative, groundbreaking and genre-melting music. To do this, they combine musical genres and influences. This includes everything from classic rock, jazz, Krautrock and math rock. It’s an inventive and innovative combination. No wonder. This is what we’d …
RHYTHM ’N’ BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-ROMPIN’ AND STOMPIN’
RHYTHM ’N’ BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-ROMPIN’ AND STOMPIN’ Last year was a busy year for Ian Saddler. He compiled a trio of compilations of blues, R&B and zydeco for Ace Records. The first of these was Bluesin’ By The Bayou, a compilation of “low down, dirty and greasy blues from Louisiana.” With some Zydeco thrown …
MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD-FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS HEART TO HIS HANDS.
MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD-FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS HEART TO HIS HANDS. Michael Bloomfield was an unlikely candidate to become one of the finest blues guitarists of his generation. He was born in Chicago in 1943. His family were a wealthy Jewish-American family who lived in the north side of Chicago. His family hoped he’d join the …
BOBBY CHARLES-BOBBY CHARLES.
BOBBY CHARLES-BOBBY CHARLES. Bobby Charles will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of swamp pop. He played a huge part in popularising swamp pop, not just in Louisiana, but much further afield. However, there’s more to Bobby Charles’ career than that. Much more. Bobby was also a successful songwriter. The story begins in …
LIGHTNIN’ SLIM-HIGH AND LOW DOWN.
LIGHTNIN’ SLIM-HIGH AND LOW DOWN. When Lightnin’ Slim recorded his 1971 album High and Low Down, it only took three days to record the album. There’s a good reason for this. Three days holidays was all Lightnin’ Slim could get from the lock factory he was working in, in Pontiac, Michigan. However, for three days …
LOUISIANA RED-DEAD STRAY DOG.
LOUISIANA RED-DEAD STRAY DOG. When eventually, the history of the blues is written, Louisiana Red’s name will loom large. His career began in 1949, when when he first recorded for Chess Records. Then in 1963, Louisiana Red released his debut album The Lowdown Back Porch Blues. That was the first of over fifty albums Louisiana …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 2.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 2. CAN YOU JACK? CHICAGO HOUSE AND EXPERIMENTAL HOUSE 1985-1995. Can You Jack?Chicago House and Experimental House 1985-1995 isn’t a new compilation. Not at all. It was originally released way back in 2005. Now eight years later, just as the Chicago House is about to celebrate its …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 4.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 4. LOUISIANA SATURDAY NIGHT REVISITED. Ace Records waited an amazing twenty-three years to release the followup Another Saturday Night, which was released back in 1990. Released to critical acclaim and an appreciative audience, Another Saturday Night was one of the compilations of 1990. Everyone expected a followup …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 1.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 1. With 2013 drawing to a close, and a new musical year beckoning, it’s time to look back at the best music released during the year. Over the next few days, I’ll look back at the best compilation, reissues and new releases. Before that, I’ll pick …
SWAMP DOGG-TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF YOUR MIND.
SWAMP DOGG-TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF YOUR MIND. Described as an album of gonzo soul from a true musical maverick, Total Destruction Of Your Mind was the debut album from Swamp Dogg. Released in 1970, Total Destruction Of Your Mind saw Swamp Dogg draw inspiration from everyone from Frank Zappa, Van Morrison and Sly Stone. Everything from …
DUST MY RHYTHM AND BLUES-THE FLAIR RECORDS R&B STORY 1953-1955.
DUST MY RHYTHM AND BLUES-THE FLAIR RECORDS R&B STORY 1953-1955. Despite only being around for just three years, Flair Records released some of the best R&B and blues of that period. Formed in 1953, Flair Records became the second subsidiary of Modern Records. RPM was Modern Records’ first subsidiary, Flair Records the second. It was …
THE KINKS-MUSWELL HILLBILLIES.
THE KINKS-MUSWELL HILLBILLIES. By the time The Kinks released Muswell Hillbillies in November 1971, they were no longer as successful in Britain. Their last three albums had failed to chart. The last Kinks album to chart in Britain was 1967s Something Else By The Kinks. It had reached number thirty-five. After that, 1968s The Kinks …
JETHRO TULL-BENEFIT.
JETHRO TULL-BENEFIT. If I was to ask what group had nine albums certified gold, and one certified triple-platinum, between 1969 and 1979, how many people would say Jethro Tull? That’s because most people forget how successful Jethro Tull were. They were one of the most successful, groundbreaking and innovative of the prog rock bands in …
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