Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Legend , by Junior Wells , and it's terrific. This is a compilation of vintage singles from the 50's and 60's and includes the entire gamut. Opening with Cut That Out , Junior Wells trademark harp sound is front and center with his vocal, joined by Johnny Jones on piano, Louis Myers on guitar, Dave Myers on bass and Odie Payne on drums. Excellent! Well's most notable track, Hodo Man (HooDoo Man) is on deck with Wells paired with Elmore James on his infamous slide guitar. Early In the Morning features the great Otis Spann on piano pushing Wells to the limit with Muddy Waters on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass  and Odie Payne on drums... What a lineup! On Lawdy! Lawdy! Wells harp seems to float on air, Spann on piano is excellent and of course the entire band really rocks. Syl Johnson adds guitar flair to Two Headed Woman over an active bass line by Dave Myers.  Slow blues, I Could Cry is a really gre...

The Black Keys and Al Green Exclusive Vinyl at Newbury Comics Limited edition colored vinyl for the Black Keys' Thickfreakness and Chulahoma are available exclusively from Newbury Comics Both releases can be ordered online here , or at a Newbury Comics location Find your local store here Al Green's Let's Stay Together has also been released on a limited edition green vinyl Find it online here Mutual Benefit Signs To Other Music Jordan Lee's Mutual Benefit has signed to Other Music His album Love's Crushing Diamond will be released in the US on December 3rd and UK/EU on January 13th Pre-order it on our website here   Listen to Let's Play / Statue of a Man from Love's Crushing Diamond   here   and check out Mutual Benefit tour dates below 11/09 - Baby's All Right - New York, NY 11/10 - Jungle Room - Easton, PA 11/12 - 3 Door Studios - Oberlin, OH 11/13 - Lake Hope Lodge - Athens, OH 11/15 - Pa's Lounge - Boston, MA 12/02 -...

Syl Johnson (born July 1, 1936) is an American blues and soul singer and record producer. Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States, he migrated with his family to Chicago in 1950; blues guitarist Magic Sam was his next-door neighbor. Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. He made his solo debut that same year with Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar. He then began recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in the mid 1960s. Beginning with his first hit, "Come On Sock It to Me" in 1967, Johnson dominated the label as both a hitmaker and producer. His song "Different Strokes", also from 1967, featured on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakbeat compilation. Like other black songwriters of the period, several of his records at this time explored themes of Africa...