Bman's Blues Report

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Bobby Rush 4-CD box set 'Chicken Heads' collects 50 years and 20+ labels

50 YEARS OF MISSISSIPPI BLUES LEGEND BOBBY RUSH
— CULLED FROM MORE THAN 20 LABELS —
COMING ON FOUR DISCS FROM OMNIVORE RECORDINGS
ON NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush box set
contains nearly five hours of music with 32-page booklet, noted by Bill Dahl, with quotes from Mavis Staples, Keb’ Mo’, Elvin Bishop, Leon Huff, Al Bell and more.

“Bobby Rush is among the most treasured blues singers of all time. Because when the blues saints go marching in, Bobby Rush will be in that number.” —Leon Huff

Bobby Rush
(Photo by James Patterson)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — When you’ve played with Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy Reed, you must be on to something. When you’ve had a multi-generational career in music, spanning blues, soul and funk, that’s something else.

Bobby Rush’s incredible half century of recorded music is ready to be devoured by those who’ve never tasted and those who want another helping on Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush, due out November 27, 2015 on Omnivore Recordings.

Nearly 100 tracks from the three-time Grammy® nominee’s storied career are finally collected in this unprecedented set. Including his Checker, Galaxy, and Jewel sides through Philadelphia International, Malaco/Waldoxy, LaJam, and Urgent cuts, as well as material from his own Deep Rush label, Chicken Heads tells the story of Bobby Rush: unfiltered, unedited and unbelievable. With almost five hours of music on four CDs, Chicken Heads traces his career from 1964’s “Someday” through the title track, from 1979 collaborations with Gamble & Huff to tracks from 2004’s FolkFunk.

The 32-page, full-color booklet is filled with photos, ephemera, liner notes from Bill Dahl and testimonials from friends and fans including Mavis Staples, Keb’ Mo’, Elvin Bishop, Denise LaSalle, Leon Huff, Al Bell, and many more. With mastering and restoration by Grammy® winner Michael Graves, Bobby’s vintage recordings have never sounded better.

Born in Homer, La. in 1933, Rush cut his musical teeth in the Pine Bluff, Ark. area with the likes of Elmore James and Big Moose Walker. A move to Chicago in the 1950s put him in the company of Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed, and led to sessions at the city’s Chess Records. 1971’s “Chicken Heads” proved his breakthrough, notching #34 on the Billboard R&B chart. He since recorded for a variety of labels and relocated in the 1980s to the Deep South, where he became one of the kings of the Chitlin’ Circuit. His crossover began largely in the early 2000s when he was included in the Martin Scorsese-produced, Clint Eastwood-directed The Blues documentary for PBS. Since then, he’s received three Grammy® nominations and 41 Blues Music Award nominations (of which he’s won ten, including 2015’s award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year). He performed with Dan Aykroyd and the Roots on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in 2014, and appeared in the documentary film Take Me to the River, pairing blues and soul legends with young artists. At the age of 80, he still performs more than 200 shows all over the world.

Mavis Staples attests, “He’s been a longtime friend, an honorable man, and my father loved him. He’s a joyful, happy person, and that rubs off on you when you run into him — you can’t help but feel good when you’re around Bobby. He’s always been respectful of me and my sisters, and he was like a son to Pops. I’m a big fan.”

According to Rush, “It’s very exciting. Truly I feel honored that someone would think enough of me to do this. The record side of it is the glory side of me and that’s the side that I want people to know and I’m grateful for that. I’m happy that someone thought before I leave this land to tell my story. I’m proud of it and flattered about it. I want the world to know that this is my first time and I want to say it for people to be enthused about me. I’m not enthused about all of the songs because at the time I didn’t think they were all good. But after you become a ‘legend,’ you look back and it all looks good. There are things you had in the can you didn’t want to put out, and then you get asked what you have in the can that’s never been heard to put it out.”

As annotator Dahl comments at the opening of his essay: “Blues never get funkier than when Bobby Rush swaggers up to the mic and lets fly with his homespun truisms. He’s always in motion, always smiling, always on fire as his skintight band cooks up irresistible elastic grooves behind him.”

So, prepare to get funky with Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush!

DISC ONE:
1. Someday 
2. Let Me Love You 
3. Sock Boo Ga Loo 
4. Much Too Much 
5. Gotta Have Money 
6. Camel Walk 
7. Wake Up 
8. The Things That I Used To Do
9. Let It All Hang Out
10. Just Be Yourself 
11. Done Got Good To Me, Part 1
12. Chicken Heads 
13. Mary Jane 
14. Gotta Be Funky 
15. Gotta Find You Girl 
16. Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man Part 1
17. Niki Hoeky
18. She’s A Good ’Un 
19. Get Out Of Here, Part 1 
20. I’m Still Waiting 
21. She Put The Whammy On Me

DISC TWO:

1. I Wanna Do The Do 
2. Hey Western Union Man 
3. Let’s Do It Together 
4. Be Still 
5. Talk To Your Daughter 
6. Sue (Single Version) 
7. Making A Decision (Single Version)
8. Bertha Jean (Single Version) 
9. What’s Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander
10. Dr. Funk
11. Never Would Have Thought It 
12. A Man Can Give It (But He Can’t Take It)
13. Nine Below Zero 
14. I Ain’t Studdin’ You (Single Version) 
15. You, You, You (Know What To Do) 
16. Time To Hit The Road Again 
17. I’m Gone 
18. Handy Man 
19. One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show

DISC THREE:
1. Hen Pecked 
2. She’s So Fine 
3. Buttermilk Bottom
4. Big Fat Woman 
5. Booga Bear 
6. Hoochie Man 
7. Scootchin’ 
8. He Got My Attention
9. Always On My Mind
10. Wet Match 
11. Undercover Lover 
12. Tough Titty 
13. When She Loves Ya 
14. Evil (Live) 
15. Ride In My Automobile
16. River’s Invitation

DISC FOUR:

1. Feeling Good (Pt. 1)
2. Night Fishin’ 
3. Take Me To The River
4. Help Me
5. Howlin’ Wolf 
6. Uncle Esau 
7. What’s Goin’ On
8. I Got 3 Problems
9. Blind Snake
10. Show You A Good Time
11. Down In Louisiana 
12. You Just Like A Dresser
13. Swing Low
14. Another Murder In New Orleans – Dr. John And Bobby Rush With Blinddog Smokin’
15. Sittin’ Here Waitin’ – Bobby Rush With Blinddog Smokin’
16. If That’s The Way You Like It – Bobby Rush With Blinddog Smokin’
17. Push And Pull – Featuring Frayser Boy
18. Dedication (Excerpt)

Stony Plain artist: Colin Linden - Rich In Love - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Rich In Love, from Colin Linden and it's very entertaining. Opening with Knob & Tube, an easy paced blues pop track featuring Linden on mandolin and vocal and backed by Amy Helm on vocal, the release is off to a good start. R&B slanted, I Need Water has a slick, Boz Scaggs style. Linden delivers nicely on this track with quiet but really interesting slide riffs, backed by John Dymond on bass, Gary Craig on drums and Tim Laur on organ. Very nice! Delia Come For Me is a strong ballad with Linden on vocal accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and overdubbing a really sweet slide guitar track. Solid writing and performance. Harp master, Charlie Musselwhite adds his signature harp styling on The Hurt, a bluesy ballad. Linden opens the electric slide up a bit on this track giving it a nice contrast and Reese Wynans dances on piano giving the track a certain sparkle. Everybody Ought To Be Loved is a soulful ballad and one that should have solid radio appeal. Harmony vocals from Amy Helm and Wynans on keys gives the track added warmth but this track with it's strong melody and tight execution should see a lot of airplay. Title track, Rich In Love, has a really nice ambiance with Linden playing a lone guitar in what sounds like a cavernous void. His voice, teamed on melody is joined by Musselwhite on harp with clever accents and Helm on warm harmonies making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Date With The Stars has a romantic 50's almost Hawaiian sound with a sweet melody and beautiful guitar tone backed by Lauer on organ. Lush! And Then You Begin has a definite country blues guitar picking style under Linden on vocal. No More Cheap Wine has a definite rock feel with Craig leading the way with a snappy drum beat. Linden sets a nice vocal groove and chases himself with spanky slide work. Wynans on organ gives the track depth and Dymond keeps a solid bass line going as Linden makes flashes of David Lindley tone. Very nice! Luck Of A Fool has a cool easy rock feel and Linden sings with solid emotion. A cool guitar rhythm and pointed organ accents by Wynans gives the track a toe tapping feel. I Made A Promise is a somber ballad with warm electric guitar accompaniment and well placed electric slide accents. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Paybacks Are Hell, a simple acoustic ballad with Linden on vocal and acoustic guitar. A sweet little tune and a nice closer for a solid release.

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Lock Alley Music artists: Lara & the Bluz Dawgz - Howlin' - New release review

I just received the newest release, Howlin', from Lara & The Bluz Dawgz and it's a mover. Opening with boogie woogie track, Uh Huh, Lara Germony leads on vocals on this piano fueled track. Gan Nadasdi knows his was around the keyboard, and a rich sax solo from Reggie Murray adds sass. Al Rowe rips a few blistering riffs on guitar and Gregg Germony on bass and Ray Gonzales are tight on bottom. Flat Line has a light funky beat with healthy guitar lead and a soulful sax solo. Lara is a well suited lead singer for this type of band with it's fluid leads and I particularly like Rowe and Murray's exchange fueled by G. Germony and Gonzales. I Wonder is a soulful ballad with a nice guitar intro by Rowe. This band really has a nice balance between sax and guitar soloing and Nadasdi adds just the right amount of keyboard. Another Boogie track, Wearin Me Out has a nice driving bass line giving Lara plenty of space to sing. Murray again shows his sax prowess and Rowe flexes his guitar muscle. Very nice! R&B style blues, T-Dawg, has a real nice feel (think Thrill Is Gone). Again Murray and Rowe are nicely balanced on soloing with Nadasdi providing a solid bed of piano. A nice bass line by Gregg and straight up drums by Gonzales gives the track more oomph. Don't Mess With My Baby has an easy R&B feel with a lot of radio qualities. Smooth execution, a good hook and clean guitar riffs are the trick here. Another easy jazz like composition, Love Me Tonight, has an almost Steeley Dan feel. Rowe's guitar work on this track is particularly clean and Murray's sax work supple. Lara has a nicely controlled voice that floats pleasantly atop the track. Rocker, I'm Over It, almost enters 2 step territory with Gregg and Nadasdi setting the pace. Rowe's guitar work even gets a country flare to it by the end of the track. Returning to the ballading, Lara belts out Say Goodbye, with authority, and the rich sax work of Murray cushions her ride. Ongoing musical dialog by Nadasdi adds significant structure and Rowe buttons it up with a solid outro. A swinging blues, Love Of Mine, has a real cool bass line by Gregg and Nadasdi plays a really nice electric key solo. Murray shows his chops on this track as well giving the track a bit more of a jazzy feel. Gregg lays down a cool bass line on Shadow Groovin and Lara sings right in the groove. Rowe again steps out of the shadows with some very nicely articulated finger work and Murray give the track an almost Marvin Gaye feel within his jazz lines. Very nice. Wrapping the release is blues rocker and title track, Howlin'. With it's New Orleans flavor, reinforced by Nadasdi's keyboard work and Gonzales' drumming, this is a hot number to wrap up the release.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Blues, Rock & Metal Guitar Slingers Salute Legend Jeff Beck On A Newly Reissued Collection!

Blues, Rock & Metal Guitar Slingers Salute Legend Jeff Beck On A Newly Reissued Collection!

Includes performances by Def Leppard’s Phil Collen, Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars, Toto’s Steve Lukather, and blues icon Walter Trout plus George Lynch, Jake E. Lee and more!

Los Angeles, CA - Some of the world’s finest guitarists offer a master class in the arduous art and subtle science of playing Jeff Beck songs on Jeffology: A Guitar Chronicle, a collection of extraordinary cover versions of Beck’s best-known songs, played with all the fevered intensity and dynamic skill these virtuosos could muster. The album will be reissued with all new artwork by Deadline Music this October 2.

Founding member of platinum selling UK hard rockers Def Leppard, Phil Collen, offers a stunning and emotional interpretation of the gorgeous ballad “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers,” while blues man Walter Trout burns the house down with his rendition of “Blues Deluxe.” Former Ozzy axeman Jake E. Lee takes listeners on a face-melting ride through the blazing stunner “Rice Pudding” and main Crüe man Mick Mars provides the brilliant album closer. Each performer brings their own unique guitar playing personalities to these compositions pulled from a wide range of Beck’s career, showcasing both Beck’s under-heralded accessibility as well as his inimitable stylistic panache. Guitar players of all stripes and skill levels will find plenty here to hone their chops on, while Beck fans the world over will not want to miss this thoroughly satisfying listening experience!

Track List

1. New Ways / Train Train - Warren DeMartini

2. Led Boots - Vivian Campbell

3. Heart Full Of Soul - Paul Gilbert

4. Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers - Phil Collen

5. Blues Deluxe - Walter Trout

6. Headed For Backstage Pass - Bruce Bouillet

7. People Get Ready - George Lynch

8. Rice Pudding - Jake E. Lee

9. Shapes Of Things - Stevie Salas

10. Behind The Veil - Steve Lukather

11. Happenings Ten Years Time Ago - Mick Mars

SoCal's Longest-Running Monthly R&B/Dance Party Back at Harvelle's: Larry “Fuzzy” Knight’s Blowin’ Smoke Rhythm & Blues Band

Larry "Fuzzy" Knight's Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue, Is SoCal's Longest-Running Monthly R&B/Dance Party At The Same Location: Harvelle's Blues Club By The Beach In Santa Monica Calif

Saturday, October 10 -Beginning At 9:30 p.m. - Till 1:30 a.m.

(Santa Monica, CA) - Larry "Fuzzy" Knight's Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring the Fabulous Smokettes, is honored to be Southern California's longest-running, monthly R&B/Soul/Blues dance party at the same location - Harvelle's Blues Club. The eleven-piece high-energy ensemble, who celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band this past March, return to that famed blues bastion by the Beach on Saturday, October 10. Showtime is 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (come early, stay late!). 1432 4th St. $10. Info: (310) 395-1676 or http://santamonica.harvelles.com/.

Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue/Words Of Praise From The Media

"By the time we got to Harvelle's, the room was already packed with people...The Boss (band leader Larry "Fuzzy" Knight") began their evening's musical journey through their own world of electronic rhythm and blues, funk, rock, and Southern soul. The dance floor was soon flooded; at one point the club had reached it's legal maximum capacity. No one could move - but, listening to Knight and his red-hot ensemble, no one could help but move". Highlights of the evening included the band performing "C.O.D." from their album, a cover of Buddy Guy's "Midnight Train", and their wonderful singers (the Smokettes) covering such R&B chestnuts as "Rock Steady", "I'll Take You There", Bonnie Raitt's "Something To Talk About" and Labelle's "Lady Marmalade".All in all, a performance that lives up to the hype".

LA. EXAMINER

"The Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Band with the Fabulous Smokettes packed Harvelle's with a crowd that was there to enjoy great music played the way it should be. Larry "Fuzzy" Knight has the kind of voice that is perfect for the blues, a little gritty but with excellent range. Guitarist Dave 'Raven' Rutchinski demonstrated his skill on a Stevie Ray Vaughan song, "Crossfire", wringing a ton of emotion out of his guitar. "C.O.D." with John 'JT' Thomas on organ, showcased the instruments along with Fuzzy's powerful vocals. This is music played and sung the way it was meant to be and "Fuzzy" Knight knows how to get the best out of his musicians and singers".

LOS ANGELES BEAT