NOLA Blue Records artist: Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band - Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby "Blue" Bland - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby "Blue" Bland. from Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band and it's terrific! Opening with R&B track, Up And Down World, Chris Stephenson has the lead on vocal and keys, with Rodd Bland on drums, Jackie Clark on bass, Harold Smith on guitar, Marc Franklin and Scott Thompson on trumpet and Kirk Smothers on sax. Great opener. Ashton Riker is on lead vocal on St. James Infirmary and really works it. I've always like this track and this remake works really nicely. Jerome Chism has the mic on R&B track, I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (The Way You Treated Me) with a particularly strong drum rhythm and tight horn backing. Chism's vocals work perfectly on this track and I really like the activity of Bland on drums who really pushes the beat. Excellent! Slower blues, Soon As The Weather Breaks, is one of my favorites on the release with punched horns and suspenseful organ work by Stephenson and really tasty guitar soloing by Smith. Blands' drum work is really tight and strong without being overly showy. Very nice. Wrapping the release is funky blues, Get Your Money Where You Spend Your Time, with Chism on lead vocal. Clark and Bland really have a fun time with this one creating an amazing bottom and the interplay between Stephenson on keys and Thompson, Franklin and Smothers is magic with a particularly nice sax solo by Smothers and a hot bass workout by Clark to close the set. This is a really exciting release with only one flaw...it ends to fast. 

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Broke Fuse - Rocket Ride - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rocket Ride, by Broke Fuse, and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with  The Stephenson Swamp Stomp, Jay Moonah, the man behind Broke Fuse, lays down some cool blues harp work, backed only by tambourine, setting the pace for the release. Title track, Rocket Ride, is a driving blues rocker with a great bass/drum rhythm, keyboards and lead vocal, all by Moonah and nicely blended female backing vocal by Debbie Fleming and featuring Mike McKenna on slide guitar. Very cool. Shuffle, One Shot, has a bit of blues and a bit of rock with piano by Eric Lambier and vocal, harmonica, drums, organ and bass by Moonah. A definite radio track candidate. Stingray Blues has a slow easy pace with guitar and drum rhythm. Moonah's vocals are understated but his harp playing sails. Very cool. Pop rocker, Miss Me When I'm Gone, has a really lively beat and is another top radio style track with it's solid melody and rhythm. Strong lead vocals and harmonica work by Moonah highlight the track. Instrumental, Los Detalles Del Diablo, is a cool track with a firm Latin beat with Moonah playing harmonica melody over tight guitar riffs. Wrapping the release is The Ballad of Sonny Shade with Moonah and Matthew Bartram, Paul Butters and Neil Bennett on vocal, Bartram on organ, and Moonah on guitar, harmonica, drums and bass. Slipping is a few nice guitar solos are 1st Butters and then Alex Matthews. Cool closer. 

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Robert Stoner - Year of Pain - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Year of Pain, from Robert Stoner and it's a reflective, folksy, rural collection of ballads. Opening with Just a Riverboat, a cool folk ballad duet with  vocal and violin accompaniment by May Elise, Stoner shows clear songwriting talent and good balance between vocal and accompaniment. Nicely crafted, Holy Grail, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a haunting melody, nicely blended vocals and guitar work. Another solid track is Hear Their Voices with a strong melody and subtle backing vocals behind Stoner's lead vocal and guitar. Wrapping the release is title track, Year of Pain a solid ballad and it's reflection on today's issues.

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Biglittle Records artist: Andy Peake - Mood Swings - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 20, 2021), Mood Swings, from Andy Peake and it's a mixed bag of  rock, blues, reggae and pop. Opening with radio style track, Make Peace With The Blues, Andy Peake, drummer, lead vocalist and songwriter makes his debut. With John Prestia providing shimmery guitars and James Pennebaker with a really hot guitar solo , Al Hill on keys, and Paul Ossola on bass Peake lays down a cool drum line. Two stepper, If the Blues Was Green is a cool, country flavored rocker with Kevin McKendree laying down some real nice piano work, Pennebaker with some tight twangy riffs and cool doubled vocals by Peake. My favorite track on the release is Bob Dylan's I Shall Be released with strong lead vocal shared with John Cowan, Phillip Wolfe providing really nice piano and organ, Will McFarlane and Prestia again with essential guitar riffs, Bob Marinelli on bass and of course Peake on drums. Light islander, Untangle The Line, features Prestia on guitar, Al Hill on keys and John Marcus on bass with it's memorable melody and soft vocals for the top radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is a New orleans shaped remake of Johnny B Goode. With Hill on piano, Prestia and Pennebaker on guitars, Ossola on bass and Peak on vocal and guitar, the track moves. A cool accordion solo and work on this track adds a nice seasoning but I think is uncredited. Cool closer for an interesting release. 

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2B3 - Jimi - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent releae, Jimi, from 2B3 and I really like it! Opening with Purple Haze, classic Hendrix, 2B3  translates one of Hendrix's heaviest tracks into a cool jazz fusion wonder. Featuring Jeff Jenkins on B3 and synthesizer, Mike Abbot on electric guitar and Mike Marlier on drums, this is a great fusion interpretation. Yeah, there's plenty of guitar but in this case it's the raw edge of jazz with a funky edge, ever pushing B3 and really tight drums riffs. Excellent! On one of Hendrix's most beautiful compositions, Little Wing, Abbot has the vocal lead, but on guitar with understated lead lines and shared B3 lead with a slightly Reggae rhythm. Very tasty lead runs by Abbot that have a bit of grit but maintain the basic melody structure give this track every bit of breath as Derek and the Dominos or SRV's formidable renditions. Very nice. Hey Joe is so reworked with warm funky texture and clean guitar lead that I never did find the familiar melody, but I actually did like the jazzy jam that it became. Etched In Stone is a slow, bluesy track with an easy rhythm and clean guitar lead, cradled in fat B3 tone. Although Abbott does get his guitar sailing, his guitar playing isn't over the top, creating something that never existed. Wrapping the release is Jimi, an atmospheric track with broad ringing chords, warm B3 tone and heavy tom tom work. These guys massaged a snapshot of Hendrix's work into an exploration in music very successfully. Very nicely done. 

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Pajarito Verde Records artist: Alex Martin - Folk Songs, Jazz Journeys - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Folk Songs, Jazz Journeys, from Alex Martin and it's quite good. Opening with Postal De Bata, a heavily Latin influenced instrumental, Alex Martin on acoustic guitar, Keith Butler Jr. on drums, Tyler Sherman on bass and Uasuf Gueye on balafon, this track really has a Central American flavor. Gueye's playing is central to the theme and Martin's guitar soloing is cool. Another track with a light Brazillian flavor, Viceversa,  features Maya Rogers on vocal and tightly articulated guitar riffs over brushed drums and bass. Triangulo is very reminiscent of Brazilian jazz from a few decades ago. Without adding a lot of contemporary frill, Elin Melgarejo's lead vocals and Martin's electric single line guitar soloing make a very nice pair. Backed by Butler on drums, Foote on bass, Deepak Shenoy on tabla and Bruno Lucini on triangle, this track moves nicely. My favorite track on the release is Rue Des Ursulines, a cool, almost fusion style track with a jagged rhythm anchored by Foote and butler and with melodic guitar lead by Martin. Very strong. The Traditional Scottish folk tune, I Once Loved A Lass is worked in nicely with Jodi Beder providing the beautiful melody on cello on part one and Martin the melody on acoustic guitar on part two and including a nice acoustic bass solo by Foote. This is a very cool track and one that works well with this release. Another traditional folk tune, Laridee is worked into the mix featuring Martin with traditional guitar formatting. The track is then, with the addition of Gaby Kerdoncuff on trumpet and the excellent rhythms of Butler and Foote segued into a cool fusion track featuring Martin with a nicely articulated lead solo. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Estamos Aqui Para Colaborar, a solid, Latin influenced track with a light yet meaningful theme. I really like Foote's lead work on bass here and Martin's lead over chord guitar work is very nice. Solid closer. 

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Wise Cat Records artist: Kenny Shanker - Beautiful Things - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 20, 2021), Beautiful Things, by Keny Shanker and it's a warm blend of cool bop and jazzy pop. Opening with original composition, Cool Mint, Kenny Shanker is upfront on sax carrying the melody. Blowing solid bebop riffs and paired with Mike Eckroth on piano, and Daisuke Abe on guitar, this is a strong opener with a solid bottom by Yoshi Waki on bass and Brian Fishler on drums. Another original track, Prestissimo, is excellent with aggressive sax runs by Shanker and fine trumpet lead by  Bill Mobley and crisp piano soloing by Eckroth. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Mirth with it's searching sax lead lines and classic piano/bass/drum backing. Mobley pops in again with some really solid trumpet lead and again, Eckroth follows with a great piano lead. Really nice. With a great play on and original classic, Without A Song, has a great bottom and Shanker really hangs it out there with super lead lines. Abe is back with swing guitar soloing that's bound to make you smile and Eckroth's turn at lead is stellar as the band really hugs the pocket. Very nice. Another traditional classic, Like Someone In Love, not only gives Shankar a great base to lay out some of his cooler solos on the release but I really like the forward nature of Waki's work on bass as well as his extended solo. Monk's In Walked Bird has great tempo and Shanker really gets it humming and Eckroth's piano work, especially punched up by Fishler's tight riffs will have you stomping. Wrapping the release is a smooth composition and title track, Beautiful Things. Shankar has excellent tone, supported by Eckroth on piano closing the release on a quiet note. Very solid release. 

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Quarto Valley Records artist: Sean Chambers - That's What I'm Talkin About - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 9, 2021), That's What I'm Talkin About, from Sean Chambers and I really like it. Chambers put together this release as a tribute to Hubert Sumlin who he played with  for over 4 years, in fact the title of the release is due to it being a phrase that Hubert used frequently. Opening with blues rocker, Hubert Sumlin's Chunky, a funky instrumental, features Chambers on lead guitr, Bruce Katz on B3, Andrei Koribanics on drums and Antar Goodwin on bass.  With strong blues rock guitar lead and solid phrasing, this is a super instrumental opener. Howling Wolf's Rockin' Daddy gets a really hnice Wolf like vocal lead and Chambers' guitar lead is nothing short of electrifying. On St' Loius Jimmy Oden's Goin' Down Slow, Chambers works the space with excellent phrasing and his attack has fire that I've rarely heard from contemporary blues players except SRV. Excellent! On Willie Dixon's, Taildragger, Chambers digs deep on lead vocal with gritty vocals and really potent lead guitar that just oozes blues. Katz's contribution on B3 is particularly full on tis track giving Chambers a good paring to extend his soloing. Really nice. Mississippi Sheiks composition, Sittin On Top Of The World, made highly popular by the Cream, gets a healthy rework here with a less jazzy... more bluesy approach. Chambers, whos vocal has similar characteristics to Howlin Wolf defaults to another Wolf / Dixon composition in Howlin' For My Darling with the addition of John Ginty on B3 and wth a more rocking guitar attack. Very effective. Wrapping the release is Wolf's, Louise, with super pace. Chambers digs in on his vocal attack, playing his lead guitar response with excellent efficiency and sting. With cool piano work by John Ginty and emotional guitar lead, this is an excellent closer for a really strong release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Dave Kalz - Relish - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Relish, from Dave Kalz, and it's a strong retro blues rocker. Opening with Mexico with it's drum heavy rhythm, hits the road running right from the start with Kalz on guitar and vocal, Greg Hulub on bass, Lewis Stephens on organ and Kevin McDonald on drums. Kalz of course brings experience from being a founder of Honeytribe with Devon Allman, as well as other high profile groups. On title track, Relish, with it's British blues influences, Kalz stretches a little on guitar with it's continuous guitar runs. Very cool. Werewolf Blues is one of my favorites with it's sauntering shuffle beat and realy cool electric and slide guitar riffs from Kalz and Mike Zito. Stone Cold Stuck is a hot rocker with laid out rock n roll riffs and a driving bottom. Texas style blues rocker, Route 666 not only has a great rock form but excellent guitar riffs and tone and traces of RBG. Surf rocker, She's Got A Hemi is a lot of fun and everyone knows I'm a sucker for surf tunes so there you have it... move over Dick Dale. Another track with a really solid bottom and strong blues roots is I Can't Quit Ya Baby with it's. With it's slow and suspenceful rhythm guitar work and blistering guitar riffs it reminds me of early Savoy Brown. Very cool! Wrapping the release is shuffle track, Playing The Blues With My Friends, a cool jam with Kalz working blues riffs with Mike Zito and Tony Campanella. Solid closer.

 


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Gulf Coast Records artist: Mike Zito - Resurrection - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Resurrection, from Mike Zito, and it's a cool blues rocker with a lot of snap. Opening with JJ Cale's, I'll Make Love To You, Zito works this blues rocker with real radio appeal. His slide work and vocals are solid, backed by Zach Zito on vocal and guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Doug Byrkit on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys, Eric Demmer on sax and Fernando Castillo on trumpet. Lain back, country flavored, In My Blood is a real nice track with sparkling guitar riffs and solid lead vocal, backed nicely by Lisa Leuschner Andersen. A rework of Clapton's Presence of the Lord works nicely with this set and Zito's vocals work nicely with his Clapton like guitar riffs, expanded to his own, more wide open jamming style giving the track more bite. Very nice. Blues ballad, Damned If I Do, has strong radio appeal with Zito showing both soulful vocals and nicely phrased guitr phrasing. Very nice.  Running Man has a country two step feel but Zito steps up with some real nice guitar riffs giving this track a real kick. Another track with some solid guitar work is Willie Dixon's Evil, with an understated funky beat. Possibly my favorite track on the realease, shows creative interpretation with a super bass line and real zip on lead guitar. Wrapping the release is title track, Resurrection, with it's anthem like construction, R&B roots and Zito's lead vocal, nicely balanced with his melodic lead guitar soloing, this is a super closer. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Tiffany Pollack & Co. - Bayou Liberty - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Bayou Liberty, from Tiffany Pollack & Co. and it's a cool blend of New Orleans blues and country. Opening with Spit on Your Grave, a solid shuffle, Tiffany Pollack on lead vocal shows her power, backed by John Nemeth on harmonica, Brandon Brinious on guitar, Stoo Odom on bass, Christopher on sax and Ian Petillo on drums. The track has just the right amout of grit to make it different. Very cool. Colors has a real nice sway to it with Pollack riding the wave and nicely stylized guitar lead by Brunious. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Sassy Bitch, a funky blues rocker with it's obvious hook and some real lnice sax work by Johnson. With a light country flavor, Baby Boys is a cool ballad with strong lead vocals and with nice steel guitar highlights by Eric Lewis. With a bit of R&B worked into it's country roots, Livin' For Me has a funky bottom and Johnson shines on sax. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Do It Yourself, a cool blues with a latin beat. Pollack really seems to be enjoying herself on this one with plenty of enthusiasm and Brunious' guitar soloing really works nicely with this track. Solid closer. 

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Mark Cameron - Back From The Edge - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back From The Edge, from Mark Cameron and it uses blues roots to explore mostly pop branches of the rock tree. Opening with funky salted, It's Alright, with Mark Cameron on guitar and vocal, backed by Sheri Cameron on percussion, Scott Lundberg on bass, Rick Miller on harmonica and Dan Schroeder on drums, this opener has a great beat and some real nice guitar riffs. Blues shuffle, 2nd Job has a cool guitar riff and just the right harmonica tone to give the track a nice edge. Blues rocker, All There Is To It, has a solid bet and with a memorable melody, bluesy guitar runs. sax work by Sheri and fat harmonica tone by Miller, a likely radio track. Blues rooted Dollar For Liquor, has a cool bass line, nice slide by Cameron, subtle sax work by Sheri and relentless harmonica work by Miller. Wrapping the release is popp rocker, Lost and Found with nicely blended vocal harmonies and a cool melodic guitar lead. Solid closer. 

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Stony Plain artist: Steve Marriner - Hope Dies Last - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity t oreview the most recent release, Hope Dies Last, from Steve Marriner and it's a  blues fuzed rocker. Opening with Take Me To The City, Daniel Neill sets a stiff snare beat, Joined by Jim Bowskill on lead guitar and Ian McKeown on bass and of course Marriner on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica. Strong opener. High energy rocker, How High is one of my favorites on the release with Glenn Milchem on the drum kit and Bowskill again on lead guitar. Marriner has a markledly more rocking sound and it's tight. Samantha Martin guests with Marriner  on lead vocal on Enough with Jesse O'Brien on piano and B3, Darcy yates on bass, Boswkill on steel guitar and Milchen on drums. This is the definite radio track on the release with a solid melody and smooth presentation. Another really cool track is Uptown Lockdown with it's funky bottom courtesy Yates and Milchen and fat lead guitar work by Boswkill. Very cool. Petite Danse has a definite French/New Orleans flavor with great slide style added by Bowskill. Wrapping the release is acoustic ballad, Long Way Down, with Marriner on vocal, guitar, bass, and piano with Brittany Brooks, Roxanne Potvin, Bowskill and Moa Blucher on backing vocals. With a strong melody and solid vocals by Marriner, a very nice closer.

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Robert Billard & the Cold Calls - Stop - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stop, from Robert Billard, and it's a pop rocker wiith some edgy guitar. Opening with Road To NoWhere, Robert Billard shows his traditional ballad vocal style with side guitar vamps, and thumping kick drum. JW-Jones lays down some real nice melodic guitar lead on Waiting For The land To Dry, joined by A-Train Boynton on bass and Clayton Hill on drums. No Shape For Talking is a cool radio hit with aggressive rock guitar soloing by Wild T Springer and Murray Peter on keys. Groove is a modified boogie with a lot of that George T. vibe. With JW-Jones grinding the guitar lead, Tobin Frank on bass, Porter on keys and Hill on drums, a cool blues number. Nothing Can Stop Me Now is an upbeat jazzy number featuring Jones on guitar, Kenny Blues Boss Wayne on keys, A Train on bass and Hill on drums. With over 6 minutes, these guys get a chance to jam a bit with nice piano passages from Wayne. Wrapping the release is Home, featuring Tonye Aganaba on additional lead vocal, Porter on keys, Springer on lead guitar, Frank on bass and Hill on drums. This is a strong ballad and presented somewht like an anthem running over 9 minutes. A firm closer. 

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John D'Amato - Blood On The Strings - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood On The Strings, by John D'Amato and it's a cool mix of blues and rock. Opening with slick rocker, Working Girl, John D'Amato really shows a good had on guitar and lead vocal, backed by Carl Brenner on drums, Hottube Willie Scruggs on bass,and Dan Nadassi on keys. Cool opener. Swinging shuffle, Break Your Heart features Lauren D'Amato on lead vocal, and a cool lead guitar demo by John. With John Green on bass and Brenner on drums, a cool track. Title track, Blood On The Strings is a driving boogie with a a solid bass line by Scruggs and John on lead vocal and guitar. Slow R&B style ballad , What Happened, features John and Lauren on lead vocal duet, balanced by John's stinging guitar riffs. Using a classic blues vamp and ripping blues riffs on Walk on Water, D'Amato on lead vocal and guitar sets up a real nice blues track with a strong rhythm guitar line and bottom. Very cool. Wrapping the release is driving rocker, Rollin with Brenner on drums and Geno Haffner on keys setting the pace. With dual guitar leads and John keeping it simple on vocal, this is a solid closer. 

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Delta Roots Records artist: Gerald McClendon - Let's Have A Party - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let's Have A Party, from Gerald McClendon, and it's a cool R&B/Blues release. Opening with Keep On Keepin' On, Gerald McClendon sets the bar high with a strong soul track, backed by Joe Burba on guitar, Tony Llorens on Fender Rhodes,  Jim Pugh on B3, Skinny Williams on sax, Johnny B. Grayden on bass,  and Twist Turner on drums. Very nice. On blues track, If That Ain't The Blues, McClendon's lead vocal balances perfectly with Rico McFarland's response on guitar. Harlan Terson's bass line sets a perfect bottom for the fluid soloing of McFarland. Pack Your Bags and Go has classic soul styling with real nice sax work by Williams. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Throw This Dog A Bone with its bluesy vocals and gripping, "BB King" like guitar phrasing by Joe Burba and McFarland. Another of my favorites on the release is I Just Can't Take Anymore, with McClendon in the spotlight vocally and it's classic vocal phrasing. Burba lays in a real nice guitar solo punctuating this one and Ariyo Ariyoshi's Fender Rhosed work glistens but this track is all about McClendon and his soulful delivery.  Very nice.  Wrapping the release is Funky Stuff with it's solid bass line by Art love and tight guitar soloing by Melvin Taylor. This release has just the right amount of R&B, soul and blues to give everybody what they want. Very nice. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Adam Schultz - Soulful Distancing - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soulful Distancing, from Adam Schultz and it's a cool release with a strong soulful base. Opening with Johnny Guitar Watson's massive hit, A Real Mother For Ya, featuring Clarence Spady on lead vocal and guitar, Adam Schultz on guitar, Dan Cohen on bass, Sharon O'Connell on drums, Robert O'Connell on organ and Scott Brown on piano. Schultz phrasing is natural and "Watson like' making for a fun opener. Spady's lead vocal continues on Louis Jordan's Early In The Morning with it's Latin beat and BB King lke guitar phrasing by Schultz.
Adding cool sax solo work by Tom Hamilton, another cool entry. Original R&B track, Good Conversation, features Michael Angelo on lead vocal and George Benson like lead guitar phrasng by Schultz and really nice bass work by Jon Ventre.  Ekat Pereyra has the mic on soul track, Have Some Faith, a real nice track with solid radio appeal. With a twist of funky juice, Schultz takes the track on a little detour adding just the right guitar spice before returning to this straight up soul track. Breaking out Tyrone Davis' Can I Change My Mind, Spady is back up front on vocal and Schultz plays in the pocket nicely with fluid jazz/R&B guitar runs over George Benson like rhythm work by Spady, rich sax work by Hamilton and Cohen on bass. Wrapping the release is a faithful redo of Roosevelt Sykes' 44 Blues with Spady on lead vocal, O'Connell on organ, Sharon O'Connell on drums, Cohen on bass. Schultz lays down some stiff riffs giving the track plenty of sting making this a cool closer.  

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