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Blues 2005 |
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1.
The great Little Milton Campbell died in '05 but this #1 ranking is not sympathy. Although it may take a a few spins to warm up to this altered version of Milton's soul/blues, you'll find it is a fitting curtain call. The title is now ironic. Milton won two Blues Critic Awards this past year. "Best Soul/Blues Album" & "Best Male Blues Singer" 2.
Spare, dusky and traveling on a gravel road Henry's production is sympathetic and unobtrusive. LaVette's the centerpiece rather than studio wizardry...a potent stew of sandpaper R & B, folk, soul & gospelish blues. LaVette was voted by readers as "Best Female Blues Singer" of 2005. 3.
Now Benoit's become a truly soulful singer and has found his niche as he wades through a Louisiana swamp that formed deep in Texas. His music is raucous and fiery as evidenced on the hard boogie "Night Train", a Benoit original. 4.
While the first half consists of stately soul heaven (songs written by Tim Davis, Ricky Ryan, EW James & Billy Lawson), Maurice and band kick off their shoes for some sturdy blues shuffles (written mosrly by Maurice) on the second half. "I've Been Had", "Trouble", I'm No Fool" all give Maurice a chance to do some cutting with his axe. 5.
More of Cray's amalgam of R & B, soul, folk, blues and even a touch of loungey jazz ("My Last Regret"). Although mostly a laid back, confident set there's also some upbeat numbers like the rocking "It Doesn't Really Matter" and guitar spanking soul blues of "That Ain't Love" & "I'm Walkin'". "Twenty" is one of the best songs of his career! 6.
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What a singer! Keep onthe watch for this guy. Dobbins delivers Soul/Blues with "Matter Of Time" and shows off his powerful chops on "Sara Smile" 10. A 13-song collection of Memphis Soul and blues expertly produced by David Earl. Pride is a smooth singer, with a rich, expressive croon. So like the last album you got the right singer and producer plus all the ingredients for greatness... 11. Like all soulful females, she's been influenced by Aretha Franklin and that's more apparant on this set. She opens up the soul/R & B playbook for inspiration as evidenced by her steadfast vocal on "Share Your Love With Me" and her torchy shouts on "Soul Of A Man". 12.
Well, there's no repressin' Sista Monica Parker on this sturdy Chicago blues & R & B workout. Everybody loves a happy ending and being that Ms. Parker recently overcame cancer it's certainly endearing that she's come back as strong as ever on this, her 7th CD release. 13. I'd back Fletcher in a guitar duel with anyone out there today. The title "Shades Of Blue" is too modest- this is deep deep blues hue. 14. Great year for producer/songwriter/producer Jon Tiven, Not only was he th eman behind Little Milton's "Think Of Me" but he also produced this smokin' disc by the underrated Hooks. Aggressive, raucous Rhythm & Blues. 15. Johnny Rawls discovered a band named Kay Kay & The Rays in 1999 and produced a cd by them, the acclaimed "Texas Justice". The band split up last year so Rawls called on The Rays to record the aptly titled "No Boundaries". Rawls made a name for himself with a classic Memphis soul blues sound, but here he mixes things up with touches of roots, folk rock & gospel with a live band feel. 16. This disc aims to please and damn right it does most of the time. 17. Doc Blakey ain't no twinkle toes when it comes to the blues. Raw Chicago blues shuffles, funky blues shakers with a little sweet molasses courtesy of the Memphis Horns describes Blakey's Ifgam Records debut, "The Blues Never Hurt So Good". 18.
19. Last year he nearly stole the show from Charles Wilson with his guitar virtuosity on Wilson's Delmark release "If Heartaches Were Nickels". Well, now Carl says "I'm Back Again" on the opener for the TC Davis and Richard Waters-produced "Hold On". 20.  Eric Clapton "Sessions For Robert J"
(Warner Bros.)
Much better than his stiff "Me & Mr. Johnson" disc. 21.
This package comes with a DVD chronicling the recording of this album and the only thing better would be a Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers live show. 22.
Just as southern soul has been heating up as of late with a barrage of sex-related hits...one of the original blues singers of ribald and risque material returns with his strongest (and nastiest)record since 1990's "Footprints In The Bed". 23.
Blues harp legend "Boogie" McCain is back to serve you up some laidback juke blues like he's done for some five decades now. A virtuoso on the harmonica, McCain also has disparate vocal phrasing like a comic with expert timing and good material. "Boogie Is My Name" contains 10 originals flush with earthy wit and the blood of the blues 24. Journeyman blues by ace harpist Sugar Ray Norcia and band, the third for David Earl's Severn Records. 25.
All the ingredients that made him known are here: New Orleans R & B (the Tiger Woods tribute "Swing Tiger Swing"), bluesy funk ("Ignant Stick", "I'm From Phunkville"), smooth jazz ("The Lights Of Caracas"), blues ("No Religion") funky humor ("I'll Kiss A Pitbull") and even a lilting piano ballad (the social commentary "Perfect World). 26.
27.  Johnny
"Guitar" Watson "The Funk Anthology" (Shout! Factory)
JGW was initially a bluesman and the blues never left his music even during is spacey funk years featuring on this superb collection. Not only do you get all the hits from 1970-1981 but it also contains 6 unreleased tracks! 28.  Johnny Adams "The Great Johnny Adams Blues
Album" (Rounder)
It was a deft idea to collect some of Johnny's bluesiest moments onto one disc 29.
30.
Two ace guitarists plus a visit by soulman Mighty Sam McClain
To be eligible albums must have been released 11/2004 to 11/2005. OR albums released in 2004 that peaked in 2005.
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Little Milton "Think Of Me" (Telarc)
Bettye LaVette "I've Got My Own Hell To
Raise" (Anti)
Tab Benoit "Fever For The Bayou"
(Telarc)
Maurice Davis
"The Right Way" (Sims)
Robert Cray 'Twenty"
(Sanctuary)
The Billy Gibson Band "The Billy Gibson Band" (Inside Sounds)
Tommy Castro "Soul Shaker" (Blind Pig)
Earl Gaines "The Different Feelings Of Blues & Soul" (Blue Fye)
Clarence Dobbins "The Soul Of A
Man" (Reach Hi)
Lou Pride "Keep On Believing"
(Severn)
Susan Tedeschi "Hope And Desire"
(Verve)
Sista Monica Parker "Can't Keep A Good
Woman Down" (Mo' Muscle)
Kirk Fletcher "Shades Of Blue" (Delta
Groove Prod.)
Ellis Hooks "Godson Of Soul"
(Evidence)
Johnny Rawls & The Rays "No
Boundaries" (Catfood)
Buddy Guy "Bring 'Em In"
(Silvertone).jpg)
Doc Blakey "The Blues Never Hurt So Good"
(Ifgam)
Hubert Sumlin "About Them Shoes" (Artemis)
Carl Weathersby "Hold On"
(Woodcutter)
Chick Willis "I Did It All" (CML
Productions)
Sugar Ray & The Bluetones "Hands Across
The Table" (Severn)
Mem Shannon "I'm From Phunkville"
(Northern Blues)
Edwin
Holt "Second Time Around" (Catfood)
Duke Robillard Ronnie Earl "Duke Meets The
Earl" (Stony Plain)