Blue Heart Records release: Blind Raccoon and NOLA BLUE Collection Vol. 4 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blind Raccoon and NOLA Blue Collection Vol. 4, and it's a solid mix of blues and rock tracks. Opening with blues rocker, Sorry, Mark Cameron shows solid vocals, slide guitar and harmonica carrying a radio worthy melody. Funky blues rocker, Devil in the Dark is a cool entry by Michele D' Amour & The Love Dealers. With strong organ support and cool guitar and sax solos,  this track has a laid back feel. Trudy Lynn covers a Bluesbusters' track, If Your Phone Don't Ring and with just the right strut, and blues attitude, this is one of my favorites on the release. Wily Bo Walker's I Want To Know has a real nice R&B feel with interwoven bass, guitar and keyboard backing under Walker's infectious lead and backing vocals. Very nice. Super shuffle, Back Door Woman Blues by the Waydown Wailers sets a nice pace with strong vocals and a cool piano/guitar exchange. David Gogo sets up a simple guitar shuffle on Never Gonna Change. His vocals are clean and his slide playing clean and tight. Slow blues vocals on Firebreather by Skylar Rogers stand tall on side one backed by crisp guitar soloing over a potent bottom. Straight up blues track, Hard Times Coming by David Rotundo Band features really nice vocal, slide and harmonica delivered straight. Very nice. Throwing a curveball is Dick Van Dyke, yes, 95 year old Dick Van Dyke singing Is You Or Is You Ain't My Baby. He really does a nice job, backed by a fully big band and a tight rhythm section. Very cool. Piano boogie, Party In The Room Next Door - Live In Calgary is a strong entry by David Vest with potent piano and guitar solos over a beefy walking bass line. Johnny Tucker shows his guitar sting on Do The Rufus, a funky blues with attitude. Backed by punchy horns, Tucker's vocals are great. Idaho Bound is a strong, Southern Rock style jam with all of the characteristics of the Allmans. Driving rhythm and bass, dual lead guitars, and tight drums make this entry by The Mary Jo Curry Band another standout. Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps perform Takes On To Know One with great vocals, punchy horns, heavy bass and Anson Funderburgh on guitar. Wrapping the release is  acoustic guitar driven, This Old Road, a nice ballad by Trevor B. Power. With nicely blended vocal mix and acoustic guitars, a solid closer for this 4th Collection Volume. 

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Ofeh Records artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - A Satchel Full of Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Satchel Full of Blues, from Blind Lemon Pledge and it's an easy going folk blues rocker. Opening with steady rocker, Wrong Side Of The Blues with it's acoustic side approach but it rock rhythm. With BLP on vocal, guitar and harmonica, Peter Grenell on bass and Juli Moscovitz on drums. Moving to an amplified resonator guitar, BLP sets a slide riff under his traditional blues like vocal phrasing and cool harp response. His raw, side technique adds nicely to it's authentic feel. Ballad, Blue Heartbreak, has a sweet, R&B feel with a light touch backing, with a simple break for his melodic guitar soloing, really calling attention to BLP's vocal lead. Very nice. Shuffle track, Detour Blues has a clean, easy rock structure and forward focused vocals over a simple guitar/drum/bass backing and harmonnica accompaniment. With cool rock changes in melody, a radio style track. Before I Take My Rest has a country western feel and I really like it. The simple acoustic rhythm and BLP's vocal and slide resonator solo give this track a lot of traction. Wrapping the release is Death Don't Ask Permission, a really nice blues track in the manner of Rev. Gary Davis but with silde resonator instead of a thumping finger picking as Davis was known for. This is a great closer for an interesting 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”

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Blind Racoon Nola Blue Collection Volume 3 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Volume 3 from Blind Racoon Nola Blue Collection and it's chocked full of tasty tracks. Opening with Time To Forget You, from Willie Bo Walker and Danny Flam, a slow paced blues track with screaming slide and fat horns is always a great start. John Nemeth's contribution, I Can See Your Love Shine, has a cool modified reggae beat with some tasty guitar and harp work with a poppy feel. Clarence Spady's, Surrender is a warm, slow blues with cool, soulful vocals, tight, nicely phrased guitar riffs and crystal clear piano. Laura Tate's I Need A Man, features solid vocals and with punchy horns and snappy drums, and really nice piano work, commands attention. CD Woodbury performs classic, Can't Eat That Stuff No More, with plenty of humor and spunk. Dudley Taft blends blues and rock for The End Of The Blues, with his own stylistic boogie rock and rock guitar styling. Rocker, Memphis Hotline, is Brigitte Purdy's contribution  with plenty of spunk and a driving pace. Acoustic blues, Riverbend Blues is a strong entry with strong vocals and resonator guitar work by Eric Johanson. Mildly funky Red Walls, by Miss Bix, featuring Keeshea Pratt is one of my favorites on the release with real nice vocals and strong blues guitar work. Lisa Mann's It's the Monkeys or Me is a cool blend of country and blues by Lisa Mann. Her vocals are terrific and the guitar work is tight and ripping. Boogie rocker, Pretty Kitty is a strong entry by Paul Boddy & the Slidewinder Blues Band. With it's call and response between lead vocal and guitar and the sailing harmonica, it's hard not to like. Harmonica blues, Blow Fish Blow! is a cool guitar/piano instrumental featuring Elena Keto and Hiroshi Eguchi. Wrapping the release is Skylar Rogers and Back To Memphis. With it's classic bass line and power vocal lead, supported by clean electric guitar riffs, this is a solid closer for NOLA Blue. 

  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”

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OFEH artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - Goin' Home - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Goin' Home, by Blind Lemon Pledge and he gets a great Delta sound going. Opening with I Feel Like Going Home, Pledge is on steel string guitar and slide with his wailing vocal with Peter Grenell on bass, delivering the word. Very original sound for a great opener. On Come Back Baby, another solid entry, Pledge shows a solid blend of his artful acoustic guitar work, some even sounding Mali influenced, and vocal strength on another Delta style track. Very nice. JJ Cale's Crazy Mama is a strong contemporary entry with moderate changes from Cale's original. With the jangle of the resonator on his finger picking and the warmth of the slide, this is a nice remake. Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime gets a new look with more of an understated take than I've heard from the many interpretations. There's no grand electric guitar blow out as with most remakes, but Pledge manages the track nicely delivering a solid entry. Lonnie Johnson's It's Too Late To Cry is another stand out track with a firm, T-Bone Walker like framework under his stylized vocals and a more fluid guitar soloing approach giving it a real cool feel. Hard not to love Robert Johnson's Love In Vain with no frills but solid acoustic guitar riffs and vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is spiritual Little Black Train with warm vocal blending and handclaps. A real nice closer for a real cool 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”

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OFEH Records artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - Evangeline - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Evangeline, from Blind Lemon Pledge and it's an interesting slice of contemporary blues. Opening with, Buley's Farm, a modern interpretation of an original chain gang work song, BLP recaptures the spirit of the old Lomax recordings. Very cool. One of the most curious, and possibly my favorite track on the release is Brimstone Joe with it's 30's cadence and clever lyrics. Swing track, Jump The Willie has a light, bright feel, jazzy guitar accompaniment and light brushes and piano for kicks. Slick. Language Of Love has a cool, Latin rhythm and percussion and with BLP's vocals almost sounds like The Kinks "Apeman". Very interesting. Wrapping the release is title track, Evangeline, with cool slide and resonator tones over a bluesy ballad. A solid closer for a cool 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”

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Blind Lemon Pledge and Friends - Backwoods Glance - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backwoods Glance, by Blind Lemon Pledge and Friends. Pledge is back with an easy folk/country release featuring Tom Cline on dobro, Jimi Edwards on keys, Peter Grenell on bass, Cal Keoola on fiddle, Marisa Malvino on vocal and John Pearson on cajon, djembe and percussion. Opening with easy pop country track, Polly Come Out, Keaoola and Cline add essential components to the vocal blending of Pledge and Malvino. The Hills Of West Virginia is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an 1800's country sound. Very cool! Lynchburg Town is a solid track with a nice melody and super dobro work by Cline. I particularly like Fayetteville with a great melody...reminds me of classic Ray Davies.  Ma Belle Cherie is a coo Cajun track featuring classic fiddle work from Keoola and the best vocal work from Pledge and Malvino. Wrapping the release is Give My Poor Heart Ease, a somber ballad with strong vocals and nicely blended guitar, dobro and fiddle work. Very nice closer for this straight up rural 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”

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OFEH Records artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - Evangeline - New release Review

I just received the newest release, Evangeline, from Blind Lemon Pledge and it is cool and quirky. First I've got to say, I really dig his name and sense of humor. Opening with work farm track Buley's Farm, I really think this track is cool and like nothing I have heard recently (except of a Taj Mahal release, Mulebone I think). Featuring solo vocal lead by BLP and backed by the Mississippi State Prison Farm Jubilee Singers and just a stripped down acoustic slide part, this track is about as spartan as they get. Very cool! Next up is Jennie Bell, an acoustic ballad in the flavor of early Bob Dylan. Brimstone Joe is a cleverly constructed ballad with a really nice melody. Breaking the basis of the track and expanding into a ragtime track with Hugh Jorgan on keys and Isaac Izzy Cumming on drums. Midnight Assignation is really a stripped down rocker like a New York poet. With some simple but fluid slide riffs this track is a nice contrast to the balance of the release. Go Jump The Willie is a cool rockabilly track with light jazzy guitar lead behind the vocal harmonies. On The Language Of Love, BLP takes a Latin turn Alvin "Albee" Bakatcha rides tight on percussion. Alex Blaine-Laydor, Lauralyn Hardy, Willie B Hardigan, Don Menchinet, Anita Moorehead and Bess T Wishes add harmony vocals (yeah, look at the names a couple of times...you'll get it!). Ham and Eggs is an easy going pop track that could have been constructed in the early part of the 20th century. Blind Lemon is having fun and if you let yourself go, you will too. How Can I Still Love You has an easy jazzy blues feel with Gene Poole on bass and Cummings on drums. A second simple pop track, You Had Me At Goodbye, has a nice melody and a solid hook. Title track, Evangeline, is a simple blues with sliding cigar box accompaniment. One of the most pleasing tracks on the release and a nice closer.

  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”