Review: Every album bands and artists release usually results in a tour, but not every album bands and artists release is really worthy of all that noise. Not so with British singer-songwriter Elles Bailey, whose first LP for the Cooking Vinyl imprint, Beneath The Glow, explored love and its various forms and guises. The unwavering adoration of two good friends. The rare flames of passion that burn long, not just bright. The heartbreak that follows a love that didn't last all time. You get the point - hyper emotional stuff which resonates universally. Backed by her critically acclaimed band, the record led many to once again position Bailey as a blues, Americana, rock artiste extraordinaire. While we're sure she didn't mind the praise, it's worth noting her view that none of those boxes really suit someone who purposefully plays with, bends and twists genres so freely.
Review: This calls LP from The Big Three Trio is a lively showcase of pre-rock & roll rhythm and blues, swinging boogie-woogie and rich vocal harmonies. Led by Willie Dixon whose bass playing and songwriting would later shape Chicago blues, the trio delivers plenty of direct energy and storytelling charm. Not least with the title track, a playful take on a classic folk tale that highlights their wit and musicianship. With vibrant piano work and smooth guitar licks, the tight vocal arrangements are allowed to soar and help to capture the spirit of 1940s r&b. A great trip back in time.
After While (We Gonna Drink A Little Whiskey) (3:05)
You Sure Look Good To Me (2:44)
Big Three Boogie (2:35)
No More Sweet Potatoes (2:50)
My Love Will Never Die (2:47)
Ebony Rhapsody (3:00)
I Feel Like Steppin' Out (2:57)
Just Can't Let Her Be (2:46)
Lonesome (2:21)
Appetite Blues (2:37)
Evening (2:58)
I'll Be Right Some Day (2:22)
Blue Because Of You (2:29)
Violent Love (2:56)
Review: This is one of a couple of The Big Three Trio albums that are being reissued right now. The threesome in question was a pioneering blues group led by Willie Dixon whose influence shaped Chicago blues in the early years. I Feel Like Steppin' Out captures the trio's smooth harmonies and neat rhythms as well as being united by Dixon's signature bass playing. Blending jump blues, boogie-woogie and early r&b, this one has a lively, feel-good energy and tracks like the title cut are a fine example of the trio's polished yet raw sound which laid the foundation for modern blues and rock. Their sophisticated style and rich vocal harmonies paired with top songwriting would stand them apart today as much as they did back in the 50s.
Review: Black Country Communion's fifth studio album, V, marks the return of the powerhouse supergroup after seven years, showcasing the unparalleled talents of Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian. Fusing the best of British and American classic hard-rock and blues-rock, the album delivers a tour de force of earth-shattering rock music. 'Enlighten,' the latest single from the album, exemplifies the band's evolution both lyrically and musically. Penned by Hughes and Bonamassa, the song delves into themes of self-awareness and spiritual awakening, with Hughes' emotive vocals and Bonamassa's intricate guitar work driving the message home. Produced by Kevin Shirley, the track captures the essence of Black Country Communion's dynamic sound, showcasing their growth and mutual admiration as artists. As a band deeply rooted in rock and blues traditions, Black Country Communion has earned a formidable reputation for their songwriting and electrifying live performances. Enlighten serves as a tantalising preview of the album's full potential, promising a vibrant new chapter for the band and their fans worldwide.
B-STOCK: Box damaged, product in perfect working order
Sting Me (LP1: The Southern Harmony & musical Companion)
Remedy
Thorn In My Prickle
Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye
Sometimes Salvation
Hotel Illness
Black Moon Creeping
No Speak No Slave
My Morning Song
Time Will Tell
99 Pounds (LP2: More Harmony: unreleased outtakes & B-sides)
Miserable
Rainy Day Women #12&35
Boomer's Story
Darling Of The Underground Press
Sting Me (Slow)
Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye
Sometimes Salvation
Black Moon Creeping
No Speak No Slave (LP3: Southern Harmony live Houston, TX, Febuary 6, 1993)
Sting Me
My Morning Song
Jam
Thorn In My Pride
Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye
Black Me Creeping
Hotel Illness
Sometimes Salvation
Remedy
Review: ***B-STOCK: Box damaged, product in perfect working order***
American blues-slanted rock band the Black Crowes put out their second album The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion back in May 1992. It was the first time Marc Ford had featured on lead guitar in place of Jeff Cease who was sacked the year before. It also marked the first time Eddie Harsch joined on keys and set a record at the time for being the first album to feature four rock number ones, and the album itself also climbed to the top spot in the Billboard 200 album chart. Its mix of blues and Southern styles often sees the album being included in lists of the best rock albums of all time.
Review: The Black Crowes have never been ones to hide their inspirations. The classically-styled US blues rockers have turned their hands to plenty of covers over the years, and this time they're offering up a short album's worth of renditions under the banner of 1972. The year doesn't so much nod to the songs specifically as the feeling, and a particular era of sound they were aiming for. Given their skin in the game, it's no surprise to hear them nail the likes of 'Rocks Off' and 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone', paying homage and doing their own thing in equal measure.
Review: The southern rock back from Georgia, The Black Crowes saw huge success in the early 90s with multi-platinum success and even a number one album in America in mid-1992. They've been through a few ups and down since, and here comes their first album in over 15 years. It's their tenth overall, with this vinyl version coming on 180gram from Silver Arrows records, and with a world tour also pending, Black Crowes fans will be filling their proverbial boots in 2024.
Review: There are moments in the spellbinding and often criminally overlooked Blue Cheer anthem, 'Summertime Blues', when it feels like we've descended into the depths of industrial guitar chaos. A cacophony of feedback, growls, and low, rumbling refrains. A pithy reinterpretation of Eddie Cochran's 1958 hit single, here rendered obtuse for the second, decidedly less-radio and commercial-friendly rock 'n' roll generation.
The whole version plays out in a way that's much like we can imagine Jimi Hendrix might have made happen. Grizzled, gritty, fraught and, ultimately, very loud indeed. It's a standout on this triple-A-side of 1967 Blue Cheer demos, three tracks committed to the pantheons when the psychedelic blues and acid rockers were first beginning to focus their energies. But while the aforementioned is the main event, everything here shows why there was so much excitement around them in the first place.
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