~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 - This Place Is Rockin' (Lara & Gregg Germony, Al Rowe, Dan Nadasdi) 3:20
Lara & The Bluz Dawgz -
www.laraandthebluzdawgz.com
The reason this place is rockin' is because "This Place Is Rockin" is being played. This smoker is loaded with intense rhythm and full of red hot piano, sax and guitar leads. The dancers will be all over this one.
2 - No Guitar Blues (Donald Ray Johnson) 5:33
Donald Ray Johnson -
www.donaldray.com
In the middle of this very serious, low down blues number in which the guitarist is laying down some scorching licks, Donald Ray Johnson starts softly telling a story of how a record company exec once chastised him for not having a guitar and as the guitar licks get hotter, the lyrics get more hilarious.
3 - Cold Stone Treatment (Tim & Bridget Kelly Fik) 5:09
Bridget Kelly Band -
www.bridgetkellyband.com
With her band - led by some fancy guitar work from hubby Tim Fik - in a real smooth groove behind her Bridget Kelly sounds as good as Stevie Nicks ever did as she belts the hell out of the blues on this one.
4 - So Special (Johnny Ray Light) 4:28
Planet Full Of Blues -
www.planetfullofblues.com
With a voice as deep, as rich and as strong as that recognizable voice of David Clayton Thomas', listening to Johnny Ray Light sing this one is just as the title says...so special.
5 - Good Explanation (Bobby BlackHat Walters, Larry Berwald)) 4:00
Bobby BlackHat Walters -
www.bobbyblackhat.com
This is a ballad about a man and a woman questioning each other's antics. The powerful duet of Bobby BlackHat and Resa Gibbs vocally knock it out of the box. Great harp and guitar leads a big plus as well.
6 - Delta Dream (Dave Allen, Laura Lamun) 4:11
Allen-Lamun Band -
www.allenlamunband.com
This is a well done, modern day version of "Crossroads". Dave & Laura go down to the Delta to meet Riley B. King, play a club in Clarksdale and kick the devils ass - all of which will give them their bluesman's shoes. Highlighted by great vocals, harmonica and guitar leads and good B3 led rhythm.
7 - Nice And Slow (Joel DaSilva, Bob Cleary) 4:08
Joel DaSilva & The Midnight Howl -
www.jdandthehowl.com
Coming from someone who always does things nice, but rarely does them slow, Joel does a hell of a job with some very nice and very slow blues on this one. Great vocals, tight rhythm and smoking sax leads.
8 - Beatitudes (Rob Koral, Zoe Schwarz) 5:23
Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion -
www.bluecommotion.com
The term Beatitude refers to Christian teachings that begin with the words "Blessed are..." And in this case, blessed are the listeners of Zoe Schwarz powerfully and emotionally belting this one out of the park. Monster organ work helps elevate this one to hymnal status.
9 - Can't Cheat The Reaper (Gypsy Carns) 2:55
Gypsy Carns -
www.gypsycarns.com
This is a grim tale about everyone's ultimate destination - death. Gypsy's intense, bizarre vocal style - along with some appropriate sounding music effects create one heck of an eerie track.
10 - I Ain't No Gentleman (Chester Chandler) 5:43
Memphis Gold -
www.memphisgoldblues.com
Any list of real deal bluesmen would have to include the name Memphis Gold. Song after song, CD after CD, year after year, Memphis gives you nothing but well done straight up good guitar driven blues with outstanding vocals...and yes, this is one of them.
