Acoustic Music to Suit Most Occasions
Artist: The Deighton Family

This delightful British folkabilly band defies easy pigeon-holing. National Public Radio named this its Album of the Year. ~ Mark A. Humphrey, All Music Guide Read More

Early Blues Boy Years, Vol. 2: 1952-54
Artist: B.B. King

This 20-song collection continues B.B. King's mid-'50s history on the Bihari brothers' various labels (Modern, Kent etc.), including his "big band" work, including "When My Heart Beats like a Hammer," "Woke Up This Morning," and "I Love You." There's lots of fiery guitar on this volume, opening with "You Upset Me Baby" and "Blind Love." The... Read More

Early Blues Boy Years, Vol. 1: 1949-51
Artist: B.B. King

MCA has anthologized B.B. King's ABC-Paramount years with King of the Blues, and Flair/Virgin has issued some of his 1950's work for the Bihari brothers' various labels (Modern, Kent etc.). In the absence of a boxed set devoted to those '50s sides, however, this disc and its companion volumes from the Barcelona-based Opal label are the best... Read More

Blackwater Surprise
Artist: Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

Robert Bradley was a Detroit street singer for years before he was convinced to enter the studio by a group of young alternative rockers. The resulting album, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, is indeed surprising -- an effective collaboration between a blind blues musician and a sympathetic Detroit rock trio. The band wisely decided to stay... Read More

The Best of Tracy Nelson & Mother Earth
Artist: Tracy Nelson

Janis Joplin may have gotten all of the fame and glory, but she was far from the only white female blues shouter to emerge from the San Francisco music scene of the mid-1960s; The Best of Tracy Nelson/Mother Earth is proof positive of that, providing an excellent introduction to one of the more sadly overlooked talents of her time and place.... Read More

The Fat Man: 25 Classic Performances
Artist: Fats Domino

Ostensibly replacing the compact disc My Blue Heaven as the definitive single-disc collection of Fats Domino's biggest hit singles, Fat Man: 25 Classic Performances features most of Fats Domino's biggest hits, but it inexplicably neglects such hits as "Walking to New Orleans," "Be My Guest" and "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday." The only... Read More

Last Stand in Open Country
Artist: Farm Dogs

Best known for his work as lyricist with Elton John, Farm Dogs is the dream band Bernie Taupin always wanted to form. Collaborating with veteran musicians Jim Cregan, Dennis Tufano, and Robin Le Mesurier, Taupin made a fine acoustic-oriented record that combines rootsy country, blues, and folk music with his immense talent as a storyteller. Much... Read More

Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection
Artist: Irma Thomas

23-track collection of early and mid-'60s sides largely duplicates the material on EMI's Time Is on My Side collection, with some additions and subtractions. The EMI set has a very slight edge, though for most listeners either compilation will do the job. It's too bad somebody doesn't take the plunge and issue an 80-minute CD documenting this... Read More

The Complete Hill/UA Recordings
Artist: Z.Z. Hill

The gritty singer made three albums for United Artists (mostly under his brother Matt's supervision) from 1972 to 1975, and they were an idiomatically mixed bag. All three LPs are housed in their entirety on this two-disc set, its selections ranging from the deep soul sincerity of "I've Got to Get You Back" and "Your Love Makes Me Feel Good" and... Read More

For All Seasons
Artist: Henry Butler

On some of his recordings, Henry Butler has performed gospel music and/or New Orleans funk, taken soulful vocals, and played some electric keyboard. This trio outing, however, is purely acoustic and mostly in the straight-ahead vein. With assistance from bassist Dave Holland and drummer Herman Jackson (trombonist Steve Turre dropped by to play... Read More

Blue Streak
Artist: Luther Allison

A follow-up to his previous Soul Fixin' Man (which uses the same personnel and may be from the same sessions), bluesman guitarist/singer Luther Allison is in top form throughout this well-rounded set. Allison wrote (or co-wrote with guitarist James Solberg) all but one of the dozen songs, and these range from heated blues struts to blues... Read More

Strange Pleasure
Artist: Jimmie Vaughan