Something Gonna Jump out the Bushes
Artist: Nappy Brown

Ultra-solid support from guitarists Anson Funderburgh, Eugene Ross, Ronnie Earl, and Earl King and Black Top's superb house horn section make this Dallas-cut set Brown's best contemporary album to date. His lusty shouting style works well on covers of the Dominoes' "Have Mercy Baby," the "5" Royales' title track, a pair of Earl King-penned... Read More

The Forgotten Angel
Artist: Clyde McPhatter

Finally, a definitive compilation of Clyde McPhatter! This two-disc collection chronicles McPhatter's hits (and some tunes that should have been hits) from the early '50s through the early '60s. It begins with over a dozen selections of Drifters material from mid-1953 to late 1954, including "Lucille" and "Money Honey." After these come classics... Read More

Man of My Word
Artist: Johnny Adams

Adams kept cranking out solo albums for the Rounder imprint and this one was the ninth such effort, finding him in tip-top shape vocally and in full command of his consummate powers. In addition to top-notch new material from Dan Penn ("It Ain't the Same Thing"), Carson Whitsett ("Bulldog Break His Chain"), Bobby Charles ("I Don't Want to Know")... Read More

Preacher & The President
Artist: Joe Louis Walker

San Francisco blues pilgrim Joe Louis Walker documents an eclectic career with a landmark album, assembling elements from his productive stabs at Delta and Chicago blues, slide acoustic and funk-rock, motor jazz and gospel. He even throws a taste of social commentary into the mix with the title cut of The Preacher and the President, which is... Read More

R+B = Ruth Brown
Artist: Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown's lengthy career has taken her from the Apollo Theater to Broadway. One of the original rhythm & blues superstars, she has emerged on the other side as one of the genre's most beloved singers. On this outing, producer Scott Billington returns Brown to her roots in the company of a superb New Orleans band, surrounds her with stellar... Read More

Red Lights
Artist: Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice

Former Roomful of Blues saxophonist Greg Piccolo stretches his musical wings even further on this, his third solo outing since leaving the group in 1990. In addition to his brawny tenor sax wailings, Piccolo also plays lead guitar (in a crude, but effective style somewhat reminiscent of Roy Buchanan and Carlos Santana) and alto sax this time... Read More

Her Best
Artist: Etta James
Community Score: 7.00

While several best-ofs from Etta James' Chess period have been available over the years -- with the two-disc, 44-track Essential Etta James at the top of the list in giving the big picture -- this 20-track collection sweats that bigger picture down to bare essentials. For those wishing to finally sample Etta's classic period at Chess... Read More

Acid Blue
Artist: Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice
Dresses Too Short
Artist: Bobby Radcliff

Bobby Radcliff turns in a tight, tough update of Magic Sam-style Chicago blues with Dresses Too Short. The songs are either too familiar or a weak approximation of the genre, but the playing throughout is terrific -- his guitar playing is alternately subtle and ferocious. Best of all is the handful of tracks cut with Ronnie Earl & the... Read More