Jacks & Kings
Artist: The Nighthawks

Classic material and stirring playing. A must-find. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide Read More

These Blues
Artist: Charles Brown
Legendary Sun Performers - 1 SIDE
Artist: Junior Parker
Open All Nite
Artist: The Nighthawks

When Open All Nite was first released on LP in 1976, the Nighthawks had only been together for four years -- little did they know that they would still be together in the 21st century and would celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2002. Some young bands sound like they still have some growing and developing to do, but the Nighthawks never sound... Read More

Anthology, Vol. 1 (1966-1976)
Artist: Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal's often-indulgent experimentations have flawed most of his albums to different degrees; The Taj Mahal Anthology, Vol. 1 rights these self-inflicted wrongs by compiling a coherent look at his early career (1966-1976). Though this collection is currently out-of-print, it provides the best introduction to his easy-going take on the blues.... Read More

Queen of the Blues
Artist: Koko Taylor

Co-producer Bruce Iglauer anticipated a future trend by making this a set filled with cameos -- but the presence of Lonnie Brooks, James Cotton, Albert Collins, and Son Seals is entirely warranted and the contributions of each work quite well in the context of the whole. Taylor's gritty "I Cried like a Baby" and a snazzy remake of Ann Peebles's... Read More

Second Wind
Artist: Delbert McClinton

After his ABC deal collapsed, Delbert McClinton signed with Phil Walden's Capricorn Records in 1978. Second Wind was his debut for the label and was produced by the legendary Johnny Sandlin (of the Allman Brothers' Fillmore East and Brothers and Sisters fame), with backing by the entire Muscle Shoals stable -- horns and rhythm section, and... Read More

Down Yonder
Artist: Snooks Eaglin

Sam Charters produced this marvelously funky collection of oldies rendered Eaglin-style with an all-star Crescent City combo: pianist Ellis Marsalis, saxist Clarence Ford, and the French brothers as rhythm section. Eaglin's revisit of "Yours Truly" floats over a rhythmic bed so supremely second-line funky that it's astonishing, while he... Read More

All My Life
Artist: Charles Brown

By far Brown's best contemporary effort (and the set that really got his recording career back in high gear). Cameos by Dr. John and Ruth Brown certainly didn't hurt the set's chances, but it's the eternally suave pianist and his excellent road band (especially guitarist Danny Caron and saxist Clifford Solomon) that make this such a delightful... Read More

Let Me Play With Your Poodle
Artist: Marcia Ball
Community Score: 10.00

This album of snaky swamp rock is one of Ball's best recordings. Great choice of songs (she wrote 5 of the 13) that let her show all her talents, both vocally and instrumentally. Slow-tempo songs display the force of her voice, as in "I Still Love You," and another of the many gems, "For the Love of a Man." Meanwhile, the playfulness of the... Read More