As is the custom for Blues Bytes, we use the January Pick Hit to feature the reviewers' Top Ten Lists for the past year.

It's hard to believe that Blues Bytes is entering its eighth year. It all started as a personal creative outlet after my blues show was bounced off the airwaves, but now features about a dozen volunteer reviewers from around the world and thousands of loyal readers.

What's great is that no one gets paid to do Blues Bytes, yet like clockwork we churn out a new issue every month. The occasional advertisement goes to keep the domain up and running. Otherwise, it's an all-volunteer effort, which is why it's still fun and not like work.

Thanks to all of you for your support!

- Bill Mitchell (Editor/Publisher of Blues Bytes)

Bill Mitchell
(Editor of Blues Bytes)
Here's my list of favorite albums from 2003

Darrell Nulisch - Times Like These (Severn).
I've listened to this very soulful disk more than any other in the last year. Great music from a small, independent label! 

Kim Wilson - Lookin' For Trouble (M.C.)
More great stuff from one of the deepest blues cats of our time. His take on Smiley Lewis on this CD comes close to the original.

Jeffrey P. Ross - My Pleasure (Doc Blues)
Steve H. turned me on to this one, and I'm glad he did. Perhaps the sleeper album of the year.

Bettye Lavette - A Woman Like Me (Blues Express)
Where has she been hiding all these years??? Great soul music brought into the 21st century.

Michael Burks - I Smell Smoke (Alligator)
I was ready to ignore this one thinking it would be too rocked out for my tastes. Was I ever wrong! It's full of warmth and emotion.

Charles Walker - Number By Heart (Zane Records - UK)
Our soul expert, Alan Shutro, passed this one along to me. It's great stuff, reminiscent of the early Bobby Bland recordings.

Delgado Brothers - A Brother's Dream (Bell Asher)
These guys just keep flying under the radar, but consistently make great music with all kinds of varied influences.

Joe Louis Walker - She's My Moneymaker (JSP)
Is there any contemporary blues artist who is as consistently solid as JLW? With over a dozen CDs to his credit, he's never released anything that's less than superb.

Lavelle White - Into The Mystic (Antone's)
Welcome back, Miss Lavelle. It's been way too long since your last recording.

Van Morrison - What's Wrong With This Picture? (Blue Note)
Can an Irishman get the blues? In this case, the answer is yes.

Marcia Ball - So Many Rivers (Alligator)
Another artist who records too infrequently. Everything she touches turns to gold.

Jamie Wood - Ain't No Doubt About It (Pacific Blues)
Another unknown, small label disc that's just plain fun from start to finish.

Tab Benoit - The Sea Saint Sessions (Telarc)
I just got a copy of this CD, released earlier this year, but it's definitely Top Ten material. Swampy blues at its best!

Bruce Coen
(Blues Bytes reviewer from California)

Being the Year of the Blues in 2003 as handed down by some blues-loving government members there was no shortage of great releases this past year, but the ten best in my humble opinion in no particular order are:

Sonny Landreth - The Road We¹re On
Great blues/rock slide playing from one of today¹s best.

John Hammond - Ready For Love
Hammond has been producing nothing less than stellar releases for decades and continues the tradition here with his broad musical stroke of the blues.

Robert Randolph and the Family - Unclassified
Not entirely blues but blues-based because of the remarkable sounds Randolph gets out of a simple pedal steel; my top favorite CD of the year.

Tab Benoit - Sea Saint Sessions
This South Louisiana guitar slinger decided to record in the most famous New Orleans studio there is with very credible results.

Mama¹s Boys - Chicken and Waffles
Great boogie blues and harmonica-fueled sounds from one of the top Los Angeles-based blues bands around.

Sunny Fournier - My Kind Of Blues
Canadian blues as only Fournier can create. Good stuff.

Jimmy Thackery - Guitar
CD title says it all with blistering blues fretwork by the blues world¹s most current prolific players.

Marcia Ball - So Many Rivers
Austin-based Ball plays boogie style piano blues immersed in everything from New Orleans fingering to ballads.

Buddy Guy - Blues Singer
The iconic Guy just sits down with his old pal, the acoustic, and plays the hell out this collection with some of his master playing friends like Eric Clapton.

Rory Block - Last Fair Deal
Super acoustic blues player who¹s been releasing this side of the blues for many decades infuses shots of gospel and every kind of smoldering blues you can think of. Had the distinct pleasure of seeing her play live in 2003 and will always cherish that evening.

Extra pick:
Martin Scorsese presents the Blues
As a true blues fanatic I personally have most of the songs featured in the series. But for the new fan this one collection will provide you with the cream of the blues crop and a musical history worth having.
 

Happy New Year! Seems like the Year of the Blues flew by entirely too quickly, but we saw some great new music as well as some fantastic reissues being released. As usual... I cheated and my list is longer than ten. I found it impossible to limit it to ten releases as I feel all the recordings listed below deserved to be here. For a change, the number one slot stands alone this year and very deservedly so. Picking the top ten is always one of my favorite parts of contributing to this 'one of a kind' site, not only because I get to tell everybody what I thought was the best of the year but because I get to write a little something other than an opinion for a change. What I love about writing for this site is reading what all the other guys contribute every month and seeing what they are listening to and discovering some great albums I might not have along the way. So if I may get a little corny here for a moment, I'd like to extend a few thanks to Bill, Graham, Alan, Benoit, Tony, Mark, Tim, Terry, Arthur, Tom and Bruce for their insights every month. It’s a pleasure to read you guys. To the man who makes it happen here every month for all of us, Bill Mitchell, thanks boss for letting me be a part of the best damned blues site on the web. The biggest thank you of all goes to everyone who reads this site every month and the artists we all write about for keeping the greatest music on the planet alive.

1. Kirk Fletcher - Shades Of Blue
It just doesn’t get any better than this.

2. Jeffrey P. Ross - My Pleasure
But this one is close.

3. Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers - True Stories
Jimmy and company top themselves with each subsequent release.

4. James Harman - Lonesome Moon Trance
About as blue as you can get.

5. Tab Benoit - Sea Saint Sessions
Another milestone, to say the very least, from a very exciting artist.

6. Janiva Magness - Use What You Got
One of the most powerful performances I’ve heard this year.

7. Betty Lavette - A Woman Like Me
The sleeper of the year. Thanks for this one, Alan.

8. Joe Louis Walker - She's My Money Maker
Extremely hot stuff.

9. Nathan James - This Road Is Mine
Some very fine acoustic blues.

10. Kim Wilson - Lookin’ For Trouble
Does this guy ever miss?

11. Van Morrison - What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Not a thing.

12. Maria Muldaur - A Woman Alone With The Blues - Remembering Peggy Lee
A career performance from one of the prettiest voices in the blues.

13. Darrell Nulisch -Times Like These
Always a pleasure to listen to this singer.

14. Savoy Brown - Strange Dreams
One of the biggest surprises of the year.
 

Alan Shutro
(long-time Blues Bytes reviewer and soul afficianado from Phoenix)

Graham Clarke
(Blues Bytes reviewer from Mississippi)

My Top CDs of 2003 (in no particular order)

Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Unclassified (Warner Brothers)
This one has been in my CD player since September. A joyous romp of gospel, blues, pop, rock, and funk that everyone should experience.

James Blood Ulmer - No Escape from the Blues (Hyena)
Ulmer and Vernon Reid summon the spirit of Jimi Hendrix at the legend's Ladyland Studios. This is the Blues of the 21st Century.

Deacon John Moore - Deacon John's Jump Blues (Image Entertainment)
A loving tribute to the R&B legends of the Crescent City. Don't miss the companion DVD.

William Lee Ellis - Conqueroo (Yellow Dog)
Ellis, also music critic for the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, turns in a masterpiece, an amazing look at American music styles with some of the best guitar you'll hear this year.

Chris Smither - Train Home (Hightone)
Another acoustic wonder. Smither's wry lyrics and wondrous guitar work make this one a must-have.

Michael Burks - I Smell Smoke (Alligator)
A strong effort by a rising star on the blues scene with much-improved singing and all the guitar you can handle.

Calvin Owens - The House is Burnin' (Sawdust Alley)
Owens' Blues Orchestra is as hot as ever, but the guest vocals by the incredible Trudy Lynn and Houston legends Gloria Edwards and Leonard "Low Down" Brown lift this one to the next level. A great CD from start to finish.

Delbert McClinton - Live (New West)
This is probably as close to a complete look at Delbert's career in music as there will ever be. He sounds great, the band sounds great, and he covers every period of his recording history.

Bobby Rush - Live at Ground Zero (Deep Rush)
You have to see or hear Bobby Rush's live show to truly understand why he's the King of the Chitlin' Circuit. This CD/DVD set fits the bill, capping off a great year for Rush.

Corey Harris - Mississippi to Mali (Rounder)
Harris takes us from the land where the Blues began to the land where the building blocks were formed and shows that the gap in between is really very small.

Jeff Chaz - Cookin' in Old Grease (JCP)
The Bourbon Street Blues Man rips through an explosive set of originals.

Joe Richardson - Stripped Down (Viewpoint)
This is a spine-tingling set of original acoustic blues from an artist who deserves to be heard.

Various Artists - Last Of The Mississippi Jukes (Sanctuary Records Group)
Finally there is a live blues disc with blues played the way it is supposed to be. None of the 14 tracks on this 70-minute disc are polished. Nothing was refined in a high-tech studio. This CD contains authentic, Southern American blues as can only be found in the jukes you were warned to avoid. This disc will do more for Mississippi tourism than mockingbirds and magnolias and it will reconfirm your love of the blues. It is an unsurpassed collection of juicy tunes, fervent singers and well-honed musicians. Get it!

Various Artists - American Blues (Putumayo World Music)
These previously released tracks were made between 1972 and 2002 with the vast majority coming from the ‘90s. Many of the songs were taken from Grammy Award winning albums. Liner notes author, Jacob Edgar, details a brilliant history of the blues where new fans will learn "blues is the heart and soul of American music" and blues is "dominated more by the emotions it was trying to express then by the rigors of specific structure." The performers on this compilation, e.g., Keb Mo’, Ruth Brown, Otis Rush, Solomon Burke, were selected because they have remained true to the roots of the blues and continue to keep them alive. Blues samplers flooded the market during the Year Of The Blues. If you want a true indication of what real blues is all about, enter here!

Tab Benoit - The Sea Saint Sessions (Telarc Records)
On his latest CD, Tab achieves the nearly impossible. He meets or exceeds the music from his previous disc. Tab once again proves he is a contemporary roots/blues/rock force by evolving the blues to a new animal. Benoit is a less-is-more guitar player who focuses on quality. His non-traditional rhythms entice, entrance and encapsulate. Tab’s lyrics aren’t that important or memorable; it's his melodies that stand out. Like early electrified blues, Tab’s style is both urban and rural giving the music new ideas, sounds and ways. His trademark scratchy guitar chords and gravel crushed vocal cords feature on all tunes. These tracks may not vary enough for listeners who prefer a fuller sound than can be achieved by a three-piece. This CD excels in bayou vocals, punchy songwriting, spontaneous authenticity and its crossover appeal to the larger rock audience.

Glamour Puss - Wire & Wood (NorthernBlues Music)
Glamour Puss is a five-piece group who play a contemporary, eclectic mix of roots music. They combine their unrestrained talents to create happy, upbeat, groovin’ music that celebrates life. On this innovative disc, Glamour Puss thinks outside the blues box and covers a lot of musical ground. Along the way, you’ll encounter plenty of jumpy and punchy rhythms that will have you hopping out of your chair and creating an instant dance party. You’ll especially enjoy the riveting songwriting, articulate guitar, simmering keys, Staxville horns and admirable production. If you are searching for the definitive 12 bar blues band, these guys aren’t that. Glamour Puss borrows from all American roots music and creates a party that offers something for everyone. The band’s sound is unique in the current, music sea of fabrication. Your only concern will be why you didn’t get hip to them years ago.

Ellis Hooks - Up Your Mind (Evidence Music)
When an artist comes along that completely blows you away like Ellis Hooks, how can you be objective?! Like Robert Randolph, Hooks’ sound is fresh yet rooted in the blues. He will appeal to new and veteran roots music fans alike. The 47 minutes on Up Your Mind feature 13 densely textured tracks which were all written by Hooks. Throughout, just like a great ‘60s soul album, there is a real focus on Hooks’ powerful chops which are a cross between James Brown, Lenny Kravitz and Steve Marriott. This CD is a bit too polished and over-produced. It may be a bit too fashionable but it's just what the blues needs to keep it from becoming stagnant.

Snooky Pryor - Mojo Ramble (Electro-Fi Records)
Looking for real blues? I mean low down, dirty blues? Live recordings don’t always capture the essence of a performance. This is not the case on Snooky Pryor’s first- ever live recording. The 65 minute Delta-rooted disc was recorded November 4, 2001. Backed by Mel Brown (guitar) and his Homewreckers, together they stomp through eight tracks that range from slow to mid-paced. Half of them were selected from previous E-Fi releases and two are covers. All are authentic, old-style, sweaty blues with Mel’s smooth tone complimenting Snooky’s Chromonic harmonica. Pryor’s heavily weathered voice sounds its best from his recent recordings. This authentic recording is a pleasure to find amongst a sea of false blues releases that should be classified as rock and roll. Although the songs are too similar and some may be too slow-paced for today’s impatient world, this is post-War (uh, Iraq War, that is), electric Chicago blues at its finest. The musicianship is stellar and the production is raw. You won’t hear finer or more authentic blues in a Mississippi juke.

Matt Minglewood - Live At Last (Norton Records)
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Minglewood is a living Canadian music legend. He combines Southern rock, country, Celtic and blues into each and every performance. With 10 previous albums out (dating back to 1976), he has just released his first live CD. Recorded in September 2002, the 74-minute set includes a few guest artists. Most prominent is virtuoso guitarist Jeff Healey who appears on all 13 tracks. Only five are covers and there are two songs never recorded by Matt before. The signature Minglewood sound and storytelling abounds on this disc. For a prime example of those catchy fervent rhythms, aggressive piano fills, zestful vocals, choruses with east coast jigs and changing melodies, listen to "Whiz Kids." Most tunes come with a rolling down the highway attitude where caution is thrown to the wind. If you enjoy a high energy double-barreled attack that rocks your blues, you’ll love this CD. The ashes left in your CD tray will confirm just how much this CD smokes!

Otis Grand - In Grand Style - The Otis Grand Collection (Sanctuary Records Group)
This disc was actually released in 2002 but it didn’t come my way until 2003. Otis Grand is a phenom in Britain but hasn’t gained much success in North America. This is one of those baffling incidents you just can’t explain. One listen to this two-disc set and you will be demanding he takes up residency on this side of the Atlantic. Grand’s big-band blues sound vibrantly incorporates swing, rock, and R&B. His wondrous guitar playing has obvious references to his influences: Buddy Guy, Albert King, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Unclassified (Warner Bros./Dare)
Although this is more of a rock album as compared to his 2002 debut, it still leaves you feeling high and happy with a silly giddiness. If you haven’t heard his music before you won’t be prepared for the mesmerizing experience. Two things hit you when you listen to this disc. Firstly, you get so caught up in the music, it’s all you can muster. Secondly, you know you are experiencing something new and great which is bound for glory. After years of big corporations determining what we hear and what we don’t hear, real music has returned.

Ronnie Earl - I Feel Like Goin’ On (Stony Plain Records)
Earl’s Stony Plain debut demonstrates why he is one of the most acclaimed blues guitarists. Ronnie feels this is his best studio recording and you will definitely agree. This disc is brilliant, simply brilliant.