January 1998
  
 
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To commemorate a year of exciting new blues releases, this month we've selected our Top Ten List of new CDs, as well as including a few submitted by Blues Bytes readers. Thanks for your support of Blues Bytes over the past 12 months! - Bill Mitchell Bill Mitchell (main reviewer of Blues Bytes)
3. Gatemouth Brown showed the blues world that, even in his 70s, the man can still swing. Hop on his A-train and take a listen to Gate Swings (Verve). (original review) 4. The Blind Boys of Alabama take the blues to church better than any other vocal group. Their Holdin' On CD (House of Blues) is guaranteed to convert any atheist on the spot. If you've never seen this group in person, then make a New Year's Resolution to catch their live act sometime soon. (original review)
6. One of the most pleasing CDs to be released in '97 was the wonderful disc from 80-something pianist Jay McShann, Hootie's Jumpin' Blues (Stony Plain). (original review)
9. New label Cannonball Records made a big splash this year with several excellent releases. One of the best was Blues Across America: The Dallas Scene, a collection of tunes by several current Dallas artists. (original review) 10. One of my favorite blues bands has always been The Holmes Brothers. Their last few albums weren't up to the same quality as their earlier efforts for Rounder, but the old magic came out on the delightful Promised Land (Rounder). (original review) Bob Corritore (host of "Those Lowdown Blues" on KJZZ, Mesa, AZ) The Jelly Roll Kings - Off Yonder Wall Bill Jacobs Hans Theessink - Crazy Moon Graham Clarke (Decatur, MS) Magic Slim - Scufflin' Beef Stew (host of "Blues Playground" on WCCC in Hartford Bernard Allison - Keepin' The Blues Alive Kevin "Bad Dog" Shenefield (Bad Dog Blues, Walla Walla, WA) Jonny Lang - Lie To Me |
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1.
I didn't include the new album by The Bone Shakers, Book of Spells
(Pointblank), as my pick hit in the May issue because it's not a straight blues disc. But
I've listened to this one far more than any other CD in '97. It's straightahead,
hard-drivin' R&B and funky soul, with the sweetest singer this side of Aaron Neville
in Sweetpea Atkinson. The Bone Shakers were also the best "live" band I saw last
year. (
2. It was a rough year for the blues world as we
lost several wonderful artists. Sadly, Luther Allison was one of those. I
share the consensus opinion of many Blues Bytes readers that Allison's Reckless
album (Alligator) was one of 1997's best. (
5. California blues band deluxe Rod Piazza &
The Mighty Flyers released their first studio album, Tough and Tender
(Tone-Cool), in five years. It was worth the wait. There aren't too many blues bands on
the circuit today that consistently put on as good of a show as these cats. (
7. Coco Montoya has shot to
the upper echelon of contemporary blues artists in the past several years. His third album
for Blind Pig Records, Just Let Go, is still another fine one. (
8. Former Muddy Waters guitarist Bob
Margolin is more than just another Muddy revivalist. His music incorporates deep
Chicago blues, doo wop, Chuck Berry, and much more for a delightful blend of uptempo
blues. Margolin's latest for Alligator Records, Up & In, was our Pick Hit for
June. (