The Jewel/Paula Blues Story - Fuel Records (2 discs 36 tracks) The Jewel label was responsible for some of the finest releases of southern blues in the 1960’s and early 70's. Artists like Ted Taylor, Curtis Griffin and Albert Washington made some of their best recordings here and this set spotlights many of them. Unlike previous collections of this material, this set features some well-known sides together with high quality obscurities from artists like Brenda George, Ray Agee and Jesse Anderson who deliver intense, soulful songs with a hard blues edge to them. This set is essential.

The Duke Records Story - One Day Records (3 discs 60 tracks) One of the strongest R&B labels of the 1950's and 60's with an amazing collection of artists and songs. This collection covers many of the label’s offerings from the smooth singing of Bobby Bland to the raw sounds of Miss Lavelle with hits and obscurities galore. Here you will find great sides from Fenton Robinson, Rosco Gordon, Joe Medwick, Little Junior Parker, Buddy Ace, Larry Davis and the list goes on.

Beating the Petrillo Ban Volume One: The Late 1947 Modern Recordings - Ace Records (2 discs 49 tracks) When American Federation of Musicians’ boss James C. Petrillo announced a cessation of recording activity effective January 1, 1948, to try to force record companies to pay musicians a royalty rather than a session fee, the labels went to great lengths to ensure that they did not get caught without material to release. During this time, Modern Records was cutting acetates as fast as they could book studio time, even by artists on whom they already had a stockpile of material. Beating the Ban offers a fascinating window on Modern's recording activity in the time immediately leading up to the ban. In addition to fifty great late 40s recordings, the two CDs preserve all existing fragments of studio chatter from the sessions, which really puts the listener in the studio with the artists. This set compliments ACE Records 2012 release of, Modern the First Year.

Rhythm n’ Bluesin’ on the Bayou - Ace (28 tracks) Culled from the vaults of Goldband, Jin and other small Louisiana labels, this set explores the up-tempo sound of Louisiana R&B. While so much ink is spilled on classic Chicago blues artists like Muddy, Wolf, Jimmy Rogers and others, this set reminds you that great music was made all over the country and Louisiana had more than its fair share of it. A majority of these sides are unissued or alternate takes, but it's difficult to understand why, which is a testament to the uniformly high quality of these recordings.

Bluesin’ by the Bayou - Ace (28 Tracks) This set continues their reissue series of South Louisiana recordings from the vaults of J.D. Miller and Eddie Shuler. Both of these producers recorded some of the toughest blues of the era and they rival anything released on Chess. These mostly unissued sides are low down and gritty examples of the best of the era. Big names like Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester and Lightnin’ Slim sit alongside obscure players such as Left Hand Charlie, Mr. Mojo and Jimmy Dotson.

J.B. Hutto and Robert Nighthawk - Masters Of Modern Blues (2discs 30 tracks ) What a great idea. Two of the best Testament releases packaged together. Needless to say, this is the cream of 1960's recordings by these artists. Disc one has sides by Houston Stackhouse backed by Robert Nighthawk along with tunes The Hawk recorded under his own name. Disc two finds J.B. backed by Johnny Young, Walter Horton, Lee Jackson and Fred Below. It doesn’t get much better than this.

South Texas Rhythm n’ Soul Review - Kent (24 tracks) This collection of blues and soul sides comes from the Jet Stream, Eric, Tear Drop and related labels. The list of artists reads like a who's who of Lone Star gold. Big Walter Price, Johnny Copeland, Barbara Lynn as well as Johnny Adams, Margo White and Warren Storm from neighboring Louisiana.  They all cut sides for the Crazy Cajun, Huey Pervis Meaux, at his Gold Star Studios in Houston, Texas. The sound is tough Texas R&B with lush backings and stinging guitar on many cuts. If you like the early recordings of Doug Sahm this is where he was coming from.

Blues From Los Angeles Volume 1 1980-1991 - Watchdog (18 tracks) A great collection of vintage sides here from the archives of William Clarke. This CD features recordings of many of the best L.A. blues players of the period. Many on this collection are backed by Bill's band. Solid hard edged recordings by Smokey Wilson, Long Gone Miles and Curtis Griffin, as well as previously unheard recordings of the Hollywood Fats Band and others.

Blues From Los Angeles Volume 2 1980-1991- Watchdog (16 tracks) This CD is the second installment of this important re-issue series. It is also a jam packed collection of early William Clarke recordings from the vaults. Here you will find rare and unreleased tracks from George “Harmonica” Smith, Long Gone Miles, Fred Kaplan, Alex Schultz, Zach Zunis and others. Many of these recordings are sides only previously available on long out of print vinyl.

Sun Blues Box: Blues-R&B & Gospel in Memphis 1950-58 – Bear Family (10 discs) This package is six pounds of hardcore, low down blues and gospel. The ten CD set includes a 180 page hardbound book. This is finally the last word on the Sun and pre-Sun blues recordings. Nearly thirty years after the original Sun Blues Box was released on LP, it’s back on CD with much more material than was on the original set. This package includes recently discovered music from well-known artists. These recordings, which were produced by Sam Phillips, but issued on Chess, RPM, Trumpet and other labels were unavailable in 1983, but they are now. Researcher Steve LaVere finally allowed the world to hear the Sun audio and see the Sun related photos he collected back in the late 1960s. In fact, the entire blues research community came together to make this a once in a lifetime blues experience.

Magic Sam and Shaky Jake Live at Silvio’s 1968 - Rockbeat (17 tracks) This is a re-release of a Blacktop Records release from a decade or so ago. This fiery live recording captures the intensity of this West Side Chicago guitar master. This set is a textbook example of modern blues played right.

John and Sylvia Embry Troubles - Delmark (18 tracks) This is a longtime favorite and is now finally on CD. Originally recorded for the tiny Razor label in the 1970's, this first ever CD release supplements the original ten with all of the non lp singles plus four unissued sides. John's tough, Magic Slim style guitar playing is in contrast to Sylvia's gospel influenced soul vocals which makes for some gritty and exciting recordings.

Dr. Ross Juke Box Boogie: The Sun Years Plus - Bear Family (32 tracks) these are high quality sides by one of the iconic singers and musicians of Memphis blues and boogie. These sides were recorded when he was part of the small group scene. Ross was renowned for his prowess as a harmonica player and vocalist. This set contains all the Chess and Sun singles as well as the unissued songs recorded by Sam Phillips in the early 1950s. This CD also contains all the DIR, Fortune and Hi-Q singles made in Michigan, including Cat Squirrel. The booklet contains rare photographs, and liner notes by Martin Hawkins.

Kim Wilson’s The Complete My Blues Sessions is a self released project and is a limited edition, 3 disc, 62 track collection that is available exclusively through Bluebeat Music.  This set features the session tapes for the seminal release My Blues from 1996. An all-star crew of Junior Watson, Rusty Zinn, Kid Ramos and Fred Kaplan, along with the reliable rhythm section of Richard Innes and Larry Taylor, insure quality on every take. These recordings are a textbook example of how to play blues right by playing it straight. There are no concessions or histrionics, just the straight natural blues.

Johnny Copeland It’s Me - Classic Texas Soul 1965-72 (2 discs 24 tracks) This is the most comprehensive collection of Johnny’s mid-1960s to early 70s recordings ever assembled. Here are the Huey Meaux produced Wand, Suave, Jet Stream, Boogaloo and Wet Soul singles, material Johnny either sold to or cut directly for Kent-Modern in the early 1970s. There are two rare duets he recorded with South Texas R&B heroine Miss LaVelle White as Johnny & Lilly. These sides were submitted to Wand for a proposed album that never happened. Here you will also find previously undocumented songs and some fabulous vocal/guitar demos, some of which have never been issued before.

Jimmy McCracklin Blues Blasters Boogie - JSP (4 discs 98 tracks) This set thoroughly covers the Godfather of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay area blues early sides from 1945 - 1955. From his earliest sides with JD Nicholson through the swinging tracks for most of the West Coast indie labels for which he recorded, this set is a great way to hear the Blues Blasters at their very best.

George “Wild Child” Butler Greatest Hits - Fuel (14 tracks) Finally available on CD, this great session has escaped digital re-issue until now. These are some of the nastiest low down harmonica blues of the late 1960s and early 70s. Recorded at a time when most Chicago labels were embracing soul music, these sessions were something of an anachronism. Nevertheless, Willie Dixon rounded up Johnny Twist, Big Mojo Elem, Jimmy Dawkins, Phil Upchurch, Lafayette Leake and Cash McCall to work behind Butler's roaring vocals and harmonica.

Alan Wilson The Blind Owl - Severn Records (2 discs20 tracks) Known primarily for their endless boogie excess, Canned Heat was originally a reflection of the founder’s love for authentic pre-war blues. Growing up in the 1960's, Alan Wilson was able to see and perform with some of the original greats like Skip James and Son House, who he helped bring back into the commercial spotlight. This retrospective casts the band in a whole new light with emphasis on their original interpretations of the classic blues players. Drawn from their first self-titled release, as well as the second album, Boogie With Canned Heat and Future Blues, this set is the first re-issue for Severn Records.  

Eddie Boyd The Blues Is Here To Stay: 1947 – 1959 - Jasmine ( 2 discs 5 tracks)

This is an adult dose of some hard charging Chicago blues with great swinging bands and killer songs. Eddie Boyd had a way with words and these songs are well done. These recordings feature the loose instrumental backing of his band featuring Robert Lockwood, Earnest Cotton, Lee Cooper and Sax Crowder.

Willie Mabon: Willies Blues The Greatest Hits 1952 -1957 - Jasmine (25 tracks) Although by no means a household name, Willie Mabon was a highly original R&B singer, pianist and songwriter. His early career, based mainly in Chicago, was very influential over certain developments in pop, soul and r&b music. This set features all of his big blues hits of the 1950s, such as "I Don't Know", "I'm Mad", "Poison Ivy" and his original version of Willie Dixon's "The Seventh Son" which became an even bigger hit by artists like Mose Allison and Georgie Fame.

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