Welcome to the 2018 version of Dave’s Top Ten List of Top Ten Lists.

Here as part of our annual “best of…” edition of BLUES JUNCTION, we continue our tradition of bringing you the top ten albums of the year, as submitted by ten highly respected individuals who have been part of the blues scene for many years.

This feature remains one of my favorite projects I work on each year. In pulling together this annual celebration of achievement in the blues recording field, I get a chance to interact with other like-minded individuals who share my love and passion for this music. Regardless of any of these individual’s involvement with this music, the one thing each has in common is that they are true listeners, connoisseurs and lovers of the music.

As many of our readers are keenly aware, some of the best blues music being produced today is coming from abroad. So, these top ten lists also come from blues lovers from all over world. We have participants coming from four separate continents and as many countries. In the U.S. we have folks from all over including Texas, the Midwest, Florida and three people representing three distinct regions of my home state of California.

My question to them was simple: “What are your ten favorite blues albums of 2018?”

How we do things around here is pretty simple. The only criteria for these recordings was that they must be made up of all or mostly all new material which was released in the calendar year of 2018. No re-issues, multi-artist compilations or “best of…” packages were to be taken into consideration. They also must be available in a physical format. 

Now the fun part is hearing from you, our readers and your thoughts on any or all of this. What is your favorite blues album(s) of 2018?

Chico Blues - Sao Paulo, Brazil

Chico is the founder and president of Chico Blues Records out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is widely recognized as the leading blues authority in South America. His label and extensive roster of artists has continued to produce some of the finest blues recordings in recent years. Some of the most renowned blues musicians in the world have traveled to Brazil to record with the numerous world class blues players on his label. Chico recused himself from selecting any recordings from his own label’s 2018 recordings.

Lurrie Bell & The Bell Dynasty - Tribute To Carey Bell

Bob Corritore & Friends - Don't Let The Devil Ride

Anthony Geraci - Why Did You Have To Go

Buddy Guy - The Blues Is Alive And Well

Knockout Greg & The Jukes - It's a Good Thing

Little Red Rooster Blues Band - Lock Up The Liquor 

Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling - The High Cost Of Low Living

The Proven Ones - Wild Again

Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager - Rough Cut    

Whitney Shay - A Woman Rules the World

Don “T Bone” Erickson - Des Moines, Iowa (USA)

Don is a long-time blues journalist. He is the former editor for the Central Iowa Blues Society Newsletter and author of 76 monthly feature articles entitled Legends of the Blues. Back in the 90’s he was a founding editor of one of the first online blues journals entitled Blues Wax. Don is the host of T-Bone's House Rockin' Blues Party and The Groove Zone at KFMG 98.9 FM, Des Moines (see our links page). His program was featured on the station rated ‘Best Radio Station’ in City View’s ‘Best of Des Moines’ reader's survey for the last several years. T-Bone continues to garner recognition for his broadcasts. Don also served as the Chairman of the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame for 15 years.                 

Atomic Road King - Clean Up The Blood

Cedric Burnside - Benton County Relic         

James Harman - fineprint

Larkin Poe - Venom & Faith

Little Victor - Deluxe Lo-Fi    

R.J. Mischo - I Hope You're Satisfied

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1

Sam Rocket and His Blues Prisoners - Caught In The Groove

Johnny Tucker - Seven Day Blues

Billy Watson and His International Silver String Submarine Band - Heavy Groove

Jeff Scott Fleenor - Garden Grove, California (USA) 

Jeff is a blues historian and archivist of the highest order. He is the universally recognized leading authority on the international blues scene. He had been the Southern California Regional Specialty Music Buyer for Virgin Mega Stores. He has written liner notes for over two dozen albums. He was also the co-producer and talent buyer for the prestigious Blues on the Bay festival in Newport Beach. For the past 18 years Jeff has been the International Talent Coordinator for the Doheny Blues Festival. For several years he was the host of a Southern California based radio show called The Blues Disease. In addition to that, he has produced numerous albums for Delta Groove Music.

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani -  First Born          

Roy Gaines’ Orchestra - Live at the Saturday Night Fish Fry T-Bone Celebration

James Harman - fineprint

The James Hunter Six - Whatever It Takes  

Cat Lee King & His Cocks -  Cock Tales 

Knock-Out Greg & the Jukes - It’s a Good Thing  

Van Morrison - The Prophet Speaks

The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling - The High Cost of Living  

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Volume 1   

West Weston - West Street

Harri Haki - Helsinki, Finland

Harri has been a fan of the blues since 1968. He is a long time writer and contributor for Finnish Blues News. He is a promoter and talent buyer for blues shows in Finland. His work in this field includes bringing several artists to Finland for the first time. He has been proud to bring Paul Oscher, Mitch Kashmar, Fiona Boyes, Zakiya Hooker and several others through the years to his home country.

Fiona Boyes - Voodoo In The Shadows

Bob Corritore - Don't Let The Devil Ride  

Buddy Guy - The Blues Is Alive And Well 

Mark Hummel - Harpbreaker

Bettye LaVette - Things Have Changed

Little Victor Deluxe Lo-Fi 

RJ Mischo -  I Hope You're Satisfied 

Kid Ramos - Old School

Emilia Sisco & Helge Tallqvist Band  You Ain't Heard  

West Weston - West Street      

Tom Hyslop - Nauganee, Michigan (USA)

Tom is a contributing editor and senior writer for Blues Music Magazine. He started out writing for Blues Review magazine in 1996. During this time Tom has written features on Magic Slim, Rick Estrin, Nick Curran, Sean Costello, Phillip Walker, Kim Wilson, Duke Robillard, Big Jack Johnson, Nick Moss, Gary Clarke Jr. and others. Tom has written liner notes, biographical pieces and promotional material for numerous artists, record companies and publicists. Most recently, he penned the liner notes for the 2018 Nick Moss album which was released last March. He is also a recipient of the 2019 Blues Foundation's Keeping the Blues Alive award.

Lurrie Bell & The Bell Dynasty - Tribute to Carey Bell

Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones - Complicated Mess

The Electromatics - The Electromatics

Sue Foley - The Ice Queen

James Harman - fineprint  

The Nick Moss Band feat. Dennis Gruenling - The High Cost of Low Living

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1

Shawn Pittman & Jason Moeller - Everybody Wants to Know

Billy Price - Reckoning

Kid Ramos - Old School        

Michael Kinsman - San Diego, California (USA)

For over twenty years Michael has written about blues and roots music for the San Diego Tribune, the city's leading daily newspaper. He has written for numerous outlets including Blues Revue Magazine, Blues Music Magazine and VH1.com. Since 1998, Michael has interviewed more than 500 blues and roots artists. He has produced music festivals since 1998, as well. Michael is the founder and producer of the San Diego Blues Festival which has emerged as one of the premier blues festivals in the country.

Ry Cooder - The Prodigal Son 

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite - No Mercy In This Land 

Dave Keller - Every Soul's a Star

Aki Kumar - Hindi Man Blues 

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1 

Paul Oscher - Cool Cat 

Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager - Rough Cut                                                                    

Whitney Shay - A Woman Rules the World

Paul Thorn - Don't Let the Devil Ride 

Johnny Tucker - Seven Day Blues

Charlie Lange - Santa Cruz, California (USA) 

Starting in the 1970’s Charlie was doing research for independent boutique blues labels including Specialty Records in the U.S. and Route 66 Records out of Sweden. He has written liner notes for Verve, Rounder and other record labels. Charlie has also done oral histories of Joe Liggins, Ray Agee, Roy Milton, Percy Mayfield, Lowell Fulson, JD Nicholson, George “Harmonica” Smith and others for various labels. In the 1980’s Charlie started his own business called Bon Ton West and for several years booked virtually every blues and zydeco musician out of Texas and Louisiana on their west coast tours. He also booked the famous Antone’s West shows as well as select acts at the Long Beach Blues Festival. During this time, he started Bluebeat Music, which is widely considered the largest on-line retailer of blues, jazz, soul and vintage rock&roll in the world. 2018 marked his 43rd anniversary of hosting blues radio shows out of Santa Cruz, California. (see our links page). Charlie is also an ongoing contributor to BLUES JUNCTION.   

Paul Barry - Blow Your Cool 

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani - First Born 

Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones - Complicated Mess

Anthony Geraci - Why Did You Have To Go  

James Harman - fineprint

Little Victor - Deluxe Lo-Fi

RJ Mischo - I Hope You're Satisfied 

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol 1

Sam Rocket & His Blues Prisoners - Caught In the Groove 

West Weston - West Street   

Craig Lawrence - Perth, Western Australia

Craig is a native and still resides in this Western Australia capital city. He is a blues music fan. The blues bug, as they say, hit him back in 1961 when he was still a child. He has continued to pursue this music which has led to a lifetime of discovery and joyful listening.

Paul Barry - Blow Your Cool  

Big Harp George - Uptown Cool   

Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones - Complicated Mess

Kirk Fletcher - Hold On

Danny Franchi - Problem Child

Buddy Guy - The Blues Is Alive And Well 

James Harman - fineprint

Anthony Geraci - Why Did You Have To Go  

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol.1

The Rockwell Avenue Blues Band - Back To Chicago      

Sonny Boy Mark - Dallas, Texas (USA)

Born in Chicago and raised in Dallas, Mark fell in love with the blues at a young age. He soon took up the guitar and later switched to the bass. He has backed up a whole host of Dallas/Fort Worth based blues luminaries including, but not limited to, Mike Morgan, Hash Brown, Lucky Peterson, Holland K. Smith, Dylan Bishop, Zac Harmon and Christian Dozzler. He has been a blues DJ for going on 20 years now at the famed KNON 89.3 in Dallas. Sonny Boy Mark can be heard on Tuesdays from 6:00pm – 8:00pm Central Standard Time, as he hosts his own program entitled, Texas Blues Radio on that station (see our links page).                                                    

Big Harp George - Uptown Cool

James Harman - fineprint

Knockout Greg & The Jukes - It’s a Good Thing 

R.J. Mischo - I Hope You're Satisfied

Danielle Nichole - Cry No More

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1 

Paul Oscher - Cool Cat

Shawn Pitman & Jay Moeller - Everybody Wants To Know

Victor Puerta - Juke Joint Sessions

West Weston - West Street

Mark Thompson - Bradenton, Florida (USA)

Mark has been listening to blues music for more than fifty years. Growing up in the Chicago area, he got to experience many of the legendary blues musicians live and in-person. He served for twelve years as the president of the Crossroads Blues Society, based in Rockford, Illinois. After relocating to Florida in 2016, Mark served as the president of the Sun Coast Blues Society, based in Tampa, Florida.  Mark writes for Blues Blast and Blues Music Magazines as well as the Chicago Blues Guide website.  

Paul Barry - Blow Your Cool 

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani - First Born 

Dylan Bishop Band - Distilled 

Kevin Burt - Heartland 

Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones - Complicated Mess

Anthony Geraci - Why Did You Have To Go 

James Harman - fineprint

The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling - The High Cost of Low Living  

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1

Whitney Shay - A Woman Rules The World

Hold on to your hat. In 2018 my top ten list goes all the way up to eleven...

Leslie Hagins - Santa Cruz, California (USA)

Leslie is blues music fan and a subscriber to BLUES JUNCTION.  She is also a faithful patron of live music wherever it may be.                                         

Alabama Mike - Hip You To My Blues

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Montivani - First Born

Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager - Rough Cut

Dylan Bishop - Distilled

Lurrie Bell & The Bell Daynasty - A Tribute to Carey Bell

Bob Corritore & Friends - Don't Let The Devil Ride

The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling - The High Cost of Low Living

Darrell Nulisch - The Bigtone Sessions Vol 1

Keesha Pratt Band - Believe

West Weston - West Street

The Consensus: Congratulations to Darrell Nulisch and his Bluebeat Music release entitled The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1. This record is a true return to form for Nulisch who, by my ears and those attached to the heads of our participants, made one of the best blues albums of his long career. Like last year’s winner Kim Wilson’s Blues and Boogie Vol. 1 this CD has the prints of Big John Atkinson all over the recording. This release also follows a career path where both Wilson and now Nulisch have stepped away from the pre-processed, overly produced, soul-blues house sound of the Severn Records label and returned to their true strength…the straight ahead, natural blues played the right way.

As far as the rest of the 2018 field is concerned, 49 separate artists made it onto at least one of these lists. Of those 24 made it on two or more lists. Twelve of these were listed at least three times. Here is the breakdown. The number of lists in which these artists appear is in parenthesis.                                                                                                     

Darrell Nulisch - The Big Tone Sessions Vol. 1 (8)    

James Harman - fineprint (6)

Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones - Complicated Mess (4)

Anthony Gerraci - Why Did You Have To Go (4)

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani - First Born (4)

Nick Moss featuring Dennis Gruenling -  The High Cost of Low Living (4)

West Weston -  West Street (4)

Lurrie Bell & The Bell Dynasty - A Tribute To Carey Bell (3)

Bob Corritore & Friends -  Don’t Let The Devil Ride (3)

Buddy Guy - The Blues Is Alive And Well (3)   

Knock-Out Greg & the Jukes - It's a Good Thing (3)

Little Victor - Deluxe Lo-Fi (3)   

RJ Mischo - I Hope You’re Satisfied (3)

Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager - Rough Cut  (3)

Whitney Shay - A Woman Rules The World (3) 

Paul Barry - Blow Your Cool (2)

Paul Oscher - Cool Cat (2)

Shawn Pittman and Jay Moeller - Everybody Wants To Know (2)

Sam Rocket & His Blues Prisoners - Caught In The Groove (2)

Kid Ramos - Old School  (2)

Johnny Tucker - Seven Day Blues (2) 

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