Welcome to the 2020 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 individuals who have been part of the blues scene for many years.

In this past horrific, apocalyptic year we learned a lot about ourselves and what truly makes us tick. Because of social distancing protocols and general regard for our own safety, many of us (including myself) have been estranged from family and, of course, our friends as well. For all practical purposes live music has disappeared, making the recording part of this artform all the more important.

This feature remains one of my favorite projects that 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. As many aspects of our social lives came to a screeching halt in March of last year, we heard people discuss binge watching the myriad of viewing options we have available to us. These ten individuals, like myself, do what we have always done, engage in binge listening.

Regardless of any of these individual’s involvement with this music, the one thing each has in common with the others is that they are true listeners, connoisseurs and lovers of the music.

We have participants coming from three separate continents and as many countries. In the U.S. we have folks from all over including the Midwest, Florida and the Northeast. Admittedly my home state of 39 million folks is underrepresented with only two participants. This isn’t the U.S. Senate, so who cares.

My question to them was simple: “What are your ten favorite blues albums of 2020?”

How we do things around here is pretty simple. The only criteria for these recordings is that they must be made up of new material which was released in the calendar year of 2020. 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 are your favorite blues album(s) of 2020?

Kelly Angeley - Huntington Beach, California (USA)

Kelly is a graduate of Western Washington University. She is a published author who wrote Explorations on Bead Weaving. Before the pandemic she was a full-time yoga instructor. She is a blues singer and guitar player. She was inspired to play the acoustic guitar by Doug MacLeod and the electric by Rick Holmstrom. Her axe of choice is the Fender Telecaster, thus inspiring her popular moniker “Tele-Kelly.” More importantly, as far as this exercise is concerned, she is a voracious listener. I first met Kelly on May 6^th, 2017. I was attending a surprise birthday party celebrating my 60th birthday. The private invite only party which included Jeff Scott Fleenor and Michael Kinsman, who are long time participants in this feature, was followed by a public celebration which included local musicians and a blues style jam. By midnight it was May 7th (my actual birthday.) It was then that Kelly took the stage. What I didn’t realize at the time was that it was her birthday as well. Kelly has, in a relatively short time, become a valuable friend and confidante. We welcome her to this feature.

Lee Fields Let’s Get a Groove On

The James Hunter Six Nick of Time

JW-Jones Sonic Departures

Konstantin Kolesnichenko Quartet Tenderly

Mighty Mojo Prophets Sounds from the Jungle Hut

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash! 

Ruzz Guitar's Blues Revue The Instrumental Sounds of…

Tammi Savoy and the Chris Casello Combo That Rock ‘N’ Roll Rhythm!

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones featuring Little Charlie Too Far From The Bar

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!                                                                                                                        

Chico Blues - Sao Paulo, Brazil

I first became aware of Chico in 2007 when Lynwood Slim told me about this cat from Brazil who was hip to the blues. Even though I don’t speak Portuguese, Chico’s native tongue, we speak the same language of music. He was interviewed here in BLUES JUNCTION way back in 2011 with the help of his daughter. We first met in person a couple of years later when he joined The Igor Prado Band on a tour of Southern California where they backed up Lynwood Slim. 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.    

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite 100 Years Of Blues

Robert Cray Band That's What I Heard

Anthony Gomes Containment Blues

Harmonica Shah & Howard Glazer Ain't Gonna Worry About Tomorrow

John Németh Stronger Than Strong

John Primer & Bob Corritore The Gypsy Woman Told Me

The Proven Ones You Ain't Done

Whitney Shay Stand Up!

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne Go, Just Do It!

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!                  

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

Don is a long-time blues journalist. Back in the early 2000s he was a founding editor of one of the first online blues journals entitled BluesWax. It is where I first became aware of his work in the blues field.  He is the former editor for the Central Iowa Blues Society Newsletter and author of 76 monthly feature articles entitled Legends of the Blues. 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 is featured on the station rated ‘Best Radio Station’ in Cityview’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. He has been an occasional contributor to BLUES JUNCTION and has participated with this feature since its inception a few years ago.

Andrew Alli Hard Workin' Man

Dustin Arbuckle & the Damnations My Getaway

Big Creek Slim & the Cockroaches Ramblin' Big Creek

Chris Corcoran Band Coolerator

Franck L. Goldwasser Sweet Little Black Spider

Devan Jones Next Time You See Me

Shawn Pittman Make It Right!

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash!

Sugar Ray & the Bluetones featuring Little Charlie Too Far From The Bar

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!

Jeff Scott Fleenor - Garden Grove, California (USA) 

I first met Jeff when I returned to California after living abroad (Texas) for twelve years. This was in the mid-90’s and by then he was already developing a fairly sophisticated aural palette. In those intervening twenty-five years Jeff has become a blues historian and archivist of the highest order and is universally recognized as the world’s leading authority on the international blues scene. He spent a decade employed by the Virgin Megastore as a Southern California Specialty Music Buyer and hosted his own radio show "The Blues Disease" on KUCI 88.9 FM for 15 years (1996-2011). From 2000-2003 he was involved as the talent buyer and M.C. for the prestigious Blues on the Bay Festival in Newport Beach, California, and has held a role as talent adviser to the Doheny Blues Festival for 20 years, with particular respect to helping create and establish the import slot. Additionally, he has written liner notes for dozens of albums, as well as produced numerous projects for Delta Groove Music, including the Mannish Boys' "Double Dynamite," BMA winner for Traditional Blues Album of the Year. Jeff has become an invaluable resource to me, as we discuss this music for hours at a time every week of the year.

Chris Corcoran Band Coolerator

Mike Flanigin West Texas Blues

The James Hunter Six Nick of Time

Konstantin Kolesnichenko Quartet Tenderly

Mojo Blues Band Shutdown

Iker Piris and His Dual Electras Electras

Victor Puertas & Max Genouel Recording Session

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash!

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones featuring Little Charlie Too Far from the Bar

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!

Andrew Grant - Perth, Western Australia                                      

Andrew is one of our longtime readers. He was introduced to blues music at the age of 15 in 1971 when he first heard Muddy Water’s album Live at Mr. Kelly’s. Albums by Freddy King and Hound Dog Taylor followed. Andrew admits that living on the other side of the world in the pre-internet days made finding out about real blues difficult. Things changed in the mid 80’s when Andrew owned and operated a second-hand record store. It is where he was able to network with like-minded individuals. One of these was Craig Lawrence who turned Andrew on to the likes of Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl and others. Andrew told me that 35 years later these two mates are still turning one another on to great new blues artists and new albums. He also went on to say, “The Internet has enabled music nuts like me to discover more new wonderful music. This was unimaginable not so long ago. The process however requires some guidance from some leaders with vision, knowledge and a good ear. Folks like David Mac, Charlie Lange and the man I would like to pay tribute to for leading me towards so much great music, Tom Hyslop. Tom died of cancer one year ago this week.” We welcome Andrew to BLUES JUNCTION.

Al Basile Last Hand   

Big Harp George Living In The City

Kirk Fletcher My Blues Pathway

Martin Lang Bad Man

Ben Levin Carry Out Or Deliver

John Németh Stronger Than Strong

The Proven Ones You Ain't Done

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash!

Kai Strauss In My Prime

Sugar Ray & the Bluetones featuring Little Charlie Too Far From The Bar

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!

Lee “East Side Slim” Howland - Saint Louis, Missouri (USA)

Lee is a DJ and Programmer at KDHX 88.1 FM in Saint Louis and world-wide at kdhx.org. East Side Slim hosts a program entitled Rhythm Highways. Tune in to hear blues, R&B, gospel, swing, soul, rock 'n' roll, jazz and roadhouse, even the occasional honky tonk and western swing. (see our links page) Thanks Lee for returning to Dave’s Top Ten List of Top Ten Lists.

Andrew Alli Hard Workin’ Man

John Blues Boyd What My Eyes Have Seen

Kevin Burt Stone Crazy

Robert Cray Band That’s What I Heard

Dedicated Men of Zion Can’t Turn Me Around

Kirk Fletcher My Blues Pathway

Franck L. Goldwasser Sweet Little Black Spider

Johnny Iguana Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular

The Legendary Ingramettes Take A Look At The Book

John Németh Stronger Than Strong

Ken Johnson - Washington Township-Glaucester County, New Jersey (USA)

I first met Ken Johnson and his wife Linda a few years ago in a coffee shop in Dana Point, California. We were directly across the street from the site of the Doheny Blues Festival which was scheduled to take place in a few hours. I was having breakfast with David Kiefer aka San Pedro Slim who was singing and blowing harp with Mark Mumea (g/v) and Jerry Carega (b) of the Silver Kings at the festival.  Ken walked by our table and introduced himself and knew David, Mark and Jerry by name. He told us he was from Baltimore (his home at the time) and was in California to attend the festival. I reached out my hand to introduce myself. Ken interrupted me and with a broad smile said “I know you Dave and know these guys because of you and BLUES JUNCTION”. Needless to say, Ken, Linda and myself remain friends. They have since gotten to know Tracy and we get together when they come to California. Ken remains a loyal subscriber to BLUES JUNCTION and is a true friend of the blues.

Andrew Alli Hard Workin’ Man

Kirk Fletcher My Blues Pathway

Martin Lang Bad Man

John Németh Stronger Than Strong

John Primer & Bob Corritore The Gypsy Woman Told Me

Kid Ramos & Bob Corritore Phoenix Sessions

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash!

Sonny Green Found! One Soul Singer

Sugar Ray & the Bluetones featuring Little Charlie Too Far From The Bar

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!

Michael Kinsman - Memphis, Tennessee (USA)

I first met Michael at a private event for which he was largely responsible. He assembled young music students from the San Diego area who wanted to learn to play blues music. He put together a band with Scottie Blinn who lent his home to host this tutorial. Guitarist Anson Funderburgh flew out from Texas to perform, visit with the kids and share with them some pointers he has accumulated in a lifetime of playing blues music at the highest level. For more than three decades, Michael has written about blues and roots music for various publications, including the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, Blues Revue Magazine, Blues Music Magazine and VH1.com. He has interviewed more than 500 roots and blues music artists and written more than 800 hundred CD reviews. He is the founder and producer of the San Diego Blues Festival, which has emerged as one of the premier blues festivals in the country. He now resides in Memphis. Michael and I remain good friends. I cherish those evenings after his San Diego Blues Festival where after parties included kicking back with Michael (a world class raconteur) in a hotel room. Those stories would go on ‘til all hours of the morning.

Kevin Burt Stone Crazy

Don Bryant You Make Me Feel

Robert Cray Band That’s What I Heard

Dion Blues With Friends

Kirk Fletcher My Blues Pathway

Sonny Green Found! One Soul Singer

Jimmy Johnson Every Day Of Your Life

Larkin Poe Self-Made Man

John Németh Stronger Than Strong

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!

Craig Lawrence - Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Craig is a native of Perth. This is Western Australia’s 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. He recently moved thousands of miles away to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. We welcome Craig back into the JUNCTION.  

Ronnie Earl Rise Up

Kirk Fletcher My Blues Pathway

Sonny Green Found! One Soul Singer

John Németh Stronger Than Strong

The Proven Ones You Ain’t Done

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash!

Ruzz Guitar's Blues Revue The Instrumental Sounds of…

Kai Strauss In My Prime

Sugar Ray & The Bluetones featuring Little Charlie Too Far From The Bar

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!

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 Music Magazine and Blues Blast as well as the Chicago Blues Guide. Mark is a veteran of this feature. We welcome him back and feel honored to be able to “publish” his contribution. 

Don Bryant You Make Me

Shemekia Copeland Uncivil War

Mike Flanigin West Texas Blues

Sonny Green Found! One Soul Singer

John Németh Stronger Than Strong 

Shawn Pittman Make It Right!

Duke Robillard & Friends Blues Bash!

The Sons of the Soul Revivers Songs We’ll Always Sing

Various Artists The Lockdown Sessions

Kim Wilson Take Me Back!