I thought it would be fun to hear from various folks in the blues world as to their top ten albums of the year. I reached out to folks from all over the country and, as you might suspect, all over the world who were willing to take on the arduous and thankless task of trying to determine their favorite blues albums of 2013. I would like to give a hearty THANK YOU to the participants who I have been in touch with over the past couple of weeks. I love the fact that all of the participants took this not so serious task very seriously. They put what I like to call well informed, highly opinionated, objectivity on display and on the line. So here is my Top Ten List of Top Ten Lists.

Chico Blues, Sao Paulo Brazil / Founder and President of Chico Blues Records / Note: Chico took the high road here and excluded in his top ten list several of the fine CDs that his label produced in 2013.

1)      Remembering Little Walter - Various Artists (Blind Pig)

2)      James Cotton - Cotton Mouth Man (Alligator)

3)      John Primer and Bob Corritore - Knockin’ Around These Blues (Delta Groove)

4)      Barrelhouse Chuck and Kim Wilson’s Blues All-Stars - Driftin’ From Town To Town (The Sirens)

5)      Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Just For Today (Stony Plain)

6)      Lurrie Bell – Blues In My Soul (Delmark)

7)      The Duke Robillard Band - Independently Blue (Stony Plain)

8)      Sugar Ray Rayford - Dangerous (Delta Groove)

9)      Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King - Road Dog’s Life (Delta Groove)  

10)   Steve Freund - Come On In This House (9 Below Productions)

Don T-Bone Erickson, Des Moines, Iowa /  Long time blues journalist, writer and editor / Host of 'T-Bone's House Rockin' Blues Party' and 'The Groove Zone' at KFMG 99.1 FM, Des Moines  / Chairman of the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame / Former Editor for the Central Iowa Blues Society Newsletter and author of 76 monthly feature articles entitled 'Legends of the Blues.'

1)      Ari Borger & Igor Prado - Lowdown Boogie (Chico Blues)

2)      San Pedro Slim - One Room Utilities Paid No Pets (Barroom Blues)

3)      Sugaray Rayford - Dangerous (Delta Groove)

4)      Ruff Kutt Blues Band - That's When The Blues Begins (VizzTone)

5)      Roomful Of Blues - 45 Live (Alligator)

6)      4 Jacks - Deal With It (EllerSoul)

7)      The Duke Robillard Band - Independently Blue (Stony Plain)

8)      Moreland & Arbuckle - 7 Cities (Telarc)

9)      MonkeyJunk - All Frequencies (Stony Plain)

10)  Trampled Under Foot - Badlands (Concord)

Jeff Scott Fleenor, Garden Grove, California / The recognized leading authority on the international blues scene / had been the Southern California Regional Specialty Music Buyer for Virgin Mega Stores / for 15 years was the host of a Southern California based radio show called The Blues Disease / Has written liner notes for over two dozen albums / had been Co-Producer for the “Blues on Bay” festival in Newport Beach / International Talent Coordinator for the Doheny Blues Festival /  produced 12 albums for Delta Groove Music / Editors Note: Jeff remains in the employ of Delta Groove Music and like Chico Blues, excluded albums that were produced by that label in 2013

1) Trickbag  - Trickbag with Friends_ Vol. 1 (Magic)

2) Finis Tasby & Kid Andersen  - Snap! Your Fingers (Bluebeat)

3) Ari Borger & Igor Prado  - Lowdown Boogie (Chico Blues)

4) Tomi Leino Trio - Get on Down (Homework)

5) The James Hunter Six  - Minute by Minute (Fantasy)

6) Greg Izor & the Box Kickers - Close to Home (Tangle Eye)

7) 4 Jacks - Deal with It  (EllerSoul)

8) Doug MacLeod  -There's a Time (Reference)

9) Nico Duportal and His Rhythm Dudes - Real Rockin' Papa (Crazy Time)

10) Knut Reiersrud - Afton Blues (Bluestown)

Tom Hyslop, Negaunee, Michigan   Contributing Editor and senior writer for Blues Music Magazine / In more than 15 years as writer for Blues Revue Magazine has profiled artists Magic Slim, Phillip Walker, Nick Curran, Rick Estrin, Jody Williams, Duke Robillard, Kim Wilson, Nick Moss, John Primer, Big Jack Johnson, Sean Costello, Gary Clarke Jr. and others

1)    Magic Sam - Live at the Avant Garde, June 22, 1968 (Delmark)

2)    Holland K. Smith - Cobalt (Ellersoul)

3)    Ari Borger & Igor Prado -Lowdown Boogie (Chico Blues)

4)    Nikki Hill - Here's Nikki Hill (Deep Fried Records)

5)    John Primer & Bob Corritore - Knockin' Around These Blues (Delta Groove Productions)

6)    Trickbag - Trickbag with Friends Vol. 1 (Magic)

7)    4 Jacks - Deal With It (Ellersoul)

8)    Lou Pride - Ain't No Love in This House (Severn)

9)    Barrelhouse Chuck & Kim Wilson - Driftin' From Town to Town (The Sirens)

10)   Finis Tasby / Kid Andersen - Snap Your Fingers (Bluebeat Music)

Michael Kinsman, San Diego, California /  Has written about blues and roots music for the San Diego Tribune for the past twenty years /produced music festivals since 1998, including the San Diego Blues Festival for which he remains the festival’s Producer / 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.

1)      Eric Burdon -  ‘Til Your River Runs Dry (ABKCO Records)

2)      Chris James & Patrick Rynn - Barrelhouse Stomp (Earwig)

3)      North Mississippi Allstars -  World Boogie is Coming  (Songs of the South)

4)      Tony Joe White -  Hoodoo (Yep Roc) 

5)       Fabulous Thunderbirds -  On The Verge (Severn)

6)       Monkey Junk -  All Frequencies (Stony Plain)

7)      Kevin Selfe -  Long Walk Home (Delta Groove)

8)      Andy T-Nick Nixon Band -  Drink, Drank, Drunk (Delta Groove)

9)      R.B. Stone - Loosen Up (Middle Mountain Music)

10)   Dave Keller -  Soul Changes (Self Released)

Charlie Lange, Santa Cruz, California / Founder and president of Bluebeat Music / Blues Radio Host for 36 years

1)      Magic Sam - Live at the Avant Garde 1968 (Delmark)

2)      Steve Freund - Come On In This House (9 Below Productions)

3)      Barrelhouse Chuck/Kim Wilson - Driftin' From Town to Town  (The Sirens)

4)      TrickBag TrickBag with Friends Volume 1(Magic)

5)      Finis Tasby/Kid Andersen - Snap Your Fingers (Bluebeat Music)

6)      Cashbox Kings - Black Toppin’ (Blind Pig)

7)      4 Jacks - Deal With It (EllerSoul)

8)      Ari Borger/Igor Prado - Lowdown Boogie (Chico Blues)

9)      Nikki Hill – Here’s Nikki Hill (Deep Fryed Records)

10)   The Walter Davis Project – Various Artists (Electrofi)

Rene Malines, Paris, France / Blues Music Fan / Record collector with more than 10,000 titles in his library / traveled the European and American festival circuits

1)      Leyla McCalla -  Vari-Colored Songs (Dixiefrog)

2)      Nikki Hill, Deke & Dickerson w/ the Bo-Keys - Soul Meets Country (EP) (Major Label Records)

3)      Harrison Kennedy – Soulscape (Dixiefrog)

4)      Sugaray Rayford -  Dangerous (Delta Groove)

5)       Big Daddy Wilson -  I'm Your Man (Dixiefrog)

6)       Finis Tasby/Kid Andersen  -  Snap Your Fingers! (Bluebeat Music)

7)       Frank Bey & The Anthony Paule Band - You Don't Know Nothing (Blue Dot)

8)      Watermelon Slim -  Bull Goose Rooster (NorthernBlues)

9)      James Cotton -  Cotton Mouth Man (Alligator)

10)   Roomful Of Blues - 45 Live (Alligator)

James Nagel “ The Blues Hound”,  Houston, Texas / Vice President of the Houston Blues Society /  Advisory Board of the Houston Blues Museum / member of the Austin Blues Society / member of the DFW Blues Society / member of the Blues Foundation / Texas Radio show host of “Howlin’ the Blues” 90.1 FM KPFT

1)      Tedeschi Trucks - Made Up Mind  (Sony Masterworks)

2)      Buddy Guy - Rhythm & Soul  (RCA)

3)     Trampled Under Foot - Badlands  (Concord Music Group)

4)      James Cotton - Cotton Mouth Man  (Alligator)

5)      Frank Bey & Anthony Paule Band - Soul For Your Blues  (Blue Dot)

6)      Andy T. & Nick Nixon Band - Drink Drank Drunk  (Delta Groove)

7)      Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Seesaw  (J&R Adventure)

8)      Mighty Mike Schermer - Be Somebody  (Texi-Cali Music)

9)      Holland K. Smith - Cobalt  (EllerSoul)

10)  Johnny Rawls - Remembering O.V.Wright  (Catfood Records)

Christine Vitale, San Francisco, California/Publicity and Marketing  Editors Note: Ms. Vitale's clients include Frank Bey & Anthony Paule Band, The Hound Kings and Paul Filipowicz.

1)      Frank Bey & Anthony Paule Band -  Soul for Your Blues (Blue Dot)

2)      Frank Bey & Anthony Paule Band - You Don’t Know Nothing (Blue Dot)

3)      The Hound Kings – Unleashed (Nine Below)

4)      Paul Filipowicz - Saints and Sinners (Self released)

5)      Nikki Hill - Here’s Nikki Hill (Deep Fryed Records)

6)      The Cash Box Kings - Black Toppin’ (Blind Pig)

7)      Holland K. Smith – Cobalt (Ellersoul)

8)      James Cotton - Cotton Mouth Man (Alligator Records)

9)      The 4 Jacks - Deal With It (Ellersoul)

10)   Rory Block - Avalon: A tribute to Mississippi John Hurt (Stony Plain Music)

Tracy M., Huntington Beach, California/ Energy Software Consultant / the person generally recognized as the brains behind BLUES JUNCTION Productions / cohabitates with a huge blues nerd

1)      Mighty Mojo Prophets – Flying Home from Memphis (Delta Groove)

2)       San Pedro Slim- One Room Utilities Paid No Pets (Barroom Blues Music)

3)       Laura Rain & The Caesars – Electrified (Self Produced)

4)       James Hunter Six – Minute by Minute (Fantasy)

5)       Ari Borger & Igor Prado – Low Down Boogie (Chico Blues)

6)       The 4 Jacks – Deal with it (Ellersoul)

7)       Finis Tasby & Kid Andersen – Snap Your Fingers (Bluebeat Music)

8)       Nikki Hill – Here’s Nikki Hill (Deep Fryed Records)

9)       Barry Cuda & Uganda Roberts - My World Blues Roots (Self Produced)

10)    Clairy Brown and the Banging Rackettes – Baby Caught the Bus (Vanguard)