Putumayo World Music promotes an impressive roster of blues artists on their compilation titled, American Blues. Varied blues styles are represented by 16 respected artists whose attentive selections fit together comfortably. American Blues entices the listener -- luring them into some of the finest blues recordings around. Putumayo's American Blues is a project with far-ranging appeal.

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Choice CDs...

Putumayo World Music Presents Putumayo Kids

Sing Along with Putumayo (2004) * * * * (Release Date: 03.23.04)

1 Arlo Guthrie - Bling-Blang

2 Rhonda Vincent - Bananaphone

3 Tim O'Brien - Man Gave Names to All the Animals

4 Rufus Thomas - Old MacDonald Had a Farm

5 Keb' Mo' - Love Train

6 Taj Mahal - Don't You Push Me Down

7 Rosie Flores - Red Red Robin

8 Dan Zanes and Friends - Bushel and a Peck

9 Music for Aardvarks & Other Mammals - Bellybutton Song

10 Eric Bibb - Michael Row the Boat Ashore

11 Elizabeth Mitchell & Daniel Littleton - You Are My Sunshine

12 Guy Davis - I Will Be Your Friend

Sing Along with Putumayo coordinates childhood favorites with a superb group of notable musicians on a quality recording aimed at the younger generation. Many parents will undoubtedly join in as their kids eagerly sing along to an entertaining assortment of classic tunes.

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Choice CDs...

TIME-LIFE Music (3 CD collection)

Living the Blues (1999) * * * (Contains older blues tunes)

	Disc 2- Blues Greats ... I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters Spoonful - Howlin' Wolf I'm A Man - Bo Diddley Paying The Cost To Be The Boss - BB king (and more)
Disc 1- Blues Masters ... Wee Wee Hours - Chuck Berry Dust My Broom - Elmore James Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters Key To The Highway - Little Walter Stone Crazy - Buddy Guy Black Night - Charles Brown Turn On Your Love Light - Bobby Bland (and more)	Disc 3- Blues Legends ... Call It Stormy Monday - T-Bone Walker The Things That I Used To Do - Guitar Slim The Thrill Is Gone - BB King Something's Got A hold On Me - Etta James (and more)

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RECOMMENDED ARTISTS:

Slick Ballinger Choice CDs...

Mississippi Soul (2006) * * * *

1 Sugar Mama

2 You Don't Love Me

3 Brotherhood Blues

4 Mississippi Soul

5 Let's Get Down

6 Rosalie

7 Juke House Blues

8 Bull Cow Blues

9 Slow Down

10 Sleeping Dogs Lie

11 Talkin' 'Bout Jesus

PHOTO

Young Daniel "Slick" Ballinger has gained the respect

of blues icons such as BB King and Pinetop Perkins.

"Ballinger's music and showmanship is high-energy,

deeply rooted in traditional blues -- he's the real deal."

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Eric Bibb Choice CDs...

Natural Light (2003) * * * * *

1 Too Much Stuff

2 Home Lovin' Man

3 So Sorry

4 Tell Riley

5 Guru Man Blues

6 Every Time it Rains

7 Champagne Habits

8 Water Works Fine

9 Circles

10 Right On Time

11 Gratefully Blue

12 Lucky Man Rag

13 Higher and Higher

Natural Light is a complete package ... slip it into the player ... sit back and enjoy! Two songs worthy of special mention are Tell Riley and Champagne Habits. Catching one of Eric's live performances is pure entertainment.

Eric Bibb, Rory Block, Maria Muldaur Choice CDs...

Sisters and Brothers (2004) * * * 1/2 (Gospel slants, and more ... country/blues flavor)

1 Rock Daniel

2 Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag

Your Spirit Down

3 Get Up Get Ready

4 Lean on Me

5 Bessie's Advice

6 Good Stuff

7 Rolling Log

8 Gotta Serve Somebody

9 Travelin' Woman Blues

10 Little Rain

11 Maggie Campbell

12 Give a Little More

13 My Sisters and Brothers

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Elvin Bishop Choice CDs...

The Blues Rolls On (2008) * * * * * Release Date: September 23, 2008

1 The Blues Rolls On

2 Night Time Is The Right Time

3 Yonder's Wall

4 Struttin' My Stuff

5 Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket

6 Who's The Fool

7 Black Gal

8 Oklahoma

9 Come On In This House

10 I Found Out

11 Send You Back To Georgia

12 Honest I Do

* October '08 interview

with blues guitarist Elvin Bishop

Recording artist Elvin Bishop immersed himself in the blues at a young age - his latest CD, The Blues Rolls On is pure enjoyment. Twelve retrospective tracks affirm a musician in touch with his roots and optimistic about blues' future. Keen interplay between musicians and singers showcase Elvin's forty plus years of honest blues exploration. The total package is a treat - extensive liner notes provide background on track selections, artist selection, even session notes.

For The Blues Rolls On, Elvin Bishop drives some old classics out of the garage - applies a fresh coat of paint - then invites a few friends to join him for a spin through blues country - a journey blues enthusiasts will want to take again and again. The CD confesses Bishop's love for the genre by gathering together friends, new and old. Zealous contributions from supporting artists provide additional depth and character to the whole.

The Blues Rolls On features fresh takes on classics like Yonder's Wall, featuring Ronnie Baker Brooks and Tommy Castro. Conversation between B.B. King and Elvin introduces listeners to Oliver Perry's Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket. Track 9 revisits Junior Wells' Come On In This House - Bishop's enthusiasm for genuine [grab you by the ears] blues is alive and well. Lucky for us, Elvin enjoys sharing his enthusiasm with others - such as ourselves.

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Rory Block Choice CDs...

Last Fair Deal (2003) * * * *

1 Gone Again

2 Sookie Sookie

3 Country Farm Blues

4 Last Fair Deal Gone Down

5 Declare

6 Cry Out Loud

7 Amazing Grace

8 Traveling Riverside Blues

9 Mama's Stray Baby

10 Hallelu, Hallelu

11 Two Places at a Table

12 Awesome Love

13 Look What the Lord Has Done

14 Old Friends

Rory is an amazing performer on stage. Using fierce, yet articulate strumming and slide techniques, bluesy vocals and foot stomps, the blues are delivered. Block submerges her audiences in Delta blues with Last Fair Deal. Rory Block, Martin Guitar, Delta Blues ... Last Fair Deal.

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Bill Bourne Choice CDs...

Voodoo King (2002) * * *

1 Hilfiger Heaven (intro)

2 Hilfiger Heaven

3 Portland

4 Holy Holy

5 Voodoo King

6 The Ballad of Moses Jane

7 Which Way?

8 Whadiddy Do? (trad.)

9 Freeway Babe

10 Burning Candles

11 Little Flowers

12 Grace

Bourne performs his original blend of blues with a gritty passion that pulls deep from the vaults of old masters' influences. His vocal range is engaging and his guitar work is intriguing.

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Ronnie Baker Brooks Choice CDs...

The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Review - Command Performance (2008) * * * *

1 Can't You See

2 I Fell That Old Feeling Coming On

3 Wammer Jammer

4 Still The Girl In The Band

5 See You Hurt No More

6 If It Ain't Me

Featuring: Tommy Castro, Deanna Bogart, Magic Dick, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Marcia Ball, Elvin Bishop, Curtis Salgado

7 If I Had A Nickel

8 Will It Go Round In Circles

9 She's Nineteen Years Old

10 Tell Me Mamma

11 Looking For A Love

12 High On The Hog

13 Sea Cruise

*interview with Ronnie Baker Brooks

coming December 2008

The Torch (2006) * * * * *

1 Born In Chicago

2 Are you Free For Me

3 It's On

4 A Long Goodbye

5 Love Again

6 You Wrong For That Now

7 Half

8 Be A Good Man

9 Train

10 Other Side Of Love

11 If I Don't Make Dollars, Then It Don't Make Sense

12 can't you See

13 It's All About You

14 Mack Momma

15 The Torch Of The Blues

16 Love Me baby

17 A Whole Lot Better Too

PHOTOS

The value of the dollar actually goes up in a time of economic vulnerability with the purchase of Ronnie Baker Brooks tickets. Brooks has a passion for live performance - a crowd pleaser - combining high energy blues and soulful ballads. His music and background are steeped in blues tradition - the son of Chicago bluesman Lonnie Brooks.

Ronnie Baker Brooks has carved his own signature on the blues - pulling generations together through music that transcends age barriers. His 2006 release The Torch and the 2008 DVD release Command Performance showcase the talents of this modern day bluesman.

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Grady Champion Choice CDs...

2 Days Short of a Week (2001) * * *

1 Wine And Women

2 Brother, Brother

3 Lady Luck

4 Honeybee

5 Children Of The Corn

6 Policeman Blues

7 When A Woman's Fed Up

8 Love Is My Middle Name

9 Nothing I Can Do

10 Stop Chasing Me

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Shemekia Copeland Choice CDs...

Wicked (2000) * * * *

1 It's 2a.m.

2 Not Tonight

3 Love Scene

4 The Other Woman

5 Whole Lotta Water

6 Beat Up Guitar

7 Miss Hy Ciditty

8 Up On 1-2-3

9 Wild, Wild Woman

10 The Fool You're Looking For

11 If He Moves His Lips

12 Steamy Windows

13 It's My Own Tears

Shemekia Copeland has made an impression on the blues world. Shemekia delivers the blues with authority, and vocals that demand attention. Her vocals and the variety of choice material could easily be described as the "Perfect Storm" Shemekia refuses to plant her feet in only one aspect of the blues. Showcasing varied intensities and vocal prowess, Shemekia fits in nicely amongst the ranks of seasoned blues musicians. One is known by the company one keeps, and Shemekia has certainly

surrounded herself with good friends and talented musicians.

Shemekia released her second Alligator Records CD in 2000. Her Wicked effort is what soulful blues was meant to be. Shemekia grabbed the blues by the vocal cord and didn't let go. Wicked's opening song is the rowdy, It's 2 a.m., which eventually lures listeners to the moody, Up On 1-2-5. In a song co-written by her producer and lead guitarist titled Beat Up Guitar, Shemekia also demonstrates remarkable passion for Delta blues. Special guest, and friend, Ruth Brown adds some down-home seasoning on, If He Moves His Lips.

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Detroit Women and Motor City Express Choice CDs...

Rattle Your Cage (2005) * * * *

1 Old Weakness

2 Strongest Weakness

3 My Man is Ugly

4 I'd Rather Go Blind

5 Breakin' Up Somebody's Home

6 Two Plays For A Quarter

7 Paradise

8 Leap Of Faith

9 When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

10 I Believe

11 Good Rocking Daddy

12 Bone Me

13 Save Your Breath

Detroit Women: Lady T, Stacia Petrie, Cheryl Lescom, Rhonda Bantsimba,

Kate Hart, Valerie Barrymore, Karen Vesprini, Susie Woodman

Motor City Express: Dennis Burr, Danny O'Connell, Steve Kohn

*a review of Detroit Women will be added soon... PHOTOS PHOTO-ART

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Tinsley Ellis * Choice CDs...

Storm Warning (1994) * * * *

1 To The Devil For A Dime

2 Cut You Loose

3 A Quitter Never Wins

4 Panhead

5 The Next Miss Wrong

6 Early In The Morning

7 When I Howl

8 Side Tracked

9 Wanted Man

10 The Sun Is Shining

11 Bush Doctor

12 Mercy Mercy Mercy

*Featuring the intense Tinsley Ellis ballad ... A Quitter Never Wins.

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Robben Ford and the Blue Line * Choice CDs...

Robben Ford and the Blue Line (1992) * * * *

*Robben Ford long shared Eric Johnson's bass player, Roscoe Beck.

1 The Brother (for Jimmie & Stevie)

2 You Cut Me To The Bone

3 I'm A Real Man

4 My Love For You Will Never Die

5 Step On It

6 Prison Of Love

7 Tell Me I'm Your Man

8 Start It Up

9 Life Song (one for Annie)

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Buddy Guy Choice CDs...

Feels Like Rain (1993) * * * *

The Real Deal (1996) * * * * *

_________________

1 She's A Superstar

2 I Go Crazy

3 Feels Like Rain

4 She's Nineteen Years Old

5 Some Kind Of Wonderful

6 Sufferin' Mind

7 Change In The Weather

8 I Could Cry

9 Mary Ann

10 Trouble Man

11 Country Man

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1 I've Got My Eyes On You

2 Sweet Black Angel (Black Angel Blues)

3 Talk To Me Baby

4 My Time After A While

5 I've Got News For You

6 Damn Right I've Got The Blues

7 First Time I Met The Blues

8 Ain't That Lovin' You

9 Let Me Love You Baby

Buddy Guy's Legends nightclub sign - photo by Mark's Online Music Source

Buddy Guy Live: The Real Deal - recorded at Buddy Guy's LEGENDS Nightclub

in Chicago - The lineup features G.E. Smith and The Saturday Night Live Band.

Sweet Tea (2001) * * * *

1 Done Got Old

2 Baby Please Don't Leave Me

3 Look What All You Got

4 Stay All Night

5 Tramp

6 She Got The Devil In Her

7 I Gotta Try You Girl

8 Who's Been Foolin' You

9 It's A Jungle Out There

Buddy Guy's "Sweet Tea" was placed on store shelves Tuesday, May 15, 2001. This effort from the well seasoned bluesman has received great reviews. One reviewer called Sweet Tea his best album since the 1967 release, I Left My Blues In San Francisco. I've listened to a few Buddy Guy releases since 1967 and Sweet Tea finds Buddy in the kitchen serving up some of the finest roots-blues I've heard in a long time. Sweet Tea is a must have for anyone that's serious about owning some of the best roots-blues music around.

-Mark's Online Music Source

Alone & Acoustic (an older release) * * * *

Older roots release from Buddy Guy and Junior Wells

1 Give Me My Coat And Shoes

2 Big Boat (Buddy And Junior's Thing)

3 Sweet Black Girl

4 Diggin' My Potatoes

5 Don't Leave Me

6 Rollin' And Tumblin'

7 I'm In The Mood

8 High Heel Sneakers

9 Wrong Doing Woman

10 Cut You Loose

11 Sally Mae

12 Catfish Blues

13 My Home's In The Delta

14 Boogie Chillen

15 Medley: Baby What You Want

Me To Do...

Alone & Acoustic ... 2 veteran blues legends at the top of their collective game.

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John Lee Hooker Choice CDs...

Mr. Lucky (1991) * * * *

1 I Want To Hug You

2 Mr. Lucky

3 Backstabbers

4 This Is Hip

5 I Cover The Waterfront

6 Highway

7 Stripped Me Naked

8 Susie

9 Crawlin' Kingsnake

10 Father Was A Jockey

*The performing guests provide some brilliant collaborations!

Stripped Me Naked, featuring Carlos Santana is well worth the purchase price.

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Big Jack Johnson & the Oilers Choice CDs...

Roots Stew * * *

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Billy Jones Choice CDs...

Bluez * *

1 At Da' Crossroads

2 Deal Wit' Da' Devil

3 Da' Cemetery Bluez

4 Reconsider Baby

5 Ain't No Secret

6 You Got Bad Luck

7 Da' Love Doctor

8 Breakin' Away

9 Revolution Bluez

10 Always On My Mind

11 Personal Manager - live

12 You My Everythang

13 All My Love

14 Gangsta Bluez - inst.

Bluez offers some well crafted originals performed with seasoned blues tradition. Jones' guitar work and vocals offer variety -- singing with a smoothness similiar to artists like Robert Cray. At Da' Crossroads allows Jones to reach a bit deeper -- delivering a vocal style more aligned with the soulful delivery of Buddy Guy. (c)2004 Mark's Online Music Source

My Hometown (2007) * * *

1 Here With You

2 Pull My 44

3 Right Now

4 Crystal

5 Never Let You Go

6 The Clown

7 My Hometown

8 you Upset My Soul

9 The Rumor

10 Bluez Come Callin'

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Dayna Kurtz (Sultry jazz-tinged vocals)

Choice CDs...

Beautiful Yesterday (2004) * * *

1 Music Box

2 I Belong to the Wind

3 Love Where Did You Go?

4 Left Alone

5 Joy in Repetition

6 Those Were the Days

7 Everybody Knows

8 Amsterdam Crown

9 I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

10 Lost and Looking

11 Parlez-Moi d'Amour

12 Beautiful Yesterday

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Jeff Lang (acoustic guitarist, incredible finger/slide/fret technique)

Choice CDs...

Everything is Still * * *

1 Big Feeling

2 Can't Raise My Head

3 London

4 The Point

5 Everything Is Still

6 No Good Answers

7 Gina

8 Trainwreck 49

9 Release

10 Between The Lines

11 Some Memories Never Die

Jeff Lang lives in Melbourne, Australia. Whenever there's a guitar to play and an audience to perform for, Jeff Lang is at home, regardless his geographical location. Lang's influences include John Lee Hooker, Leo Kottke, and Ry Cooder. Even though the CD, Everything is Still doesn't fully demonstrate Lang's incredible abilities, it received three stars because it includes the neat little song, London.

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Robert Lockwood Jr.

Choice CDs...

Delta Crossroads

The Legend Live

Robert Lockwood, Jr. has a very impressive background in blues -- legendary bluesman Robert Johnson met the 11 year old Lockwood, Jr. and taught him how to play blues guitar. The two musicians began traveling together and performed numerous gigs together before Johnson's untimely death. At 92, Robert Lockwood, Jr. continues to perform around the country singing the blues. Lockwood, Jr. is an encyclopedia per the original roots of blues music.

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Bob Malone Choice CDs...

Like It Or Not (2001) * * *

1 Like It Or Not

2 Meet Me In Manhattan

3 Texas

4 The Man You Love

5 Sometimes I Wish I Were Me

6 Valentines Day

7 Moderation

8 Enough

9 Tomorrow Can't Be Trusted

10 Einstein

11 Just 'Cause I Sing The Blues

(Don't Mean I Want To)

Bob Malone [could be] the Rick Wakeman of the new Millennium. His music and vocals are steeped in New Orleans Blues and his musicianship is genius. However, the artistic prowess of Bob Malone can only be appreaciated by witnessing a live performance ... visit Bob's Web site.

Malone ... a blues talent with remarkable classical background. PHOTO

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Harry Manx Choice CDs...

Dog My Cat (2001) * * * * *

1 Can't Be Satisfied

2 Bring That Thing

3 Good Morning Stranger

4 Reuben's Train

5 Lay Down My Worries

6 Rag Bihag (Dusk Rag)

7 Sunday Morning Ascension

8 Baby Please Don't Go

9 Brick And Stone

10 Song For William

11 Love Ain't No Game

12 Shame Shame Shame

13 Rag Jog (Evening Rag)

Winner of the 2002 Canadian Independent Artist Award (Blues Category). Harry Manx is a man of soulful, musical textures ... Having lived in India for several years, studying under slide guitar master Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Manx displays intriguing, subtle, techniques. Manx has a pleasant personality

in both conversation and music ... In concert, his love of music is reflected in his face as a performer and he displays an appreciative awareness of musicians around him.

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John Mayall Choice CDs...

Wake Up Call (1993) * * * *

1 Mail Order Mystics

2 Maydell

3 I Could Cry

4 Wake Up call

5 Loaded Dice

6 Undercover Agent For The Blues

7 Light The Fuse

8 Anything I Can Say

9 Nature's Disappearing

10 I'm A Sucker For Love

11 Not At Home

12 Ain't That Lovin' You Baby

Spinning Coin (1995) * * * *

1 When The Devil Starts Crying

2 Spinning Coin

3 Ain't No Brakeman

4 Double Life Feelings

5 Run

6 What Passes For Love

7 Fan The Flames

8 Voodoo Music

9 Long Story Short

10 No Big Hurry

11 Remember This

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Keb' Mo' * * * * ...Great songwriter, guitarist, singer:

(Delta blues, Country blues and Folk.) Choice CDs...

- Keb' Mo' (1994) * * * * *

- A Little Mo' (1994) * * * * (Limited Edition release)

- Just Like You (1996) * * * *

- Slow Down (1998) * * * * *

- The Door (2000) * *

- Big Wide Grin (2001) * * * *

1994 Limited Edition release A LITTLE MO'

* Big Wide Grin takes a detour from the blues, providing listeners

a collection of cover songs - some with intriguing new arrangements.

Kevin Moore traveled and performed with various bands and blues artists through the years, refining his talents and embracing a love for the blues. In 1980, the relatively unknown blues singer and musician released a solo album called, Rainmaker. As with many of the more famous blues musicians, Kevin's name eventually underwent a transformation and Moore respectfully became known as Keb' Mo'.

I walked into a music store one afternoon in 1994 ... Keb' had just released his second solo effort simply titled Keb' Mo'. I bought the CD and also received a complimentary four song EP titled, A Little Mo'. The limited edition EP accompanied the first shipments of that 1994 release. It wasn't long before blues lovers around the country began taking note of Keb's music. Soon, success had not only found it's way to Moore's doorstep ... success even rang the doorbell.

-Mark's Online Music Source Keb' Mo' Concert Review

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Magic Slim & the Teardrops Choice CDs...

Snakebite (2000) * * *

1 What's Wrong

2 Snakebite

3 Please Don't Dog Me

4 Key To Your Door

5 Shake It

6 I Ain't Lookin' For No Love

7 Country Boy

8 Lump On Your Stump

9 Lonesome Trouble

10 The Man You Need

11 Mind Your Own Business

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Maria Muldaur Choice CDs...

Fanning the Flames (1996) * * *

1 Home Of The Blues

2 Fanning The Flames

3 Trust In My Love

4 Somebody Was Watching Over Me

5 Heaven On Earth