Blues Rock

The sole album released by a journeyman blues-rock band from Denmark in 1970, Blues Addicts is one of those records that gets its reputation for being so obscure rather than being a lost classic, frankly speaking. But as with everything, there's always a context for some sort of reissue somewhere, and its revival on the Shadoks label in 2008 reveals it to be enthusiastic and not entirely without interest, but there's not much else to say otherwise. Backing vocalist and guitarist Ivan Horn provides liner note details from an interview in 2002 about the band's history and the circumstances surrounding the recording - it's a brief but enjoyable tale of how a bunch of young enthusiasts took to the then-new sounds of acts like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience with enthusiasm - while the fact that the group concentrated on originals rather than cover versions is definitely to their credit…

Boz Scaggs considers Out of the Blues to be the final installment in a (primarily covers) trilogy that began with 2013's Memphis and continued with 2015's A Fool to Care, excellent outings that reflected Scaggs' desire to reach back into the cradle of inspiration. This set looks back to his 1965 debut album Boz (a solo acoustic covers set released only in Sweden by Polydor) and 1997's criminally overlooked Come on Home, a woolly, house-rocking collection of (mostly) vintage R&B and soul-blues covers, for its foundation. While these early recordings don't necessarily sound similar, they make use of the work of a particular set of performers and songwriters – including Jimmy Reed and Don Robey (credited with many of Bobby "Blue" Bland's hits) – who have always provided inspiration and grounding throughout his lifetime. Whereas Scaggs' two previous offerings were produced by Steve Jordan, Boz opted to co-produce Out of the Blues with Chris Tabarez and Michael Rodriguez, creating an impression of intimacy and loose immediacy that ranks with the swampier feel of Come on Home. His band here includes holdovers bassist Willie Weeks, Jim Cox, and rhythm guitarist Ray Parker, Jr. as well drummer Jim Keltner (the kitman on Come on Home), and guitarists Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton; there is also a selectively and impactfully used three-piece horn section.

Whitesnake celebrates the blues sound that helped inspire its multi-platinum career on a new collection that features remixed and remastered versions of the group’s best blues-rock songs. THE BLUES ALBUM is the third and final release in the band’s Red, White and Blues Trilogy, a series of compilations organized by musical themes that began this year with LOVE SONGS (red) and The ROCK Album (white).

The history of BLUES PILLS can seem simple. The rock quartet formed in the Midwest in late 2011 by the bands songwriters Zack Anderson and Elin Larsson went straight from playing at dirty, crowded bars to play at some of the biggest festivals such as Download, Rock am Ring and Wacken Open Air. A true success story. Or? Not really. Under the layers of heavy psychedelic blues rock and Elin Larsson's soulful and powerful voice, the core of BLUES PILLS has always been the restless search for change. Change in the human mind and the musical influences they embraced themselves with, from blackened soul to the trippy rides through 60s garage rock music and the devils blues.

Livin Blues are without doubt the greatest Blues Band to come out of Holland, and to be honest, they deserved greater acclaim. This debut Studio Album (Although a latter release of early Sessions pre-dated this CD) featured Cesar Zuiderduik (Probably spelt the surname wrong) before he joined Hollands undisputed Kings of Rock i.e. Golden Earring. The music will appeal to those who found interest in the late 60s British Blues Boom (i.e. Fleetwood Mac,Savoy Brown,Groundhogs,Climax Blues Band etc)…

This Dutch blues band was formed in the Hague around 1967, becoming a regular outfit from 1969. The early line-up included Bjorn Toll (vocals), John Lagrand (harmonica), Ted Oberg (guitar), Ruud Fransen (bass) and Niek Dijkhuys (drums) but although the name remained wholesale changes soon took place, bringing in a new singer, Nicko Christiansen, and new bass and drums, Peter Kleinjan and Beer Klaasse, the latter pair being swiftly replaced by Gerard Strutbaum and Cesar Zuiderwijk, while keyboard player Henk Smitskamp was added. Other changes followed through the 70s, by which time the band’s repertoire was more inclined towards rock.

Universal's '2 For 1' series, compiling the albums 'Blues Dimension' (1968) and 'B.D. Is Dead, Long Live B.D.' (1969). The band was formed in Zwolle, Overijssel (The Netherlands) in 1966 by Leen Ripke. It was one of the first Dutch groups playing blues and rhythm & blues with horns. They were also one of the few bands in the 1960's that had a respectable three albums out! The band was troubled by the fact that another local band, the more popular Cuby & The Blizzards consequently stole musicians from Blues Dimension. Their biggest hit 'Get Ready' was a cover from Rare Earth. In 1969, the group's breakup was announced in the title of their last album.

The same year that Blues Creation gave us their amazing second album DEMON & ELEVEN CHILDREN, they recorded this collaboration with Carmen Maki. While it's not as consistently great as the aforemntioned album, it is a damn good seventies hard rock record…