Mojo From June 2016

Lightnin’ Hopkins is widely considered one of the great popular architects of the blues style that came be known as “country blues” and which proved to be huge influence on the future development of Rock ‘n’ Roll. “Mojo Hand” was one of Hopkins‘ signature tunes. Mixing his own style with Louisiana Creole and voodoo culture, the song ripples with an occult energy.This album, recorded for Fire Records, is especially interesting because it casts Hopkins in a more R&B-flavored environment. This obvious effort to get a hit takes for some excellent blues; moody and powerful performances play throughout. The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings wrote that "Lightnin' is focussed and businesslike and delivers a strong and varied sequence of songs; the bassist and drummer unobtrusive but very much there”.

Containing 1CD per year of live material taken from 2014-2018, Audio Diary features King Crimson in its ideal environment - recorded live.

"In our imaginations, John was Buddy Holly and I was Little Richard." So said Paul McCartney many moons ago, admitting the key influences on both himself and John Lennon in terms of the pair’s initial vocal styling. In fact, Messrs Holly and Penniman were just two artists whose impact on The Beatles was evident from the band’s choice of cover tunes. Indeed, all of the tracks featured on this bespoke Mojo compilation were covered by John, Paul, George and Ringo during the band’s formative period.
Our 15-track collection starts with The Isley Brothers’ uproarious 1959 hit, Shout. The Beatles themselves first cut their version at London’s IBC Studios on April 19, 1964, for inclusion in Jack Good’s TV extravaganza, Around The Beatles. The latter was broadcast in the UK on May 6 and November 15 in the US…

This 15-track CD is a tribute to those days when the Big Apple proved to be a genuine crucible for a whole host of remarkable talents. From Joan Baez to Allen Ginsberg, from John Lee Hooker (with whom Dylan shared a bill in 61) to The Foc’sle Singers (featuring Bob's pals Dave Van Ronk and Paul Clayton), welcome to your soundtrack to this month's issue. Welcome to Dylan's Scene.

Hot Blues From A Cold Place, is a live-in-the-studio album recorded by Pinetop Perkins in 1991, in Reykjavik, Iceland - of all places. The pianist is as delightful and effervescent as ever on this live/studio outing. The album is an interesting collaboration of cultures. The Icelandic musicians provide an energetic and respectful backdrop for the legendary pianist. Thankfully they do not attempt to duplicate the Chicago Blues sound, but they are brilliantly supportive while projecting their own cultural depth and feelings. Some of the tracks are live and the audience's enthusiasm shines through nicely. Chicago Beau’s harmonica work is at its most effective on "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "Just Keep on Drinking".

The Little Village Foundation run by keyboardist Jim Pugh assembled this band through Indian blues harmonica player & singer Aki Kumar, who brought drummer June Core and guitarist Rome Yamilov, deciding to make the release a "crazy guitar album" by adding Henry Kaiser; along with vocalist Lisa Leuschnet they hit the mark in an exuberantly diverse set of blues performing the music of J.B. Lenoir.