Staples Helm

In 2011, Mavis Staples stepped into Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, New York (better known as The Barn) for a Midnight Ramble performance that would end up being her last with Helm, who died the following year. That performance will become public with the release of ‘Carry Me Home,’ a recording of that performance that represents some of Helm’s final recordings before his death.

This soundtrack to the movie features an astonishing array of blues artists from three generations. Recorded during one long night at NYC's Radio City Music Hall on Feb. 7, 2003, the electricity is in the air and on stage. While it may not have been the finest blues show in history, the collection of founding fathers such as David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Buddy Guy, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Larry Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Solomon Burke, and the ubiquitous B.B. King along with their spiritual offspring (Gregg Allman, John Fogerty, and Steven Tyler) and some usual suspects like Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, and Keb' Mo', makes it arguably the most significant blues session ever captured on film. Beginning acoustic, the double disc builds momentum and volume as we hear the blues mutate to electric and finally hip-hop with Chuck D. exploding on a rap version of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom".

The Band - The Last Waltz (1976) {40th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set Rhino Records 2016}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 1.59 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 584 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 1.15 Gb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2016 Rhino / Warner | 081227943554
Rock / Classic Rock / Country Rock / Rock & Roll / Contemporary Rock

The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian rock group, The Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The Last Waltz was advertised as the end of The Band's illustrious touring career, and the concert saw The Band joined by more than a dozen special guests, including Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood and Neil Young.

The Band - Across The Great Divide (1994) {3 CD Box Set Capitol D207193}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.23 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 514 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 170 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1994 Capitol Records | D207193
Rock / Album Rock / Country-Rock / Folk-Rock / Psychedelic / Rock & Roll

Let face it… The Band brought new life to U.S. musical expression in the 60's after the British invasion. Across the Great Divide: continues that legacy. These're some of my favorite listening pieces, and as a longtime Band fan, I think matches the feel and diversity of "Americana roots" music that "The Band" brought to the ears of the world via North America. May these cuts carry on this traditional inspiration for musicians and music lovers everywhere.

Final recordings: Face to Face combines previously released material from John Lee Hooker with unfinished tracks he was working on before he died. Compiled by the estate of Hooker, with his daughter Zakiya at the helm, the unreleased material leans heavily toward soul-blues united with Hooker's patented electric Delta boogie. "Loving People," "Funky Mabel," "Six Page Letter" (a ballad with synth strings), and "Rock These Blues Away" are highlights. Zakiya Hooker takes the spotlight on "Mean Mean World," singing lead alongside her father, and the acoustic "Wednesday Evening Blues" features George Thorogood on guitar.