Includes selections by Ray Charles, Jimmy Witherspoon, Charles Brown, Jimmy Reed, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, BB King, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Earl Hooker, and Jimmy Rushing. LP, Vinyl record album

One of Bobby Blue Bland's best albums ever – a stunning mix of blues and soul that's the kind of killer stuff that will make you a fan of his forever! There's no beating Bland at this point in his career – and the record is one of the finest illustrations of the power he brought to his work, subtly balancing a sense of class with rootsier down-hominess that few other singers could ever handle so well. That blend allowed Bobby to reach out to way more audiences than most of his contemporaries – and it's still equally powerful today – and the album's arrangements by Joe Scott are impeccable, with a slight touch of jazz that we totally love. The album includes classics like "That's The Way Love Is", "Call On Me", "Cry Lover Cry", "Care For Me", "Bobby's Blues", and "Honky Tonk". This is the 70s version of the original album – and features a different cover than the original. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic late 60s set from John Lee Hooker – one that has the legend working in a mode that echoes some of the funkier soul styles of the time, but with a vibe that's still very much in the best spirit of his classic work! The groove is slightly amped up by the electric bass of Eddie Taylor and tight drums of Al Duncan, but the session just features a quartet – with the mighty Phil Upchurch on second guitar next to John's lead – and Hooker delivering some fantastic vocals throughout! Titles include "Hot Spring Water (parts 1 & 2)", "Backbiters & Syndicaters", "Mr Lucky", "Cry Before I Go", "I'm Standing In Line", "The Motor City Is Burning", "Want Ad Blues", and "I Can't Stand To Leave You". CD

A 60s set from Memphis bluesman BB King – but one put together with a very distinct Chicago touch as well! The set's produced by Johnny Pate, and recorded live with a vibe that's similar to King's classic recording at The Regal – but it's almost got even more of a soulful punch, thanks to backing from a cool small combo that includes Bobby Forte on tenor, Kenneth Sands on trumpet, Duke Jethro on Hammond, and Louis Satterfield on bass! BB's vocals are great – in his best early form – and the tunes are bluesy, but also smoke with a nice degree of soul – and almost some jazzy touches at times from the tenor and organ. Titles include "Don't Answer The Door", "Blind Love", "Tired Of Your Jive", "Night Life", "Buzz Me", and "Waitin On You". CD

A great setting for the legendary Jimmy Reed – working here with a tight groove, thanks to the band of Al Smith – who also produced the session! Wayne Bennett is on lead guitar, Lefty Bates on rhythm, and Jimmy Reed handles guitar and harmonica too. LP, Vinyl record album

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Titles include "Honest I Do", "Big Boss Man", "Shame, Shame, Shame", "Aw Shucks", "Hush Your Mouth", "Bright Lights, Big City", "Sun Is Shining", "Good Lover", "Close Together", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

A nice dose of jazz – as usual for Jimmy – thanks to some arrangements by Oliver Nelson, plus piano from Dave Frishberg and tenor from Buddy Tate! Titles include "You Can't Run Around", "Blues In The Dark", "Tell Me I'm Not To Late", "Berkely Campus Blues", and "Undecided Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A hip little record – produced by Bob Thiele as pre-Flying Dutchman effort, and with some of the great vibe of the blues records on that label! The set's got an unusual lineup – with jazzman Richard Williams on trumpet, plus Ed Davis on tenor, Marshall Hooks on guitar, Curtis Tillman on bass, Robert Schedel on piano, and Big Jim Wynn on saxophones. One track also features guitar from Art Adams and harmonica from Lightnin Rod – and titles include "Blues For Reverend King", "Ode To Billie Joe", "If You Were A Rabbit", "Juicy Harmonica", "Help Me", and "A Letter To The President". CD

A raw soul classic from Otis Spann – one of those great late 60s dates from the time when Bob Thiele was producing the Bluesway label for ABC, and really found a way to bring out the best in artists like Otis! Spann had always been great, but there's a bolder, edgier quality here – both in his vocals, which really push things to the max with their inflections – and his piano playing, which is loose and fluid – in the company of Muddy Waters and Luther Johnson on guitar, George Buford on harmonica, and Lucille Spann on some additional guest vocals! Buford is great, too – a wonderful second "voice" on the record – and titles include "Diving Duck", "Shimmy Baby", "Looks Like Twins", "Doctor Blues", "Nobody Knows", "Down To Earth", "My Man", and "Heart Loaded With Trouble". CD

A set that features great early Junior Parker material, recorded during his years on the soulful powerhouse Duke Records! Titles include "Goodbye Little Girl", "My Love Is Real", "I'm Gonna Take A Chance", "It Ain't Like That No More", "If You Can't Take It", "What Kind Of Love", "Today I Sing The Blues", and "Little Old Lover Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool album from the great Earl Hooker – playing guitar and singing here – in a cool combo with Blues Boy Odom on guest vocals, Johnny Big Moose Walker on piano and organ, and Jeffrey M Carp on harmonica! LP, Vinyl record album

Early brilliance from Joe Walsh – whose guitar and vocals are amazing here! Titles include "Take A Look Around", "Funk #48", "Bluebird", "Collage", "Lost Woman", and "Fred". LP, Vinyl record album

A 60s set from Memphis bluesman BB King – but one put together with a very distinct Chicago touch as well! The set's produced by Johnny Pate, and recorded live with a vibe that's similar to King's classic recording at The Regal – but it's almost got even more of a soulful punch, thanks to backing from a cool small combo that includes Bobby Forte on tenor, Kenneth Sands on trumpet, Duke Jethro on Hammond, and Louis Satterfield on bass! BB's vocals are great – in his best early form – and the tunes are bluesy, but also smoke with a nice degree of soul – and almost some jazzy touches at times from the tenor and organ. Titles include "Don't Answer The Door", "Blind Love", "Tired Of Your Jive", "Night Life", "Buzz Me", and "Waitin On You". LP, Vinyl record album

BB King not just live, but well-recorded in the studio too – in this classic ABC set that showcases both sides of his talents! Side one is the live set – and it's arguably better than any of the previous other concert recordings he did for the label – with a tighter, moodier feel that's almost more small club – with backing from a combo that features Charlie Boles on Hammond, Patrick Williams on trumpet, and Lee Gatling on tenor. Live titles include "Just A Little Love", "Sweet Little Angel", "Don't Answer The Door", and "Please Accept My Love". Side two is studio material, with some mighty sweet arrangements by Johnny Pate that almost bring a bit of funk into the mix at times – particularly on the drums which really groove things along! Herbe Lovelle handles the drum kit, and overall things are leaner than any previous Pate work with King – nice and raw, on cuts that include "I Want You So Bad", "Friends", "Get Off My Back Woman", and "Why I Sing The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 60s bluesy-psych album by Outlaw Blues Band! The group's got equal parts funk and equal parts blues, and they play with kind of trippy approach to the music that's filled with lots of wry touches – both instrumentally and vocally – that keep things nice and lively! Breaking In brings the blues influences a bit more to the fore, and is more stripped down in instrumentation, but it's still a pretty tripped out set with some great drums, woozy organ and searing guitars. Titles include "Plastic Man", "My Baby's Left And Gone", "Day Daid", "Mamo Pano Shhhh", "You're The Only One" and the classic sample cut "Deep Gully". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky blues instrumentals – with Snooky Pryor on harmonica, Justin Adams on rhythm guitar, John E Moore on lead guitar, George French on bass, and Alonzo Stewart on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty sweet blues rock combo from the glory days of the Bluesway label – featuring Rod Gingerman Piazza on vocal and harmonica – with Pat Maloney on organ and piano, Jimmy Forrest on tenor, Rick Lunetta on guitar, Freddie Hill on trumpet, and Willie Green on baritone! LP, Vinyl record album