| Artist |
Track |
Comments |
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Big Guitars from Texas
|
Breaker
|
One CD from the best of two albums of Austin bluesy twangers, includes guitar heavies like Denny Freeman, Don Leady, Frankie Camaro, Evan Johns, Keith Ferguson
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|
Jimi Hendrix
|
Pali Gap
|
Recorded in 1971, this fine Instrumental comes from "Voodoo Soup".
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Charles Brown
|
Graveyard Blues
|
CB began to play great R&B piano in the 1940s and continued until his death in 1999; this tune was recorded in 1972 for Paula Records. Sounds a bit like Hendrix.
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|
Sonny Boy Williamson
|
Fattening Frogs for Snakes
|
Rockin' blues harp from one of the best!
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|
Soldier String Quartet
|
Preachin' Blues
|
Blues cover via classical violin, from "Inspect for Damaged Goods" on Mulatta (1984). Robert Johnson never sounded like this.
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Erykah Badu
|
Appletree
|
This R&B hip hop diva does it right; on "Baduizm" (Universal, 1997)
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|
Brian Auger & the Trinity w/ Julie Driscoll
|
I've Gotta Go Now
|
From a nice retrospective double CD of organist Auger's work over the years. These Brits could rock.
|
|
Lou Donaldson
|
Li'l Darlin'
|
Dr. Lonnie Smith (not the same as Lonnie Liston Smith) is probably not a doctor but he plays a fine organ on "Caracas" (Milestone, 1994)
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|
Soldier String Quartet
|
In TIme
|
Violinist Regina Carter joins Dave Soldier and gang on this Sly (Stone/Stewart) cover, with Tiye Giraud on percussion.
|
|
Antibalas
|
Obanla' E
|
from "Who Is This America?" (Ropadope, 2004)
|
|
Antibalas
|
Indictment
|
Afrobeat instrumentalists with righteous politics fight to bring the big boys down
|
|
Heptones
|
Crystal Blue Persuasion
|
Sweet reggae cover of 60s hit, found on the new Heptones compilation, "Deep in the Roots" (Heartbeat, 2004)
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|
Heptones
|
Book of Rules
|
Produced by Niney the Observer, these Jamaicans were pioneers of rocksteady reggae vocal harmonies; "Book of Rules" was a hit from the early 70s
|
|
Sekou Bembeya Diabate
|
Biduman
|
Known as Diamond Fingers, this guitar whiz from Guinea played for decades with Bembeya Jazz; check out his wonderful new album "Guitar Fo" (Harmonia Mundi/Discorama, 2004)
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|
Thomas Mapfumo
|
Hwahwa
|
The Lion of Zimbabwe cut off his dreads but he still sings songs of freedom.
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|
Shiyani NgCobo
|
Ngisvzeni
|
"Introducing Shiyani NgCobo" presents traditional music from South Africa: "Zulu Guitars Dance" on World Music Network, 2004
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|
Wackies
|
Zimbabwe
|
Bronx dub mix from 1977
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|
Dr. John
|
Shango Tango
|
Willie Tee on keyboards, from "N'awlins: Dis, Dat or D'udda" on Blue Note (2004)
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|
Dr. John
|
Chicken La Pas
|
Dr. John pulls together the best of New Orleans on this party tune-- and on the entire album. Get up and strut your stuff!
|
|
Henry Gray
|
Mojo Boogie
|
Gray was pianist for Howlin' Wolf for more than a decade but return to Baton Rouge in the late 60s, where he lives and plays today
|
|
Larry Williams
|
Ting-A-Ling
|
Great guitar on this corny 50s pop rocker from New Orleans; the album title (a best of) says it all: "Larry Williams: Bad Boy" (Specialty, 1989)
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|
Larry Williams
|
Boney Maroney
|
This was Larry's big hit, although he had many more, including a bunch with pal Johnny Guitar Watson.
|
|
Wardell Gray
|
Lady Be Good
|
This bebop horn player died way too soon: born in Oklahoma City in 1921, died in Las Vegas in 1955
|
|
Lucinda Williams
|
Lafayette
|
Lucinda sings fondly about her days along the Gulf Coast--"when that sweet fiddle sounds and Clifton gets down, that music sound so good to me"-- on her 1980 "Happy Woman Blues"
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|
Tres Chicas
|
Deep As Your Pocket
|
Loretta Lynn wrote the song, Chris Stamey plays guitar and bass and produced the CD: "Sweetwater" on Yep Roc, 2004
|
|
Tres Chicas
|
Am I Too Blue
|
And they do a nice cover of this Lucinda Williams tune!
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|
Old 97s
|
Blinding Sheets of Rain
|
It was pouring, with flood warnings, when this song came on; from "Drag It Up" (New West, 2004)
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Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
|
Every Time I Feel the Spirit
|
You can picture these guys singing these rich vocal harmonies on some Appalachain mountaintop
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|
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
|
Big Country
|
Both tunes from the new double-CD "A School of Bluegrass" on Crossroads
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|
Dave Alvin
|
Out of Control
|
Dave has a new rockin' album called
"Ashgrove" on Yep Roc.
|
|
Donna the Buffalo
|
Revolution
|
More than a jam band, these folks play fine country blues rock & roll. They did a rousing show in July at the Green River Festival in western Massachusetts.
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|
Donna the Buffalo
|
In Another World
|
Both tunes from "Positive Friction" on Sugar Hill (2000)
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|
Jimmy Bryant
|
Tabasco Road
|
No Speedy West here. Just Jimmy Bryant playing too fast!
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|
Dwight Yoakum
|
Wheels
|
Lots of covers on "Dwight's Used Records" (Koch, 2004), including this Gram Parsons song
|
|
Davie Allan and the Arrows
|
Tomahawk
|
from "Devil's Rumble Anthology, 64-68" on Sundazed
|
|
Ojos de Brujo
|
Ley de Gravidad
|
From Spain, playing Sunday at Central Park Summerstage
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|
Perez Prado
|
Pachuca
|
Cuban mambo king ended up in Mexico & USA, as mambo became pop
|
|
Omara Portuondo
|
Mueve la Cintura Mulato
|
Con Manuel Galban & Cachaito Lopez; from "Flor de Amor" on World Circuit/Nonesuch
|
|
Irakere
|
Anunga Nunca
|
Before they bolted, Arturo Sandoval and Paquito D'Rivera were bandmates of Cuban piano maestro Chucho Valdes
|
|
Grupo Cimarron
|
Un Llanero do Verdad
|
from "Si, Son Llanero: Joropo Music from the Orinoco Plains of Colombia" (Smithsonian-Folkways, 2004)
|
|
Martin Denny
|
Bacoa
|
On "Baked Alaska"-- recorded live in 1964 at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage
|
|
John Lee Hooker
|
House Rent Boogie
|
Hooker jams with British rockers
|