Back catalogue: Blues

Review: Marking 60 years since the late singer's birth, I Can Only Be Me celebrates the striking talent of Eva Cassidy with an ambitious project. Christopher Willis and William Ross teamed up to compose new arrangements for some of Cassidy's best loved songs, which have been recorded by none other than the London Symphony Orchestra. 'Songbird' is the centrepiece of the project, which made use of new breakthroughs in AI technology to add new dimensions to Cassidy's performance in line with Willis and Ross' new compositions. It's a posthumous collaboration like no other, sure to delight fans who always dreamed of where else Cassidy's music might have taken her if she hadn't died so young.

Review: In October 1999, the Black Crowes joined Led Zeppelin's legendary guitarist Jimmy Page for shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Worcester, and that resulted in the live album Live at the Greek on TVT Records. Due to contractual issues with Columbia, however, the album didn't include any Crowes songs performed with Page. This collaboration led to a summer 2000 tour with Page and The Who and on July 10, 2000, they performed at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York, and served up what was considered one of the tour's standout shows. Featuring sixteen Led Zeppelin classics, Black Crowes tracks, and blues covers, this FM broadcast recording is a real must for fans of these rock icons.

Review: In October 1999, the Black Crowes performed with Led Zeppelin's legendary guitarist Jimmy Page in New York, Los Angeles and Worcester, leading to the live album Live at the Greek on TVT Records. However, due to contractual issues with Columbia, the album omitted Crowes' songs performed with Page. This collaboration sparked a summer 2000 tour with Page and The Who, highlighted by a standout show on July 10, 2000, at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York. Featuring sixteen Led Zeppelin classics, Black Crowes tracks, and blues covers, this FM broadcast recording is a must-have for fans of these rock legends.

Review: American roots/blues multi-instrumental legend Taj Mahal pays tribute to the swing era and its artists on his latest album Savoy, laying down a string of covers of classics by the likes of Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, George Gershwin and others. Titularly referencing the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, where Taj Mahal's parents met for the first time, this is an album that straddles jovialty and sentimentality in both sound and theme.

Review: A powerhouse combination , Taj Mahal and Ken Mo join forces once again as TajMo and show why fans consider them two of the finest American musicians of their respective generations. Their first collaboration since 2017's TajMo, which won them a Best Contemporary Blues gong at the Grammy Awards, this is journeyman, soul, rock & roll, country and - of course - blues, at its most modern and finest. That said, Room On the Porch is resolutely rooted in the origins of the canons. At times, like the sax-heavy 'Blues'll Give You Back Your Soul', you can almost feel the balmy heat of a night in a Deep South bar and taste the sour mash. 'Rough Time Blues' even comes with the crackle and raw sonic aesthetic of an original early recorded music tome, adding to the sense of authenticity.

Review: The latest release from Craft Recordings shifts its focus to soul legend Johnnie Taylor, highlighting his deep connection to blues. Known for his Southern soul roots, Taylor's legacy extends far beyond his mainstream hit 'Disco Lady'. Born in Arkansas in 1934, Taylor began his career in gospel before making a name at Stax Records with hits like 'Who's Making Love', which cemented his place in soul history. This new release, One Step From The Blues, dives into Taylor's more blues-focused work, showcasing 12 powerful tracks that capture the raw emotion of heartbreak and betrayal. The album features Taylor's debut Stax single 'I Had a Dream', a sparse and intense standout, along with tracks like 'Cheaper to Keep Her' and a vibrant cover of Sam Cooke's 'That's Where It's At', Each song is delivered with Taylor's unmistakable voice, drawing from both his gospel and blues roots. With the support of top Memphis musicians and insightful new liner notes from journalist Andria Lisle, One Step From The Blues is a brilliant celebration of Taylor's lasting influence, as he marks his 90th birthday this year.

Review: Ten Years After's legendary performance at Woodstock in August 1969 remains a pinnacle moment in rock history, hailed as one of the festival's standout acts. Now, their complete hour-long concert, previously only part of larger compilations, is set for standalone release, one day before the 55th anniversary of their historic show. Led by guitarist Alvin Lee, the British blues rock band delivered an electrifying set featuring classics like Howlin' Wolf's 'Spoonful,' Sonny Boy Williamson's 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,' and the expansive 'I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes,' clocking in at 18 minutes. The set's climax, 'I'm Going Home,' a Lee original, cemented their place in Woodstock lore with its powerful performance captured in the iconic Woodstock documentary. Remastered from the original two-inch multitrack tapes, Woodstock 1969 offers a fresh mix of Ten Years After's raw energy and virtuosity, presented on a double 180-gram vinyl pressing in a gatefold sleeve, accompanied by new liner notes by Chris Welch. This release commemorates a defining moment for the band and a milestone in rock music history.

Review: Originally released on Flying Dutchman in 1973, Leon Thomas' Blues and the Soulful Truth is an outstanding slice of soul funk from one of the genre's all time greats. Thomas came to fame working with Pharoah Sanders on 'The Creator Has A Master Plan', but on this album he was in full flight writing his own songs, backed up by Pee Wee Ellis as a conductor and with Bob Thiele as producer. Thomas had an unflinching approach to his message, best heard on incredible cuts like 'Shape Your Mind To Die', but there's tenderness to match the toughness. Just listen to the sweetness of 'China Doll' on this long overdue reissue and take in the full spectrum of the Leon Thomas sound.

Review: The resurgence of interest in vinyl has brought with it plenty of spotlight for niche acts like Tinariwen. The Mali-based desert blues specialists are now frequently found on the playlist of eclectic Das and NTS radio hosts, and so they should be. This new album is actually an old one - Kel Tinariwen is an early cassette tape recorded in the 90s that has not been released before. It hones in on the political issues of the time and is a raw sound compared to how Tinariwen went on to sound, but still has all the hypnotic guitar lines and call-and-response vocals that make it distinctly them. Add in raw drum machine rhythms and keyboard melodies and you have an alluring and Arab-tinged take on synth-pop that really gets you where it hurts.

Review: Malian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Toure's self-titled album is a cornerstone of African music. It's a perfect example of his unique fusion of traditional Malian sounds with blues influences and is one of many albums of his that remain favourites with collectors. Released in 1984, this iconic long player captures Toure's intricate guitar work and ability to blend hypnotic rhythms and soulful melodies that reflect the rich heritage of the Sahel. His deep, resonant voice conveys a sense of spiritual depth, with lyrics often rooted in Malian culture and folklore and the whole thing is a masterclass in understated artistry, where each track is a meditative journey.

Review: As part of Rhino Records' Start Your Ear Off Right series - which consists of reissued versions of classic albums by Dream Theater, Fleetwood Mac, The Ramones, ZZ Top and many more - comes this fabulous new version of Allen Toussaint's Southern Nights. Originally released in 1975, this is a celebrated album, showcasing Toussanint's signature blend of funk, soul and r&b. One of many records to put Touissant on the map as a soul songsmith, and to associate him with the rich musical tradition of New Orleans, the record is well-known and much celebrated for its bold and unexpected use of orchestral arrangements, unusual for New Orleans r&b at the time.