From a Master, A Master Class in Blues

There was a missing link in Louisiana Red’s recording odyssey, and it has been revealed on a new release from Labor Records, When My Mama Was Living, recorded in the early '70s in upstate New York and now seeing the light of ...
by David McGee
 

 
 

All In a Day’s Blues

An alum of the late, great Calvin Owens's Blues Orchestra, guitarist CHARLES 'CD' DAVIS has a winner in his solo debut, 24 HOUR BLUES, featuring some Orchestra vets and four outstanding vocalists playing up a blues storm.
by David McGee
 

 

 

45 Years Later, Still Right on Time

The tipoff is in the title: MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH MARTY ROBBINS. One of country's greatest singers is intimately involved in the thoughtful songs he shares with us for the Yuletide including two of his own.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Christmas, Close to Home, Hearth and Heart

In his songs about home, hearth and heart, RICK LANG evokes a down-home Christmas celebration, with the help of some talented musicians who took his songs to unexpected places.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Union Avenue Communiqué

THE HOWLIN' BROTHERS went to Memphis's legendary SUN STUDIOS and cut an impressive six-song EP as a stopgap between their acclaimed debut album, released earlier this year, and their new CD, due in Feb. 2014.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Love or Chicken, It’s Tasty

You might say stellar guitarist-singer-songwriter BILL KIRCHEN lights it up on his new album, Seeds and Steams. Or you might also say SEEDS AND STEMS Bill Kirchen Proper Records “Get outta my way you small town clowns/th...
by David McGee
 

 

 

An On-Time Messenger for the Lord

It takes no special insight to point out the kinship of blues and gospel but 81-year-old LEO 'BUD' WELCH's debut album, Sabougla Voices, presses that truth home with a ferocity and unwavering conviction remarkable even for thes...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Just Like Old Times

JIM ED BROWN makes a stirring comeback with IN STYLE AGAIN; ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY deliver one for old times' sake in BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN.
by David McGee
 

 

 

With Carter Hovering Overhead

With friends such as DIERKS BENTLEY, DEL MCCOURY, LEE ANN WOMACK, JIM LAUDERDALE, BUDDY MILLER, RICKY SKAGGS, et al., how could RALPH STANLEY go wrong? He doesn't.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Christmas Blues with a Positive Spin

Appraising a Yuletide gem from Carolina beach music legend, soul veteran CLIFFORD CURRY, and a look back at Curry's interesting career.
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Christmas Dialogue Continues

Consider Classic as the next installment of Martina McBride’s ongoing dialogue with Christmas, and a fairly scintillating one at that. It earns its title.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Always Magic In the Air

Delmark has reissued BLACK MAGIC, the MAGIC SAM BLUES BAND's stellar followup to its acclaimed WEST SIDE STORY. Magic is indeed in the air.
by David McGee