Good Time Charlie - Garage-A-Go-Go!

Styles : Bluesrock

Released : 2011
Lable : Good Time Music

01 - Net-Zombie
02 - High-Jiver
03 - News For You
04 - Cold Shivers
05 - Shine

06 - Time-Squeezer
07 - Red Lights
08 - Gone

09 - Garage A Go-Go

10 - Horse
11 - Told You Twice
12 - Ditch Diggin'
13 - Part Of My Game

 After close to thirty years on the road as one of the premier Norwegian bands who started out taking their musical inspiration from  American 50-s & 60s soul, savage rock & roll and rhythm & blues, Good Time Charlie are ready with thirteen brand new songs saturated with energy and magical charm.

  Good Time Charlie has been described as “honest tradition-bearers with great love and respect for their craft”, at the same time being able to renew themselves and take the music further in a genre where originality and new ways of thinking have been rare for many years.

Garage-A-Go-Go! is a fusion of the raunchy garage rock of the 60s and the explosive and energetic sounds of soul  music? in a word: Grage Soul. A good tip for a good time!

After having taken a new course with the critically acclaimed Norwegian grammy-nominee Mojo Energy in 2008, this Garage-A-Go-Go! release is a stylish and uncompromising musical experience of unashamed high energy. Purified, unadulterated real music!

 The band has a strong focus on obtaining the enormous power arising from a successful chemistry between the performing and expressive potential of the bandmembers  and the music itself, giving the lyrics and music a strong inner core.

The album was recorded at the legendary Duper Studio and produced by GTC and Yngve Leidulv Sætre (DumDum Boys, Kaizers Orchestra, deLillos, Datarock, Magnet).

Yngve Sætre has once again created a fresh, state of the art production, capturing and enhancing  the characteristic and authentic  Good Time Charlie-sound.

Personnel Arle Hjelmeland  -  vocals,  harmonica
Steinar Karlsen  -  guitars, vocals
Einar Olsson  -  drums, vocals
Morten Skage - bass, vocals

original CD from sussex

Lösekes Blues Gang - Black Cat

Styles : Chicago Blues (Diatonic Harp)
Released : 1996
Lable : Lava Records

01 - I'm Gonna Leave You
02 - Never In Time
03 - I Need You So Bad
04 - Talk To Me
05 - Sweet As A Flower
06 - The Weight
07 - I Got You On My Mind
08 - Black Cat
09 - Looking Out
10 - I Need Your Sex
11 - Jack, Willie, Slim, The Gumbo And The Fried Chicken
12 - I'm A Looser
13 - Hey, Good Lookin'


 One of the most senior blues bands from Germany. Whether traditional, modern, rock - the driving boogie, the soulful vocal harmonies, which are always good for goose bumps have the public worried more for sensation and the band in a permanent place among the renowned blues bands Germany bestowed. At club gigs with Blues stars like Memphis Slim, Blind John Davis, Errol Dixon and Champion Jack Dupree.

On this album the group conveys exactly what audiences for musical enthusiam, piano boogie, harp blues with good solos that make feels good.

Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder - Live At Blues Baltica ... On The Way To Memphis

Styles : Piano Blues, Harmonica Blues

Released : 2010

Lable : Analoghaus

01 - Sunnyland
02 - All Night Long
03 - Little Piece Of Paper
04 - Long As I Can See The Light
05 - Sugar & Spice
06 - Talk To Me
07 - Rush Hour
08 - Can't Be Satisfied
09 - Shake Your Boogie
10 - Runnin' On Faith
11 - Rock'n'Roll Queenie 

 Pianist Georg Schroeter and harmonica player Marc Breitfelder made history this past February, as they became the first Europeans to win the International Blues Challenge. Representing the Baltic Blues Society in Northern Germany, they took the title competing against approximately 100 solo/duo acts from around the world. Their most recent release, Live At BluesBaltica . . . On The Way To Memphis, captures their live performance to perfection. Though this recording is not only the pair, as it also includes David Herzel playing behind them on drums, they are at their peak here.

 This is the band’s third live recording, which in all reality is the absolute best way to hear their music. Georg Schroeter is an exceptional pianist with strong vocals. Marc Breitfelder’s harmonica work is incomparable; he reach notes that soar well beyond the normal plain with such ease he appears to hardly be drawing any breath. Together they have been working with one another for twenty-one-plus years and make for a very fascinating sound that keeps the performance rolling and exciting as brilliantly displayed on this release recorded at the 2010 Eutin Blues Festival.

 The performance contains a nice blend of original music and covers. What is exceptional here is the songs they have selected often are better known as guitar pieces which have cleverly been reworked to fit in their duet mixture, with Schroeter’s piano assuming the lead lines. Songs to note being done in this manner include tasty takes on Elmore James’ “Sunnyland,” Muddy Waters’ “Can’t Be Satisfied” and Eric Clapton’s “Runnin’ On Faith.” Love the honky-tonk roll that Schroeter takes during “Can’t Be Satisfied.” One of the most noteworthy covers has to be John Fogerty’s “Long As I Can See The Light,” which Schroeter delivers in his own personalized, beautiful incarnation. But the duo’s original songs are not to be overlooked either. “Sugar & Spice” is a romping little number that’ll catch your attention and the harmonica work on numbers like “Little Piece Of Paper” and “Rush Hour” will lead to the question just where does Breitfelder come up with these notes, they far out reach the cosmos and maybe the only other players today who can even compare might be Jason Ricci or Carlos del Junco, but even they may be outmatched. Incredible blowing!

 All in all, Live At BluesBaltica is a tremendous outing for Georg Schroeter and Marc Breitfelder, clearly a convincing showing of why these guys took home the prize at the International Blues Challenge. Not to be overlooked. This disc carries a lot of amazing musical passion, energy and down-right fun.

original CD from sussex

Shelton Powe - Carolina Blues And Gospel

Styles : Country Blues, Gospel
Released : 2012
Lable : Music Maker

01 - Stranger Blues
02 - Send Me
03 - Vestapol
04 - Diving Duck Blues
05 - This Train
06 - One Monkey Don't Stop The Show
07 - When You See My Savior
08 - Down On Me
09 - Buckdancer's Choice
10 - John Henry
11 - Gypsy Woman
12 - When I Lay My Burden Down
13 - This Little Light Of Mine

Shelton Powe was raised in a family of Gospel singers and players. His earliest memories place him on the tent revival circuit surrounded by his music-making parents, aunts, and uncles. As a young man he immersed himself in the Blues scene of Atlanta, learning at the feet of Blues legends Cora Mae Bryant, Neal Pattman, Cootie Stark, and Frank Edwards. Shelton is a collector and over the years has amassed a wealth of lyrics and melodies that none can touch; at the same time, his style and delivery are all his own. He conveys nuance and intricacy recalling Curley Weaver combined with a spirit of spontaneity that forms an intimacy with the listener. The 14 tracks on Shelton's first release are all traditional Country Blues and Gospel but they are delivered with a freshness and sincerity that will make you feel as if you are hearing them for the first time. -- Aaron Greenhood

original CD from sussex

Tomcat Courtney - Tom 'Tomcat' Courtney

Styles : Electric blues
Released : 1995
Lable : Tom 'Tomcat' Courtney (Tape)

01 - Wish Is Magic
02 - Strawberry Girl
03 - The Highway And The Freeway
04 - Freebasing Again
05 - Mocking Bird
06 - 12 O'Clock Midnight
07 - Pain Of Love
08 - The Girl Next Door
09 - Shake It Up Baby
10 - Four Wheel Drive
11 - Blues Singing Woman

 Born in 1929, bluesman Tomcat Courtney shows no signs of slowing down. While growing up in Texas, his pianist father owned a nightclub frequented by blues legends like Sonny Boy Williamson. Courtney pursued tap dancing and began to perform in places like the Barnum And Bailey Circus and other type traveling shows and he also began to sing as well, After learning guitar, he fell easily into the rhythm of the traditional Delta blues groove of his most admired musicians, like BB King and Lightnin’ Hopkins.

 In the early 1960's Tomcat Courtney moved to Los Angeles where in began to do shows in night clubs like the 54 night club,the Eightball ,Polka Dot,Psychedelic Shack and other numerous clubs.
Moving to San Diego in 1971, Courtney formed the Bluesdusters, who became house regulars at O.B.’s Texas Teahouse, where Courtney played every week from 1972 to 1992. Nowadays, he turns up frequently at P.B.’s Chateau Orleans and La Jolla’s Turquoise Cafe .His album Downsville Blues was released in May 2008. It includes many of his own compositions, as well as classic covers like Mance Lipscomb’s “Meet Me in the Bottom”,Buddy Moss first song it 1935 and Tampa Red’s “Cryin’ Won’t Help You , Tomcat Courtney writes and preforms all of his songs

 Tomcat Courtney did a tour at the Lucerne Blues Festival, Marco Fiume Blues Passions Festival in Italy, the Bay-Car Blues Festival in France, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club at Hotel Le Meridien in Paris, Tomcat Courtney also did the Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival Blues Festival in 2010 and captured the audience at the Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club.Downsville Blues was number one on several of the European Blues charts in 2009 and his European charting and record sales earned him an invitation to the prestigious 2010 Montreux Blues Festival. After playing Montreux and touring Europe, Courtney was inducted into the California Blues Hall of Fame. The Bay Area Blues Society and the City of Oakland have been recognizing worthy local and international blues artists since 1985 with their annual West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards show.  This year the event was held in the Grand Ballroom at theHilton Oakland Airport Hotel on March 28th 2010  Tomcat Courtney was awarded  the musical accomplishments of  having contributed greatly to the music

 The 20th annual San Diego Music Awards took place on Sunday, September 12 at 7pm at a concert setting, better known as Humphreys by the Bay Tomcat Courtney won the Best Blues Music Award
The name of some more of that Texas Delta blues that Tomcat Courtney has made and performed so well are Twelve o clock midnight, Sundown in San Diego, Little John, Katrina blues, Downville blues and Mother Davis Tomcat Courtney is a Texas Delta Blues Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocal  entertainer, with that foot and stomp box down home sound.

original tape ripped by sussex

Steve 'Big Man' Clayton - I Like It Like That

Styles : Piano Blues
Released : 2011
Lable : Stormy Monday Records

01 - I Like It Like That !
02 - Low Down Ways
03 - Satisfyin' Baby
04 - Heartache Blues
05 - BMC Boogie Woogie
06 - A Mighty Fine Thing
07 - Medicine Man
08 - Ride That Train
09 - I Feel Like Jivin'
10 - Someday My Luck Is Gonna Change
11 - Grooooovy Boogie
12 - Why Can't We Start Again

Steve Clayton was born in Birmingham, England, on September 1st 1962.
He began to show an interest in music at the age of 10.
This prompted his parents to buy an old upright piano and they promptly shipped him off for weekly piano lessons, which he would keep up for the next 5 years.
Towards the end of his music lessons, his music teacher composed a blues for him to learn. The different tones and rhythms were something totally new to somebody learning the classics.
This new found music had an enormous  effect on him; the record collection mounted, spending all his pocket money on records by Cow Cow Davenport, Albert Ammons and Memphis Slim, to name only a few. His time was spent at the piano, trying to reproduce the sounds he was hearing.
It didn’t take long for Clayton to find his way into his first blues band after leaving school, and he would spend the next few years learning his craft in numerous local bands, being hailed as The Ivory Maradona“ and The "Big Man of Boogie Woogie".
The "Big Man" was requested to back visiting U.S. artists like Louisiana Red, Shuggy Otis and Carey Bell, he toured Europe with them, he learnt from them.
He is also the man pounding the keys on the award winning CD “He knows the blues”, by Otis Grand.
Learning to sing was a real turning point, it led him to song writing. The results of which can be heard on his highly acclaimed debut album “Can’t Stop The Boogie“, which he recorded in 1991 with his long time band “The 44’s“. This prompted the German record label Hot Fox, to send him to Chicago to record his second album “I Got A Right“, which features legends S. P. Leary and Lester “Mad Dog“ Davenport (1993). Five more recordings would follow; “I got to sing these blues“ (1999) ,  “You know what I mean“ (2000) , “Dirty Mistreater” (2004) , “Goin´ back to Birmingham” (2007) and “I Like It Like That” (2011).
The "Big Man" was honoured as best piano player by the British Blues Connection in 1995, 1997 and 1998 before leaving for the Boogie Woogie capitol of the world, Germany, where he now resides.
It didn’t take long for him to make his mark here neither, winning a south German prize as best artist for 2001.
The "Big Man" sings and plays the blues as good as you could hear anywhere in the world. He has taken the old style and put his own personal touch to it, indeed........“there is no mistaking the unique sound of Steve "Big Man" Clayton.

Robert Lee Coleman - One More Mile

Styles : Electric Blues

Released : 2012

Lable : Music Maker Records

01 - Somebody Loves Me (I Just Don't Know Who It Is)

02 - Shoe Is On The Other Foot

03 - My Life Story

04 - Four Wimmens In My Life
05 - Mama Told Me 'Don't Play Them Blues No More'

06 - Raisin' Cain

07 - Set You Free
08 - Kinfolk
09 - Country Woman

10 - Cookie Jar

Robert Lee Coleman was born in 1945 in Macon, Georgia. He has worked with Percy Sledge and James Brown. This is first album which is lacking professional production. Recorded with a full band. One More Mile, by Robert Lee Coleman. Coleman doesn't waste any time before demonstrating his tasteful guitar trade. Shoe Is On The Other Foot is asmooth slow blues track with a nice long instrumental segment. Coleman spits out a flurry of hot guitar riffs and there are also some really tasty keys playing by Danny Wilder. Right back into the shuffle groove he goes with My Life Story, a hot instrumental track. Definitely one not to miss. Four Wimmens In My Life retains the hot shuffle tempo and the band continues to demonstrate solid clean playing. Mama Told Me Don't PlayThem Blues No More is a country style blues track providing a contrasting break in tempo and showing Coleman's roots and versatility. Raisin' Cain is a funky rock style track that is likely to get you up and shakin. Coleman of course slaps out some cool riffs and the drummer, Billy Teichmiller gets to show a little spiff. Country Woman finds Coleman back in shuffle groove again. Both he and Wilder take some extended solos and the groove is solid. The recording concludes Cookie Jar, with a little acoustic number with Lance Almon Smith on guitar accompanying Coleman. Overall a very solid cd and one that I believe most blues fans will enjoy!

original CD from sussex