CD Review - Binder - 2 Drinks Til Midnite
- Lady Moon Records 1005 82127-2
For radio and promotional use only! Copywrite Leanne Binder 1999

Sleeve Note:

Binder features 10 new songs written by Leanne Binder, Rick Young, and Rajma. Binders' CD "2 Drinks Til Midnite" has been well received by college radio across the USA, placing them on the CMJ (College Music Journal) charts as high as #4. Currently the band is in medium to heavy rotation on many radio stations across the midwest.

For bookings and further information contact:
Leanne Binder (330) 482-1711
e-mail: Binderocks@aol.com
Website: www.binderocks.com

Track Listing:

1 - Sweet Angeline

2 - Blues Around Midnite

3 - Never Wanna Lose You

4 - Take My Heart

5 - The Legend of Ann Beau

6 - Rock & Roll Soul

7 - Only A Heartbeat Away

8 - Carry Me Back

9 - In Your Arms

10 - Time

Binderocks is the beginning of their e-mail address, very appropriate because Binder really ROCK! Very loud enjoyable bluesy rock. Leanne Binder is a blond bombshell who has a really strong vocal ability comparable with the late, great Janis Joplin. Backed by her co writers Rick Young and Rajma and the rest of this great band, the guitar riffs are just superb, a marvellous blend of acoustic and electric guitar behind Leanne's impressive vocals, assault our senses in more ways than one! An accomplished promo CD to make you want to see/hear them live, so get booking folks, Leanne and Rajma (hope they bring the rest of the band too) will be back in the UK/Europe this year as well as their appearances back in the USA. I really enjoyed all the tracks on this compilation of their own material, notable tracks, well they all are really! My particular favourites that keep going round in my head are 'Sweet Angeline', 'Never Wanna Lose You', the very Joplin-esk 'Take my Heart', 'Only a Heartbeat Away', and last but not least 'Time'. I certainly have 'time' for this band!

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

CD review - Chicago Blues - Various Artists
- Spivey LP 1003 - High Blues Fidelity - 1962
A Bonanza All Star Blues LP, Recorded on Location in Chicago, Illinois
Supervised by Willie Dixon, Produced by Len Kunstadt and Victoria Spivey Made in USA Spivey Music Company.

Artist Listing :

BIG WILLIE DIXON
SUNNYLAND SLIM
JOHN HENRY BARBEE
HOMESICK JAMES
ST. LOUIS JIMMY
WASHBOARD SAM
COCOA TAYLOR
EVANS SPENCER

Track Listing:

Track 1 - SUNNYLAND SLIM - Won't Do That No More (Luandrew)
Sunnyland Slim : vocal and organ
Homesick James : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 2 - JOHN HENRY BARBEE - Early In The Morning (Barbee)
John Henry Barbee : vocal and guitar
Homesick James : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 3 - ST. LOUIS JIMMY - Goody, Goody, Goody (Oden)
St Louis Jimmy : vocal
Homesick James : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 4 - WILLIE DIXON - Weak Brain! Narrow Mind!
Willie Dixon: vocal and guitar

Track 5 - HOMESICK JAMES - Can't Hold Out (Williamson)
Homesick James : vocal and guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 6 - COCOA TAYLOR - What Kind Of Man Is This?
Cocoa Taylor : vocal
Homesick James : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Willie Dixon: tambourine

Track 7 - HOMESICK JAMES - Queens Rock (Spivey-Williamson)
Homesick James : vocal and guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 8 - JOHN HENRY BARBEE - No Pickin' No Pullin' (Barbee)
John Henry Barbee : vocal and guitar
Homesick James : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 9 - SUNNYLAND SLIM - Drinking (Luandrew)
Sunnyland Slim : vocal and organ
Homesick James : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 10 - ST. LOUIS JIMMY - Going Down Slow (Oden)
St Louis Jimmy : vocal
Homesick James : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Track 11 - COCOA TAYLOR - Which'a Way To Go
Cocoa Taylor : vocal
Homesick James : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Willie Dixon: tambourine

Track 12 - WILLIE DIXON - So Long! (Spivey-Luandrew)
Willie Dixon: vocal
Homesick James : guitar
John Henry Barbee : guitar
Evans Spencer : guitar
Washboard Sam : washboard

Sleeve Note:
All these blues sounds you will hear were luckily captured at a reunion in honour of QUEEN VICTORIA SPIVEY by many of her old blues buddies at a real down-to-earth romping blues party with all the clamour of merriment, clinking glasses, shuffling feet, knocks at every door, entering and exiting visitors from near midnight until???!! on the southside of that great Blues-city, CHICAGO, Illinois, VIctoria Spivey sums it up.

"Chicago Blues that's what I had and that's what I brought back East with me. I went to Chicago for a few days vacation, my first visit to the windy city in nearly 25 years, and when I left Chicago a week later I had myself a sack of fine blues from some 'real' blues artists, thanks to blues maestro, Willie Dixon. Willie told all the singers by telephone. 'Get your axe, man! come on over. We're going to have a ball tonight with the Queen.' And they came. Wailin' SUNNYLAND SLIM arrived without his 'axe' (smile) but with a fabulous organ which he really masters. And can he sing! HOMESICK JAMES came with his bottleneck guitar which just cries when he plays it. Tears came from his eyes when he sang his blues. ST. LOUIS JIMMY who I have admired for many years arrived happily looking and talking like a country squire. I insisted that he would sing his great hit, Going Down Slow, and he certainly obliged. JOHN HENRY BARBEE, Here's a fabulous chap out of the past. He's been out of circulation for a quarter of a century due to an unfortunate misunderstanding but thank goodness, he's back again. He sings the great old time traditional down home blues like back in the days of my daddy. WASHBOARD SAM, my old musical standby from back in the early 30's, arrived immaculately dressed like a deacon from the church with his forty year old washboard under his arm. No washing machine will ever put him out of business. Listen to him really rub that washboard on the Queens Rock. I also had the honour seeing and recording COCOA TAYLOR. She has already made a name for herself in the blues field in Chicago and I predict that she will soon be in the class of the great Memphis Minnie. EVANS SPENCER is a charming and talented young man and a very fine guitarist. Listen to his sensitive lead blues guitar solo and accompaniment on Which'a Way To Go. And then there is WILLIE DIXON who I call Papa Dixon due to the fact that he most certainly looks after and takes care of his musicians in Chicago. Dig Willie playing his own guitar on Weak Brain! Narrow Mind! Willie loves and really understands the blues. And as for me, I can tell you that I really had a ball." - Victoria Spivey.

Well! how the hell do I follow that?! Write a review after Victoria Spivey's eloquence. All I can do is tell you is how this review came about and what I know of the recording. Last year when I visited Leicester Market in England, I came across a stall selling old Blues LP's, you know that stuff recorded on vinyl. This one particularly interested me because of who was on it, such old time great's. When I got home and played it I found the music must have been appreciated by who ever owned it because it was the most bashed up, mashed up, well buggered recording I have ever had the misfortune to hear. The person must have played this until it wore out! Must have used a JCB as the pick up and a pick axe as the needle! So, I transferred the contents to tape to avoid further damage, but of course all the imperfections were multiplied by tape hiss! What to do now I wondered? Last week I purchased a computer program that claimed to revive an old '45 or '33 in this case. YEAH! it worked after a number of attempts to get used to all the settings. Now I have a very passable CD of the 1962 Victoria Spivey session. WOW! man! this is the bees knees of blues!
Do you want a copy? Tough! I Don't do bootlegs! We will all have to wait and see if the beneficiaries of Spivey Music Company read this review and reissue. Please, please, please find the Master recording I am sure blues fans today would love to hear an Expert has Digitally Remastered this fabulous recording for posterity. I for one would purchase it and tell all my friends to do the same. I understand this album contains the first recordings by KOKO TAYLOR as she is known today and in my opinion the best version of Going Down Slow by it's author ST. LOUIS JIMMY ODEN. All the musicianship is of the highest calibre and HOMESICK JAMES WILLIAMSON'S bottleneck guitar is unsurpassable, I dare anyone to contradict me.

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

CD Review - Stoney Curtis - Alive & Unleashed
All Songs, 2001 Clpuppy Music

Stoney Curtis Productions
all tracks by Stoney Curtis except
Straighten It Out
Thrill Is Gone
Who Knows
Wonderful Tonight
All Along the Watchtower
When My Heart Beat's Like a Hammer

www.stoneycurtis.net

Stoney Curtis
Curtis Felizak aka Stoney Curtis - lead guitar
Charlie "Big Foot" Glover - drums
Colby Smith - bass

Track listing

Disk 1

1 Mulhholand Shuffle

2 Evil Woman

3 Around the World

4 Soul Love

5 Legend

6 People Rise Up

7 Straighten It Out

8 Free

9 Thrill Is Gone

10 Baby Needs Lovin

11 "Get the Phone"

12 Who Knows

Disk 2

1 My Saviour

2 Waitin' For The Bus

3 Jesus Just Left Chicago

4 On Fire

5 Wonderful Tonight

6 In a Day (Lyman Jam)

7 Last Train to Chicago

8 All Along the Watchtower

9 When My Heart Beat's Like a Hammer

10 Precious Lady

No Messin'! with timewastin' introductions! Track by track analysis, Stoney Curtis is one of the most outstanding blues rock bands I have ever heard. A debut of 2, yes I said 2 CD's, 22 absolutely amazin' tracks in all, blew me away. Richard the co-ordinator of Spalding Blues Club and Dave my best mate from the club suffered the same reaction as myself upon hearing the opening track, "Mulhholand Shuffle", our mouths dropped open in astonishment at the shear power of Stoney's lead guitar and the absolute timing of the rhythm section. In fact we all agreed this combination of Charlie on drums and Colby on bass are "tighter than a knat's arse", (a huge compliment in blues terminology). Our mouths dropped so much track after outstanding track, I guess we all suffered lockjaw! If you like all the Kings...BB, Freddie and Albert, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix, this is the band for you, in fact I think Stoney Curtis play Hendrix better than Hendrix! Just listen to Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" it's a really fantastic version. Whether playing an instrumental or vocal number, this amazing band are dynamite, the title of this double album "Alive and Unleashed" describe the performance of the "Stoney Curtis" band to a "T". Buy their CD's! Catch them live! (and unleashed!) You just gotta hear them!

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

CD Review - Stone - Here Before
STN-3196 SX3 Music 1999

Produced by Stone
Engineered by Doug Aldrich
Mixed by Doug Aldrich and Stone
Mastered by Doug Schwartz at Audio Mechanics, Los Angeles, CA
Recorded at Psycho Sonic Recording Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA
Studio Manager - Stacey Aldrich

Stone
Brad Wison - Guitar / Vocals
J.J. Garcia - Drums / Percussion
Brian James - Bass / Vocals

web: www.stonelive.com

Guest Musicians
Doug Aldrich - 2nd Lead Guitar on 'Never Again'
Edward Roth - Keyboards on 'I'm Still Breathin' and 'Show Me'

All songs written by Brad Wilson @ Stone Times Three Music/BMI
Except "Further On Up The Road" by Joe Veasey and Don Robey
"I Just Want To Make Love To You" by Willie Dixon and
"Baby What You Want Me To Do" (Peepin' and Hidin') by Jimmy Reed
"Ballad of John Lee" by Brad Wilson, music inspired by John Lee Hooker

After their successes with 'Teaser'(by Brad Wison) from the Saturn Music award winning film John Carpenter's 'Vampires' and 'Can't Let you Go' (by Brad Wilson) and 'Dismembered Blues', bassist Brian James and drummer J.J. Garcia join him on these from John's later film 'Ghosts of Mars'; here we have their latest CD 'Here Before' mostly written by Brad Wilson with some new versions by the 'old masters' or inspired by them.

Track listing:

1 - Here Before
I can sense that California atmosphere in this number, can almost breath it! Brad has been 'Here Before', hope to join him there soon.

2 - Show Me
Can feel that Mexican influance with this one, some strong guitar and vocal on this.

3 - Cool Running
An outstanding track, can imagine driving along Route 66 on a cool California night in an open top coupe. Some outstanding musicianship by all the guys om this one. Really like it.

4 - Home
A quieter more reflective number, memories of family, memories of the past, memories of home. Brad is glad to be back home with the good and even the bad. Home is home, no other place like it.

5 - Something Goin' On
A bit more funky, excellent guitar and vocals, there is certainly 'Something Goin' On' with his babe here!

6 - Baby What You Want Me To Do (Peepin' and Hidin')
The first of the 'Old Chestnuts' this one written by Jimmy Reed, a real old style piece of Blues, hear that lead guitar sing, breathtakin'. A superb fresh version by all the guys.

7 - I'm Still Breathin'
Strong guitar throughout matched by a strong vocal, very jazzy complex number. Breathtakin'!

8 - Across the Mojave
Instrumental this time, I can imagine myself in full combat gear gettin' ready for the Afgan' desert terrain. Hard to believe the Mojave is just outside L.A.

9 - If I Should Fall
Reminds me of a 'Bird's' number musically, the vocal reminescent of 'Bruce Springsteen'. Altogether a very good 'Stone' number.

10 - Never Again
A heavier rock influence on this number, very strong instrumentally, a more gentler vocal to complement the music. Very clever arrangement combining the two. Brilliant guitar solo as a break midway through the number.

11 - The Ballad of John Lee
This is the track for an old time Blues Rocker like me. Inspired by one of my all time hero's the Late, Great 'John Lee Hooker'. A superb tribute to a great man, 'Stone' have captured the escence of John Lee's style, How! How! How! Magnificent Guys.

12 - Transition
Sounds a bit trancendental, memories of the 60's hippy days come to mind. Woodstock and all that. Can you remember if you was there? If you can, some say you could not have been! A real gas man!

13 - I Just Want To Make Love To You
This is the heaviest version of this number I have ever heard! Wow! Sock it to me guys! You, will wake up 'Muddy; and get 'Etta' out of her nicks with this superb arrangement of this great 'Willie Dixon' number.

14 - Further On up the Road
This album finishes with a great bit of rock and roll, 'Stone' are 'Further Up The Road' than most bands I have heard of late. Keep goin' guys. Hope to see you one day.

This CD is mainly discribed as 'Americana' a blend of cultures that discribes their California brand of Blues/Rock, you can feel the latin atmosphere, the California climate, the California way of life. Wowee! wish I was there to enjoy it with you guys. (Especially with you California girls from the audience too!) Brad is an extremely competent composer, guitarist and vocalist, together with such a tight rhythmn section as Brian James on bass and J.J. Garcia on drums, what a combination, what more can I say.

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

Recorded at Music Box Studios in Hamilton, NC. July - December 2001.
Engineered by Ted Etheridge and JC Stephenson
Produced by JC Stephenson
Final Master by Benny Dellinger

web: http://www.snakes-n-angels.com

e-mail: snakes-n-angels@coastalnet.com

JC Stephenson - vocals, guitar and keyboards
Nannette 'Hoot' Stephenson - vocals, bass and mandolin
Lewis Goodrich - pedal steel on tracks 2,7,8 and 12
Kim Ramsey - drums on tracks 1,2,4,6,8 and 11
Robert Potter - drums on tracks 3,5,7,9,10,12 and 13

Daze, Area C, Trust In Me, My Love, Cry For Justice, Blue Skies and Silver Clouds: Music - JC, Lyrics - Hoot.

I Still Love You: Music - JC and Hoot, Lyrics - Hoot.

Cookin' Blues, Father, Medicine Man and Breaking The Code Of Silence: Music and Lyrics by Hoot.

Eleanor Rigby: Lennon/McCartney.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC & EMI Blackwood Music.

Can't Find My Way Home: Steve Winwood.
Warner - Tamerlane Pub. O/B/O F.S. Music LTD.

Track listing:

track 1 - Eleanor Rigby

track 2 - Daze

track 3 - Cookin' Blues

track 4 - I Still Love You

track 5 - Breaking The Code Of Silence

track 6 - Cry for Justice

track 7 - Blue Skies & Silver Clouds

track 8 - My Love

track 9 - Trust In Me

track 10 - Medicine Man

track 11 - Area C

track 12 - Father

track 13 - Can't Find My Way Home

This CD starts with a fine interpretation of a Lennon/Mccartney number and finishes with an equally fine rendition of a Steve Winwood number. Sandwiched in-between are 11 superbly penned Snakes-n-Angels numbers. I will not go into my usual track by track breakdown of this CD as it could prove too painful for us all. However, I must give particular credit to Cookin' Blues, Area C and Can't Find My Way Home. This CD is autobiographical, it is the story of the late great James Cline (JC) Stephenson his music and his struggle for life against Cancer. Also there is the love and support of his wife Nannette 'Hoot'. Listen to this CD, you will sense the bravery of the man and the love of a man and a woman shoulder to shoulder fighting the battle together. This CD was recorded between July and December 2001, consider this, JC suffered 175 seizures in October 2001, he had to relearn how to play all of his instruments to complete this last great work. JC sadly lost his battle on March 26th 2002 before this CD was pressed.

I am sure you will all join me in wishing our sincere condolences to Nannette and their 2 children at their sad loss. A big thank you to Nannette for sending me the CD as soon as it was issued, I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to review this superb album and pay tribute to JC, his life, his bravery, his musicianship. His instruments, 'The Snake', 'The Bird' are silent now, he is truly with the Angels. Cherish the music, Cherish his bravery, above all Cherish your memories of the man and his life. I am sure JC would wish you Nannette to continue writing, recording and performing, his memory is an inspiration to us all.

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

CD Review - Mike Dollins - Blues, Boogie, Shuffles & Stomps

Mike Dollins
P.O. Box 191207
San Diego, CA 92159
619-442-4030

Bostonian Music -ASCAP 2002

e-mail: mikedollinsguitar@juno.com
web: http://mikedollins.homestead.com/MikeDollins.html

Sleeve Notes
In his second solo album, and moving over from his last Jazz CD, Mike takes on what he does best, play lead guitar on Blues, R&B, Shuffles and Stomps. Stuff that makes you wanta' jump up and dance.

Track Listing

track 1 .... Bumble Bee Stomp

track 2 .... Tonkin'

track 3 .... Cruise Avenue

track 4 .... Double Up

track 5 .... Black Mouth Cur Stomp

track 6 .... Do It

track 7 .... Jump Off

track 8 .... Out The Bag

track 9 .... A Minor Blues

track 10 ... Walkin'

For those of a technical inclination, here is an explanation of his technique by the man himself. Take it away Mike!

My music is basically MIDI based in a sequencer, of which I use several different types. The songs start out as samples, that I tweak-out to my own chord structure. So, in essence I composed the tunes in texture and composition by using sequencers and samplers of sorts. I've tried most of all the commercially available programs on the market. My sound card isn't fancy or extremely expensive. I settled-in on a Santa Cruz by Turtle Beach, as the bass guitar had a more "real" sound, than the usual canned synth basses with some sound cards. I sometimes use an outboard Roland JV-880, but the Turtle Beach sound card is doing just fine right in the computer.

It is all computer based, so the trick is trying to make the tunes sound real, and life like. That takes some doing, and a major item of issue that I am constantly experimenting with. Drums, bass and keyboards are real easy to master, but horns are quite another matter. Horn sounds out of a synth or module, sound like they came out of something artificial, so improvement is needed using EQ, reverb and now I've learned how to harmonize the horns. I am finally getting somewhat of a real horn sound now. Most of the time I use Trumpets, tenor and baritone saxes in multiple sets to make them sound full, and fatter. The other item is making an organ sound like a B3, which is the icon for R&B music. Again, Turtle Beach delivers the B3 Hammond Organ sound very well. In my processes I may use four to six different computer based programs for whatever the project is I am working on. I also play Fender Bass on some songs, if the sequencer is misbehaving.

Mixing down is done on Turtle Beach's Digital Orchestrator, which is not the most powerful computer based recorder in the world, but I like the easy, and simple approach it maintains. No thinking or program hassles. Once the master mix is complete, I then over-dub my guitar into a mono track, or sometimes stereo split tracks. That whole mess is then converted to stereo Wave or MP3. I use the Wave Files to burn master CD's in my Sony CD cooker. I have computer based DSL for reverb, echo, Flange, Phase, Chorus, EQ, Comp & Gate. The copies are then made in a CD duplicator.

The only outboard gear I use is DigiTech's Genesis 1. I like the black face, and tweed amp simulator in the Genesis 1 as it provides a nice "live" bite for the guitar. I've tried other amp simulators, but they sound like amp simulators, and not a real live feel - too compressed and restricted sounding. My current guitars are a Gibson ES-135 SB, with humbuckers, one Custom Shop Fender Telecaster, fixed neck, all mahogany body and neck, and I also use a standard sunburst Fender Telecaster, that I have hot-rodded with humbuckers and special wiring. My stage amp is a stock 4X10 Hot Rod DeVille by Fender, and in the studio or small setting I use a Fender Blues Junior. No effects, except a little reverb live.

Mike Dollins
POB 191207
San Diego, CA 92159
http://mikedollins.homestead.com/MikeDollins.html

Now this is my little bit, a review of what I have heard on this Mike's latest humdinger! An excellent collection of Blues/R 'n' B instrumentals, superbly executed by my buddy over there in his San Diego Digital Studio. Liked them all, if I could name a favourite track, I would go for track 3 'Cruise Avenue'. It's amazing when you realise that it is all done by one guy and some excellent equipment. Get this one guys! to go with his previous Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, a unique 2 set collection to have.

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England

CD Review - Tribute to Fleetwood Mac - Various Artists
V.V.A.A. - Blue Flame Records - Release: February 2002
Tel.++39023272235
Fax.++39023272232
e-mail: Labelblueflame@hotmail.com
Info@blueflamerecords.com
v. J. Da Tradate 11 Milano Italy

Here we have a 'Tribute To Fleetwood Mac' by the artists of Italian Record Company 'Blue Flame Records, from bands like 'Family Style', the 'Groundhogs' and many more, a mighty fine tribute, to a mighty fine band.

Critique track by track

track 1 ... My Heart Beats Like A Hammer (J. Spencer) Family Style
Starting with a thumping great intro to this compilation, Family Style certainly knock this one out with great gusto. Franco Limido busting a gut on vocal, his brother Marco thrashing his guitar, cousin Davide Bianchi on resounding bass and their good pal Gigi Biolcati thumping out that drum beat.

track 2 ... She's Real (E. Boyd) Family Style
Franco showing his virtuosity on harp as well as vocal this time. Very competently backed up by the rest of the guys. These guys really dig what they are doin'. Bounds along magnificently.

track 3 ... Show Biz Blues (P. Green) P. McGinley & J Mercik
A change of artists and a change of pace herald terrific slide guitar and resounding vocals, real old style blues backed by just a tambourine. Just wonderful. Could listen to these guys all day.

track 4 ... Lazy Poker (P. Green - C.G. Adams) P. Giomo
Another change and this one is for all you blues rockers, P. Giamo leading guitar, harp, bass and drums with a really gusty heartfelt vocal. This poker is definitely red hot blues.

track 5 ... The World Keep On Turning
(P. Green - Maxwell Street Jimmy Davi's) Jet Martin
Great acoustic guitar and a haunting vocal by Jet on this one, really does justice to this tribute album when you hear blues played like this.

track 6 ... Fleetwood Mac (P. Green) Family Style
The guys are back with this famous instrumental, belting out this wailing blues tribute. Great work guys. Magnificent solo's by Marco and Franco on guitar and harp respectively. They harmonise so well too.

track 7 ... Like Crying (D. Kirwan) M. & F. Limido, D. Bianchi
Just Marco and Davide backing Franco's great vocal and harp, features an amazing guitar/harp duet by the Lamido brothers. Woman's got the blues, yeah man!

track 8 ... Looking for Somebody (P. Green) Family Style
Another haunting blues melody from Family Style, don't cry Franco! you sound so sad and forlorn on vocal, I could cry in my beer with you my friend. That guitar/harp backin' really pulls the heart strings too. Stop it guys!

track 9 ... Stop Messin'Round (P. Green) Groundhogs
Now we go on to the Groundhogs, the late, great 'John Lee Hooker's' UK band. These guys "no messin'" just pure unadulterated s**t hot blues. Need I say any more! Better not, guess I may be in trouble already.

track 10 .. I'm Coming' Home To Stay (J. Spencer) Slawek
Unusual phrasing with this deep pleasant vocal by Slawek, an excellent harp bridge joining this together so well. great stuff!

track 11 .. Drifting (P. Green) Family Style
This one is heavy man! Resounding great blues sound by Italy's leading blues band, soon to appear in the UK. Yes, dig it guys, gals too! They will be with us soon, can't wait to hear this live.

track 12 .. One Sunny Day (D. Kirwan) Groundhogs
The Groundhogs back again belting out the blues to send us all into a frenzy, great piano on this one as well as absolutely terrific guitar work. Blows me away guys. Magnificent.

track 13 .. Rambling Pony (P. Green) P. Giomo
P. Giamo's second track, fabulous slide guitar blending so well with such fine harp work on this one is a real treat to how blues should sound behind such a great vocal.

track 14 .. Oh Well (P. Green) Andy J. Forest
A really psychedelic blues by Andy, Organ this time, harp, guitars vying to tease and please us listeners, really workin' to a crescendo. Wow!

track 15 .. I've Lost My Baby (J. Spencer) Groundhogs
A really slow mournful blues from the Groundhogs, such soulful piano and slide guitar. These guys are really such blues masters. A proud tribute to the music.

track 16 .. Sandy Mary (P. Green) Jet Martin
Back to Jet with his lilting vocals, magnificent guitar work, blended with harp makes this a proud track for Sandy Mary. Another magnificent track penned by 'The Master' Peter Green.

track 17 .. Leaving Town Blues (P. Green) Fried Okra Jones
Wow! the fabulous slide guitar and really Southern Fried vocals by this artist tingle my soul man. As magnificent a sound as the name implies. Fried Okra Jones, want to hear more from you man. Sure do!

track 18 .. Watch Out (P. Green) Andy J. Forest
Another track featuring more fabulous guitar and harp work backin' a heartfelt vocal by Andy.
The music tells it how it is. That's blues, that's life.

track 19 .. Albatros - Black Magic Woman (P. Green) -
I Need Your Love So Bad (Little Willie John) Family Style
A medley finishes this great tribute to Fleetwood Mac. A great tribute to a great band, playing us out those equally magnificent guys, Family Style.

Wow! Just get this album, what more can I say.

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

CD Review - Michael Dollins - Jazz, Rhythm & Blues
Open Road Tested Guitar Songs
dedicated to his best friend, Jo Ann

Mike's Music
P.O. Box 191207
San Diego,
CA 92159
619-337-2672

e-mail: mikedollins@msn.com

web: http://mikedollins.homestead.com/MikeDollins.htm

Sleeve notes:
Open road tested Jazz, Rhythm & Blues guitar instrumentals. This CD was designed for travel. Just plug it in the dash of your ride, press play and hit the interstate highways. It sounds real good on 1-5 northbound out of Los Angeles. 1-10 eastward or old Route 66 is one the best open roads by far for this CD. Highway 49 and Highway 99 are great too. All original guitar instrumentals composed and performed by Michael Dollins.
ASCAP* Bostonian Music* Copyright 2001.

Track listing

track 1 ... Tender Love

track 2 ... Pintos, Hocks & Greens

track 3 ... Sorghum & Butter

track 4 ... Whisker Fish

track 5 ... Familia

track 6 ... Hip Hop Scotch

track 7 ... Jazz Waltz With Me

track 8 ... Walkin' Me Back Home

track 9 ... Dancin' In The Okra

track 10 .. Purple Hull Strut

track 11 .. Pea Shuckin' Shuffle

track 12 .. Blue Guitar

track 13 .. Bi-Polar, Lithium Cure

Must admit straight away, Mike and I are e-mail buddies for a while now, he, the artist, myself, the music fan. That's the connection, our interest in the music. Had not heard any of Mike's material before this CD, I am so pleased that I have now heard his most recent recording. I think this great work of his has been on the boil for a while now. It is something from the heart, in fact I think Mike has bared his soul to achieve this excellent baker's dozen of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues.

It is not just a CD of music to drive to, it explains some of the Southern Music Culture surrounding the music. Just look at the track titles, what do they mean? If you are from Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas or Missouri they will be familiar to you. Well, I am from the UK, so I will have to confess my ignorance. Thanks to Mike, no longer are these terms strangers to me. This album is not just about the music that fuels the soul, it is about the feelings and food that fuel the musician.

Pintos, Hocks & Greens
Pinto's are Pinto Beans. You add a Ham Hock, Pig Ankle, to the Beans,  After two hours of stewing on a slow burner, then you eat them over cornbread  and the side dish is spinach like vegetables called Turnip Greens, or Mustard Greens: Pintos, Hocks & Greens, a southern treat

Sorghum & Butter
Is an old time concoction that looks like spun butter and honey. Sorghum is  the raw stage of Molasses, which is made from pure cane sugar in Louisiana. The Sorghum Molasses is mixed with butter, and used on Soda Biscuits at suppertime.

Whisker Fish
Catfish, a Southern food staple.

Familia
Spanish for Family

Dancin' in the Okra
Okra is a vegetable, and a sold food source in the South. Everyone in the South has gardens with Turnip Greens, Okra, and Black Eyed Peas, which look like beans with black eyes, as the staples of the garden.

Purple Hull
is a highbred, Black Eyed Pea. In fact in Arkansas and Louisiana, black-eyed peas are just called: Purple Hulls.

A great album, by a great guy, I look forward to hearing more from Mike in the near future. Good Blues to you buddy!

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

CD Review - Hey Hey - Stringbean And The Stalkers
(at Ragin Cajun, Belmar, NJ)
Blue Leaf Records BL 9808
Executive Producer: Joe Morabia
Produced by : Ben Elliott
Blue Leaf Records, A Division of Loose Leaf Music Corp.
Loose Leaf Music Corp. P.O. box 234, Deal, N.J. 07723
E-mail: bluesleaf@aol.com

Recorded and Mixed at: Showplace Studios, Dover N.J.
Mastered by Tom Walsh, Pittsburgh, PA
Associate Producer: Jack Kreisberg

Harmonicas from Kevin's Harps
Neil Thomas play Hohner Accordions

Stringbean And the Stalkers
Ken Sorensen - guitar, harp, vocals
Sonny Kenn - guitar
Dave Meyers - bass
Vic Bayers - drums
Neil Thomas - accordion, organ
Billy Ryan - guitar
Dickie Thomas - mandolin, guitar

Stringbean and the Stalkers are not just a Blues Band they are an innovative Blues Collective, Ken Sorensen aka Stringbean Wheeler on guitar, harp and vocals, when he has not been called out as a member of the Sandy Hook Pilots Association, plays a mean harp, steady guitar and sings some pretty classy vocals. The Jersey Shores legendary Sonny Kenn on lead guitar, this multi talented artist certainly can play any style and blends with Ken's harp so well. Next we have Neil Thomas on accordion and organ, certainly gives the band that cajun, zydeco feel. With Dave Meyers on bass and Vic Bayers on Drums keepin' it all together this is the nucleus of an amazingly volatile band. On this CD we also have the additions of Billy Ryan on guitar and Dickie Thomas on mandolin and guitar, helpin' to whoop the whole thing up. A pretty tight outfit, I must say. When the band are playing at the Ragin Cajun in Belmar, NJ the band members are even more fluid with whoever feels like jammin' with the rest of the guys. It could be Chris Baron of the Spin Doctors, Buddy Cage of New Riders, Marc Muller of the Shania Twain band, who knows who will sit in next? Lastly the Ragin Cajun itself, regulars and lucky newcomers savour the delights of that down home cajun cookin' as well as those low down blues tinged with the flavour of the deep south. This ambience is set for us all to enjoy.

Critique track by track

track 1...Cold Hard Rain (traditional)
Starting straight in with a good rockin' cajun style number, good vocal, fine harp mixed with some pretty good guitar and accordion etc makes for an extremely fine introduction to a great bunch of guys playin' their hearts out.

track 2...Tore Up (Ballard)
Still in the same cajun vein, a bit heavier on the blues. Very fine lead accordion and guitar work on this track goes so very well with Ken's expressive vocal.

track 3...Worried Life Blues (Merriweather)
Now we are gettin' down to the real stuff, a Big Maceo number no less. Extremely well executed harp and vocal by Ken, extremely fine guitar solo by Sonny. A famous number very well executed by Ken and the guys.

track 4...Bring It On Home (Dixon)
Now we are cruisin'. A number by the master writer himself, a Willy Dixon number. Ken on mean harp and vocals leadin' the guys through a deep and meaningful experience, bringing it on home to us all.

track 5...Who's Been Talking (Burnett)
Now a Howlin' Wolf number. What an exciting repertoire this band have! An extended version which gives all the band a chance to solo, mingle and blend so well. An amazing arrangement which drifts into an almost transcendental very absorbing jazz mood. Well done guys. Enjoyed all of the 10 minutes plus of this track.

track 6...Showplace Shuffle (Sorensen)
For a change but without losing any impetus, we have an instrumental ably written by Ken. Shows off Ken's expertise on harp and Sonny's superb guitar work. Shuffle on down guys and show 'em.

track 7...Last Night (Jacob's)
Now a Little Walter Track, a low down dirty back alley style blues. Ken drawling' his way, leadin' the gang past midnight through to dawn breakin'. Genuine stuff.

track 8...Doin the Shout (Hooker)
I am now even more impressed with this bands repertoire, a number by the late, great John Lee Hooker, an inspiration to us all, certainly to Stringbean and the Stalkers. Sonny and Neal on guitar and accordion backin' up Ken's shout on vocals and harp givin' this number a Cajun feel.

track 9...Deep Ellem Blues (traditional)
Guess we have all heard this old chestnut a number of times by a variety of artists over the years. A good fresh arrangement makes this a funky cajun style blues. I'm enjoyin' the style guys. Gets psychedelic the more it goes on, impressive.

track 10...Birmingham Blues (Autry)
a Gene Autry blues! Yeah, that's right. A fine number. That's blues for you, about travellin', lookin' for a new woman, drinkin'. The very essence of what blues is all about, Yeah, man!

track 11...Stalkin' (Sorenson)
The second instrumental, this deep dark and dirty old blues not only shows up Ken's talent as a composer it really allows the whole band to strut their stuff, magnificent! What more can I say.

track 12...Great Change (traditional)
Ken and Sonny lead the guys through this fine old number. Great changes certainly have been happenin' of late! Hope these changes turn out for the better for us all. I'm with you guys.

track 13...Forty Four Blues (Burnett)
Extremely fine old Howlin' Wolf number about totin' a '44 brings a real heavy load. A lesson for us all. Really enjoyed the arrangement on this one guys. Incidentally, if you are an old blues buff like me, you may have noticed that Karen Carroll uses a similar riff on Vicksburg Blues, a Little Brother Montgomery number.

track 14...You're So Fine (Jacobs)
What can be better to finish a superb album than another fine old Little Walter number. Ken more than ably leads the guys out on the final track on this extremely entertaining album. The track title says it all guys!

Get on down to the Ragin' Cajun and listen to these guys, your in for a really great night. Great music accompanied by Southern style food. A great combination. Be sure to catch them when they are tourin' down your way. When are you comin' my way, guys. Where am I?......... I'm in the UK!

A 'Delta Dawn' Review
Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.