Bad Dog Blues Radio

Hosting a weekly radio show and putting out this monthly website gives us at Bad Dog Blues a pretty good idea what's going on in in the blues world. We started the Bad Dog Blues website at the beginning of 1999 and have been doing these yearly wrap ups each year since. From a new recording standpoint 2005 was a very good year with numerous quality releases which made picking our year end top records difficult. As for the blues industry and artists in general things are still pretty tough. Two years after the so called Year of the Blues it's obvious that despite the hype there was no lasting boost to the blues. This year many larger labels cut back on their release schedule and many more CD's were issued on small or independent labels, many from long time blues veterans who were forced to self produce. Touring artists continue to struggle as venues close or cut back.

As for Bad Dog Blues Radio we continue to plug along with our five hour weekly show and are now heading into our 17th year on the air, our 7th on the web. Our local show continues to draw a large audience here in Rochester, NY in addition to garnering a huge web audience who listen to us live and check out our archive of over 50 hours of shows available in RealAudio. After many requests we have also made the show available in MP3 format, downloadable as a weekly podcast. Every week either Gary or Jeff do in depth artist features on the well know and obscure, interview notable blues artists and play a wide ranging mix of vintage and new blues. This year we got a chance to interview some great artists including Finis Tasby, Roomful of Blues singer Mark DuFrense, Big Joe Duskin, Mark Hummel, Earl Gilliam, Jimmy "T99" Neslon, Chick Willis and others. In addition we review notable records and tackle in depth features on our monthly website.

Our focus below will be on the year's most notable recordings. The records mentioned are only based on promos we've received for airplay in the past year and it should be noted that there are some labels that don't service us, particularly many of the import labels. While we don't get service from those great European blues reissues labels like JSP, Proper, Ace, Document, Classics, Blue Moon, etc. we do buy these records and they are played regularly on our program.

It seems that most of the year's best releases came out on small labels. Many artists formerly on bigger labels issued records on smaller labels or independently. Let's take a look at some of the year's top releases on small/independent labels: One of the year's best records was issued by veteran bluesman Chick Willis whose "I Did It All! " (CML Records) is one of his best ever filled with terrific songs and guitar playing. Veteran singer Shor'ty Billups put out the knockout "Shor'ty's Got The Blues" on his own Solid Gold imprint. Shor'ty's been singing since the late 50's, drumming from the early 60's, cut several 45's back in the day and has played behind folks like Wilson Pickett, Lattimore, Clarence Carter and Z.Z. Hill. Cleveland legend Guitar Slim has held court at the Cascade Lounge for something like 30 years and finally issued his belated "All Night Long" a raw, potent set of juke joint blues. Another little known veteran is piano/organ man Earl Gilliam who started in Houston sitting in with folks like Albert Collins, Gatemouth Brown, Ivory Lee Semien and others. Gilliam cut a handful of singles in the 50's for labels like Sarge, Ivory, Twist and in the 80's he started working with Joe "Guitar" Hughes, traveled to Europe with him several times and recorded three CD's with him. "Texas Doghouse Blues" was Gilliam's superb belated full length debut on the ever reliable Dialtone label. Other standouts include 50-year veteran Big George Brock's killer "Club Caravan" (Cat Head) a decidedly old school, down-home affair, some marvelous piano blues from Barrelhouse Chuck on his self released "Slowdown Sundown" (Viola), Finnish harp ace Helge Tallqvist's "Plays George "Harmonica" Smith a heartfelt and fabulously executed tribute to his idol, Willie King continues to deliver those tough juke joint blues on "Jukin' At Bettie's" on his own Freedom Creek label, Nick Moss continues to impress with his brand of traditional Chicago blues on "Sadie Mae" on his Blue Bella label.

A number of blues veterans are still releasing good music including Louisiana Red's tough "No Turn On Red" (HMG), the legendary Jimmy "T99" Nelson launched his comeback in 1999 and at nearly 80 sounds as good as ever on the aptly titled "Legend" (Nettie Marie), Maria Muldaur issued the excellent acoustic outing "Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul" (Stony Plain) a sequel to 2001's fine "Richland Woman Blues", Paul Oscher lays down deep traditional blues on the strong "Down In The Delta" (Blues Fidelity), Solomon Burke continues to sound timeless on his superb "Make Due With What You Got", Buckwheat Zydeco's overdue "Jackpot!" (Tomorrow) was a real killer, Magic Slim has a new group of Teardrops but still sounds tough as nails on the live "Anything Can Happen" (Blind Pig), Roomful of Blues have been at it for over 30 years and still sound mighty fine on their "Standing Room Only" (Alligator). Other veterans putting out fine new records were Artie "Bluesboy" White, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers and John Hammond. Ronnie Earl delivered the goods once again this time teaming with Duke Robillard on the fiery "The Duke Meets The Earl" (Stony Plain). In fact Ronnie Earl was the only artist on last year's list who made it again this year.

There were only a handful of newcomers who made our list this year: Maryland based bluesman Charles "Big Daddy" Stallings made his debut with the exceptional "One Night Lover (B-Town Records) a strong blend of urban contemporary blues with a strong grounding in tradition, Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts jumping West Coast blues sound on "Yeah Man" and mandolin ace Richard DelGrosso issued the gritty "Get Your Nose Outta My Bizness".

We always play good soul records if we can get them and this year we received a few good ones: Roy C "Hey Mista" (Three Gems) yet another consistently fine one from this soul veteran, Willie Walker & The Butanes "Right Where I Belong" (One On One) a vintage sounding soul record from a soul survivor who cut sides for the legendary Goldwax label in the 60's, Denise Lasalle sounds ageless on "Wanted" (Ecko), Lou Pride issued one of his finest in "Keep On Believing" (Severn) and Shirley Brown delivered the strong "Woman Enough" (Malaco).

As far as Rochester blues artists there were two very notable releases: Sacred Steel masters The Campbell Brothers delivered the genre bending "Can You Feel It? (Ropeadope) that stretched the boundaries but still stays true to their gospel message and Chris Beard's hard driving "Live Wire" (Northern Blues) was issued to widespread acclaim. In addition we've had some local bands perform live in the studio including great performances by Joe Likley & The Midnight Blues Band, The Beale Street Blues Band plus fine acoustic performances from Fred Vine and Keith Harden. Harden issued the CD "The Bad Dog Blues Sessions" this year which is comprised of three separate dates recorded live in our studios in 2004 & 2005. 2006 should see several more live in-studio performances so stay tuned.

In the wake of hurricane Katrina a number of strong benefit albums have been released. None was better than the terrific "Our New Orleans 2005" featuring stunning newly recorded tracks by Buckwheat Zydeco, Allen Toussaint, Eddie Bo, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irma Thomas and others. Another good benefit album was "Voice of the Wetlands" featuring Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr. and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. Speaking of New Orleans one of the year's best records was "Throwback" (Basin Street) a sizzling outing by The Rebirth Brass Band as they reunited with founding member Kermit Ruffins.

Reissue/Historical Recordings

2005 was a slow year for quality reissues/historical recordings. Due to copyright laws there is a flood of European reissues that hit the market yearly although few get sent to us for airplay. Here's some notable ones we received:

One of the year's most interesting and suprising reissues was Blind Arvella Gray's stunning "The Singing Drifter", originally issued in 1972 with fewer than a 1,000 copies sold and unavailable for more than 30 years which came out on Carey Baker's new Conjuroo label. This was his only full length album, reissued here in it's entirety with three bonus tracks and certainly ranks as a (almost) lost classic. Blind Arvella Gray was an urban songster who played a mesmerizing mix of blues, folk, country, gospel and work songs on Chicago's bustling Maxwell Street market from the 40's through his passing in 1980.

Despite being plagued by personal demons that have resulted in inconsistent performances, there's few who would dispute that when Otis Rush was on his game there was none better. Delmark's "All Your Love I Miss Loving - Live at The Wise Fools Pub, Chicago" is an emphatic reminder that he is one of the greatest bluesman of his generation. Part of this 1976 performance was sent to radio stations as a promotion but thankfully now the full concert is available to all.

Shout Factory has made a name for itself in recent years reissuing some good blues material. They continued re-releasing prime items from the Black Top catalog including Solomon Burke's "Soul Of The Blues", Hubert Sumlin's "Healing Feeling" and "Hubert Sumlin's Blues Party." Also noteworthy was the 2-CD Johnny "Guitar" Watson set "The Funk Anthology" and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band "Collection."

Fuel 2000 sent us a pair of fine soul slanted packages in Bobby Patterson's "Soul Of A Man" and the great "The Essential Carter Brothers."

Other reissues/historical releases that topped our year end lists include: Zane's "Beautiful Dream: Sessions Vol. 3" yet another prime collection of unreleased Eddie Hinton material, Honest Jon's "Willie Hightower" an incredible soul document from a neglected singer, Pacific Blues finally issued James Harman's killer "Live In 85 Plus'" on CD with bonus material, HMG's release of The Fieldstone's "Mud Island Blues" a belated follow-up to their classic "Memphis Blues Today!", Segue unearthed Rufus Thomas' final recording, "Just Because I'm Leavin'..." a near flawless recording made a decade before he died and Rounder's "The Great Johnny Adams Blues Album" is a bluesy tribute to a marvelous singer.

Blues Labels

As mentioned above the most of the year's best releases came out on small/independent labels. There were a number of other blues labels that deserve special mention:

Delta Groove has quickly established itself as a top notch blues label last year and continued issuing fine records this year. They issued one of the year's best with veteran Rod Piazza's excellent "For The Chosen Few" plus solid outings by The Mannish Boys, The Hollywood Blue Flames (a resurrected version of the legendary Hollywood Fats Band) and Mitch Kashmar, an under recorded harp blower/singer who deserves wider exposure.

Yellow Dog established itself in 2002 and continues to issue interesting an eclectic records including the superb Mary Flower's "Bywater Dance" plus strong records by Chris Cotton, Calvin Newborn, Mark Lemhouse and Terry Robb.

Stony Plain is one of the more established blues labels having formed back in 1976. This year they issued two of the year's best releases with the teaming of Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard on "The Duke Meets The Earl" and Maria Mulduar's magnificent acoustic outing "Lovin' Ol' Soul."

Delmark Records has been around for over 50 years an ended the year in a flourish with solid records by Tail Dragger, Mississippi Heat and an outstanding Otis Rush live record.

Pacific Blues is a strong West Coast label who consistently issues/distributes fine records. Notable ones this year included a reissue of James Harman's "Live In 85 Plus'", Jamie Wood's "Hollywood Confidential" plus distributing first rate records by Easy Bill and the Big Beat, Ryan Hartt & The Blue Hearts, Chris Zalez and Li'l Ronnie & the Grand Dukes.

Another label we really like is The Sirens, a Chicago based label that specializes in piano blues and gospel. Notable records this year included "In the Right Hands – Chicago Gospel Keyboard Pioneers", Erwin Helfer's "Careless Love" and "Heavenly Keys – Gospel Keyboard Trio."

Fat Possum sent us a couple of very good ones particularly what could be the comeback record of the year, Nathaniel Mayer's explosive "I Just Want To Be Held." Also noteworthy was Little Freddie King's tough "You Don't Know Like I Know" a bracing set of electrified juke joint blues.

The Texas based Top Cat labels sent us some solid releases this year including a pair by the excellent Johnny Nicholas with his strong new one "Livin' With The Blues" and a expanded reissue of his stellar 1994 Antones release, "Thrill On The Hill." They also issued top notch records by Johnny Rawls and Edwin Holt.

Maison De Soul was arguably the first label devoted to Zydeco when they formed in the early 70's and continue to put out great Zydeco releases. This year was no exception with fine records by Big Red, Thomas "Big Hat" Fields and Zydeco sweetheart Rosie Ledet.

Blues Literature

In the last few years we've see some very well researched blues books, particularly biographies, being issued. 2005 saw this trend slow down a bit. Here's a list of some notable books we've reviewed on Bad Dog Blues this year: the hefty two volume "The Encyclopedia Of The Blues ", Paul Oliver's though provoking "Broadcasting The Blues", Michael Taft's lyric compendium "Talkin' To Myself: Blues Lyrics, 1921-1942 "

Blues DVD's

We didn't see that many blues DVD's pass our way in 2005. The following notable ones were reviewed on our website: "Freddie King: Live In Europe", "Tom Dowd & the Language of Music", "Duke Robillard: Live At The Blackstone River Theatre." In addition the new Magic Slim, Tail Dragger and Mississippi Heat CD's also had DVD equivalents with bonus cuts and the new Rod Piazza CD contained a bonus DVD.

Blues Obituaries

2005 has been a particularly sad year with the following passing away: Eddie Burks, Tyrone Davis, Wild Child Butler, Lyn Collins, George Scott (founding member of the Blind Boys of Alabama), Johnnie Johnson, Cootie Stark, Neal Pattman, Percy Strother, Harry Hypolite, Shirley Goodman (Shirley and Lee), Goldband Records founder Eddie Shuler Sr, Long John Baldry, Little Milton Campbell, Emery "Detroit Junior" Williams, Jr., R.L. Burnside, Paul "Wine" Jones, Evelyn Joyce Johnson (Duke-Peacock Records), Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.

2005 was a very good year for new blues recordings but blues labels, touring blues acts and blues magazines continued to struggle. Again the best records were to be found on the small labels and Bad Dog Blues will continue to support these small outfits and try to bring them to the attention of a wider audience. The blues needs your support more than ever so keep buying the music, going to the shows and of course checking out Bad Dog Blues!

(Most of the recordings mentioned in this article have been reviewed on the Bad Dog Blues website during the past year. Check the archive section for full length reviews.