Category: Blues

BROOKE D - NEW YEARS BLUES

12/29/2015

We were doing Blues on the front page today, so I stumbled across "New Years Blues" by Brooke D, a native of the California coast currently based in Portland, Oregon (I think). Oddly enough, this tune isn't (strictly speaking) Blues. It's a cappella Folk Jazz. What it is is interesting and different. And you know that "different" is one of my favorite words. "New Years Blues" is from Brooke's 2011 EP "A Kinder Winter" and you can download all three tunes free from Bandcamp. Dig around and you'll find a live version that's also free. Brooke is currently working on a real honest to goodness album which hopefully sees the light of day in 2016.

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VINNIE B. - CHRISTMAS BLUES (RING MY SILVER BELLS)

12/24/2015

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Not too much on-line about Vinnie B. and his band, The Brotherhood. But it's an original Christmas Blues, so I'll take it.

Vinnie B. & The Brotherhood do have a ReverbNation page and a website--both seriously lacking in content--but plenty folks don't have either, so Vinnie's at least one step ahead. They are from Michigan and they are a Power Rock trio. It appears they're mostly a live band, though it seems they're working on an album.

In the meantime, "Christmas Blues (Ring My Silver Bell)" is a very listenable Blues Rock original which could easily slide into your Christmas Blues playlist. Vinnie B. doesn't say whether The Brotherhood is working this track with him, but the sound is nice and full, so I'm gonna guess yes. And it's free on Soundcloud, so it's got that goin' for it, which is nice.

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RICKIE LEE JONES - CHRISTMAS IN NEW ORLEANS

12/18/2015

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I'm pretty sure we gave you the heads up earlier this year that Rickie Lee Jones' new album, "Other Side Of Desire", contained the song "Christmas In New Orleans". Well, Rickie Lee is including that song with two other of her Christmas recordings as free downloads from her web site. The other two--"Oh Holy Night" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"--have been around a while longer, so we gave the title above to the new one (and, yes, "Oh Holy Night" is the one recorded with the Chieftans). Rickie has been offering her Christmas songs off and on for years ("Christmas In New Orleans" bumped "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"). At one time, you could even buy a physical disc (a CD-R, IIRC) of the Christmas tunes from her web site. Now the thing to remember with Rickie's free Christmas downloads is there is no set schedule for their availability. They might be gone by the time I post this or they could last through Christmas. Some years Rickie has offered them for just a couple of days (like, honestly, two days) and then they're gone. So, if you don't already have them, head to Rickie's web site without delay. The version in the video was recorded at/for WFUV. The free download is from the album.

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TWINKIE - CHRISTMAS DOWN IN MEMPHIS

12/13/2015

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Who, you may ask, is/are Twinkie? Not the UK Punk band. Not the female Soul and Gospel singer. Not the disgusting yet somehow irresistible taste treat. "Just 2 brothers from Memphis, Tn having fun". Alrighty then.

Apparently, Twinkie is comprised of Matthew and Mark Downen and, while they aren't exactly the Yule Logs, Twinkie is pretty much a Christmas thing (though there are two non-holiday tracks in their Soundcloud feed). There's a video up on YouTube from 2011 of "Please Come Home For Christmas", but that's about the only footprint I'm seeing.

But this year's Twinkie tunes, so far, are much better (IMHO). Take "Christmas Down In Memphis". OK, its a Blues. You got me. I'm biased. But--and I know I'll probably offend a lot of people in saying this--to me, it sounds like what I'd imagine a T-Rex Blues number would or should sound (yes, I'm aware that T-Rex actually DID record some Blues, but that Glam element always moved those tunes out of the Blues column for me). Even on Twinkie's less impressive "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", there's a bit of a T-Rex vibe (it ain't Glam, but it rocks). Both songs are available as free downloads on Soundcloud. And its possible there may be more to come. Just in case, "like" the boys on Facebook so you can stay apprised.

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JOHNNY SUMMERS - WHEN IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME

12/10/2015

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You'll hear a bit of Harry Connick Jr. in this New Orleans flavored track from Johnny Summers, and that's no coincidence. Listening to Harry as a youngster is what inspired Johnny to become a Jazz musician of the Big Band variety. Johnny Summers is a Canadian vocalist, trumpet player, composer and arranger. "When It's Christmas Time" is just one song from Johnny's new album of the same name. On the record, he shows himself equally at home with any number of styles, including Gospel and Swing. You can get the full album (CD and/or digital) from CD Baby and iTunes. But "When It's Christmas Time", for a limited time, is available as a free download on Soundcloud (though you'll have to go to Soundcloud to get it since the download button isn't included on the above widget... Fair enough). You can also visit Johnny at his website or on Facebook.

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THE GIBBONSES - MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY

12/7/2015

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The Gibbonses are a husband and wife teak currently based in Texas. But, before that, they were in Seattle. And, before that, they were performing on cruise ships. The cruise ship is where the couple met and, like a military hitch, the cruise ship gig lasted two years.

The couple brings both Soul and Americana influences to the music they write and sing, which should be more commonly done (I mean, you know, that's basically what Elvis did), but isn't these days.

"Merry Christmas Baby" is one of those songs that pretty much sounds great, no matter what genre you're recording in. But it was refreshing to hear the Charles Brown chestnut in a down on the prairie campfire cowboy style. Oh, Jackie's vocals have plenty of Soul and I don't think they had electric guitars on the lonesome prairie. Still, the overall sound is decidedly Americana.

Anyway, I'm a sucker for "Merry Christmas Baby". Always have been, always will be. You can download the version from The Gibbonses free via the widget up top or from Soundcloud.

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JOE BONAMASSA - CHRISTMAS BOOGIE

12/6/2015

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Guitarist and Blues Rock master Joe Bonamassa continues his tradition of gifting us with a free Christmas song. Joe has previously covered "Christmas Date Blues" (aka Joe Turner's "Christmas Date Boogie"), Lowell Fulson's "Lonesome Christmas", and "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" (if there were others, I don't have them on my hard drive at the moment). This year, Joe must've done his shopping early as he brought back an original--"Christmas Boogie (One Little Kiss)". It has a structure similar to Junior Parker's "Mystery Train" and, with the electric slide guitar, this sucker cooks.

As usual with Joe's Christmas presents, it'll cost you your email (which, if you've gotten his other holiday outings, he's already got anyway) or, possibly, a post on Facebook. Homestly, with Joe, I'm never sure. I just keep hitting buttons until the download starts. Because, when something is as cool and as hot as a free Joe Bonamassa Christmas track, I'll do whatever I have to do to get it.

I'd say you can start your "Christmas Boogie (One Little Kiss)" process here and it'll all work out eventually.

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CHARLES BRADLEY - EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS

11/6/2015

After finding the free HoneyHoney Christmas download at Amoeba Records, I noticed they've got quite an extensive catalog of free downloads--61 pages, in fact. I didn't have time to go through all of them, but a quick hit on the "Holiday" button to the left and I found this sizzling Charles Bradley track "Everyday Is Christmas (When I'm Lovin' You)". From the Dap Tone stable of artists, Bradley is a bit of a throwback to the days when Soul and R&B were pure, hot, true, and irresistible. If you didn't know better, you'd think this was a track from a sixties James Brown Christmas album. But it's from 2010 (so there; now you know better).

I bought the 45, myself, so I really don't need the free download. But, if you haven't added this one to your collection, yet, you DO need the free download.

On the same page, you'll also find free Christmas downloads from The Superions, Beach House, Paul Simon and Brandi Shearer (to name a few). Time's a-wastin'. Go get 'em.

BROOKE D - NEW YEARS BLUES

VINNIE B. - CHRISTMAS BLUES (RING MY SILVER BELLS)

RICKIE LEE JONES - CHRISTMAS IN NEW ORLEANS

TWINKIE - CHRISTMAS DOWN IN MEMPHIS

JOHNNY SUMMERS - WHEN IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME

THE GIBBONSES - MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY

JOE BONAMASSA - CHRISTMAS BOOGIE

CHARLES BRADLEY - EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS

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