Bo Diddley Is Dead

Best wishes to family and friends of the late, great Bo Diddley.



He will be missed and remembered forever as one of the founding pioneers of rock and roll. Before Elvis, and many others, there was Bo Diddley. Elvis said he saw Bo gyrating during a performance and incorporated it into his stage moves. He is also known not only for the "Bo Diddley beat" and countless songs such as "Before You Accuse Me" and "Who Do You Love" - but for playing his signature rectangular guitar and having designed the widely popular and futuristic guitar the Billy Bo in 1959.

Eric Clapton and countless others owe this guy more than just respect, in fact - it's been claimed by Bo Diddley himself he was still owed a lifetime of payments on royalties to songs he never was paid for...

RIP brother...

Albert King

One of my favorite blues guitarists is Albert King - one of the three "Kings of the Blues." Haven't heard Albert King? Listen to Albert King

Why is he one of my favorites and why is he one of the Kings? Well, he is the man who brought us songs such as Born Under A Bad Sign and if you really want to see something magical check out his "In Session" performance with Stevie Ray Vaughn.

A few more recommended tracks such as "As The Years Go Passing By" and the popular "Laundromat Blues" can be found here - King of the Blues Guitar - And you can listen to his classic song "I'll Play The Blues For You" here - The Very Best of Albert King. He is known for playing a Gibson Flying V but since he is left-handed he flipped the guitar around and re-strung it, similar to the way Jimi Hendrix did.

I am in the process of changing this site around and will be updating it more often so check back as often as you can... - Rick

Kings of the blues

We've been on a long blues vacation, but we'll be back for more Kings of the Blues action shortly.

Bobby Blue Bland

"Bobby Blue Bland - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: The Duke Recordings"

Bobby Bland's purr-to-a-scream vocals quickly made him an R&B star in an era when rougher-hewn blues masters such as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf had fallen from the charts. Bland, a former valet for B.B. King, established himself with both up-tempo workouts ("Farther Up the Road," "I Pity the Fool") and devastatingly subtle ballad readings ("I'll Take Care of You," "Stormy Monday Blues"). Greatest Hits, Vol. One is a generous sampling of the discs that made him a steady seller throughout the '60s. A second CD chronicles his work in the '70s after Duke Records, his longtime label, was sold to ABC. --Rickey Wright

1. Farther Up The Road
2. I'll Take Care Of You
3. I Pity The Fool
4. Cry, Cry, Cry
5. Don't Cry No More
6. Ain't That Lovin' You
7. Who Will The Next Fool Be?
8. Turn On Your Love Light
9. Stormy Monday Blues
10. Yeild Not To Temptation
11. That's The Way Love Is
12. Call On Me
13. These Hands (Small But Mighty)
14. That Did It
15. Good Time Charlie, Part One
16. Chains Of Love

"Bobby Blue Bland - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: The Duke Recordings"

Jimi Hendrix Blues

After the disorganized and often unlistenable Alan Douglas-produced reissues in the '70s and '80s, MCA has been releasing the vast Hendrix archives in an intelligent and methodical manner. Blues is a perfect example, making the case that--on top of everything else--Jimi Hendrix was one fine blues guitarist. Combining the fluid lines of B.B. King with the spikiness of Hubert Sumlin and the crying tone of Elmore James with his usual synapse-frying intensity, Hendrix manages to both honor the music tradition while remaining uniquely himself. These studio outtakes and warm-ups (plus one previously released track, the magnificent "Hear My Train a Comin'") include a playful "Mannish Boy," the slow burn of "Once I Had A Woman," and a metallic "Bleeding Heart." --Steven Mirkin

1. Hear My Train A Comin'
2. Born Under A Bad Sign
3. Red House
4. Catfish Blues
5. Voodoo Chile Blues
6. Mannish Boy
7. Once I Had A Woman
8. Bleeding Heart
9. Jelly 292
10. Electric Church Red House
11. Hear My Train A Comin' (Electric)

Listen to Jimi Hendrix Blues

The Definitive Otis Redding

Having died at age 26, Otis Redding gave only a glimpse--albeit a well-documented one--of what he was capable of doing. These four CDs capture Redding's best moments and give a depth that is essential to Redding and Stax-era R&B fans. Redding shaped Stax's signature soul sound, in part by further livening up already high-powered horn charts and heavy rhythms, and in part by simply singing his heart out to a ringing degree. His early, heavily showy stuff is featured here in the form of "Shout Bamalama," but very quickly this set begins to boast just how categorically awe-inspiring Redding's vocal powers were. He made the heart hurt on scorching love-lost tunes ("That's What My Heart Needs") and then could jar the floor with bursting tempi, complex horn charts and unflagging passion on a tune like "Mr. Pitiful." By the time he was churning out tracks with the estimable instrumental outfit Booker T. & the MG's, Redding's dramatic delivery and awesome power were evenly keeled, ensuring at least an unforgettable performance--many of which are on these four CDs. The first three collect catalog material, from the early tunes (a great vantage on Redding's forming talent) to "Tramp," his erstwhile hit with Carla Thomas, to the jump-out-of-your-seat energy of Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang." The last CD collects live performances, each of which is distinctly unforgettable. Then there's the sure sign of Redding's ascendance, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," recorded within days of this Macon, Georgia, native's tragic early death. For those looking for something more compact than this set, try the anthology Dreams to Remember. Be prepared, however, to feel teased by just two CDs when you could have four. --Andrew Bartlett

The Definitive Otis Redding

Damn Right, I've Got The Blues

This guest-studded CD relaunched Buddy Guy's career and set him toward the pinnacle of contemporary blues. Despite turns from Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, and others, it's Guy who burns brightest--and loudest. He delivers roaring, exuberant performances of classic R&B ("Mustang Sally"), old-time blues ("Black Night"), and house rockers ("Where Is the Next One Coming From"). Most poignant, though, is his seven-minute instrumental "Rememberin' Stevie," which not only rekindles the fiery spirit of his own youth, but pays sensitive tribute to his late friend and admirer Stevie Ray Vaughan. This is the blueprint for Guy's current performing style. --Ted Drozdowski

About the Artist

One of the most respected and lauded blues artists of our time, Buddy Guy is the greatest living exponent of classic Chicago electric blues. He is a thrillingly inventive guitarist, a passionately soulful singer, and a peerless showman. In the course of a 45-year professional career, he has sold over two million albums; earned four Grammy Awards; and won nineteen W.C. Handy Blues Awards — more than any other single artist.

2005 INDUCTEE TO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME!

BRAND NEW, EXPANDED EDITION OF BUDDY’S GRAMMY-WINNING, GOLD-CERTIFIED RELEASE!

To celebrate Buddy Guy’s newest and bluest accolade, Silvertone Records is pleased to announce the Expanded Edition of his breakthrough Grammy-winning, gold-certified release, Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues (Best Contemporary Blues Album). This special edition includes 2 tracks previously unavailable in the U.S. – in fact, formerly released as b-sides in the U.K. The album cover will be true to the original, but beautifully enhanced with a special silver background. As another added bonus, Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues, Expanded Edition will feature brand new liner notes from none other than Anthony DeCurtis, the Rolling Stone editor and writer at large.

Damn Right, I've Got The Blues

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