Nelle "Tiger" Travis, one of the many new soul artists that are keeping the blues alive.
Showing posts with label CDS Records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CDS Records. Show all posts
Friday, July 1, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
State Of The Blues 2010
I have never really had a reason to write about the state of the blues. As the years have rolled on, it seemed that the blues more or less was the same as it always was. No need to say hey, things are the same! However, it seems to me that the blues has been slipping into some precarious waters over the last few years. In fact, the last ten years have been brutal for the blues. Clubs are closing, blues societies are shrinking, festivals are canceling, and the digital revolution has really hurt the music business at all levels. In many ways this is the history of the blues. It has always ebbed and flowed. It started very low key in the south during reconstruction, but at the turn of the century it had become popular through out the country. However, by the 1930s blues was back to being a regional music. While the children of the blues Jazz, and Swing grew in popularity, blues sat dormant until the Jump blues craze of the 40s, and the rise of Chicago Blues in the 50s. By the mid 60s the blues was becoming dormant again, and regardless of what the British think, they didn't save the blues in the 60s. By 1970 blues sat by as its second generation of children, Rock and Roll, R &B, Soul, Funk, and Disco ruled the world. It really wasn't until the 1980s that the blues rose again, and for a good 20 years remained strong. However, the last ten have been rough.
So what can we do to get the blues back on track. First, I think there is a quite debate over what is the blues. It is not a new debate, and many people want to sweep it under the rug, but it is there and it is real. Can a band that 20 years ago was considered a rock band, be a blues band now?? It certainly made me mad years ago when I had to compete with rock bands who would book themselves as blues bands just to make a buck. It doesn't matter how many blues standards you play, if you are not a blues band, you are not a blues band. Yet, I get emails, and links to dozens of bands every week, who are not blues, but want to be advertised, or reviewed as a blues band. Unlike some of my friends in the blogosphere who review these bands, and when the review is not good they get creamed by the band and their fans, I just stay away from them. To me it is not worth writing a bad review and having to deal with a handful of crazy fans. I wish there was an easy answer to this, but at this point it hurts the blues on a large scale when people go away disappointed in a show because the band didn't play the blues! Then when they stop going out to the clubs or festivals, we have a huge problem.
I also think there is a huge section of the blues world that is going virtually unnoticed. That is the growing number of southern soul performers on the Chitlin Circuit. CDS Records, has a great stable of artists including one of the most underated blues performers out there today Chick Willis. Chick has been around forever, and certainly had some fame in his younger days, but he is still out there putting on shows. Also an important website, and promoter of the blues that very few people know about it Blues Critic Media
They put out the monthly top ten of soul and blues. Take a look at January and think to yourself how many of these performers have you heard??? Especially on your local blues radio show!!!
If you live down South then you are aware of these artists, but most of these performers rarely get airplay or play gigs in the North. I am not making any implications here, but there is some great blues going on and you are missing it.
My own feeling about how to save the blues is pretty simple. Blues Societies need to remember that blues has to be built from the ground up. You have to start local. Build up your local bands, and promote your regional bands. Also when putting on big shows take a look at some bands from other regions, especially in the deep south. Also don't get caught up in bringing in old rock acts, because they will bring in more people. It might work the first time, but it will alienate the blues crowd and they are staying home because of it.
I certainly hope that the new year improves the condition of the blues. Certainly once the weather warms ups it seems that the gigs start to pile up as well. Festival time is a time for everyone involved with the blues to get healthy. Here is hope that this year will start the rebirth of the blues for a new generation.
Tom
Blues Historian
So what can we do to get the blues back on track. First, I think there is a quite debate over what is the blues. It is not a new debate, and many people want to sweep it under the rug, but it is there and it is real. Can a band that 20 years ago was considered a rock band, be a blues band now?? It certainly made me mad years ago when I had to compete with rock bands who would book themselves as blues bands just to make a buck. It doesn't matter how many blues standards you play, if you are not a blues band, you are not a blues band. Yet, I get emails, and links to dozens of bands every week, who are not blues, but want to be advertised, or reviewed as a blues band. Unlike some of my friends in the blogosphere who review these bands, and when the review is not good they get creamed by the band and their fans, I just stay away from them. To me it is not worth writing a bad review and having to deal with a handful of crazy fans. I wish there was an easy answer to this, but at this point it hurts the blues on a large scale when people go away disappointed in a show because the band didn't play the blues! Then when they stop going out to the clubs or festivals, we have a huge problem.
I also think there is a huge section of the blues world that is going virtually unnoticed. That is the growing number of southern soul performers on the Chitlin Circuit. CDS Records, has a great stable of artists including one of the most underated blues performers out there today Chick Willis. Chick has been around forever, and certainly had some fame in his younger days, but he is still out there putting on shows. Also an important website, and promoter of the blues that very few people know about it Blues Critic Media
They put out the monthly top ten of soul and blues. Take a look at January and think to yourself how many of these performers have you heard??? Especially on your local blues radio show!!!
Top 50 Southern Soul, Rhythm & Blues Albums
Deep Soul + Soul/Blues + Downhome Blues + Urban Blues
The Nation's OFFICIAL Soul/Blues and Southern Soul Albums Chart
| TM | LM | Album | Artist | Label |
| 1 | 1 | The Voice | Willie Clayton | C & C |
| 2 | NEW | Soul Prescription | Bigg Robb | Over 25 Sounds |
| 3 | 3 | The MVP | Kenne' Wayne | G Street |
| 4 | NEW | Just Charlie** | Charlie Wilson | Def Jam |
| 5 | NEW | In The Zone: Southern Soul Style, Vol. 1 | Sir Jonathan Burton | Aviara Music |
| 6 | 4 | Reggie P (The Rude Boy Of Southern Soul) | Reggie P | Rude Boy |
| 7 | NEW | Love Letter** | R. Kelly | Jive |
| 8 | 2 | America's Most Wanted | Calvin Richardson | Shanachie |
| 9 | 7 | I Ain't Gone Do It | Mel Waiters | Waldoxy |
| 10 | 5 | Deep South Southern Soul | Chuck Roberson | CDS |
| 11 | 6 | That Thang Thang | O.B. Buchana | Ecko |
| 12 | 10 | All Of Me | Floyd Taylor | CDS |
| 13 | 8 | The First Rule Of Cheating | Lee "Shot" Williams | CDS |
| 14 | 11 | Blues Mix 1: Super Soul Blues | Various Artists | Ecko |
| 15 | 14 | Ms. Jody's In The Streets Again | Ms. Jody | Ecko |
| 16 | 12 | 24 Hour Woman | Denise LaSalle | Malaco |
| 17 | 13 | Shots Of Southern Soul | Various Artists | CDS |
| 18 | 9 | In Touch With My Southern Soul | Wendell B. | Smoothway Ent. |
| 19 | 16 | Club Southern Soul 1 | Various Artists | CDS |
| 20 | 22 | Love Who You Wanna Love | Carl Marshall | CDS |
| 21 | 15 | Love Attack | Mr. Sam | Lifetime Lover |
| 22 | 18 | Forever Young | Gregg A. Smith | CDS |
| 23 | 17 | A Girl Like Me | Sweet Angel | Ecko |
| 24 | 34 | Truth Be Told | Vick Allen | Soul 1st |
| 25 | 19 | That Girl Belongs To Me | Charles Wilson | CDS |
| 26 | 23 | Mr. Blues: The Best Of...So Far | Chick Willis | Benevolent Blues |
| 27 | 24 | Woof Woof Meow | J. Backfoot | JEA Music |
| 28 | 25 | Unfinished Business | Lenny Williams | Lenlon |
| 29 | 20 | I'm Satisfied | Cicero Blake | CDS |
| 30 | 21 | Sexy Soul Songs* | LaMorris Williams | Rocks Landon |
| 31 | RE | Save A Little Room For Me (I'm Coming Home For Christmas) | Wendell B | Smoothway Ent |
| 32 | 26 | Beat It Up | David Brinston | Ecko |
| 33 | RE | Merry Christmas From The Bigg Man | Bigg Robb | Over 25 Sounds |
| 34 | 27 | The Evolution Of Soul | T.K. Soul | Soulful |
| 35 | RE | It's Christmas Baby | Various Artists | Ecko |
| 36 | RE | Christmas Southern Soul Style | Carl Marshall | CDS |
| 37 | 29 | Special Delivery | Big G | CDS |
| 38 | 36 | Wilbe Records Greatest Hits* | Various Artists | Wilbe |
| 39 | 33 | Slap It Tap It | Jim Bennett | Aviara Music |
| 40 | 32 | Back To Bidness | Wendell B | Smoothway Ent. |
| 41 | 38 | The Preacher's Wife | Luther Lackey | Ecko |
| 42 | 37 | It's BYOB | Donnie Ray | Ecko |
| 43 | 41 | Call Before You Come | Gerod Rayborn | New Groove |
| 44 | 47 | All About the Rhythm & The Blues | Latimore | Latstone |
| 45 | NEW | Birthday Suit (digital album) | Certified Slim | self |
| 46 | 31 | Southern Soul Blues Hot Spot Vol. 1** | Various Artists | Hot Spot |
| 47 | 28 | On The Chittlin' Circuit 2: Memphis Soul Blues** | Various Artists | Ecko |
| 48 | 30 | Cougar | Pat Cooley | L & L |
| 49 | 35 | Jerri Curl Muzik | Bigg Robb | Over 25 Sound |
| 50 | 39 | Lacee's Groove | Lacee | Advantage |
This chart is based on a combination of Radio Airplay and ACTUAL SALES from the Southern Soul Blues community worldwide though primarily in the Southern United States.
Eligible entrees must be "New" or are currently experiencing a bump in airplay.
Albums marked with * charted mostly on Airplay while albums marked with ** charted mostly on Sales.
**click on CD STORE**
My own feeling about how to save the blues is pretty simple. Blues Societies need to remember that blues has to be built from the ground up. You have to start local. Build up your local bands, and promote your regional bands. Also when putting on big shows take a look at some bands from other regions, especially in the deep south. Also don't get caught up in bringing in old rock acts, because they will bring in more people. It might work the first time, but it will alienate the blues crowd and they are staying home because of it.
I certainly hope that the new year improves the condition of the blues. Certainly once the weather warms ups it seems that the gigs start to pile up as well. Festival time is a time for everyone involved with the blues to get healthy. Here is hope that this year will start the rebirth of the blues for a new generation.
Tom
Blues Historian
Monday, August 24, 2009
Chick Willis: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Shots Of Whiskey
Holy (**&^!!!!! Wow! Chick Willis has that Malco sound down! In fact, Chick's new video sounds like a classic ZZ Hill song! This is good stuff! To buy it go to CDS Records HERE.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
CDS Records Stan Mosley
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
CDS Records Carl Marshall
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
CDS Records Press Release
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CDC1005Monday, March 23, 2009
Charles Wilson: Pay Myself First
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Monday, March 2, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
CDS Records: Chuck Roberson
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Thursday, February 19, 2009
CDS Records: Charles Wilson
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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
CDS Records Update
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SAVVY WOMAN!! 
THE NEW PHILOSOPHER OF SOUL
Sexy Young Gun Of R & B Soul
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