Billy Preston: Nothing From Nothing

The amazing Billy Preston playing one of his hits from the early 70s.  Preston will always be the true 5th Beatle with his work on the Get Back sessions, which became Let It Be. 

The Blues Buffet: Dirty Water

Just got this from the old email bag.A cool  band called The Blues Buffet. This is a nice melodic song that reminds me a lot of the old Climax Blues Band. Give it a look and listen

Casey James

Don't know him, but I was sent a recommendation about him so give this guy a listen too.

Gary Moore RIP

Legendary blues rock guitarist Gary Moore has died.  According to several sources he died in his sleep in a hotel in Spain.  While a few sites are reporting more, it is pure speculation until an autopsy is done.  Moore played with Thin Lizzy, and was also known as an amazing guitar player who had a great solo career. He was 58 years old.  For a quick report click HERE.  I will update if more information becomes available. 

Below are some songs he is most recognized for.

The Beatles: I Dig A Pony, Get Back

The very end of the movie Let It Be, with two great songs, I Dig A Pony by John, and Get Back by Paul.  A fitting ending to a great band.  Not the official last recordings of the band, because later that summer they would record Abby Road, which was the project that the Beatles worked on together. However, the film Let It Be would come out in 1970, and the Beatles were done by then. 

I am a former Beatle freak.  I have every album, and usually a original Capital, and Apple version as well.  Back in the 90s I found the blues and sort of left the Beatles behind, but for some reason lately I have really missed them.  I realized that I don't even have all their albums on CD!  I also realized a few weeks ago that in September John Lennon would have been 70 years old!  YIKES!  Also sadly he has been gone for almost 30 years.  George has been gone for 9 years.  Time certainly flies way too quickly. 

Anyway I hope you enjoy this video which is over 40 years old! 

Alexa Ray Joel: Come Home

Here is a nice bluzy song from Alexa Ray Joel, who is Billy Joel's little girl.  She is pretty good! 

Johnny Winter: Rock And Roll Hoochie Coo

Classic blues rock from Johnny Winter

Jeff Healey Band: Hideaway

Jeff Healey playing one of those classic guitar solos. Healey had a unique style of playing guitar on his lap almost like a piano. Healey died of cancer last year.

Blood Sweat And Tears: Rosemary

Blood Sweat And Tears has always been more of a concept than a band. The number of members you have come and gone has always been numerous. This version of the band featured Jerry Fisher on vocals, and included future Blues Brothers, "Blue Lou" Marini, and Tom "Bones" Malone. This version of the band was the bluest of BS&T, and my favorite. Check it out.

Layla Zoe: Piece Of My Heart

Here is a video of Layla Zoe singing an old Janis Joplin song. The tempo is a little faster than the original, but the band is much tighter than Big Brother And The Holding company.

Eric Clapton And Sheryl Crow: Little Wing

Concert footage of Clapton with Sheryl Crow performing Hendrix's Little Wing. David Sandborn plays the hot sax solo around the 3 minute mark. Great performance by everyone.

Porterdavis: Heaven Help Me

Another great video of Porterdavis, shot by our great friend Jan! Enjoy!!

Stevie Ray Vaughn: Little Wing

Stevie Ray doing a classic Jimi Hendrix song.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - little wing (live at rockaplast 1985)
Uploaded by -bouddha-

Buddy Miles And Carlos Santana: Changes

This is the Buddy Miles that people around Des Moines remember. Miles used to stop by and jam at several blues joints that were located on Forest Ave, back in the 80s, and 90s. Most people probably remember him as the drummer for Jimi Hendrix and his band of gypsies, but in his later years Buddy became a pretty good guitar player. Here is a clip of him with Carlos Santana playing Buddy's biggest hit.

Santana & Buddy Miles - Them Changes (Live)
Uploaded by miguelzv

Tony Joe White: Polk Salad Annie

Another clip deleted by Youtube, that I found on Dailymotion. Classic blues rock tune by Tony Jo White

Tony Joe White
Uploaded by hotrockers

Jason Ricci And New Blood: The Rocker

Jason Ricci live at Grand Rapids Michigan playing The Rocker!

Back Door Slam: Come Home

Some nice Blues Rock from Back Door Slam!

Taylor Hicks: Forever Man

I noticed that the yahoo embedded video doesn't play on firefox for some reason so here is a different version from Youtube.

Taylor Hicks: Forever Man

Taylor doing a Clapton song. Just a shout out to the Hicks fan club. My students informed me that Taylor lost his record contract. Can anyone give an update on that????

Blues Historian Review: Back Door Slam, Roll Away

I suppose the cover of the CD should have clued me into what I was going to hear, but after watching these guys on Youtube I thought I was going to get some scorching hot Stevie Ray/Jimi Hendrix styled blues. However, what I got was some old fashioned blues rock, Circa 1969-72. Even the cover looks like it came from the late 60s or 70s. The first song, Come Home, has a bit of the Stevie Ray/Hendrix sound I was looking for especially the ending. Outside Woman Blues, sounds very Claptonish from his days with Cream, although the drums and bass are much more straight ahead than anything Cream ever did. (which is a good thing) Gotta Leave is a nice slow blues with a touch of soul. Stay, And Too Late, are folk, While Takes A Real Man and It'll All Come Around return to the blues rock/classic rock genre. The album then has two more English folk songs and finishes with a bonus cut of Real Man, which is another version of Takes A Real Man. I think this disc if it had been released in the early 70s would have been one of the albums that would have enjoyed a long life on the old AOR (Album Oriented Radio) format. I just wonder if it is going to find an audience here in the states given that corporate radio dislikes anything that isn't edgy, Rap, or Pop infused pablum. These kids have got some chops and Davey Knowles can really scream on guitar. It also helps that unlike Clapton, and Hendrix, in the 60s, who were saddled with rhythm sections who over played, Knowles rhythm section of Ross Doyle and Adam Jones keep a driving rhythm that doesn't deflect from Knowles fiery guitar playing.

If you are interesting in reliving some great sounds from the blues/classic rock era of the late 60s and early 70s then get this disc. I know that blues purists will be disappointed with the disk, but those of us who like good tunes will enjoy this CD.