Soul Party Vol 113 - Soul Covers Songs Vol 06 - Stormy Weather (1961-2024)
Bob Mac's Compilations
Welcome to my compilations of great Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Jazz, Rockabilly, Early Rock & Roll, Hillbilly & Country music.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 265 (1946-2008)
Monday, May 4, 2026
Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll Vol 122 - Rockin' Country Style Vol 05
Chew Tobacco Rag (1951-2000)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 264 (1946-2016)
Friday, May 1, 2026
Bob's Chat
Todays "Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Volume 263" brings you 21 tracks dating from November 1940 with The Ink Spots recording "Java Jive", through to 2023 with some fiery blues from New Zealand guitarist John Williams, who once filled in for a dead drunk Jimmy Page during the Yardbird's 1967 tour of New Zealand. Other artists featured here include Earl King, Dinah Washington, James Brown, Piney Brown, The Temptations, Howlin' Wolf, Ritchie Valens, and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Some of you may be surprised to see Ritchie Valens included here in a primarily blues/R&B collection, but many artists usually associated with other genres - such as country, rock 'n' roll, jazz - periodically crossed over and recorded blues/R&B. So when I come across such tracks I like to include them to bring extra variety into the compilations.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins is an artist I've always admired. He started his singing career in the early 1950s and was a very average R&B singer at a time when outstanding R&B singers/blues shouters like Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown, Amos Milburn, Charles Brown, and Jimmy Witherspoon were thick on the ground. So to distinguish himself from the pack, Screamin' Jay Hawkins developed his voodoo and skulls persona and enjoyed a level of success that he probably never would have achieved had he remained a straight R&B singer.
And "Hillbilly & Country Volume 159" brings you the 2nd volume in "All About The Gals", commencing with Cotton Henry & The Oklahoma Hillbillies' 1954 tribute to one of the most famous whores of all time: Eskimo Nell. Among the other well-known, plus a few lesser-known, artists in this collection are: Kitty Wells, Merle Haggard, Webb Pierce, Waylon Jennings, Eddy Arnold, Dale Evans, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, The Willis Brothers, Jamie Hilliard, and Floyd Tillman.
Don't forget to have a look in "Bob's Cellar" as our good friend cabledogg2 frequently shares some outstanding and generally hard to find albums there. If you take a copy of anything don't forget to thank cabledogg2 for his generosity.
Anyway, my friends dig in and enjoy.
Hillbilly & Country Vol 159 - All About The Gals Vol 02
Eskimo Nell (1953-2023)
02. Jamie Hilliard - I'm Going Back To My Indian Maiden (1955)
03. Kitty Wells - Queen Of The Honky Tonk Street (1967)
04. Max Powell - Night Life Queen (1968)
05. Eddy Arnold - Molly (1963)
06. Joe Paul Nichols - Shy Young Sue (1963)
07. Howdy Glenn - Has Been Honky Tonk Queen (2023)
08. Bill Morgan - Polly Drove The Wagon (1965)
09. Floyd Tillman - Daisy Mae (1962)
10. Waylon Jennings - Young Widow Brown (1967)
11. Merle Haggard - I Just Want To Look At You One More Time (1969)
12. Don Crawford - All About Women (1964)
13. The Willis Brothers - She's Living In Sin On The Back Side Of Town (1971)
14. Stringbean - Pretty Little Widow (1963)
15. Dale Evans - I'm The Rage Of The Sage (1956)
16. Durwood Haddock - The Lady Of My House (1965)
17. Jack Rhodes & Freddie Franks - Gypsy Heart (1953)
18. Ralph Blizard - The Girl I Love (2000)
19. Webb Pierce & Red Sovine - Little Rosa (1956)
20. Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs - Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (1967)
Look for the link in the comments
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 263 (1940-2023)
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
AUSSIE BLUES #6
Tracklisting:
02. Nothing Unusual
03. Walk That Walk
04. G Slide
05. Party
06. Rumble
07. Shuffle
08. Back Stairs
09. Can't Let Go
10. City Life
11. Jumbo
12. Maddison Blues
Musicians:
Matt Taylor - Vocals & Harmonica
John Meyer - Lead Guitar
Bob Fortescue - Bass
Michael Burn - Drums
Released: 1989
Label: Forever Records FOR CD 4
Departing from 1987's softer sounding Australian Rhythm & Blues, Blue Metal sees Matt Taylor and Chain returning to the band's classic "Ozblues" sound, for a heavier and more guitar focused album with John Meyer on guitar (ex-Rose Tattoo), Bob Fortesque on bass (ex-Blackfeather) and Michael Burn on drums.
Look for the link in the comments
Country, Pre-War & Acoustic Blues Vol 108
Sad & Lonesome Blues Vol 04 - Lay Some Flowers On My Grave (1928-2023)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 262 (1932-2023)
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Best Of Jazz Vol 120 - Women In Jazz Vol 10
When It's Sleepy Time Down South (1956-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 261 (1938-2023)
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Bob's Chat
Well it's soul time again so here's "Soul Party Volume 112 - Moaning, Groaning & Crying Vol 03 - Teardrops On Your Letter", with 20 tearjerkers dating from 1959 through to 2012. Among the artists presented here today are Etta James, Natalie Cole, William Bell, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Bettye Swann, Joe Tex, Arthur Alexander, and O.V. Wright. But for me the standout track is Irma Thomas and her gorgeous 1967 recording of "I've Been Loving You Too Long". Soul music doesn't get any better than this one.
And our "Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records" continues with Volume 260, featuring some classics from the mighty Howlin' Wolf, Memphis Minnie, Little Son Joe, Jimmy McCracklin & Irma Thomas, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Sugar Chile Robinson, and Lonnie Brooks. As usual this series tends to be a bit quirky, so thrown in for good measure are Monty Alexander, Al Di Meola, and Long Tall Marvin, all adding a bit of variety without wandering too far off the track.
Anyway my friends, dig in and enjoy.
Soul Party Vol 112 - Moaning, Groaning & Crying Vol 03
Teardrops On Your Letter (1959-2012)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 260 (1946-2023)
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Bob's Chat
Today another in my "Albums That Deserve Another Listen" series, this time the remarkable Jo-Ann Kelly's 1969 self titled album. Jo-Ann Kelly and her brother Dave were both born in Streatham, London and grew up there. I was also born in Streatham however my family migrated to Australia when I was very young. I've often thought that had my parents remained living in London and I grew up in Streatham instead of Perth, then I almost certainly would have known Jo-Ann and Dave Kelly as by the late 1960s I was a passionate blues purist, as the Kelly's were, so it would be inevitable that our paths would have crossed at some time. Jo-Ann Kelly is widely considered to be one of the best white female blues singers of all time. Apparently Canned Heat were very interested in getting her to join their band, as was Johnny Winter. Sadly Jo-Ann passed away from a brain tumor in 1990 at the age of 46. Her younger brother Dave, now age 79, still performs blues with various British bands.
The Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll series continues with another collection of great covers songs. The artists featured here today in Volume 121 include: Carl Perkins, Warren Storm, Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Johnny Rivers, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sonny Burgess, Laura Lee Perkins, and several others.
And Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Volume 259 brings you 21 fine recordings from 1948 to 2023 by Luther Allison, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Johnny Otis, Louis Armstrong, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Bo Diddley, and other outstanding performers.
So my friends, dig in and enjoy.
Due to interest in Jo-Ann Kelly I've now added this great vid of her performing. There are several vids of her on YouTube but this one is the best by far.
ALBUMS THAT DESERVE ANOTHER LISTEN
Jo-Ann Kelly - Jo-Ann Kelly (1969)
02. Fingerprints Blues
03. Driftin' and Driftin'
04. Look Here Partner
05. Moon Going Down
06. Yellow Bee Blues
07. Whiskey Head Woman
08. Sit Down on My Knee
09. Man I'm Lovin'
10. Jinx Blues
11. Come on in My Kitchen
Jo-Ann Kelly - Vocals & Guitar
Recorded in London, March 1969.
Jo-Ann Kelly (5 January 1944 – 21 October 1990) was an English blues singer and guitarist. She is respected for her strong blues vocal style and for playing country blues guitar.
Kelly was born in Streatham, South London, England on 5 January 1944. She had two younger siblings, Susan and Dave. Her early interest in performing music grew out of hearing the Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Skiffle in the late 1950s. She learned 3 or 4 guitar chords from her younger brother, Dave Kelly.
She appeared on several compilation albums with her first in 1966 being New Sounds In Folk and then two years later on Blues Anytime Vol. 1: An Anthology Of British Blues(1968) Immediate Records before releasing her first solo album titled Jo-Ann Kelly (1969), this was issued on CBS in the UK and Epic Records in the US. She was also a core member of Tramp along with her brother Dave Kelly.
Canned Heat and Johnny Winter both tried to recruit Kelly, but she preferred to stay in the United Kingdom. She expanded to the European club circuit, where she worked with guitarist Pete Emery and other bands. In the early 1980s, she was a member of the Terry Smith Blues Band.
In 1988, Kelly began to suffer from headaches. In 1989 she had an operation to remove a malignant brain tumour. She died on 21 October 1990 in England, aged 46.
Jo-Ann Kelly (5 January 1944 - 21 October 1990); The rock era saw a few white female singers, like Janis Joplin, show they could sing the blues. But one who could outshine them all, Jo-Ann Kelly seemed to slip through the cracks, mostly because she favored the acoustic, Delta style rather than rocking out with a heavy band behind her. But with a huge voice, and a strong guitar style influenced by Memphis Minnie and Charley Patton, she was the queen.
Jo-Ann Kelly was released on CBS (Epic) 1969 and reissued on Beat Goes On, 1998. The British blues boom' was almost over, but Jo-Ann Kelly stayed close to the real thing. CBS sent her to the USA that year, she rehearsed with Johnny Winter and appeared on the same bill with her heroes Bukka White and Mississippi Fred McDowell at the Centenary Blues Festival in Memphis (the only British artist who was invited), and duetted with McDowell on his Standing At The Burial Ground, made live in London that year.
Look for the link in the comments
Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll Vol 121 - Cover Songs Vol 08
Great Balls Of Fire (1956-2020)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 259 (1948-2023)
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Hillbilly & Country Vol 158 - Bars, Bottles & Drunks Vol 07
There Stands The Glass (1954-2023)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 258 (1936-2023)
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Country, Pre-War & Acoustic Blues Vol 107 - Cities & Places Vol 06
Down The Dirt Road Blues (1923-1968)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 257 (1950-2000)
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Bob's Chat
Firstly I'd like to thank everyone for all your recent comments/feedback. There's been a noticeable increase in comments since I started putting the links in the comments sections, and that's good to see. I do like to respond to every comment, however I've been quite busy lately, so if I haven't responded to yours, or took a few days to do so, then you know why.
Don't forget to regularly check out "Bob's Cellar", our good friend cabledogg2 has been serving us a smorgasbord of fine albums, many very hard to find outside the USA. In recent weeks he has posted, blues, rock, country and a ton of bluegrass albums, so drop into the cellar, help yourself to whatever you like, and don't forget to thank cabledogg2 for his generosity.
Today we have one more in my "Albums That Deserve Another Listen" series, this time Muddy Waters' excellent 1975 "Woodstock Album". This was a smash LP when first released, I think every blues buff in the world must have bought a copy and wore it out on their turntables. If you're never heard it then you're in for a treat, and if it's been a while since you last played it, then it certainly deserves another listen.
Today's "Best Of Jazz", now up to Volume 119 brings you "Cool Cats Vol 07 - The Trumpet Players #1 - Gerkin For Perkin" with 20 fine tracks dating from 1930 to 2024 by some of the greatest jazz trumpet players, along with a few lesser known performers.
And Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Volume 256, features 21 interesting recordings from 1958 through to 2023, by Fats Domino, Lowell Fulson, Jackie Wilson, Larry Davis, Marcia Ball, Marquise Knox, Al Basile, Mary Jane Hooper, along with a few others.
So as always my friends, dig in and enjoy.
ALBUMS THAT DESERVE ANOTHER LISTEN
Muddy Waters - The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album (1975)
02. Going Down Main Street (4:16)
03. Born With Nothing (5:23)
04. Caldonia (6:20)
05. Funny Sounds (4:36)
06. Love, Deep As The Ocean (5:15)
07. Let The Good Times Roll (5:15)
08. Kansas City (5:12)
09. Fox Squirrel (3:54)
Personnel:
Muddy Waters: vocal/guitar
Pinetop Perkins: piano
Paul Butterfield: harmonica
Sammy Lawhorn: guitar
Bob Margolin: guitar
Fred Carter Jr: bass/guitar
Levon Helm: bass/drums
Garth Hudson: accordion/keyboards/saxophone
Howard Johnson: saxophone
Recorded February 6 & 7, 1975 at Bearsville's Studio, Turtle Creek, Woodstock, New York.
Reviews:
When The Band's drummer Levon Helm set up a Woodstock-based recording studio and production company in 1975, his first client was the legendary bluesman Muddy Waters. Surrounding him with familiar sidemen Pinetop Perkins and Bob Margolin, plus rock and blues stalwarts Garth Hudson on accordion and organ, Paul Butterfield on harp, and Howard Johnson on saxophone, the 60-year-old Waters responded with the smoothest and most supple singing of his career. These two sessions are as delightful as any in his long association with Chess Records, and they signify his last album with that label. Among this Grammy Award-winning work's highlights are Muddy's original composition "Born with Nothing," featuring his stinging signature slide; his joyful R&B covers of "Let the Good Times Roll," Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City," and Louis Jordan's "Caledonia," this last graced by a looping Hudson accordion solo; and the previously unreleased bonus track, "Fox Squirrel".
Recorded in 1975, The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album was the brainchild of the Band's Levon Helm and producer/songwriter Henry Glover. At the time, the duo's production company, RCO, had recently set up shop in a barn-turned-studio in Woodstock, New York, and Muddy Waters was their first client. The album, born of a unique merger of top-flight talent (Waters' touring band plus the cream of the musicians then living in and around Woodstock), is one of the loosest, swingiest records that Waters ever cut, and features such musicians as blues-harp great Paul Butterfield, Helm and Garth Hudson (of the Band), guitarist Bob Margolin and keyboardist Willie "Pinetop" Perkins (from Waters' band), and renowned session players Fred Carter and Howard Johnson.
The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album includes five original songs written by Waters ("Going Down to Main Street," "Born With Nothing," "Funny Sounds," "Love, Deep as the Ocean" and the previously unreleased CD-only bonus track, Fox Squirrel) plus covers of Louis Jordan's "Let the Good Times Roll" and Caldonia, Bobby Charles' "Why Are People Like That" and Leiber & Stoller's Kansas City. The album was to be the last that Muddy Waters would record for Chess. It was, however, a memorable farewell.
The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album was awarded the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording.
Look for the link in the comments
Best Of Jazz Vol 119 - Cool Cats Vol 07 - The Trumpet Players #1
Gerkin For Perkin (1930-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 256 (1958-2023)
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Soul Party Vol 111 - All About The Chicks Vol 04
Dresses Too Short (1956-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 255 (1946-2023)
Friday, April 3, 2026
Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll Vol 120
Cities & Places Vol 04 - Swamp Gal (1953-1978)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 254 (1949-2023)
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Bob's Chat
Today's "Hillbilly & Country", now up to Volume 157, puts the focus on the more "bluesy" side of country music with 20 fine tracks dating from 1946 through to 2023. Among the greats, and a few lesser known artists, presented here are: Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Eddy Arnold, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Jack Elliott, Tex Russell, Hank Williams Jr. and Stringbean (David Akeman).
And "Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records" Volume 253 brings you 21 great tracks kicking off with two Etta James classics from 1955, then continuing through the years to some fine 2023 recordings from Candice Ivory, Jason Ricci, and Mighty Mo Rodgers. Others featured here include T-Bone Walker, Howlin' Wolf, Joe Tex, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Rev. Julius Cheeks, Denise King, and Bettye LaVette. There are also a couple of "bluesy" jazz tracks thrown in for good measure, by Gene Ammons & Maynard Parker, and Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra.
Today also sees a small change in the layout of this blog. From now on there won't be any links placed on the main page, instead you will find the links for each album/compilation inside the comments section of each post.
So my friends dig in, enjoy the fine music, and don't forget to let me know how you are getting on and what you are enjoying the most.
Hillbilly & Country Vol 157 - The Blues Are Back Again Vol 02
Singing The Blues (1946-2023)
Look for the link in the comments
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 253 (1955-2023)
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Country, Pre-War & Acoustic Blues Vol 106
The Bluemen Sing The Whites Vol 04 - The Darkie's Wail (1927-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 252 (1953-2023)
IF YOU DOWNLOAD AND ENJOY THIS THEN YOUR COMMENT - FEEDBACK - THANKS WILL BE IMMENSELY APPRECIATED






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