Bob's Xmas Chat

Well here we are at that time of year once again. So I'll take this opportunity to wish all of you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2026. I presume most followers of this blog will be busy with holidays and family gatherings over this festive time of year, so I'll take a break from posting and will resume early in the New Year.

Here today for your listening pleasure are 3 more compilations: 

1) Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records now up to Volume 220 with 21 tracks dating from 1936 to 1987. Among the artists featured here are Homer Banks, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Copeland, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Jimmy McGriff, Big Joe Turner, Ottilie Patterson & Chris Barber, along with several other Blues/R&B greats.

2) Soul Party is now up to Volume 104, with another compilation of "Moaning, Groaning & Crying" soul songs dating from 1959 through to 2024. This fine collection of tearjerkers brings you Etta James, Maxine Brown, Syl Johnson, Little Johnny Taylor, James Brown, Jerry Butler, plus other noted Soul/R&B performers.

3) A couple of years back I made up a Christmas compilation of mixed genres titled "Bob's Christmas Special". I reposted it last year and have done so again this year as we do have many new followers of the blog. However this is the Revised & Edited 2025 Edition. I felt the earlier version was a bit long, plus it had a few tracks that were upscaled low-bitrates, now this new edition contains only true 320kbps recordings.

Today's photo is the mighty Syl Johnson (1936-2022), a superb singer, guitar and harmonica player who performed and recorded both blues and soul. His early career in Chicago during the 1950s Syl worked and recorded with Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and others. I was fortunate to see him play live in 2009 at a blues pub in Perth. After the gig I managed to have a quick chat with Syl, we shook hands and I told him how much I enjoyed his performance.    

Anyway my friends enjoy yourselves, stay safe, and we'll catch up again in early January.