Pop & Rock News

Born in 1886 in Columbus (Georgia), Ma Rainey is considered by most the mother of the Blues. She did a lot to popularize this style among younger generations and will be a direct influence for countless artists. Author of the first hits of the genre (See See Rider Blues and Chain Gang Blues in the 1920s), she will take a young girl by the name of Bessie Smith under her wing and will write songs with Louis Armstrong or Coleman Hawkins.

Listening to Magic Sam playing and singing from a twenty first
century perspective shows distinctly how he was pushing the
blues in a rockier direction and influencing many subsequent
players. During the sixties he attracted many new fans with two
fine albums on Delmark Records that have remained very
collectable. This fine album represents the first phase of his
career and captures his distinct guitar playing with its crisp and
sometimes choppy attack. He was very much a second-wave
bluesman on the Chicago scene, but obviously had so much to
offer in terms of taking the blues in new and exciting directions.

MANU LANVIN, der wohl angesagteste Sänger und Gitarrist der französischen Blues-Szene, veröffentlicht am 24.10.2025 sein neues Album „Man On A Mission“ (GEL Productions/PIAS).
Der Franzose, der es in seiner Karriere mittlerweile auf über 900 Liveshows in ganz Europa und in den USA gebracht, bereits mit Kollegen mit Taj Mahal, Beverly Jo Scott, Johnny Gallagher, Popa Chubby, Paul Personne und Calvin Russell zusammengearbeitet hat und dessen bisherige Album-Releases allesamt den 1. Platz der französischen Blues Charts erreicht haben, präsentiert auf seinem neuen Album „Man On A Mission“ 13 Songs, die den Blues mit Einflüssen aus Rock, Soul und Pop auf moderne Weise interpretieren und die Vielseitigkeit des Musikers und Produzenten MANU LANVIN aufzeigen. Aufgenommen wurde „Man On A Mission“ in Paris, Nashville, Montreal, Fort Lauderdale und Sheffield.

Detroit music legend, Marcus Malone and Dan Smith of The Noisettes reveal their awesome new collaborative long player, ‘Interstate 75’, on Ramrock Red Records, loaded with 60’s style Rhythm and Blues, old school Soul and back to the future Funk. Across the album there’s 10 incredible songs loaded with finger snapping beats, hip swaying grooves, infectious brass and raw, soul-drenched vocals, all written and performed with the highest level of musicianship. From the empowering opening track, ‘Ain’t No Telling’ to the groovilicious album title ‘Interstate 75’, and the irresistibly funky ‘Other Side Of The River’, this stunning set of work joins the musical dots between 60’s Stax, Motown and Cadet, along with early 70’s Funk of Sly and The Family Stone and Eugene McDaniels, creating an instantaneous authentic classic vibe.

“I’ve got a future Blues classic on my hands with an indefinable time scale – it could’ve been recorded in the mid 70’s and feels like an instant crate diggers delight!” – Jo Wallace (Ramrock Records)

Marilyn Monroe (born June 1, 1926, Los Angeles, California, U.S.—died August 5, 1962, Los Angeles). Known for playing comic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as well as an emblem of the era's sexual revolution. She had a good voice that matched her seductive visual appeal, and her limited catalog includes effective interpretations of the work of such songwriters as Harold Adamson and Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer; Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn and Cole Porter. Marilyn Monroe's singing constitutes a significant part of her overall appeal as a performer. On this album “Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend”," I Wanna Be Loved By You", “Happy Birthday (For President Kennedy) ”, “The River of No Return ”, “Two Little Girls From Little Rock (ft. Jane Russell)”. a.o. Limited Edition on Blue Transparent coloured vinyl.

The Band Rotosphere has become a cornerstone of the Blues Festival Baden (Switzerland). Since 2005, led by guitarist and bandleader Nic Niedermann, they"ve been lighting up the festival"s legendary Late Night Jam Sessions. Over the years, they"ve shared the stage with blues icons such as Magic Slim, Susan Tedeschi, Coco Montoya, Justina Lee Brown and Chicago"s own blues harpist, Matthew Skoller. A truly magical moment unfolded in 2022 when Mark Slate took to the stage. The charismatic blues and soul singer captivated the audience from the first note with his powerful voice. Having spent years on the road with the "Joe Cocker Tribute Show", Slate embodies the raw and gritty essence of the blues. Now, performing alongside Rotosphere, they deliver original tracks brimming with energy, passion, and musical fire - an unforgettable experience for every listener!

A new collection, based on an original Motown comp – this time with more tracks!

Reissue of a classic collection, in time for Black History Month, summer fun…

a fine selection of germs of the ëlegendary Prince of Soul û on a nice gatefold vinyl from the Music Legend Collection.

"Matt Andersen has drawn from the best roots music has to offer over his decades-long career: down and dirty blues, heart-wrenching soul, life-affirming gospel, and introspective singer-songwriter balladry. These sounds, textures, and influences are laid bare on House to House…” -

Breaking new boundaries for himself creatively Matt Hegarty played almost all
the instruments on the record as well as largely self-producing it with some help
from the talented producer Ali Chant (Yard Act, Sorry, Katy J. Pearson).
Matt has built up a loyal following from his years touring with Mumford & Sons,
Daughter, Bear's Den, Ben Howard - finding fans amongst those audiences and
musicians alike.
The cult singer- songwriter delivers songs full of wisdom, emotional heft and a
relatable sentimentality in his striking and distinctive vocal.

15TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION

When we started our family group, The Staple Singers, we started out mostly singing in churches in the south. Pops saw Dr. Martin Luther King speak in 1963 and from there we started to broaden our musical vision beyond just gospel songs. Pops told us, "I like this man. I like his message. and if he can preach it, we can sing it" So we started to write "Freedom Songs," like "Why Am I Treated So Bad," "When Will We Be Paid For The Work We've Done," "Long Walk To DC," and many others. Like many in the civil rights movement, we drew on the spirituality and the strength from the church to help gain social justice and try to achieve equal rights. We became a major voice for the civil rights movement and hopefully helped to make a difference in this country. It was a difficult and dangerous time (in 1965 we spent a night in jail in West Memphis, Arkansas and I wondered if we'd ever make it out alive) but we felt we needed to stand up and be heard. So for us, and for many in the civil rights movement, we looked to the church for inner strength and to help make positive changes. And that seems to be missing today. Here it is, 2007, and there are still so many problems and social injustices in the world. Well, I tell you we need a change now more than ever, and I'm turning to the church again for strength. With this record, I hope to get across the same feeling, the same spirit and the same message as we did with the Staple Singers and to hopefully continue to make positive changes. We've got to keep pushing to make the world a better place. Things are better but we're not where we need to be and we'll never turn back. 99 and 1/2 just won't do! - Mavis

Grim days call for fierce love. And Mavis Staples, one of the most enduring figures in American music, is laying it down. Sad And Beautiful World is the latest solo album from a national treasure and multigenerational talent. Produced by Brad Cook, Sad And Beautiful World spans seven decades of the American songbook - a range nearly as vast as Mavis" career - and includes reinventions of timeless songs by Tom Waits, Sparklehorse, Gillian Welch, Frank Ocean and more. Cook imagined an album in the tradition of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band"s Will the Circle Be Unbroken, a group of artists coming together to celebrate community - in this case, one centered on Mavis. Collaborators include Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, Derek Trucks, Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, and Justin Vernon. Inducted into several halls of fame (Blues, Rock, and Gospel), a Kennedy Center Honoree, a winner of multiple GRAMMYs (including a Lifetime Achievement Award), Mavis is musical history. She"s collaborated with nearly every major figure of her era(s), from Bob Dylan to Prince, Aretha Franklin, and Willie Nelson - not to mention countless stars from subsequent generations.

Iconic singer Mavis Staples is an alchemist of American music, and during her 70+ year career one of her most beloved musical mo?ments was her riveting performance in Martin Scorsese's film' The Last Waltz,' performing "The Weight" with The Band, a moment that forged a life-long friendship between her and Levon Helm. Staples came to Woodstock, NY to perform as part of Helm's re?nowned Midnight Ramble series, and the ensuing concert-available now for the first time on the rousing new ANTI- Records release Carry Me Home-would mark a personal high watermark for both artists. Captured live in the summer of 2011, Carry Me Home showcases two of the past century's most iconic voices coming together in love and joy, tracing their shared roots and celebrating the enduring power of faith and music. The setlist was righteous that night, mixing vintage gospel and soul with timeless folk and blues, and the performances were loose and playful, fueled by an ecstatic atmosphere that was equal parts family reunion and tent revival. Read between the lines, though, and there's an even more poignant story at play here. Nei?ther Staples nor Helm knew that this would be their last performance together-the collection marks one of Helm's final recordings before his death-and listening back now, a little more than a decade later, tunes like "This May Be The Last Time" and "Farther Along" take on new, bittersweet meaning. The result is an album that's at once a time capsule and a memorial, a blissful homecoming and a fond farewell, a once-in-a-lifetime concert-and friendship-preserved for the ages. Staples and the night's soulful crew of backup singers handle the vast majority of the vocal work here, but it's perhaps album closer "The Weight," which features Helm chiming in with lead vocals for the first time, that stands as the concert's most emotional moment. "It never crossed my mind that it might be the last time we'd see each other," says Staples. "He was so full of life and so happy that week. He was the same old Levon I'd always known, just a beautiful spirit inside and out." "My dad built The Midnight Rambles to restore his spirit, his voice, and his livelihood," says Helm's daughter, Amy, who sang backup vocals with her father and Staples at their performance. "He'd risen back up from all that had laid him down, and to have Mavis come sing and sanctify that stage was the ultimate triumph for him."

Mel Carters Debütalbum „When A Boy Falls In Love“, das ursprünglich 1963 auf Sam Cookes Label SAR Records/Derby erschien, ist ab 28. Mai wieder als LP erhältlich! Das von Sam Cooke und J.W. Alexander produzierte Album enthält von Cooke und Alexander geschrieben Songs sowie ”Why I Call Her Mine”, eine Eigenkomposition von Mel Carter, die 1963 als Single veröffentlicht
wurde. Mel Carter wurde von Cash Box als einer der 10 besten männlichen Newcomer-Sänger des Jahres 1963 bezeichnet und trat mit ”When A Boy Falls In Love” in zahlreichen Fernsehsendungen auf, darunter Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Der Titelsong ”When a Boy Falls in Love” hielt sich 10 Wochen in den Pop-Charts. Der R&B-Kenner Bill Dahl hat nach einem Gespräch mit Carter die Liner Notes beigesteuert, die das ansonsten originalgetreu restaurierte Paket aufwerten. „When A Boy Falls In Love“ erscheint als 1LP.

180g audiophile vinyl reissue of American blues guitarist Melvin Taylor's 1995 album 'Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band', which is appearing on vinyl for the first time with remastering by Cicely Baston at Alchemy/Air Mastering, London "The U.S. release of Melvin Taylor's two early-'80s LPs by Evidence a decade later was a shock introduction to a blues guitarist who seemingly blazed out of nowhere - outside of Rosa's Lounge in Chicago, that is. "Blazed" is the right word, too, because Taylor is a total maximalist who unleashes torrents of notes to fill up every space. But he's so convincing a player that the concept of "blues guitar hero" might get a good name again, even with fans dead- tired of excess who never thought they'd think things like, "Man, can Melvin Taylor play the ever-loving (add the expletive superlative of your choice) out of the guitar" again. Taylor's first real-time release, Melvin Taylor & the Slack Band, is a pretty straightforward affair - basic trio with minimal overdubs, serviceable vocals in an Albert King mode, and a mix of originals and very classic covers. The opening "Texas Flood" lets him rip on a slow blues, constantly changing up his playing with wah-wah blitzes as the real ace in his sonic hole. The originals "Depression Blues" and "Groovin' in New Orleans" add some funk flair, while "Talking to Anna Mae" is a straight- up Chicago boogie instrumental that Taylor shines on. But he's even more in his element on the unadorned slow blues "Tin Pan Alley" and King's "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong." It's partly the speed but even more the phrasing - the unexpected stops and starts, the spiky and blazing runs and flurries, the unusual note selections he tosses in - that sets his playing apart. The other covers have their sporadic moments - "TBone Shuffle" is inconsequential, but Otis Rush's "All Your Love" and "Voodoo Chile" are worth listening to, even if the latter doesn't add anything to the famous Hendrix wah-wah workout. Taylor actually doesn't sound that radical here, like he was playing to establish blues circuit credentials by putting his stamp on familiar songs more than indulging offbeat personal touches like the mellow lounge jazz take on the Champs' "Tequila." But his playing can be truly electrifying and Melvin Taylor & the Slack Band is recommended for anyone, especially Stevie Ray Vaughan fans, looking for a distinctive new blues guitar voice." - Don Snowden, AllMusic Personnel: Melvin Taylor, guitar, vocals / Willie Smith, bass guitar / Steve Potts, drums Recorded and mixed on March 27-30, 1995 at Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA

The original 78 cut from 1941 and an absolute country Blues classic, irresistible recording from possibly the most influential female blues singer of all time.

This classic selection of songs is taken from her first prodigious burst of creativity when she recorded with her then-husband Kansas Joe McCoy.

If ever a title was justified, then 'Queen of the Country Blues' is the bare minimum that should be afforded to Memphis Minnie, a lone female voice in the maledominated country blues scene whose musical legacy is nothing short of remarkable. Minnie transcended both gender and genre and her recording career spanned from the late 1920s heyday of country blues to the cutting-edge Chicago scene of the 1940s & 1950s, where she helped pioneer the roots of elctric blues, R&B and rock 'n' roll.

This collection highlights the formative years of Minnie's career as part of the duo and includes accomplished blues numbers such as 'Memphis Minnie-Jitis Blues', probably based on personal experience, as well as 'Bumble Bee' their first recorded song and one of Minnie's most successful of her hundred or so songs that she recorded before retiring in the mid-1950s.

An intimate recording from the Blues hall-of-famer that puts you in the room with 3 Blues legends!

Remastered by multiple Grammy winner Michael Graves.

One of Candid’s historic blues releases, Memphis Slim, U.S.A. finds the Blues Hall Of Fame inductee in a rare, relaxed setting with two close friends and fellow blues icons, Jazz Gillum and Arbee Stidham. The intimacy—from their loose interplay and improvisation to the eerie realism of the recording—is palpable and feels more like an invitation to their inner circle than a commercial release.

Grammy-winner Michael Graves’ sensitive remastering brings Memphis Slim, U.S.A. to life, letting listeners in as the piano legend and his buddies offer a musical history of the blues from its Southern juke-joint roots up to its Chicago-style move toward R&B.

Memphis Slim, U.S.A. is an essential document that Candid is proud to bring back to the blues canon.

At The Gate of Horn wurde ursprünglich 1959 auf Vee-Jay Records veröffentlicht. Es zeigt gekonnt
die Songwriting-Fähigkeiten des produktiven Blues-Pianisten und -Sängers, von Blues-Balladen bis hin zu
beschwingten Nummern. Zu den vielfältigen Titeln gehört auch „Steppin’ Out“, das unter Bluesrockern
zu einem der bekanntesten Stücke von Slim wurde. Dieses neu gemasterte Album mit den Original-Liner
Notes von Studs Terkel wurde bei QRP in Zusammenarbeit mit Acoustic Sounds auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl
gepresst und ist in einer Replika-Hülle untergebracht.

Micke & Lefty feat Chef - Live On Air - Live On Airis a double live album from
Micke & Lefty feat Chef, recorded in collaboration with Deutschlandfunk radio
- Volume One, a studio live session for DLF Radio's On Stageprogram, was
recorded during the 2020 pandemic - Volume Two captures a dynamic 2023
performance at the Blues Baltica Festival in Eutin, Germany
This double live album captures the trio's electrifying and intimate performances,
showcasing their mastery of acoustic blues. Featuring 25 tracks, including originals
and blues classics, from the band's live repertoire over the years. The album also
celebrates the trio's 25th anniversary."Reaching this milestone is incredible, specially
when this all started as a spin off of my main band. We wanted to share these
recordings as a tribute to our long journey and audience. This live album is a real deal,
raw performance as live as it can be with no overdubs" says Bjorklof."Original! Lively!
Entertaining! The trio's performance is as unique as it is high-quality. Bjorklof stomps
on an old suitcase instead of a bass drum, Lefty Leppanen wields his vintage guitar
with effortless mastery, and Mr. Chef's semi-acoustic bass adds depth. This Finnish
acoustic blues is dynamic, original, and captivating." - Deutschlandfunk
RadioReflecting on this dual release, Bjorklof states: "Blues has always been my
foundation, but I've explored it's many shades over the years. WithOuttakesandLive On
Air, I want to celebrate both the electric and acoustic sides of my musical journey. I
couldn't think of a better way to markmy 60th birthday than by sharing these two very
special albums with our fans

Outtakes is a retrospective album featuring nine previously unreleased tracks
from Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip - This unique collection contains songs,
recorded over the years but for various reasons, were left off past albums,
capture the band's evolving sound and dedication to blues-rock excellence
We usually had a few extra songs when we went into the studio to record the album in
case some of the songs didn't "take off" as expected. Sometimes the direction of
production can also change as the process progresses, which affects the album as a
whole. However, a lot of effort has been put into these songs and they have been
carefully prepared for the album and produced to completion. It is at least justified to
give them another chance to reach listeners, and we felt they deserved a platform of
their own. Although the songs are from different eras, I think they formed a very good
and balanced whole" says Micke Bjorklof.
Spanning from the early 2000s to the present, Outtakes showcases the shifting styles
and influences of one of Finland's most celebrated blues-rock bands. Outtakes is not
only a collection of rare tracks but also a kind of time travel through the arc of the
band's musical and sonic evolution from the early 2000s to the present day. Each
song reflects the shifting moods, styles, and influences the band has embraced over
the years, capturing the essence of one of Finland's most celebrated blues-rock bands
over 30-year journey in the blues-rock scene.

Distant Songs of Madmen was recorded live in Palermo and was my solo set in a concert organised by Lelio Gianetti and Curva Minore which included my trio Truth In The Abstract Blues and Eugene Chadbourne. My set was free improvisation; some cover versions of folk and pop songs and some of my own songs. The title of the record and some of the improvised pieces were taken from Sam Shepard's writing. Sam, one of my favourite writers, has sadly died since I recorded this record and I dedicate it to his memory. - Mike Cooper

Now a classic across the club scenes.

The inspiration to record this Album came from a difficult period in Zito's life when he was dealing with the death of his late wife Laura. A outpouring of emotion expressing the vulnerability and longing associated with the love and heartbreak surrounding the passing of Mike's wife Laura. Recorded at the legendary Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California, under the watchful eyes of producers Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, "Life Is Hard is a complete work of
art for me. I believe this is the best album I've ever made in my life. My wife Laura and I planned this idea of pouring my heart out in music after her death from cancer." - Mike Zito


Mike is a chart topping Contemporary Blues artist racking up numerous independent, international and Billboard No.1 Albums. 'Life Is Hard' was officially released 23rd of February 2024 and achieved six weeks in the top 5 on the US Billboard Blues Chart!

Alongside this Mike has consistently received accolades from the likes of the Blues Federation and The Blues Music Awards, this year Mike is nominated for "Best Blues Rock Artist" and "Best Blues Rock Album". Gulf Coast Records will be rolling out adverts in Blues Matters, Classic Rock, Living Blues and Mojo.

A personal record for Mike shaped by memory, places, and renewal. Walking the streets of his birthplace, St. Louis, Zito reconnects with the sounds, stories, and hard lessons that forged his signature blend of soul-driven blues and fearless storytelling. Thirteen years after Gone to Texas, this album feels like a defining moment, marking a new chapter for Mike, his family, and a life reclaimed in the city that started it all. The songs paint vivid snapshots of city life and personal reckoning, from late- night regret and self-awareness to raw portraits of neighbourhood survival and street-level truth. Tracks like "Downtown at Midnight" and "Grand Avenue" capture the grit, temptation, and consequences of the past with unflinching honesty, grounding the album in lived experience and emotional weight . Zito's writing is direct and cinematic, pairing tough reflection with compassion and hard-earned wisdom.

At its heart, Outside Or The Eastside is a celebration of second chances, an album dedicated to better days, family, friendship, love, and joy found in everyday moments. Life's unpredictable paths open doors you never expect, and for Mike Zito, this record embraces that truth with warmth, humour, and swagger. It's a record about choosing connection over chaos and moving forward with gratitude, purpose, and the volume turned up

The first ever illustrated history of the world's favourite jazz musician.

This is the complete history of Miles Davis, the world's most popular jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader and musical visionary. Constantly creating, Davis defined and then defied genres from bebop and cool jazz to hard bop and jazz-rock fusion.

Davis played with some of the great jazz musicians of the 20th century; legends like Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie and John McLaughlin. But the man who put his name to the world's best-selling jazz album, Kind of Blue, had a volatile character to match his virtuoso performances. Davis' story veers from tempestuous relationships with movie stars to heroin addiction and police busts. With contributions from jazz critics, famous fans and Davis' former bandmates Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock, this illustrated history gives the inside track on the great man and his music.

For many years, Trumpet players battled in a competition
to see who could blow the highest, fastest and loudest in
the land of Jazz. Then came Miles Davis and with him
came a peace and calm descended. He created the
seraphic mood that pervades this groundbreaking album
and established his reputation as an innovative stylist,
while ensuring his place in the pantheon of Jazz giants.

Bags' Groove was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder and originally released by Prestige Records. It compiles material from two 10" LPs recorded in 1954, plus two alternative takes. It is described in Allmusic as "…a cornerstone of the post-bop genre." It features Thelonious Monk on the two takes of the title track, Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Kenny Clarke on drums, Milt Jackson on vibraphone, Percy Heath on bass, and Horace Silver on piano in "Airegin" and "But Not For Me (Take 1)." Reissued on vinyl by Craft Recordings, released as part of the Craft Jazz Essentials series.

"Ballads & Blues" - Lucky Thompson (ts); Milt Jackson (vib); John Lewis (p); Barney Kessel, Barry Galbraith, Skeeter Best (g); Oscar Pettiford, Percy Heath (b); Kenny Clarke, Lawrence Marable (dr)



Whenever Milt Jackson could free himself from the 'bondage' of the Modern Jazz Quartet and its assertive leader John Lewis, he dedicated himself to his two great passions: ballads and the blues. That was precisely the case when he entered the famous Rudy van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA in 1956. He was free to choose his sidemen, and money was no object, which is why various formations gathered in the studio for the three recording sessions. With Lucky Thompson on the tenor sax (unfortunately for only three numbers), Barry Galbraith, Barney Kessel or Skeeter Best on the guitar, Oscar Pettiford or Percy Heath on the bass, together with Kenny Clarke or Lawrence Marable on the drums, he set off on a journey through the history of jazz. John Lewis stayed unobtrusively in the background and offered 'Bags' (as Milt was known) plenty of opportunities to glory in soloistic freedom.

The themes were soon found: the musical composers Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern, as well as a work from The Duke Ellington Songbook, formed a basis upon which all the musicians could perform with confidence. Three compositions by Milt Jackson himself proved that he too was full of imagination.

If you don’t possess this LP – or maybe none by Milt Jackson – here is an opportunity to remedy this shortcoming. The present author would award this recording 5 out of 5 possible stars!



This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. More information under

All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.



Recording: January 1956 in New York City by Tom Dowd and February 1956 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, by Rudy Van Gelder

Production: Nesuhi Ertegun

One of the most unique albums to ever come out of the Miami soul scene of the 70s. Milton Wright has a really jazzy groove to his music - and he mixes his own acoustic guitar lines with warm keyboards and a bit of synth or moog. Milton's vocals have the chops to live up to the heady batch of soul artists. This record feels like nothing else you've ever heard, but which you can't live without once you've heard it!