The year of 2012 produced plenty of noteworthy blues albums. Chicago artists were well represented as was Chicago’s Alligator and Delmark Records. Several of these releases were nominated by the Blues Music Awards recently. Those awards will be decided in May.
John Primer’s ‘Blues on Solid Ground’ is up for best acoustic album. Eddie C. Campbell’s ‘Spider Eating Preacher’ has been nominated for best traditional blues album. Nick Moss received the nod for best rock blues album for ‘Here I Am’. Mud Morganfield’s ‘Son of the Seventh Son’ was nominated for Best Album and Best Traditional Blues Album.
In addition to the local success, there were plenty of other blues gems released in 2012. Joe Louis Walker, Michael “Iron Man” Burks, Walter Trout, Shemekia Copeland, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Gary Clark Jr. and Joe Bonamassa all put out excellent records this year.
Below is a list in no particular order of some worthwhile CD’s that this writer came across and liked. Any of these would make fine additions to one’s collection. If you haven’t heard these CD's yet, give them a listen.
Chicago based blues artists:
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials – Jump Start
Eddie C. Campbell – Spider Eating Preacher
Lurrie Bell – The Devil Ain’t Got No Music
Pistol Pete – Bluestew
Studebaker John & the Hawks – Old School Rockin’
Rockin’ Johnny – Grim Reaper
Mississippi Heat – Delta Bound
Buddy Guy – Live at Legends
Magic Slim & the Teardrops – Bad Boy
John Primer – Blues on Solid Ground
Nick Moss – Here I Am
National blues artists:
Joe Louis Walker - Hellfire
Walter Trout – Blues for the Modern Daze
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Almost Always Never
Michael Burks – Show of Strength
Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu
Shemekia Copeland – 33 1/3
Janiva Magness – Stronger For It
Joe Bonamassa – Driving Towards the Daylight
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats – One Wrong Turn
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers – ‘Greedy’ single on 45 rpm vinyl
Pat Travers – Blues On Fire
Sonny Landreth – Elemental Journey
Mud Morganfield – Son of the Seventh Son
Eric Bibb – Deeper In the Well
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