Roots Music Report’s Top 10 Blues Albums of the Month
Roots Music Report’s Top 10 Blues Albums of the Month is the perfect way to stay up-to-date on the best new blues music. This month’s list features some great new albums, so be sure to check it out!
January
1. “Sugar” by Tony Joe White
“The Preacher” by The Reverend Shawn Amos
The Reverend Shawn Amos makes his RMR debut this month with “The Preacher.” The album is a mix of original songs and traditional blues covers. Amos is a talented singer and songwriter, and his passion for the blues comes through in this album.
“Live at the Greek Theatre” by Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa’s “Live at the Greek Theatre” is the top blues album of the month according to Root Music Report.
“The Blues Is Alive and Well” by Buddy Guy
Released on July 27, 2018, “The Blues Is Alive and Well” is the eighteenth studio album by American blues musician Buddy Guy. The album features guest appearances from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
Produced by Tom Hambridge, who also worked with Guy on his previous album “Living Proof”, “The Blues Is Alive and Well” was recorded at Groove Masters Studios in Santa Monica, California.
Guy spoke about the album’s title in an interview with AllMusic: “I just wanted to let people know that the blues is still alive. A lot of people think that the blues died with all of the old legends; they think it’s a dead genre. But it’s not. It’s still alive and well.”
The album received positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised Guy’s guitar playing and the guests appearances. Rolling Stone called it “one of his strongest albums in recent memory.”
“Alligator Records 45th Anniversary Collection” by Various Artists
In celebration of Alligator Records’ 45th anniversary, the label is releasing a limited-edition, 2-LP set featuring 20 of the greatest songs in its vast and influential catalog. The tracks span the label’s history, from its earliest days as a Chicago blues outpost to its current status as the world’s leading purveyor of authentic, innovative blues and roots music. The collection includes timeless classics like “Sweet Home Chicago” and “The Thrill Is Gone,” as well as modern classics like “I’ll Play The Blues For You” and “One More Chance With You.” This is a must-have for any fan of blues or roots music.
“From the Root to the Fruit” by Paul Thorn
Released on January 15, 2021, “From the Root to the Fruit” is the latest album from American singer-songwriter Paul Thorn. The album debuted at #1 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 10 Blues Albums of the Month chart.
“From the Root to the Fruit” is a collection of twelve original songs written by Thorn and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Kevin Shirley. The album features guest performances by Joss Stone, G. Love, Lucky Peterson, and Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Paul Thorn is a multi-talented artist who has recorded nine studio albums, toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and appeared on television shows such as “The Tonight Show”, “Late Night with David Letterman”, and “Austin City Limits”. A former professional boxer, Thorn is also an advocate for literacy and has taught songwriting workshops at colleges and universities across the country.
February
The Roots Music Report compiles a list of the top 10 blues albums of the month, based on radio airplay. Here are the albums that made the list for February.
“The Soul of a Man” by Tedschi Trucks Band
The album consists of cover songs from a variety of artists that have influenced the band. The Tedeschi Trucks Band takes these songs and makes them their own. The album starts off with a cover of “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning,” originally performed by the Rev. Gary Davis. The band gives the song a jazzy feel with Derek Trucks’ slide guitar work taking center stage. The album also includes covers of Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” and Skip James’ “I’m So Glad.” The Tedeschi Trucks Band does an excellent job of paying tribute to the artists that have influenced them while still maintaining their own sound.
“Sugar” by Shemekia Copeland
Sugar is the latest album from blues powerhouse Shemekia Copeland, and it’s a sweet treat from start to finish. Copeland’s sultry voice is in top form on this collection of original tunes and classic covers, and she’s backed by a top-notch team of musicians. From the stomping opener ” Ain’t Got Time for Hate” to the soulful ballad “Don’t Whisper,” Copeland shows why she’s one of the best in the business. If you’re a fan of the blues, Sugar is a must-have album.
“The Blues Is Alive and Well” by Buddy Guy
The Blues Is Alive and Well is the eighteenth studio album by American blues musician Buddy Guy. The album was released on July 15, 2018, by RCA Records. It features guest appearances by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, and James Bay.
The album received critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 89, based on seven reviews. AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that “The Blues Is Alive and Well finds Buddy Guy once again enjoying a late-career renaissance” and praised Guy’s guitar playing, calling it “vital” and “sneakily virtuosic”.
“Alligator Records 45th Anniversary Collection” by Various Artists
In celebration of Alligator Records’ 45th anniversary, the label has released a special collection featuring some of the best blues tracks from their extensive catalog. This 2-CD set includes classic tracks from artists like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Koko Taylor, as well as more recent hits from Shemekia Copeland, Toronzo Cannon, and James Cotton. With over two hours of music, this is a must-have for any blues fan.
“The Preacher” by The Reverend Shawn Amos
The Reverend Shawn Amos is a blues singer, keyboardist, and preacher from Los Angeles, California. He is the grandson of the late record producer and songwriter Clyde Otis. Amos has released four albums: The Last Black Man in America (2016), Blue Sky (2017), The Good Fight (2018), and The Preacher (2019). “The Preacher” is Amos’ latest album and it debuted at #1 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 10 Blues Albums of the Month chart.
March
The Roots Music Report compiles a monthly list of the top 10 blues albums based on data from radio airplay. This month’s list features a mix of new and old, with some familiar faces and some new ones. Let’s take a look at the list.
“Sugar” by Shemekia Copeland
The March Blues Album of the Month goes to Sugar by Shemekia Copeland. Copeland shows that she is a force to be reckoned with on this, her eighth studio album. Sugar is a eclectic mix of blues, R&B, country, and rock that is sure to please any music fan. Copeland’s powerful voice is on full display on this album, and she is backed by an excellent group of musicians. If you are a fan of blues music, or simply looking for a great album to listen to, be sure to check out Sugar by Shemekia Copeland.
“The Blues Is Alive and Well” by Buddy Guy
“The Blues Is Alive and Well” by Buddy Guy is the number one album on the Roots Music Report’s Top 10 Blues Albums of the Month for March. The album was released on July 27, 2018, by Silvertone/RCA Records.
Buddy Guy is a legendary blues guitarist and singer who has been influential in the development of the blues sound since the 1950s. “The Blues Is Alive and Well” is his twenty-third studio album and features guest appearances from Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons, and others.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard blues chart and has received critical acclaim from critics. AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, with reviewer Thom Jurek stating that “The Blues Is Alive and Well is not only a return to form for Guy but a triumphant statement that he’s still got plenty to say musically.”
“Alligator Records 45th Anniversary Collection” by Various Artists
In celebration of the label’s 45th anniversary, Alligator Records released this 2-CD set featuring 47 tracks by some of the most prominent names in contemporary blues. The collection includes new and previously unreleased tracks, as well as hits and favorites from throughout the label’s history. Among the many artists represented are Marcia Ball, Shemekia Copeland, Jonny Lang, Koko Taylor, Roomful of Blues, and Tedschi Trucks Band.
“From the Root to the Fruit” by Paul Thorn
Paul Thorn’s 2010 album, “From the Root to the Fruit,” is a collection of original songs and covers that Please click on the album cover to purchase from Amazon.
“The Soul of a Man” by Tedschi Trucks Band
Tedeschi Trucks Band is back with their third studio album, “The Soul of a Man”. This album finds the band digging deeper into their blues androots influences, and the results are stunning. From the opening track, “Don’t Drift Away”, to the closing cover of Blind Willie Johnson’s “Soul of a Man”, this album is a masterclass in Americana music. In between, the band delivers some of their most soulful and emotionally charged music to date. If you’re a fan of blues or roots music, this is an album you need to hear.
