For all its influence, it sometimes feels like the Chicago blues label Chess Records doesn’t get the respect it deserves. That changes this fall with a series of new compilations and reissues of old ones, set for release from Universal Music Group to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the label’s creation. Polish immigrants Leonard and Phil Chess became ingratiated into the club scene on the south side of Chicago in the ’30s and ’40s. They were intrigued by the thriving local talent – many of them Black transplants from the Mississippi delta…
Tell Me One More Time: New Vinyl Box Chronicles Austin Blues Haven Antone’s
New West Records brings some late-summer Texas heat this week, courtesy of a new vinyl box set celebrating the legendary Austin club Antone’s. Antone’s 50th Allstars: 50 Years of the Blues will feature four 140-gram, translucent color LPs and a 7″ single containing three special albums tracing Antone’s history on record. The Last Real Texas Blues Album (pressed on purple vinyl) offers new studio recordings from acts with deep roots in the Austin scene, from Jimmie Vaughan, Bobby Rush and The Fabulous Thunderbirds to Doyle Bramhall II, ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons…
Release Round-Up: Week of August 1
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores this week. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Dionne Warwick, Make It Easy on Yourself: The Scepter Recordings 1962-1971 (SoulMusic/Second Disc/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red) Naturally, we’re bursting at the seams that today is finally Release Day (*) for this massive labor of love. SoulMusic Records and Second Disc Records are proud to present Dionne Warwick’s Make It Easy on Yourself: The Scepter Recordings 1962-1971, a 12CD box set with 280 tracks encompassing every one of…
Fell Down On My Knees: “Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019” Gets CD, LP, Blu-ray, and DVD Release
In 2019, Eric Clapton brought together some of the world’s most astounding guitarists for his fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival. If you’ve had the pleasure to see the concert festival in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, or 2019, you know what it’s about: A marathon concert featuring Clapton and friends playing in each other’s sets, with once-in-a lifetime collaborations and plenty of jaw-dropping music – all in service of Clapton’s Crossroads Centre for rehabilitation and recovery. It’s a ticket you don’t want to miss. But if you couldn’t make it to the festival in…






