Alligator debut from one of the blues' most talented unsung heroes, a deeply soulful vocalist, powerhouse harmonica player and gifted songwriter. The Hard Line shines with 12 striking original songs that draw from O'Leary's rich personal history. Engaging, sharp-edged observations on life and love are shot through with every-man wisdom and humor, and set to rollicking roadhouse R&B, hard Chicago blues and wrenching ballads. O'Leary's rough, riveting vocals and world-class harmonica playing set the pace throughout.

Double vinyl LP pressing. The king of blues labels turns 50! This anthology celebrates 50 years of classic, genre-defining recordings by a star-studded Who's Who of American blues and roots music artists past and present. Features tracks by Hound Dog Taylor, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, J.J. Grey & Mofro, Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter, Tommy Castro, Marcia Ball, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, James Cotton, Toronzo Cannon and many more!

Alligator Records chestnut from 1974 from one of the unsung giants of Chicago blues, Fenton Robinson. An album so good it's been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Features the famous title cut, a blues standard later covered by Boz Scaggs, plus Texas Flood (covered by Stevie Ray Vaughan).

Limited purple colored vinyl LP pressing. 2023 release. On Exorcist, Birchwood delivers the most far-reaching, musically adventurous album of his career. Exorcist was recorded in Florida and produced by Grammy Award-winner Tom Hambridge, with each of the 13 vividly detailed songs written and arranged by Birchwood. The soul-baring tracks all hit with lasting rhymes and unexpected rhythms. Each twists it's own tale, ranging from the love-gone-wrong Horns Below Her Halo to the love-gone-terrifying Exorcist to the ripped-from-the-headlines escapades of FLorida Man and Swim At Your Own Risk to the autobiographical Underdog. According to Blues Music Magazine, "Selwyn Birchwood heralds a fresh, exciting new direction in the blues. Toe-tapping, hip-shaking, joyful and inviting... expansive and focused, exploratory and time-honored, but always original."

Bessie Smith, "The Empress Of The Blues", a uniquely powerful, soulful and uncompromising blues singer, was an originator and a star. She became one of the highest-paid Black performers of her time, influencing fellow blues and jazz singers for generations to come and helping transform the record industry. After treading the vaudeville boards in the 1910's alongside Ma Rainey, Smith rose to the top and was picked up by a struggling Columbia Records. Her first single Down Hearted Blues sold nearly a million in 8 months, saving Columbia from bankruptcy. Pressed on 140g black vinyl, this 13-track LP features some of The Empress' best-loved songs from her tragically short career. From her very earliest sessions in 1923, through collaborations with Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson to later reflections on prohibition. A fitting tribute to one of the true heroes, not only of the blues, but musical history itself.

Vinyl LP pressing. Marion Little Walter Jacobs was possibly one of the most important blues artists of the post-war era. He not only revolutionised harmonica playing by using amplification to compete with the growling guitars of the Chicago blues movement, he changed the way the harp was perceived and opened up a new world of instrumentation. Walter purposely pushed his amplifiers beyond their intended technical limitations to explore and develop radical new timbres and sonic effects previously unheard from a harmonica or indeed, any other instrument. This natural distortion opened musicians ears to the possibilities of their own instruments and, in many ways, laid the foundations for the blues boom to come along in the sixties. Walter was the first, and to this point, only artist to have a No.1 hit with his self-penned, harp led instrumental Juke. He went on to have numerous R&B chart hits before succumbing to his wild, violent and hard drinking life-style. This LP features all Little Walter's biggest R&B chart hits from his debut No.1 Juke, to his last chart entry in 1959, the ironically titled Everything Gonna Be Alright.

Despite having such a short recording career, the original guitar hero Charlie Christian single-handedly revolutionised the electric guitar. With having no direct influence on his guitar playing, he used the horn and reed lines he heard from the likes of Lester Young as inspiration to develop his unique single line phrasing - and so was born the guitar solo. Christian tragically died at 25 of tuberculosis, just as he was jamming with cool cats Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker on the East coast, developing the future sound of be-bop. Our collection features some of the best material he recorded with the legendary Benny Goodman small bands. Playing alongside such luminaries of the jazz world as Goodman himself, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Papa Jo Jones, Lester Young and Lionel Hampton, Christian shone above them all with his utterly unique and pioneering playing.

Vinyl LP pressing. Etta James' approach to both singing and life was one akin to riot and rebellion that included violence, drug addiction, armed robbery and highly impulsive behaviour. She sang with unrivalled emotion and a pain that can leave the stoniest listener in emotional turmoil. The ferocity of her voice reflected her traumatic life... a neglected child, a teen drug addict, a woman constantly entering into bad relationships and an artist raging against an industry and a society that had routinely discriminated against her. Over a career spanning more than half a century Etta 'Peaches' James has become a true blues icon. Widely acknowledged as one of the most important and influential female blues and R&B singers of the post-war era, she has been cited by critics, peers, younger artists whom she influenced, industry insiders and consumer aficionados, as one of most versatile and expressive blues singers. Effortlessly bridging the divides between pure blues, rhythm and blues, rock n' roll, sophisticated pop and jazz with an intensity and passion rarely matched. From Bonnie Raitt to Beyonce, Tina Turner to Adele, Etta James stands alone in her far reaching influence. This LP shines a light on her early career, showcasing some of her greatest and earthiest recordings. From her first single as a delinquent teenager The Wallflower, through to the distinctly Motown influenced Next Door To The Blues we hear just why Etta James is the true embodiment of blues.

Alligator's Grammy-winning, best-selling title of all time (which has sold over 285,000 units), remastered on 180-gram vinyl with the added bonus track "Something to Remember You By". Universally recognized as one of the greatest blues albums of all time. A celebrated studio "cutting contest" between three legendary blues guitarists. Albert and Johnny are sadly no longer with us, but Robert Cray continues to record and tour, and is one of the best-selling blues artists in history with over 2.3 million career units scanned.

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Al Jarreau & NDR Bigband - Ellington (Black Double Vinyl) Recorded at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 26 November 2016 and at the Opera Garnier in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on 29 November 2016. The final album and a heartfelt tribute to the world-famous American singer Al Jarreau. With Duke Ellington's timeless compositions. Experience the magic of American singer Al Jarreau one last time with "Ellington," his final album, recorded just months before his passing in February 2017. This live recording captures the essence of a true musical genius and brings Jarreau's illustrious musical journey full circle. A unique collaboration with the NDR Bigband, "Ellington" showcases Jarreau's legendary vocal artistry intertwined with Duke Ellington's timeless compositions. It's also a poignant reminder of his deep connection to Germany, where he first rose to fame, thanks to the unwavering support of Siggi Loch-then an executive at Warner Brothers and later the founder of ACT Music. Their partnership led to some of the most memorable performances of Jarreau's career. "Ellington" is a heartfelt tribute to Al Jarreau, whose groundbreaking approach transcended genres, earning him six Grammy Awards across jazz, pop, and R&B, and leaving an indelible mark on the world of music.

Nominated for 2022 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Winner of Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year. Celebrated blues, R&B and Americana vocal powerhouse blazes an exhilarating roots music trail, with many of the songs reflecting the spirit of our turbulent times. Produced by Will Kimbrough, it features guest performances and/or songwriting by Kimbrough, Jason Isbell, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Orphan Brigade, Steve Cropper, Duane Eddy and Shawn Mullins. Shemekia's passion-packed singing breathes fire into solemn, gospel-drenched anthems, lowdown blues, crunching rockers and frisky New Orleans R&B. On captivating original songs and invigorating new takes on tracks by the Rolling Stones, Junior Parker and her father, famed bluesman Johnny Clyde Copeland, she commands listeners' attention while exploring life's daily struggles and triumphs, both political and personal.