Blues Hit Big Town contains the historic first recordings of Junior Wells. Junior was still a teenager at the time of the first session and between sessions replaced Little Walter in the Muddy Waters band. In a Down Beat review Pete Welding said "In their power, directness, unerring taste and utter consistency of mood, these may well be the most perfectly distilled examples of Wells' music ever recorded, taking their place alongside of those of Waters, Walter, Wolf and other masters of the period. Five stars." Blues Hit Big Town captures genius emerging from one of the greatest blues personalities and harmonica players of all time.(Previously deleted:3/1/03. Original release date:4/1/92)

W. Hal "Cornbread' Singer.

Vocalist/guitarist shows new facets in his blues talents, inc. his skills at smooth-swinging T-Bone-esque guitar, feat. Ken Saydak, Harlan Terson, Kenny Smith + 2 songs w. guitarist Dave Specter.

The Big DooWopper is a blind street musician who travels with his keyboard to play in the Chicago subway train system - you can find him on weekdays in the tunnel between the Red & Blue lines near Washington & State; his 9 nine originals reflect many blues influences, and he does a soul/blues cover of Prince's "Purple Rain"

Chicago blues bassist presents 8 originals & 2 originals by guest guitarist James Wheeler, also feat. Chico Banks-gtr, Kenny Barker-pno, Willie Davis-gtr +.

Al Miller has assembled a full house of Chicago talent for your listening pleasure on his first album. Not only does this stacked deck feature Miller's triple threat talent as harpist, guitarist and vocalist, it boasts the formidable presence of some of the hottest blues artists from the windy city circuit - Willie Kent, Dave Specter, Tad Robinson and Steve Freund. (Previously deleted:3/1/04. Original release date:6/27/95)

Chicago vocalist/guitarist plays an appealing melodic, vocal-infected contemporary blues to complement his down-home picking style.

Apollo's lady blues singers w. Danny Barker's Sextet, George Kelly, Larry Johnson, Panama Francis, Bill Campbell.

Blues pianist remains a living link to the golden era of classic Chicago blues of the 1950s - here are 17 original compositions with accompaniment by James Wheeler, Bob Stroger & Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.

Unissued session from 1977.

Sarah & her BTS Express run seamlessly through their set of mostly uptempo, funky & contemporary blues.

Bandleader, arranger, tenor saxist Dave Clark leads the Blues Swingers, a nine piece vintage R&B revivalist band. Their first Delmark appearance was accompanying guitarist Floyd McDaniel on "Let Your Hair Down!" (DMK #671). Floyd passed at the age of 80 in 1995 but "Switchin' in the Kitchen" features five previously unreleased tracks from 1992 as well as 11 new tracks.

Originally issued in 1982, this album contains all original songs reflecting Jimmy's background in blues, soul, gospel & jazz.

The Big DooWopper's debut album, "All in the Joy" (DMK #742), featured a wonderful blend of Chicago blues, R&B, soul blues, doowop and other related styles. This time the entire program is made up of gospel songs associated with Mahalia Jackson. The Big DooWopper sings all the parts, including the harmonies, creating exciting performances in the classic gospel quartet format, like the moving "Lead Me, Guide Me". There's even two songs with twenty voices! And there are solo pieces - just the DooWopper singing his heart out and wailing on the piano. It's another moving musical testament by the sight-impaired street musician from Chicago.

This album is the product of a friendship that developed more than three decades ago between two men who, although they grew up near the same Mississippi Delta town of Tchula, never met until they began living in Chicago. Harmonica/vocalist Lester Davenport and guitarist/producer Jimmy Dawkins are united here professionally after years of running around the city's West Side. Lester's vibrant, rocking CD with 12 original tracks is a magical place where blues giants like Jimmy Dawkins, Bob Stroger, Detroit Jr.. - and the "Mad Dog" himself - still roam.

Soulful Chicago vocalist and guitarist Byther Smith is a fighter, a scrapper, a hard worker and a survivor. As a child in Monticello, Mississippi he lost both his parents; his mother when he was one year old and his father six months later. Smitty came to Chicago in the mid-'50s and by the early '60s was playing at Theresa's Lounge, where he backed Junior Wells. He also worked with Big Mama Thornton, George "Harmonica" Smith and Otis Rush. He recorded his first LP for the Grits label in 1983, two for Bullseye in the early '90s, and this is his fourth Delmark CD and his first live album. On this recording you will hear Byther in his natural element, raw, alive and completely real.

The follow up to Hoodoo Man Blues (DMK 612), this classic Chicago blues album is now re-issued in an expanded digipak, "Deluxe Edition" containing unissued performances and a 16-page booklet with many never-before-seen photos. The Godfather of Blues, Junior Wells is accompanied by Buddy Guy and Louis Myers, guitar; Otis Spann, piano; Earnest Johnson, bass; Fred Below, drums. Recorded December 30, 1969 and January 8, 1970 the five extra performances include "Rock Me Baby", an alternate take of "I Could Have Had Religion", "Junior's In Charge" a eight-minute improvisational studio jam with lots of Otis Spann and more, 73 minutes. With new notes by producer Bob Koester. A must have for blues lovers.

The best musicians transcend styles and techniques. They deliver their hearts and souls, connecting on a primal level, one on one with each and every listener. Karen Carroll is just such an artist and one of the most universal artists to come on the scene since Nina Simone. Within one line she can lay down the grit of Howlin' Wolf stroked by the sass of Sarah Vaughan.

Solo piano/vocal from 1966.

Legendary Tennessee blues poet toured Europe in 1964 - these are the studio recordings he made while in Copenhagen & London, feat. Hammie Nixon on harmonica & jug.

Blues/barrelhouse/boogie piano player's mid-1950's recordings, also inc. 2 live tracks, an interview segment & never before released tracks, 60 min. Total.

Sizzling collaboration of this veteran Chicago vocalist w. Dave Specter and the Bluebirds.

Not just the best live Otis Rush album, but one of his best albums, period. His big vibrato (on both his voice and guitar) shakes up the rapt Tokyo crowd in '75 as he digs into I Can't Quit You Baby; Mean Old World; So Many Roads, So Many Trains; Chitlins Con Carne; Three Times a Fool; All Your Love (I Miss Loving), and more!

The blues players on this album underscore the cultural & musical ties between the Southeastern U.S. & New York City. Around 1950, down-home blues recordings were clearly out of the mainstream of black American popular music. Nonetheless, Apollo felt that the market remained strong enough to release such blues-drenched guitar & vocal blues. This 22 track collection from 1947-50 appears on CD for the first time, all from original source material. 11 tracks are previously unissued.

Performances from the "Blues Before Sunrise" radio program from Chicago, featuring Billy Boy Arnold, John Brim, Big Wheeler & Jimmy Burns.(Previously deleted:11/1/07. Original release date:3/27/97)