B. B. King and Eric Clapton

 

Artist:  B.B. King & Eric Clapton

Genre:  Blues, Electric Blues, Traditional Blues, Blues Rock, R&B

Original line-up:

B.B. King:  Vocals, Guitar

Eric Clapton:  Vocals, Guitar

B.B. King & Eric Clapton are the two legends by the Blues legend B.B. King and Rock Icon Eric Clapton (Guitar Ex The Roosters, The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, The Immediate All-Stars, Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse, Cream, Blind Faith, The Dirty Mac, Plastic Ono Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Derek and The Domins, The Louisiana Gator Boys).  First performed together in NYC in 1967, over 30 years later, in 1999 the two longtime friends joined forces to create a collection of all new studio recordings of Blues Classics and Contemporary Songs.

Title:  Riding With The King (2026)

Origin:  USA & UK

Genre:  Blues, Electric Blues, Traditional Blues, Blues Rock, R&B

Label:  Surfdog Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1.  Riding With The King (4:23)

 2.  Ten Long Years (4:40)

 3.  Key To The Highway (3:39)

 4.  Marry You (4:59)

 5.  Three O'Clock Blues (8:36)

 6.  Help The Poor (5:06)

 7.  I Wanna Be (4:45)

 8.  Worried Lfe Blues (4:25)

 9.  Days Of Old (3:00)

10. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer (7:09)

11. Hold On, I'm Comin' (6:20)

12. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:11)

Bonus Tracks:

13. Rollin' And Tumblin' (4:32)

14. Let Me Love You Baby (2:43)

Personnel:

B.B. King:  Co-Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar

Eric Clapton:  Co-Lead Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars

Rhythm Sections:

Doyle Barmhall II:  Rhythm & Slide Guitar, Backing Vocals

Andy Fairweather Low:  Guitar

Jimmie Vaughan:  Guitar on Track 6

Joe Sample:  Keyboards, Acoustic Piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes Electric Piiano

Tim Carmon:  Hammond, Organ

Nathan East:  Bass

Steve Gadd:  Drums

Jim Keltner:  Drums, Percussion

Paul Waller:  Drums, Programming

Susannah Melvoin:  Backing Vocals

Wendy Melvoin:  Backing Vocals

Riding With The King is a collaborative album by B.B.King  Eric Clapton, originally released on June 12, 2000 by Reprise, remastered and reissued On June 31, 2026 by Surfdong Records to honor B.B. King's 100th Birthday, and go on to sell over 2 million copies and win the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest

Artist:  John Lees' Barclay James Harvest
Origin:  Oldham, Lancanshire, England
Genre:  Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Symphonic Rock, Symphonic Progressive, Art Rock, Classical Crossover, Orchestral Rock  

Original line-up:

John Lees:  Vocals, Guitar
Stuart "Woody" Wolstenholme:  Keyboards, Vocals
Craig Fletcher:  Bass
Kevin Whitehead:  Drums

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest are an English Progressive Rock Band.  John Lees and Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme were founder members of Barclay James Harvest.  In 1998, it was announced that Barclay James Harvest was effectively the end of the original band and the members of the band would be pursuing solo projects, John renewed his musical friendship with Woody and they began work together with Craig Fletcher (Bass) and Kevin Whitehead (Drums) under the name Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of John Lees, was released album Nexus in 1999.  Woody turned to attention to solo work and live set between 2003 and 2005.   In 2005 John Lees announced under the new name John Lees' Barclay James Harvest.

Title:  Philharmonic!:  The Orchestra Concert (2026)

Genre:  Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Symphonic Rock, Symphonic Progressive, Art Rock, Classical Crossover, Orchestral Rock 

Label:  Esoteric Antenna

Rating:   *****

Format:   CD

Tracks:

Disc 1:

 1.  Festive Overture:  Shostakovich (6:55)

 2.  Fifties Child (4:45)

 3.  Galadriel (3:37)

 4.  In My Life (5:16)

 5.  Poor Man's Moody Blues (7:39)

 6.  North (7:45)

 7.  Summer Soldier (8:05)

 8.  The Poet (3:20)

 9.  After The Day (6:55)

Disc 2:

 1.  Hornpipe:  Handel's Water Music (3:42)

 2.  Moonwater (7:42)

 3.  Mocking Bird (8:34)

 4.  Loving Is Easy (4:33)

 5.  She Said (8:26)

 6.  Poor Wages (4:01)

 7.  Medicine Man (5:32)

 8.  Dark Now My Sky (12:14)

 9.  On Leave (9:06)

10. Hymn (4:56)

Personnel:

John Lee:  Lead Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars

Graig Fletcher:  Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Jez Smith:  Keyboards, Vocals

Kevin Whitehead:  Drums, Percussion

The Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra:  Full Symphony Backing

Benjamin Ellin:  Conductor

Special Guest:

Eleanor Sanders:  Lead Vocals on Track 2/2

Philharmonic!:  The Orchestra Concert is a live album by John Lee's Barclay James Harvest, released on July 31, 2026 by Esoteric Antenna.  2 CD Edition, concert took place on September 23, 2023.

 

Shelly Manne

 

Artist:  Shelly Manne

Birth Name:  Sheldon Manne

Born:  June 1, 1920.  New York City, New York, USA

Died:  September 26, 1984 (Aged 64).  Los Angeles, California, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Cool Jazz, Be Bop, West Coast Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Standards, Film Score, Post Bop

Occupation:  Drummer, Percussionist, Composer,, Bandleader

Instruments: Drums, Percussion

Shelly Manne was an American Jazz Drummer from New York City.  His father Max Manne and Uncles were Drummers.  He rapidly developed his style in the clubs of 52nd Street in New York in the late 1930s and 1940s.  His first professional job with a known big band was with The Bobby Byrne Orchestra in 1940.   He recorded with Jazz Stars like Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Shavers, and Don Byas, he also worked with a number of musicians mainly associated with Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, and Rex Stewart, and performing with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.  He became part of the working bands of Woody Herman and, especially, Stan Kenton.

Title:  2-3-4 (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series) (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Cool Jazz, Be Bop, West Coast Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Standards, Film Score, Post Bop

Label:  Impulse!

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1. Take The "A" Train (7:23)

 2.  The Sicks Of Us (5:53)

 3.  Slowly (5:27)

Side B:

 1.  Lean On Me (6:18)

 2.  Cherokee (3:22)

 3.  Me And Some Drums (5:54)

Personnel:

Shelly Manne:  Drums

Coleman Hawkins:  Tenor Saxophone on Tracks:  A1,3, B1, 3, Piano on Track B3

Hank Jones:  Piano on Tracks:  A1, 3, B1, 2

Eddie Costa:  Piano on Tracks:  A2, B1-3

George Duvivier:  Bass on Tracks:  A1-3, B1, 2

2-3-4 is an album by Shelly Manne, originally released in 1962 by Impulse! remastered ad reissued on July 31, 2026 by Impulse!.  Verve Acoustic Sounds Series Edition, 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.

Ike Quebec

 

Artist:  Ike Quebec

Birth Name:  Ike Abrams Quebec

Born:  August 17, 1918.  Newark, New Jersey, USA

Died:  January 16, 1963 (Aged 44).  New York City, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Swing, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Big Band, Blues, R&B, Hard Bop, Jump Blues, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz, Early R&B

Occupation:  Musician

Instruments:  Tenor Saxophone, Piano

Ike Quebec was an American Jazz Tenor Saxophonist.  He began his career in the big band era of the 1940s, he recorded exrtensively for Blue Note Records, helped discover artists like Thelonious Monk, and launched a celecbrated Soul Jazz comeback, and he was quite consistent when it came to down-home Blues,Sexy Ballads, and Up-Tempo aggression.

Title:  Bossa Nova Soul Samba (Blue Note Tone Poet Edition) (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Swing, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Big Band, Blues, R&B,

 Jump Blues, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz, Early R&B

Label:  Blue Note

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Loie (3:10)

 2.  Lloro Tu Despedida (3:01)

 3.  Goin' Home (5:39)

 4.  Me'N You (5:58)

Side Two:

 1. Liebestraum (3:42)

 2. Shu Shu (3:31)

 3. Blue Samba (5:18)

 4.  Favela (4:00)

 5.  Linda Flor (3:28)

Personnel:

Ike Quebec:  Tenor Saxophone

Kenny Burrell:  Guitar

Wendell Marshall:  Bass

Willie Bobo:  Drums

Garvin Masseaux:  Chekere

Bossa Nova Soul Samba is an album by Ike Quebec, originally released in 1962 by Blue Note, remastered and reissued on August 7, 2026 by Blue Note.  Blue Note Tone Poet Edition, 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.

Dino Valente

 

Artist:  Dino Valente

Birth Name:  Chester William Powers, Jr.

Born:  October 7, 1937.  Danbury, Connecticut, USA

Died:  November 16, 1994 (Aged 57).  Santa Rosa, California, USA

Genre:  Rock, Folk, Blues, Garage, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Acid Rock

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter

Instruments:  Vocals, Guitar

Dino Valente was an American Singer and Songwriter, and one of the lead singers of the Rock Group Quicksilver Messenger Service.  As a songwriter, he was known as Jesse Oris Farow.  He is best known for having written the quimtessential 1960s Love-And-Peace anthem "Get Together", and for writing and singing on Quicksilver Messenger Service's two best known songs "Fresh Air" and "What About Me?".

Title:  Dino Valente (2026)

Genre:  Rock, Folk, Blues, Garage, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Acid Rock

Label:  Endless Happiness

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP 

Tracks:

Side 1:

 1.  Time (3:08)

 2.  Something New (7:10)

 3.  My Friend (5:53)

 4.  Listen To Me (3:16)

 5.  Me And My Uncle (3:58)

Side 2:

 6.  Tomorrow (4:09)

 7.  Children Of The Sun (7:05)

 8.  New Wind Blowing (6:13)

 9.  Everything Is Gonna Be OK (2:50)

10. Test (3:14)

Personnel:

Dino Valente:  Lead Vocals, 12-String Guitar

Additional studio session instruental touches features on select tracks include subtle Harpsichord,Percussion, Flute, Piano, Brass

Dino Valente is the sole album by Dino Valente , originally released on August 1968 by Epic Records, remastered and reissued on June 19, 2026 by Endless Happiness.  For Music Collectors.

The Smiths

 

Artist:  The Smiths

Origin:  Manchester, England

Genre:  Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Post-Punk, Alternative Rock, College Rock

Original line-up:

Morrissey:  Lead Vocals, Percussion

Johnny Marr:  Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Harmonica

Steve Pomfret:  Guitar

2nd line-up:

Morrissey:  Lead Vocals, Percussion

Johnny Marr:  Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Harmonica

Dale Hibbert:  Bass

Simon Wolstencroft:  Drums

Classic line-up:

Morrissey:  Lead Vocals, Percussion

Johnny Marr:  Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Harmonica

Andy Rourke:  Bass

Mike Joyce:  Drums

The Smiths were an English Rock Band from Manchester, formed in 1982.  The Smiths are one of the most important acts to emerge from 1980s British Independent Music.  They signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their first album, The Smiths, in 1984.  Their focus on a Guitar, Bass and Drum Sound, fusing 1960s Rock and Post-Punk, was a rejection of the Synth Pop Sound.

Title:  Best...I (2026)

Genre:  Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Post-Punk, Alternative Rock, College Rock

Label:  Rhino/Warner Records

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  This Charming Man (2:43)

 2.  William, It Was Really Nothing (2:09)

 3.  What Difference Does It Make? (3:51)

 4.  Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before (3:34)

 5.  Girlfriend In A Coma (2:02)

 6.  Half A Person (3:36) 

 7.  Rubber Ring (3:48)

Side Two:

 1.  How Soon Is Now? (6:46)

 2.  Hand In Glove (3:25)

 3.  Shoplifters Of The World Unite (2:58)

 4.  Sheila Take A Bow (2:42)

 5.  Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (3:18)

 6.  Panic 2:20)

 7.  Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (1:54)

Personnel:

Morrissey:  Lead Vocals

Johnny Marr:  Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolins on Track 2/7

Andy Rourke:  Bass

Mike Joyce:  Drums

Craig Gannon:  Rhythm Guitar on Tracks:  1/6, 2/6

Additional Musicians:

John Porter:  Slide Guitar on Track  2/4

Stephen Street:  Synthesized String Arrangements on Track. 1/5

Best...I  is a compilation album by The Smiths, was released onAugust 17, 1992 by WEA, remastered and reissued on July 24, 2026 by Warner Records/Rhino.