Blind Raccoon and Nola Blue Collection Vol. 6

•  LABEL: BLUE HEART RECORDS
• RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2024
• DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION: THE ORCHARD
• The Blind Raccoon and Nola Blue Collection Vol. 6 contains 15 compositions from
  an array of Blind Raccoon clients, including both independent and label artists.
  This collection project is available for digital download and streaming
  via Blue Heart Records, a Nola Blue and Blind Raccoon joint venture.
  

 This sparkling set, like the earlier ones, is the brainchild of Betsie Brown, who heads the music marketing organization Blind Raccoon, and Sallie Bengston, who, with Brown, operates the Blue Heart label. They are responsible for the impressive selection of talent represented here, with original songs taken from existing and upcoming albums, as well as previously unreleased material.

This latest sampler opens with the “Ballad Of Pat Hare,” written by and featuring the deep, soulful blues of London's Oliver “Mississippi” MacDonald, a guitarist whose vocals and guitar seem to have been dredged from the muddy waters of blues origins. Hare himself was an original, a 1950s bluesman whose power chord guitar helped father heavy metal bands. The Reverend Shawn Amos adds vocals and harp work. 

Rolling on, "Tidal Wave" is a gorgeous instrumental from Anthony Geraci on piano and Hammond organ. "My Baby Loves Me Like a Hurricane" storms into view next, a memorable hard-rocking track from the late Kip London. 

Harpman Douglas Avery offers his original "Survival," featuring Franck L. Goldwasser on guitar, in a dirge-like track reminiscent of The Doors, of which he is an honorary member. The joyous vocals of Teresa James spark "I Do My Drinkin’ On The Weekend," a rocking country song that's rolling with her honky-tonk piano. 

The Texas Horns combine with vocalist Ange Kogutz and guitarist Anson Funderburgh on the R&B-laced "Never Buy My Soul" by Horns' saxman John Mills. Benny Turner offers his "Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right) aka A Tribute To Big Chief Bo Dollis," the leader of the Wild Magnolias, who took part in Indian masking traditions and performed New Orleans Mardi Gras music.

Dave Keyes works special keyboard magic on his own "Pookie Po Po," a track that swings hard with delicious New Orleans rhythms. "Man Goes Blind" is tough bluesy rocker with a social conscience from guitarist Trevor B. Power. "Forever Blue" is an emotion-stirred ballad from Terry Wilson-Slesser and Mark Taylor, with Wilson-Slesser on the soulful vocals. 

1. Ballad of Pat Hare (feat. The Reverend Shawn Amos) - MISSISSIPPI MacDONALD 3:42 2. Tidal Wave - ANTHONY GERACI 4:32 3. My Baby Loves Me Like a Hurricane - KIP LONDON 2:25 4. Survival (feat. Franck L. Goldwasser) - DOUGLAS AVERY 5:28 5. I Do My Drinkin’ on the Weekend - TERESA JAMES & THE RHYTHM TRAMPS 2:56 6. Never Buy My Soul (feat. Ange Kogutz and Anson Funderburgh) - THE TEXAS HORNS 4:43 7. Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right) aka A Tribute to Big Chief Bo Dollis - BENNY TURNER 3:42 8. Pookie Po Po - DAVE KEYES 4:32 9. Man Goes Blind - TREVOR B. POWER 3:25 10. Forever Blue - TERRY WILSON-SLESSER 4:35 11. Struck Out Again - BIG HARP GEORGE 7:20 12. I’m a Little Mixed Up - STEVE HOWELL AND THE MIGHTY MEN 3:18 13. She Might Meet Me (Live in the 313) (feat. Fred Foley) - KENNY PARKER 5:33 14. House of the Rising Sun - BLIND LEMON PLEDGE 4:16 15. Don’t Miss Nothing ‘til It’s Gone - REVEREND FREAKCHILD 5:19

• The lovelorn barroom blues of "Struck Out Again" by chromatic harp wizard Big Harp
• George (George Bisharat) is an unreleased bonus track from his 2018 album “Uptown

Cool.” Fingerstyle guitarist Steve Howell & The Mighty Men preview the Betty James and Clarence Edward Johnson R&B chestnut “I'm A Little Mixed Up” from Howell's upcoming album, “99½ Won’t Do.”

 

Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com