Blues

Feels So Good (Lifted) feat. George Duke

Arzell Hill (September 30, 1935 – April 27, 1984), known as Z. Z. Hill American blues singer best known for his recordings in the 1970s and early 1980s, including his 1982 album for Malaco Records, Down Home, which stayed on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years.The track "Down Home Blues" has been called the best-known blues song of the 1980s. According to the Texas State Historical Association, Hill "devised a combination of blues and contemporary soul styling and helped to restore the blues to modern black consciousness."

Born in Naples, Texas, Hill began his singing career in the late 1950s as part of a gospel group called The Spiritual Five, touring Texas. He was influenced by Sam Cooke, B. B. King, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, and began performing his own songs and others in clubs in and around Dallas, including spells fronting bands led by Bo Thomas and Frank Shelton. He took his stage name in emulation of B. B. King.

Encouraged by Otis Redding who had seen him perform, he joined his older brother, budding record producer Matt Hill, in Los Angeles in 1963, and released his first single, "You Were Wrong", on the family's own M.H. label. It spent one week at no.100 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, and Hill was quickly signed by Kent Records. Most of his records for Kent were written or co-written by Hill, and arranged by leading saxophonist Maxwell Davis. None charted, but in retrospect many, such as "I Need Someone (To Love Me)", are now viewed with high regard by soul fans.

After leaving Kent in 1968, he recorded briefly for Phil Walden's Macon, Georgia based Capricorn label, but after a disagreement with Walden his recording contract was bought by Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams' Mankind label, where Hill finally fulfilled his end of the deal. He returned to California to record for his brother's Hill label, and the song "Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes", co-produced by Matt Hill and Miles Grayson, became his biggest pop hit, reaching no.62 on the Hot 100. The Kent label reissued his 1964 recording of "I Need Someone", which also charted. Williams also recorded Hill in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1971, resulting in several R&B hits including "Chokin' Kind" and "It Ain't No Use", as well as the LP The Brand New Z. Z. Hill.


Z.Z. Hill- Second Chance (Jack Frost Edit)

Winding down any experience with Soundcloud? Soon to have my credit card expired. Here's me playing my Yamaha. Trying to blend.

[9~7~25 Loser Grateful Dead Live at Greek Theatre - University of California on 1989-08-19

John Lee Hooker was a true original, a musical colossus whose compelling and mysterious sound towered over the blues and echoed the very soul of African-American experience. Remastered for unparalleled audio clarity, this collection contains the dynamic early career of a truly unique blues legend.

John Lee Hooker: Dimples

Break It To Me Easy

CURTIS STIGERS CHANNELS THE HIP, SWINGING CHEMISTRY OF FRANK SINATRA AND THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA

The genre-hopping singer/songwriter/saxophonist celebrates the 50th anniversary of Sinatra at the Sands with the Danish Radio Big Band on new live recording: One More for the Road.

One More For the Road

Curtis Stigers - I've Got You Under My Skin

11 track live in a day session at Skinny Mammouth Studio's, Isle of Wight

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown

Albert King - As The Years Go Passing By (live in Montreux with Rory Gallagher)

Blue Moon - Jazz Standard

Christian Rannenberg - Early Morning Blues

For the full story see http://bit.ly/XUx2xT

Produced by Tom Hambridge  
Recorded at Sound Stage Studio, Nashville TN  
Engineered by Jim Cooley and Nick Autry  
Mixed &Mastered by Tom Hambridge and Michael Saint-Leon at The Switchyard, Nashville TN
Executive Producer: Bruce Iglauer  

Additional Recording by:  
Shane Baldwin at Elevated Basement, Savannah GA  
Stuart Sullivan at Wire Recording, Austin TX  
Brendan Muldowney at Carriage House, Stamford CT   

Photos by Christopher Durst, christopherdurst.com 
Packaging design by Kevin Niemiec 
Alligator logo by Michael Trossman  

Booking: The Rosebud Agency, www.rosebudus.com 
Management: jacklyn@jamescottonsuperharp.com
jamescottonsuperharp.com  

James Cotton plays and endorses Seydel Harmonicas (seydelusa.com) 
Tom Holland endorses Delaney Guitars (delaneyguitars.com) and GHS Strings (ghsstrings.com) 
Jerry Porter endorses Sabian Cymbals (sabian.com), Smith Drums (myspace.com/smithdrums) and Evans Drumheads (evansdrumheads.com)  

Gregg Allman appears courtesy of Rounder Records 
Joe Bonamassa appears courtesy of J&R Adventures 
Ruthie Foster appears courtesy of Blue Corn Music 
Warren Haynes appears courtesy of Stax Records 
Keb Mo appears courtesy of Yolabelle International/ILG 
Darrell Nulisch appears courtesy of Severn Records

Break It To Me Easy

Blues Overboard

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