Various – 98 Cents In The Bank – The New Blues Artists Of The 90s And Beyond

The new blues artists of the 90s and beyond. In and around the 1990s a new generation of bluesmen arrived and set the scene on fire relaunching a wider interest in the music. Some were a little older and came back to the music (via gospel in the case of Joe Louis Walker or too many years spent working at an oil refinery for Larry Garner). But genuinely younger or just fresh to the scene they all brought an excitement and new strength to the music whilst all still 100% being genuine bluesmen of the tradition. In the 1990s and early 2000s the UK experienced a third blues boom. UK and European reissue record companies were researching the vaults of US Blues and R&B record labels from the pre-war era and the 1940s, '50s, '60s and '70s - with new album releases appearing almost weekly.

Long forgotten and obscure blues artists were rediscovered (such as Dallas bluesman Zuzu Bollin, Baton Rouge's Clarence Edwards and Chicago's Lucky Lopez Evans). Importantly, new names were also emerging on the US blues scene - many of them featured on this JSP compilation from the era. At Blues & Rhythm we were always eager to support new blues talent through features, interviews and reviews in the magazine - and help them to play the UK.

THE JSP SOUND We have always sought a different sound than our contemporary labels working in this musical area. Often others get either a rather 'flat' sound or try to 'rock it up'. We use the best engineers to create a 'big' open sound, as natural as possible. We are not afraid to use echo and reverb in the old style and try to create a punchy drum sound that is not like some heavy metal reject... John Stedman

Track Listing:
1. Lucky Peterson: Out Of The Frying Pan Into The Fire -   2. Larry Garner: Thought I Had The Blues -   3. Otis Grand & Joe Louis Walker: Better Off Alone -   4. Larry McCray: I’m Praying For You -   5. Ike Cosse: I Just Wanna Rent -   6. Kirk Fletcher: I’m Looking -   7. Deborah Coleman: Everlastin’ Tears -   8. Lil’ Dave Thompson: Standing In The Rain -   9. Michael Hill: New York Doll -   10. Chris Beard: Ten Toes Up -   11. Tutu Jones: Sweet Woman -   12. Cookie McGee: You’re A Dog -   13. Johnnie Marshall: 98 Cents In The Bank -   14. Jr Boy Jones: Hoochie Mama -   15. Tre’: One Eyed Man -   16. Kris Wiley: Two Timin’ Man -   17. T Bone Singleton: Blackberry Jam