blues.the-butcher-590213『Three O'Clock Blues』LP

PLP-6879
Format: LP
Price: ¥2,778 + tax
Release date：2016/06/22

BACK TO MEMPHIS!
Japan's leading blues combo, Blues The Butcher, release their first Memphis-themed new album in two years!　Simultaneous CD & LP release!

A deep blues album that tackles head-on the songs of bluesmen associated with Memphis, including B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Roscoe Gordon and Johnny Ace, who worked together as The Beale Streeters!

Takashi "Hotoke" Nagai (g/vo) x Hisashi Numazawa (ds) x Taku Nakajo (b) x KOTEZ (hca/vo) = The 7th album in 2 years, including collaborations with Blues The Butcher, Monsieur Kamayatsu and James Gadson. Album!　No guests this time. No guests this time, just the four members in pursuit of the essence of blues!　First simultaneous CD & LP release!

The one and only band sound is further enhanced by the superb groove created by the super strong rhythm section of Hisashi Numazawa and Taku Chujo, deep blues singing and guitar of Takashi "Hotoke" Nagai and the powerful harmonica and vocals of KOTEZ. Power up!　You're in the right place at the right time!

The opening song 'Cat Squirrel', a one-chord boogie by Dr Ross, with Nagai strumming a resonator guitar (the first time in btb history that a guitar other than an electric one has been introduced), shows a hypnotic groove that is reminiscent of the blues of northern Mississippi. The zesty boogie beat of Willie Nicks' 'Baker Shop Boogie', James Cotton's 'Straighten Up Baby' and Howlin' Wolf's 'How Many More Years' (CD only) are just some of the shuffle numbers. The "rockin'" grooves on shuffle numbers such as 'Boogie', James Cotton's 'Straighten Up Baby' and Howlin' Wolf's 'How Many More Years' (CD only) are the essence of btb. The danceable numbers such as Albert King's Latin-tinged 'Crosscut Saw' with Numazawa's drumming and Roscoe Gordon's two R&B tracks 'No More Doggin' (CD only) and 'Just A Little Bit', which have a chic feel to them, are also a giddy treat. The numbers are also giddy. Junior Parker's 'Mystery Train' (CD only), which was also taken up by rock 'n' roll fabric Memphis and Elvis Presley, is also cooked up in the btb style. KOTEZ's harmonica runs the length and breadth of Big Walter's instrumental 'Little Walter's Boogie' (LP only), Bobby Bland's 'I Pity The Fool' (CD only), James Cotton's 'Cotton Crop Two slow blues tracks, 'Blues', are superb, full of gravity and urgency.

Nagai says that he started singing blues when he opened for B.B. King in 1972 when he was in the West Road Blues Band, and the fact that he chose 'Three O'Clock Blues', one of B.B.'s best-known songs, as the title of his album reflects his feelings towards B.B., who passed away on 14 May 2015. The fact that he chose 'Three O'Clock Blues', one of B.B.'s best-known songs, as the album title reflects his feelings towards B.B., who passed away on 14 May 2015. I hope you will take the time to enjoy 'Three O'Clock Blues' and the album 'Three O'Clock Blues', which is filled with his thoughts and feelings.

The recording and mixing by Naoyuki Uchida (LITTLE TEMPO, OKI DUB AINU BAND, etc.), who has been with the band for four albums, is also superb. Experience the superb 'sound'.

■ The artwork continues to be done by world-renowned photographer Ichigo Sugawara.

■Track list