Joe Bonamassa’s “Blues Deluxe Vol. 2” due out Friday October 6, 2023 is a ten track recording of eight covers of legendary blues guitarists, and two new originals.
“On Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, I asked my great friend Josh Smith to produce a record to be a companion to the anniversary edition of the first album, and hopefully demonstrate a bit of how I have progressed over the last 20 years,” Bonamassa adds. “The contrast between a cocky 26-year-old and an established 46-year-old is considerable. Does the fire still burn like it did? Am I still playing hungry? Am I even good enough to pay tribute to my heroes all over again? The answer lies somewhere in this album.”
The album starts out with “Twenty-Four Hour Blues” which was originally recorded by Bobby Blue Bland back in 1974. This is blues as it was intended and sends the listener to Nashville’s blues scene. A truly transcending rendition as the blues was meant to be and passed down through generations.
Next, brings in Chicago blues with “It’s Hard But It’s Fair” which was originally released in 1993 by Bobby Parker, followed by some Mississippi blues from Guitar Slim with “Well, I Done Got Over It” which he originally released way back in 1953.
“On Blues Deluxe Vol. 2“ is an outstanding blues album, and Joe Bonamassa’s interpretations and execution of these great blues songs that have come from deep down from the roots of the blues is performed masterfully. The two original tracks on the album, “Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again)” expresses the metamorphosis from blues to rock, and “Is It Safe To Go Home”, written by Josh Smith is just pure magic and showcases Bonamassa’s blues guitar playing and style.
“On Blues Deluxe Vol. 2“ pays tribute to the great blues artists and answers the question, “Does the fire still burn like it did?”. Bonamassa has put together a masterpiece of past and present, aligning Joe Bonamassa with the greatest blues guitarists of all time! A must own for any lover of the blues.
Album rating
10/10
1) Twenty-Four Hour Blues (originally performed by Bobby “Blue” Bland)
2) It’s Hard But It’s Fair (originally performed by Bobby Parker)
3) Well, I Done Got Over It (originally performed by Guitar Slim)
4) I Want to Shout About It (originally performed by Ronnie Earle & The Broadcasters)
5) Win-O (originally performed by Pee Wee Crayton)
6) Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again) *original song written by Joe Bonamassa & Tom Hambridge
7) Lazy Poker Blues (originally performed by Fleetwood Mac)
8) You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain (originally performed by Albert King)
9) The Truth Hurts Feat Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith (originally performed by Kenny Neal)
10) Is It Safe To Go Home *original song written by Josh Smith
Band:
Joe Bonamassa – Guitar, Vocals
Reese Wynans – Keys
Calvin Turner – Bass
Kirk Fletcher – Guitar
Josh Smith – Guitar
ABOUT JOE BONAMASSA
Blues-rock superstar Joe Bonamassa is one of the most celebrated performing musicians of today. As a three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist and 13x Blues Music Award Nominee (4 wins), he achieved his 26th No. 1 album on the Billboard Blues Chart with Tales Of Time, a sprawling and expansive live concert film and album, shot at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in August 2022. Only in his mid-40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalog. He has released more than 40 albums, including studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his adventurous side projects: Black Country Communion and Rock Candy Funk Party.
A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it’s in a studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has produced an immense number of albums including Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marc Broussard, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall and others for his independent label KTBA Records, and has also recently launched Journeyman LLC, a full-service artist management, record label, concert promotion, and marketing company that builds awareness for independent artists worldwide. Recent producing highlights include ‘Crown’ by the blues legend Eric Gales, which was nominated for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards.
Bonamassa has been featured in several publications from Esquire, WSJ, and Parade to Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, as well as on the covers of Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Guitarist, and Classic Rock Magazine. His non-profit Keeping The Blues Alive provides funds and resources to schools and artists in need and has positively impacted more than 91k students to date while raising over 2 million in donations
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Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.
