Compiling a list of my favorite roadhouse blues tunes of 2017 has been a labor of love. It includes some perennial favorites and some up and coming new artists. I hope you enjoy reviewing the list and hopefully you will buy and download some of the tunes.
At number one is Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’s, Don’t Leave Me Here, from the fantastic album Tajmo. Two special talents working together have produced the masterpiece of the 2017 roadhouse blues.
Coming in at number two, Walter Trout is a perennial favorite of blues rockers and when you combine his guitar playing with that of Joe Bonamassa you get some very special mojo on the tune We’re All in this Together.
At number three is the Altered Five band song, Charmed & Dangerous, an upbeat badass song that exudes sexual energy from a group based in Wisconsin.
Beth Hart has four songs from the album Fire on Floor in the top 66 and coming in at number four is the title cut. It is a slow intense tune that plays to all of Beth’s strengths as a song writer and performer.
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band has three songs in the top 66 from his album Lay It on Down. Nothing But the Night comes in at number five. We have tickets to see both him and Beth Hart in July….can’t wait!!
At number six is the song Three Times Your Fool by Washington D.C.’s, the Nighthawks. This is a slow beautiful song for the ages from a group that has been playing the blues for over forty years!
Based out of Denmark, Thorbjorn Risager & the Black Tornado, have four songs in the top 66. At number seven is the title cut, Change My Game. Featuring a full seven piece band with a compliment of some badass horns, this group is easily my favorite European roadhouse blues band.
Californian Tommy Castro & the Painkillers returned to his roots in San Jose to record the album, Stompin’ Grounds, and has four songs included on my list. At number eight is Blues All Around Me. I have seen him in concert a couple of times and can’t wait to do it again!
At number nine is the band Tucci and the song, High Roller, that feature’s Chicago’s own Larry McCray….just some badass blues.
Rounding out the top ten is Dennis Johnson’s rendition of Robert Johnson’s Walkin’ Blues. Dennis is a guitar virtuoso and his talent shines through on the album, Rhythmland.
Some special notes about the rest of the top Roadhouse 66:
- Samantha Fish has songs from two different albums included on the list! On one, Hello Stranger, she channels some Amy Winehouse….give it a listen!
- Sean Chambers has three songs from his album, Trouble & Whiskey, on the list. The album is one of my favorites of the year.
- Hurricane Ruth, from Missouri, has three songs on the list from her album, Ain’t Ready for the Grave. She belts out tunes with power and intensity……you will enjoy… I promise 🙂
- Savoy Brown, a British blues band that has been recording for fifty years, has a three songs from their album, Witchy Feelin’, on the list!
- John Mayall, the elder statesman of the Roadhouse Blues, has a great song, Blues Midnight on the list.
- Van Morrison makes the list with the title cut of his album, Roll With the Punches.
- Newcomers Eliza Neal and Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos are well worth a listen.
- The list features 14 female roadhouse blues songs. There are more and more female roadhouse blues singers releasing albums..a fantastic trend for the future.
Here is the full list….enjoy! And you can listen to all of these songs on my 24 hour roadhouse blues stream at Ben Vee’s Roadhouse Blues!
| ARTIST | TITLE | |
| 1 | Taj Mahal | Don’t Leave Me Here (ft Keb Mo) |
| 2 | Walter Trout | We’re All In This Together (feat. Joe Bonamassa) |
| 3 | Altered Five Blues Band | Charmed & Dangerous |
| 4 | Beth Hart | Fire On The Floor |
| 5 | Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band | Nothing But The Night |
| 6 | The Nighthawks | Three Times Your Fool |
| 7 | Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado | Change My Game |
| 8 | Tommy Castro & The Painkillers | Blues All Around Me |
| 9 | Tucci | High Roller (ft Larry McCray) |
| 10 | Dennis Johnson | Walkin Blues |
| 11 | Savoy Brown | I Can’t Stop The Blues |
| 12 | John Mayall | Blue Midnight |
| 13 | Van Morrison | Roll With The Punches |
| 14 | Tommy Castro & The Painkillers Feat. Mike Zito | Rock Bottom |
| 15 | James Armstrong | Second Time Around |
| 16 | Eliza Neals | Another Lifetime |
| 17 | Coco Montoya | Hard As Hell |
| 18 | Steve Krase | Brand New Thang |
| 19 | Tommy Castro & The Painkillers | Nonchalant |
| 20 | John McNamara | One, Two of a Kind |
| 21 | Beth Hart | Love Is A Lie |
| 22 | Sean Chambers | Bottle Keeps Staring at Me |
| 23 | Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Baby Got Gone |
| 24 | Popa Chubby | Rescue Me |
| 25 | Dudley Taft | I Lost My Way |
| 26 | The Nighthawks | That’s All You Gotta Do |
| 27 | Savoy Brown | Why Did You Hoodoo Me |
| 28 | Sean Chambers | Trouble & Whiskey |
| 29 | Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado | Train |
| 30 | Corey Dennison Band | Hear My Plea |
| 31 | Hurricane Ruth | Let Me Be the One |
| 32 | Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos | Bound To You |
| 33 | Karen Lovely | Nice and Easy |
| 34 | John Ginty And Aster Pheonyx | Captain Hook |
| 35 | Sean Chambers | Gonna Groove |
| 36 | Beth Hart | Tell Her You Belong To Me (feat. Jeff Beck) |
| 37 | Kenny Wayne Shepherd | How Low Can You Go |
| 38 | Walter Trout | Crash And Burn (feat. Joe Louis Walker) |
| 39 | Samantha Fish | No Angels |
| 40 | Downchild Blues Band | Mailbox Money |
| 41 | Gregg Allman | I Love The Life I Live |
| 42 | Janiva Magness | I Can Tell |
| 43 | Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado | I Used to Love You |
| 44 | Peter Parcek | World Keep On Turning |
| 45 | Milligan Vaughan Project | Dangerous Eyes |
| 46 | Hurricane Ruth | Beekeeper |
| 47 | The Cash Box Kings | All Night Long |
| 48 | Kim Wilson | Bonus Boogie |
| 49 | Jan James | Black Orchid Blues |
| 50 | Hamilton Loomis | Sugar Baby |
| 51 | Beth Hart | Let’s Get Together |
| 52 | Billy Flynn | You Are My Lover |
| 53 | Delta Wires | Your Eyes |
| 54 | Savoy Brown | Vintage Man |
| 55 | Samantha Fish | Hello Stranger |
| 56 | The Original Blues Brothers Band | Got My Mojo Working |
| 57 | Hurricane Ruth | Barrelhouse Joe’s |
| 58 | Linsey Alexander | Where Did You Take Your Clothes off Last Night |
| 59 | Bridget Kelly Band | What You Need |
| 60 | The Magpie Salute | Comin’ Home (Live) |
| 61 | Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado | Hard Time |
| 62 | The Gordon Meier Blues Experience | Just Keep Ridin’ |
| 63 | Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm | You Must Believe in Yourself |
| 64 | Jimmy Carpenter | You Belong to Me |
| 65 | Albert Castiglia | Woman Don’t Lie |
| 66 | Tommy Castro And The Painkillers | My Old Neighborhood |
