The 2020 Ben Vee Roadhouse 66 Best Blues Songs of the Year

The Year 2020 was one that we all were glad to see go. Not only were our family, friends, and neighbors ravaged by COVID but our political systems were stressed and our rights to meet and gather were often suspended. And performing artists and musicians took the financial brunt of the frenzied response as outdoor venues, bars, and restraunts closed across the world throwing millions of performers out of work. But musicians are a resilient and creative group. They retreated, like the rest of us, to their homes, their garages, and their basements and began the process of creating new music using novel internet collaborative tools to record and share their music with other band members and recording studios. The product of their work is what I want us to celebrate in this article. It took new thinking, creative use of software, and dogged perseverance to write, record, and release new music during 2020 and EVERY artist and group that did so should be commended for not giving in to the darkness and continuing to bring the joy of music to us all.

During 2020, I played over 7000 songs on my DJ shows and listened to hundreds of albums sent to me by the artists, publicists, and record companies. I received even more as part of the staff of Blues Music Fan Radio. Out of all that music, I have chosen my favorite 66 roadhouse blues songs for 2020 using only two rules; I had to have played the tune during one of my shows in 2020 and I could only select one song per album. The list represents less than 1% of all music that I broadcast during the year and includes both perennial favorites as well as artists you may not have heard of. These are the best of the best and regardless of position on this listing, they are all fabulous tunes in my opinion. I hope you enjoy reviewing the list, listening to the songs, and hopefully, downloading some for your own music collection or as a gift to family and friends.

The Roadhouse Blues Top 66 Songs

61The Smoke Wagon Blues BandThe Fat ManThe Ballad Of Albert Johnson
62Misty BluesTreat Me Like I WantWeed ‘Em & Reap
63Peter ParcekBeyond Here Lies NothingMississippi Suitcase
64Nora Jean WallaceI’m A Blues WomanBlues Woman
65Lloyd JonesTurn Me LooseTennessee Run
66The Rolling StonesLiving In A Ghost TownLiving In A Ghost Town

The Roadhouse Blues Top 50 & 60 songs

51John Primer and Bob CorritoreKeep A-DrivingThe Gypsy Woman Told Me
52Cary MorinNobody Gotta KnowDockside Saints
53Pinkie RideauBring Me SugarBring Me Sugar
54Dudley TaftThe End Of The BluesCosmic Radio
55Henrik Freischlader BandWhat Have I Done to YouMissing Pieces
56JD3 & The Jondo TrioRocks At The MoonSomething Good
57Shaun MurphyLiving In The Palace Of The KingFlame Still Burns
58The NighthawksChairman Of The BoardTryin’ to Get to You
59Paul Buchanan’s Voodoo PreachersSome Kind Of VoodooTestimony
60New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom RockersNight Time (feat Jimbo Mathis)Volume I
41Mary Jo Curry BandNothin’ Is EasyFront Porch
42Kerry KearneyVoodoo Down the RiverTales From The Psychedelta
43Simon Kinny-LewisBlack Cat MoanAnother Day In San Jose
44The Reverend Shawn Amos & The BrotherhoodCounting Down The DaysBlue Sky
45The Lucky LosersHalf a NothingGodless Land
46Marcus KingThe WellEl Dorado
47Samantha Martin & Delta SugarSacrificeThe Reckless On
48Coco MontoyaTroubleComing In Hot
49Robert CrayAnything You WantThat’s What I Heard
50Dave FieldsForce of WillForce of Will

The Roadhouse Blues Top 40 songs

31Steve Washington (feat  Lucky Peterson)Blues Don’t Cost a ThingJust A Matter of Time
32Tammi Savoy & The Chris Casello ComboAs Long As I’m Movin’That Rock ‘n’ Roll Rhythm!
33Too Slim and the TaildraggersDevil’s HostageThe Remedy
34David Rotundo BandI Must Be CrazySo Much Trouble
35Mick ClarkeAin’t Beggin’ NobodyCrazy with the Blues
36Casey HensleySearching For A ManGood As Gone
37Tas CruSave MeDrive On
38Sass JordanThe KeyRebel Moon Blues
39Mark MayBarbecue And BluesDeep Dark Demon
40Shemekia CopelandWalk Until I RideUncivil War

The Roadhouse Blues Top 30 Songs

21Eric JohansonDown To The BottomBelow Sea Level
22Tinsley EllisEvil Till SunriseIce Cream In Hell
23The Immediate FamilyCruel TwistSlippin’ and Slidin’
24Mike ZitoAfter The StormQuarantine Blues
25Savoy BrownJaguar CarAin’t Done Yet
26Kirsten ThienShoulda BeenTwo Sides
27Larkin PoeEvery Bird That FliesSelf Made Man
28Eric SteckelSince I Been Loving YouGrandview Drive
29Sonny LandrethSomebody Gotta Make A MoveBlacktop Run
30Crystal ShawandaEvil MemoryChurch House Blues

The Roadhouse House Top 20 Songs

11Rae Gordon BandGet Right With The WorldWrong Kind Of Love
12Fantastic NegritoChocolate SamuraiHave You Lost Your Mind Yet?
13Ben LevinMy Back ScratcherCarryout Or Delivery
14Kat RigginsThe StormCry Out
15Albert CummingsRed RoosterBelieve
16The War and TreatyBeautiful (feat. Jason Isbell)Hearts Town
17Anthony GomesUntil The End Of TimeContainment Blues
18Popa ChubbyI’m The Beast From The EastIt’s A Mighty Hard Road
19The Mary Stokes BandComin’ HomeComin’ Home
20Joanne Shaw TaylorHumanReckless Blues

The Roadhouse Top Ten Tunes for 2020

10. Johnny Iguana – Shake Your Money Maker [Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular] (Delmark Records)

Johnny Iguana’s cover of the Elmore James song from 1961 should get you movin’ in your easy chair as you listen. Johnny’s energetic keyboard playing is superbly matched by the slide guitar work of Lil’ Ed.

9. Layla Zoe – Nowhere Left To Go [Title Cut] (Self Release)

Though not officially released until January 8, 2021, I got a promo copy in December and started spinning it so it makes the list! Layla’s growling delivery is just badass and harkens back to Janis Joplin.

8. Wily Bo Walker/Danny Flam – Ain’t No Man a Good Man [Title Cut] (Mescal Canyon Records)

Blues rock with a hint of Dr. John in his voice, Wily Bo is a fantastic UK artist with a growing following. Wily’s delivery is theatric in nature and I can’t wait for the opportunity to see him and Danny perform live on stage one day…SOON!

7. Alastair Greene – Bayou Mile [The New World Blues] (Whiskey Bayou Records)

A native of Ventura, California, Alastair got to collaborate with the great Tab Benoit from my home state of Louisiana to make this recording and the result is a haunting beautiful song.

6. Thorbjorn Risager and the Black Tornado – Come On In [Title Cut] (Ruf Records)

A Danish powerhouse and one of my favorite European roadhouse blues artists, Thorbjorn has a unique voice and he is backed by an incredible seven piece ensemble that just continue to crank out catchy and upbeat roadhouse blues tunes.

5. Dion – Blues Comin’ On (ft. Joe Bonamassa) [Blues With Friends] (KTBA Records)

An American treasure, Dion is still creating vibrant music at the age of 81! Produced by Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive label, Dion got Joe to sit in on this track!

4. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Rock & Roll [Empty Promises] (Alligator Records)

This song is about a deal with the angels and a family’s devotion to a young artist’s future. It is simply beautiful and Christone’s delivery is authentic and riveting.

3. Joe Bonamassa – Why Does It Take So Long to Say Goodbye [Royal Tea] (J&R Adventures)

Another Joe Bonamassa ballad that meshes rock and blues like only he can. He is known as a world class guitar player, but I love his voice and his songwriting. This one is a roadhouse jewel!

2. Walter Trout – Make It Right [Ordinary Madness] (Provogue Records)

At 69, Walter is creating some of the best music of his storied career. The guitar playing on this tune is vintage Trout. I hope I get to see him perform it live sometime this year or next!

1……. Avey Grouws Band – Rise Up [The Devil May Care] (Self Release)

A self released debut album by a group from Iowa features a song that is my #1 roadhouse tune for 2020! Who would have thought?? I know I didn’t until I heard Jeni Grouw’s voice and Chris Avey’s guitar playing on Rise Up. It is not only a catchy but topical tune. We all need to rise up, in love, and confront the issues of our times head on without hate or rancor. It’s a song and a message we all need to spread around! Oh…and by the way…..the Avey Grouws Band will be appearing in concert in June with…..Walter Trout. My #1 and #2 artists on the same stage…..if you are close…go see them!!!!


Ben Vee started out spinning songs on terrestrial radio and at nightclubs back in the 1970’s in his home state of Louisiana. After a career in the construction business, he returned to DJing in 2011. He now hosts two shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and writes about the blues at http://www.benveeblues.com from his home in Connecticut. He also has a 24 hour stream devoted to the Roadhouse Blues… WRHB.

The Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Nooner on BMFR

At High Noon today, March 10th, it’s time for the Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Nooner on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com! Tune in at 12 Noon EST for the best of the new contemporary blues crossing my desk and a couple of classics by the masters of the genre.

The intended playlist is right below!

ARTISTTITLE
Sonny LandrethBeyond Borders
Glen HansardRoll On Slow
Delbert McClintonDown in the Mouth
Casey HensleyIf I Pray
Jim Gustin & Truth JonesThe Truth
Ben Rice and RB StoneEasy Rollin’ Down The Road
Mary Jo Curry BandLookin’
OSLUWatching The River Flow
Fiona BoyesDon’t Leave Your Feet at Home
Los Skeletone BluesStill Bizarre
Hazmat ModineLonely Man
Mark SelbyDon’t You Throw That Mojo On Me
Lisa MillsSomeone Else Is Steppin’ In
Robert CrayYou Can’t Make Me Change
John MayallDon’t Deny Me
Z.Z. HillDown Home Blues
Ryan PerryHard Times
The OutcropsMiss Melinda
Colin Linden and Luther DickinsonDon’t Let Go (Feat. Rachael Davis, Ruby Amanfu)
The Reverend Shawn Amos & The BrotherhoodTroubled Man
Liz MandevilleJoliet Town
Laura Rain and the CaesarsDon’t Lose Your Way
Albert CastigliaSearching The Desert For The Blues
Blue AttitudeThese Times
Igi ManPunish Him
Carl and the Road DawgsTracks to Nowhere

March 3rd Roadhouse Blues Nooner on BMFR with Ben Vee

Got some new Robert Cray, The Reverend Shawn Amos & the Brotherhood, Sonny Landreth, Lisa Mills, Lil Red & The Rooster, and much more during today’s Roadhouse Blues Nooner (12 PM EST) on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com for the 3rd of March.

Below is the intended playlist:

ARTISTTITLE
Lil Red & The RoosterBig Boy Boogie
The Rolling StonesShake Your Hips
Johnny ShinesRollin’ & Tumblin’
Sonny LandrethSomebody Gotta Make A Move
The Reverend Shawn Amos & The BrotherhoodThe Job Is Never Done
Robert CrayYou’ll Want Me Back
Forrest McDonald BandBlues in a Bucket.
Lisa MillsGreenwood, Mississippi
Jim Gustin & Truth JonesNever Forget
Jeremiah JohnsonShowdown
Saverio MaccneThe Only Thing I’ve Got
Marcus MaloneTestify
Mike Zito & The WheelThe Road Never Ends (With Delbert McClinton)
Jimmy ReiterHooked
Devon GilfillianTroublemaker
Billy Branch and The Sons Of BluesLast Night
Leela James and The Truth BandI’m Out!!
DionHoodoo Man Blues
Joe BonamassaHigh Water Everywhere
NiecieRise Up
Coco MontoyaI Wouldn’t Wanna Be You
Beth HartTrouble
Popa ChubbyRescue Me
Studebaker JohnRockin’ Hot
Sean PinchinRiver
Lil Red & The RoosterNarcissistic Blues
Lazy LesterI’m a Man (feat. Benoit Blue Boy, Geraint Watkins, Stan Noubard Pacha)
Liam Ward and Malcolm ThorneBulldoze Blues

Tuesday Feb 11th Roadhouse Nooner on BMFR

I got dem Tuesday Roadhouse Nooner Blues on BMFR at High Noon EST. Join us at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com!

Below is the intended playlist:

ARTISTTITLE
Arsen ShomakhovThree Arrows
CW AyonEnd of My Rope
Jason Lee McKinney BandNormal Is Just An Exit
Albert CummingsQueen Of Mean
Avey Grouws BandDevil May Care
Layla ZoeSomeday
Bernard AllisonSlide Master
Robert CrayAnything You Want
JD SimoI Got Love If You Want It
Tomislav GolubanHayloft Blues
Whitney ShayGetting In My Way
Phantom Blues BandIm Just Your Fool
Debbie DaviesDone Sold Everything
Gary MooreAll Your Love (Live)
Eliza NealsPawn Shop Blues (Roadhouse) (Feat. Popa Chubby & Dave Keyes)
Widow BlueBroken Heart for Sale
John McVeyI Don’t Stutter
Jeff FettermanBad Feeling
Dudley TaftMeet Me In The Morning
Mary Bridget DaviesTrick The Devil
Ryan Foret And Foret TraditionThat’s How Strong My Love Is
Buddy Guy & Junior WellsHoodoo Man Blues
Mike FarrisLet Me Love You Baby
Jamie Lynn VesselsDon’t Look Back
Seth RosenbloomI Can’t Help It
Jimmy Z & The Z-TribeHoneyman

First Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Nooner of 2020

Gettin’ ready to start my first Roadhouse Blues Nooner of the new decade!! Come join us on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com at 12 pm EST today, January 7th, for some great contemporary blues by artists like Robert Cray, 11 Guys Quartet, CW Ayon, Hakon Hoye, Hurricane Ruth, the Forrest McDonald Band, and plenty more.

Below is the intended playlist. If ya like em…buy em at your favorite music download site….and help the blues to thrive in 2020!!

ARTISTTITLE
11 Guys QuartetDown and Dirty
Jimmy CarpenterYou Belong To Me
Robert Cray & Hi RhythmYou Must Believe in Yourself
Sean ChambersGonna Groove
Hurricane RuthLet Me Be the One
Anthony GeraciWhy Did You Have To Go
TucciGimme Some of Your Love
The NighthawksThat’s All You Gotta Do
Albert CastigliaWoman Don’t Lie
Forrest McDonald BandBlues in a Bucket.
Andrew Jr Boy, Kerrie Lepai JonesMr. Slick
Tommy Castro & The PainkillersNonchalant
Stone Soup and the Broken TeethMoney
CW AyonCarla (Maybe Someday)
Phil DoubletRattlin’ Bones
Jan JamesBlack Orchid Blues
Delta WiresYour Eyes
Billy FlynnYou Are My Lover
Hakon HoyeMy Darkest Hour
The Gordon Meier Blues ExperienceJust Keep Ridin’
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black TornadoHard Time
Bridget Kelly BandWhat You Need
Van MorrisonThree Chords And The Truth
Gregg AllmanI Love The Life I Live
Kenny Wayne Shepherd BandNothing But The Night
Savoy BrownWhy Did You Hoodoo Me
The Magpie SaluteComin’ Home (Live)

Late October Roadhouse Blues Nooner on BMFR

Join me today, October 29th, at High Noon EST for some roadhouse blues on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. Got some contemporary blues, classics from the masters, and a few blues rock cuts.

You can find the intended playlist below:

ARTISTTITLE
Shun KikutaThe Stumble
The Johnny Max BandRoadhouse Soul
Joss StoneFree Me
Bargel & HeuserThe Heat
Doc Nice & Muddy FeetBlue Sky
Lonesome ShackTrying To Forget
Curtis Salgado and Alan HagerI Want You By My Side
The Fabulous ThunderbirdsRich Woman
Little FeatDixie Chicken
Shemekia CopelandSholanda’s
Rita ChiarelliJust Gettin Started
Albert Collins, Robert Cray and Johnny CopelandBring Your Fine Self Home
Fenton RobinsonYou Don’t Know What Love Is
Rockin Johnny BurginCold Chills
Slim HarpoShake Your Hips
Southern AvenueRumble
Selwyn Cooper & The Hurricane Blues BandHit the Big Time
Zoe Schwarz Blue CommotionHold On
Joe BonamassaAround The Bend
Erja LyytinenGrip Of The Blues
Gary MooreHouse Full Of Blues
Henrik Freischlader BandI Give Up on Loving You
BlindstoneWhat Your Lovin’ Can Do
Lil’ Ed & The Blues ImperialsIt’s Alright

Ben Vee’s Roadhouse 66 – The Best Blues Tunes of 2017

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.

TAJMO

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.

Walter Trout

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.

Altered Five Band

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 fire on the floor

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.

KWS Band

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!!

the nighthawks

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!

thorbjorn risager

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.

tommy castro stompin ground

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!

Tucci Olivia

At number nine is the band Tucci and the song, High Roller, that feature’s Chicago’s own Larry McCray….just some badass blues.

Dennis Johnson

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