Elvin Bishop Returns To #1, Charlie Musselwhite’s The Well Continues Surge On Blues Radio Charts

For every thing that makes sense to me on this chart, there is something that confuses me.  I’m not surprised to see Elvin Bishop back at #1 nor am I surprised that Charlie Musselwhite’s The Well has moved further up the charts to #2.  I don’t understand how in the world Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard still haven’t surfaced nor how Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith can spend so many weeks at #1 and in the Top 5 only to suddenly drop out altogether.  I like the Pinetop & Willie record but have been surprised it held so tightly to the top spot as long and often as it did but I’m just as surprised by its sudden drop.

Looking elsewhere on the chart, I’d like to take personal credit for Karen Lovely’s big jump this week having recently posted my review of Still The Rain.  I’d like to but I’m not going to.  It’s all her and that record.  I love it.  I’m also pleased to see JW-Jones’ Memphis Midnight Sun working its way into the chart.  I haven’t found time to share much with you about that record but I’m going to rectify that, and soon. 

Yes, many of these records have been here awhile and we’ve discussed them in whole or in part and I’m eager to continue that discussion but I must politely command blues radio programmers to do something about Ronnie and Duke’s absence because both made records that rate among the best in their brilliant careers.

1. Elvin Bishop – Red Dog Speaks
2. Charlie Musselwhite – The Well
3. Albert Castiglia – Keepin On
4. Les Copeland – Don’t Let The Devil In
5. Magic Slim & The Teardrops – Raising The Bar
6. Jimmie Vaughan – Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites
7. JJ Grey & Mofro – Georgia Warhorse
8. Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King – Have Blues, Will Travel
9. Janiva Magness – The Devil Is An Angel, Too
10. John Nemeth – Name The Day!
11. The Derek Trucks Band – Roadsongs
12. Walter Trout – Common Ground
13. Karen Lovely – Still The Rain
14. Bettye LaVette – Interpretations – The British Rock Songbook
15. Travis ‘Moonchild’ Haddix – A Dozen Times
16. Steve Miller Band – Bingo!
17. Davis Coen – Jukebox Classic
18. Dr. John And The Lower 911 – Tribal
19. Alabama Mike – Tailor Made Blues
20. Otis Taylor – Clovis People, Vol. 3
21. Mitch Kashmar & The Pontiax – 100 Miles To Go
22. Eric Gales – Relentless
23. Tim Woods – The Blues Sessions
24. Holmstrom, Logan, Hodges – Twist-O-Lettz
25. Mississippi Heat – Let’s Live It Up
26. Eric Lindell – Between Motion And Rest
27. Bob Corritore & Friends – Harmonica Blues
28. James Day – Firecracker
29. JW-Jones – Midnight Memphis Sun
30. Robert Cray – Cookin’ In Mobile