I’ve been waiting for it and I’m thrilled to report Robin Rogers’ Back In The Fire has finally reached #1 on the Blues Power Rankings as the most played record at blues radio for the past week. Rogers is battling cancer and friends and colleagues have rallied to help raise money for her treatment and other necessities. They’ve also rallied to help raise the profile of her latest record, hoping to lift her spirits as she fights for her life. Fire has been in the chart’s upper reaches since its debut but this is its first trip to #1. Congratulations, Robin.
Buddy Guy’s Living Proof has vaulted up the charts, as expected. I’ve gotten to listen to it a few times now and look forward to soon sharing my thoughts on it. I’m also going to have to get busy and get reviews of Walter Trout and JJ Grey & Mofro up here. Those have been on my “to do” list too long. Here are the Blues Power Rankings at radio. Scroll down to see what’s making big news at retail with the top selling blues albums according to Billboard Magazine.
- Robin Rogers – Back In The Fire
- James Cotton – Giant
- Kenny Neal – Hooked On Your Love
- Bob Corritore & Friends – Harmonica Blues
- Lucky Peterson – You Can Always Turn Around
- Albert Castiglia – Keepin On
- Duke Robillard – Passport To The Blues
- Elvin Bishop – Red Dog Speaks
- JJ Grey & Mofro – Georgia Warhorse
- Buddy Guy – Living Proof
- Charlie Musselwhite – The Well
- Mel Brown – Love, Lost And Found
- Davis Coen – Jukebox Classic
- Cyndi Lauper – Memphis Blues
- Eric Clapton – Clapton
- Walter Trout – Common Ground
- The Blues Masters Featuring ‘Big Al’ Carson – 3 Phat Catz And 1 Skinny Dogg
- Tony Joe White – That On The Road Look – Live
- Rita Chiarelli – Sweet Paradise
- Ronnie Earl – Spread The Love
- Dave Specter – Spectified
- Shawn Camp – 1994
- The Derek Trucks Band – Roadsongs
- Steve Miller Band – Bingo!
- Chris Cain – So Many Miles
- Mitch Kashmar & The Pontiax – 100 Miles To Go
- Joe Louis Walker – Live On The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
- Deb Callahan – Tell It Like It Is
- Mitch Woods – Gumbo Blues
- Robert Cray – Cookin’ In Mobile
Taking a look at the Billboard Blues Top 10, we see Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Live! In Chicago is still the #1 record followed by another live album. Joe Bonamassa’s Royal Albert Hall show began its life as a Blu-ray/DVD but now has an audio companion and it debuts at #2, giving him two albums in Billboard’s Top 10. I expected Buddy Guy’s Living Proof to vault higher in the first official week of its release but it actually dropped a notch. I believe that record has upward trajectory written all over it but it will have to wait for one more week.
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – Live! In Chicago
- Joe Bonamassa – Live From The Royal Albert Hall
- Etta James – Icon: Etta James
- Cyndi Lauper – Memphis Blues
- The Steve Miller Band – BINGO!
- The Derek Trucks Band – Roadsongs
- Joe Bonamassa – Black Rock
- Bettye LaVette – Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
- Buddy Guy – Living Proof
- Chris Duarte Group – Infinity Energy