Various Nola Blue artists — “Breakin’ News – 10 Years of Blues” — Nola Blue Records
Blues music has been around for a long time — it’s been nourishing souls for well over a century.
Nola Blue Records has been around for just ten years by comparison, but founder/president Sallie Bengston has already found plenty of great blues to keep that nourishment flowing from her Pennsylvania headquarters.
In celebration of those first ten years, Nola Blue has released a compilation of some of the label’s finest tracks, designed to provide, in Bengston’s words, a “soulful selection of milestones from the past ten years.”
It’s very fitting, then, that this retrospective feature Benny Turner, whose album “Journey” was the first Nola Blue release in 2014. Not only was “Journey” an auspicious beginning for Nola Blue, it sparked a change for Turner from a sideman who began his career with his brother, Freddie king, into a powerful performer on his own. And Turner immediately kicks the session into high gear with the first of his three contributions here, “Breakin’ News,” a high-powered shuffle that rocks hard behind tough vocals.
Turner follows in a soulful pairing with the deep blue pipes of the late Cash McCall on the Elmore James classic, “It Hurts Me Too,” featuring a wickedly sharp harp intro by Billy Branch’s. The track comes from their 2018 joint album, “Going Back Home.”
Frank Bey, the Southern Gentleman of the Blues, is featured on the funky soul of “All My Dues Are Paid,” a song he co-wrote and won BMA nominations for with the 2021 album of the same name, a year after his death. Another McCall track follows, the easy-rocking “One Who’s Got a Lot,” powered by a rich vocal turn.
Clarence Spady checks in with a plaintiff request, “If Only We Could,” know what the next person knows. Trudy Lynn follows with “Golden Girl Blues,” the sassy title track from her 2022 Nola Blue album, sparked by slick guitar work from Anson Funderburgh and Yates McKendree.
Harp wizard and vocal chameleon John Németh turns up on the next two tracks, first, in his incarnation as a smooth big-band singer crooning “After All,” in front of the sparkling Love Light Orchestra. That’s followed by a rousing sanctified version of the traditional “The Last Time,” recorded while facing surgery to rebuild his jaw that could have (but fortunately did not) end his fine musical career. It’s a poignant reminder of just how fragile everything in life can be.
Lil’ Jimmy Reed (Leon Atkins) is next with “They Call Me Lil’ Jimmy” from his 2023 album “Back to Baton Rouge,” featuring that classic Jimmy Reed vibe in the hands of his long-time namesake, with piano by Ben Levin. Turner comes back for the closer, a bluesy paean to some of the music’s originators, “Who Sang It First,” a plea to remember the blues’ origins.
“Breakin’ News” is a fine, fun album on its own, filled with emotionally powerful music from rich blues voices. It’s also a testament to how a dedicated record label can still find and produce excellent music that represents some of the best of this timeless musical genre.
Here’s a fascinating interview with Nola Blue president Sallie Bengston on the Michael Limnios Blues Network.
Here’s the title track, “Breakin’ News”
Tracklist:
01 Benny Turner – Breakin’ News (4:13)
02 Benny Turner & Cash McCall – It Hurts Me Too (4:01)
03 Frank Bey – All My Dues Are Paid (4:11)
04 Cash McCall – One Who’s Got A Lot (4:13)
05 Clarence Spady – If Only We Could (3:07)
06 Trudy Lynn – Golden Girl Blues (5:07)
07 The Love Light Orchestra – After All (3:36)
08 John Nemeth – The Last Time (3:35)
09 Jimmy Reed With Ben Levin – The Call Me Lil’ Jimmy (4:04)
10 Benny Turner – Who Sang It First (4:00)
This album is a soulful selection of milestones from the past ten years, but is only a portion of the many sounds of Nola Blue Records. I hope you will also explore our catalog at www.nola-blue.com/nolabluerecords and enjoy highlights from each album at bit.ly/NolaDecade.
This album is dedicated to our “Nola Blue Angels” ~ Cash McCall (Morris Dollison, Jr.), Frank Bey, and James George ~ with endless gratitude for the musical gifts they shared and their legacy of music which will nurture and soothe our souls for eternity.
~ Sallie Bengtson
1. Breakin’ News – Benny Turner (Journey – 2014)
Written by Benny Turner – © Nola Blue Music (BMI)
Benny Turner – bass, lead and background vocals; Deanna Bernard and Ellen Smith – background vocals; Charles Moore – rhythm guitar; Marc Stone – steel guitar; Keiko Komaki – keyboard; Jason Mingledorff – saxophone; Barney Floyd – trumpet; Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander – drums
Produced by Benny Turner; Engineered and Recorded at Sound Services Recording, Slidell, LA by Marc Hewitt; Mixed by Benny Turner and Marc Hewitt. Mastered by Bruce Barielle, New Orleans, LA
2. It Hurts Me Too – Benny Turner and Cash McCall (Going Back Home – 2019)
Written by Elmore James – © Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Cash McCall – vocals; Benny Turner – bass and background vocals; Billy Branch – harmonica; Butch Mudbone – slide guitar; Raishene Webb – keyboards; Terry Saffold – drums
Produced by Benny Turner; Engineered/Recorded at Ecko Studios, Memphis, TN by Till Palmer and Joyride Studios, Chicago, IL by Blaise Barton; Mixed and Mastered at Music Shed Studios, New Orleans, LA by Jack Miele
3. All My Dues Are Paid – Frank Bey (All My Dues Are Paid – 2020)
Written by Kathy Murray (© Kilowatt Music), Richard Estrin (© Locked In Music), Frank Bey and Kid Andersen
Frank Bey – lead vocals; Loralee Christensen and Lisa Leuschner Andersen – vocals; Kid Andersen – guitar, organ; Paul Olguin – lead bass guitar; Jerry Jemmott – bass; Derrick “D’Mar” Martin- drums; Vicki Randle – congas; Jack Sanford – tenor and baritone sax; John Halbleib – trumpet; Ric Feliciano – trombone
Produced, engineered, recorded, mixed and mastered at Greaseland, San Jose, CA by Kid Andersen w/ assistants Robby and Rome Yamilov
4. One Who’s Got A Lot – Cash McCall (Single – 2020)
Written by Jim Koeppel (SESAC)
Cash McCall – vocals; Jim Koeppel – guitar; Tennyson Stephens – piano; Welton Gite – bass; James Gadson – drums
Produced by Jim Koeppel; Engineered at Pacifica Studios, Los Angeles, CA by Glen Nishida with additional engineering by Myles West; Additional engineering at Studio 2424, Chicago, IL by Danny Christy; Additional engineering at Carriage House, Stamford, CT by Mikhail Pivovarov; Mixed and Mastered by John Christy at Studio 2424, Chicago, IL
5. If Only We Could – Clarence Spady (Single – 2022)
Written by William “Wes” Weller Sr. and Clarence Spady – © Nola Blue Music (BMI)
Clarence Spady – guitar, vocals; Andy Galore – bass; Dave Archer – keyboard and B3; Barry Harrison – drums
Produced by Bobby Gentilo; Engineered, recorded and mixed at Right Coast Recording, Columbia, PA; Mastered at Mike Tarsia Recording, Philadelphia, PA by Mike Tarsia
6. Golden Girl Blues – Trudy Lynn (Golden Girl – 2022)
Written by Trudy Lynn – © Nola Blue Music (BMI)
Trudy Lynn – vocals; Teresa James – background vocals; Yates McKendree – guitar; Terry Wilson –bass & background vocals; Kevin McKendree – keyboards; Brannen Temple – drums and percussion
Produced and arranged by Terry Wilson; Horn arrangements by Darrell Leonard; Engineered and recorded in Houston, TX by Steve Christensen; Overdubs engineered and recorded at JesiLu Studios, Los Angeles, CA by Terry Wilson; Mixed and Mastered at The Old Brewery House, Malmesbury, UK by John Porter
7. After All – The Love Light Orchestra (+Leave the Light On – 2022)
Written by John Németh – © Németh Music (BMI)
John Németh – vocals; Joe Restivo – guitar; Al Gamble – piano; Tim Goodwin – upright bass; Marc Franklin – trumpet, horn arrangements; Scott Thompson – trumpet; Jason Yasinsky – trombone; Art Edmaiston – tenor saxophone; Kirk Smothers – baritone saxophone; Earl Lowe – drums
Produced by Marc Franklin, John Németh and Joe Restivo; Engineered at Memphis Magnetic Studios, Memphis, TN by Adam Hill and Scott McEwen; Mixed at Sam Phillips Recording Studio, Memphis, TN by Matt Ross-Spang; Mastered at Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA by John Golden
8. The Last Time – John Németh (+May Be The Last Time – 2022)
Traditional (Arr. Németh/Bishop/Andersen)
John Németh – vocals and harp; Elvin Bishop – guitar; Bob Welsh – guitar; Kid Andersen – upright bass; Willy Jordan – cajon, drum kit, percussion; Alabama Mike, Willy Jordan, Kid Andersen, Bob Welsh – group vocals
Engineered, recorded, mixed and mastered at Greaseland, San Jose, CA by Kid Andersen
9. They Call Me Lil’ Jimmy – Lil’ Jimmy Reed w/Ben Levin (+Back to Baton Rouge – 2023)
Written by Leon Atkins and Ben Levin (BMI) – © Ben and Aron Levin
Lil’ Jimmy Reed – guitar, harmonica, vocals; Ben Levin – piano; Aron Levin – second guitar; Walter Cash Jr. – bass; Ricky Nye – drums
Produced by Ben Levin; Engineered and recorded at WVXU Studios, Cincinnati, OH by Rick Andress; Mastered in Cincinnati, OH by Anna Bentley
10. Who Sang It First – Benny Turner (Single – 2019)
Written by James George (BMI) and Benny Turner (BMI) – © Nola Blue Music (BMI)
Benny Turner – bass and vocals; Will McFarlane – guitar; Jack Miele – 2nd guitar; Clayton Ivey -Wurlitzer; Joe Krown – organ; Justin Holder – drums; Tiffany Pollack and Kassie Netherland Miele – background vocals
Produced by Benny Turner; Engineered and recorded at FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, AL, by John Gifford III; Additional engineering, Mixed and Mastered at Music Shed Studios, New Orleans, LA by Jack Miele
+ Under exclusive license to Nola Blue Records
Tracklist:
01 Benny Turner – Breakin’ News (4:13)
02 Benny Turner & Cash McCall – It Hurts Me Too (4:01)
03 Frank Bey – All My Dues Are Paid (4:11)
04 Cash McCall – One Who’s Got A Lot (4:13)
05 Clarence Spady – If Only We Could (3:07)
06 Trudy Lynn – Golden Girl Blues (5:07)
07 The Love Light Orchestra – After All (3:36)
08 John Nemeth – The Last Time (3:35)
09 Jimmy Reed With Ben Levin – The Call Me Lil’ Jimmy (4:04)
10 Benny Turner – Who Sang It First (4:00)
Blues Roadhouse 