Eric Bibb: Blues, Ballads & Work Songs - LP 180g Vinyl

We are both privileged and delighted to release Eric's new album "Blues, Ballads & Work Songs", a further enhancement to Opus 3's association with Eric which goes back to 1977 when he was in effect 'discovered' with the success of his debut album "Rainbow People".Other albums over the years have included in 1994 "Spirit & The Blues" which proved to be his breakthrough album with great success world-wide, and more recently "Just Like Love"In this album the basic concept is to cover the complete range of traditional folk/blues songs which were an inherent part of his childhood up to the present time with his own inimitable compositions.As always we have strived to achieve the authentic sound which Eric has always loved and it may be of interest to note that the recordings were made using the very same Valve Stereo-Microphone as on his first album! "Blues, Ballads & Work Songs is an album I have been working on for most of my life. Its release co-incides with my 60th birthday and it celebrates the music that first inspired me to become a guitar-playing singer. Being as passionate about writing songs as I am about singing and playing traditional material, I couldn't resist including the self-penned tunes at the end of the record. These newer songs, are the 'children' of the older ones. My father, Leon Bibb, was part of a wonderful folk music scene in New York City during the 1950’s & 60’s and his world became my world when I was very young. I still treasure a copy of one of his early LP’s on the Vanguard label, “Tol’ My Captain”, that included the work song “Take This Hammer”. Most of the songs on B, B & WS were “standards” of the folk/blues scene I was exposed to as a child. I heard them performed on countless occasions by my father’s friends and colleagues. I often think of this music as part of my DNA. It has a lot to do with who I am today.Being as passionate about writing songs as I am about singing and playing traditional material, I couldn’t resist including the self-penned tunes at the end of the record. These newer songs are the “children” of the older ones. A few years ago, Jan-Eric Persson, of Opus 3 Records in Sweden, suggested that I make a solo album with the kind of bluesy, traditional songs that have always been in my repertoire.Since I’d been considering such a project for some time, the idea appealed to me – although I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. I knew that recording a solo album of this material would be an exciting challenge. The trick is to make it your own, while still honoring the tradition – and that takes time.We agreed that we would record a song or two per session until we felt that the record was ”in the can”. Given a busy touring schedule and numerous other projects, it ended up taking a few years to complete. I’ve known Jan-Eric for thirty-five years. This new collaboration with him is also a celebration of our friendship and combined experience recording music that makes our world go ‘round. If I had heard this record as a child, I reckon it would have been one of my favorites. I sure enjoyed making it." Eric Bibb (on a flight to New York) July 1, 2011 Listen to music samples 03. Take This Hammer (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 06. Goin Down Slow (James Oden / Arr. by Eric Bibb 07. Sittin´ On Top Of The World (Sam Chatmon) 08. Come Back Baby (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 10.Stagger Lee (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 12. My Honey Pie ( Eric Bibb) 14. Sophisticated Shade (E. Bibb & D. Perkins) 01. Goin´ Down The Road Feelin´ Bad (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´0702. John Henry (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´5303. Take This Hammer (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´0704. Cocaine Blues (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 2´3805. Candy Man (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´0906. Goin Down Slow (James Oden / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 4´2307. Sittin´ On Top Of The World (Sam Chatmon) 3´1508. Come Back Baby (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 5´3909. Frankie & Albert (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´1310.Stagger Lee (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´2611. Juke Dance ( Eric Bibb) 2´0812. My Honey Pie ( Eric Bibb) 3´4813. Satisfied (Eric Bibb) 4´0514. Sophisticated Shade (E. Bibb & D. Perkins) 2´33 Eric Bibb - Guitar & VocalRoger Ekman - Höfner violin bass. Vintage 63 (track 12 & 13)Kabanga "Master Vumbi" Dekula - Electric Guitar (track 12)Bo Juhlin - Sousaphone (track 14)Christer Lyssarides -Electric slide guitar (track 13) and Mandola (track 14)Svante Drake- Mouth-percussion (track 12 & 13)

Eric Bibb: Blues, Ballads & Work Songs - LP 180g Vinyl

"Blues, Ballads & Work Songs is an album I have been working on for most of my life. Its release co-incides with my 60th birthday and it celebrates the music that first inspired me to become a guitar-playing singer. Being as passionate about writing songs as I am about singing and playing traditional material, I couldn't resist including the self-penned tunes at the end of the record. These newer songs, are the 'children' of the older ones.

My father, Leon Bibb, was part of a wonderful folk music scene in New York City during the 1950’s & 60’s and his world became my world when I was very young. I still treasure a copy of one of his early LP’s on the Vanguard label, “Tol’ My Captain”, that included the work song “Take This Hammer”.

Most of the songs on B, B & WS were “standards” of the folk/blues scene I was exposed to as a child. I heard them performed on countless occasions by my father’s friends and colleagues. I often think of this music as part of my DNA. It has a lot to do with who I am today.
Being as passionate about writing songs as I am about singing and playing traditional material, I couldn’t resist including the self-penned tunes at the end of the record. These newer songs are the “children” of the older ones.

A few years ago, Jan-Eric Persson, of Opus 3 Records in Sweden, suggested that I make a solo album with the kind of bluesy, traditional songs that have always been in my repertoire.
Since I’d been considering such a project for some time, the idea appealed to me – although I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. I knew that recording a solo album of this material would be an exciting challenge. The trick is to make it your own, while still honoring the tradition – and that takes time.
We agreed that we would record a song or two per session until we felt that the record was ”in the can”. Given a busy touring schedule and numerous other projects, it ended up taking a few years to complete.

I’ve known Jan-Eric for thirty-five years. This new collaboration with him is also a celebration of our friendship and combined experience recording music that makes our world go ‘round. If I had heard this record as a child, I reckon it would have been one of my favorites.
I sure enjoyed making it."

Eric Bibb (on a flight to New York) July 1, 2011

Listen to music samples

03. Take This Hammer (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb)	06. Goin Down Slow (James Oden / Arr. by Eric Bibb	07. Sittin´ On Top Of The World (Sam Chatmon)
08. Come Back Baby (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb)	10.Stagger Lee (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb)	12. My Honey Pie ( Eric Bibb)
14. Sophisticated Shade (E. Bibb & D. Perkins)

01. Goin´ Down The Road Feelin´ Bad (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´07
02. John Henry (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´53
03. Take This Hammer (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´07
04. Cocaine Blues (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 2´38
05. Candy Man (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´09
06. Goin Down Slow (James Oden / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 4´23
07. Sittin´ On Top Of The World (Sam Chatmon) 3´15
08. Come Back Baby (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 5´39
09. Frankie & Albert (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´13
10.Stagger Lee (Trad. / Arr. by Eric Bibb) 3´26
11. Juke Dance ( Eric Bibb) 2´08
12. My Honey Pie ( Eric Bibb) 3´48
13. Satisfied (Eric Bibb) 4´05
14. Sophisticated Shade (E. Bibb & D. Perkins) 2´33

Eric Bibb - Guitar & Vocal
Roger Ekman - Höfner violin bass. Vintage 63 (track 12 & 13)
Kabanga "Master Vumbi" Dekula - Electric Guitar (track 12)
Bo Juhlin - Sousaphone (track 14)
Christer Lyssarides -Electric slide guitar (track 13) and Mandola (track 14)
Svante Drake- Mouth-percussion (track 12 & 13)