Don McMINN - Painkiller Blues 1996

Don McMINN - Painkiller Blues 1996

Blues

Don McMinn has been a Memphis mainstay for about a hundred years now (at least it seems that way), and Painkiller Blues is a good example of why he's been able to remain on top locally for so long. It is a solid, if not groundbreaking, blues record that offers good lead guitar, growling vocals and enough Memphis references to keep the locals and Beale Street tourists happy.
As he strolls through the title track, you can almost see him on the Crawdad's or Rum Boogie stage, singing about getting a cold Budweiser and a glass of gin. But in the end, Painkiller As much as we enjoy McMinn, he does not seem to be pushing himself very hard. His almost laborious reading of House of the Rising Sun slows the record down, rather than add to its palette. And Memphis in May is strictly a sing-a-long for tourists. He would be better served to work on more originals rather than covering songs by Hank Williams Jr. (Loving Instructor). Too often he goes for novelty over true blues. It plays well in the clubs, but on record we would like to see him stretch out more.
The thing is, when McMinn wants to crank out true blues, he can. The title track and Down Home Blues are good examples. He pours real emotion into his playing and singing, gets good backup from a band that includes keyboards and horns and stays away from cheap sentiment or local references guaranteed to get a cheer from a Beale Street bar crowd.
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Don McMinn- (Vocals, Guitar);
Carl Wolfe- (Alto Sax);
Mark Gleister- (Tenor Sax);
Gary Adams- (Trumpet);
Howard Lamb- (Trombone);
Tony Thomas- (Keyboards);
Don Chandler- (Organ);
Rome McMinn- (Bass);
Dee Fisk, Lorina Rae- (Background Vocals).
**
01. Painkiller Blues
02. I've Earned My Rest
03. House Of The Rising Sun
04. Where's The Love
05. Memphis In May
06. Down Home Blues
07. Loving Instructor
08. Nothing Like A Woman
09. Plastic Flowers
10. Lay Back
**

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Papa Don McMINN - Boogieman 2009

Papa Don McMINN - Boogieman 2009

Blues

Papa Don McMinn is a Memphis Music legend.

He was instrumental in the rebirth of the Home of the Blues: Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee. During the mid-1980s, Papa Don’s band had the "house gig" at Rum Boogie on the corner of Beale and Highway 61. Everyone who was anyone was there, and when the big names came to town to record or perform, there was only one place to go - to see Papa Don McMinn and his Rum Boogie band.

Twenty five years later, Papa Don is still creating and perpetuating his special brand of Southern Music, a concoction of Delta and Boogie Blues. Papa Don's current band, Nightrain, is anchored by his sons, Doug on drums and Rome on bass.

Don has performed all across the planet, and he’s worked and recorded with the likes of Memphis Slim, John Mayall, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Albert King, among others. Some of the notables who’ve made cameo appearances with Papa Don's band are Joe Walsh, Gregg Allman, Rufus Thomas, Jon Bonjovi, Billy F Gibbons,
and Eddie Floyd.
**
This Memphis music veteran helped start the rebirth of Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee, home of the Blues. His special brand of "Southern" music ranges from Delta Blues to Boogie Blues. As an international entertainer, he has performed for audiences of all ages.

As his way of helping to preserve the future of the Blues, Don offers workshops to aspiring musicians and songwriters.
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01. The Boogie Man 3:08
02. With What's Left Of My Old Friends 4:51
03. Mr. Crump 2:46
04. If You Got It, I Can Get It 2:43
05. The Magic Of A Woman 4:11
06. You Can't Judge A Book 4:17
07. Ain't Love Strange 4:11
08. The Blues Ain't Nothing 3:21
09. I Can't Get A Handle On Love 3:21
10. Hold Me Tight 3:24
**
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