1998 was another banner year for new blues recordings. There's lots of young talent out there releasing great material. There's also lots of old timers who've shown that they still have it. Once again I've asked Mark Steinberg to share with us his opinion on this year's best recordings. Mark, as many of you know, has been hosting his own blues show for over twelve years on WCNI. Catch him every Tuesday between noon and three. So, for what it's worth, here's our top tens.

BILL'S LIST

1. Lucky Peterson "Move" Verve Records

2. Michael Hill's Blues Mob "New York State of Blues" Alligator Records

3. Tutu Jones "Staying Power" Bullseye Blues

4. Bernard Allison "Times Are Changing" Ruf Records

5. Bill Perry "Greycourt Lightning" Virgin Records

6. Larry Garner "Standing Room Only" Ruf Records

7. Carl Weathersby "Restless Feeling" Evidence Music

8. Magic Slim & The Teardrops "Black Tornado" Blind Pig Records

9. B.B. King "Blues On The Bayou" M.C.A. Records

10. Luther "Guitar Jr" Johnson "Got To Find A Way" Telarc

Best Blues Label of 1998: Telarc (Enhanced CD's!)

MARK'S LIST

1. Lucky Peterson "Move" Verve Records

2. Carl Weathersby "Restless Feeling" Evidence Music

3. Etta James "Life, Love & The Blues" Private Music

4. Taj Mahal "In Progress & In Motion 1965-1998" Columbia

5. Pinetop Perkins/Hubert Sumlin "Legends" Telarc

6. The Four Blazes "Mary Jo" Delmark Records

7. Shemekia Copeland "Turn The Heat Up" Alligator

8. Terry Evans "Come To The River" AudioQuest

9. Johnny Adams "Man Of My Word" Rounder Records

10. Lurrie Bell "Kiss Of Sweet Blues" Delmark Records

Best Blues Label of 1998: AudioQuest

It's no surprise that Mark and I agreed on number one. "Move" is Lucky's masterpiece. (He'll probably top it next year.) Also, Taj Mahal had a new CD this year called "Sacred Island" that Mark and both felt was one of the year's best recordings. However, it's not really a pure blues record, and for that reason, it was left off our lists. Mark and I would like to dedicate this year's top tens to the memory of Johnny Adams.

Bill Harriman

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