This week's playlist:

• Poor Man's Train by Gerry Wall, from Winter Grass (2006), available from CD Baby and the iTunes Music Store. Visit GerryWall.com for more information.

• Wrapped Up In Love by Carey & Lurrie Bell, from Second Nature (2004), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit Carey's Alligator Records bio page for more information.

• Ride, Ride by Alexis P. Suter, from Shuga Fix (2005), available from CD Universe, EMusic.com, and the iTunes Music Store. Visit AlexisSuter.com for more information.

• She's Got My Number by Blue Plate Special, from Can You Dig It (2006), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Also available from CD Baby: The Blues Ain't Pretty (2000) and No Place To Fade (1998). The Blues Ain't Pretty and No Place To Fade are also now available from the iTMS. Visit BluePlateSpecialBand.com for more information.

• Fat's Jump by Big George Jackson, from Beggin' Ain't for Me (1999), available from Black and Tan Records and the iTMS. Visit BigGeorgeJackson.com for more information.

• 5-0 Blues by Corey Harris, from Fish Ain't Bitin' (1997), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit Corey's Alligator Records bio page for more information.

• No Time for Singing the Blues by Detroit Women from their brand new album Sassitude (2007), due in stores January 31st. Visit DetroitWomen.org and their MySpace page for information about the Women, and how you can buy a copy of Sassitude. For more information about the individual Women, visit this page and use the The Women pull-down menu.

• Too Much Time by Louisiana Bob Kirkpatrick & Short Fuse, from Drive Across Texas (2001), available from TopCat Records, CD Baby and the iTMS. Visit Bob's TopCat Records bio page for more information

• Fool For The Ladies by EB Davis & The Superband, from Live at the A-Trane, Berlin (2005). EB sells his own CDs through his online store. You can also learn more at EB Davis.com and at his MySpace page.

• Side To Side by Detroit Women from their brand new album Sassitude (2007). Visit DetroitWomen.org and their MySpace page for information about the Women, and how you can buy a copy of Sassitude. For more information about the individual Women, visit this page and use the The Women pull-down menu.

Mentioned during this show: Detroit Women's backing band, Motor City, which consists of Dennis Burr - guitar, Susie Woodman - keyboards, Rick Zeldes - bass and Steve Kohn - drums. Also, write to the Superhot Lady Cop, aka The Sexpert, at [email protected] with questions about sex, or your sex-related dlilemmas. Your questions and The Sexpert's replies will be included in future episodes of Murphy's Saloon.

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon Blues Podcast #59 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• I Need Someone by EB Davis & the Superband, from I Wanna Talk About You (1999). EB sells his own CDs through his online store. Visit EB Davis.com and at his MySpace page for more information.

• Froggy Bottom by Johnny Nicholas, from Livin' With The Blues (2005), available from CD Baby, TopCat Records and the iTunes Music Store. Also available from the same three outlets: Thrill on the Hill (1994) and Rockin' My Blues To Sleep (2001). Johnny's bio is here, and check out the Hilltop Cafe.

• Don't Let Me Catch You with Your Drawers Down by Koko Taylor, from Royal Blue (2000), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit Koko's Alligator Records bio page for more information.

• Made Me Cry by Boo Boo Davis, from Drew, Mississippi (2006), available from Black & Tan Records and the iTMS. Visit BooBooDavis.com For more information.

• If You Feel Froggy by Freightrain Jones, one of 11 songs available free at Soundclick.com. I first found Freightrain at the PMN. Visit Freightrain's MySpace page for more information.

• Strongest Weakness by Detroit Women, from Rattle Your Cage (2004), available from CD Baby, Silk City Records and the iTMS. Visit DetroitWomen.org and their MySpace page for more information.

• The Peace Within by Barry McCabe, from The Peace Within (2001), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Visit BarryMcCabe.com for more information.

• Party On The Levee by Mean Gene Kelton, from Mean Guitar (2004), available from Mean Gene's online store and the iTMS. Visit GeneKelton.com for more information.

• Kool Iron Bed (with intro) by Lance Lopez, a track from his not-yet-released fourth CD, Higher Ground. The track was obtained from the Podsafe Music Network. Visit LanceLopez.com for more information and other releases.

• I Believe by Detroit Women, from Rattle Your Cage (2004), available from CD Baby, Silk City Records and the iTunes Music Store. Visit DetroitWomen.org and their MySpace page for more information.

Mentioned during this show: send email or audio clips with questions about sex, or sex-related dlilemmas to [email protected].

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #58 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• Gonna Send You Back to Georgia by Hound Dog Taylor, from Release The Hound (2004), available from Alligator Records and the iTunes Music Store.

• How Many Times by Eric Coslop, from a single first released in 2001. Eric has a page at Garageband.com, as does his current band The Curbfinders. In the early '90s, Eric also contributed to a series of CDs by the Home At Last Band.

• I Need You by Ernie Van Veen, from Drive (2005), available from CD Baby. A solo CD, One Tiny Life (2004) is also available from CD Baby. Visit VanVeen.net for more information.

• No Time for Singing the Blues by Detroit Women, a pre-release podcasting exclusive to Murphy's Saloon from their forthcoming album Sassitude. Their CD Rattle Your Cage (2005) is available from CD Baby, Silk City Records, and the iTunes Music Store. Be sure to check out their site at DetroitWomen.org.

• Give It Time by Eric Lindell, from Change In The Weather (2006), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS.

• Fishing Blues by William Clarke, from William Clarke: Deluxe Edition (1999), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS.

• Ain't Seen My Baby by Cephas & Wiggins, from Shoulder To Shoulder (2006, available from Alligator Records and the iTMS.

• Comin' Home To New Orleans by The Dare Ya Blues Band, from Lonely Street (2004), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Also available: : Food For Song (2006) from CD Baby, and Head For Cover from DareYa.com.

• Never Miss Your Water by Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, from Head's Up! (2002), available from Alligator Records or the iTMS. Visit Lil Ed's page at the Alligator Records site for more information.

• Strongest Weakness by Detroit Women, from Rattle Your Cage (2004), available from CD Baby, Silk City Records and the iTMS.

Mentioned during this show: My friend, the Superhot Lady Cop aka The Sexpert, would like to hear from you, so send email or audio clips with your questions about sex, or your sex-related dlilemmas to [email protected].

For more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #57 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained most of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• New Stagger Lee Blues by Ross Neilsen, from Where I'm From (2006), available from CD Baby and the iTunes Music Store. Visit RossNeilsen.com for more information and other tracks.

• Classic Case Of The Blues by Robbie King. Visit Garageband.com and RobbieKing.com for more information.

• Cruisin' Texas Avenue by Mean Gene Kelton, from Most Requested (1999), available from Gene's online store and the iTunes Music Store. Visit JamboneRecords.com and GeneKelton.com for more information.

• Doncha Know I Love You by Harpdog Brown, from Once In A Howlin' Moon (1999), available from HarpdogBrown.com. Visit Harpdog's Garageband page or his MySpace page to hear some other tracks.

• Leavin' The City by G. Love, from Oh Yeah (1992), available from G's online store and the iTMS. Visit Philadelphonic.com for more information.

• Frankenstein's In The Mood by Beau Hall, a single obtained from the Podsafe Music Network. Beau's album UNH! (2005), is available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Visit Beau's MySpace page for more information.

• Rockin' Harder by Lee Rocker, from Racin' The Devil (2006), available from the iTMS and Alligator Records. Visit LeeRocker.com and Alligator.com for more information.

• So Broke Blues by Steve Gardner, from Rambling with the Blues (2002), available from his online store. Another album, Big Delta Crossing (2005), is available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Visit SteveGardner.info for more information.

• Boilin' Mad by Maria Daines, a new single obtained from the Podsafe Music Network. Two albums of Maria's music are available from the iTMS: Treebone and Brother of the Road (both 2005). Visit Maria-Daines.com for more information about Maria, and her partner (and guitarist) Paul Killington.

• Good Day 4 Bad Whiskey by The Paul Wood Band, from Pirate Radio (2003), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Visit Paul's Garageband page for more information.

Mentioned during this show: my friend, the Superhot Lady Cop, would like the Murphy's Saloon's audience (male and female) to help her gauge interest in a new, no-holds-barred sex advice/discussion podcast, so write or send audio clips with your questions about sex, or your sex-related dlilemmas to [email protected].

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #56 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained most of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• Didn't Know She Was Married by Chumslick Nick and the Sharks. Visit ChumslickNick and the Sharks.com or their page at GarageBand.com for more information.

• Who Do I Gotta Kill by Joe White, from Trials Along The Trail (2005), available as a download from Independent Artists Company.com. Visit JoeWhiteMusic.com and Joe's page at Garageband.com for more information.

• Three Chords by Jimmie Bratcher, from Red (2005), available from his online store and the iTunes Music Store. Visit JimmieBratcher.com for more information.

• Angeline by George Fletcher's Bourbon Renewal (formerly known as George Fletcher and the Handsome Men), from Ain't The Worst That You Could Find (2000), available from CD Baby; also available: Dangerous Things - Live (2005). Visit GeorgeFletcher.com for more information and to see George's extensive photo gallery.

• Breakin' Out by Shemekia Copeland, from The Soul Truth (2005), available from Alligator Records or the iTMS. Visit ShemekiaCopeland.com for more information.

• Meet Me in the Middle by Stingray, from Ghosts in the Attic, available for download from MartianMusic.com. Visit StingrayOnline.com for more information.

• Going Back to Alabama by the Siegel-Schwall Band from Flash Forward (2005), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit Corky Siegel's ChamberBlues.com for more information.

• I Feel It Too by The Hipnotics, from Plannin' An Accident (2003), available on CD from TheHipnotics.net.

• Gut Bucket 3 by James Brown, the one and only Godfather of Soul. This track is available from the Podsafe Music Network. There are 58 different James Brown albums available through the iTMS. Visit the GodfatherOfSoul.com for more information.

• Highwayman by Tinsley Ellis from Live - Highwayman (2005) available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit TinsleyEllis.com for more information.

• Superharp by James Cotton, from High Compression (1984), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit JamesCottonSuperharp.com for more information.

• Ain't Got No Home by Roscoe Chenier, from Waiting For My Tomorrow (2006), available from Black & Tan Records and the iTMS, Visit Roscoe's MySpace page for more information.

• Drinking My Last Dime by Rusty Zinn, from The Chill (2000), available from Alligator Records and the iTMS. Visit Rusty's page at Alligator.com for more information.

• Don't You Tell Me by Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women, from Old, New, Borrowed & Blue (1994), available from Alligator Records or the iTMS. Visit UppityBluesWomen.com

• Jona Lee by Roomful of Blues, from Standing Room Only (2005), available from Alligator Records or the iTMS. Visit the Roomful.com or Roomful of Blues page at Alligator.com for more information.

• Natural Man by Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, from Head's Up! (2002), available from Alligator Records or the iTMS. Visit Lil' Ed's page at the Alligator Records site for more information.

• Woolly Mammoth by The Robert Farrell Band, from Sun House Fury - Part 1 (2003). To buy the CD, or for more information, visit Doubleslide.com.

Mentioned during this show: Google Analytics.

For more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #55 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• Walk A Thousand Miles by Matthew Ebel, available for sale as a single from the Podsafe Music Network. Matthew's CD Beer and Coffee (2005) is available from MatthewEbel.com and CD Baby. Visit Matthew's page at PodShow.com and his MySpace page for more information.

• Fool For You by The Mescal Sheiks, from This World Is Not My Home (2006), available from CD Baby and the iTunes Music Store. Visit MescalSheiks.com or their MySpace page for more information.

• Merry Christmas Baby by Calvin Owens, from The House Is Burnin' (2002), available from TopCat Records, CD Baby, the iTMS and Amazon.com. Visit CalvinOwens.com for more information.

• The Greatest Xmas Song Ever Written by American Heartbreak, available for sale as a single from the PMN. Visit AmericanHeartbreak.com or their MySpace page for more information.

• My Own Merry Christmas by Geoff Smith, available for sale as a single from the PMN. Geoff's CD, Geoff Smith and the Tonewheels, is available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Geoff has also recently been playing keyboards with Codaphonic, a great band based in Nashville. Visit TheGeoffSmith.com for more information.

• Santa Please Go To New Orleans by Lee Harris & Loose Change from A Whole Lotta Santa (2005). This tracks and dozens of others are available, for listening only, at the PMN under the name The Lee Harris Christmas Compilations. I'm not entirely convinced Lee Harris, or the other artists whose names are directly associated with some of the tracks, know these songs are available at the PMN. Nonetheless, I decided to play this track as a reminder that help is still needed in the reconstruction of one of the cradles of American music.

• Christmas Is Here by Number One Fan, a holiday single available free from PureVolume.com, or for 99 cents from the iTMS. Visit NumberOneFanOnline.com for more information.

• Sharing This Christmas With The Blues by Russell Alexander & The Hitman Blues Band, from Angel in the Shadow (2003), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. Visit HitmanBluesBand.com for more information.

• Man! It's Christmas by Jimmie Bratcher, from Man! It's Christmas (2006), available from Jimmie's online store. Jimmie's other albums are available from his site, as well as the iTMS and Amazon.com. Visit JimmieBratcher.com and his MySpace page for more information.

• Can You Dig It by Blue Plate Special, from Can You Dig It (2006), available from CD Baby and Amazon.com. Also available from CD Baby: The Blues Ain't Pretty (2000) and No Place To Fade (1998). No Place To Fade is also available from the iTMS. Visit BluePlateSpecialBand.com for more information.

Mentioned during this show: to find out what you can do to help with the ongoing recovery of New Orleans, visit DirectRelief.org.

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #54 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• I Dream A World by Langston Hughes (read by Paul Miles), and Sock It To Me Santa, both from the brand new holiday EP Sock It To Me Santa (2006) by Detroit Women. The EP can be ordered directly from Detroit Women's Web site, DetroitWomen.org. Their next new full-length album, Sassitude, is slated for release in early 2007. Their 2005 CD Rattle Your Cage is available from CD Baby, Silk City Records, the iTunes Music Store and Amazon.com. I Dream A World is included in The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (an Amazon link).

• Treat Me Right by The Scotty Meyer Band, from Pay The Price (2004), available from CD Baby. For more information, visit ScottyMeyerBand.com and/or their MySpace page.

• Missing You by Blue Matters, listed here at the Podsafe Music Network. This group is not to be confused with the Portsmouth, N.H.-based indie rock band with a very similar name.

• Nobody's Fool by Rick Fink and his Gas House Gorillas, from the album Rick Fink and his Gas House Gorillas (2004), available from the iTMS and CD Baby. Visit GasHouseGorillas.org for more information.

• When Gentle Snowflakes Fall by Steve Stellavato. For more information, visit SteveStellavato.com, his Garageband page or his MySpace page.

• Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas by Candy Butchers, from Let's Get Christmas (1999), available from MikeViola.com (Mike is the driving force behind Candy Butchers). Nine other recordings by Viola and/or Candy Butchers, some dating back to 1996, are available from Mike's online store. Visit Mike's MySpace page for more information.

• Love Me Tonite by Sophia Ramos, presumably slated for inclusion on a new album due in 2007. Her previous CD, Her Majesty (2005) is available from CD Baby. For more information, visit either of her MySpace pages: here and here.

• Love Bones by Root Doctor and The Sofa King Horns, from Been A Long Time Coming (2006), available from CD Baby, Amazon.com, CD Universe and Barnes & Noble. Visit RootDoctorBand.com for more information.

• New Day by Life Has Teeth, led by Glen Swainston of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK. LHT has an album scheduled for release in 2007. Visit the LHT MySpace page for more information.

• If Every Day Was Christmas by Podsafe for Peace (the PMN link) and Podsafe For Peace. You can purchase and download a copy of the song from either site, and all net proceeds go to UNICEF.

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #53 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• Howling At The Moon by Kenny Neal, from Bayou Blood (1992), available from the store at Kenny's site, Alligator Records and the iTunes Music Store. Kenny also has a new Christmas CD entitled I'll Be Home For Christmas available at his site. To get a sense of how much music means to the Neal family, go here to read bios of all the other members of the Neal family who are musicians, too. To read Kenny's message to his fans, go here; and to send Kenny your best wishes, go here.

• How Long by The Mescal Sheiks, from This World Is Not My Home (2006), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. For more information, visit their site or the Sheiks' MySpace page.

• Fields Of Stone by Ruby James, from a forthcoming CD. For more information, visit Ruby's MySpace page or the RubyJamesFans page at MySpace.

• Sock It To Me Santa by Detroit Women, a special Christmas single. Their new album Sassitude, is due to drop soon. The Detroit Women CD Rattle Your Cage (2005) is available from CD Baby, Silk City Records, the iTunes Music Store and Amazon.com. Be sure to check out their site at DetroitWomen.org.

• I Got Love If You Want It by Steve Gardner, from Big Delta Crossing, available from CD Baby and the iTunes Music Store. Visit SteveGardner.info for more information.

• 2 the 4 by Jimmie Bratcher, from Man, It's Christmas! (2006), available from Jimmie's online store. Jimmie's other albums are available from his site, as well as the iTMS and Amazon.com. For more information, visit JimmieBratcher.com and his MySpace page.

• Luck Runs Out by Blue Plate Special, from Can You Dig It (2006), available from CD Baby, the iTMS and Amazon.com. Also available from CD Baby: The Blues Ain't Pretty (2000) and No Place To Fade (1998). The Blues Ain't Pretty and No Place To Fade are also now available from the iTMS. For more information, visit BluePlateSpecialBand.com.

• Homegrown by The Kelly Bell Band, from Phat Blues Music, available at the band's page at Garageband, or from Phat Blues Music, their own site.

• Ride, Ride by Alexis P. Suter, from Shuga Fix (2005), available from CD Universe, EMusic.com, the iTunes Music Store and Amazon.com. For more information, visit AlexisSuter.com.

• Just Stockings On by [munk], a holiday single obtained from the Podsafe Music Network. Visit waxboy.com for more information about [munk] and his music.

Mentioned during this show: B.B. King to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Dec. 15th; Google Analytics; the Murphy's Saloon Store and the Murphy's Saloon Frappr! map.

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #52 courtesy of the artists, their record labels and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• Ride, Ride by Alexis P. Suter, from Shuga Fix (2005), available from CD Universe, EMusic.com, the iTunes Music Store and Amazon.com. For more information, visit AlexisSuter.com.

• Let Me Love You by Boo Boo Davis, from Drew Mississippi (2006), available from Black & Tan Records, the iTMS and Amazon.com. For more information, visit BooBooDavis.com.

• Big City Woman by Doug MacLeod, from A Little Sin (2002), available from Black & Tan Records, the iTMS and Amazon.com. Doug's Web site is here.

• Bell Carol Blue by Jimmie Bratcher, from Man! It's Christmas (2006), available from Jimmie's online store. Jimmie's other albums are available from his site, as well as the iTMS and Amazon.com. For more information, visit JimmieBratcher.com and his MySpace page.

• I'm A Fool To Care by Johnny Nicholas, from Rockin' My Blues To Sleep (2000), available from TopCat Records, CD Baby, CD Universe, the iTunes Music Store and Amazon.com.

• Mountain Top by Boo Boo Davis, from The Snake (2004), available from Black & Tan Records, CD Universe and the iTMS.

• Love Dog by Chris Juergensen from Big Black Sun (2005) available from Magnatune.com, the iTMS and Amazon.com. An ealier CD, Prospects (2003), is also available from Magnatunes.

• Snake Eye by John Mayall &The Bluesbreakers, from the 2005 CD, Road Dogs, available from Eagle Rock Entertainment, the iTMS and Amazon.com. The official John Mayall web site is here.

• Superhot Lady Cop by Beau Hall, from UNH! (2005), available from CD Baby, and the iTunes Music Store. Beau also has a MySpace page.

• Just Stockings On by [munk]. This track was made available at the Podsafe Music Network during the 2005 holiday season. Unfortunately, the track is no longer available in this form at the PMN (there's now another, more salacious version by someone else [?]), but I prefer this version. For more information about [munk] and his music, visit Waxboy Records.

Excellent online resources for more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #51 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)

This week's playlist:

• Got The Blues In My Heart by Boo Boo Davis, from Drew, Mississippi (2006), available from from Black & Tan Records, the iTMS and Amazon.com.

• Tell Me What To Do by Boo Boo Davis, also from Drew, Mississippi (2006).

• Every Girl I Love by Tom Malafarina, from Bluesman Tom ... And Friends (2006), available from CD Baby. An alternate version of Every Girl I Love is available on Can't Get Used To It (2006) by the Smokehouse Ramblers, one of several groups of which Malafarina is a member. Can't Get Used To It is available from CD Baby. Visit TomMalafarina.com for more information.

• Everybody But You by Ralston Bowles, from Carwreck Conversations (2003), available from CD Baby and ElderlyInstruments.com. For more information, visit RalstonBowles.com and his MySpace page. Visit AmericanaRoots.com for an interesting article about Ralston.

• Take It Back by Jimmie Bratcher, from Red (2005), available from his online store, the iTMS and Amazon.com. For more information, visit JimmieBratcher.com.

• Sharing This Christmas With The Blues by Russell Alexander & The Hitman Blues Band, from Angel in the Shadow (2003), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. For more information about The Hitman Blues Band, visit HitmanBluesBand.com.

• Done With You by The Shane Dwight Band, from Done With You (2005), available from CD Baby. For more information, visit ShaneDwight.com, SchooloftheBlues.com and Shane's MySpace page.

• Sugar Hoodoo by The Mescal Sheiks, from This World Is Not My Home (2006), available from CD Baby and the iTMS. For more information, visit their site or the Sheiks' MySpace page.

• Misery by Rick Fink and his Gas House Gorillas, from Rick Fink and his Gas House Gorillas (2004), available from the iTMS and CD Baby. Visit GasHouseGorillas.org.

• Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas by Candy Butchers, from Let's Get Christmas (1999), available from MikeViola.com (Mike is the driving force behind Candy Butchers). Nine other recordings by Viola and/or Candy Butchers, some dating back to 1996, are available from Mike's online store. Mike has a MySpace page, of course.

Also mentioned: MOJO magazine and AmericanaRoots.com; my friend Eric's travels to Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, the spectacular ruins at Mesa Verde, Glen Canyon; Big Sur; and Eric's home: the Seychelles.

For more information about the blues: The Blues Foundation and the Delta Blues Museum; and be sure to download and listen to the DBM's top-notch (and free) podcast, the Uncensored History of the Blues.

(Music on Murphy's Saloon #50 courtesy of the artists and the Podsafe Music Network, where I obtained many of these tracks)