This episode of the Murphy's Saloon Podcast has something new: a drawing for three Murphy's Saloon t-shirts. Listen to the show for details. C'mon - you didn't think I'd tell you here, did you?

This week's music:

• Missing You by Blue Matters, at the Podsafe Music Network. Their own site is here.

• See Me In The Evening by Hound Dog Taylor at the Podsafe Music Network. His CDs are available at Alligator Records and through the iTunes Music Store.

• Angeline by George Fletcher and Bourbon Renewal. George's own site is here.

• Doncha Know I Love You by Harpdog Brown at GarageBand. Harpdog's own site is here.

• Let Me Stir in Your Pot by Carey Bell at the Podsafe Music Network. His CDs are available at Alligator Records and through the iTunes Music Store.

• Bad Religion by (The Rev.) Jimmie Bratcher at the Podsafe Music Network. You can also find Jimmie Bratcher in the iTunes Music Store.

The Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

If you'd like to see where some Murphy's Saloon listeners live, you can check out the Murphy's Friends Frappr map, and perhaps put up a push pin of your own.

(Music in this week's Murphy's Saloon is courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network, except where noted)

Welcome back to Murphy's Saloon, Podcast Home of the Blues. I hope you had as much fun over the holidays as I did. I'm looking forward to the Murphy's Saloon Podcast getting bigger and better in 2006. I hope you have as much fun listening as I do putting the shows together.

Since both Black & Tan Records, and Alligator Records joined the Podsafe Music Network in December, I think a show featuring artists from both labels was the obvious way to go this week. Hence, tonight's theme.

• Ain't Good Lookin' by Billy Jones.

• Running To New Orleans Byther Smith.

• Mountain Top by Boo Boo Davis.

• Jona Lee by Roomful of Blues.

• Big City by Luther Allison.

• Natural Man by Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials.

Also, Alligator Records is here, and Black & Tan Records is here.

The Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

If you'd like to see where some Murphy's Saloon listeners live, you can check out the Murphy's Friends map over here, and perhaps put up a push pin of your own.

(Music in this week's Murphy's Saloon is courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network)

Show Notes:

• Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas by the Candy Butchers.

• A Podsafe Christmas by Jonathan Coulton.

• If Every Day Was Christmas by Podsafe for Peace (the Podsafe Music Network link) and Podsafe For Peace, where you can buy and download a copy of the song. All proceeds from the sales of the mp3 will go to UNICEF.

• This White Christmas Will Be Blue by Beatrice Ericsson.

• Christmas of Love by Tresa Street.

• Christmas Wish by Gidgets Ga Ga.

• Just Stockings On by [munk].

(All music courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network)

With new, improved audio levels, so you can put away your ear trumpets, I promise.

• Boom Boom by Loren Schulte at GarageBand.com.

• In My Arms by The Ken DeRouchie Band at GarageBand.com, and at their own site.

• Five O'Clock in the Morning by the The Fabulous House Rockers at GarageBand.com.

• Big Mary's by The Hipnotics at the Podsafe Music Network, and at their own site.

• Slow Start To Nowhere by Circus Mind at GarageBand.com. Circus Mind's own site is over here.

• I Want To Go To Heaven by Tommy Z at the Podsafe Music Network. Tommy's own site is here.

And, of course, the Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast, both at the Podsafe Music Network.

If you'd like to see where some Murphy's Saloon listeners live, you can check out the Murphy's Friends map over here, and perhaps put up a push pin of your own.

(Music in this week's Murphy's Saloon is courtesy of GarageBand.com and the Podsafe Music Network)

• Put A Little Love by Beatrice Ericsson.

• Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas by the Candy Butchers.

• A Podsafe Christmas by the Jonathan Coulton.

• If Every Day Was Christmas by Podsafe for Peace (the Podsafe Music Network link) and Podsafe For Peace, where you can buy and download a copy of the song. All proceeds from the sales of the mp3 will go to UNICEF.

(All music courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network)

Murphy's Saloon #7 Show Notes:

This show should be much easier to hear than previous shows.

• Someone To Talk To by Robin Banks.

• I Believe by Detroit Women.

• La Fayette Cajun by the Blue Stew.

• Snake by Son Lewis.

• Guaranteed Recipe by The Raunchtones.

Special props to Silk City Records and Andy Allu, who made the work of these artists available at the PMN. Thanks, Andy! Thanks, also, to Michael Butler for bringing Silk City Records to the PMN. Now go catch us a 'Gator, Michael.

The Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

(All music in Murphy's Saloon #7 is courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network)

Murphy's Saloon #6 Show Notes:

• She's Leavin' by Phantom Freeway and the Badass Horns.

• Foul Weather Blues by Harpdog Brown.

• Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas by the Candy Butchers.

• Tryin' Blues by The Jimmy Davis Band.

• Ragtop Cadillac by George Fletcher and Bourbon Renewal.

• Didn't Know She Was Married by Chumslick Nick and the Sharks.

• And, as usual, the Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

(Music in this week's show courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network and GarageBand)

Murphy's Saloon #5 Show Notes:

• I Won't Go Back by Joe White from GarageBand.

• Just A Fool by Big Hammer from GarageBand.

• Above the Clouds by P. W. Fenton & The Second Ward.

• Lonely in Love by Amber deLaurentis and Sarah Blue.

• Secrets by Steve Pierson from GarageBand.

• Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell.

• And, as usual, the Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

(Music in this week's show courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network and GarageBand)

Murphy's Saloon #4 Show Notes:

• Almost Heaven by Tommy Z.

Tommy infuses his songs with a mix of jazz, R&B, rock and funk, tinged with spirituality. His latest CD, Universal Love, was produced by Nick Blagona (Bee Gees, Nazareth, Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Rainbow, The Police, Chicago) He also appears on a recently released solo album Gillan's Inn by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Tommy's personal Web site (where you can buy his CD) is here.

• Talk Is Cheap by The Shades of Gray.

The Shades of Gray are four young guys out of Salt Lake City who've been playing together for 2 years. They list Herbie Hancock, the Allman Bros. and Jimi Hendrix as influences. The band's site is here.

• Your Heart by Anne Heaton.

Heaton has been based out of New York in recent years, but is considering a move back to Chicago, her home town. She was an opening act on Jewel's Spring 2005 tour, and lists Fine Young Cannibals, Peter Gabriel, Tom Petty, 10,000 Maniacs and the Indigo Girls as influences. Heaton's debut album, Black Notebook, was chosen by Performing Songwriter magazine as one of its Top 12 Independent Releases. All three of her independent release are available at her site.

• Take Your Shoes Off by Janet Ryan and Straight Up!.

As Murphy's Saloon listeners may remember, I found Janet Ryan and Straight Up! over at GarageBand.com. This is their second appearance at Murphy's Saloon. After I played them the first time, they added my logo and a link to Murphy's Saloon at their site. Thanks, guys!

• Three Chords by (The Rev.) Jimmie Bratcher.

Bratcher is another return visitor to Murphy's Saloon. Although he sorta downplays the fact he's a Rev., Bratcher uses music to help reach people, and it's absolutely killer blues. His personal site is here.

• Church of the Electric Soul by the Robert Farrell

Farrell, a resident of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, has been playing guitar since he was five years old (he's now in his 30s), and has been described by Billboard Magazine as "arguably the greatest undiscovered guitarist in Canada." Among his kudos, Farrell's got three New Artist Radio (N.A.R.) Awards: for "Musician of the Year" (2002 and 2003) and "Male Rock Artist of the Year" (2002). I'd suggest visiting his site and doing your part (by buying his CDs) to lift the public profile of this superlative guitarist.

• And, as usual, the Murphy's Saloon intro is from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit, and the show outro is from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

(Music in this week's show courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network, except where noted.)

Murphy's Saloon #3 Show Notes:

• The Hipnotics, from Kansas City, Missouri.

• George Fletcher and Bourbon Renewal, from Saratoga Springs, NY.

• Billy Marquis, from Indianola, MS.

• Delta Chuck, from Tulsa, OK.

• Punam Verma from the United Kingdom at the Podsafe Music Network and, as promised the photo page at her personal site.

• Harpdog Brown, from Vancouver, British Columbia.

• Stingray, from Perth, Western Australia.

• Show intro from Rocket Science by Brain Buckit, whose CD is available through their site, CD Baby or Tower Records.

• Show outro from Play This by Dave at the Chub Creek Podcast.

There was also a very brief discussion of bad beer, and the sad and lamentable fact that Murphy was not included in the Chicago Tribune's voting list of the best bartenders in Chicago for 2005.

(Music in this week's show courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network, except where noted.)