Recorded “old school” with just voice and guitar (acoustic, resonator and cigar box), live in the studio, using vintage mics and a creaky chair, Brooks’ Blues is a fitting homage to the music that has inspired this Statesboro, Georgia native since, well, the day he was born.
This album of Williams' favorite blues songs includes Robert Johnson's From Four Until Late, Memphis Slim's Mother Earth, Bessie Smith's Backwater Blues, and, of course, Willie McTell's Statesboro Blues. Brooks’ Blues represents Williams’ unique relationship with the blues, a relationship based not only on a ‘feel’ for the music, and a technical prowess with the music, but also an intimate knowledge of the place from which this music has sprung. His soulful arrangements are fresh and re-visioned, but they are also as familiar as a front-porch conversation. Blues great Willie Dixon once said, “The blues is the roots, the rest are the fruits.” "I’ve built a 25-plus career on the fruits,” says Williams. “Now’s the time for the roots.”
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Brooks Williams (on resonator guitar and lead vocals) rocks out these eleven tracks with a bass and drums trio. Four of the songs also feature Sally Barker on backing vocals. Fans of J.J. Cale and Ry Cooder should love this album. Williams’ best songs to date plus a few killer covers. If country blues and Americana had a love-child, this would be it.
Download My Turn Now
A stunning live set from Brooks' 2014 New Everything Tour, this high-energy session was recorded at Fairfield Studios concert series in Shreveport, Louisiana USA. The dozen tracks literally rock as Brooks alternates between acoustic and resonator slide guitar. Featured are tour favorites such as Georgia, Frank Delandry, Time I Spend With You, Three Little Words, Mercury Blues, and Deep River Blues. Great songs, great guitar, and great vocals make this recording an instant classic and a must-have for all Brooks fans!
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Brooks’ voice and acoustic guitar take center stage on this Americana-tinged recording. Featured alongside Williams are friends like Martin Simpson, Boo Hewerdine, John Wheeler, Neil McSweeney, Steve Lockwood, Kevin McGuire, Keith Angel and Andy Seward. The resulting sound is upbeat, jubilant and soulful. Included on the 13-track CD are Williams’ Carry On, One Step, King Of California and Deep River Blues. Imagine Doc Watson, Willie Nelson, Lonnie Johnson and Blind Boy Fuller sitting in a bar having a jam – and you’re just about there!
Download New Everything
A stunning set of songs, his first recorded in the UK with the help of producer-engineer guru Andy Bell, featuring Williams' long-time collaborators P.J. Wright and Keith Warmington. Contains the now-classic versions of"Frank Delandry," "Louis Collins," and "Grinnin' In Your Face."
Download Baby O!
A finger-picking instrumental acoustic guitar extravaganza! Now for the first time, and on one recording, Williams' extensive catalogue of tunes including "Belfast Blues," "Working Dog," "Johnny's Farewell," and "Goodbye Walker Percy." Singular yet far-reaching, showcasing the range of Williams' chops from bluesy picking to open tunings, jazzy melodies to traditional classics, and even some sultry slide guitar.
Download Brooks' Guitars
A high-energy up-beat recording of rootsy originals, bluesy classics, and finger-picked instrumentals featuring a stellar collection of special guests including Dave Mattacks (Richard Thompson, Rosanne Cash) on drums and Richard Gates (Suzanne Vega) on bass.
Download Time I Spend With You
An upbeat, twangy Christmas EP featuring Brooks’ classic-sounding “Shaking These Christmas Blues,” alongside a mandolin infused “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” and closing with an retro Gretsch guitar instrumental version of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.” Think cowboy bar band playing jazz and you’re just about there!
An EP-length collection of out-takes from the New Everything sessions. The seven tracks include "Going Away," "Winter Moon II," and "Are You Tired Of Me My Darling." Featuring Sam Sweeney on fiddle, Andy Seward on double bass, Keith Angel on drums, and Rowan Rheingans on banjo. A worthwhile little treat!
Download More New Everything EP
“Absolutely beyond criticism!” (fRoots)
Brooks kicked off the Crawley Blues Festival in November 2010 with a rockin' set of blues and originals. This EP-length CD captures all the locomotion of that train a-rollin' with his voice soaring above high-energy riffs and down-home grooves. Available as download only.
Download Live Blues EP
A collection of blues and folk classics.Released in 2006. Available for Download only.
Download Blues And Ballads
Live-solo recording, his first, featuring songs from a range of his albums released between 1992-2003. A good snap-shot of Brooks' "singer-songwriter" years.
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Moving beyond cowboy chords and strumming, this 90-minute teaching DVD focuses on moving chords, adding bass lines, funky rhythms and bluesy riffs.
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This teaching DVD is an introduction to the basics of blues guitar, including chord forms, rhythms and riffs. Featuring the basic shuffle groove in multiple keys, basic versions of "Statesboro Blues" and "Sweet Home Chicago," and even a bonus section on fingerpicking the country blues classic "Louis Collins."
Order from Woodhall Music
