Mississippi MacDonald is an English soul-blues singer/songwriter/guitarist. A three-time UK Blues Awards nominee and three-time US Independent Blues Awards nominee.
“…represents the next generation of great guitarists who hail from the UK…wholly authentic, he’s earned the right to claim the name” Living Blues (US).
“Do Right Say Right” was the first album for APM Records, reaching no.1 on the IBBA album chart, no.7 on the US Living Blues chart, no. 1 on the RMR UK album chart. It was also Hard Rock Hell Radio Blues Album of the year, and in the top ten Albums of the Year for Rush On Rock, Blues In The South, (US) Kentucky Blues Society. Mojo magazine made it Blues album of the month in June 2022.
Having laid out his credentials on the first album MacDonald delivers a more intense experience with “Heavy State Loving Blues”. The new album progresses through the story of a bluesman up to no good (cheating, lying, out of control) who when that world falls apart, realises and admits what he’s done and subsequently atones. MacDonald wrote nine of the songs, with ‘Trouble Doing The Right Thing’, a song by Zack Logan, now given the Stax treatment.
The album is once again produced by Phil Dearing (Eliza Carthy, Gretchen Peters, Kris Drever, Laura Cantrell), and in MacDonald’s band now is legendary drummer Jim Kimberley (Mark Knopfler, Paul Young, Squeeze, Nick Harper).
As well as riffing like “…a fabulous Albert King circa his Stax days” (Blues Matters) MacDonald has a distinctive and powerful vocal delivery. On ‘Blind Leading The Blind’ this is perfectly matched by special guest vocalist Vaneese Thomas (sister of Carla, daughter of Rufus).
1. Howlin' Wolf
2. Heavy State Loving Blues
3. Blind Leading the Blind (Feat. Vaneese Thomas)
4. Heading South
5. (I Ain't Gonna) Lie No More
6. I've Been Searching
7. I'll Understand
8. Trouble Doing the Right Thing
9. The Devil Wants Repayment
10. Blues for Albert