Bad Temper Joe - Glitter & Blues (12“ Vinyl, marmoriert, Gatefold, Download)

The purchase includes a digital download of the songs, which can be executed after purchase.

When it comes to blues in Germany, there is no way around Bad Temper Joe.
The grumpy blues bard from the East Westphalian countryside has become an exceptional figure on the blues scene in recent years. This is evident not only in the numerous albums with songs as raw as they are haunting that BTJ has released to date, but also in his win of the German Blues Challenge, as well as his nominations for various blues awards and the German Record Critics' Award. With a dedication to the old bluesmen from the Mississippi Delta, Bad Temper Joe effortlessly transports the often-declared-dead blues into the 21st century – and does so with everything that characterizes blues at its highest level: excellent songwriting, a strong sense of tradition, and captivating performances. BTJ is also making waves internationally. In 2020, he was the only European act to qualify for the finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, USA. The British Blues Matters Magazine concludes: “It's hard to believe that the sounds of the Mississippi Delta have relocated to Germany, but they have.”
With his new album "Glitter & Blues," the Bielefeld native presents a milestone in his musical development. Not only is the album characterized by BTJ's composing skills, which have matured over the years, but the twelve, mostly gently rhythmic, superbly recorded new pieces also demonstrate how intensively Bad Temper Joe engages with the traditions of blues, country, and folk for his art. He delves deeply into music history to transform what he discovers there and add his own unique stamp. True to the motto: "You can't conquer the world if there's nothing left to conquer." The blues doesn't need to be reinvented.
Its charm is best when played the way BTJ celebrates it on "Glitter & Blues": simple, honest, not too serious. In laments like "Fountain of Weakness," the musician knows how to translate depression into lyrics and music. "Two Trains (Runnin' Different Ways)" takes up the traditional image of the moving train without falling into clichés. The piece is a tribute to the greats of the genre, BTJ's heroes: Muddy Waters, Robert Wilkins, Elizabeth Cotton, Big Bill Broonzy. But despite all the oppressive heaviness and grumpiness that characterize the blues bard's appearance, "Glitter & Blues" also shows another side of BTJ: in songs that not only elicit a smile from the listener, but also from the otherwise cool, grumpy musician. While Bad Temper Joe's ballad-like epic "Cold Feet" moves you to tears, the upbeat "Pink Panther" and the carefree "This Time Last Night" invite you to dance. The blissful country song "All Over Again" has the potential to become a catchy tune. With the title track "Glitter & Blues," characterized by calm, deep vocals, and the growlingly humorous "If These Walls Could Talk," BTJ demonstrates the possibilities offered by the seemingly simple traditional blues forms—and the power and intensity they contain.
The Osnabrück-based record label Timezone will release Bad Temper Joe's eighth studio album, "Glitter & Blues," on CD and all digital platforms on November 25, 2022, and as a 2023" vinyl album in spring 12. For connoisseurs and lovers of the genre and the grumbler's discography, as well as for the curious and explorers, the album is an absolute must-have. "Glitter & Blues" should not be missing from any well-stocked collection and belongs on every blues-loving turntable.

Page A
01 Glitter & Blues
02 Cold Feet
03Pink Panther
04 Long Gone Friend Blues
05 She's Got a Hold on Me
06 Travel Light

Side B
01 All Over Again
02 Fountain of Weakness
03 Two Trains (Runnin' Different Ways)
04 If These Walls Could Talk
05 This Time Last Night
06 Who Are You