Bad Temper Joe - The Maddest of Them All: Curated Collection (CD)

When it comes to blues in Germany, there's no getting around Bad Temper Joe. The grumpy blues bard from the East Westphalian countryside has become an absolute standout in the blues scene in recent years. This is evidenced not only by the numerous albums with songs as raw as they are haunting that BTJ has released to date, but also by 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 the 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 make it to 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 "The Maddest of Them All: Curated Collection," Bad Temper Joe announces the release of a special reissue of his 2019 album via the Osnabrück-based record label Timezone. Originally released as a double album, the work consisted of 22 songs in two clearly separated parts: an acoustic part, in which BTJ presented his compositions alone and with minimal support from David Lübke on banjo, guitar, and vocals, and a predominantly electric part with a full band consisting of electric guitar, drums, bass, and harmonica. However, time has shown the Bielefeld singer, guitarist, and songwriter that listeners often focus on one of the two parts. "Some of my personal favorite pieces from both parts have been overlooked," says BTJ. With the "Curated Collection," a unified and coherent album has now been created.

created that combines the best of both parts, staying true to the original spirit of the album and presenting the songs that have become staples of Bad Temper Joe's live performances over the years.

"The Maddest of Them All: Curated Collection" impressively demonstrates the power, depth, and naturalness with which the blues bard was already composing at that time. This quality, enhanced by the support of his fellow musicians, makes the album one of his strongest works, even more than half a decade after its initial release. The carefully selected song selection lends it additional sophistication. This album should be in every Bad Temper Joe fan's collection and is also the ideal introduction for those still wanting to discover his music.

01 Hell's Gonna Fly
02 Waiting in Vain
03 Bury Me Anyplace but Mississippi
04 Cheap Beer & One Night Stands
05 Blues Never Stumbles
06 Postcards Ain't Enough
07 Races to Run
08 Our Love (For Livia)
09 Everything's Gonna Be Just Fine
10 My Favorite Things
11 Bad Gasoline
12 Rebel River Incident
13 Mind Over Matter
14 Highway Takes the Lonely