Mixed By Joe Roesch & Vic Steffens
Matt "Guitar" Murphy's song writing and arrangements on this album encompass traditional blues, blues-rock, funk, country blues, be-bop and there's even a reggae tune. And, like his stage performances, Matt shares the limelight with his accomplished sidemen who include touring bandmates Howard Eldridge, Baron Raymonde, Eric Udel and his talented nephew, the incomparable Floyd Murphy, Jr., the son of Matt's brother-guitarist, Floyd Murphy, Sr.
For over 50 years, Matt "Guitar" Murphy has been setting the standard for guitarists in the recording studio and on the stage. Jeff Beck, in an interview on the "History of Rock and Roll" television documentary said that Matt "Guitar" Murphy was one of his main influences. This album demonstrates why Matt "Guitar" Murphy has been one of the most sought after guitarists since the 1950's. Veteran of countless hits on labels such as Atlantic, Chess, Modern, VJ, Strand and most recently, Universal Records and Roesch Records; Matt "Guitar" Murphy's versatile musicianship and clever songwriting shine brightly on this album.
The title song and master recording, The Blues Don't Bother Me, one of the eleven Matt Murphy original songs on this album, was recently licensed by Universal Records for the Blues Brothers 2000 Motion Picture Soundtrack which sold over 500,000 copies RIAA Certified Gold within 6 weeks of it's original release and is now going Platinum. The Blues Don't Bother Me has been Roesch Recordsā most successful record to date.
"An uplifting album." Paul Shaffer Bandleader of CBS David Letteman Show 8/98
"Thank heavens Matt "Guitar" Murphy stays true... He simply plays the music he has thrived on for almost 50 years. This release features 11 originals crafted to show-off Murphy's musical expertise... musical grooves from one of the true guitar innovators of American blues. " Art Tipaldi copyright Blues Revue Aug/Sept 1998 (www.bluesrevue.com)
"Once again, Roesch Records delivers a classy first rate modern blues album that will do much to drive home everything that's ever been said about Matt "Guitar" Murphy... a true star." Andy Grigg copyright Real Blues Magazine (www.realbluesmagazine.com)
"This writer recalls that at one time Buddy Guy named the two best guitarists in Chicago as the late Earl Hooker and Matt "Guitar" Murphy... only his second album as a leader, and shows off his awesome guitar skills, as well as his overlooked compositional talents, which covers considerable musical territory from straight musical shuffles to funk and bop instrumentals, and reggae-blues." Ron Weinstock copyright DCBlues Calender (www.dcblues.org)
"Matt combines a wide variety of influences into his blues...funk, soul, jazz, rock and even reggae are even incorporated into the pulsating mix that his band generate." Mick Rainsford Blues Gazette Fall 1996
