Tinsley Ellis, long celebrated as one of the finest electric blues‑rock guitarists of his era, has in recent years also earned recognition as a leading acoustic blues performer, writer, and interpreter. His 2024 album Naked Truth — his first fully acoustic release — showcased this new side of his artistry. Mixing striking original material inspired by pioneers like Son House, Skip James, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters with a handful of reimagined classics, the album earned widespread praise and a Blues Music Award nomination. As No Depression noted, even with nothing more than Ellis and his acoustic guitars, the music carries the fire and spirit of the blues tradition. With his new album Labor Of Love, Ellis presents a raw, unfiltered collection of thirteen original songs, all self‑produced and delivered with emotional clarity. The material ranges from stories of natural disasters and personal struggle to songs steeped in folklore, spirituality, and Southern mystique. From the gritty opener “Hoodoo Woman” to the John Lee Hooker‑influenced pulse of “Long Time,” the haunting, Skip James‑styled “To A Hammer,” and the stomping Son House energy of “Sunnyland,” Ellis fully inhabits each performance.
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Kiss Of Death
Feelin’no pain
In From The Cold
Are You Sorry
I’ll Be Loving You
A Quitter Never Wins
Loving For Today
The Axe
To The Devil For A Dime
Surrender
Leave me
Stuck In Love
The Milky Way
