Album Notes

"His vocals are gruff and matter-of-fact and his guitar work is completely blues approved.... Phelps proves a worth interpreter and torchbearer." Blues Revue Oct/Nov.2005

"Singer and guitarist Dan Phelps is from Illinois and has been making quite a hit in the UK with his vintage country blues stylings since he first toured here in 2004. This set shows that his following is justified, as he is far more than competent with a strong, percussive attack on steel guitar and powerful vocals, a wide-ranging repertoire of originals and classics from the likes of Blind Lemon, Gary Davis, Robert Johnson and Charley Patton, and an obvious enthusiasm for his material allied to his individual approach.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, he has been mentored by Catfish Keith, and fans of that slide maestro are recommended to check this out."

Norman Darwen, Blues and Rhythm Magazine

Dan Phelps is a native of Illinois who has been playing guitar professionally for over 18 years. Phelps does one-man shows singing and playing traditional, acoustic blues such as the Delta and slide styles of greats like Son House & Charley Patton as well as ragtime styles like Rev. Gary Davis & Blind Blake.

Phelps has opened for and shared bills with Bob Brozman, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Woody Mann, Mike Dowling, Pat Donohue, Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys and C.J. Chenier, among many others. While touring the UK in 2004, Phelps appeared on BBC 2's blues show, hosted by Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann & The Blues Band).

He again appeared on BBC 2 radio on April 28, 2005 on the Paul Jones show. It was his second appearance and interview with the highly acclaimed radio show in less than a year.

"Matchbox Blues" was produced & engineered by Roger Adler, a 4-time EMMY nominated composer/producer/performer, and recorded at Roger Adler Studios in Chicago.

"The goal was to capture Dan performing his unique and compelling style in all of its glory and grit- we got it just right," Adler said.

From finger picking on his Tony Revell custom Ragtime guitar to pounding out thundering chords on his National Reso-Rocket and Polychrome Baritone Tricone, Dan shows his range as an accomplished blues singer and player on this album.

The new album includes two original songs, "East Coast Woman" and "What I Won't Do for Love," as well as traditional blues songs such as the haunting "Rising High Water Blues," the tongue-in-cheek "I Was Afraid of That" (arranged for the album by Catfish Keith) and "She's Funny That Way" to the all-out foot-stomping version of Charley Patton's "Green River Blues." Through all of them, Dan shows his skills as an accomplished, polished guitarist.

Dan proudly endorses John Pearse strings and Diamond Bottlenecks slides.