This week on Blues With A Feeling, we’re celebrating one of the great modern bluesmen by going back to the album that set his long road in motion. Before the national tours, before the magazine features, before the decades of relentless gigging, there was Cool On It — the mid‑80s record where a young Tinsley Ellis stepped up to the microphone for the first time and showed the world exactly who he was becoming.

Recorded in Atlanta with The Heartfixers, Cool On It captures Ellis in full early flight: raw, hungry, and already playing with the conviction that would define his career. It’s the album that caught the ear of Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer and opened the door to a partnership that continues today — fitting, as Alligator celebrates its 55th anniversary this year.

And with Tinsley currently touring the world behind his latest release, Labour Of Love, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit the spark that lit the fuse.

Alongside the feature, we’re also rolling out 14 brand‑new releases — over an hour of the fresh blues, roots, soul, and Americana tracks from across the scene. From Robert Finley and Keb’ Mo’ to Hussy Hicks, Gina Coleman, Billy Price, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Mike Finnigan, Laura Chavez, Ruthie Foster and more, it’s a set packed with depth, colour, and discovery.

Join me for a show that looks back, steps forward, and celebrates the blues in all its forms. Cool On It isn’t just a chapter in Tinsley Ellis’ story — it’s the ignition point.