[Cover photo credit to Elizabeth Searcy]

Eli Paperboy Reed is celebrating 20 years of making music with the re-release of his very first album, Sings Walkin’ And Talkin’ And Other Smash Hits. The set was originally recorded in a basement studio in Allston, Massachusetts, all live to analog tape, in mono, and pressed as a limited run of 300 CDs in 2005.

This self-released CD was mostly sold while Reed busked on the streets of Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass in his early 20s. The first disc of the newly remastered double LP reissue will contain the original tracks from the album, plus four additional tracks recorded the same December day in 2004. The single from the album “Stop Talking In Your Sleep (Radio Session)” is out now.

The second disc contains a session recorded for WHRB radio at Harvard University in 2005. The single deluxe CD will contain all of the songs featured on the deluxe LP. This deluxe set presents Reed’s beginnings in Boston by way of Mississippi and Chicago, playing his own interpretations of Blues, R&B and Gospel.

To further mark the milestone, Reed will be touring with a full band playing music from that first album in addition to his catalog.

ELI PAPERBOY REED 2025 EUROPEAN & AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES:

4/22 – Canteleu, France, Espace Culturel François Mitterrand (ECFM)

4/23 – La Roche-sur-Yon, France, Quai M

4/25 – Paris, France, La Maroquinerie

4/26 – Calais, France, La Halle

4/27 – Barcelona, Spain, Upload

4/29 – Madrid, Spain, Sala El Sol

5/1 – Roots and Roses 2025, Lessines, Belgium

5/2 – The Hague, Netherlands, Paard

5/3 – Moulin Blues Festival 2025, Moulin Blues Festival Grounds, Ospel, Netherlands

5/8 – Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Corner Hotel

5/9 – Castlemaine, VIC, Australia, Theatre Royal Castlemaine

5/10 – Canberra, ACT, Australia, The Baso

5/11 – Sydney, NSW, Australia, Metro Theatre

5/13 – Wollongong, NSW, Australia, Centro CBD – Sorrento Room

5/15 – 5/18 – Blues on Broadbeach 2025, Broadbeach, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

5/20 – Perth, WA, Australia, Perth Blues Club, Charles Hotel

5/22 – Fremantle, WA, Australia, Freo.Social

5/23 – Adelaide, SA, Australia, The Gov

5/24 – Queenscliff, VIC, Australia, Queenscliff Town Hall

5/25 – Meeniyan, VIC, Australia, Meeniyan Town Hall

6/8 – Goezot in’t Hofke 2025, Oud-Turnhout, Belgium

6/9 – Ribs And Blues Festival 2025, Raalte, Netherlands