“A nice blend of blues, soul, and California rock on their sixth album….”

“Berkowitz’s Sunday Stroller has streaks of blues, swamp, and funk, all wrapped up in a radio-friendly 1970s California rock groove….”

“Pull on the Rope… opens with a growling gospel-tinged vocal by Lemons… The strong melody here provides a nice showcase for Lemons to display her soulful singing, and also gives Berkowitz a chance to display his strong Chicago-style harp chops….”

“A real treat… is guitarist Simon Govan Smith’s tasty guitar solo….”

“Another church vamp opens Don’t Let It Slip Away, with a horn chorus bracing Lemons’ soaring lead vocal….”

“The overall effect is a tight band augmented by talented guests….”

— Jim Trageser, Living Blues, January 2026

“I Believer Her (Because I Am Her), a gripping statement on childhood sexual abuse, was written by Lemons, who experienced it herself as a youth...the lyrics and her vocal performance are searing in their intensity…. Hopefully, Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz can keep it together long enough to entertain blues fans with even more of their wonderful music. Arrival is their best effort, their most personal and their most entertaining, with stellar performances by all involved.”

— Graham Clarke, Blues Bytes, Nov 2025

“Cathy continues her strong fumed blues incineration with I Believe Her (Because I Am Her), a great tune for the late Janis Joplin. This song is one of the best with more smoking harmonica & potent lead guitar. Phil has a nice tonality to his harmonica, & it’s consistent. Close to the energetic runs once made famous by the late Paul Butterfield. The duo successfully manages to stir their pints of blues with a spoonful of soul.

 — John Aspic, Nov 19, 2025, Americana Highways

Each is a singer of prime time talent, and while they can play blues until the sky turns green, what the group really does is find a way to sound like themselves. Cathy Lemons is funky as a chicken pen, but she also can put on her high-heel sneakers and go out walking tall. And so can Phil Berkowitz. He is the perfect complement to Lemons, and neither ever turns to anything but cool originality to get their feelings across.

— Bill Bentley, Americana Highways, Dec 2025

"Cathy Lemons’ voice is superb and full of nuances, while Phil Berkowitz’s harmonica sounds elegant and just right...a tasteful, perfectly developed recording, displayed with a remarkable class and performed with extreme conviction...."

— Vincent Zumel, La Hora Del Blues, Dec 2025

“Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz describe themselves as The Lucky Losers, but the San Francisco-couple duo strike gold every time they enter the recording studio. And they do it again on this all-original offering. It’s a blend of blues that packs a punch, humorous funk, ’60s soul and more. …Music with a message.

— Marty Gunther, Cincy Blues Society, Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for Nov 2025

“If you’re looking for fluff, best look elsewhere… My personal favorites on the album are the opener, S-C-A-M, and the closer, Ain’t The Marrying Kind, reminiscent of duets by Johnny and June Carter Cash. Those tunes alone are worth the price of the album.  One of the things I admire about The Lucky Losers is the fact that they wear their influences like badges of honor.  Elements of numerous past masters can be heard throughout the album.  I recommend it highly.”

—Bill Wilson, Reflections in Blue, Nov 2025

“Singer Cathy Lemons and harmonica player Phil Berkowitz form the core of the West Coast blues band The Lucky Losers and, together with guitarist, co-writer, and producer Kid Andersen, have now released their seventh (6th) album, Arrival (Mojo Records/MVD). Lemons’ slightly rough-edged blues voice never pushes too hard (as heard on Pull On The Rope), while Berkowitz plays his harmonica with fluid skill and great finesse. His style recalls the great Lee Oskar of WAR. The songs, only subtly inspired by the early ’70s sound, carry a timeless feel.

Andersen co-wrote several cleverly crafted tracks such as S-C-A-M with Lemons, while Berkowitz—who also harmonizes beautifully with Lemons as a vocalist—enjoys collaborating with guitarist Danny Caron on tunes like the sunny Sunday Stroller.

Arrival is a versatile yet distinctive album that captivates far beyond the first listen.“

– Ralf Deckert, Jazz Thing, January 29, 2026

“In just over forty-five minutes, The Lucky Losers present their vision of the blues—what they aim to express through their music—and their desire to do so freely and unhindered, without being limited by narrow ideas about what is or isn’t considered blues.”

— Jan Wolf, Blues Magazine, Netherlands, Dec 2025

“It took one song (S-C-A-M) for me to decide I couldn’t wait to hear a second song. It took the second song (Sunday Stroller) to convince me that this CD was going to stay in my player for quite a while. That was days ago, and I’ve been in a very productive, great mood in the meantime.”

— Jan Victor, Parcbench.live, Dec 2025

The two sing solo as well as together, creating rich harmonies, with Lemons out in front as she street preaches on S-C-A-M: and Berkowitz struts through Pull On The Rope. The two have a hoot of a time on Pig Iron Tough with the team getting folksy around Kid Anderson’s slide guitar on the back porch’d Ain’t The Marrying Kind. The whole album has that Memphis-STAX feel, making it so you can feel the sweat.

—George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly, Dec 11, 2025

“The title Arrival, The Lucky Losers explain, is quite literally meant to that they have ‘arrived’ at a new level of musicianship with this sixth album. Although the songs are rooted in classical blues, soul, and funk of the ’60s and ’70s, the album does not box itself into pure retro. Instead, new musical horizons open: ’70s-style funk blends with rock influences, and soulful grooves offer a new form of pop-infused blues. Even elements reminiscent of disco music appear — without ever drifting into pop clichés.

— Blues News Germany, Dec 2025 (Printed Magazine)

Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz aka The Lucky Losers have dropped an ear-friendly release that for the Blues novice will serve as a gateway into the genre, and for the forever fan a reminder that Blues remains an American classic that’s influenced every other surrounding genre.

— Bryant Liggett, The Alternate Root, Dec 2025

“Lucky Losers' sixth full-length is therefore solid stuff from start to finish. Few artists or bands are able to perform songs like this. They are polished and complex, but also addictive and musical. Arrival is a versatile enough album to offer something for every rhythm music listener.”

– Riku Metelinen, Blues News Netherlands, Dec 5, 2025

“Arrival is beautifully executed blues with plenty of soul and a taste for funk in many of the arrangements.  It’s also feeling like it should be on my year end best of 2025 list.”

– John Kereiff, The Rock Doctor’s Hot Wax Album Reviews, Nov 3. 2025

 “The Lucky Losers hold little back. This is one of the more expressive, personal blues albums heard recently. The carefully crafted Arrival will surely gain considerable airplay and acclaim.”

– Jim Hynes, Rock & Blues Muse, Nov 2025

“The emotional centerpiece, I Believe Her (Because I Am Her), is a slow Chicago blues that confronts the trauma of early sexual abuse with empathy and courage. Meanwhile, Sorry Brother and the soulful My Father’s Song—co-written with Caron—recall the spirit of Paul Butterfield’s Better Days era, when Amos Garrett and Geoff & Maria Muldaur joined in the mix. The album closes on a joyful note with Ain’t The Marrying Kind, a playful country-blues holler echoing Georges Brassens’ tongue-in-cheek “Non-Demande en Mariage” (‘The Non-Proposal of Marriage’)….Brimming with positivity, heart, and that unmistakable San Francisco groove, Arrival is a radiant return from The Lucky Losers—reminding us that good vibes never go out of style.”

— Patrick Dallongeville, Paris Move, Nov 2025

“All of that finely crafted personal songwriting sparks an album rich with human experience, enthusiastically delivered by Lemons and Berkowitz, flowing effortlessly through a variety of genres from folk to funk…The Lucky Losers are indeed arriving as talented winners in Arrival, with their thoughtful personal songwriting, engaging vocals and infectious musicality. Put them on your list for the new year!”

— Jim  White, Roadhouse, January 2, 2026

“San Francisco’s Lucky Losers have big shoulders. This six piece outfits sounds like a big band, Roomful of Blues with a big dollop of soul stirred in. Vocalist Cathy Lemons and harpist/vocalist Phil Berkowitz are responsible for the soul factor, with producer Kid Andersen adding some extra guitar mojo as he has done for the band’s last six studio outings…It’s a good blend that sounds rough at times but goes down easy and can be taken as often as needed as a feel good prescription for whatever ails you.”

— Grant Britt, Blues Music Magazine, Nov, 2025

“Lemons really digs in vocally on Pull On The Rope with some of her best vocals on the release. Smith grinds out a strong guitar intro and with Berkowitz on harmonica, Otis on drums, Gabriel on bass, Burns on keys and warm backing vocals, this is another strong track. Phil is up front on vocal and soulful harmonica on Sorry Brother. This track has a real slinky feel and Burn's key work coupled with the excellent percussion by Otis gives this track a dark, rich feel. Pig Iron Tough is funky blues with great backing vocals. Otis really shines on this track as does Andersen on keys and Berkowitz on harmonica and cool riffs by Andersen on guitar adds to the soul. Wrapping the release is laid back, country flavored, Ain't The Marrying Kind, featuring Lemons and Berkowitz trading vocals over Andersen on acoustic guitar and Berkowitz on harmonica. Solid closer for a real nice release.”

— Bman's Blues Report, Dec 2025

“Phil plays harmonica brilliantly, Cathy colors every song with her powerful voice, and the backing band provides the tonal richness that shapes the whole record.

 Some might say we’ve heard something similar from Delaney and Bonnie, and indeed, there is strong gospel soul in the spirit of the great Mavis Staples. This is an album reminiscent of classic Stax Volt R&B releases. All of that may be true—but one thing is certain: this is an unmistakably original work, and credit goes to everyone involved. That is yet another special quality of this soulful and intriguing album.

 Arrival is an excellent musical story about real, everyday life—about a reality that is far from rosy. The band takes us on an inspired journey through the stirring tones of modern blues, vintage R&B, and Americana.”

— Maden Loncar, PopRock, Croatia, Dec 2025

“If this was decades ago these songs, many of them, would have been blaring from radios and quickly climbing the charts…Their sound is special and unique, fired up with enormous amounts of passion, limitless soul, and unstoppable emotion…. Covering a lot of ground in just 47 minutes ‘The Lucky Losers’ Arrival is a cause for celebration. You have to appreciate a band whose artistry is uniquely their own.”

— John Muller - Blue Notes and Conversations, Nov 2025

“Sallie and the good folks at MoMojo Records recently added another client to their ever-growing A list of blues performers with the November 7th release of Arrival, the Lucky Losers! Led by the husband and wife duo of dynamite, pretty (if I may add), and soulful crooner Cathy Lemons with harmonica wiz and dazzling vocalist Phil Berkowitz, Arrival proves to be their strongest album yet. The Lucky Losers are more than a duo, as they are a complete band, recording again with guitarist Kid Andersen who produced this one from his own Greaseland Studios along with special guest picker Danny Caron.”

— Kyle Christen, The Low Down, October, 2025, Blue Monday Monthly Album Review (Printed Magazine)