tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10624160285772623042024-03-11T11:44:53.225-05:00Friday Blues FixGrahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.comBlogger470125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-41266528846183564862024-01-26T00:01:00.003-06:002024-02-11T16:55:19.995-06:00Reading the Blues<p>Last year, I tried to catch up with my blues reading. I got tired of paying a lot of money to basically watch three channels on TV, so I turned off my cable and picked up a lot of books over the year, some of which I'm still reading. Here's a look at what we got into in 2023.</p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB6op2KCi_eeFM_GLxPUDx5Ay1uQwqO1kv1DLKv6CUpAN0edPBVPa2iaCuN6-4Uy1l13QVsuB6O5kVuD9zGS5dzGMPiO93TetHjfiwfelaWq0qUiSaW8Fk5xXv2B93ljLY7lp4BqYWvSRpXppHtAjjNJuoPxNvCvZsgpWxT7c5Dxu67QGjwZk9RaimgwD/s445/51NGLygUCLL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB6op2KCi_eeFM_GLxPUDx5Ay1uQwqO1kv1DLKv6CUpAN0edPBVPa2iaCuN6-4Uy1l13QVsuB6O5kVuD9zGS5dzGMPiO93TetHjfiwfelaWq0qUiSaW8Fk5xXv2B93ljLY7lp4BqYWvSRpXppHtAjjNJuoPxNvCvZsgpWxT7c5Dxu67QGjwZk9RaimgwD/w133-h200/51NGLygUCLL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="133" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/King-Blues-Rise-Reign-B-B/dp/0802158056/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707691590&sr=8-2">King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King</a></u> - Daniel DeVise: I'd heard some mixed reviews about this one, but it was actually a pretty compelling read. DeVise covers the entirety of King's life, from his humble beginnings across the Mississippi Delta to his migration to Memphis and his eventual recording and performing success to his six-decade reign as the King of the Blues. The author dug deep with interviews with family and friends and was not afraid to look at the man's faults as well as his great qualities, and also goes into the chaos and controversy regarding King's final days and the sordid aftermath. I also learned more about King than I was expecting to learn with this book, which is always a cool thing.<p></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGG9xBolZgkeP2GOjinegv9h_v4uEmkws6yC9B-PcCkU9t4jkftge-rcXCHrWB3n5twVyWpGSCtUI0c6RmpVmVIUqC_e1YqPgxEuE25Rzcx8u5PGXKDprxVJidxXhRpDF22gpYe4V_Xug2r5CIYbdLfqlqp0amtPJPG2-ZPTKHcIibZQECJtFK0wl_MQov/s1500/81ryr+fnv2L._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGG9xBolZgkeP2GOjinegv9h_v4uEmkws6yC9B-PcCkU9t4jkftge-rcXCHrWB3n5twVyWpGSCtUI0c6RmpVmVIUqC_e1YqPgxEuE25Rzcx8u5PGXKDprxVJidxXhRpDF22gpYe4V_Xug2r5CIYbdLfqlqp0amtPJPG2-ZPTKHcIibZQECJtFK0wl_MQov/w133-h200/81ryr+fnv2L._SL1500_.jpg" width="133" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Making-Tracks-Producers-Southern-American/dp/1496839153/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707691660&sr=8-1">Making Tracks: A Record Producer's Southern Roots Music Journey</a></u> - Scott Billington: When I first jumped into the blues, I bought a lot of great albums from Rounder Records and Scott Billington produced an awful lot of those albums. He not only produced blues recordings, but also numerous Zydeco releases, and a ton of New Orleans R&B. Billington talks about his beginnings and how he ended up in the music business, but he also shares fascinating stories about many of the artists he produced. I was amazed at how many of these albums I own and it was a lot of fun to hear some "behind the scenes" stories about the records and the musicians. If you listened to a lot of these artists, you will want to read this. If you don't know these artists or records, you will want to hear them when you finish this book.<p></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh08R1vSwjdViav5cpx9G4cAxKCE4kS9DwFpLioeUuM29Yv3AkNXguR-d6sS0mcgnDGF1jw2YEnaKRzPRVXU2zNV6a1rtFq9a5N8qNH2XIyUEaA7APLILnXQ3MiRWg590AmzSV-ouCQh11M-QeWEHgDJnfkyLbp_ObCLsXEN9dij4Lb3hNKaeh8cVgb4X/s1000/61usUsVea1L._SL1000_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh08R1vSwjdViav5cpx9G4cAxKCE4kS9DwFpLioeUuM29Yv3AkNXguR-d6sS0mcgnDGF1jw2YEnaKRzPRVXU2zNV6a1rtFq9a5N8qNH2XIyUEaA7APLILnXQ3MiRWg590AmzSV-ouCQh11M-QeWEHgDJnfkyLbp_ObCLsXEN9dij4Lb3hNKaeh8cVgb4X/w133-h200/61usUsVea1L._SL1000_.jpg" width="133" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Up-Jumped-Devil-Robert-Johnson/dp/1641600942/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707691701&sr=8-1">Up Jumped The Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson</a></u> - Bruce Conforth: If you're looking for the definitive story about the mysterious blues man, look no further. I was totally absorbed in this book. Sure, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about Johnson's life, his travels, and his mysterious death, but Conforth covers it as extensively as anyone else has, or maybe ever will. Anyone who has any interest in Robert Johnson at all, and if you dig the blues, you have to have some interest, needs to read this book. And when you get done reading this one, you need to read the one below......<p></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIhYbtWNK9wkQxT86Kzl0z081hUZ_xQlhO-HKKjqmnhY9iy0MuAUIV2zGfbyvreukA08z4pmXPm3_xHiPsX-SiQGcrQEY6no7LVtOZYV_h0rMmc5Kpcyw_kPUap3ugvNrLbUX_peyWAOjdYgplYkKW8ObSAosc12cdw2ZGYvVKy9ts3rukjraiHzAD4wz/s1500/710yNMdIcLL._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="992" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIhYbtWNK9wkQxT86Kzl0z081hUZ_xQlhO-HKKjqmnhY9iy0MuAUIV2zGfbyvreukA08z4pmXPm3_xHiPsX-SiQGcrQEY6no7LVtOZYV_h0rMmc5Kpcyw_kPUap3ugvNrLbUX_peyWAOjdYgplYkKW8ObSAosc12cdw2ZGYvVKy9ts3rukjraiHzAD4wz/w133-h200/710yNMdIcLL._SL1500_.jpg" width="133" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Robert-Growing-Up-Johnson/dp/0306845261/ref=pd_bxgy_img_d_sccl_1/135-1152556-4857745?pd_rd_w=fbbwf&content-id=amzn1.sym.3bab075c-1a14-40c5-9538-32fa6dff1246&pf_rd_p=3bab075c-1a14-40c5-9538-32fa6dff1246&pf_rd_r=0ZC4QKPK9VVSYXD9F1NH&pd_rd_wg=RqSbV&pd_rd_r=efd1394e-a416-4134-a455-47a49e1022bb&pd_rd_i=0306845261&psc=1">Brother Robert: Growing Up With Robert Johnson</a></u> - Annye C. Anderson with Preston Lauterbach: I heard Ms. Anderson on the Last Fair Deal: The Robert Johnson Podcast. She was interviewed by hosts Lauterbach and Elijah Wald. As you're probably aware, Ms. Anderson was Johnson's half sister and the last living person who knew Johnson well. They were very close during her younger years and she shares some nice stories about Johnson away from the music and around his family, painting a more complete picture of Johnson. It also goes into what happened after Johnson's death and how the family was taken advantage of by several who benefitted financially instead of the family. By the way, Ms. Anderson proudly displays the third photo of Johnson on the cover and reportedly has a fourth photo that she's saving for a future book<p></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sJLsJPNWkbps9MdiMlHw674CNKGjJ43fkqxBjNlGI6LIF2o3zGlc5nZQGnqgUNw3LbICAG4xkVt89hK4x3BdlbDk9Y-6mzW_6e-N78-iz5uCYRk8zZE-phvBU6pFuJb2JOnZQnxODjejXkRiRM8AWgUcZZCjgqX8u29m6tsm3EC5ZazQb8OOzyk7_1aJ/s1280/61VrIaALkiL._SL1280_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="848" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sJLsJPNWkbps9MdiMlHw674CNKGjJ43fkqxBjNlGI6LIF2o3zGlc5nZQGnqgUNw3LbICAG4xkVt89hK4x3BdlbDk9Y-6mzW_6e-N78-iz5uCYRk8zZE-phvBU6pFuJb2JOnZQnxODjejXkRiRM8AWgUcZZCjgqX8u29m6tsm3EC5ZazQb8OOzyk7_1aJ/w133-h200/61VrIaALkiL._SL1280_.jpg" width="133" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blues-Arnold-Chicago-Visions-Revisions/dp/022680920X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707691785&sr=1-1">The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold</a></u> - Billy Boy Arnold with Kim Field: I really enjoyed reading Arnold's story. His memory and attention to detail is incredible and he tells so many stories about so many blues artists of the 40's, 50's, 60's, etc....all the way up to the current day. The 88-year-old Arnold is still active on the music scene, having recently signed with Delmark Records, and truly hasn't lost an inch off his fastball over his nearly 70-year career. His honesty, good humor, and vivid recollections make this one a must-read, especially for Chicago blues fans. I have to admit that I read this one faster than any of the other books....the stories were just riveting and always entertaining.<p></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqQjIRVCQZC-dCGVgvDe8y4N0m7guCVtw5TlOzdarx_8Iwp5fJ4312aTsBpvXzk3I5-YpDPQjjGH0nWlr4cI9nVLESBSQsRaFZjsxICdDbYULPPqeXYoEI32G8wUXOwoVYxJYjRq3weSY2PtXXojYeDCjxtjRwu4KzVMnFjYIFV-j70FHBl2wUiESNvTW/s1500/917T-vxwpkL._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="986" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqQjIRVCQZC-dCGVgvDe8y4N0m7guCVtw5TlOzdarx_8Iwp5fJ4312aTsBpvXzk3I5-YpDPQjjGH0nWlr4cI9nVLESBSQsRaFZjsxICdDbYULPPqeXYoEI32G8wUXOwoVYxJYjRq3weSY2PtXXojYeDCjxtjRwu4KzVMnFjYIFV-j70FHBl2wUiESNvTW/w131-h200/917T-vxwpkL._SL1500_.jpg" width="131" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Sisters-Allman-Inside-Defined/dp/1250282691/ref=sr_1_1?crid=43MA9AMN6MJ2&keywords=brothers+and+sisters+allman+brothers+book&qid=1707691837&s=books&sprefix=Brothers+and+Sisters+Allman%2Cstripbooks%2C146&sr=1-1">Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the 70's</a></u> - Alan Paul: The Allman Brothers Band encompasses a lot of musical styles, but their roots are firmly entrenched in the blues mixed with rock n' roll, country, jazz, and soul. They came to define southern rock, but truthfully, no one else really sounded like them when they hit the scene. This book takes a look at the band after the sudden death of Duane Allman and, later Berry Oakley, and their return from the emotional abyss, and subsequent rebound to their greatest success and their inevitable downfall. Maybe not every blues fans' cup of tea, but it fills in a few blanks regarding this often-overlooked era of the band's lifetime.<p></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo889_hP9sG829-RV-hZ2iwtIAb_WBkFfjWvUA6xKw58g6cf1hyphenhyphen6MBmgnN0YpzF0o_tNCYzdc8TpawILkl4gpnZzK0uKPVCK1DTfOJv09hLt2la6K1exNVT9IdN9vmF5ZG7x46zylqM4Mn9PMh9XFeC_D1N3UxsK1DMYDk2vXBCdurX9c3yqO5-rp6krTT/s1360/71gvUPMg8PS._SL1360_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="882" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo889_hP9sG829-RV-hZ2iwtIAb_WBkFfjWvUA6xKw58g6cf1hyphenhyphen6MBmgnN0YpzF0o_tNCYzdc8TpawILkl4gpnZzK0uKPVCK1DTfOJv09hLt2la6K1exNVT9IdN9vmF5ZG7x46zylqM4Mn9PMh9XFeC_D1N3UxsK1DMYDk2vXBCdurX9c3yqO5-rp6krTT/w130-h200/71gvUPMg8PS._SL1360_.jpg" width="130" /></a></u></div><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Be-Satisfied-Times-Waters/dp/0316164941/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TYA2TMIBCKJT&keywords=Muddy+Waters+Robert+Gordon&qid=1707691889&s=books&sprefix=muddy+waters+robert+gordon%2Cstripbooks%2C151&sr=1-1">Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters</a></u> - Robert Gordon: Yes, this is an older book that I recently picked up, but I'm a huge Robert Gordon fan, not to mention a huge Muddy Water fan, so I decided to check it out. Currently, I'm about halfway through it and I've been surprised at how little I know about this legendary artist. I will provide more details when I finish reading, so stay tuned....<p></p><p>What have you been reading? I'd love to hear about it and, hopefully, find more suggestions for reading. </p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-46654775315164455492024-01-05T00:01:00.002-06:002024-03-03T21:45:18.992-06:00In Memoriam: 2023 Blues Deaths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynEctFpX8MXHFYYz0WWtXHAglFS1MLkMkBv3Se2USyScwsMy_BIAVeHOaSLQBFWWQGPVWcWbsB1r1PJ9QOVvdfx2hiG4CspCaj3i18m2y5nSMqJjbGeNpLo_9H3EtvaczAmlOYuk9fQN2JiZrI3QduUjr_dxsG3skFRqvj9YFWLA_-5Z41BoyHSdwabTU/s1024/In-Memoriam_announcement.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynEctFpX8MXHFYYz0WWtXHAglFS1MLkMkBv3Se2USyScwsMy_BIAVeHOaSLQBFWWQGPVWcWbsB1r1PJ9QOVvdfx2hiG4CspCaj3i18m2y5nSMqJjbGeNpLo_9H3EtvaczAmlOYuk9fQN2JiZrI3QduUjr_dxsG3skFRqvj9YFWLA_-5Z41BoyHSdwabTU/w400-h225/In-Memoriam_announcement.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Friday Blues Fix pays tribute to those blues people who passed away in 2023. It doesn't seem like we lost as many as in previous years, but there are some significant names here. These are all the names I was able to come up with who passed away last year, but if anyone knows of any others, please let me know in the comments and I will add them to the list as we go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><p>Jeff Beck – British blues-rock guitarist</p><p>Huey “Piano” Smith – New Orleans R&B pioneer</p><p>Butch Mudbone – Native American bluesman</p><p>Thomasina Winslow – New York blues performer</p><p>Arthur Lee Williams – Chicago harmonica master</p><p>Barrett Strong - R&B singer/songwriter</p><p>Billy “The Kid” Emerson – Memphis blues/rockabilly performer</p><p>Peggy Scott-Adams – Soul-blues singer</p><p>Peter “Chuck” Badie – New Orleans blues/jazz bassist</p><p>Chris Johnson – Founder of Deep Blues Festival</p><p>Toussaint McCall - Louisiana R&B singer</p><p>Eddie Lee Rolling – Clarksdale, MS-based songwriter</p><p>Michael Rhodes - Session bassist (toured with Joe Bonamassa) </p><p>Pete Whelen – Publisher/editor of 78 Quarterly magazine</p><p>Smilin’ Bobby Smith – Chicago-based singer/guitarist</p><p>Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry – Mississippi singer/guitarist</p><p>Tina Turner - Blues/rock/R&B/soul singer</p><p>Jean Knight - R&B/soul singer</p><p>Myles Goodwyn - Singer/guitarist/songwriter</p><p>Clarence Avant - Music executive "The Godfather of Black Music"</p><p>Chris Strachwitz – Arhoolie Records founder</p><p>James Yancy “Tail Dragger” Jones – Chicago bluesman</p><p>Willie "The Touch" Hays – Chicago drummer (B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam)</p><p>D.C. Bellamy – Kansas City bluesman</p><p>R.L. Boyce – Mississippi Hill Country bluesman</p><p>Greg “Fingers” Taylor – Mississippi singer/harmonica/keyboard player</p><p>Tommy Talton - Guitarist (Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band, Clarence Carter)</p><p>Red Paden - Owner, Red's Lounge (Clarksdale, MS)</p><p>Nikki Armstrong - Singer/songwriter/dancer/actress/DJ</p><p><br /></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-56623581852976356832023-12-22T00:01:00.015-06:002023-12-24T23:51:49.481-06:00Friday Blues Fix's Top Ten Albums for 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_J1sU4iR17_64GsIFQgZGrO-pV7Q3YlpucfQ8eZ8XfLMXSMm4FiIn0Ky9gO9fuQMMPhl_MxnCCvF3c6bGcenhLcPv0LBuw0hZOdYZZvYKL9cDa3jSWXEqEBrR2VPIvve1ygWDpg-kOsFFFbNzHDiR3qTYigEO6R86Iq61gb9xLP6y4y-mwn48oc1mcOY/s612/istockphoto-1353063576-612x612.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="612" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_J1sU4iR17_64GsIFQgZGrO-pV7Q3YlpucfQ8eZ8XfLMXSMm4FiIn0Ky9gO9fuQMMPhl_MxnCCvF3c6bGcenhLcPv0LBuw0hZOdYZZvYKL9cDa3jSWXEqEBrR2VPIvve1ygWDpg-kOsFFFbNzHDiR3qTYigEO6R86Iq61gb9xLP6y4y-mwn48oc1mcOY/s320/istockphoto-1353063576-612x612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I apologize for the lack of posts this year. Things happen and life gets busy and from the looks of things, most people haven't missed it that much. That's my fault, of course, because when you have gaps in your posts, people stopped dropping by and tend to forget about it, which is most likely the case here. I would love to post more than I do, but it's been hard to get back in the routine. Will 2024 be different? I certainly hope so, but we'll see.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, there were a lot of great new releases in 2023 from a lot of new faces and a few familiar ones as well. We are compiling our favorites at Blues Bytes and there were just so many noteworthy releases that we just decided to do a Top 20 list, which was hard enough to do, but I've decided to condense my list to a Top 10 list for the blog. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I realize that a lot of listeners don't really focus on albums anymore, preferring to download their favorites to the listening device of their choice, but please keep in mind that blues artists receive very little compensation for downloads at all, almost negligible funds from these services, which is very frustrating. It greatly benefits them if you actually buy their albums and go see them perform in person, so do yourselves a favor and check out some of these releases (you'll be glad you did) and check these folks out in person if you can.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Without further ado, let's check out....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friday Blues Fix's Top 10 Albums for 2023!!!</b> </span>(in alphabetical order)</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s6_mX0KZgS2N1U3EvvjMGaZt9RYzUZ-j_zo7LOyhlQU-eG_1ap1gF6HnNdOOG7QiwsVTCpnhX6UM24yMfOSjxaW_dkL5q_-2LLOhKMUjRyDt_EZUYsJndFSZOPHUt8ADi7D8g6aaNeTx_297mGV6HRptVSnhiQhpzDl-AHXQ9bjNq3Ich_BDyErCSlvy/s700/a0245814020_16.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s6_mX0KZgS2N1U3EvvjMGaZt9RYzUZ-j_zo7LOyhlQU-eG_1ap1gF6HnNdOOG7QiwsVTCpnhX6UM24yMfOSjxaW_dkL5q_-2LLOhKMUjRyDt_EZUYsJndFSZOPHUt8ADi7D8g6aaNeTx_297mGV6HRptVSnhiQhpzDl-AHXQ9bjNq3Ich_BDyErCSlvy/w200-h200/a0245814020_16.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Dig 3</b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – </span><i>Damn The Rent</i> (no label):
This is a great set of blues and roots tunes, traditional with an eye
toward the contemporary and always a lot of fun. This is a side project for these gentlemen, but it would be fine if it became a regular occurrence.<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VckULt_4fl8CUla8lTV3PiXpL3vnxfwUiPFqRdpfyucbDACT10w3ENsVMLvPp99gIT1UhG6i1acY7jg7wjPKUv5BfiF5-yH0t4B53cZVnxVakazuuofWVjGK2wxxILkJ4Lv0_uLgouMSUiHi2MKMRpsUW6ja_rpWjjEm1PCTLf8yCjqIp2PoLGuP-P9C/s355/41nWQaN+rfL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VckULt_4fl8CUla8lTV3PiXpL3vnxfwUiPFqRdpfyucbDACT10w3ENsVMLvPp99gIT1UhG6i1acY7jg7wjPKUv5BfiF5-yH0t4B53cZVnxVakazuuofWVjGK2wxxILkJ4Lv0_uLgouMSUiHi2MKMRpsUW6ja_rpWjjEm1PCTLf8yCjqIp2PoLGuP-P9C/w200-h200/41nWQaN+rfL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>D.K. Harrell</b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – </span><i>The Right Man</i> (Little Village Foundation): This year, more than any, has given me
encouragement that the future of the blues is in the best hands possible. Young
Mr. Harrell’s release just blew my socks off earlier this year, and there were
so many other good ones to follow this year from the younger generation. It's an amazingly assured album from such a young talent.<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eRNmDqIJKN4tgDVWw_sm4VVOu11L70fmiP9DSzJOMqaei_dToAVhb-QkENEF5mWCvWyLP0A_OU86cV5jYcjP22h1D9_jz2HMZNUA5m76jXTrcM00vJ6ldPXqjdqsKbk1ro3NRL1zqNJN6urClvQwIz7o68Qem1k994vdQFn4zptlgqu6QGlxZzekt8Ux/s450/hudspethandtaylorcd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eRNmDqIJKN4tgDVWw_sm4VVOu11L70fmiP9DSzJOMqaei_dToAVhb-QkENEF5mWCvWyLP0A_OU86cV5jYcjP22h1D9_jz2HMZNUA5m76jXTrcM00vJ6ldPXqjdqsKbk1ro3NRL1zqNJN6urClvQwIz7o68Qem1k994vdQFn4zptlgqu6QGlxZzekt8Ux/w200-h200/hudspethandtaylorcd.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Hudspeth & Taylor</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>Ridin’ The Blinds</i> (Hudtone Records): A wonderful tribute from two top notch Kansas City bluesmen to early, pre-war blues
that gives the classic songs a fresh, updated feel and will have you revisiting the originals.<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-YPkHznMklKIlq9Ut99sBNso9IGot_mfgtpmmEUSfxPSADt5sOI1ykCeKqIaiQGnzsp2b7c04_mG7NBbnHp_UTVlz-NTiDNNMOY11ebeQNl_Gvql-7MVOt-Nc_CD0N4uaB5MkXDDsmi_BfxIHbvVYSNvELan_2cP9GGWhJXRiZdDDeejLnVMhyQBuYYF/s765/Crop-CKIngram-5015CDcover-copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="765" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-YPkHznMklKIlq9Ut99sBNso9IGot_mfgtpmmEUSfxPSADt5sOI1ykCeKqIaiQGnzsp2b7c04_mG7NBbnHp_UTVlz-NTiDNNMOY11ebeQNl_Gvql-7MVOt-Nc_CD0N4uaB5MkXDDsmi_BfxIHbvVYSNvELan_2cP9GGWhJXRiZdDDeejLnVMhyQBuYYF/w200-h200/Crop-CKIngram-5015CDcover-copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Christione “Kingfish” Ingram</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>Live In London</i> (Alligator Records): Much as I enjoyed his first two studio
efforts, the best way to hear Kingfish is to hear him live, as in this stunning
set of houserocking blues….don’t pass this one by.<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns91Qmm9wduBgZB-WWKSaBKshsQOmb8yBaH4fK6MOCsGdiqRJsP_3ko9QFT19SH3FvNIqYxDLtgRtawHHJJK_yySVWpUBjzeCbQOyiDFL8d_t7gGcvkTpMUNNFVIwjJAD92-CHeO4lXdx1_4ULeasP26y3_SN9kiyBRxK9MDh7k_KjkbGGb9PhKnreVcq/s450/candiceivorycd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns91Qmm9wduBgZB-WWKSaBKshsQOmb8yBaH4fK6MOCsGdiqRJsP_3ko9QFT19SH3FvNIqYxDLtgRtawHHJJK_yySVWpUBjzeCbQOyiDFL8d_t7gGcvkTpMUNNFVIwjJAD92-CHeO4lXdx1_4ULeasP26y3_SN9kiyBRxK9MDh7k_KjkbGGb9PhKnreVcq/w200-h200/candiceivorycd.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Candice Ivory</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>When The Levee Breaks – The Music of Memphis Minnie</i>
(Little Village Foundation): Memphis
Minnie was one of the true pioneers of the blues, and Ms. Ivory’s breathtaking tribute to
her music should introduce the blues legend to a whole new generation of
listeners.<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xg08oMRes6WINkqnkI6wYjXqiL6G45ugZ9xcJ1nwEut6auPwx2zAAI2ei7BKGE_3mdxP30bJ4HTVUiSvB8KSDSa0DpbKk8GYVoxAm2bt1fxMvEnfM1QVdaA_RpxnIv8yy1HUwEjm7vqtEZIKKrYQ4DqaOeIlrpcddh_u4LnGWloSzL7hLWAWpHIqTaX4/s450/davekellercd.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xg08oMRes6WINkqnkI6wYjXqiL6G45ugZ9xcJ1nwEut6auPwx2zAAI2ei7BKGE_3mdxP30bJ4HTVUiSvB8KSDSa0DpbKk8GYVoxAm2bt1fxMvEnfM1QVdaA_RpxnIv8yy1HUwEjm7vqtEZIKKrYQ4DqaOeIlrpcddh_u4LnGWloSzL7hLWAWpHIqTaX4/w200-h200/davekellercd.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Dave Keller</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>It’s Time To Shine</i> (Tastee-Tone Records): A retreat to a cabin in the Adirondacks with
his band produced one of Keller’s finest albums of soul and blues.....maybe his best batch of original tunes yet!<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7pKRBCVDnAWjMiZTxUIDlD6QntU8RPEy80QTfIQoUOts8SChI1-AuDc7grRnuKtxx5tRyJ4xQh3_S2wksuyM2wAnE_euffawdZAd-bVBQs1xwzqFTVeu96JkbM6lqNTrRLlSmfzaKHlv8UdooYsau4ky2eonqfGE0ZPRG75PLhMfvt1UYMEwbfbTmLys/s450/joekrowncd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7pKRBCVDnAWjMiZTxUIDlD6QntU8RPEy80QTfIQoUOts8SChI1-AuDc7grRnuKtxx5tRyJ4xQh3_S2wksuyM2wAnE_euffawdZAd-bVBQs1xwzqFTVeu96JkbM6lqNTrRLlSmfzaKHlv8UdooYsau4ky2eonqfGE0ZPRG75PLhMfvt1UYMEwbfbTmLys/w200-h200/joekrowncd.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Joe Krown</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>Tribute</i> (Sledgehammer Records):
I heard this album around the time Jazz Fest rolled around and it
brought back such great memories…..just a really fun disc for any fan of New
Orleans music with guest appearances from Leo Nocentelli, Ivan Neville, Jason Ricci, Noah Hunt, and Walter "Wolfman" Washington (his last studio recording).<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMkj_FoqqFZuZ6lQlg_-4mqqdsbJpCBgOKFdDIp6IDOFLRKKfmmCbj4YeUVLDzWz9dhyqZNsX2x5R70W83rT2_Ebvf1m9Kxqrln9hrEYk3y_ephHIKo1I7adT9ad_eXUO3pYs4nXb931bO_CV6r3UyFlkzp1DUGOzMyCkd15zDKge8pnaYlyYFUvYGZmY/s451/stanmosleycd.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMkj_FoqqFZuZ6lQlg_-4mqqdsbJpCBgOKFdDIp6IDOFLRKKfmmCbj4YeUVLDzWz9dhyqZNsX2x5R70W83rT2_Ebvf1m9Kxqrln9hrEYk3y_ephHIKo1I7adT9ad_eXUO3pYs4nXb931bO_CV6r3UyFlkzp1DUGOzMyCkd15zDKge8pnaYlyYFUvYGZmY/w200-h200/stanmosleycd.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Stan Mosley</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>No Soul, No Blues</i> (Dialtone Records): An incredible release that really took me by
surprise…Mosley shows he’s got PLENTY of soul and PLENTY of blues in his
repertoire. Soul and blues fans must track this album down!</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8F8SfKO3DhueEeK9UlsKTu5TXFLucD7cOWn6BOdr7uvKX0HTlLkTkHQxYvLWo6X45cM7iyIosB-rPL6qa1YvLjx_hbUUvYILpsZsI8Ib9cdcItJzVXSS2vFDrKJOYIQBwWtBCvh0QMFVM6EWca4i8rNjl-WVOIfc6Ggaf80g62s6chIr2seGsTol1fmH/s450/johnprimercd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="450" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8F8SfKO3DhueEeK9UlsKTu5TXFLucD7cOWn6BOdr7uvKX0HTlLkTkHQxYvLWo6X45cM7iyIosB-rPL6qa1YvLjx_hbUUvYILpsZsI8Ib9cdcItJzVXSS2vFDrKJOYIQBwWtBCvh0QMFVM6EWca4i8rNjl-WVOIfc6Ggaf80g62s6chIr2seGsTol1fmH/w200-h184/johnprimercd.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">John Primer</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>Teardrops for Magic Slim</i> (Blues House Productions): Primer’s tribute to his former employer is
obviously a labor of love and sounds great from start to finish, recorded live at Rosa's Lounge in Chicago.<o:p style="font-size: 10pt;"></o:p></span></span><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbQmlbz8xKX_0PSxWyuUx-pTqJOLnblkMyFWAURSYKNJoFh_wXuwXZ6H0zbWHNgUmAa-4FHc-Xt0gjDLs7rPSu5o1I_m2eWB_3Z8XTIBOS4AyaQI2po2sumR4oNcFGMUG_9N6UWEuGAGK8MMLcbElmOQd491q6MjRHjOCcGNhZgr6yZLrSLwaHcHggt1s/s765/Crop-Walter-Wolfman-Washington.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="765" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbQmlbz8xKX_0PSxWyuUx-pTqJOLnblkMyFWAURSYKNJoFh_wXuwXZ6H0zbWHNgUmAa-4FHc-Xt0gjDLs7rPSu5o1I_m2eWB_3Z8XTIBOS4AyaQI2po2sumR4oNcFGMUG_9N6UWEuGAGK8MMLcbElmOQd491q6MjRHjOCcGNhZgr6yZLrSLwaHcHggt1s/w200-h200/Crop-Walter-Wolfman-Washington.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Walter “Wolfman” Washington</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – <i>Feel So At Home</i> (Tipitina’s Record Club): Washington’s final album, completed a few
months before he passed away, follows the path of his previous effort,
but leans more toward the blues. While he's missed a lot, he left us with a lot of wonderful music.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trust me when I say my next ten are just as good as these ten.....it was a tough task separating them. You can see my next 10 with the other reviewers' Top 20 albums in the January issue of Blues Bytes in a few weeks.</span></p><br /><p></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-67676070649662627982023-08-04T00:01:00.033-05:002023-08-14T15:49:27.658-05:00Black Prairie Blues<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0xlnVMXNLd-zvkRwOwqxM1F5-d7LOSjQRBIPsGs3xXfBjksGRgCy5q3dgT6lVMG0znWGjYZO96DTIdZcu_RfSc3SQA4LQ3mv8ILdQRFhEmMsPRi-NHk53bzBAy9SBAz9-UsusQV6-8HyuuOoBzxfW1Ddkg44fj0ZfCB3-UPA__aYYDvSDCjOqJiP3EQi/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6649.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0xlnVMXNLd-zvkRwOwqxM1F5-d7LOSjQRBIPsGs3xXfBjksGRgCy5q3dgT6lVMG0znWGjYZO96DTIdZcu_RfSc3SQA4LQ3mv8ILdQRFhEmMsPRi-NHk53bzBAy9SBAz9-UsusQV6-8HyuuOoBzxfW1Ddkg44fj0ZfCB3-UPA__aYYDvSDCjOqJiP3EQi/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_6649.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>A couple of years ago, I started tracking down some information about the blues that originated on the eastern side of Mississippi. I had gone up toward West Point with the intention of checking out the Howlin' Wolf Museum, along with the statue near the middle of town next to the Blues Marker. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get in the museum that weekend, so I planned to revisit it in the future since my daughter and her husband reside in Tupelo.<p></p><p>I posted about my visit up that way and got some feedback from a few people, who took the time to enlighten me on just how much great blues music came from northeastern Mississippi and northwestern Alabama. I am still in the process of digging into this huge source of music that I had previously took for granted and I hope to, in a future post, provide more information for those unfamiliar.....I just don't want to do it until I feel like I've got it covered pretty well.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM5LuVshjUZDc7r5-krBdls-k2gi07zkRxLX30zi427O5VvDHplBLxKslwyqH-BdaESSKirRrWqcfz_nJf_K6xIJ4jK7DWejbH81zGqzjPQiUAJpLxn8_gu5jDxp1t7CNNXYeOzxCd65I40yHJiQdI4n2QuZ8mLSKCs5xtA8Nx-LbuwHhgkViALjTcJLP/s400/5723300.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM5LuVshjUZDc7r5-krBdls-k2gi07zkRxLX30zi427O5VvDHplBLxKslwyqH-BdaESSKirRrWqcfz_nJf_K6xIJ4jK7DWejbH81zGqzjPQiUAJpLxn8_gu5jDxp1t7CNNXYeOzxCd65I40yHJiQdI4n2QuZ8mLSKCs5xtA8Nx-LbuwHhgkViALjTcJLP/s320/5723300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>In the meantime, my birthday was a couple of months ago, and we decided to visit my daughter and son-in-law in Tupelo. While we were going that way, I decided to see about visiting the museum as we passed by. Since I tried to visit previously, the museum has moved to a larger building and is now called the Black Prairie Blues Museum. I was able to get on Facebook, track down the contact information for the museum, and get in touch with Jeremy Klutts, who oversees the museum. <div><br /></div><div>The museum is a work in progress, the contents are mostly upstairs while the lower floor is used for events and occasional performances. There's a stage and room for a couple of hundred in the audience. There's also art on display from art students at nearby Mississippi State University that captures the spirit of the blues.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoc56WzeYxioC6_YF2mGhLneCNZ1D7g9qecmhA2PiFytfT-QewaZ88ahiXswAvxUdJ_Sp02yphea9KB0apfgcSp4JluFocEsti16Y4Go8D0HDfVFxAtiZXjSAb6GyHtZQ7kfrQfvOyFBEgpI7G2CTgIMQm0P4z2tX07aLwTFpeClj8SP61uJUB7GdHT78/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6646.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoc56WzeYxioC6_YF2mGhLneCNZ1D7g9qecmhA2PiFytfT-QewaZ88ahiXswAvxUdJ_Sp02yphea9KB0apfgcSp4JluFocEsti16Y4Go8D0HDfVFxAtiZXjSAb6GyHtZQ7kfrQfvOyFBEgpI7G2CTgIMQm0P4z2tX07aLwTFpeClj8SP61uJUB7GdHT78/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_6646.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgjzPFZrK_4kKf0PoIpnr90AW5XVkOBMxRybLHhVgYQK9l4tRPi_WY86bVF_lbx-OIfxe4YFMyW4Vi_UJnVbEzEbPQ66TaK95pZ_KEMImnhf_aJPtq31eROmDruB97zntz6qR4wmkXPndpqjRhGFPnMFnELSYesOThnRsnJlm0L9WzZjfkkkevbH4QthV/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6648.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgjzPFZrK_4kKf0PoIpnr90AW5XVkOBMxRybLHhVgYQK9l4tRPi_WY86bVF_lbx-OIfxe4YFMyW4Vi_UJnVbEzEbPQ66TaK95pZ_KEMImnhf_aJPtq31eROmDruB97zntz6qR4wmkXPndpqjRhGFPnMFnELSYesOThnRsnJlm0L9WzZjfkkkevbH4QthV/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_6648.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Since the museum was formerly centered around Howlin' Wolf, the bulk of items in the museum focuses on the Wolf......lots of photos, album cover displays and a few guitars donated by Hubert Sumlin and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others. There were a few pictures of other artists interspersed.....Willie King, Big Joe Williams, etc.. as I said, it's a work in progress, the museum and the building, but when it is finished it will be a nice stop for blues fans in the area. In the meantime, you can contact them at their Facebook page if you're traveling through and they will be glad to give you a tour.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tpSGrd-UA2GqFfK__CTN3cc3CC6LDhOq0Gz5HAcrl2dRwo2h0yAGp45TJ1tkugkGguhjJkh513Uwad2vSZcMbAsZamuJRPodPV-UwsHz3d-UEThdh7hOElosZPPFwuAnrIZ-73c4iKA_UgBq7fgyyO1t6NAO14Oz1RmeW3uM0YiN8xAmBSRVlJ_lbazC/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_9932.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tpSGrd-UA2GqFfK__CTN3cc3CC6LDhOq0Gz5HAcrl2dRwo2h0yAGp45TJ1tkugkGguhjJkh513Uwad2vSZcMbAsZamuJRPodPV-UwsHz3d-UEThdh7hOElosZPPFwuAnrIZ-73c4iKA_UgBq7fgyyO1t6NAO14Oz1RmeW3uM0YiN8xAmBSRVlJ_lbazC/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_9932.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bGXX9_GhlOCkU5fd_6XQFATVFeG7bSbrBvz2xfebDC6qHrExuleQm1Pqw6PJGjwwax5phSCBTl1K6PYUKSlUg729w7c-ZZHnqtvbiegxube1TFfzXaZtjSkZXOci1gTZTotPTW2jR2DsVnLQcvY4TzqxJ435x3iu8O58ThLdEPq-whNVPNiSp_ZS6io7/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_9933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bGXX9_GhlOCkU5fd_6XQFATVFeG7bSbrBvz2xfebDC6qHrExuleQm1Pqw6PJGjwwax5phSCBTl1K6PYUKSlUg729w7c-ZZHnqtvbiegxube1TFfzXaZtjSkZXOci1gTZTotPTW2jR2DsVnLQcvY4TzqxJ435x3iu8O58ThLdEPq-whNVPNiSp_ZS6io7/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_9933.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqq_rW3H52PqxmsqNOTdDbIAEylbprDgoW9RfuExTj3P3caQ3xHp2UdF0unWafV2R0k7sif88bAyozslVLbZE8rMJzAc8wsI8QkloORiR0JZQMPun04lgS4_BogFzBxzZ5_G19eZnwa_VpQMTnzFvzVSfZegz-kaH_n-NwKfQZvj0d-4qTSEKzvHIh8jX/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_9934.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqq_rW3H52PqxmsqNOTdDbIAEylbprDgoW9RfuExTj3P3caQ3xHp2UdF0unWafV2R0k7sif88bAyozslVLbZE8rMJzAc8wsI8QkloORiR0JZQMPun04lgS4_BogFzBxzZ5_G19eZnwa_VpQMTnzFvzVSfZegz-kaH_n-NwKfQZvj0d-4qTSEKzvHIh8jX/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_9934.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a lot more blues history in the Black Prairie region than one would imagine. In addition to the Howlin' Wolf Blues Marker and statue at West Point, there's also a marker in Crawford to the south for Big Joe Williams, which we posted about previously, and a marker in Macon (several miles south of Crawford) recognizing the Black Prairie Blues. In addition to Wolf, Williams, and Willie King, this region was the home of Bukka White, Albert King, Lucille Bogan, Jesse Fortune, and the Houston Harrington family. Harrington was a fiddler from the Macon area who migrated to Chicago, eventually setting up a recording studio and a record label (Atomic-H) and steering his family, which included Eddy Clearwater, Carey Bell, Lurrie Bell, and Steve Bell, to careers in the blues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kox8OCNVwZWCfnTHU31L55l9QaPDmlQ6dLiha8oQkhjvVDqnOeQgmhPycF9Ezx_KX66NAlkwpHK1QHCkQlgrCIgwE6dU9HZWofwxxJxOem9v1_47Yt832JkfrUzvkG0Zj9p6Tc6MQ806KwnKCRmVBziVLHw7iuY3YpzF8Jt8KU8q9SPgCnQgus4KGh3i/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_9935.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kox8OCNVwZWCfnTHU31L55l9QaPDmlQ6dLiha8oQkhjvVDqnOeQgmhPycF9Ezx_KX66NAlkwpHK1QHCkQlgrCIgwE6dU9HZWofwxxJxOem9v1_47Yt832JkfrUzvkG0Zj9p6Tc6MQ806KwnKCRmVBziVLHw7iuY3YpzF8Jt8KU8q9SPgCnQgus4KGh3i/w300-h400/thumbnail_IMG_9935.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Howlin' Wolf statue in West Point, MS</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB739mpRmmtMsok_RAoTsUG_PDYB-LUqibSD-Y71Nr91TSE4eSjSFk0dN9OyPbkwmHXoGS7zfhBOrKoGhTkYneLiWUz1JYgxzF8ajm2a6iNCoj7OQeQ3MdoZTpGIuIHRC2tzJhZXtdtJ3UAYoUbAENHsoKwGXP0RmmUIGfK-IdM5Ue46oQvlH-QRDVS1i/s1024/large_2617_bpb.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB739mpRmmtMsok_RAoTsUG_PDYB-LUqibSD-Y71Nr91TSE4eSjSFk0dN9OyPbkwmHXoGS7zfhBOrKoGhTkYneLiWUz1JYgxzF8ajm2a6iNCoj7OQeQ3MdoZTpGIuIHRC2tzJhZXtdtJ3UAYoUbAENHsoKwGXP0RmmUIGfK-IdM5Ue46oQvlH-QRDVS1i/s320/large_2617_bpb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black Prairie Blues marker in Macon, MS</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's just a taste of what originated in this area of Mississippi and Alabama (we haven't even made it to Alabama yet). We will dig deeper into the artists from the Black Prairie Blues region in the near future, so keep checking back with us!</div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-8160092666819481352023-04-21T00:01:00.053-05:002023-07-11T12:37:21.514-05:00Big Joe Williams - Nine-String Guitar Master<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuujuLNClgfk8HkfEXodyXbE-l18vAG0sbnz_R6iLZ-ZmK4Njq0y2Y10I8owivaJ536mXZus2gsfwTMxLuRETDQQJ8MskD0yEAccAgPdH9gvJbk-66Cmz-vpiPvgm6OC1J0n_qCcQ7xjreBGWZjTJXw3t_Ei7uoBZmTNppHSa-utIRJtMGfJMNlq0gNg/s1200/p02ccylt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuujuLNClgfk8HkfEXodyXbE-l18vAG0sbnz_R6iLZ-ZmK4Njq0y2Y10I8owivaJ536mXZus2gsfwTMxLuRETDQQJ8MskD0yEAccAgPdH9gvJbk-66Cmz-vpiPvgm6OC1J0n_qCcQ7xjreBGWZjTJXw3t_Ei7uoBZmTNppHSa-utIRJtMGfJMNlq0gNg/w400-h225/p02ccylt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A while back, I picked up a collection of Big Joe Williams' early recordings from 1945 - 1961 on Jasmine Records. I had previously owned some of his recordings on Arhoolie not long after I started listening to the blues (on cassette) and even though I really enjoyed those sides, I had not ever revisited his work, other than the occasional appearance on an anthology set here and there.....no particular reason for that, just never got around to it. </div><p></p><p>Over the years, I've read stories about him. I liked Dick Waterman's reminiscences in his book <u>Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive</u> (which I highly recommend for the stories and Waterman's accompanying pictures), but what really got my attention was Mike Bloomfield's book <u>Me and Big Joe</u>, which recounted some of the late guitarist's harrowing adventures with the blues legend. From that point, I decided to backtrack and learn a little more about Williams and it's an interesting story.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NuwfmhP2xIyVlePvPiJVQJwy8blM7TmOdcSzZEhgIiNmOfZtq1AK_6LQcBUenv6W0GQFOdP5YfPpdWOn73sF0q17awdKYTgpji9ahDh8-oLIjX46mLCC5q8zmod6slfq6s93Z5dQ1Vu1Uq5TTOt_BIcaTvd9Rimc1ysdRgLakx9qDKp-OkC8WcZX3Q/s600/Big%20Joe.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="600" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NuwfmhP2xIyVlePvPiJVQJwy8blM7TmOdcSzZEhgIiNmOfZtq1AK_6LQcBUenv6W0GQFOdP5YfPpdWOn73sF0q17awdKYTgpji9ahDh8-oLIjX46mLCC5q8zmod6slfq6s93Z5dQ1Vu1Uq5TTOt_BIcaTvd9Rimc1ysdRgLakx9qDKp-OkC8WcZX3Q/s320/Big%20Joe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Williams was born in 1903 near Crawford, MS, which is located about halfway between Meridian and Tupelo on the eastern side of the state (also birthplace of NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and former NBA player Clarence Weatherspoon). He started playing as a youth on street corners, bars, alleys, work camps, etc.......ending up with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels revue and actually recording with the Birmingham Jug Band in 1930. He ended up in St. Louis a few years later, where he recorded with Bluebird Records, as a front man and backing others such as Sonny Boy Williamson I and Robert Nighthawk. It was while he was with Bluebird that he recorded "Baby, Please Don't Go" and "Crawlin' Kingsnake," both of which have become blues standards and have been recorded by hundreds of other acts in blues and rock. Williams recorded frequently over the next five decades for a variety of labels....Vocalion, Okeh, Paramount, Prestige, Delmark, Arhoolie, and others. <div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/88f3D1xZOIM" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgwSIOJwG3xR5PuxVxGGqja9FMhKPcGion9GVlnbS9cfCC9Mqw0Drv1A2U0FVS8ANThaduI9WClnzfOVeAMHZKRJ1YfGODDbyfsNsPu8QwjpZBOV7zDZRo_ZZwBEhJf_gAFhzhWe1zZ9V-TXK6kSpn-GMsUmXgVggY8oJtXTT20NeBYSHNPNFRZZNmw/s1468/nine-string.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1468" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgwSIOJwG3xR5PuxVxGGqja9FMhKPcGion9GVlnbS9cfCC9Mqw0Drv1A2U0FVS8ANThaduI9WClnzfOVeAMHZKRJ1YfGODDbyfsNsPu8QwjpZBOV7zDZRo_ZZwBEhJf_gAFhzhWe1zZ9V-TXK6kSpn-GMsUmXgVggY8oJtXTT20NeBYSHNPNFRZZNmw/s320/nine-string.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>He played a nine-string guitar of his own design, and had a highly percussive style of playing similar to other pre-war Delta guitarists, beating on the box, neck, popping the strings and really giving his playing a distinctive style. Blues historian Barry Lee Peterson witnessed Williams performing one night and described his electric model of the nine-string as being played through "a small ramshackle amp with a pie plate nailed to it and a beer can dangling against that. When he played, everything rattled but Big Joe himself. The total effect of this incredible apparatus produced the most buzzing, sizzling, African-sounding music I have ever heard." As great and unique as he was as a guitarist, he was an equally talented songwriter and vocalist. Based on Bloomfield's book and other descriptions, he could be rather cantankerous as well, but there's no question he was a well-respected bluesman throughout his career.</div><div><p></p><p>Williams eventually returned to the area where he was born, where he passed away in late 1982. He was buried in a private cemetery near Crawford. He had a headstone which was paid for by friends and fellow musicians collected at Antone's in Austin. The Mt Zion Memorial Fund eventually got the headstone erected in October of 1994. One of his last nine-string guitars can be viewed at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.</p><p>Although I was aware that Williams was born in Crawford.....while working about twenty-five years ago, I had to stop in the Crawford City Hall and noticed a picture of him on the wall...... I don't guess it ever occurred to me that he might have been buried in the area. Granted, I only got into visiting grave sites in the past few years, but I finally realized that he was buried nearby, only about 80 miles from where I live between Crawford and Starkville.</p><p>A few weekends ago, I ended up with some time on my hands and thought, what the heck, I'll just see if I can find Big Joe Williams' grave, so I punched in the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/33%C2%B018'39.9%22N+88%C2%B042'09.9%22W/@33.3110809,-88.7049246,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d33.3110809!4d-88.7027359">coordinates</a> and was soon on my way. It was a fairly pleasant drive....I was familiar with most, but not all of it. There's a nice lake (Bluff Lake) located about ten miles from the gravesite on the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. When I got to the location, Williams' headstone was easy to find. In fact, it was the only headstone visible. I was told that there are other graves at the site, but I didn't see any other headstones. It really looked like a pasture with one solitary headstone present.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGM1_nxlfGHwkWIsyXDdnKdmhwvrz6POQua6J80hwo3lmoNQTOpyjNYVXCqIbF-54CqB8BlZ3YB4n8nGffRao8_RuaGVP6H4U3SBTNR40ejA5JVWeobl5LdPT7_Ln4R3fqbYIK3msEkITZMgg2WzZfGEAtUnbWG-kfDNQ-G47WBFJpya29Ujwc_5ErQ/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_9483.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGM1_nxlfGHwkWIsyXDdnKdmhwvrz6POQua6J80hwo3lmoNQTOpyjNYVXCqIbF-54CqB8BlZ3YB4n8nGffRao8_RuaGVP6H4U3SBTNR40ejA5JVWeobl5LdPT7_Ln4R3fqbYIK3msEkITZMgg2WzZfGEAtUnbWG-kfDNQ-G47WBFJpya29Ujwc_5ErQ/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_9483.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPf2aoCncMLGp5G4HwigauqKhJqkb1fZvAA2zYnbpxy7jUFDjqnVfeYA8wdlZZHUs-KdBq1vJn1aTKCN2swfLL0rVL8L6njYzBJlQi4xbjWKTN2gEXBMuGnXQWWQJAHErhhwxtqnASKm02T2q7wIy4eglS4bhmR8QKwnREOlJgGIBmOMVTvj0F_YXncA/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_9485.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPf2aoCncMLGp5G4HwigauqKhJqkb1fZvAA2zYnbpxy7jUFDjqnVfeYA8wdlZZHUs-KdBq1vJn1aTKCN2swfLL0rVL8L6njYzBJlQi4xbjWKTN2gEXBMuGnXQWWQJAHErhhwxtqnASKm02T2q7wIy4eglS4bhmR8QKwnREOlJgGIBmOMVTvj0F_YXncA/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_9485.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The town of Crawford is a few miles to the east, just off US 45 Alternate. There's not much there these days, but there is a Mississippi Blues Trail marker near the Town Hall which is dedicated to Williams. Crawford is a few miles south of West Point (birthplace of Howlin' Wolf) and a little over an hour south of Tupelo (birthplace of Elvis Presley).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QvZGhEdulnIA-IiY_7kxTdNVl3tKE-uzKdhXZp8VBvgWg6Rdi6scoOPvAZUyYl1X4GAIWnV0nGttrQcTeeEfX00JRNBKlqlKlGmr-uK3gUzux6YdsBQhwrlqySSRiX3bEFPNEorEX-yp3tOfsc-T_3XRjxTDamOZmI4snLa1gy_xACapR0VULj8wDg/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_9489.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QvZGhEdulnIA-IiY_7kxTdNVl3tKE-uzKdhXZp8VBvgWg6Rdi6scoOPvAZUyYl1X4GAIWnV0nGttrQcTeeEfX00JRNBKlqlKlGmr-uK3gUzux6YdsBQhwrlqySSRiX3bEFPNEorEX-yp3tOfsc-T_3XRjxTDamOZmI4snLa1gy_xACapR0VULj8wDg/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_9489.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiNfVDpL2TsYk7Zcs_XTaogeFaF3iFgkXIKw0TaUJdZIZhlSAEB90s0AjPEHF-jfC7XjeA4Z4MMf8iOFrseIteLXFDqdxq9XqxJhymCC97RmuFLY8FsSfWTcrFw8_hVi63ciyDEMGNlar02PcpHj999VOEavsRJtua5teOca6ifUWowx55cx8hafxXA/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_9488.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiNfVDpL2TsYk7Zcs_XTaogeFaF3iFgkXIKw0TaUJdZIZhlSAEB90s0AjPEHF-jfC7XjeA4Z4MMf8iOFrseIteLXFDqdxq9XqxJhymCC97RmuFLY8FsSfWTcrFw8_hVi63ciyDEMGNlar02PcpHj999VOEavsRJtua5teOca6ifUWowx55cx8hafxXA/w480-h640/thumbnail_IMG_9488.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, I opted to go south that day because about ten miles south of Crawford, where US 45 Alternate and US 45 meet, is the town of Brooksville, home of the <a href="https://www.olecountrybakery.com/">Ole Country Bakery</a>, which is worth a stop if you're hungry for breakfast or lunch. People drive from all around in Mississippi and Alabama to sample their delicious pastries, pies, loaf bread, sweet bread, sandwiches, soups, and salads. Whenever I work in the area, I'm going to make a stop there, and I did that day as well. You can't miss it if you're driving through Brooksville....just look for a wood-frame building with a lot of cars and trucks parked around it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are in the area and you are a blues fan, it's worth the trip to visit Big Joe Williams' final resting place. It's not hard to get there at all, the roads are good, and there are some other cool places to visit while you're in the area. Meanwhile, here are a couple of great albums to get started with Williams.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGnvZE1QpC7UU0TwXQZkq_J8CYpXc-z7GmcfcqlOER0vVTnCC1gUXp_uH868qcIDPogUK48imQZwywYqCA4jWwMBKKZJbza7jb3i6ge6IZSaNoMAi1f8Yn18_cKwRP-JC-3giOyO890lKme-iKtQB0c52TuT7ivcIcaoPcIpi0r8LVJl7eBlPkgRHwQ/s800/big-joe-williams--the-original-ramblin-bluesman-1945-1961.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGnvZE1QpC7UU0TwXQZkq_J8CYpXc-z7GmcfcqlOER0vVTnCC1gUXp_uH868qcIDPogUK48imQZwywYqCA4jWwMBKKZJbza7jb3i6ge6IZSaNoMAi1f8Yn18_cKwRP-JC-3giOyO890lKme-iKtQB0c52TuT7ivcIcaoPcIpi0r8LVJl7eBlPkgRHwQ/w200-h200/big-joe-williams--the-original-ramblin-bluesman-1945-1961.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>The Original Ramblin' Bluesman 1945-1961</i> (Jasmine Records): This 2 CD set includes tracks Williams recorded for the Chicago, Columbia, Bullet, Trumpet, Specialty, Vee Jay, and Folkways labels, plus previously unissued tracks for Cobra Records and eight songs never heard before on CD that Williams recorded with pianist Erwin Helfer in Chicago that were released as 2 EPs by Collector Records in London. Not a bad track in the bunch.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVR5HNuUl0d1g3znxYV_yqt26kGk5tli8D3W1rKIMHAodG1hVY2mEpL3FoN5yb3MAuNXkav0N0lbopagd4XjZ3hRID0zTZ0ZboTAJxMwKG8vcW0UeVD89JoDF3k5OhXznBvd1YQ-JXrcxtGWGfU2msdyrqwUOLJwddkSg2Mz2ypej17ovUq4ehh4oOg/s1500/ARH00315.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVR5HNuUl0d1g3znxYV_yqt26kGk5tli8D3W1rKIMHAodG1hVY2mEpL3FoN5yb3MAuNXkav0N0lbopagd4XjZ3hRID0zTZ0ZboTAJxMwKG8vcW0UeVD89JoDF3k5OhXznBvd1YQ-JXrcxtGWGfU2msdyrqwUOLJwddkSg2Mz2ypej17ovUq4ehh4oOg/w200-h200/ARH00315.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Shake Your Boogie</i> (Arhoolie Records): This CD collects two great 60's albums Williams recorded for the label. Charlie Musselwhite plays harmonica on some of the tracks. Combined with the above set, this could be all the Big Joe Williams you might need for your collection, but I do encourage you to check out his 60's recordings for Testament and Delmark because they're just as strong. All of his recordings are worth a listen.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-10747966964965282032023-01-13T00:01:00.013-06:002023-01-13T14:03:53.462-06:00In Memoriam: 2022 Blues Deaths<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCOYmMC2JCIiMx1Pj3ig2EwWAzVvtoFiiMWZHeMDQQpoexii8fGVrdsd0Nq7HDozL57LWRuYBegk6KN7QlOBF56geqF6YBFioYcBmIObuPODq8RELBUV5tiz6zpLWAm_IQCApGkKIoq9JdC3_YjWvLyAwMaw1LGlpNWRWmfkw9X5PPX_zFJqWXarKfA/s476/17049613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="476" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCOYmMC2JCIiMx1Pj3ig2EwWAzVvtoFiiMWZHeMDQQpoexii8fGVrdsd0Nq7HDozL57LWRuYBegk6KN7QlOBF56geqF6YBFioYcBmIObuPODq8RELBUV5tiz6zpLWAm_IQCApGkKIoq9JdC3_YjWvLyAwMaw1LGlpNWRWmfkw9X5PPX_zFJqWXarKfA/w400-h215/17049613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Friday Blues Fix pays tribute to those blues people who passed away in 2022. It seems like we lost a lot of folks this year, not just in the blues, but with the blues, there are so many older artists who are still performing and making vital music at what might be considered an advanced age by some, so in a way it could be expected. That doesn't mean we have to like it one bit, though. It's sad to see artists you've followed for so long pass away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are all the names I was able to come up with that passed away this year. If you know of any others, please let me know in the comments and I will add them to this list as we go.</div><br />Classie Ray Ballou, Jr. (67) – blues/zydeco bass player (Boozoo Chavis)<p></p><p>Howard Grimes (80) drummer (Stax Records, Hi Records)</p><p>Sam Lay (86) drummer (Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, James Cotton, Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, etc…)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6a8bcATD4sqUJgJQ4eTtLoQmT-Wq8KCc5bDt_PoyuTdFoVXcgEVAIP5fJRuXENZxZF2clUalXBXkYYPDbJC1OK6AElrYGlLja2mvHtfEWUK5EIVDRc9EiV2ectHQoLioUjyYD72RfaldkpHnYFozpyS8IilQE5Iuzq8TnQ2vuthsB26ZLOB_JeeCWA/s406/tp_milton_hopkins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6a8bcATD4sqUJgJQ4eTtLoQmT-Wq8KCc5bDt_PoyuTdFoVXcgEVAIP5fJRuXENZxZF2clUalXBXkYYPDbJC1OK6AElrYGlLja2mvHtfEWUK5EIVDRc9EiV2ectHQoLioUjyYD72RfaldkpHnYFozpyS8IilQE5Iuzq8TnQ2vuthsB26ZLOB_JeeCWA/s320/tp_milton_hopkins.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br />Milton Hopkins (88) – guitarist (Grady Gaines, Bobby Bland, B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, etc…..)<p></p><p>Elijah Newsome (83) – Greenwood, MS bluesman</p><p>Charles K. “Guitar Charlie” Rickard (75) – Greenville, MS guitarist (Booba Barnes, Lil’ Dave Thompson, T-Model Ford)</p><p>Charles Lee “Delta Blues Hogg” Hayes (79) – Wisconsin bluesman</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4mMr33jFHHPxEQ3XPfsp1RQt96NBn17dIJ8Nud4ITI0FzyCGuTsasYWMdI75fwbiTRqmTQKFL1PVRnEEqJ8PEYwu2CSX3S3v2MBYx8-xJihdOrR6a2J8-72UcA_-YMZASMUA0kPQEuwZbfS8ElsTrnD33kTxnmvr85V7IhW_TllCTDZ2Fe-Oph8S6w/s1024/16442682841011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1024" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4mMr33jFHHPxEQ3XPfsp1RQt96NBn17dIJ8Nud4ITI0FzyCGuTsasYWMdI75fwbiTRqmTQKFL1PVRnEEqJ8PEYwu2CSX3S3v2MBYx8-xJihdOrR6a2J8-72UcA_-YMZASMUA0kPQEuwZbfS8ElsTrnD33kTxnmvr85V7IhW_TllCTDZ2Fe-Oph8S6w/s320/16442682841011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jimmy Johnson (93) – Chicago bluesman<p></p><p>Syl Johnson (85) – Chicago blues and soul man</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8ZHdTWI3oNotOO8dEB68Qfb3E7IfZnL80r-UqlequXbsQV8EHbH7kLlnXYXLd1gXYZvmvpaY0mvouzedXaBX8irIDNc50vzg0MNyK33-1FgpU2Mozu3aJxD7fg_E5AfZ2oiVfVK0vms1adjLQkXJAosRP2y0PoXQF5a_keKjUOhGlQRFiNUzaZS1eQ/s1080/77922a40-7665-433e-a53c-6231f5b2dc96-Guitar_Shorty_12314401_10150547006444982_9023955378484030653_o-1080x675.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8ZHdTWI3oNotOO8dEB68Qfb3E7IfZnL80r-UqlequXbsQV8EHbH7kLlnXYXLd1gXYZvmvpaY0mvouzedXaBX8irIDNc50vzg0MNyK33-1FgpU2Mozu3aJxD7fg_E5AfZ2oiVfVK0vms1adjLQkXJAosRP2y0PoXQF5a_keKjUOhGlQRFiNUzaZS1eQ/s320/77922a40-7665-433e-a53c-6231f5b2dc96-Guitar_Shorty_12314401_10150547006444982_9023955378484030653_o-1080x675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />David “Guitar Shorty” Kearney (82) – blues guitarist<p></p><p>Barbara Morrison (72) – jazz/blues singer</p><p>Dennis Walker (79) – songwriter/producer/bass player</p><p>Millage Gilbert (83) – Kansas City bluesman</p><p>Kris Schnebelen (41) – drummer (Trampled Under Foot)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPROdYPz5Ja-x8g3d091dp8j6bdyhpKf6wsRgR4-YQ7wue6VhsIM4QtiI2K8ny94m_Vce8RLnCE9Zi3jHc1W1VEQ8Lx7klkZe13-3ugR0qiF4KS8KKtb2tfe9F_m0kVbFKmkbBGKIbreRB3kCnyd33GHVQLnRq3ajXkUF8qJxtrBFMAVWu_fqT7B13tg/s340/Classie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPROdYPz5Ja-x8g3d091dp8j6bdyhpKf6wsRgR4-YQ7wue6VhsIM4QtiI2K8ny94m_Vce8RLnCE9Zi3jHc1W1VEQ8Lx7klkZe13-3ugR0qiF4KS8KKtb2tfe9F_m0kVbFKmkbBGKIbreRB3kCnyd33GHVQLnRq3ajXkUF8qJxtrBFMAVWu_fqT7B13tg/s320/Classie.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br />Classie Ballou, Sr. (84) – blues/zydeco guitarist<p></p><p>Pete Lowry (81) – blues scholar/writer/educator, founder of Trix Records)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcBY3jnS_omSJSE9MbnKbhJyi_RqVDloLdBog8W5PV91YS6lNSudWSrqsqdGh_YojsLxybNF9JA_UuY8r9PeFhQN-u1G7PRiAt3-q-gcCzM0tH1hMZmp6dBJsEyGi1LIHkVG5mUNSnGhTZdYio_abngrtA-Bb5Aq3Yx0tKZU0ZwVzgGLhsUGj1jhahw/s1024/Grana-Louise-Monte-Carlo-Deecembre-2010-min.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="681" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcBY3jnS_omSJSE9MbnKbhJyi_RqVDloLdBog8W5PV91YS6lNSudWSrqsqdGh_YojsLxybNF9JA_UuY8r9PeFhQN-u1G7PRiAt3-q-gcCzM0tH1hMZmp6dBJsEyGi1LIHkVG5mUNSnGhTZdYio_abngrtA-Bb5Aq3Yx0tKZU0ZwVzgGLhsUGj1jhahw/s320/Grana-Louise-Monte-Carlo-Deecembre-2010-min.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Grana Louise Smith (69) – Chicago blues singer<p></p><p>Red Kelly, The Soul Detective (67) – blues/soul researcher (souldetective.com)</p><p>Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson (60) – Cascade Blues Association president, I.B.C. and BMA M.C.</p><p>Richard Molina (72) – guitarist/bandleader</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkZtDOiUFuhPWo0LnqIAaq0ZOaqTyX6LvBMf8B18ukcTQKFDPl65b8x0k2WB3GHxGUZetZbNqGL6Ajx3nqQdZHhplfgMZtwiH7zaN9BpnMQes3syX4CaEFTKED0LhAVByxcPDEz3aqvBf_kh5fr-TBxCb5s8tcsNx7bTX0NCsf8KKqVwkCc-51P64hA/s1886/The-McCrary-Sisters-1-739851eafe25421c87acb81e8e0d27c8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkZtDOiUFuhPWo0LnqIAaq0ZOaqTyX6LvBMf8B18ukcTQKFDPl65b8x0k2WB3GHxGUZetZbNqGL6Ajx3nqQdZHhplfgMZtwiH7zaN9BpnMQes3syX4CaEFTKED0LhAVByxcPDEz3aqvBf_kh5fr-TBxCb5s8tcsNx7bTX0NCsf8KKqVwkCc-51P64hA/s320/The-McCrary-Sisters-1-739851eafe25421c87acb81e8e0d27c8.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />Deborah McCrary (67) – singer (McCrary Sisters)<p></p><p>Lola Gulley (57) – Atlanta’s “Queen of the Blues”</p><p>Terry Delafose (60) – zydeco bass player drummer (John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys, Geno Delafose and French Rocking Boogie)</p><p>Bobby O’Jay (68) – WDIA DJ<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p>Paul Garon (80) – Blues author/scholar, co-founder of Living Blues magazine</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XNcHJItCnFCs3xb6aKwdCHZOq4uyamu3iYcJnU_TK3FUPpsSeh_VFrxcPJb5J9Q2u7V34C2R2Fw5xse7i2F2u9UtS1tsysP01Obn8SrAp9z0KEzfTDNGf7n277xgSpT5ccy2YZODBwU4dkMNtUHNMF6Q4qyBCVJIYZM4QPfVIYxyTMiPQdqe8BrlrQ/s1200/chainsaw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1200" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XNcHJItCnFCs3xb6aKwdCHZOq4uyamu3iYcJnU_TK3FUPpsSeh_VFrxcPJb5J9Q2u7V34C2R2Fw5xse7i2F2u9UtS1tsysP01Obn8SrAp9z0KEzfTDNGf7n277xgSpT5ccy2YZODBwU4dkMNtUHNMF6Q4qyBCVJIYZM4QPfVIYxyTMiPQdqe8BrlrQ/s320/chainsaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />David “Chainsaw” Dupont (66) – Chicago blues guitarist<p></p><p>Sonny Sitgraves (84) – drummer (Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Johnny Littlejohn)</p><p>James “Chicken Scratch” Johnson (82) – guitarist (Slim Harpo)</p><p>Grandpa Elliot Small (77) – New Orleans singer/harmonica player</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MFw0gVQwhRP8wbPV0Rh_xQ9ha6OILkvFr6R4HsUhpV_alUC4PW0DSAKOmwyH_8pnx5imJJRup-N73ITSB_amJmrsAIr6OPIKidYucvQQQ5pfC9vjOwdUk-Mx_AtaoRKXhG1ucPXW6F9zo7GW0UGH_HrB3nwt9KKYTHYwHDR5kUUgHoIrLI3eXsSLZg/s640/A&E_Datebook_WalterWolfmanWashington_GREG_MILES_rp0318-teaser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MFw0gVQwhRP8wbPV0Rh_xQ9ha6OILkvFr6R4HsUhpV_alUC4PW0DSAKOmwyH_8pnx5imJJRup-N73ITSB_amJmrsAIr6OPIKidYucvQQQ5pfC9vjOwdUk-Mx_AtaoRKXhG1ucPXW6F9zo7GW0UGH_HrB3nwt9KKYTHYwHDR5kUUgHoIrLI3eXsSLZg/s320/A&E_Datebook_WalterWolfmanWashington_GREG_MILES_rp0318-teaser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Walter "Wolfman" Washington (79) - New Orleans blues and soul singer/guitarist<p></p><p>Paul T. Kwami (70) – Fisk Jubilee Singers member/director</p><p>Andy Story (78) – New York bluesman</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxR0IN1yV3bRjd8lyBSlj8sdBea1K5Vtq9lMXmkJqN40gJN-LeDnnllqbx3QuZLpZQHPcebmgX4fX7hSK1Sai5v1U9j9aOCfiMsZIsKq1atPm8m0WJ1DfJNTMRmQKq-lYFl3r9B6pveXJ7iOC3IfWDuVdjN8LTZWOGbHQbNzQi--tYGTJUGWZM0E4hoQ/s1710/322126053_689619609496929_581184566475709209_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxR0IN1yV3bRjd8lyBSlj8sdBea1K5Vtq9lMXmkJqN40gJN-LeDnnllqbx3QuZLpZQHPcebmgX4fX7hSK1Sai5v1U9j9aOCfiMsZIsKq1atPm8m0WJ1DfJNTMRmQKq-lYFl3r9B6pveXJ7iOC3IfWDuVdjN8LTZWOGbHQbNzQi--tYGTJUGWZM0E4hoQ/s320/322126053_689619609496929_581184566475709209_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />Jim Davis (71) - New York tenor sax player (Brad Vickers, Paul Oscher, Steve Lucky, Gas House Gorillas)<p></p><p>Hardrick Rivers (65) – Louisiana sax player</p><p>Harpdog Brown (59) – Canadian harmonica player/singer</p><p>Doug Jay (58) – Harp Player (Doug Jay and the Blue Jays)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WekXOniZ-LpmRaTtVBnuLyqcZBTCtnXZ0oeuNsXmbunkwy2zw4bwD1YQv7MGjr7EacLErx_KXqsBeiMK8HICBJ0juPtG9f9Da32H18HOXxr9P_T43273HRoTkvDXBxYoYI0dRh4vLbUtWUkGAIsqwaAoYpMdW0H2E6CHopTc0pi9sXfKHr_GgX9BKA/s1548/jim-stewart-stax-records-founder-obit-billboard-1548.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1548" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WekXOniZ-LpmRaTtVBnuLyqcZBTCtnXZ0oeuNsXmbunkwy2zw4bwD1YQv7MGjr7EacLErx_KXqsBeiMK8HICBJ0juPtG9f9Da32H18HOXxr9P_T43273HRoTkvDXBxYoYI0dRh4vLbUtWUkGAIsqwaAoYpMdW0H2E6CHopTc0pi9sXfKHr_GgX9BKA/s320/jim-stewart-stax-records-founder-obit-billboard-1548.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jim Stewart (92) – Co-founder of Stax Records<p></p><p>Christine McVie (79) – English singer/keyboardist (Chicken Shack/Fleetwood Mac)</p><p>Marty Sammon (45) – Chicago keyboardist (Buddy Guy)</p><p>Kim Simmonds (75) – guitarist/vocalist (Savoy Brown)</p><p>Willie J Campbell (65) – bass player (James Harman, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mannish Boys)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSfUZe6JHM4A1bfk97tCFv4FSjzpxbZSit41xRYj_tudXS-5cbkqcGu0TnTlGPoQwBWxdEncZ7EOSHk1bTienykNd4-xIcdvksj-g6QBhLXAnc8cASQRcdDvYok8djUgK8O1MFckG9kWzMo86skbIlupEL_biBITgMtzqvahSIShgKXo6lnyERY1Llg/s660/ghows-PJ-802af6b3-b638-4f0f-bc00-d281cb1c0884-4ee47dc8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="660" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSfUZe6JHM4A1bfk97tCFv4FSjzpxbZSit41xRYj_tudXS-5cbkqcGu0TnTlGPoQwBWxdEncZ7EOSHk1bTienykNd4-xIcdvksj-g6QBhLXAnc8cASQRcdDvYok8djUgK8O1MFckG9kWzMo86skbIlupEL_biBITgMtzqvahSIShgKXo6lnyERY1Llg/s320/ghows-PJ-802af6b3-b638-4f0f-bc00-d281cb1c0884-4ee47dc8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson (83) – Chicago singer/guitarist<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p> </p></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-31803111502767226012022-12-30T00:01:00.005-06:002022-12-30T13:47:15.585-06:00Friday Blues Fix's Top 20 Albums for 2022<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLDjss2K5hwFFbpbg7eFgLtE07JGpak-9DgdFDI5YPnFBES2F16qXFKc_483DCR7OUu8HGJQ71wGoPGtibxK4Rnc_olrFh-Bh1u9nvElqaLraAAu5UJeS_6plFxF8xIQR6B6NzmRfq4bF_Mhai3geK9sjoiafy3Drkykg2OIPuVQLSY3i7u2wCBBCkQ/s300/Top-20-v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLDjss2K5hwFFbpbg7eFgLtE07JGpak-9DgdFDI5YPnFBES2F16qXFKc_483DCR7OUu8HGJQ71wGoPGtibxK4Rnc_olrFh-Bh1u9nvElqaLraAAu5UJeS_6plFxF8xIQR6B6NzmRfq4bF_Mhai3geK9sjoiafy3Drkykg2OIPuVQLSY3i7u2wCBBCkQ/w400-h400/Top-20-v2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Well, it's been a while since we've posted here, but the end of the year is as good time as any for us to go through FBF's Top 20 releases for 2022. In a few weeks, the January issue of Blues Bytes will present their reviewers' Top 10 for the year, so, if you care, you'll be able to see which of these 20 made my Top 10. This was a pretty good year for new releases, a mix of new, exciting talented artists and a lot of veterans who showed that they still have a lot of fuel in the tank. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out my favorites (listed in alphabetical order) and see how many are on your lists, and please share yours in the Comments if you're so inclined.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Friday Blues Fix's Top 20 for 2022</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE6wE1nkgn3mWbPfc0r6cFC9rGIGB_9V5F7f7oABGa2vql2WzgjaKiwFtU_ULofwK0Vdm-FE6fs-SpKUgqHZf1GrG_0AA-bT-gyUx6lfNxMGIVXIc82iF9SCoOlo9j2O-b5p8cVH2wIvWgrC85DZBMhYX0mk9PmKHPAvX9MRUn4q0FHRyNK5PbTpRmw/s355/51Mc7qFREqL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE6wE1nkgn3mWbPfc0r6cFC9rGIGB_9V5F7f7oABGa2vql2WzgjaKiwFtU_ULofwK0Vdm-FE6fs-SpKUgqHZf1GrG_0AA-bT-gyUx6lfNxMGIVXIc82iF9SCoOlo9j2O-b5p8cVH2wIvWgrC85DZBMhYX0mk9PmKHPAvX9MRUn4q0FHRyNK5PbTpRmw/w200-h200/51Mc7qFREqL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rick Berthod</b> - <i>Tribute to Peter Green</i>: Nevada-based guitarist Berthod does a great job interpreting this tunes that the underrated British guitarist recorded with the early, blues-based edition of Fleetwood Mac. He remains faithful to the originals, but adds enough of his own sound to keep things fresh. Like any good tribute album, this will please longtime fans of Green, lead newcomers to check out the original works, and encourage them to check out more of Berthod's impressive catalog, too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOOfLBDjObKWBaMxK8jFFxr5XydPnKfThUhFVbN8ay0R5Gyx14IyRYH0Fh8YUwGZ4cTSNfq7NDh32nvgMyNWVxuSA7qNS1aaemhLb3s9Y2LJuDks6O8A3m_B08KIEpnUG92ry9f3qPvRd9vaA1VXI63p2ze23zXt2JlNF3kVpyhdHPO4R_9QjyCSijA/s355/51tjqDrU8PL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOOfLBDjObKWBaMxK8jFFxr5XydPnKfThUhFVbN8ay0R5Gyx14IyRYH0Fh8YUwGZ4cTSNfq7NDh32nvgMyNWVxuSA7qNS1aaemhLb3s9Y2LJuDks6O8A3m_B08KIEpnUG92ry9f3qPvRd9vaA1VXI63p2ze23zXt2JlNF3kVpyhdHPO4R_9QjyCSijA/w200-h200/51tjqDrU8PL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chris Canas</b> - <i>Detroit</i> (Third Street Cigar Records): The Motor City's "Prince of the Blues" made the finals of the 2020 I.B.C.'s and this release shows what the fuss was all about. A powerful vocalist and guitarist and a good songwriter, this album (his eighth) really serves as his mission statement.....he's here to play his brand of blues, - contemporary blues with flourishes of rock, soul, funk, even reggae - his way. I think listeners will be perfectly fine with that.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1MJlnTGKHvxy9_v3-i5IRt_wDvlYwTUmEDmTSQmmc-EkMymzju1EQWUblIYOSfxM2HlwBdyOtCuweqaH69ZmDwPrDfk6iQ4b-3OrDE4wFUP3-6yqrRqDWTR--QwsEB9BPBgD7P-o01KvwBJfsU5vj4qo2r_itfBeEu-LeG-uC2TqM7Tov3nM8uD33A/s355/41Ii6TJdIiL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1MJlnTGKHvxy9_v3-i5IRt_wDvlYwTUmEDmTSQmmc-EkMymzju1EQWUblIYOSfxM2HlwBdyOtCuweqaH69ZmDwPrDfk6iQ4b-3OrDE4wFUP3-6yqrRqDWTR--QwsEB9BPBgD7P-o01KvwBJfsU5vj4qo2r_itfBeEu-LeG-uC2TqM7Tov3nM8uD33A/w200-h200/41Ii6TJdIiL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Dig 3 </i>- It always puts a hop in my step to see a new album of old-school blues played well, or in this case, extremely well. Andrew Duncanson of Kilborn Alley Blues Band teams up with harp master Ronnie Shellist and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hundt on this superb set of original tunes that pays tribute to the great blues tunes and artists of yesteryear. Part of the reason this set works so well is the sheer love and enthusiasm these guys have for every tune.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j1C6X7RSpPM52IYC5scoDAcEaIs6OiYN1OkBsVpD1DGLyb21OqsLHcOSjD-putiPJbDcyKqu0vTEsWoPSRf6gq5190r6QwGlAMMns0371mubvE6VqwQaSHSG5paFKe_BIyr5G48crlbRv4wPUOZuP2EaXbq3aBdB2MAjK4CcQXUegLfe-IbbIlhNwQ/s355/81FjsGv5ybL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j1C6X7RSpPM52IYC5scoDAcEaIs6OiYN1OkBsVpD1DGLyb21OqsLHcOSjD-putiPJbDcyKqu0vTEsWoPSRf6gq5190r6QwGlAMMns0371mubvE6VqwQaSHSG5paFKe_BIyr5G48crlbRv4wPUOZuP2EaXbq3aBdB2MAjK4CcQXUegLfe-IbbIlhNwQ/w200-h200/81FjsGv5ybL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters</b> - <i>Mercy Me</i> (Stony Plain Records): This is Earl's 28th album and one of his best, with support from his outstanding band and several guest stars. Evenly split between originals and covers, Earl's guitar work continues to dazzle, on both electric and acoustic, while Diane Blue continues to be one of the best vocalist currently practicing. It's hard to go wrong with any Ronnie Earl release, but this one is near the top of the list.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sNMKvlAV2AJEp8sTT_wrlU5G4RoHsyzcPYmO2IeWHHhEl8kyKf2n4mRFnsdUH2Tivy3v_71NQbw44JHM_5MzVHnepWrmN1slEMwYlH6R-Q4Ah0ZLFohOAzDqGBq_F0TZEY_dXnDCDiiKKxdKO9h7zWHT0p5Y5uADxHDQuyyCxD3mFevNZ0gwVokSpQ/s355/81IzllKg6mL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sNMKvlAV2AJEp8sTT_wrlU5G4RoHsyzcPYmO2IeWHHhEl8kyKf2n4mRFnsdUH2Tivy3v_71NQbw44JHM_5MzVHnepWrmN1slEMwYlH6R-Q4Ah0ZLFohOAzDqGBq_F0TZEY_dXnDCDiiKKxdKO9h7zWHT0p5Y5uADxHDQuyyCxD3mFevNZ0gwVokSpQ/w200-h200/81IzllKg6mL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Love Light Orchestra - </b><i>Leave The Light On </i>(Nola Blue Records): I have a soft spot for the great sounds of Memphis blues and R&B of the 50's and 60's, and so do the members of The Love Light Orchestra, a nine-piece band of Memphis-area musicians fronted by vocalist John Nemeth, a master of the soul and blues genre whose voice is tailor-made for this sound. Their second release is made up of nearly all original tunes that seem to be pulled from a 50's/60's-era jukebox and the performances will put goose bumps on your goose bumps.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwB4mJ1eRgep60Vqfn-682shVTDNkDhT_4NWXeJ3O7Bo5iDU4uW7IV34zRrrWO0fJyoPKXpZrVRi4ljmJOTbu_UAFVakDB9m9S1p7Zh05I6HFF6pGXCeGQrlop3sHgQo0tnz1VoECjYfPVRGrdYoauZ5jt5e-gA8dhouMsQQyNhjQG2Q0PRCJcvh-jg/s355/81B-1OVZGuL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwB4mJ1eRgep60Vqfn-682shVTDNkDhT_4NWXeJ3O7Bo5iDU4uW7IV34zRrrWO0fJyoPKXpZrVRi4ljmJOTbu_UAFVakDB9m9S1p7Zh05I6HFF6pGXCeGQrlop3sHgQo0tnz1VoECjYfPVRGrdYoauZ5jt5e-gA8dhouMsQQyNhjQG2Q0PRCJcvh-jg/w200-h200/81B-1OVZGuL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Trudy Lynn</b> - <i>Golden Girl</i> (Nola Blue Records): Over 25 years ago, I met a guy from Houston on the old Blues Access bulletin board. He turned me on to a lot of great music from the Houston area that I had previously not heard, including Ms. Trudy Lynn. What an amazing singer and talent, and she's backed by an incredible set of musicians on this excellent set. Ms. Trudy just rips through this set and leaves you waiting breathlessly for her next one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDS1mI66xjxNBDZ3fUAbTJX7K3utC9s6311ksxX6dYdfSH7HtSX-ll9vdkqhnVMTr3YVLJeOm2RY646l6FdjV_b0cRx5PmJklb78qO7pCJoPa8852Oj4Z6S1Kw7Cuqnu7pFwjPv9r4ABJBBESS9xBOZidwbS008MJ9ljs0RTf2VFLtBCBVKDAncPLOg/s355/A1zTLF3TkvL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDS1mI66xjxNBDZ3fUAbTJX7K3utC9s6311ksxX6dYdfSH7HtSX-ll9vdkqhnVMTr3YVLJeOm2RY646l6FdjV_b0cRx5PmJklb78qO7pCJoPa8852Oj4Z6S1Kw7Cuqnu7pFwjPv9r4ABJBBESS9xBOZidwbS008MJ9ljs0RTf2VFLtBCBVKDAncPLOg/w200-h200/A1zTLF3TkvL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>John Mayall</b> - <i>The Sun Is Shining Down</i> (Forty Below Records): The King of British Blues stepped back from touring in late 2021, but he's still recording, releasing this album earlier this year. There are several guest guitarists on this set, including Melvin Taylor, Mike Campbell, and Marcus King, but he's got the phenomenal Carolyn Wonderland playing guitar throughout the session, the latest addition to his band. Mayall recently turned 89, but he sounds like he's got a few more great albums left in him.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pcKPv5ymjY-ZbB5bB6Y_ZdNCGvw3p51aekePpbWIA4VBI6UMA4xo1gWNkMPH4UaJYX6uO0AhFKJqUmxBOoopKWDYd00Mqa6F4tY57K1d-CdKEs2IkuawqNh4cJe5ASyxvRD9Xq0bUS1QeA7-N3_OrxGZSaxQGCmdSZFD3slaPH3qJA6u521IrQGYQ/s355/81wNiXF6lvL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pcKPv5ymjY-ZbB5bB6Y_ZdNCGvw3p51aekePpbWIA4VBI6UMA4xo1gWNkMPH4UaJYX6uO0AhFKJqUmxBOoopKWDYd00Mqa6F4tY57K1d-CdKEs2IkuawqNh4cJe5ASyxvRD9Xq0bUS1QeA7-N3_OrxGZSaxQGCmdSZFD3slaPH3qJA6u521IrQGYQ/w200-h200/81wNiXF6lvL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Delbert McClinton</b> - <i>Outdated Emotion</i> (Hot Shot Records/Thirty Tigers): McClinton also retired from touring last year, but he also continues to record. His 27th studio release is a collection of songs by artists who influenced him over his 65+year career, and it's a ton of fun. Most listeners will know the songs here from Lloyd Price, Jimmy Reed, Hank Williams, Little Richard, John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, plus a few McClinton tracks as well, and they will be singing along having nearly as much fun as McClinton and the band probably did.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95jWhVHYZoMNN9YYiiBlO5UQQSxlUNw__XPk12KAiHUlP5zbp9aW2s8TvobR6WWqo-vRVqTu-yX-7HUQHZiUlb7jRYA6RqIl1pmRckyaNBGirBMD9cP8izLcxZqmVNZu9dkC_zITDYm3X85UtKXfP4zQCjSQ6dAyF2ie0mCCPje5wH6pCsA1uGRGPtQ/s355/51Pt1tIFh2L._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95jWhVHYZoMNN9YYiiBlO5UQQSxlUNw__XPk12KAiHUlP5zbp9aW2s8TvobR6WWqo-vRVqTu-yX-7HUQHZiUlb7jRYA6RqIl1pmRckyaNBGirBMD9cP8izLcxZqmVNZu9dkC_zITDYm3X85UtKXfP4zQCjSQ6dAyF2ie0mCCPje5wH6pCsA1uGRGPtQ/w200-h200/51Pt1tIFh2L._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Larry McCray</b> - <i>Blues Without You</i> (KTBA Records): I've been a fan of McCray's since I heard his 1991 debut. He's had pretty rough luck since the late 90's - most of his releases are out of print and his later recordings are hard to track down, but he's continued to play and perform. Fortunately, he connected with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith and they produced this fantastic comeback, which may be the best example of McCray's artistry to date, covering blues, soul, and rock in equal measures. That thunderous voice and guitar work is as strong as it was 30 years ago and hopefully, this is the beginning of a better streak of luck for this underappreciated blues man.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPNlJ7w2fV3xIQXVLdDs9DYQnB77KhhBgq7i5tPtjpDFPm8Q8GBMZR5XnMN7KxcvK7IMUeJe35ZitvYDhUQIJE6fn1TRRGlFYS5gWHKT3fD3e01gHUU9PchIJythkWvjVY4fA6Xo9Nv5GYV_GBsOvAqRp2jRbMnPreSwBHQbdSyfB6gjaRpNy4MPoCA/s450/yatesmckendreecd.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPNlJ7w2fV3xIQXVLdDs9DYQnB77KhhBgq7i5tPtjpDFPm8Q8GBMZR5XnMN7KxcvK7IMUeJe35ZitvYDhUQIJE6fn1TRRGlFYS5gWHKT3fD3e01gHUU9PchIJythkWvjVY4fA6Xo9Nv5GYV_GBsOvAqRp2jRbMnPreSwBHQbdSyfB6gjaRpNy4MPoCA/w200-h200/yatesmckendreecd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Yates McKendree</b> - <i>Buchanan Lane</i> (Qualified Records): While you listen to this album, and you really should, keep in mind that this young man is 21 years old. McKendree, the son of piano player Kevin McKendree, has released a most impressive album of originals and covers with nods to B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, and Guitar Slim, to just name a few. A talented singer and guitarist, this young man has a bright future and so does the blues world.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAwwIBC870TMqVGjsp-krxneNiU7UhrJjZkl1_2QL34Pma19uWuvMV1RnYy0a58Jf255KTmmRC27Tu722J8K1hlw9tgCnsamB_r77aql3k9Bl4oi5dr4nWMIF__mIOdrsF4dTR6kRLFHi2gqvAYC8pPHWOWmMHWAeBl4fWNeppuKKwxTHPv1Ur0SXXQ/s355/91-CAPtDQ+L._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAwwIBC870TMqVGjsp-krxneNiU7UhrJjZkl1_2QL34Pma19uWuvMV1RnYy0a58Jf255KTmmRC27Tu722J8K1hlw9tgCnsamB_r77aql3k9Bl4oi5dr4nWMIF__mIOdrsF4dTR6kRLFHi2gqvAYC8pPHWOWmMHWAeBl4fWNeppuKKwxTHPv1Ur0SXXQ/w200-h200/91-CAPtDQ+L._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Mississippi Heat</b> - <i>Madeleine</i> (Van der Linden Recordings): Harp master Pierre Lacocque and his associates (including vocalists Inetta Visor and Daneshia Hamilton, guitarists Giles Corey and Michael Dotson) are joined by a host of guest artists (Carl Weathersby, Lurrie Bell, Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, and Johnny Iguana, among others) on this typically excellent set of original tunes.....a true collaborative effort and one of the band's best ever.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR5-4zhTlfMBpnxBQy-QQr4T_LODiK_sPuZ1JcudTUc-GmupyEpZFNZHJYiEeNDWe30bn7V8F5dIrEtPTEd_64eKrHpPTV-jpHrjw-BABBLimibvCSv2ngvv9Jk-TP0kjXNUIiUPviWydF4fwLSyYR8_S-FBwi-kTKyxjCj6xpzDIqkCSHpvVLewXNw/s355/71nkqEe2nyL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR5-4zhTlfMBpnxBQy-QQr4T_LODiK_sPuZ1JcudTUc-GmupyEpZFNZHJYiEeNDWe30bn7V8F5dIrEtPTEd_64eKrHpPTV-jpHrjw-BABBLimibvCSv2ngvv9Jk-TP0kjXNUIiUPviWydF4fwLSyYR8_S-FBwi-kTKyxjCj6xpzDIqkCSHpvVLewXNw/w200-h200/71nkqEe2nyL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>John Nemeth</b> - <i>May Be The Last Time</i> (Nola Blue Records): Nemeth's second appearance on this list finds the singer teaming with Kid Andersen, Elvin Bishop, and Alabama Mike for a stunning session recorded at Greaseland. Nemeth is facing a long recovery from cancer surgery that required reconstruction of his lower jaw and could prevent him from singing and playing harmonica in the future. Nemeth sounds awesome on these tracks, both vocally and on harp, and the supporting cast is fabulous as well. Proceeds from the sales of this album are going toward Nemeth's numerous medical bills, so there's even more incentive to give this one a listen, besides the fact that it's an excellent release.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuXjL-FAjMfaQ-ClMvm4qaHJ9QCuICUghRJx1Bp-dAHhOzODXNsIz8Gy1AMsSsO0P8BQHneaGERx1mD1z1aEhqeXCnVPzFchVshAi6SdWfB44eAlwjKR4JcfgKdkP4Z5oxZLvx20LKZ33cHpwmP7RCQ71Vockpn_p8t_DiiVajDoPZhY_j33LUEVddw/s327/41t6NdeOJCL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuXjL-FAjMfaQ-ClMvm4qaHJ9QCuICUghRJx1Bp-dAHhOzODXNsIz8Gy1AMsSsO0P8BQHneaGERx1mD1z1aEhqeXCnVPzFchVshAi6SdWfB44eAlwjKR4JcfgKdkP4Z5oxZLvx20LKZ33cHpwmP7RCQ71Vockpn_p8t_DiiVajDoPZhY_j33LUEVddw/w200-h200/41t6NdeOJCL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>The Phantom Blues Band</b> - <i>Blues For Breakfast</i> (Little Village Foundation): One of the finest modern blues bands turned out a winner with this year's release, a wide-ranging set of blues and soul covers with guest appearances from Ruthie Foster, Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Salgado, and Kelly Finnigan, whose late father, Mike, was a member (and also appears on one track). These guys have backed nearly everybody that's anybody in the blues world and it's nice that they get to have the spotlight for themselves for a change.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MjPyxEAczw0Hxyud9ZAKzKZ_ouJAe2QLgu1PEIIR0i7TkglLv7oavK4dx7tyawiFS3Xjm9izZ_yI0BLzHOMcQF0BoRNZg-sBIsE07SOsOtXsCiyL54KEbXGEFMB3_jqNSTOuZUTz1qem-8ArC3lCGA67HFEVjAsGkieFnbV-_IZjYAI17RzRFafZxQ/s355/81ytt6l9RhL._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="355" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MjPyxEAczw0Hxyud9ZAKzKZ_ouJAe2QLgu1PEIIR0i7TkglLv7oavK4dx7tyawiFS3Xjm9izZ_yI0BLzHOMcQF0BoRNZg-sBIsE07SOsOtXsCiyL54KEbXGEFMB3_jqNSTOuZUTz1qem-8ArC3lCGA67HFEVjAsGkieFnbV-_IZjYAI17RzRFafZxQ/w200-h181/81ytt6l9RhL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>John Primer </b>- <i>Hard Times</i> (Blues House Productions): Primer has gone from one of the genre's young talents to one of the seasoned veterans of the scene since I started listening to the blues. His latest album is a well-crafted set of traditional and contemporary Chicago blues recorded with his Real Deal Blues Band and a guest appearance from Primer's daughter, Aliya. Primer continues to be a force of nature on the Windy City blues scene.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKceNifR0ZqNqovLYCtuTe6tYRmhajXM_emxgJsUnucoh_vqSFdYb_h_rLjWWTblux_bedc7C_EM65VB_qgG0wlfw3mZOf2QYRZj4B3xMbR0QJd3DmoE1zaWNnJOGT13FwQ56yo3SyEth3qADXtZ_1ccdxS2Bp2yTPOu-ZaItRravkGulsMqS2kzZrbA/s355/71iuxcPrIPL._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="355" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKceNifR0ZqNqovLYCtuTe6tYRmhajXM_emxgJsUnucoh_vqSFdYb_h_rLjWWTblux_bedc7C_EM65VB_qgG0wlfw3mZOf2QYRZj4B3xMbR0QJd3DmoE1zaWNnJOGT13FwQ56yo3SyEth3qADXtZ_1ccdxS2Bp2yTPOu-ZaItRravkGulsMqS2kzZrbA/w200-h180/71iuxcPrIPL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Jose Ramirez</b> - <i>Major League Blues</i> (Delmark Records): Ramirez is definitely in the big leagues after releasing this marvelous album, his Delmark debut. The Costa Rican blues man is joined by the late Jimmy Johnson on what would be his final recording and the Delmark All-Star Band on this stellar set. Ramirez is one of the finest blues guitarist and vocalist currently practicing and this set is just outstanding.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSb__FpXbogbS_8oVtGA7WZ_gLyyTXO5E1q6LL_QWB5ujFJig0XmOYDfwS19q4S9wAiWo1QLLMRvUbD-SgSA3NZsHdHnuOQwI_D0U85m9cQO4iKsvBl1z7Wu8-Pa9KfWB0iJxEYjlwIXtKy8pCNXt7ADss8-51KZkxFPCoOKjS_C3hm0SUnjehlAq9w/s238/310tdIJmvcL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="238" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSb__FpXbogbS_8oVtGA7WZ_gLyyTXO5E1q6LL_QWB5ujFJig0XmOYDfwS19q4S9wAiWo1QLLMRvUbD-SgSA3NZsHdHnuOQwI_D0U85m9cQO4iKsvBl1z7Wu8-Pa9KfWB0iJxEYjlwIXtKy8pCNXt7ADss8-51KZkxFPCoOKjS_C3hm0SUnjehlAq9w/w200-h178/310tdIJmvcL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Silent Partners</b> - <i>Changing Times</i> (Little Village Foundation): In the late 80's, guitarist Mel Brown, drummer Tony Coleman, and bassist Russell Jackson released a fine album that was a forgotten gem. Sadly, Brown passed away in 2009, but Coleman and Jackson added Memphis guitarist Jonathan Ellison for the sequel. He proves to be a worthy successor as guitarist and vocalist. Hopefully, the new trio won't wait another 30 years for their next collaboration.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITbpzftHSglACj8eWc2WWXC2jOapnp6bn9Mb-HRKUtIOnwzYuU9mYvNDMEeBfOPFzE-iGj2hJ8RRKrYOumLB90Fp5gAYW0XMHvRXzflU0fbxg5WB6grhYIsiAtHXxYWhwZSJ2GpEb40V_yGotYVMjr72PEOY44pjo23GNzQabWhAJsMwu8AGWcihRhQ/s355/61+P8POVapL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITbpzftHSglACj8eWc2WWXC2jOapnp6bn9Mb-HRKUtIOnwzYuU9mYvNDMEeBfOPFzE-iGj2hJ8RRKrYOumLB90Fp5gAYW0XMHvRXzflU0fbxg5WB6grhYIsiAtHXxYWhwZSJ2GpEb40V_yGotYVMjr72PEOY44pjo23GNzQabWhAJsMwu8AGWcihRhQ/w200-h200/61+P8POVapL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Angela Strehli</b> - <i>Ace of Blues</i> (New West/Antone's Records): This one brought a big smile to my face. I've always enjoyed Ms. Strehli's powerful vocals on her albums. It's been a while since I've heard anything and this release really hit the spot, as she pays tribute to the songs and musicians who were such an influence throughout her long career. It's a great set of tunes, most of them you'll know, and she and the band have a blast performing them. The liner notes are wonderful, too, loaded with pictures and Strehli's comments about each song and artist.<div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvoxeIxYVH0Yt1sOxCOFcPx2LR99oxGEz1HWgx8RB4Q7pSCfHZMli2vd2zZxo0Jy0s6PV7Ye83tzJGRFxVYhK_qT8SupKwsNPmqx6o7_37xuGZe79FaBFv-SkKgjMOCySpP4UhqlhseugMMc732nzrK7NHSJWAAzn1NGN8xJjLj4LREQEWQGwrxKu5A/s355/71mKGFx1ORL._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="355" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvoxeIxYVH0Yt1sOxCOFcPx2LR99oxGEz1HWgx8RB4Q7pSCfHZMli2vd2zZxo0Jy0s6PV7Ye83tzJGRFxVYhK_qT8SupKwsNPmqx6o7_37xuGZe79FaBFv-SkKgjMOCySpP4UhqlhseugMMc732nzrK7NHSJWAAzn1NGN8xJjLj4LREQEWQGwrxKu5A/w200-h179/71mKGFx1ORL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Demetria Taylor</b> - <i>Doin' What I'm Supposed To Do</i> (Delmark Records): Taylor is the daughter of the late Chicago blues legend Eddie Taylor. Ms. Taylor toiled on this album for two and a half years, dealing with family losses and the pandemic, but it was well worth the wait. She has a smooth, refined vocal delivery that is downright refreshing and she is comfortable singing blues, soul, and R&B. She's also backed by a powerhouse band, including Mike Wheeler, Billy Flynn, and Carlos Showers on guitar.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zEOBuNI-WO-VfhcBxeUmCwAvg1TMBglDI-CoxLKxsrVYYwk1EPT7mM_Q2zvxgiNQf3QeCF7kELLoBHnt9OD8W5WI7Z3VFxU2eOkzampiTrWn729cac0GuC4lMxQKEEKTgI9DfaaW1G-_yRgBlYj5lXjB1M8FRG27D-f1TCnsofmju_sAn84ZYhRb2A/s355/81iBcBVhdTL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zEOBuNI-WO-VfhcBxeUmCwAvg1TMBglDI-CoxLKxsrVYYwk1EPT7mM_Q2zvxgiNQf3QeCF7kELLoBHnt9OD8W5WI7Z3VFxU2eOkzampiTrWn729cac0GuC4lMxQKEEKTgI9DfaaW1G-_yRgBlYj5lXjB1M8FRG27D-f1TCnsofmju_sAn84ZYhRb2A/w200-h200/81iBcBVhdTL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>The Texas Horns</b> - <i>Everybody Let's Roll</i> (Blue Heart Records): Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, John Mills, and Al Gomez return with their third great set of horn-driven blues numbers. They're supported by an all-star cast of guest artists, including Jimmie Vaughan, Anson Funderburgh, Caroline Wonderland, Johnny Moeller, Mike Flanigin, Marcia Ball, Mike Zito, and Guy Forsyth, to name just a few. This is a well-rounded set of tunes that reminded me a lot of the old Black Top Records releases of the 80's and 90's (several of these artists are alumni of the much-missed label). <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzwksiU8GyaQgpOrTimHYD0tb9zSm38yIUgdZVxFDaI6GA0yPGRkrZCZSsKPJ6MBmW8Cji1VCBf3kqoO-okUASVv4WEpPzzdfjucjaJoM6vIytncj1fJQcMIOxygABGqG9SytQTEn-PI9wtfUMe1TvLkzGHYiLzBlt_Uajmq63o-6_6CxOSJGleu9tw/s355/61V75tTrctL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzwksiU8GyaQgpOrTimHYD0tb9zSm38yIUgdZVxFDaI6GA0yPGRkrZCZSsKPJ6MBmW8Cji1VCBf3kqoO-okUASVv4WEpPzzdfjucjaJoM6vIytncj1fJQcMIOxygABGqG9SytQTEn-PI9wtfUMe1TvLkzGHYiLzBlt_Uajmq63o-6_6CxOSJGleu9tw/w200-h200/61V75tTrctL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Dylan Triplett</b> - <i>Who Is He?</i> (VizzTone Records): Last, but certainly not least on my list is this superb release from another 21-year-old, St. Louis vocalist Dylan Triplett. He comes from a musical family and has been singing over half of his life. He has a confidence and maturity of someone twenty years older. This set includes songs from Lonnie Brooks, Jimmy McCracklin, and Marvin Gaye, plus an amazing interpretation of Miles Davis' "All Blues," plus appearances from Christone "Kingfish" Ingram and members of the Phantom Blues Band (bassist Larry Fulcher produced). Triplett is another great young artist making the future of the blues look even brighter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, that's my Top 20. I would love to see yours, so please post in the Comments if you feel so inclined.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to apologize for the lack of posting this year. It's been a tough year, especially the last few months, but hopefully 2023 will be a better year for everyone. Happy New Year to all!<div><div><div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-13034561687995260672022-10-14T00:01:00.013-05:002022-10-14T07:47:11.300-05:00The Do Right Man Live!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1g4uNIli_Zb8JxYB0KBlbQ2sZgk2c614mWwf6JMKNKd7XeWw2Zcq_MCnnqSA1E3BdGty8inoRjj8Ll74CNYzyVpn2aqLCoakPCBxi91caCBkWvmgpQ0m0KYrU_RE183Bu18kOtkiUDAUZcqFSWz2gFi-9CHQpAiwZ4zhcAU5-BZ_jFqOXMobSYywqg/s4032/Dan%20Penn%20Columbus%20October%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1g4uNIli_Zb8JxYB0KBlbQ2sZgk2c614mWwf6JMKNKd7XeWw2Zcq_MCnnqSA1E3BdGty8inoRjj8Ll74CNYzyVpn2aqLCoakPCBxi91caCBkWvmgpQ0m0KYrU_RE183Bu18kOtkiUDAUZcqFSWz2gFi-9CHQpAiwZ4zhcAU5-BZ_jFqOXMobSYywqg/w300-h400/Dan%20Penn%20Columbus%20October%202022.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dan Penn - Columbus, MS 10-8-22 (Photo by Sharon Clarke)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I read about Dan Penn before I ever heard him. I vaguely knew a few of the songs that he was responsible for at the time, but Peter Guralnick's profile of him in <u>Sweet Soul Music</u>, written in the mid-80's, made me want to hear more from him (not to mention a whole bunch of other characters in the book). In the book, he just seemed like a regular guy, sort of self-effacing and with a great, dry sense of humor. He reminded me of a lot of people I grew up around, so I figured he had to be a pretty cool guy. <div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JY3_FVjpMqxiaRQxmTZmXUk1diDDczOxVNRbgEIHiLxx4IFJxt143yB6t3AxBgQpF3mtN40TRjyjWmDmy04epwRdrjDjRsi_gO-oi1MGT3vC5Ede544RkYyqEevLwE0TTszd9RAorTRPo1NkNudiQqtJmqTdXC8o4kUCR1QYeppErthLm1L69B5yjQ/s400/R-2647729-1303317525.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="400" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JY3_FVjpMqxiaRQxmTZmXUk1diDDczOxVNRbgEIHiLxx4IFJxt143yB6t3AxBgQpF3mtN40TRjyjWmDmy04epwRdrjDjRsi_gO-oi1MGT3vC5Ede544RkYyqEevLwE0TTszd9RAorTRPo1NkNudiQqtJmqTdXC8o4kUCR1QYeppErthLm1L69B5yjQ/w200-h199/R-2647729-1303317525.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That album I tracked down in 1987</span></td></tr></tbody></table>I was able to dig a little deeper into his music via the songs he wrote that were recorded by others. For example, James Carr's version of Penn and Chips Moman's "At The Dark End of The Street" just blew me away when I first heard it. </div><div><br /></div><div>For you youngsters, in 1987 I actually had to order a cassette of James Carr's music to hear it since there was no internet, no YouTube, no Spotify, no Amazon Music, etc...., and they certainly didn't play it on the local radio stations. Back then, there wasn't an instant opportunity to hear a song after I read about it, so things are MUCH better and easier now. From there, I checked out many of the other songs that he'd written that were recorded by others, especially a lot of Percy Sledge's songs ("It Tears Me Up" and "Out of Left Field" for starters) and Aretha Franklin's version of "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man."</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the other things Guralnick pointed out in <u>Sweet Soul Music</u> was that Penn's demo versions of these songs were as powerful and soulful as the finished products by other artists. One of the quotes in the book, from Chips Moman, came during a remark about how well Carr performed "At The Dark End of The Street." Moman said, <i>"What would I do if I wanted James to cut one of my songs? Easiest thing in the world. Just get Dan Penn to sing it for him. He'd sing it, and all of a sudden James Carr could sing it. He had to sing it , 'cause Dan sung it so good."</i> Those demos were the stuff of legend in soul circles at that time. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9xBIlcZV4sqyVBPPzhuR7Cq5yNTkHl1qIHZMI_B1kXxHS_qNYr3U4okMTDNzg5B9YjGOxTD2hxdlnrafpS2DlNXQ15H4QYD5Z8GAp6qI2U9xSS6X4048LP4Tjgut0efHUCieQgRQsgi3kpsHqY_Hdk2zacOTZ9zzxSp5NjZtQI5sGgrYpJ71HeZ0JQ/s355/71u76ZSe8CL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9xBIlcZV4sqyVBPPzhuR7Cq5yNTkHl1qIHZMI_B1kXxHS_qNYr3U4okMTDNzg5B9YjGOxTD2hxdlnrafpS2DlNXQ15H4QYD5Z8GAp6qI2U9xSS6X4048LP4Tjgut0efHUCieQgRQsgi3kpsHqY_Hdk2zacOTZ9zzxSp5NjZtQI5sGgrYpJ71HeZ0JQ/w200-h200/71u76ZSe8CL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Penn had tried a solo career with <i>Nobody's Fool</i> in the early 70's, but it didn't sell well, so he went back to working behind the scenes. In the early 90's, he gave it another shot with <i>Do Right Man</i>, an album produced by Guralnick that found the songwriter doing his own versions of some of his finest songs. When I read about it, I ran to my local record store and picked it up and it still gets listened to regularly. He began touring with fellow songwriter/keyboardist Spooner Oldham and that resulted in a live set of his songs being released in 1999 (<i>Moments From This Theatre</i>). </div><div><br /></div><div>A few years later, Penn began self-releasing albums, called his "Demo Series," which he recorded with some of his friends, a mix of old tunes and new one. In 2020, he released <i>Living On Mercy</i>, one of the year's best. Last year, he released a collection of gospel tunes (Penn was born again in the early 80's). In between the Demo Series and <i>Living On Mercy</i>, the UK label Ace released those much-praised demos from the early/mid 60's as <i>The Fame Recordings</i> (two volumes’ worth) and they were everything that had been reported previously.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_5s23s45fcwBliIUG5kcoJ6vRXNR6teuU57hm4r2C2sfcgOWdonc0mpfRA9X-xYu-nj_o2I-Bj45bN8CQXBKPCzPVhywvt3vPq6liS79d6j22JcVJWPV_Tk7CF5BPJUijutu34O7iy6w0YNLdDixtTBDbmz0cPcVwuidoTDVzmU6ksOAsoTOtIkCFA/s355/61dDLChJ-wL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="354" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_5s23s45fcwBliIUG5kcoJ6vRXNR6teuU57hm4r2C2sfcgOWdonc0mpfRA9X-xYu-nj_o2I-Bj45bN8CQXBKPCzPVhywvt3vPq6liS79d6j22JcVJWPV_Tk7CF5BPJUijutu34O7iy6w0YNLdDixtTBDbmz0cPcVwuidoTDVzmU6ksOAsoTOtIkCFA/w199-h200/61dDLChJ-wL._SY355_.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>He still remains active as a writer and a performer, doing solo acoustic shows periodically. I found out a few weeks back that Penn was going to be doing one of those solo acoustic performances about two hours from my house, in Columbus, MS at the Omnova Theatre at the Columbus Arts Council. Well, as soon as I found this out, I snatched up a pair of tickets. I'd never been to the Omnova Theatre, but it sounded like a great opportunity to see one of my musical heroes.</div><div><br /></div><div>When my wife and I arrived at the Omnova Theatre, we were surprised at how small it was....maybe seating about 75. There were probably 60 or so there. It's on the second floor of the Arts Council building, so when we took the elevator to the second floor, Penn was nearly standing in the doorway. He was just talking to some folks that he knew (he only lives about 30 miles away in Vernon, AL). I would estimate that at least half of the people in attendance either were related to him (his wife and sister were there) or knew him personally. He visited with all of them and it was just like a family reunion.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5KfwdxP1HXFIn3ZP_zQAK9G5BcGzepeWsMbJTIRFnZJDp1Nsi7775JbxPoY0NOk1ezCCj4rDzVQrdP-KGuKgDPNYo8klW6Jwa2fQWc3EBqCWxZCYk8DflfpsweSi0G7V2RdiICQtyklH4UPlLjahbz6bVuglZS1gwmjUEOagccE1SrM4hifHHtHuww/s1024/Dan-Penn-Show-Poster-1-663x1024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5KfwdxP1HXFIn3ZP_zQAK9G5BcGzepeWsMbJTIRFnZJDp1Nsi7775JbxPoY0NOk1ezCCj4rDzVQrdP-KGuKgDPNYo8klW6Jwa2fQWc3EBqCWxZCYk8DflfpsweSi0G7V2RdiICQtyklH4UPlLjahbz6bVuglZS1gwmjUEOagccE1SrM4hifHHtHuww/s320/Dan-Penn-Show-Poster-1-663x1024.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>The show was just wonderful. Penn will be 81 next month and he uses a cane to help him get around, but when he sat down in that chair onstage, it was like he was twenty years younger. He played nearly all of his classics, "I'm Your Puppet," "You Left The Water Running," "Sweet Inspiration," "Cry Like A Baby," "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," "I Met Her In Church," "Dark End of the Street," "Zero Willpower,” “A Woman Left Lonely," "Out of Left Field" (requested by a cousin who traveled from New Orleans to hear him), "Nobody's Fool," "Old Folks," "Memphis Women and Chicken," and "I'm Living Good." I know I'm leaving a couple out (he did do a singalong for "The Letter," the hit he produced for the Box Tops), but man, just look at the body of work that he covered in 90 minutes or so.</div><div><br /></div><div>He sounds just as good as he ever has and he played and sang with fire and soul...I know he's done these songs a million times over the years, but you can tell that he LOVES what he's doing as much now as he did when he got started over sixty years ago. He told great stories between songs…. I never knew that he provided the high “girl” background vocal during the wrap-up of “At Thr Dark End Of The Street.” Afterward, I thought I'd walk up and at least shake his hand and tell him what a fan I have been for nearly 40 years, but he was visiting with family and friends (they also talked back and forth between songs....it really was like a family reunion of sorts) and I didn't want to butt in for my little bit, so we headed out on our drive back home.</div><div><br /></div><div>If Dan Penn ever performs close to my area again, I will be there to see him....no question about it. You should do the same. While you're waiting, there are plenty of opportunities to check out his work, either by other artists or by the man himself. Here are a few other selections shown below, but there's more to be found that should be found. You can thank me later.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJq8CDZk9vGf4bC-OSvv1J2LOskC01BqAD--yAxK2oqjLoX57vDtyd_FghRvjoWSjyfl4S_fNOU0v8gkxVJl2j64sWgXWH3LYvFTaAodvA22tQQulXmhwL15bOd_t2cEBsGM8bLvaHVQDtJQ0J3IBYiWDPNfjKKz6wPbcVCNku3UnYcHL_o2DxCQ8gA/s355/71pv+OarMML._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJq8CDZk9vGf4bC-OSvv1J2LOskC01BqAD--yAxK2oqjLoX57vDtyd_FghRvjoWSjyfl4S_fNOU0v8gkxVJl2j64sWgXWH3LYvFTaAodvA22tQQulXmhwL15bOd_t2cEBsGM8bLvaHVQDtJQ0J3IBYiWDPNfjKKz6wPbcVCNku3UnYcHL_o2DxCQ8gA/w200-h200/71pv+OarMML._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Living On Mercy</i> (The Last Record Company) - His latest release from 2020. Some very good new songs mixed in with some older favorites. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhUjEFY7eZz_JaLWdZjBOemAUsGPFPmEns61UQjzC02nH0_rjvdSpu2wmp-2jezZLoj-volNQts3B8f6U2eRMpf56pdorLcsas4VgFL6nK_U-5LBEaH22nVLuUOQKK-vs0vOuHcZ9PYgUg5TCIKA9sFUTGMvuvH8tieUMaEgdQdmtyHnikj0mVlYGkQ/s355/41EtAQ5D6AL._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="355" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhUjEFY7eZz_JaLWdZjBOemAUsGPFPmEns61UQjzC02nH0_rjvdSpu2wmp-2jezZLoj-volNQts3B8f6U2eRMpf56pdorLcsas4VgFL6nK_U-5LBEaH22nVLuUOQKK-vs0vOuHcZ9PYgUg5TCIKA9sFUTGMvuvH8tieUMaEgdQdmtyHnikj0mVlYGkQ/w200-h197/41EtAQ5D6AL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Moments From This Theatre</i> (Proper Records) - Some of his best known songs recorded in Ireland in the late 90's with keyboardist and songwriting partner Spooner Oldham. Comprised most of his set at Columbus last weekend. Great stuff!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmWgoyyecVAx5sUR3uEqbBvMKjtvEOog6YhX3M9snm1Qzpu-U4GJe5IlJki6aRpgz9vX2l4mYEwumSxYbPYECDRER2yLQgoWpJLaNOXtJ-YB3w9WZX3Z4WwlWf2Ju2BMzCtTH8c_4y6b-unZTx6LFHc2lOtkkQqFypk4ZUpUxIbG9KwwBSKd2p4uyQ/s300/418h7Av8cPL.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmWgoyyecVAx5sUR3uEqbBvMKjtvEOog6YhX3M9snm1Qzpu-U4GJe5IlJki6aRpgz9vX2l4mYEwumSxYbPYECDRER2yLQgoWpJLaNOXtJ-YB3w9WZX3Z4WwlWf2Ju2BMzCtTH8c_4y6b-unZTx6LFHc2lOtkkQqFypk4ZUpUxIbG9KwwBSKd2p4uyQ/w200-h200/418h7Av8cPL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Blue Nite Lounge</i> (Dandy Records) - Volume One of Penn's self-released "Demo Series." I've only heard the first two (planning to get the others, plus the gospel set), but both of the ones I already have are worth hearing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qd8Ya7k7ZG8rfQCcn0YpJdBxGbyLWwl8NsuZXdkImU4Tc5Tixy_t2MpvKFFS8PGmRHSUC-yfoCDAyBQgeFNyIOXnn4oHaF6fQVMAJYkAsarnS3DvszSWguxKyiAntUcmA8xttKIvQjvCsZlNS3XABPTEilyvX9HkapDnppGjV9iOrgbZgug6rJkpAA/s219/71EcGR7a2yL._AC_UY218_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="219" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qd8Ya7k7ZG8rfQCcn0YpJdBxGbyLWwl8NsuZXdkImU4Tc5Tixy_t2MpvKFFS8PGmRHSUC-yfoCDAyBQgeFNyIOXnn4oHaF6fQVMAJYkAsarnS3DvszSWguxKyiAntUcmA8xttKIvQjvCsZlNS3XABPTEilyvX9HkapDnppGjV9iOrgbZgug6rJkpAA/w200-h199/71EcGR7a2yL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Sweet Inspiration - The Songs of Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham</i> (Ace - UK Records) - There are several of these collections on Ace Records, but this one has a lot of tunes you may be more familiar with by Penn recorded by other artists you're familiar with. Heck, just get 'em all.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-55892015992549182792022-10-07T00:01:00.001-05:002022-10-07T00:01:00.208-05:00Friday Blues Picks (10/7/22)<div>Sorry if you stopped by last week, but there is a lot going on in the real world for us here in the Magnolia State so we weren't able to make it work. Don't worry, because we are back this week with a couple more new must-hear albums that should be in any blues fans' collection (plus a set of old favorites). </div><div><br /></div><div>This week's picks are star-studded affairs. I'm not always a fan of those types of albums, sometimes the guest stars overwhelm the main artists on these albums, but these two are quite different. The artists releasing these albums primarily work as sidemen, supporting other musicians, so they are used to adapting to the artists they're backing and, WOW, these two recordings are top notch! </div><div><br /></div><div>Bob Corritore was born in Chicago, where he fell in love with the blues at the age of 12 after hearing a Muddy Waters song on the radio. After receiving a harmonica from his younger brother, he began to teach himself how to play and, when he was old enough, he started going to see any blues concert he could find as well as going to Maxwell Street, the open-air market where blues performers often set up on weekends. he eventually was able to join the musicians on Maxwell soon enough, becoming a regular performer. He expanded into music production, starting his own label and recording some of the Windy City musicians. He relocated to Phoenix in the early 80's, where he became a mainstay of the city's blues scene, performing, recording with, and producing other artists as well as hosting his own radio show ("These Lowdown Blues," since the mid 80's). He's recorded numerous albums, all excellent, and appeared on hundreds of others as a guest artist. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVObl0j6NuyRWGBWTwM_Mb1oy7f6R9zPeSxCDuapRP_KYSzFOkS8AvrDtzZ1_Mews2_9qJ26PHPXS9p6crrcFMVPXprsXyF5481VfVG4qS3os-ChBNdxSXLpUr6K8QS7ZL9VNRpw1kkO1VJKxYQG3spr6njV1_1ZgDNiDog618NJE8h1FtP95y0EsBrA/s355/71XY3TDDSqL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVObl0j6NuyRWGBWTwM_Mb1oy7f6R9zPeSxCDuapRP_KYSzFOkS8AvrDtzZ1_Mews2_9qJ26PHPXS9p6crrcFMVPXprsXyF5481VfVG4qS3os-ChBNdxSXLpUr6K8QS7ZL9VNRpw1kkO1VJKxYQG3spr6njV1_1ZgDNiDog618NJE8h1FtP95y0EsBrA/w200-h200/71XY3TDDSqL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Over time, Corritore has amassed a huge archive of recordings from artists who have appeared on his radio show or performed at his music club, The Rhythm Room. He has released several collections of these performances as <b>Bob Corritore & Friends</b>, the most recent being <i>You Shocked Me</i> (VizzTone), which features 16 tracks with a host of contributors, including John Primer, Alabama Mike (four tracks), Diunna Greenleaf, Sugaray Rayford, Willie Buck, Johnny Rawls, Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry, Oscar Wilson, Bob Stroger, Francine Reed, and Jimi "Primetime" Smith on vocals. Also featured are guitarists Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, L.A. Jones, Johnny Rapp, as well as Smith and Primer. There are also over twenty other artists contributing. Of course, Mr. Corritore is accompanying these artists on all the songs with his spot-on harmonica work, always in service of the song. If you haven't checked out any of Corritore's collaborative archive session collections, <i>You Shocked Me</i> is a great place to start, but you will definitely want to hear more afterward.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wW4IwyPAJXI" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-xrrNcuzU2OHTkSO3jxWrzTKxd2DqlLScic_MNgcsDxst5Hu52JRGQRcw_JAoYETpBrlSFQ0SILVBs-drL6KGwdOP2V8pBlGMBIcIQ9Aql7uJMH9C2hm-e6laQIHU6Nil8QTyhyQF87HvO3TwzSVoIhP7QlDiznnZacxXWPw2AF9mYCPiHCxBoCfVQ/s355/81iBcBVhdTL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-xrrNcuzU2OHTkSO3jxWrzTKxd2DqlLScic_MNgcsDxst5Hu52JRGQRcw_JAoYETpBrlSFQ0SILVBs-drL6KGwdOP2V8pBlGMBIcIQ9Aql7uJMH9C2hm-e6laQIHU6Nil8QTyhyQF87HvO3TwzSVoIhP7QlDiznnZacxXWPw2AF9mYCPiHCxBoCfVQ/w200-h200/81iBcBVhdTL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>The Texas Horns</b> (Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff - sax/harmonica/vocals, John Mills - sax, Al Gomez - trumpet) recently released their third album, <i>Everybody Let's Roll</i> (Blue Heart Records). These guys have appeared on numerous albums over the years....I used to hear Kazanoff regularly on most Black Top Records releases....and some of their friends return the favor on this excellent release. The guest list includes Carolyn Wonderland, Anson Funderburgh, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Moeller, Mike Zito, Mike Flanigin, Marcia Ball, and Guy Forsyth. Wonderland sings the title track, a mission statement of sorts for the Horns, with Funderburgh and Mike Keller on guitar, Vaughan plays on a couple of tracks, singing on "Too Far Gone," a hip shuffle, Moeller plays guitar on several tracks, and Forsyth sings on "Die With My Blues On" and the 70's R&B-styled "Prisoner In Paradise." The Horns take center stage on a great set of instrumentals, the Latin-flavored "Apocalypso," a spirited reading of J.B. Lenoir's "J.B.'s Rock," and an inspired cover of the Beatles'(!) "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." Kaz even takes vocals on "Ready For The Blues Tonight," which features Ball on piano. <i>Everybody Let's Roll</i> reminds me of those great Black Top albums back in the day, where it always sounded like everyone poured their heart into every performance and had a ball doing it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FxDlzAnP950" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Way back in the early 90's, I was in a music store and happened upon a cassette of Billy Boy Arnold's VeeJay recordings from the 50's on Charly Records. Charly released a lot of older recordings at bargain prices at the time and it was a good way for a budding blues fan to catch up on some of the music's history. Arnold's were consistently good. He was an excellent singer with a lot of soul in his voice and he learned harmonica from Sonny Boy Williamson (Version 1) as a teenager before joining Bo Diddley's band. He recorded with Diddley on two of his biggest hits, "I'm A Man," and "Bo Diddley," and recorded a few tracks for Checker before signing with VeeJay, where several of his songs became blues standards. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD26DC_4Uhg6XQrRhd1N6EjKAi0nznTNIjvOjyMrFKpkvuwGbmkM0lNgyXoC3lcIFwpfvUQJj4GM3LrT-iXVnyrB19PcnMXh7p2jQLzD7SO5KJAu4JueW0xfI50buGZ8GC9rlnst8Bg6tP2b5TlVvlFjSL-Vt-YhYy7Lp_PY78mcFUHPlv7NlTQ1A7CQ/s355/71hwxaqSUcL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD26DC_4Uhg6XQrRhd1N6EjKAi0nznTNIjvOjyMrFKpkvuwGbmkM0lNgyXoC3lcIFwpfvUQJj4GM3LrT-iXVnyrB19PcnMXh7p2jQLzD7SO5KJAu4JueW0xfI50buGZ8GC9rlnst8Bg6tP2b5TlVvlFjSL-Vt-YhYy7Lp_PY78mcFUHPlv7NlTQ1A7CQ/w200-h200/71hwxaqSUcL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I searched in vain for a CD copy of that Charly Records collection, but when available, they were pretty high dollar, but Jasmine Records came to the rescue once again, releasing <i>Come Back Baby, I Wish You Would</i> late last year. This set includes Arnold's earliest recordings with Cool Records, the Checker recordings (including his five sides with Diddley), and all of his Vee-Jay tracks. Those Vee-Jay sides include "I Wish You Would" (which borrows that famous Bo Diddley beat), "I Ain't Got You," "Don't Stay Out All Night," and "Prisoner's Plea." The backing musicians on these sides include guitarists Diddley, Jody Williams, and Syl Johnson, piano wizards Otis Spann and Sunnyland Slim, drummers Clifton James and Earl Phillips, and bass players Willie Dixon and Mack Thompson (brother of Syl and Jimmy Johnson). One of the things that struck me about these recordings was that Arnold was such a confident and exuberant performer at a young age.....playing behind these stellar musicians certainly had to give him a boost. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Arnold recently released his autobiography, <u>The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold</u> (co-authored by Kim Field), which I haven't read yet, but plan to. If you've not heard his music, and he's recorded frequently over the years.....most recently with Stony Plain in 2014, you are missing out on some great Chicago blues. This set of his earliest recordings is a great place to start.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rohDUIDkD70" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-15569244842914974522022-09-23T00:01:00.001-05:002022-09-23T00:01:00.203-05:00Friday Blues Picks (9/23/22)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Ig1KBTBexCOMRCpyEhjl8zZq4B0bBTK_JQN9IhcJDqmOb_Hw2YPwHYAlfpqFksgz2kc36KIfx1Q2o3ovnzsWxNyprticOIfSeBSvL5FK_SlAZ0chYWs3_8_CQpHzpwIs7MTge_gyPmNwr39_IzFuEK33xDOfQui7NQJ1QNSxqMA9XUhsBtLXuGTUw/s1024/Love-Light-Orchestra-1024x715.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1024" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Ig1KBTBexCOMRCpyEhjl8zZq4B0bBTK_JQN9IhcJDqmOb_Hw2YPwHYAlfpqFksgz2kc36KIfx1Q2o3ovnzsWxNyprticOIfSeBSvL5FK_SlAZ0chYWs3_8_CQpHzpwIs7MTge_gyPmNwr39_IzFuEK33xDOfQui7NQJ1QNSxqMA9XUhsBtLXuGTUw/w400-h279/Love-Light-Orchestra-1024x715.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Love Light Orchestra (John Nemeth at center)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />Several years ago, I was listening to the Beale Street Caravan podcast for the first time. The Caravan spotlights acts from the Memphis area, expanding to the adjacent states from time to time, capturing them in live performances. The first podcast I ever caught was the Love Light Orchestra, a group of Memphis-area musicians who played blues and R&B like the blues legends of the Bluff City played them in the 50's and 60's....Bobby "Blue" Bland, B.B. King, and Junior Parker, to name a few. Their live set just blew me away. The band was phenomenal....most have been playing this brand of blues for a long time, some even serving in Bland's band in the late 80's and 90's.....and their vocalist, John Nemeth, was incredible. <p></p><p>Most blues fans are probably familiar with John Nemeth. I'd heard him on a couple of his previous releases and I really enjoyed his vocals, but he sang these songs, mostly covers of the songs of the era, like he had waited all of his life to sing them. Nemeth got his start in Boise, Idaho with the band Fat John & the 3 Slims before joining up with Junior Watson's band in 2002 while still leading his own band, the Jacks. He later became as formidable a harmonica player as he is a vocalist, which led to him filling in for Sam Myers with Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets. He self-released a couple of albums before relocating from Boise to San Francisco, where he released a couple of albums on Blind Pig Records and ended up recording <i>Memphis Grease</i> in Memphis with the Bo-Keys, <i>Feelin' Freaky</i>, which was produced by Luther Dickinson, and 2020's <i>Stronger Than Strong</i> on Nola Blue Records. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5m_nUAfqc6ZjRDfQdJM0pMHucQD7Ijb4tjY0a-EkU63dyBSB1aigw7OzH3BCd4B8ZQZvd1Df5vLfISMdF0h5ycbhnQODF4PlyecpPhXYF0QvhLXbeUNFJTiyaA2r7xIDa9CTEfuU_CeO2dxrKWMkJtAOwCgxqfltS5b1auyQ7AhYCAOqHcw16jm8g/s425/81IzllKg6mL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5m_nUAfqc6ZjRDfQdJM0pMHucQD7Ijb4tjY0a-EkU63dyBSB1aigw7OzH3BCd4B8ZQZvd1Df5vLfISMdF0h5ycbhnQODF4PlyecpPhXYF0QvhLXbeUNFJTiyaA2r7xIDa9CTEfuU_CeO2dxrKWMkJtAOwCgxqfltS5b1auyQ7AhYCAOqHcw16jm8g/w200-h200/81IzllKg6mL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In between his solo career, Nemeth teamed up with the <b>Love Light Orchestra</b>, who released an excellent self-titled live album recorded in Memphis on Blue Barrel Records in 2017. This year, they followed up with a studio album, <i>Leave The Light On</i>, on Nola Blue Records. This release features nine original tunes written by Nemeth, guitarist Joe Restivo, or trumpet player Marc Franklin, plus a splendid cover of Lowell Fulson's "Three O'Clock Blues." The originals work well in the era the band seeks to pay homage to....Restivo's opener "Time Is Fading Fast" sets the bar pretty high, while Nemeth's "Come On Moon" really puts his talents on full display. The Fulson cover has a Latin flair that works pretty well, and the title track is a sharp boogie shuffle, while "I Must Confess" should get feet moving and "After All" is an ideal Nemeth blues ballad. The band is firing on all cylinders and so is Nemeth. <i>Leave The Light On</i> is a perfect companion to the band's debut and if classic Memphis blues/R&B is one of your favorites, you just have to get your hands on this one!<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FEvJinYGFnI" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the spring of this year, Nemeth was diagnosed with ameloblastoma, a benign, aggressive tumor in his lower jaw which required immediate, specialized surgery, which included a bone graft to regenerate the bone in his jaw to be removed. Basically, Nemeth had his jaw amputated in late May with this procedure and, at this point, it's uncertain if he will be able to sing or play harmonica like he used to.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88Hb3fIhw1qNQQWpoYZjH5sDRBTDrzrSbgR8X9mqtCPwZmZMrF_RUlsU6JZHDBnVKUogUTGkxMCnOyLtjBCbU2CGsSbcAYzPvYIXH5iCllS9nbSF-OUaaIwUZfcu7BG-hnpJFwwUBOib6SEwCqhUvhWNHFh8SfsJzCqaVibAO2302u-ZJzpx7e-7btA/s425/71nkqEe2nyL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88Hb3fIhw1qNQQWpoYZjH5sDRBTDrzrSbgR8X9mqtCPwZmZMrF_RUlsU6JZHDBnVKUogUTGkxMCnOyLtjBCbU2CGsSbcAYzPvYIXH5iCllS9nbSF-OUaaIwUZfcu7BG-hnpJFwwUBOib6SEwCqhUvhWNHFh8SfsJzCqaVibAO2302u-ZJzpx7e-7btA/w200-h200/71nkqEe2nyL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Prior to the surgery, Nemeth recorded <i>May Be The Last Time</i> (Nola Blue Records) with guitarist Kid Andersen hosting the session at his Greaseland studios in California. Andersen brought in legendary guitarist Elvin Bishop and his Big Fun Trio (guitarist/keyboardist Bob Welsh and drummer/percussionist Willy Jordan) and vocalist Alabama Mike to lend a hand and they recorded a set of old and new songs written by Nemeth. The title track, a gospel standard, kicks off the disc with some lyrical modifications from Nemeth. Bishop contributes three originals, including a new version of "Stealin' Watermelons," which he sings. Nemeth does an excellent job on the old J.B. Lenoir tune "Feeling Good," and duets with Jordan on the Wilson Pickett (via the Falcons) classic "I Found A Love." He blows some mean harp on the Junior Wells' blues "Come On In This House," and a raucous read of Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips," before closing with the optimistic "I'll Be Glad."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9TnM_6p1RK0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In order to completely get rid of the tumor, Nemeth had to have most of his teeth removed, but he had a successful stem cell transfer to regenerate his jawbone and will get replacement teeth implants in November. Hopefully, this won't be John Nemeth's last album, even though it's a great one, so keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from this ordeal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OuV79_P8yg_RWBDm7nsniHLOeV9mLnmKWL41f6MxFMEngNVOSI3kAs3KAoYoESbkKAwdoKsbJ88oO-j31cHA8m4ArgeuI-f0QK53cEc5yFgAgDudIUExcfTkPwWcyPb4UsTwSpw4wEKOEAT3dWFsl6D_AInHN6saitLBW8HECKJMSqjFDSvIxUsDAw/s425/51DJxDWZoBL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OuV79_P8yg_RWBDm7nsniHLOeV9mLnmKWL41f6MxFMEngNVOSI3kAs3KAoYoESbkKAwdoKsbJ88oO-j31cHA8m4ArgeuI-f0QK53cEc5yFgAgDudIUExcfTkPwWcyPb4UsTwSpw4wEKOEAT3dWFsl6D_AInHN6saitLBW8HECKJMSqjFDSvIxUsDAw/w200-h200/51DJxDWZoBL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>During one of my recent trips to the Little Big Store in Raymond, MS, I stumbled onto a used copy of <b>Hezekiah and the House Rockers</b>' eponymous album, initially released on High Water and reissued in expanded form in 1998 by Hightone Records. This is probably one of the most interesting blues bands that you'll ever hear....Hezekiah Early plays drums and harmonica (taped to a mic stand), while guitarist James Baker played guitar (mostly like a bass). The trio is rounded out by Leon "Pee Wee" Whitaker, who sings and plays trombone. It's an interesting combination to say the least and there's a lot of great music here that sounds unlike anything else you might have heard. Early has a sparse catalog, a Fat Possum album with Elmo Williams and an album on Broke & Hungry with Robert Lee "Lil Poochie" Watson, but all of them are must-listening. He's featured basically solo on a couple of tracks and it's kind of amazing to hear harmonica and drums and know the same person is playing both instruments. They sort of branch out into an R&B/post-disco hybrid on a few tracks and those are really cool, but they really stand out on the traditional blues, too. It's a most interesting set that a lot of blues fans may have missed the first time (or second time) around, so if you can find a copy, check it out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5RpGrPoe7nQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><p></p></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-22936937358821332042022-09-16T00:01:00.001-05:002022-09-16T00:01:00.190-05:00Traveling Through The Delta - Summer, 2022 Edition<p>More CD reviews next week......this week we'll take a little side trip through the blues. Each summer, my brother and I try to make a day trip through a section of the Land Where The Blues Began, checking out Mississippi Blues Trail markers or grave sites or other blues-related attractions. This year, we opted to travel to Leland and work our way back home through several different towns. </p><p>On the way to Leland, we stopped at Holly Ridge at the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, where Charley Patton was buried in 1934. There are actually three blues men buried in this cemetery on Long Switch Road....Patton, Little Willie Foster, and Asie Payton. All three artists made memorable contributions to the blues. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rI4Qa_WeGmKhxXRsPtA9OZv7FvqUGwaD7aAS-iVMNFObgGPc8TGVSRK9v5vjhlIU6bQlsFz9H6xC4AT_2gn5fTOuM1_X5SJs_nOnKpf7dfgOzp4bP_SBXBGvTe_r06d9sx7CENKUFoAExkvUxMK_aBzdroMAybMGjPXR8gsGU2rZnkQZ2R3OlA2Z4A/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rI4Qa_WeGmKhxXRsPtA9OZv7FvqUGwaD7aAS-iVMNFObgGPc8TGVSRK9v5vjhlIU6bQlsFz9H6xC4AT_2gn5fTOuM1_X5SJs_nOnKpf7dfgOzp4bP_SBXBGvTe_r06d9sx7CENKUFoAExkvUxMK_aBzdroMAybMGjPXR8gsGU2rZnkQZ2R3OlA2Z4A/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8987.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Charley Patton, of course, is considered the "founder" of the Delta blues (his blues marker was the very first one placed) and his recordings are readily available from several different sources. He influenced as many future blues performers with his showmanship as he did with his voice.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKYcTV_yqTj7zd0E2IxLWEBFoFwVSJ6LlZWLnrSJFrQuTXbH39KCvN_ygcO0n-LsnaO7_MSyMY2cDhE3QL_Rusdtw_HaXMSscKOYELptDiFPOkKVLA-yOfrXLOR8NkutEwkH4r43qdfLS3teRb1duGQ_LZIsE5M3nW2rOtNYUsIzvLhnt7T4Ei54rYw/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKYcTV_yqTj7zd0E2IxLWEBFoFwVSJ6LlZWLnrSJFrQuTXbH39KCvN_ygcO0n-LsnaO7_MSyMY2cDhE3QL_Rusdtw_HaXMSscKOYELptDiFPOkKVLA-yOfrXLOR8NkutEwkH4r43qdfLS3teRb1duGQ_LZIsE5M3nW2rOtNYUsIzvLhnt7T4Ei54rYw/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8104.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp56jo_VFzR64WCufZYLtsaR27IbEMZKVf_VjF3qjw1KSzNX9zFh6lWq9F4kmOS1qKtxMdcUyE9OF5YMcfoWGGB-A8cA7kCqDvuziQuEybzSd2aqEqkOYufhAry2Vvmpmd7F75BtPHFU_goNxliUQ6_URE3pFuPTFJnlDQblxDUsXTIhCheWZodRn4Q/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp56jo_VFzR64WCufZYLtsaR27IbEMZKVf_VjF3qjw1KSzNX9zFh6lWq9F4kmOS1qKtxMdcUyE9OF5YMcfoWGGB-A8cA7kCqDvuziQuEybzSd2aqEqkOYufhAry2Vvmpmd7F75BtPHFU_goNxliUQ6_URE3pFuPTFJnlDQblxDUsXTIhCheWZodRn4Q/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8103.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Willie Foster played with many of the genre's local legends.....T-Model Ford, Frank Frost, and Asie Payton, among others. His <i>At Airport Grocery</i> album is essential listening for Delta blues fans.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3lMhRScqEwybXkn1PS1MsOk7YukgKKpDjAEbRdrqUAKtqBIp0bR5Sz5r8qM5o6R_W3LwfeccuJwCte_ffjVq2OFFXxTomU-0g9qodc3XCkcDPmXlHvbts6mBEpVvFhXbXyM5HLC6Xq74eUsCY--66eTcG6AFu4I1xVNr5aPqW3GmOsPtjp4uJfXgog/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3lMhRScqEwybXkn1PS1MsOk7YukgKKpDjAEbRdrqUAKtqBIp0bR5Sz5r8qM5o6R_W3LwfeccuJwCte_ffjVq2OFFXxTomU-0g9qodc3XCkcDPmXlHvbts6mBEpVvFhXbXyM5HLC6Xq74eUsCY--66eTcG6AFu4I1xVNr5aPqW3GmOsPtjp4uJfXgog/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8102.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Asie Payton recorded later in life, spending most of his life driving a tractor.......getting off just long enough to record two memorable albums released posthumously on Fat Possum Records, <i>Worried</i> and <i>Just Do Me Right.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF915a9-iGd_GzMCSg30pGYvI8qiEQPEEQ0-84fDGkgKwFThwIPKIfV2p8Oo0kx9WlTSyj9PmcBmp_-5HtJ6K8roQgDWboL-yLJtC-VF6CeXiqmpsGXdzL2d73f4eFK4UbS5BZRovsOGL_yF4GeZZkKyhcwDI8VdxvLSaE9ypxqjVhDFDUh79CN3YJQ/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF915a9-iGd_GzMCSg30pGYvI8qiEQPEEQ0-84fDGkgKwFThwIPKIfV2p8Oo0kx9WlTSyj9PmcBmp_-5HtJ6K8roQgDWboL-yLJtC-VF6CeXiqmpsGXdzL2d73f4eFK4UbS5BZRovsOGL_yF4GeZZkKyhcwDI8VdxvLSaE9ypxqjVhDFDUh79CN3YJQ/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8107.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A few miles away, we found a blues marker for Jimmy Reed, located near his birthplace on Dunleith Plantation. Reed grew up here and developed his signature sound (he had more hits on the pop charts than any other bluesman) with Eddie Taylor (see last week's post). His songs have been covered by countless blues artists.</div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>We found several markers in Leland....we had intended to visit the Highway 61 Museum downtown, but it was closed, and has been for quite some time....not sure why. The markers we located were for Johnny Winter (whose dad was a native of Leland, actually served as mayor), Tyrone Davis (whose aunt and uncle ran a store where Davis' marker is located), and James "Son" Thomas. We also traveled down to Bogue Memorial Cemetery, south of Leland to see Thomas' grave. Sadly, the headstone had been knocked over recently. We missed a few markers in Leland, but we'll go back through and catch those later.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x8ShC1_b84RdPxHDKfNUA9pvjv67A0SXZY4CRXDRs3IRzkTH3L45Wp-IFqW0NLLuVDLGsIh5yrrJPQa8MKh2LwI8ZyfV8pXg9O7Ht-VHwQMr1fx8fSqTW86ePnY499LViguxnSvV92Zm4uYjYPEP9C3wmTp3BWWPsXsthkE-m-CNBFTBXsvqmMNxFQ/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x8ShC1_b84RdPxHDKfNUA9pvjv67A0SXZY4CRXDRs3IRzkTH3L45Wp-IFqW0NLLuVDLGsIh5yrrJPQa8MKh2LwI8ZyfV8pXg9O7Ht-VHwQMr1fx8fSqTW86ePnY499LViguxnSvV92Zm4uYjYPEP9C3wmTp3BWWPsXsthkE-m-CNBFTBXsvqmMNxFQ/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8992.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Johnny Winter made his mark in the blues and rock genres, with a lengthy stint for Columbia Records in the late 60's through the late 70's, plus recordings for Alligator in the 80's, Point Blank in the 90's, and continued to record until he passed away in 2014. He also produced Muddy Waters' final albums in the late 70's/early 80's.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bu4pJNfu1aR1mziZgwtl645iIwnrT-fSUR0KYuUOScM_OrE5SUumxhcnbDOPC8wCWykEAtwlLjwW6Nj7Nr29gU5nHYAHl9THst21cudbYWWid8CqByHYWd40BbdSiM34JSzXtBcZTrCtaSpkqH8-ANHLfjC7eKiAUcqTVnuVpz4WWfb9EEzDa38Usw/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bu4pJNfu1aR1mziZgwtl645iIwnrT-fSUR0KYuUOScM_OrE5SUumxhcnbDOPC8wCWykEAtwlLjwW6Nj7Nr29gU5nHYAHl9THst21cudbYWWid8CqByHYWd40BbdSiM34JSzXtBcZTrCtaSpkqH8-ANHLfjC7eKiAUcqTVnuVpz4WWfb9EEzDa38Usw/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8110.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Tyrone Davis was a major figure in the soul genre, recording such hits as "Turn Back The Hands Of Time," "Turning Point," and "Can I Change My Mind," all number one hits. He made his mark on the blues and soul charts from the late 60's until shortly before his death in 2005.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHFxaD8hEcSlymL4xWWJtxpE47CxAIj4W_1nz6haVbdG1e8iup-oEXRRTipYius4-WLkzFCxSYlnupIUhOuxei9JcxxijUBaTskxAV6i_6sMSA0E79CrBPWOuod6uLdzFV21hVNmr2jkLWfG8lpJeOnqdliJj_YZ2ttIhATxQYR8hD8T3_l8gxPF_lg/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHFxaD8hEcSlymL4xWWJtxpE47CxAIj4W_1nz6haVbdG1e8iup-oEXRRTipYius4-WLkzFCxSYlnupIUhOuxei9JcxxijUBaTskxAV6i_6sMSA0E79CrBPWOuod6uLdzFV21hVNmr2jkLWfG8lpJeOnqdliJj_YZ2ttIhATxQYR8hD8T3_l8gxPF_lg/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8994.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>James "Son" Thomas' marker is in front of the old Montgomery Hotel in Leland, where Thomas worked as a porter. In addition to being a musician, he was also a folk sculptor and his primitive art was very popular (his son, Pat, is also a musician and sculptor in the Leland area). He recorded several fine albums during his lifetime, including my favorite, <i>Beefsteak Blues</i>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHa1JzWWfVeuEeh0VbZt9vRoJyt8ZTIJ1MGNi7BZKbDbEjErcIsDt9wCXhdmvoAGRQEuofsLoVmjZyoLEeexHZuRSY5l6AgUkiGgzpqY5HR8AnlmlQmOWMW-_9P5XdzKUvvIcgGj7HGjvo3rXcHcAWLCCeAPH5oLnrOhU36TCZDut2R_Lf-AEqzwFO8A/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHa1JzWWfVeuEeh0VbZt9vRoJyt8ZTIJ1MGNi7BZKbDbEjErcIsDt9wCXhdmvoAGRQEuofsLoVmjZyoLEeexHZuRSY5l6AgUkiGgzpqY5HR8AnlmlQmOWMW-_9P5XdzKUvvIcgGj7HGjvo3rXcHcAWLCCeAPH5oLnrOhU36TCZDut2R_Lf-AEqzwFO8A/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8111.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We were disappointed to find Thomas' headstone in such dire straits. During our travels, I've found several blues markers that have been vandalized, but this was the first headstone I'd seen like this. I'm assuming that it was just kids being kids.....Thomas' marker was the largest in the cemetery and that was probably what attracted the attention.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEtDbztHVTeX5Mg43xCSbDHu8y3Qi2goL01xhizaOnilX2wCSTRQn4JhfPL-vcthpbILMDp49AqG-7UBGWnO5zTtRaa5is6YIrcRz3tFMrMqcPn_8-1-08NLaGOuYmJ6PSe3Q7oVYU9PXTscwW31cDTcjxJmIqmYyVPYctaHONHFQIRIvc_XOqBxAow/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEtDbztHVTeX5Mg43xCSbDHu8y3Qi2goL01xhizaOnilX2wCSTRQn4JhfPL-vcthpbILMDp49AqG-7UBGWnO5zTtRaa5is6YIrcRz3tFMrMqcPn_8-1-08NLaGOuYmJ6PSe3Q7oVYU9PXTscwW31cDTcjxJmIqmYyVPYctaHONHFQIRIvc_XOqBxAow/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8112.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>From Leland, we ventured south on Highway 61 to Hollandale, where we found Sam Chatmon's blues marker in the middle of town. Chatmon played and recorded with his brothers during the 1930's....the Mississippi Sheiks, who were based in Hinds County. He spent most of his life in Hollandale and later launched a solo career in the 1960's. Some of his recordings can be heard on the Arhoolie collection <i>I Have To Paint My Face</i>. He is also buried in Hollandale, but we didn't realize that until after we had gotten home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56YGwQd0Hzs1cWaxmAHrtKrIaf3UBr3R0uf0QZMKDznGCTLCPU3p75STpEqOODMlHGzo_esY1_Rud0-VHmbbOBtpchKxNus3Fau4SD1D63cl81OPapZn0heo307EMCkGn_1fIVSY-sasAepY6WBdUPBHK-7BRF_kOn21J567fAu972NggEBSWp6_Bsg/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_8114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56YGwQd0Hzs1cWaxmAHrtKrIaf3UBr3R0uf0QZMKDznGCTLCPU3p75STpEqOODMlHGzo_esY1_Rud0-VHmbbOBtpchKxNus3Fau4SD1D63cl81OPapZn0heo307EMCkGn_1fIVSY-sasAepY6WBdUPBHK-7BRF_kOn21J567fAu972NggEBSWp6_Bsg/s320/thumbnail_IMG_8114.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>South of Hollandale on 61 is Rolling Fork, which Muddy Waters claimed as his birthplace. If you're reading this, you don't really need to be told about Muddy Waters, do you? Waters was influenced by many Delta artists, notably Patton, Robert Johnson, and Son House, but that's really just scratching the surface.....maybe we'll explore his influences more deeply in future posts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2JOELc9pH96ENZeoldHDGz-e1goeqFvpoMKJkTmVcxeDQdNxC9RqSrb-LDTpgFfi2ZV2AxhVAZX7pry1ZjkO0HDO-yJP8-uBvIifDSs6ufQv-Zlw_GZH2UpYLr1y4Hb0xPaVYh7W_NCTFv5-913ZIJl7VDiPdVbinFS-0ASwzq16aPG5p50BTQHndw/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_9002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2JOELc9pH96ENZeoldHDGz-e1goeqFvpoMKJkTmVcxeDQdNxC9RqSrb-LDTpgFfi2ZV2AxhVAZX7pry1ZjkO0HDO-yJP8-uBvIifDSs6ufQv-Zlw_GZH2UpYLr1y4Hb0xPaVYh7W_NCTFv5-913ZIJl7VDiPdVbinFS-0ASwzq16aPG5p50BTQHndw/s320/thumbnail_IMG_9002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The town of Rolling Fork (which has some other history involving the Teddy Bear) has a nice little park dedicated to Waters, where the blues marker is located (background) and this neat little sculpture.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, it was a very eventful trip and we got to see a lot of sites that we had not seen before. Unfortunately, we didn't get to check out the Highway 61 Museum as planned and we had problems finding a good place to eat (we were either too early or too late coming through). We're already excited about our next blues journey and we might even go earlier than planned.</div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-62719197323232816512022-09-09T00:01:00.001-05:002022-09-09T00:01:00.204-05:00Friday Blues Picks (9/9/22)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJBHere1YdskknsbhNeVPuFIYE6zprnr_l1WW4U1eIhPGQekDUbz2-ftlKaaJ1Xwtt7Swodljk-f1b6YJ43yqBvQbe8Qk-8EjKXrxxkTWu9Qo4tckDd39SGeKvIaudpTgvX1KNSo2hjPUfBNw-83viR81Q2u-cRqgfYN9BXDZVO2f12GnMwNo1dGNug/s425/51Pt1tIFh2L._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJBHere1YdskknsbhNeVPuFIYE6zprnr_l1WW4U1eIhPGQekDUbz2-ftlKaaJ1Xwtt7Swodljk-f1b6YJ43yqBvQbe8Qk-8EjKXrxxkTWu9Qo4tckDd39SGeKvIaudpTgvX1KNSo2hjPUfBNw-83viR81Q2u-cRqgfYN9BXDZVO2f12GnMwNo1dGNug/w200-h200/51Pt1tIFh2L._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>When I first started listening to the blues in the mid 80's, the music was beginning to gain momentum among listeners, thanks to the efforts of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Cray, and a few others.....so much so that some of the major labels began signing and recording blues artists on their own of their subsidiary labels. In the late 80's/early 90's, Virgin Records released several blues albums on their Point Blank label, including a 1990 release from <b>Larry McCray</b>, an Arkansas native who found his way to Michigan and managed to play the blues when he wasn't working at General Motors. <i>Ambition</i> was a marvelous set that McCray recorded in a friend's basement in Detroit, a heady mix of blues, rock and soul highlighted by his robust guitar work and equally tough vocals. He managed several more albums during the decade, including one for the late House of Blues label, all top quality, before the label woes of the late 90's hit. He managed a couple of recordings on his own Magnolia Records label, but they suffered from distribution issues. He also battled health issues and issues with management, but he never stopped performing. Fortunately, he connected with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, who probably wondered the same thing other blues fans were wondering......why in the world is Larry McCray not making records??!!! <div><br /></div><div>Thanks to their efforts, Larry McCray is back on the radar with his first album in seven years, <i>Blues Without You</i>, on Bonamassa's Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA) label. "Arkansas" is a blues rocker tribute to McCray's native state and it shows from the very beginning of the disc that McCray hasn't lost an inch off his fastball as a singer or guitarist. "Good Die Young" is a more traditional blues with Reese Wynans on piano. Warren Haynes contributes slide guitar to the inspirational "Down To The Bottom," Chicago guitarist Joanna Connor guests on "Drinkin' Liquor and Chasin' Women," and Bonamassa guests on the funky "Mr. Easy," exchanging fiery solos with McCray. "Breaking News" and "No More Crying" show McCray's soulful side quite effectively, too, while "I Play The Blues" closes the disc with McCray solo and acoustic. I have to say that <i>Blues Without You</i> is one of my favorites of the year so far. McCray sounds like he's making up for lost time.....maybe he is.....and hopefully, there's more where this one came from. <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/myfvbX1lHRQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBG7qez2wm-8wTuGLKzcyf8Ciw-j0sfrUK3V5ox0lEDY4idXOGs57P1zOTUK6sOc-itbnXp5g80hNAkWiMI0AwXr-TqQx79v3oac1xjF-ZhPLLxpCo8Na3xM652BX6CheGM8ZLA1_noJYCEllXXftvdaSDvMbiWrPoxCq9OZcdrSdEB4zhHQ5EyWdemg/s425/91oYCoXE5OL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBG7qez2wm-8wTuGLKzcyf8Ciw-j0sfrUK3V5ox0lEDY4idXOGs57P1zOTUK6sOc-itbnXp5g80hNAkWiMI0AwXr-TqQx79v3oac1xjF-ZhPLLxpCo8Na3xM652BX6CheGM8ZLA1_noJYCEllXXftvdaSDvMbiWrPoxCq9OZcdrSdEB4zhHQ5EyWdemg/w200-h200/91oYCoXE5OL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Taylor family is one of the legendary blues families of Chicago. Guitarist Eddie Taylor was born in Mississippi and taught Jimmy Reed to play guitar. He later served as Reed's rhythm guitarist for many years, along with playing sessions for numerous other Chicago artists and releasing several essential solo sides himself in the late 40's/early 50's (see below). He passed away in 1985, but some of his family followed in his musical footsteps, including his late wife Vera, who was a singer/songwriter, his late son Eddie, Jr., who was a singer/guitarist, his stepson Larry, who is a drummer and singer, and his daughter, <b>Demetria Taylor</b>, who is a fine vocalist who recently released her second album on Delmark Records, <i>Doin' What I'm Supposed To Do</i>. It took about two and a half years to record this album.....the pandemic happened for starters and Ms. Taylor also lost her son in 2021 after losing her brother Eddie, Jr. in the spring of 2019, but she persevered and turned in a marvelous album that features guitarists Mike Wheeler, Carlos Showers, and Billy Flynn, with bassist Larry Williams, drummer Pookie Styx, and keyboardist Brian James, with a guest appearance from fellow vocalist Deitra Farr (who also wrote the liner notes). </div><div><br /></div><div>Ms. Taylor's approach to the blues is different from many female vocalists today.....she's not really a screamer or growler, opting for a more polished, smoother delivery and it's a really nice change of pace that I enjoyed listening to. The twelve tracks travel between traditional blues, soul and R&B, which perfectly suits her. Wheeler and Williams wrote six songs, including the funky shuffle "Baby Be Good," "Bad Girl Day," the feisty title track, and "I'm Gonna Tell It," which has a nice West Side soul feel (she also covers Magic Sam's "You Belong To Me"). Taylor also covers three family tunes, her dad's "83 Highway" is a terrific straight blues opener, while Eddie, Jr.'s "Welfare Blues" is a keeper, too, and her mother's "Blues Early This Morning" features Ms. Farr on co-lead vocals. Taylor contributes two of her own tracks, the spicy shuffle "Nursing My Kitty Cat" and the jaunty R&B closer, "Young Gun Taylor." It's nice to know that the Taylor blues tradition will continue unabated with Demetria Taylor and one can only hope that she won't go another twelve years between releases. </div><div><br /></div><div>BTW, Taylor just won the Koko Taylor Queen Of The Blues Award for 2022, given by the Jus' Blues Foundation.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X9FyBi_AD58" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgQIjXJDs2WPFQ-eGq2Ez5Op43NJEbCFJrHS7jfWHGQIQDoinl7rCe65nFeI_y9gxowSiWiiIO9iKMd42x_9yTKnKM8ny5CtTc540kjonizWOhYZPIa091HSKGn6qbh6RKoPFMSLj_nt8kVyR7y1tMKrKDFkcRfL5-oBxRSm8hFyzI4e4wtm04PPQ-g/s425/81WavIz9ykL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgQIjXJDs2WPFQ-eGq2Ez5Op43NJEbCFJrHS7jfWHGQIQDoinl7rCe65nFeI_y9gxowSiWiiIO9iKMd42x_9yTKnKM8ny5CtTc540kjonizWOhYZPIa091HSKGn6qbh6RKoPFMSLj_nt8kVyR7y1tMKrKDFkcRfL5-oBxRSm8hFyzI4e4wtm04PPQ-g/w200-h200/81WavIz9ykL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div>Back to <b>Eddie Taylor</b>.... he is certainly one of the unsung heroes of the classic Chicago blues sound. He held together many of the Vee-Jay recordings of Jimmy Reed with his rhythm guitar, of course, but he also played on many other classic sides of that era. He also found time to record a few of his own legendary tracks for Vee-Jay, the most memorable ones being "Big Town Playboy," "Bad Boy," "Ride 'Em On Down," and "I'm Gonna Love You." Sadly, his own records didn't sell as well, but they were definitely influential among his fellow musicians, as blues fans still hear covers of these songs some sixty-plus years after their release. He eventually resurfaced as a front man in the late 60's/early 70's with several excellent recordings before passing away on Christmas Day in 1985.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jasmine Records has collected some of Taylor's mid-50's recordings in <i>Eddie Taylor In Session: Diary Of A Chicago Bluesman 1953-1957</i>. During that time period, Taylor recorded behind a host of Chicago's finest.....Reed ("Ain't That Loving You Baby"), John Brim ("Ice Cream Man"), Sunnyland Slim ("Going Back To Memphis"), Floyd Jones ("Schooldays On My Mind"), John Lee Hooker ("Dimples"), and Little Willie Foster ("Falling Rain Blues"). This album has 29 songs, including the above-mentioned tracks, plus Taylor's own ten recordings for Vee-Jay, which until this set came out were only available on a 90's-era out-of-print CD from Charly Records that fetched a pretty penny. When you hear Taylor's own sides, you can't help but wonder what might have been had he been able to catch a break. He was a most versatile guitarist and was the secret weapon behind Reed's classic sound and recordings......probably the better musician as well, but Reed's sound was what grabbed the people, who want what they want. Regardless, Taylor's recordings are essential listening for anyone who likes traditional Chicago blues and this is the best place to get them in one spot.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W17MUdnc5c4" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div> </div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-43947852029525848822022-09-02T00:01:00.040-05:002022-09-02T20:18:53.528-05:00Friday Blues Picks (9/2/22)<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week, we are introducing a new topic at FBF called "Friday Blues Picks," where we recommend a couple of new albums for blues fans, along with an oldie but a goodie that covers blues from the past. There's a lot of great new releases out there, so let's check out a couple!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDK8jyMuIm8RFNwwFc9LgUnVvC9Vvv4tkAcnraeaYqZjMkjkA1VeEPzjsRfnQua8jLd2JsjoxE_ye5dxXjiH93WogOghqu6PnXBZ0JFFZZ8n7nwBv47Q67wy1wnvTJmpRnAkKsb1xc289uY0TmLleynRgkQ-Wlt7z8CRIz9oRtnlMgYpdHzFXwFeY-A/s640/Record-Store-Day-Gear-Patrol-Lead-Full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDK8jyMuIm8RFNwwFc9LgUnVvC9Vvv4tkAcnraeaYqZjMkjkA1VeEPzjsRfnQua8jLd2JsjoxE_ye5dxXjiH93WogOghqu6PnXBZ0JFFZZ8n7nwBv47Q67wy1wnvTJmpRnAkKsb1xc289uY0TmLleynRgkQ-Wlt7z8CRIz9oRtnlMgYpdHzFXwFeY-A/w400-h400/Record-Store-Day-Gear-Patrol-Lead-Full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I finally got so far behind on my reviews for Blues Bytes that I had to "reset," which meant starting fresh and leaving my stack of review CDs (over 100) behind. I hated to not review any and all albums sent to me, but things have been so hectic in my and my family's life for at least six years that I was just unable to catch up, so I do apologize to all those folks who submitted albums for review over the past year (I was at least 15, probably 18 months behind), but it just wasn't meant to be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>As it is, I still have problems getting through all of the ones I'm being sent now, and some of the ones I get are also sent to other reviewers at Blues Bytes, so we try not to double up. What that means is that I can squeeze some of those albums in at Friday Blues Fix from time to time (hopefully at least monthly) under "Friday Blues Picks." </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7xdqbq6Jhek5naZ8fPKTRtxO5OnDDv9hVpLMhotyZq39QqCGlvrgYczS1VO3nUoZyJewmedvliMo3exDDbOopyI76eTnkFutoCM8t9pShFjmo6vuQAzgqGjCmQUqvmOrh9XpEbw16Y7EmIJYwQ14Vb1dXFDieLgM26xG1Ek1d-piuJ7kv-pttnPRgg/s425/61V75tTrctL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7xdqbq6Jhek5naZ8fPKTRtxO5OnDDv9hVpLMhotyZq39QqCGlvrgYczS1VO3nUoZyJewmedvliMo3exDDbOopyI76eTnkFutoCM8t9pShFjmo6vuQAzgqGjCmQUqvmOrh9XpEbw16Y7EmIJYwQ14Vb1dXFDieLgM26xG1Ek1d-piuJ7kv-pttnPRgg/w200-h200/61V75tTrctL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>First up is a remarkable album from a young (21 years old) man named <b>Dylan Triplett</b>. He's from St. Louis and comes from a musical family.....his father and uncle are both jazz musicians. He began singing at age 9 and his vocals have a maturity and confidence of someone twenty years older. He's equally suited for the blues and soul genres, as displayed on his debut album, <i>Who Is He?</i> (VizzTone Records). The album was produced by Larry Fulcher of the Phantom Blues Band and includes a host of guest musicians , including fellow Phantoms Johnny Lee Schell, Joe Sublett, and the late Mike Finnigan, as well as guitarists Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Sean McDonald, Tru Born, and Dr. Wayne Goins. The song list is mostly covers, but Triplett wrote two very good songs......"Junkyard Dog" (listen below) and the slow burner "I'll Be There Waiting." The covers are a diverse lot, ranging from Bill Withers' soulful title track, Lonnie Brooks' "Feels Good Doin' Bad," Jimmy McCracklin's "She Felt Too Good," and the Marvin Gaye hit "That's The Way Love Is." The most interesting track is the album closer, Miles Davis' "All Blues," which features Triplett scat singing, showing that he could find a place in the jazz market as well. A fine debut release from a young man with a bright future.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qvIt1z8Wsyw" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEhuJcbaeyKGE4X0fMT2isGcLB9dIzoj4LatjChlCOu-KQRX2TcKmaYc93Lj6kfseB0cqgKck74eaWgPMYgNwy11WyNq0SwazyGCnY2K_r7UC08GEWKS2IZQPAuxcb7gO0Gexpmx9bG6XZBdgds7XRs1lx53ZY4rxXdlfUyOTzc_ViJNWLOsckGnWZg/s425/615-cgbYKUL._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEhuJcbaeyKGE4X0fMT2isGcLB9dIzoj4LatjChlCOu-KQRX2TcKmaYc93Lj6kfseB0cqgKck74eaWgPMYgNwy11WyNq0SwazyGCnY2K_r7UC08GEWKS2IZQPAuxcb7gO0Gexpmx9bG6XZBdgds7XRs1lx53ZY4rxXdlfUyOTzc_ViJNWLOsckGnWZg/w200-h200/615-cgbYKUL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I was a late arrival to the <b>North Mississippi Allstars</b>. Truthfully, I didn't really get into them until I saw them live at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian, MS back in 2014, just off the release of their <i>World Boogie Is Coming</i> album. Where that set was mostly acoustic, most of their recordings are definitely classified as "Brave New Blues," mixing rock, funk, punk, hip-hop, and whatever other genres they're into at the time. They've released several albums since then, and I can say that they are constantly moving forward with their sound, never really falling back on where they have come from. <i>Set Sail</i> (New West Records) follows that tradition. The Dickinson brothers are still in place, of course, but there are a few new faces, such as vocalists Lamar Williams, Jr. (son of the late Allman/Sea Level bassist). gospel singer Sharisse Norman, and soul legend William Bell. The band's sound goes from swampy funk and blues (the title track and the shimmering "Bumpin'"), greasy Memphis-flavored soul ("Never Want To Be Kissed," a tour de force from Bell), and dusty, sweaty Delta blues ("Rabbit Foot"). I was not familiar with Williams or Norman, but their vocals are most impressive and Luther Dickinson's guitar work is right where it needs to be on every song every time. Most impressive to these ears was the incredible William Bell, 82 years old, who sounds just as sharp and vibrant as he did in the 60's on his Stax recordings (I saw him at the Riley Center about five years ago and he was amazing). His lone contribution to the album is "Never Want To Be Kissed," and, oh my, it's magnificent, but trust me, you'll be listening to all of <i>Set Sail</i> over and over again.....it's gotten plenty of repeat listens on my player over the summer......just a nice set of southern music that goes down very nicely.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zfyCaOUxMQM" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4SXjWpY8dSj2T4gh07DBEPX2mpSu2qb3QSn0SGkmQETVnMioJsKbpSTPq6HJnMBEJ0WRCoeNF2WzcVvGVOYKNV3vhlh3pmN06IB9RnyKUqQP3jDKcGhMTT0gYTQNPWmWL22HHlGWYf5zGtGt0W3_L2HLD2Yx_6JkpTko_6NEw-pun3rBgeK3sTIoLg/s355/81rlPHYrxUL._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="355" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4SXjWpY8dSj2T4gh07DBEPX2mpSu2qb3QSn0SGkmQETVnMioJsKbpSTPq6HJnMBEJ0WRCoeNF2WzcVvGVOYKNV3vhlh3pmN06IB9RnyKUqQP3jDKcGhMTT0gYTQNPWmWL22HHlGWYf5zGtGt0W3_L2HLD2Yx_6JkpTko_6NEw-pun3rBgeK3sTIoLg/w200-h199/81rlPHYrxUL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>One more before we go....I discovered Jasmine Records, a U.K. label a couple of years ago. They collect music from many years back in a variety of genres, but their blues collections are super, whether they collect a single artist's music or an anthology set. I will be talking about several of these collections over the next few months, but I wanted to start out with a particularly strong anthology called <i>Lone Star Guitar Attack: The Kings of Texas Guitar</i>. This set features 30......yes, THIRTY....sides of the toughest Texas guitar from the 1950's and 60's. There are some familiar names present, such as Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (three of his hottest tracks for Peacock, Long John Hunter (four tracks from Yucca Records), and Albert Collins (two tracks each from Kangaroo Records and Hall-Way Records, plus two previously unreleased tracks backing Peppermint Harris), but the real finds here are from less-familiar artists, like Clarence Garlow, Goree Carter (whose 1949 side "Rock Awhile" might just be the first rock n' roll record), Jesse Thomas, Ray Sharpe, and Clarence and Cal Green. If you're in the market for some smoking Texas guitar, this is the place to start......just a fantastic collection.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZlESMXHFfY" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, that's all for now. You now have assigned listening for the weekend. We'll be back in a week or two with more Friday Blues Picks, so stay tuned.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-8691581440043941112022-05-20T00:01:00.001-05:002022-05-20T00:01:00.207-05:00In Case You Missed Him - Richard "Hacksaw" Harney<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZag2iChSCeNtV3XhqCxSYWA9OM_IR9qi7wIi9WYUdxYSORbUBwcFfa8CNzLO5cQq7lwvKsb6Mz5kzT53dyi2pxceC5xNXc6g9raKyDeNosyBkCzFBB5_8WqpBXfFKRIhP8lb91pvUvtD-hrjcLz6cNjln23N3kEqN7FY7ncwbh1rekfDePN0jFs5wNA/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZag2iChSCeNtV3XhqCxSYWA9OM_IR9qi7wIi9WYUdxYSORbUBwcFfa8CNzLO5cQq7lwvKsb6Mz5kzT53dyi2pxceC5xNXc6g9raKyDeNosyBkCzFBB5_8WqpBXfFKRIhP8lb91pvUvtD-hrjcLz6cNjln23N3kEqN7FY7ncwbh1rekfDePN0jFs5wNA/w400-h225/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Richard "Hacksaw" Harney</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A while back, I was re-reading an interview of Robert Lockwood, Jr. in <u>Living Blues</u> magazine from 1995. It was a most comprehensive interview, with Lockwood covering a lot of ground about his life from his beginnings to his sixty-plus years of playing and recording music. Of course, he talked at length about Robert Johnson, who took up with Lockwood's mother for an extended period of time, returning time and time again to see her. Lockwood said that Johnson "didn't chase no women; women chased him," but his mother didn't chase Johnson, which probably made her more intriguing to him. Lockwood said Johnson would leave for a few months, but always came back and brought her money and he "treated her like a queen."</p><p>Lockwood also learned a lot of guitar from Johnson, who was notoriously secretive about his guitar playing, often turning his back when he played with other guitarists, which was rare. Although Lockwood rarely played in Johnson's style for many years, preferring his brand of loose, swinging jazz-inflected blues, he learned a lot of the older man's music (mainly, he admitted, because Johnson was living in the house with his mother) and in the interview, he also cited who he felt were some of Johnson's biggest musical influences....Son House, Willie Brown, and "Hacksaw" Harney.</p><p>You can be forgiven if you've never heard of "Hacksaw Harney," but he was well-known in the Mississippi Delta of the 30's and 40's. In the LB interview, Lockwood says...</p><p></p><blockquote>"Really, I think that's where Robert (Johnson) got a lot of his ideas from. I think that Hacksaw was a big influence with Robert. He just played the guitar very well. He played the guitar very, very well. And what he was doin' was the same type of thing Robert does......I would have to say that Robert and Hacksaw probably played together, but I never heard it. He was the only somebody who could compete with Robert."</blockquote><p></p><p>I read this interview when it first came out, but I had forgotten about "Hacksaw" Harney, other than the name. I didn't know anything else about him. When I started revisiting Johnson's music at the end of last year, I began listening to Lockwood, House, Johnny Shines, Skip James, and others who either influenced or were influenced by Johnson. I also began re-reading some old interviews that I'd not seen in many years and that was where "Hacksaw" Harney's name resurfaced and so I decided to dig a little bit deeper into this mysterious artist's background.</p><p>Richard Harney was born on July 16, 1902 in Money, MS. His father, a church deacon, wanted his children to play secular music, but did not allow them to practice in the family home, which led Richard to begin playing on street corners in Greenville, accompanied by his brother Joe. He also worked as a sharecropper, and eventually played bass with a jazz band in Cincinnati in the 20's. He also worked as a repairman and a piano tuner.</p><p>His nickname's origin is a source of dispute, but blues piano master Pinetop Perkins said it came from his ability to manufacture replacement parts for pianos, using a hacksaw and whatever materials he could find for the fix. It would naturally make sense, that he was an excellent piano player as well, but he was more highly regarded for his skills as a guitar player.</p><p>Harney returned to the Delta and formed a guitar duo with his brother Maylon. They performed as Pet and Can, their family nicknames (Richard's nickname, Can, came from his love for candy as a kid), and recorded eight sides, two were released with singer/accordion player Walter "Pat" Rhodes and two with singer Pearl Dickson. </p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5xL8hLFY58" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vmn9HrHjCyM" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></p><p>Sadly, Pet and Can's career was cut short after Maylon was murdered in a juke joint. The loss of his brother seriously curtailed his musical career because he was extremely shy and also suffered from a speech impediment, which sometime led his audience to ridicule him when he tried to sing. However, his guitar playing rendered them speechless most of the time and he made many a guitarist look like a novice. In his autobiography, Honeyboy Edwards stated that Tommy McClennan got the song "Crosscut Saw" from Harney.</p><p>While Harney admired many of the traditional blues guitarists of his day, his own style was closer to the Piedmont style popular in Georgia and North and South Carolina......probably only Mississippi John Hurt comes close to Harney's playing style as far as Delta artists go. He claimed that he tried to learn to play both guitar parts after his brother's death, No doubt this, along with his time as a jazz musician gave his guitar work a delicate intricacy that was unusual for the Delta musicians. In turn, he influenced many of the Delta artists who heard him play, including Johnson. Although he didn't record in Harney's style, it's quite possible that Johnson had incorporated some of Harney's style into his music in the couple of years before his untimely death.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrfVvQ9_XDROFu21pnMkF0dMoPxqosjgTSfbQSQJMpAzbuF7LehqnwAYxLROM-A-4E0sVrijBlWPxrxZg2BDf1zb0fCd1TIn0T-e7S6sI3c0dmylBCZh0MyuZdbbKJ24ZTzd48X8tsgkLcPQERw6wwUILGLXAvoMbUhGrApzSbio6wdUbIWquNpPPlg/s1418/71c+9-7YCRL._SL1418_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1410" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrfVvQ9_XDROFu21pnMkF0dMoPxqosjgTSfbQSQJMpAzbuF7LehqnwAYxLROM-A-4E0sVrijBlWPxrxZg2BDf1zb0fCd1TIn0T-e7S6sI3c0dmylBCZh0MyuZdbbKJ24ZTzd48X8tsgkLcPQERw6wwUILGLXAvoMbUhGrApzSbio6wdUbIWquNpPPlg/w199-h200/71c+9-7YCRL._SL1418_.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Due to his shyness and his speech impediment, Harney made a living as a piano tuner/repairer in Clarksdale and Jackson until he was rediscovered in 1969. He was sought out by researchers in the 60's due to accolades paid to him by his contemporaries, including Big Joe Williams, which finally led Adelphi Records to attempt to track him down, traveling from Chicago to Jackson and back to Memphis, where Harney was finally located. At the time of his rediscovery, Harney claimed to have not played the guitar, or even owned one, for twenty years. Adelphi recorded Harney on a couple of field recordings in 1971 and he started playing workshops and festival. He made his own album in February of 1972 (<i>Sweet Man</i>) and it's hard to believe that he had ever set his guitar down...his playing is marvelous throughout and he even sings a couple of songs.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xQPO40sCgtE" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YWkICRiU82M" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZHPj6cSxLrQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZSUP6b-rBgQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p>In 1972, Harney suffered a minor stroke, but was still able to tour with Houston Stackhouse in 1972 and 1973. Unfortunately, Harney also contracted stomach cancer and passed away on Christmas Day in 1973 at 71 years old. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the Hinds County Paupers Cemetery near Raymond, MS. Through a charitable donation, the non-profit organization Killer Blues designed a grave marker for Harney, which was placed in April, 2012.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLXiWLI87NLqTeDUONcBZHuC9WsSk5y0EiIh_NMtPp1UhyF3TmgOfdP6JhqUctlBgWWlxM7QbkpQfagTxI8Cf1s5bIVISYC5-yyqDGjjW9AzvgXj9BoRNA9MK0WSvDMrkNh3QglGrjy4cyISqafMXrN0beRVCWTQhnUyWT8vWQqodULW7-q5bv6qM-g/s583/173805312_c2cb8365-571f-4933-82a8-4dfd7793bb39.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="583" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLXiWLI87NLqTeDUONcBZHuC9WsSk5y0EiIh_NMtPp1UhyF3TmgOfdP6JhqUctlBgWWlxM7QbkpQfagTxI8Cf1s5bIVISYC5-yyqDGjjW9AzvgXj9BoRNA9MK0WSvDMrkNh3QglGrjy4cyISqafMXrN0beRVCWTQhnUyWT8vWQqodULW7-q5bv6qM-g/s320/173805312_c2cb8365-571f-4933-82a8-4dfd7793bb39.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>If you want to hear more, Harney's album is fairly easy to find online. It's not your conventional Delta blues music, but it's very compelling music from a master guitarist. It was most surprising the first time I heard him and I wish he'd been able to record and perform more. If things had gone a little differently for him, his name would be mentioned with the other Delta blues legends.</p></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-29800445426687111342022-04-15T00:01:00.010-05:002022-04-15T00:01:00.225-05:00Blues Legends - Johnny Shines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzGvrnPa5rTxx6rsMXZ2Mh0awytz_9QlOVF2qKXukl-FEp1Rgg2px88IHWRJAQSTbxY_EwNRtl-sUdpmCzTK-Ng_3RC1efhcYm13KuvqBtH_1kdfWJ8S-6ABAn_W3tZCkXpFXR3Y5nvj7A2xUhLrW-lKmLLIeWxci-6Rpy7YQ23EPg7Le1ohACPcxjg/s645/download%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="645" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzGvrnPa5rTxx6rsMXZ2Mh0awytz_9QlOVF2qKXukl-FEp1Rgg2px88IHWRJAQSTbxY_EwNRtl-sUdpmCzTK-Ng_3RC1efhcYm13KuvqBtH_1kdfWJ8S-6ABAn_W3tZCkXpFXR3Y5nvj7A2xUhLrW-lKmLLIeWxci-6Rpy7YQ23EPg7Le1ohACPcxjg/w400-h273/download%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>One of the first blues artists I actually saw perform was Johnny Shines. I was just beginning to listen to the blues in the mid 80's, but it was pretty hard for me to find a lot of information about most artists during that time. There weren't many recordings available, most record store blues sections took up maybe one row and it was mostly B.B. King and Bobby "Blue" Bland (not slamming those guys by any means, but there were among the few that recorded for major labels) and a few, but not many, from Alligator Records. The only place I ever saw blues artists on TV were on PBS, which ran a few music programs on the weekends like Austin City Limits or the Lonesome Pine specials. During Black History Month in February of '87, the Mississippi PBS stations ran several blues programs and that year, I happened to find a show that featured Delta blues artists, a documentary of one of the Delta Blues Festivals from the late 70's . One of the artists featured was Johnny Shines.</p><p>I was pretty uneducated on blues musicians other than the few I'd heard at the time (King, Bland, John Lee Hooker, a little Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells), so hearing Shines gave me quite a jolt. The combination of his energetic, intense slide guitar and his equally energetic and intense vocals was just mesmerizing to me. I only got to hear one song of his, though, and I wanted to hear more. Over the next few years, I was able to catch a song or two on several compilation albums or anthologies, and each time I was duly impressed with him.</p><p>Over the past couple of years, I've really gotten into Shines' music, thanks to finding several of his albums at the Little Big Store, my favorite used record store. Apparently, someone in the area was also a Shines fan and sold several Shines albums to the store. Over the last fifteen months or so, I've been gradually harvesting them at the store, plus picking up a few albums on Amazon along the way, so they have been a regular part of my evening listening as I wind down from the day.</p><p>When I first discovered Shines, I had no idea of his connection to Robert Johnson. In fact, I actually heard Shines before I heard Johnson, by just a few weeks. Shines met Johnson in 1934 and became a traveling companion, accompanying Johnson around the Southern region, hitting all the juke joints and eventually traveling to Chicago, New York, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, and as far north as Windsor, Ontario, where they appeared on a radio program. The two were a team until 1937, when they went their separate ways in Arkansas, never to see each other again (Johnson was murdered in 1938).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6Nd2BauXNO2e6DyfDpHZRm7vaqhgRawhFFFqxQc2Uc3Z7aVv1ZtSVBkxuRvsiXzQ9SSsGbSNMdRZuwAtpvjQtDazGDIkRDVYgcOPX_nBPOLJsoIRdZYkUuBaJpkZjqWic6UyzeXIQkdromvIbbVpqSW3wCw0tYwgUeXc9Kwyz7ImNi4pVCoiWh1_2g/s450/download%20(4).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="450" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6Nd2BauXNO2e6DyfDpHZRm7vaqhgRawhFFFqxQc2Uc3Z7aVv1ZtSVBkxuRvsiXzQ9SSsGbSNMdRZuwAtpvjQtDazGDIkRDVYgcOPX_nBPOLJsoIRdZYkUuBaJpkZjqWic6UyzeXIQkdromvIbbVpqSW3wCw0tYwgUeXc9Kwyz7ImNi4pVCoiWh1_2g/w200-h199/download%20(4).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In the early 40's, Shines moved to Chicago, continuing to play professionally for several years, effortlessly converting to electric blues in the process. He even recorded a few tracks for Columbia Records that were not released at the time, before working a variety of jobs, including construction work. In the early 50's, he recorded for J.O.B. (considered some of his finest work) and Chess (as "Shoeshine Johnny"), but continued to work outside of the music. Shines didn't like playing the clubs and taverns in Chicago, which probably helped to limit his success, but also spared him the grind of life in the music business with one-night stands, late hours, and some of the dangers involved with playing the clubs.<div> <div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5yMJmus1Cic" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p>For seven years (1958 through 1965), he didn't play music at all, though he did purchase a camera and took pictures in various clubs of the musicians, fans, and capturing the general atmosphere of the scene, selling the pictures as souvenirs to the patrons. He was able to keep in touch with the musicians and the local folks in attendance, so he never really "left" the blues.....he just didn't play them for a few years.</p><p>In 1965, he was "rediscovered" by Mike Rowe, an English blues enthusiast. Though he was right there to be seen by anyone interested, no one was really sure what had happened to him. Some thought he had died, while others thought he was driving a truck. Rowe found out where he was via one of the other Chicago blues men, maybe Sunnyland Slim, who gave Rowe his address. Rowe wrote Shines a letter, but Shines didn't answer it "because I wasn't interested," he stated in Peter Guralnick's <u>Feel Like Going Home</u>. Rowe eventually made the trip to Chicago and ended up at Shines' house.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Vosvb8O24e1nz7RXO3HOeS0aUWffDR0eKwZEbYJ0JZYGnSZF8rQ3cx_xOWPWzByCnzSKXeOstJQWrHMqNA-Y0-lT3XPrCA_Li6GSMUDhzufts2XRFEMGuuuGzmnbmG7ctz0poW4Bq0H94WhX4G8EbJxK7TTg6DYwYdweqNdnkZ8UdsoBjO_hLBc26g/s800/download%20(8).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Vosvb8O24e1nz7RXO3HOeS0aUWffDR0eKwZEbYJ0JZYGnSZF8rQ3cx_xOWPWzByCnzSKXeOstJQWrHMqNA-Y0-lT3XPrCA_Li6GSMUDhzufts2XRFEMGuuuGzmnbmG7ctz0poW4Bq0H94WhX4G8EbJxK7TTg6DYwYdweqNdnkZ8UdsoBjO_hLBc26g/w200-h200/download%20(8).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Just a couple of weeks later, Sam Charters of Vanguard Records actually got Shines back into the studio, where he recorded several songs for Charters' <i>Chicago! The Blues! Today!</i> anthology. Shines contributed seven tracks to Volume 3 of the series, playing with Big Walter Horton (whose harmonica work on the entire set is just phenomenal), Floyd Jones on bass, and Frank Kirkland on drums. All of the tracks were excellent, even the track with the band backing Horton and "Memphis" Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica, but the standout track to me was Shines' version of Robert Johnson's "Terraplane Blues," which Shines dubbed "Dynaflow Blues," which pays tribute to his mentor, but also takes the track to a new level with Shines' slashing slide guitar.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m9eYtJMwOSQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GxR29It6BwCgJZqEpmlCVKBHKApvB8UIpehZRIrX89IgKYsZDOLZAq0FmBuvs2pm7kUDis2k7QUiP3VAD3dlS7wUrJth9p7GBV5RTqEp0sa9YTC5a5HgKwPaTVxzXHCd53W02oNekOp_lBYqxrSPnBJyUld-CHcfyqgGFGCvR9uuQVx8b3vb8zWtdQ/s200/download%20(7).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="200" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GxR29It6BwCgJZqEpmlCVKBHKApvB8UIpehZRIrX89IgKYsZDOLZAq0FmBuvs2pm7kUDis2k7QUiP3VAD3dlS7wUrJth9p7GBV5RTqEp0sa9YTC5a5HgKwPaTVxzXHCd53W02oNekOp_lBYqxrSPnBJyUld-CHcfyqgGFGCvR9uuQVx8b3vb8zWtdQ/s1600/download%20(7).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div>Soon afterward, Shines cut several albums for Pete Welding's Testament label, all of which should be heard by anyone who enjoys vintage Chicago blues. Volume One of the <i>Masters of Modern Blues</i> series features Shines with Horton, Otis Spann, bassist Lee Jackson, and drummer Fred Below. Shines teams with Horton, Spann, and Below (plus Luther Allison on several tracks) on the excellent <i>Johnny Shines with Big Walter Horton</i> release, while <i>Standing at the Crossroads</i> is a strong solo acoustic country blues effort that pays tribute to Johnson but shows that Shines was himself a force to be reckoned with in the country blues genre. Each of these are excellent, but I'm a bit partial to the Shines/Horton/Allison collaboration.....some really good, raw, electric Chicago blues. He also recorded <i>Last Night's Dream</i>, with Horton, Willie Dixon, Otis Spann, and drummer Clifton James on Blue Horizon. It included several new original songs and it was as good as the Testament recordings.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n4qh1bWjZ30" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>This flurry of activity really rejuvenated Shines' career and reintroduced him to a host of new blues fans. Shines went on tour, first with Horton and later with Dixon and the Chicago All-Stars. Eventually, Shines began touring with his own band and was doing pretty well until his daughter unexpectedly passed away in 1969. Shines was not enamoured with the prospect of raising his grandchildren in the city, so he relocated the entire family to Holt, Alabama, near Tuscaloosa.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_5as9N7Rw1_C6ySkucY_C8M1WrPMiIHuHSDgBHJ6juuSfaBTxA7LATIJ0rX0lDWg8dJI8JN3ShjtePah1rg8m4wUDdBBGj0emZOWSA4eBY6W3IG-cIaFzxumo1bZVXQoIU5LZNyPIivwE_HAnR0GPVF0FqM-NB2kX73LF3JEw_pAYOA7MmDfoBk77w/s500/download%20(3).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_5as9N7Rw1_C6ySkucY_C8M1WrPMiIHuHSDgBHJ6juuSfaBTxA7LATIJ0rX0lDWg8dJI8JN3ShjtePah1rg8m4wUDdBBGj0emZOWSA4eBY6W3IG-cIaFzxumo1bZVXQoIU5LZNyPIivwE_HAnR0GPVF0FqM-NB2kX73LF3JEw_pAYOA7MmDfoBk77w/w200-h200/download%20(3).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>He continued to recorded throughout the 70's, recording for Biograph, Advent, Rounder, and Tomato Records. All of these recordings are worthwhile. The Biograph highlights have been collected into <i>Traditional Delta Blues</i>, which includes his versions of several Johnson songs, including one that Johnson reportedly taught him, but never recorded himself ("Tell Me Mama"). The Advent set was later released on Hightone and, later, Shout! Factory, and mixes in a few R&B tracks....good, but not essential. The Tomato set, <i>Too Wet To Plow</i>, is a very interesting set and teams Shines with Sugar Blue on harp and the inimitable Louisiana Red, which makes you wish the two had collaborated more often. Shines also toured and recorded with Robert Lockwood, Jr. frequently during the decade, and he continued to perform at various festivals and locally in Holt and Tuscaloosa. <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xBTn9dsMrBU" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><p>In 1980, Shines suffered a stroke, which really affected his guitar playing, but left his mighty voice pretty much intact. He continued to tour in America and overseas, teaming with Kent DuChaine the last couple of years of his life. He also made one final recording, with DuChaine and producer Johnny Nicholas on guitar, and harmonica pioneer Snooky Pryor, <i>Back To The Country</i> on Blind Pig. That album earned Shines a Handy Award. Sadly, Shines passed away in April of 1992, so he wasn't there to receive the award. His health had been deteriorating for some time.</p><p>Shines built a very respectible career after returning to the spotlight in the late 60's, crafting a powerful body of work. Sadly, he was often talked to and about more for his association with Robert Johnson than his own formidable musical talents, which had to have frustrated him quite a bit, but he soldiered on and his catalog is most impressive. If you are not familiar with Johnny Shines' story and his music, I can't recommend him highly enough. You can't go wrong with any of his recordings. </p><p> </p></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-3757646628243277652022-02-25T00:01:00.116-06:002023-08-14T15:49:42.736-05:00Robert Johnson <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLH8IpeUoNibDi9ais83VMolEVqM1NBDVI0kqKo3-RH90C5eAnIZMkIy5Jt04TG_aHvhmut5BvGGk0Fro8VcJeTDe3c3Heh-xSRbfWuViJENiNXrqloT9lIjcjFS8CpI1ojOONk6VBX6gmQam7SvoSYev6FNaU1ddGxX5RS1kYbtvs2oyjzzBuQX43rw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLH8IpeUoNibDi9ais83VMolEVqM1NBDVI0kqKo3-RH90C5eAnIZMkIy5Jt04TG_aHvhmut5BvGGk0Fro8VcJeTDe3c3Heh-xSRbfWuViJENiNXrqloT9lIjcjFS8CpI1ojOONk6VBX6gmQam7SvoSYev6FNaU1ddGxX5RS1kYbtvs2oyjzzBuQX43rw=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8FZ__IUkBYn_l0FTEFOH8H3KdbRgVSsIOe6C-n6ILAQABTpR3iPboPvpSIlN-BaGLU9i6wMGoy-6DRNpJJFZDp0ser5mA18Rejta8Cm-GNthsE8pIW8yn8t_zNBMj8DwfwdEYzlEV0XTZt2WUMuCSh-slJ5L0MgsFp4GFa49lIGgS8rbmyUEdBeakvw=s400" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8FZ__IUkBYn_l0FTEFOH8H3KdbRgVSsIOe6C-n6ILAQABTpR3iPboPvpSIlN-BaGLU9i6wMGoy-6DRNpJJFZDp0ser5mA18Rejta8Cm-GNthsE8pIW8yn8t_zNBMj8DwfwdEYzlEV0XTZt2WUMuCSh-slJ5L0MgsFp4GFa49lIGgS8rbmyUEdBeakvw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div></div>I'm a late arrival to the whole podcast thing, only really paying attention over the past year and a half. I have searched for a few good podcasts about the blues and recently stumbled onto one that any fan of the blues would probably enjoy, <b>Last Fair Deal: The Robert Johnson Podcast</b>. It's hosted by Preston Lauterbach and Elijah Wald. Both have written extensively about the blues and especially about Robert Johnson. Lauterbach collaborated with Johnson's half-sister, Annye E. Anderson, on her book <u>Brother Robert - Growing Up With Robert Johnson</u>, and Wald wrote <u>Escaping The Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues,</u> so one could say that they were pretty familiar with the subject of this podcast.<div><br /></div><div>There have only been four or five episodes so far (it began airing in August of 2021), but all of them have been excellent. Ms. Anderson was interviewed in the initial episode and she provided some good information about Johnson that only a family member could relate (and also promised a future book with even more information in the near future). Others highlighted so far have been Larry Cohn, the producer of the Robert Johnson box set from the early 90's, as well as other excellent historical reissues, <u>Living Blues</u> founder Jim O'Neal, who shared a couple of interviews with musicians who knew Johnson, including a most interesting take on what really killed Johnson, and musician Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxson. All of the episodes so far have been very informative and enlightening.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5t0HeleqJ3oLjp5LjYPFKDXxZeore6tHsIbxI7uD18X24vO3zFAg3WgXpJikKNSUcu6yhaKgLm3AH0tju6eNl0xMBN3SzxMI6OgkPLCAWjfyPGDGoYrABpG67ThxWbbQxPYBZtUn-hDkWIkyPuEorcB99ovDc5Bt3YLbZ-C26r18HjGOsf2PH5VbvsA=s346" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5t0HeleqJ3oLjp5LjYPFKDXxZeore6tHsIbxI7uD18X24vO3zFAg3WgXpJikKNSUcu6yhaKgLm3AH0tju6eNl0xMBN3SzxMI6OgkPLCAWjfyPGDGoYrABpG67ThxWbbQxPYBZtUn-hDkWIkyPuEorcB99ovDc5Bt3YLbZ-C26r18HjGOsf2PH5VbvsA=s320" width="207" /></a></div>The first episode that I heard was an interview with my favorite music author, Peter Guralnick, who wrote the essay <u>Searching For Robert Johnson</u> in the early/mid 80's, publishing it in book form in the late 80's. Guralnick, Lauterbach, and Wald talked for about 45 minutes about Johnson's history, the additional information that has come to light since Guralnick published his essay, and Guralnick's relationship with Mack McCormick, one of two researchers (the other was Steve LaVere) who collected, and jealously guarded, much of Johnson's known history. Both men have died and much of their research remains under wraps.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the discussion, Guralnick mentioned that he had updated and re-published <u>Searching For Robert Johnson</u>, adding relevant information recently revealed as well as some other information, including a superb discography and bibliography to help fans dig deeper into Johnson and his influences. The new edition of the book is available in digital form only right now and can be found at Amazon. I picked it up before Christmas and read it in one sitting. It's been a while since I read the original and Guralnick fills in a few blanks here and there, but the original essay is well worth reading if you've never read it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I started listening to Last Fair Deal, I've managed to fill in a few gaps in my Robert Johnson listening, both of him and some of his influences. I thought I'd list a few in case anyone out there might be interested in hearing more. Johnson basically took from those musicians he enjoyed and added his own brand of blues to the mix, not unlike future music pioneers of other genres like Elvis Presley or Miles Davis or Jimi Hendrix, who combined other styles and genres into their music. What made him stand out among blues artists, then and now, was his unique guitar playing and his vocals, which, with their vulnerable, almost haunted quality, were quite different from many of his contemporaries.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some recommended recordings from Johnson and from a few of his influences......</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCoDr7YSzpgcYviDH5adha8ykLV_Cf1uk_NS_v0X7h7uC774UdO7fy7D7aQ6a8SIxCl4CiWrnA-yve0m-aUpTeIvLIMv5U53tJxX_Ig27YShhvFR8twbA9U8xDoSruOEl7uZ3_2_-TISXkWBXCazqVSpQR2hSrl9xl4ZrJlAs6k-hxzqmIk5pZNALNLw=s355" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="355" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCoDr7YSzpgcYviDH5adha8ykLV_Cf1uk_NS_v0X7h7uC774UdO7fy7D7aQ6a8SIxCl4CiWrnA-yve0m-aUpTeIvLIMv5U53tJxX_Ig27YShhvFR8twbA9U8xDoSruOEl7uZ3_2_-TISXkWBXCazqVSpQR2hSrl9xl4ZrJlAs6k-hxzqmIk5pZNALNLw=w200-h198" width="200" /></a></div>Robert Johnson - <i>The Complete Recordings: The Centennial Collection</i> (Sony Music Entertainment): Like most blues fans, I had the Johnson box set when it was released in 1990. I also had the separate <i>King of the Delta Blues Singers</i> albums released in the 60's that I bought while I was in college back in the 80's. The sound on <i>The Complete Recordings</i> (released in 2011) is superior to the other sets and the playing order is improved over the box set, which listed alternate tracks immediately following the released version, which tends to get monotonous for the regular listeners. It's really splitting hairs as far as the sound goes, so either collection deserves a spot on blues fans' shelf.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U_tj0hQ86Mo" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Influences</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR_EuucJ5pKkEZ_Y37_v1UT1F7eOMrb1I2kUyANxqVc52_KFtphCRqp-luzv815YgK38N8ODDOVhHeG1_QAtpTD_fpo8DxZHzDr4Ckwl_wHdZK4Ei7ugi2bgWKRLwGtNrqjOSJ4zdbitVGMGQ7T_evPoW7NZwmr731SSMsc5sdORVNm16qKpn2QgX5Jg=s218" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="218" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR_EuucJ5pKkEZ_Y37_v1UT1F7eOMrb1I2kUyANxqVc52_KFtphCRqp-luzv815YgK38N8ODDOVhHeG1_QAtpTD_fpo8DxZHzDr4Ckwl_wHdZK4Ei7ugi2bgWKRLwGtNrqjOSJ4zdbitVGMGQ7T_evPoW7NZwmr731SSMsc5sdORVNm16qKpn2QgX5Jg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>The Roots of Robert Johnson</i> (Yazoo Records): This covers just about every major influence on Johnson's music.....including Skip James, Charley Patton, the Mississippi Sheiks, Son House, Kokomo Arnold, Lonnie Johnson, Leroy Carr, and Scrapper Blackwell. As you listen to a lot of these songs, you will figure out where some of the later blues standards came from, such as Blackwell's "Kokomo Blues" from 1928, the origin of the standard "Sweet Home Chicago." There are actually two versions of this album on Yazoo, one has 14 songs and the later version has 23 (with 11 from the first edition).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gZXUSh4Gku4" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvO2JR434sZ2XdBq4foveBqdtGbATnptlytT9D40lhmTXNnH0gWWLSc2_9BfHZp-yi_VksShKss1EC4vn6D4asmFMwdVviJVaXm56vRlPFPQ9RBSnEYg2BZk_en1W6otewgdWLPrw_jd7ijLxqQni6fezD5-dhP8lppHtM5x_pJMVLStuy6za_d7eNgw=s604" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="599" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvO2JR434sZ2XdBq4foveBqdtGbATnptlytT9D40lhmTXNnH0gWWLSc2_9BfHZp-yi_VksShKss1EC4vn6D4asmFMwdVviJVaXm56vRlPFPQ9RBSnEYg2BZk_en1W6otewgdWLPrw_jd7ijLxqQni6fezD5-dhP8lppHtM5x_pJMVLStuy6za_d7eNgw=w198-h200" width="198" /></a></div>Charley Patton - <i>Founder of the Delta Blues</i> and <i>King of the Delta Blues</i> (both Yazoo Records): Now Patton and Johnson don't really sound that much alike.....Patton was a rougher, coarser, rawer listen than Johnson was......in fact, you definitely hear more of a Patton influence in Howlin' Wolf's music, but Patton influenced just about every Delta blues artist during his career with either his vocals, his percussive guitar playing, or his showmanship. Granted, it's a bit harder to listen to Patton's music because it is rougher (the poor sound quality of his surviving recordings doesn't help either.....Patton recorded for Paramount, whose production methods and materials were of less-than-stellar quality), but listener's patience will be rewarded with some great music. I don't really have a preference as to which set is best.....both have lots of good music. </div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e6lAaF7237s" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0fMuAqaOZCA4HVnkhuzdcbbHY131qkuvWcpGwQfofOvzDy5zoL3IsmyyGOXAhQ6yRd6NvNpQ1wwP7RKXh-i6CB1BM25crIm71pRKTBzat5JsNGi2aLuaIdYGauVEyOiUNrJ4ShXAolIGtdXjuxJDTL-WUu8Egz5j0fbiTaNY9TN9eKMW8mgs2O4wHMQ=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0fMuAqaOZCA4HVnkhuzdcbbHY131qkuvWcpGwQfofOvzDy5zoL3IsmyyGOXAhQ6yRd6NvNpQ1wwP7RKXh-i6CB1BM25crIm71pRKTBzat5JsNGi2aLuaIdYGauVEyOiUNrJ4ShXAolIGtdXjuxJDTL-WUu8Egz5j0fbiTaNY9TN9eKMW8mgs2O4wHMQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Masters of the Delta Blues</i> (Yazoo Records): Subtitled <i>The Friends of Charlie Patton</i>, this is a historic set that includes tracks recorded at an awesome 1931 recording session that included recordings from Patton, Son House (some of his best work), and the seldom-recorded, but highly influential Willie Brown. There are also sides from Tommy Johnson and Bukka White included. These will give you a good idea of the music that surrounded and influenced Johnson as he traveled the Mississippi Delta. Yazoo has several excellent Mississippi blues collections with similar music from different artists, but this is a great place to start listening and actually may be all you need.......the Son House tracks are just phenomenal in their drive and intensity.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3fXvTzeLcJ4" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUOG_k0FgJM4Za2P-KH2sBxEKlJ5OOkZ6f8Bb4DjojK3cJITTnj4cnVwP03JBv2CYED09QSrs3kAGhyceRALwxAZMNK4QnJfgj4q-shqyd55yqf790TbiljMysOX_1dF_4ax9gyJ60jSeXwbHmzTdXvCNnkwItnHM7ww2dJ0Eu5Ffu5FkV7l-C9rm1ag=s355" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUOG_k0FgJM4Za2P-KH2sBxEKlJ5OOkZ6f8Bb4DjojK3cJITTnj4cnVwP03JBv2CYED09QSrs3kAGhyceRALwxAZMNK4QnJfgj4q-shqyd55yqf790TbiljMysOX_1dF_4ax9gyJ60jSeXwbHmzTdXvCNnkwItnHM7ww2dJ0Eu5Ffu5FkV7l-C9rm1ag=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Son House - <i>Delta Blues: The Library of Congress Sessions, 1941-1942</i> (Biograph Records) and <i>The Original Delta Blues</i> (Sony Music Entertainment): House was probably the most direct Delta influence on Johnson, so Alan Lomax made these early 40's recordings of House while researching Johnson's music. These recordings capture House's intensity as well as those 1931 recordings. House was also a huge influence on Muddy Waters' music. <i>The Original Delta Blues</i> are recordings from the 1960's, after House's "rediscovery." House had to basically be retaught how to play his music (by Canned Heat's Alan Wilson, who guests on a couple of the tracks), but he was a quick study and the only reason these tracks aren't more revered is because the earlier recordings are hard to top. </div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ge5j_86znJQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE-TOFr0CRtXeVXAcRPMeDyFI5LH2XwRm6KwEJTkk_5qn5r_3EwO_rfFABNcjHMhg42I0wOjrHuo071KETK39JYIapqJwyzV6oGOE7wu2MspqGT3uq7TeIjZdareADyOYuqaWjJC2nQXSJFi96ylwoESoAbDpPbsOmZ65SU_5EB6g8-EgZJitKbg0w2w=s355" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="355" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE-TOFr0CRtXeVXAcRPMeDyFI5LH2XwRm6KwEJTkk_5qn5r_3EwO_rfFABNcjHMhg42I0wOjrHuo071KETK39JYIapqJwyzV6oGOE7wu2MspqGT3uq7TeIjZdareADyOYuqaWjJC2nQXSJFi96ylwoESoAbDpPbsOmZ65SU_5EB6g8-EgZJitKbg0w2w=w200-h199" width="200" /></a></div>Richard "Hacksaw" Harney - <i>Sweet Man</i> (Adelphi Records): Harney was a later influence on Johnson, apparently. I plan to write more about him in a separate post, but Harney was considered by many to be the gold standard on guitar playing back in Johnson's time. His style was quite different from the traditional Delta blues sound, but according to Robert Lockwood, Jr., Johnson traveled with Harney and played with him in the latter couple of years of his life. His playing is actually closer to Mississippi John Hurt's, and goes more in a Piedmont direction, to be honest. Who knows......had Johnson lived, he might have incorporated some of Harney's sound into his own playing. Harney's career in music was short-lived for a number of reasons and, hopefully, I will be able to elaborate more in the near future about him.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xQPO40sCgtE" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCQLRhoC5P5ZjzXZYfXyiIUdhE52xTgfEfPgRU6GWv-cMo6MS-B6g-Sxtq40bGlh20D2fC42lZTves06d1xgu5S5RIS7JyCV05eax-XdRpjstJr4CE6D1ISgCme1vTF8ncOE14BYyOv1_NDU8uMiA2tEkJZfTgRscC7ghCnlngjPIcjH7XT9HOzbh20g=s355" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="355" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCQLRhoC5P5ZjzXZYfXyiIUdhE52xTgfEfPgRU6GWv-cMo6MS-B6g-Sxtq40bGlh20D2fC42lZTves06d1xgu5S5RIS7JyCV05eax-XdRpjstJr4CE6D1ISgCme1vTF8ncOE14BYyOv1_NDU8uMiA2tEkJZfTgRscC7ghCnlngjPIcjH7XT9HOzbh20g=w200-h197" width="200" /></a></div>Skip James - <i>The Complete Early Recordings</i> (Yazoo Records): I wrote about James many years ago on this blog. The first time I ever heard him just blew me away.....I feel like Johnson was influenced by his high-pitched haunting vocals more than anything, although James' "Devil Got My Woman" might have influenced some of Johnson's own work, plus Johnson did adopt James' "22-20 Blues" as "32-20 Blues." James' music can be an acquired taste as well, especially these earlier recordings (which were done in 1931, not 1930 as indicated on the album cover), also from Paramount. Check out his Vanguard recordings of the 60's and then revisit these if you want. Skip James wasn't in a class by himself as far as Delta bluesmen went, but it sure didn't take long to call roll.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BtZ6DoeimP4" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfoE_yRUdCUkFTAYwg655zaygB8MrRaHaf5q8hFr4rkNjBDB62HNgrzbXc77-eQrLORZh_Q75EJsEqiJ-Vt_uL4O9h60dYieBn0oFaGV4u-q24bJjy_ml9bAO38F40-ow8dfTD15zm22bJ8pgc42CTgdPmZCL0wy8iavCt2_RTpqXsYKzajNU3a8ewqw=s355" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="355" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfoE_yRUdCUkFTAYwg655zaygB8MrRaHaf5q8hFr4rkNjBDB62HNgrzbXc77-eQrLORZh_Q75EJsEqiJ-Vt_uL4O9h60dYieBn0oFaGV4u-q24bJjy_ml9bAO38F40-ow8dfTD15zm22bJ8pgc42CTgdPmZCL0wy8iavCt2_RTpqXsYKzajNU3a8ewqw=w200-h197" width="200" /></a></div>Leroy Carr - <i>Hurry Down Sunshine: The Essential Recordings of Leroy Carr</i> (Indigo Records): Carr, with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell, was one of the most popular blues artists of his time and his sound (with Blackwell's guitar) really influenced Johnson and countless other rural blues musicians with his warm, mannered vocal delivery and his musical arrangements, the predecessor to what is now called "urban" blues. Many of his songs are considered standards today. Other more "urban" blues artists, like Lonnie Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy influenced Johnson's playing, but Carr and Blackwell were probably the most influential. As mentioned above, Blackwell recorded "Kokomo Blues" in 1928, which was transformed into "Old Kokomo Blues" by Kokomo Arnold in 1934, and transformed by Johnson into "Sweet Home Chicago" a few years later. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PYVZ1-tuka8" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In a future post, we'll look at some of Johnson's contemporaries and followers, so please stay tuned.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GtDlZdhHRCI" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-75286869097449630162021-12-31T00:01:00.006-06:002022-01-05T11:35:33.367-06:00FBF's Top 20 for 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDRmd6fyeAiBqp1TVwH3zUrlxCh4vMsHP4Yur2nU1fkwoAV3i7edtvg-X3JJOssaPdblKh2q_e5t-BAq8xLjBlSwA2QHuIcDKViYMK-f25SeLx0q46_t0cTiycIjIZGJnjLaClofLBal9yBWGNxuHseQ172jSzKySzfbEk1pVszE0MrfKc5N_qK73_VA=s300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDRmd6fyeAiBqp1TVwH3zUrlxCh4vMsHP4Yur2nU1fkwoAV3i7edtvg-X3JJOssaPdblKh2q_e5t-BAq8xLjBlSwA2QHuIcDKViYMK-f25SeLx0q46_t0cTiycIjIZGJnjLaClofLBal9yBWGNxuHseQ172jSzKySzfbEk1pVszE0MrfKc5N_qK73_VA=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div>You may have noticed a lack of activity on the blog over the past few months.......if you've stopped by to visit, that is (if you have, much appreciated). I apologize, but things have been hectic around the old homestead, really over the past couple of years, but more so since August. I would think about writing something up at the beginning of the week, then it would never occur to me again until it was too late to post on Friday ('cause <b>Friday</b> Blues Fix, you know). Fortunately, the household seems to be on the way to recovery and things seem to be settling down at work, too. I want to keep the blog going as long as I can, but things happen. I do appreciate everyone who stops by and reads the old posts.<p></p><p>I haven't exactly been idle as far as the blues goes. I'm still cranking out reviews of new (and a few old) albums at Blues Bytes each month, but I have a huge stack that I'm working through....I've had some for over a year. I used to average about 15-18 reviews a month, but now I'm only able to do about 10-12. I also have a blog post that I've been working on for a couple of months, off and on, about a legendary bluesman from years ago. I'm hoping that will spring a few sequel posts along the same line. In addition, I am working on a guest post for another blog......I'll tell you more about it when (if) it goes live.</p><p>I also plan to track down a few Mississippi blues man headstones in the coming months. I've got several that are close by that I didn't even realize were near, so more about those later, too. I'm also going to start looking at some of Mississippi's pre-war blues figures, which was inspired by some of these recent excursions to gravesites and the used record store, so be patient. </p><p>Meanwhile, here's my Top 20 for 2021, in no particular order. Again, I have a stack to listen to and I try to at least listen to most of the new CDs I get in the mail, but it may be a while before I actually write them up for Blues Bytes, but my Top 10 of these 20 will be published there sometime in January.</p><p><b>Rodd Bland and the Memphis Only Band</b> - <i>Live on Beale Street: A Tribute to Bobby "Blue" Bland </i>(Nola Blue Records): A loving tribute to father from son that any fan of the father needs to hear.</p><p><b>Robben Ford</b> - <i>Pure </i>(Ear Music): Ford's first instrumental album in nearly 25 years is a near-perfect combination of his blues and jazz sensibilities, leaning toward the blues. A stellar effort.</p><p><b>Stevie J Blues</b> - <i>Quarantined</i> (PKMG): A strong set of contemporary blues and soul-blues that embraces old school, while being thoroughly modern at the same time.</p><p><b>Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans</b> - <i>The Music Gets Us Thru </i>(ManHatTone Records): Vickers and band always just miss my Top 20 with their always interesting releases.....modern tunes with a nod to the earliest blues stars (particularly Tampa Red). This is their best release to date.</p><p><b>Wee Willie Walker and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra</b> - <i>Not In My Lifetime </i>(Blue Dot Records): Walker's final recordings, completed just a few days before his death, are superb. </p><p><b>Ben Levin</b> - <i>Still Here </i>(VizzTone): Piano blues are making a strong comeback thanks to some fantastic young talent. Levin has put out two masterful releases for VizzTone in the last couple of years and he's barely in his twenties.</p><p><b>Dexter Allen</b> - <i>Keep Moving On </i>(Endless Blues Records): This is a great set of contemporary blues and soul from a Mississippi blues man who deserves to be better known. </p><p><b>Eddie Turner</b> - <i> Change In Me</i> (7-14 Records): It's been a long time since I've heard Turner's powerful brand of blues and this one didn't disappoint. </p><p><b>Chris Gill</b> - <i>Between Midnight and Louise </i>(Endless Blues Records): Gill turns in one of the best solo acoustic recordings that I've heard in a long time. If you like acoustic blues, you need this in your collection. </p><p><b>Clarence Spady</b> - <i>Surrender </i>(Nola Blue Records): I wish Spady recorded more often.....it's grueling to wait so long between releases, especially when they're this great.</p><p><b>Corey Ledet</b> - <i>Corey Ledet Zydeco </i>(Nouveau Electric Records): I really started back listening to zydeco this year, both my old collection and several awesome new releases. Ledet's tribute to his legendary family and the music that influenced him is loaded with life and energy.....both traditional and modern at the same time.</p><p><b>Gerald McClendon</b> - <i>Let's Have A Party! </i>(Delta Roots Records): If vintage soul, blues, and R&B is your bag, look no further. </p><p><b>Tedeschi Trucks Band </b>- <i>Layla Revisited (Live at Lockn') </i>(Fantasy Records): Not many bands would dare to take on the Derek and the Dominos classic, but TTB is more than up to the task (with an assist from Trey Anastasio and Doyle Bramhall II) and while it doesn't make you forget the original, it certainly deserves a place next to it.</p><p><b>Veronica Lewis </b>- <i>You Ain't Unlucky </i>(Blue Heart Records): Another firebrand piano player, 17 year old Lewis is a force of nature on this wild and varied set of piano-driven blues.</p><p><b>Dwayne Dopsie</b> - <i>Set Me Free </i>(Louisiana Red Hot Records): This disc reminded me why I started listening to zydeco in the first place. Dopsie does a wonderful job, mixing in just enough soul and blues while keeping you dancing.</p><p><b>Robbin Kapsalis & Vintage #18</b> - <i>Soul Shaker </i>(Bird Song Records): Kapsalis is one of the strongest vocalist currently practicing in the blues and soul genres. It certainly helps that she's backed by one of the tightest bands currently practicing as well.</p><p><b>Christone "Kingfish" Ingram</b> - <i>662 </i>(Alligator Records): Ingram expands on his sound with some excellent songwriting and weaving some soul and R&B into his blues. Don't sweat it though.....there's still plenty of his powerhouse guitar present.</p><p><b>Guy King</b> - <i>Joy Is Coming </i>(IBF Records): King's first release since 2016 is an inspired, stunning work that encompasses blues, soul, jazz, and vintage R&B. Well worth the wait for a soul-satisfying experience.</p><p><b>Sean Chambers</b> - <i>That's What I'm Talkin' About: A Tribute to Hubert Sumlin </i>(Quarto Valley Records): Chambers presents a powerhouse blues rock set paying tribute to one of his biggest influences and, as a bonus, Sumlin's chief employer as well.</p><p><b>New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers</b> - <i>Vol. 2 </i>(Stony Plain Records): The second volume of this super session from 2007 featuring Jim, Luther, and Cody Dickinson, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathus, and Charlie Musselwhite is as much fun as the first volume.</p><p><br /></p><p>That's our Top 20 for 2021. Hopefully, some of those are yours, too. Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you soon.</p><p><br /></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-74623607109022242182021-08-06T00:01:00.045-05:002021-08-07T23:19:21.461-05:00Summer Listening<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsG27yzOCQ7QdIvP80Sd_aHGrDI88VSxPMK6JHaXJngyJg4PijeaT6k5e59Y-vmFKwWVs9F-zqoAjQ_hNS25jHImsJ7f3CrSmcTiYXT8GN33A3yQs1WPAxSDaN5uVs46f4JnH_I1T-Yt3/s900/download+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="900" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsG27yzOCQ7QdIvP80Sd_aHGrDI88VSxPMK6JHaXJngyJg4PijeaT6k5e59Y-vmFKwWVs9F-zqoAjQ_hNS25jHImsJ7f3CrSmcTiYXT8GN33A3yQs1WPAxSDaN5uVs46f4JnH_I1T-Yt3/w400-h238/download+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It's been a few weeks since we've posted here, but there have been a lot of blues to be seen and heard during that time. We've been out and about a bit, maintaining a respectable distance as much as possible, but it's been a while since we've been able to travel very much......almost five years for one reason or another, so we've taken a few opportunities to check things out this summer. <p></p><p>In May, we traveled to Macon, GA. I'd wanted to go there for years. The Allman Brothers Band called Macon home for a number of years and the house they lived in during the early 70's, dubbed The Big House, is now a museum with tons of ABB memorabilia. I became a fan of the band after buying their <i>Dreams</i> box set in the late 80's and really seeing what the band was all about.....how deep their roots dug into the blues, as well as jazz, soul, R&B, and country, eventually forming the foundation for Southern rock.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftwcEMK0Rzkk9sjVkWFtjVVLvrdRvWT2jk34e0yWPC1tE22G3jnn1OHoqrDk8ZZ0E70HfkGZD04-Y3EWDsP6jq9tHzTcvs79qNpFfFW-WdyZTZMzRwYAiFk04XbaTbbXbwz6WOvRUp4CF/s2016/IMG_5428.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftwcEMK0Rzkk9sjVkWFtjVVLvrdRvWT2jk34e0yWPC1tE22G3jnn1OHoqrDk8ZZ0E70HfkGZD04-Y3EWDsP6jq9tHzTcvs79qNpFfFW-WdyZTZMzRwYAiFk04XbaTbbXbwz6WOvRUp4CF/w240-h320/IMG_5428.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A pair of Duane Allman's guitars</span></td></tr></tbody></table>For a fan of the band, The Big House is a must-see. It traces the band's history far beyond their time spent in Macon, with lots of clothes, instruments, furniture, and many other items even donated by the band over the years. It was really cool getting to see the actual guitars used by Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, and Derek Trucks, along with one of Gregg Allman's B3's, bass guitars from Berry Oakley, Allen Woody, and Oteil Burbridge, and Butch Trucks and Jaimoe's tools of the trade, too.<p></p><p>The Big House also had a great gift shop, so I picked up a couple of ABB CD's.....a set from the early 70's with the first incarnation of the band and a 2009 set from the 40th Anniversary tour at the Beacon Theatre with Eric Clapton sitting in, along with a DVD from the early 90's band (I later tracked down a couple of other DVDs from the Beacon.....around 2003 and 2009). The later edition of the band was every bit as formidable as the first edition to these ears. We also visited Rose Hill, the cemetery where Duane, Gregg, Berry, and Butch are buried, along with the gravesites of Elizabeth Reed and "Little Martha" (the inspiration for a couple of their greatest songs).</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcH0f8-khI28xIewNA3yJ5-GQaVXll6HenbQFya8_n6GkJr1gmUngYucnBwA5bgUO4DEh-WDPv45HMaNpMGjUx5ictf6XXTbaEKdwMfwgw0sn8hv2Cvhn3hMq1XGHipZE9Rqki_Tclqm_/s550/download+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="550" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcH0f8-khI28xIewNA3yJ5-GQaVXll6HenbQFya8_n6GkJr1gmUngYucnBwA5bgUO4DEh-WDPv45HMaNpMGjUx5ictf6XXTbaEKdwMfwgw0sn8hv2Cvhn3hMq1XGHipZE9Rqki_Tclqm_/w320-h240/download+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Otis Redding statue in Macon, GA</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Soul legend Otis Redding also called Macon home, but the Otis Redding Foundation building, which also hosts a museum, from what I'm told, was closed on the weekend and his grave is on private property. We were also unable to visit the Capricorn Records museum at Mercer University because of time limitations, but we would love to go back soon and catch what we missed.<p></p><p>My birthday is in June, which means Amazon gift cards, which means I picked up lots of great music and reading material. I grabbed a couple of country blues CDs......Bukka White's phenomenal Vocalion recordings from 1937-1941 (some of the most passionate blues ever put to wax), and an excellent early 60's set from Arhoolie called <i>I Have To Paint My Face</i>, which features tracks from Sam Chatmon, K.C. Douglas, Big Joe Williams, and R.C. Smith, and is definitely worth a listen. I also found Johnny Shines' <i>Last Night's Dream</i> (with Big Walter Horton, Willie Dixon, Clifton James, and Otis Spann in support) for a nice price and it's definitely a keeper, which should be obvious given the line-up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7B268mQq5mfnIDHk-Ysca_ZqT77iZ_dMXLp21ONTAyS1r9s4BU4BpfWmAfiPirJXkcY3htizA_b76dxsK6kfYWWb8kpyM_meNIVz9cTBk_HYSe5E0-3RbXKjXmrfKo_068bwerTlCWpGf/s300/download+%25284%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="300" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7B268mQq5mfnIDHk-Ysca_ZqT77iZ_dMXLp21ONTAyS1r9s4BU4BpfWmAfiPirJXkcY3htizA_b76dxsK6kfYWWb8kpyM_meNIVz9cTBk_HYSe5E0-3RbXKjXmrfKo_068bwerTlCWpGf/w200-h179/download+%25284%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I also grabbed <i>King of the Electric Blues</i>, a collection of Muddy Waters' Blue Sky recordings from the late 70's (the old lion still had plenty of fire in his belly), <i>Rough Dried Woman</i> a collection of Magic Slim's Wolf recordings (because you can't have enough Magic Slim in your collection), and a copy of John Watkins' lone album, <i>Here I Am</i>. I heard Watkins on the 80's Alligator collection, The New Bluebloods, but never heard anything else. He released this album in the 80's for a French label, which was difficult to find until Blues Reference reissued it a few years back. Watkins never released another album due to personal issues and some hard luck, but he is performing again now, so there's always a chance for more.<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oM9g5YZLCPI" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJBCcJDrTrv1kBBU770Gzy4tvSZjGFVFIW-qwUKZCpjav7TuA0L4Y7yK7RKUgSN67VPmomXQLSFmYzL5qO0vSgsHJ9PkuzyuhyphenhyphenZXXIrDrpCZeBwr5XQ0hdEhQuhy7yVJKFnTwaCfTsoJ8/s500/download+%25285%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJBCcJDrTrv1kBBU770Gzy4tvSZjGFVFIW-qwUKZCpjav7TuA0L4Y7yK7RKUgSN67VPmomXQLSFmYzL5qO0vSgsHJ9PkuzyuhyphenhyphenZXXIrDrpCZeBwr5XQ0hdEhQuhy7yVJKFnTwaCfTsoJ8/w200-h200/download+%25285%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I also purchased a few more releases from the great Black Top Records....some that I missed during the label's later years.....Roscoe Shelton's <i>Let It Shine</i>, Earl Gaines' <i>Everything's Gonna Be Alright</i>, Tommy Ridgely's <i>Since The Blues Began</i>, and a retrospective of Anson Funderburgh's recordings with the label (<i>Thru the Years</i>). I was impressed with the quality of the first three recordings...all three singers sounded as good as their earlier recordings, maybe even better.....and I had almost forgotten what a great guitarist Funderburgh was. He was one of my first blues guitar heroes and I got to see him perform several times in the late 80's.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sByS4XYXki8" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><p></p><p>On the rock side of the blues, I picked up a few of Santana's earliest recordings (they were originally known as the Santana Blues Band and the blues runs deep in Carlos Santana's fretwork) as they began to move more into a jazz direction, a pair of Allman Brothers Band recordings with Duane Allman at the helm (the 1970 set at American University and the excellent 1970 performance at the Atlanta International Pop Festival). There were also three Jimi Hendrix sets of previously unreleased tracks from 1968-1970 that were heavy on blues influences (<i>Valleys of Neptune</i>, <i>People, Hell, and Angels</i>, and <i>Both Sides of the Sky</i>). Hendrix was one of the indirect influences in guiding me to the blues, whether I knew it at the time or not.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj7P8-Vqs6NW31JohbTUpqu9IQw6md5Z7qUuSrVNTRMZo8JrilzcoN7LvL6H10trKqNngMnvp_W9L_IwV4Hc_wavrxIhiSNY_94-HkAkpkz4C_Ec_iiUiuHWzKLBXYCSwxwUqhW0PLo6t/s355/91aHPzPK1nL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj7P8-Vqs6NW31JohbTUpqu9IQw6md5Z7qUuSrVNTRMZo8JrilzcoN7LvL6H10trKqNngMnvp_W9L_IwV4Hc_wavrxIhiSNY_94-HkAkpkz4C_Ec_iiUiuHWzKLBXYCSwxwUqhW0PLo6t/w200-h200/91aHPzPK1nL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I also picked up a newer blues set from one of my recent favorites, Kevin Burt. His <i>Heartland & Soul</i> release from a few years back just blew me away with it's energy and passion, so when I found his newest, <i>Stone Crazy</i>, I had to have it and it's every bit as good as it's predecessor. If you haven't heard Kevin Burt before, and you are a blues fan, I strongly recommend you check this guy out.<p></p><p>That's not all we listened to this summer......we'll look at a few more in the coming weeks, Also, in a few weeks, we'll look at some of the books I've picked up.......I'm reading three or four at a time and haven't finished any of them yet. Until then.......</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SyMJpyfTg8Y" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-51440344939990644312021-06-25T00:01:00.002-05:002021-06-26T07:57:11.636-05:00A Pair of Windy City Gems<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrewI60w5QY4PV1o_gVMhqxS4dcSUkGkzsWL6Lg9dj-ZrIiLu3ldNgqD_V4xjhxwxGIRdxxya4ejtRZkKYBhZI_lA8Im9cCe4fVBjwXPYsy4_OGINR4lXJqHvEzzFkYK61PpWkFSNHcxlJ/s450/download+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrewI60w5QY4PV1o_gVMhqxS4dcSUkGkzsWL6Lg9dj-ZrIiLu3ldNgqD_V4xjhxwxGIRdxxya4ejtRZkKYBhZI_lA8Im9cCe4fVBjwXPYsy4_OGINR4lXJqHvEzzFkYK61PpWkFSNHcxlJ/w400-h300/download+%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert Nighthawk</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />I've been listening to a lot of older blues since we've had a fair amount of spare time over the past year or so....more or less revisiting some old CDs that I picked up many years ago. My recent adventures at the Little Big Store, finding several nice collection of country blues artists pre- and post-war, have more or less led me into checking out some of the great music between the 30's and the 60's, some of which I've shared with you on previous posts.</div><p></p><p>Last summer, I found a CD version of some of Professor Longhair's earliest recordings called <i>Mardi Gras in New Orleans</i>. It was released on a St. Louis label called Nighthawk Records, which has been shut down for over 20 years.....it shifted from blues to reggae in the early 80's, but continued to re-release the occasional album until they went under (the blues catalog was purchased by Omnivore Records in 2017). </p><p>I wrote about Fess' album here in December (which is wonderful, if you can find it), but one of the things that I noticed in the liner notes was a list of Nighthawk's other releases at the time (1990). Among those were several collections of early Chicago blues, Memphis blues, and Detroit blues. Upon further research on my part, I was a bit disappointed to find out that only a couple of these were actually released in CD format, the rest are just about impossible to track down at this point some thirty years after the fact. However, I decided to make an effort, eventually successful, to track down the two CDs available (though long out of print).</p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg36KxHX-zhOL4c0h5gkjbWANhSS4Fw6rOtNb2Wt4gNe2KzuzLhb1BRDDxcW7qdOGRxo0YDNeGMJsoki1rj1WqpxJhihpZRF3bht9fkMiJeUcZfC6huDGiVH4hFiHvwsQ1mVL3NlqUG-yy/s300/download+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg36KxHX-zhOL4c0h5gkjbWANhSS4Fw6rOtNb2Wt4gNe2KzuzLhb1BRDDxcW7qdOGRxo0YDNeGMJsoki1rj1WqpxJhihpZRF3bht9fkMiJeUcZfC6huDGiVH4hFiHvwsQ1mVL3NlqUG-yy/w200-h200/download+%25283%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i>Windy City Blues 1935 - 1953: The Transition</i> is a fantastic set that collects a wide variety of rarely-heard early recordings from some of Chicago's finest artists of the time. Robert Lee McCoy (later known as Robert Nighthawk) is featured on 1935's "Prowlin' Nighthawk," the song that gave him his later stage name. There are also two 1938 tracks from Sonny Boy Williamson (V. 1.0), Johnny Shines' "Please Don't" from 1953, four tracks from Robert Lockwood, Jr. (two from 1941, his first session, and two from 1953), and a late-career track (1951) from the great Tampa Red. Other artists featured on the set include Aaron "Pinetop" Sparks, the State Street Boys (a sort of "all-star" band that included Big Bill Broonzy, Jazz Gillum, and Carl Martin). <p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/004jrg624Fk" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FpHcoODltDQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1YRyuCMrK5A" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
</p><p>For the CD, there are eight bonus tracks (I'm assuming from some of the other LPs that didn't make it to the CD format) from Willie Nix, Floyd Jones, John Brim, Lazy Bill Lucas, and J.B. Hutto. Some of these tracks exceed the 1953 end date by a couple of years, but that's not a problem because these tracks are as good as the original 16 tracks. Altogether, there's a whopping 24 tracks of great pre- and post-war Chicago blues that are as good as any you'll hear from any of the better-known labels of the time.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iC0MvYBipQj1wseNfasAA8YOM6CeEUKG30veTP2qrjLiVod3XMXzOipfy9aZP9VvKAAHtf1J_XuSYl1956Kk993Ue2qaqEIZUY9-FQvaPC1CAHWuUGkxHXazoAcXV71Abu9-BfrfaVkC/s299/download+%25284%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="299" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iC0MvYBipQj1wseNfasAA8YOM6CeEUKG30veTP2qrjLiVod3XMXzOipfy9aZP9VvKAAHtf1J_XuSYl1956Kk993Ue2qaqEIZUY9-FQvaPC1CAHWuUGkxHXazoAcXV71Abu9-BfrfaVkC/w200-h197/download+%25284%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>A few weeks later, I found <i>Chicago Slickers 1948 - 1953</i>, which covers a fewer number of years, but the music is no less potent with early sides from Little Walter ("Just Keep Lovin' Her"), Floyd Jones ("Hard Time"), Forest City Joe, John Brim, Earl Hooker, Johnny Shines ("Ramblin'"), Homesick James, and the newly-dubbed Robert Nighthawk ("Maggie Campbell"). This set also includes eight bonus tracks from Little Walter, Nighthawk, Willie Nix, Shines, and Man Young (a.k.a. Johnny Young). These sides were recorded for long-forgotten small labels like Parkway, Tempotone, and Random, but they're as powerful as any of these artists' later recordings for bigger, more successful labels in the Windy City.<div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FCEVj93xkmA" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2xb81ndwMlU" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AN8BHZAcmtc" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p0PuOrBIGg8" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe> </p><p>It's tough to choose which of these albums is the best buy because they're both so good. Chicago was truly loaded with some incredible talent during these three decades, some of which were not able to catch a break and enjoy a measure of success similar to Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf. Some were able to enjoy success much later in their careers and many of them served as influences for later artists. However you look at it, if you are into the classic Chicago blues of the 50's and would like to hear some of the early pioneers and influences of those artists, these are two most excellent collections.</p><p><br /></p></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-60048672059883014522021-05-14T00:01:00.003-05:002021-05-14T20:30:59.374-05:00Lonnie Pitchford - All Around Man<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-FW2AK3TzuVqUAwNQNedtIcdrvUnPdlfnBkJE_3kLvIDKFe2fI7BDmCDi18TOCWcFT4lj9ftDR0nFwCRnH_jSAI95C0jHEWHixx4CCI3JK0bk3Si-kVSWYl9hWgjXmu_h0uVewPpyfFK/s640/lonnie-pitchford-lauri+lawson.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="640" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-FW2AK3TzuVqUAwNQNedtIcdrvUnPdlfnBkJE_3kLvIDKFe2fI7BDmCDi18TOCWcFT4lj9ftDR0nFwCRnH_jSAI95C0jHEWHixx4CCI3JK0bk3Si-kVSWYl9hWgjXmu_h0uVewPpyfFK/w400-h285/lonnie-pitchford-lauri+lawson.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lonnie Pitchford (Photo by Lauri Lawson)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'm not sure when I first heard Lonnie Pitchford....I'm sure I read about him before I ever heard him play. I think the first music I heard was on the soundtrack to the movie <i>Deep Blues</i> in the early 90's. It was only a couple of songs, but there were pretty impressive. I had heard that he was recognized as one of the best, if not the best, interpreters of Robert Johnson's music, but he had recorded next to nothing, so I didn't exactly have a good frame of reference on my part. I later found three songs on a Robert Johnson tribute that Columbia released around the same time, but that was about it at the time.<p></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FAmHrtD4KP0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe> </p><p>Pitchford was from Lexington, Mississippi, about an hour's drive from Jackson. He was a protege' of Robert Lockwood, Jr. (Robert Johnson's stepson), who taught the youngster how to play in Johnson's style (Lockwood was one of the few students Johnson taught directly).
also learned from other Delta artists such as Johnny Shines and Eugene Powell (a.k.a. Sonny Boy Nelson), among others. I heard all of this when I first started reading about the blues, when it was sometimes easier to read about musicians than to actually hear them. </p><p>Unfortunately, I never got to see Pitchford perform live, but I did see him on Deep Blues and on some documentaries that I was able to see on Public Television (Mississippi always featured a lot of blues programming in February for Black History Month). He was quite amazing to watch, but I wanted to hear more recordings but they were just too few and far between and, truthfully, I think more product would have benefitted him greatly and allowed him to be heard by a bigger audience.</p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/glLzmHSKpCw" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtsv5HSJp-dslBkHP4E4v_bSMQpEznwzh2LeKRZyilXUabaTg0VMaEY9uOSiB7yQneQJgL9l8lz7ZmmdxgstfQ-KMj_iTur2zbAEajToooa8WIhVibYLECAnM0CXGvhLSQyNoihOXohWO/s300/download+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="296" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtsv5HSJp-dslBkHP4E4v_bSMQpEznwzh2LeKRZyilXUabaTg0VMaEY9uOSiB7yQneQJgL9l8lz7ZmmdxgstfQ-KMj_iTur2zbAEajToooa8WIhVibYLECAnM0CXGvhLSQyNoihOXohWO/w197-h200/download+%25282%2529.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>Fortunately, Rooster Blues Records remedied that problem somewhat by releasing Pitchford's first, and only, album <i>All Around Man</i> in 1994. When I heard about it, I just had to have it and made the three-hour journey to Clarksdale to the Stackhouse Records store and bought a copy first chance I got. <p></p><p>Never has an album had a more appropriate title. Pitchford was a skilled carpenter as well as being a skilled musician. As a musician, he played acoustic, electric, lead, and rhythm guitar, bass, and piano. He also was a master of the diddley bow, the one stringed guitar that he first learned at the age of five. He plays all of these instruments on this album.</p><p>Pitchford offers acoustic blues (via guitar and diddley bow), electric blues, a bit of Hill Country, jazz, funk, and urban blues......playing some of his own songs as well as songs by Robert Johnson, Bo Carter (the title track), Willie Dixon, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Donny Hathaway, Bobby Hebb, Muddy Waters, and even a song by Elmore James, which James only recorded as an instrumental! He even plays piano on one track, but for sure the guitar work is the most compelling aspect of his artistry. He also has a nice, warm vocal style that's suited to a variety of styles. </p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/487Zps-VTuE" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p><p><i>All Around Man</i> is an amazing album that shows Pitchford was comfortable in a variety of musical settings. At the time it was released, some critics said it was too busy and unsettled and jumped around too much. However, at the time it was released, no one was aware that Lonnie Pitchford would be dead in four years. True, Pitchford did live a hard life, similar to many of his influences, and some may have been surprised that he lived 43 years, but most fans and critics figured he'd have more opportunities to record and future releases would be more focused on one musical path. Sadly, that was not to be, but <i>All Around Man</i> does effectively capture the width and breadth of his talent.</p><p>In addition to <i>All Around Man</i>, Pitchford has tracks on several anthologies, including the <i>Deep Blues</i> soundtrack, the Columbia Robert Johnson tribute (<i>Roots of Rhythm & Blues: A Tribute To The Robert Johnson Era</i>), and the <i>Living Country Blues</i> collection on Evidence Records, and a few other albums that are pretty hard to find (actually, all of these are out of print except for the Columbia album, but can be found on the internet). Unfortunately, Pitchford's lack of touring (mostly limited to the southern part of the country) led to a lack of recording opportunities, but what he did record is well worth seeking out.</p><p>Lonnie Pitchford died in November, 1998 of complications from AIDS. He was survived by a wife and daughter and is buried in Holmes County, Mississippi in the Newport Baptist Church cemetery near Ebenezer. His headstone, which features a diddley bow on the side of the marker, was paid for by John Fogerty and Rooster Blues Records via the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund. His grave is very close to the grave of Elmore James. If you're in the neighborhood, about an hour north of Jackson just off I-55, it's a very nice, peaceful area and well worth a visit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JO_KkZXu8HaY6bOpIV3M82PvoKMdMkzcQ-Y946nBuQDCV84NmlR8Gapqxl8JjyNAizucphNAmPPCNXB73mqMbh6zvG_6_iZimaMxwy9OjwYeE30hb7h1OB-dfccZ9-Ua2VXfrMWq26mg/s2016/IMG_3203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JO_KkZXu8HaY6bOpIV3M82PvoKMdMkzcQ-Y946nBuQDCV84NmlR8Gapqxl8JjyNAizucphNAmPPCNXB73mqMbh6zvG_6_iZimaMxwy9OjwYeE30hb7h1OB-dfccZ9-Ua2VXfrMWq26mg/w480-h640/IMG_3203.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NkHnKXOC-8T0G6OzaSgr3Vm5CdMGAwF6qp2hgec0CigMDt8w-AzVCzuUCHHQZ808nW0-YGi2J8AlB3cZlM6XkGgSxthO2nd6A0b-ZmUIbbW_4dwNaMfNX70p_eeenEp1wWg2sdbs6c2x/s2016/IMG_3205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NkHnKXOC-8T0G6OzaSgr3Vm5CdMGAwF6qp2hgec0CigMDt8w-AzVCzuUCHHQZ808nW0-YGi2J8AlB3cZlM6XkGgSxthO2nd6A0b-ZmUIbbW_4dwNaMfNX70p_eeenEp1wWg2sdbs6c2x/w480-h640/IMG_3205.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Diddley Bow string was missing when I visited the gravesite last summer.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-77484552035835653752021-03-26T00:01:00.002-05:002021-03-26T18:11:19.317-05:00Three Essential Recordings - John Lee Hooker<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OcpTzyTPaXPo6K95PhFUGcTaxUxRqNa6JgNAi-hXcqIxIdbDYZmb6KmdqJEh9vs3bEG78U62sCxKZTQvXm8UVctm1UWHJVjD6-iMKJKy1VavVAiardffLks0Z6vKcNoZV6ONzmiWTBfz/s630/download+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="630" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OcpTzyTPaXPo6K95PhFUGcTaxUxRqNa6JgNAi-hXcqIxIdbDYZmb6KmdqJEh9vs3bEG78U62sCxKZTQvXm8UVctm1UWHJVjD6-iMKJKy1VavVAiardffLks0Z6vKcNoZV6ONzmiWTBfz/w400-h254/download+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I first experienced John Lee Hooker on The Blues Brothers movie, playing on the street during the Maxwell Street scene. I thought it was the coolest thing....I loved his gruff vocals, that driving boogie beat, and the "How How How How" growl. I definitely wanted to know more about him once I saw and heard him.<div><br /></div><div>I actually got to see him in person a few years later at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. It was back in the days when they did night shows on the Riverboat President.....around 1987, I guess. He opened for The Fabulous Thunderbirds, who were hosting a revue-type show with blues artists ranging from Lazy Lester and Katy Webster to Dr. John, Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard, and Bonnie Raitt. <p></p><p>As impressive as that lineup sounds, I was more impressed with Hooker, sitting on a stage all by his lonesome, playing in front of a couple thousand people, who remained basically silent during his performance (something that you don't always get to experience these days at live shows.....not sure why people pay big bucks to hear an act and then they don't even bother to listen to said act). He was mesmerizing.</p><p>Since that performance, I've been a fan. Over the years, I've picked up several albums and I listen to him a lot, but it seems like mostly late at night. Thirty years ago, when I used to drive around late at night on hot summer nights down dusty dirt roads (pre marriage and family), I loved to listen to a cassette of John Lee Hooker.......that seemed to be the best setting for his moody brand of blues. </p><p>The hardest thing for me to do this week was pick out just three essential recordings by Hooker. The man recorded an unbelievable number of songs over a half century of performing. As on our previous "essential recording" posts, we limit it to single-disc sets. Also, remember that these are FBF’s essential three.....your essentials may be different and we'd love to hear from you about your choices.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVWb32QE_9IZEGtxYFbQMwnYXdebKRF1HIXTgPJNAFe3Nm0edYR90oh6yPxSPm_WrRU-059Mga00kdmWnwDpZpFsm_CfMfmAUst0HCUU4ByFye-XikThyErSiZwzEiV5CPYvAM0Ypq1Yc/s301/51SNV7GQ0EL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="301" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVWb32QE_9IZEGtxYFbQMwnYXdebKRF1HIXTgPJNAFe3Nm0edYR90oh6yPxSPm_WrRU-059Mga00kdmWnwDpZpFsm_CfMfmAUst0HCUU4ByFye-XikThyErSiZwzEiV5CPYvAM0Ypq1Yc/w200-h199/51SNV7GQ0EL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954</i> (Ace UK): Hooker recorded frequently from the start for different labels under different names, but from 1948 until 1954, he recorded for Modern Records and these two dozen sides represent some of his best work, including three of his biggest songs ever, "Boogie Chillen," "Crawling Kingsnake," and "I'm In The Mood." I love Ace UK's diverse collection of recordings and their informative liner notes are always worth a read. This is one of their best efforts and there's not a bad track to be found here. This set is well worth the search.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tusF57ZtyXc" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRHdRlggnHo/YFqmmiOxQDI/AAAAAAAAK4M/djE9
FhilEFkn-CNzAuXCy2Sk47B-br7MACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/81SOcsnSCLL._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiJVmmjrRZHYcbFv409iLg7CVtx9g_AJV4ezTk2sQtuUk8hT-JxOC6gMiUeh9hf3sNR5hwTS1XqWeLbNOZQ413hz3CzrZHegIHpSQUZtneTm2d5x3nALsfeZEWk0K7B3c78JJayw_7SeO/w200-h200/81SOcsnSCLL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Whiskey & Wimmen: John Lee Hooker's Finest</i> (Vee-Jay/Concord Music Group): The set was released in celebration of Hooker's 100th birthday in 2017. It's a nice single-disc set that covers the period that Hooker was recording for Vee-Jay, Stax, Riverside, and Specialty Records. Lots of familiar tunes here.... "Boom Boom," "Dimples," "It Serves Me Right," "Big Legs, Tight Skirt," and remakes of the three mentioned on the Modern release. These cover about a ten year period after the Modern set as Hooker was honing that unique sound. Powerful stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qAJYPJ5Q5Xs" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kW90u6vdv2IepL38_ezbYm4iV0sa0S3YrhbgJhxSSQ7IFyS03b8Os2pReM0undfVah6ZlewVFjpNs-9tTvhvB_MSUiOgsjSVNt9bhZ1-0Qf1Tr2bvJq_d34JPzwPpUcjwF2KXmNlleM3/s355/51ogX7awe%252BL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="353" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kW90u6vdv2IepL38_ezbYm4iV0sa0S3YrhbgJhxSSQ7IFyS03b8Os2pReM0undfVah6ZlewVFjpNs-9tTvhvB_MSUiOgsjSVNt9bhZ1-0Qf1Tr2bvJq_d34JPzwPpUcjwF2KXmNlleM3/w199-h200/51ogX7awe%252BL._SY355_.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Definitive Collection</i> (Hip-O/Universal): A few tracks overlap on this 20-song set, but this is probably the most comprehensive collection of his best work, covering those late 40's Modern recordings all the way to his last collaborations in the late 80's and 90's with Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt. It also collections tracks from a few other labels not collected on the above two recordings......Chess, Impulse, ABC-BluesWay, among them. If you get this one first, you'll certainly want to grab the other two afterward.....and probably even more after that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1kf7EGm6CY" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;">It's really difficult to just pick three recordings of John Lee Hooker......and truthfully, you shouldn't limit yourself to just three. These should simply be a starting point. His music seemed to be simple enough upon listening, but when you think about it, there are no true imitators of his style.....nobody really plays the blues like he did. He was truly in a class by himself.</div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-36509376196975803682021-02-26T00:01:00.020-06:002021-02-26T07:12:56.706-06:00Three Essential Recordings - B.B. King<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshribJ5BNEv85olk2y-7uzG87OujmZRKM4e59twnZGgMeM1uksNrppYE7WltEUJ7abpGwiXYi_h28ZFaSFVrr6gLTTJHF4UhfiZaoMzw6UjSe9UA0KHSmqAU3EU6DRf8l8wMI5rSfj-7G/s1920/download+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshribJ5BNEv85olk2y-7uzG87OujmZRKM4e59twnZGgMeM1uksNrppYE7WltEUJ7abpGwiXYi_h28ZFaSFVrr6gLTTJHF4UhfiZaoMzw6UjSe9UA0KHSmqAU3EU6DRf8l8wMI5rSfj-7G/w400-h225/download+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most blues fans had probably heard, if not actually heard of, B.B. King even before they became blues fans. He was the most accessible of blues men back in the 70's, regularly appearing on talk shows and TV series. I heard him play several times on the Tonight Show over the years (when you could hear him over the Tonight Show Orchestra) and his appearance on my favorite show, Sanford and Son, was just wonderful. I even watched a prison concert he did in the late 70's on Mississippi's Public Television channel. </div><p></p><p>Despite all that, it was a couple of years after I became a blues fan before I started picking up his albums. I think part of the problem was that there were so many albums to choose from and I just didn't know where to start. Part of it was that I was already familiar with him and there were these other great blues men and women that I was just discovering.</p><p>It's a pretty daunting task to select just three essential B.B. King recordings out of the hundreds of B.B. King albums on the market, but that's just what FBF is going to try and do today. As with previous installments of Three Essentials, these are just my essential B.B. King recordings. Your mileage may vary and I would love to hear what your three essentials might be......there are no wrong answers, so awaaay we go!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfAMnvLwkk9eFXD9yYu815Hidh9WkbRNlCkAeS5txYaVNSKvPyHgXoYUTmkH52HTjJ5p0td9FQ3eXyOjO3PBWGZpqIa8-_EZwvMV0sgj5XmfSqJ-pOUF1i5z14Ta0lH3TPxjMjmT3sLUH/s301/51EV0GFTB4L.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="301" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfAMnvLwkk9eFXD9yYu815Hidh9WkbRNlCkAeS5txYaVNSKvPyHgXoYUTmkH52HTjJ5p0td9FQ3eXyOjO3PBWGZpqIa8-_EZwvMV0sgj5XmfSqJ-pOUF1i5z14Ta0lH3TPxjMjmT3sLUH/w200-h199/51EV0GFTB4L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Do The Boogie! B.B. King's Early 50's Classics</i> (Virgin Records): Everyone needs to hear King's early work for the sheer energy and exuberance that was on display for almost every track. He never really lost that energy, but for these recordings, he was in mid-20's to mid 30's age range and it was particularly high. He always tried his hand at different styles of blues and this disc has some familiar songs and some that are not-so-familiar, but they probably should have been. It's hard to go wrong with any of King's recordings from this time period (a lot of his late 60's - late 80's albums were hit-and-miss at times), and this one is one of my favorites of the lot.....I actually bought the original version from the U.K. Ace label before Virgin reissued it in the early 90's. The cover shot of King in his stylish shorts doesn't hurt a bit either. If you can find either version, grab it!<div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GxA4MYtSJhE" width="425"></iframe></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6CxWJ8L1xDIXiQ1pxvl23Izo4R0KeS3mdyxHUu9wNooydR9FUkQvXJ1xU5DY5NiocY5ONM4ABme6oUBjoO_EAbwFSvM2uowsdtkxWggcqgKuC6aZqYVmbD53UkcvqWRWyUwQrfZzLoF8/s355/71p-hu9f4YL._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="355" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6CxWJ8L1xDIXiQ1pxvl23Izo4R0KeS3mdyxHUu9wNooydR9FUkQvXJ1xU5DY5NiocY5ONM4ABme6oUBjoO_EAbwFSvM2uowsdtkxWggcqgKuC6aZqYVmbD53UkcvqWRWyUwQrfZzLoF8/w200-h198/71p-hu9f4YL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-style: italic;">Live At The Regal</i> (Geffen Records): King released several excellent live albums (including <i style="font-style: italic;">Blues Is King</i>, which we looked at a few months back), but <i style="font-style: italic;">Live At The Regal</i><i> </i>is considered not just the best live B.B. King album, but one of the best live BLUES albums of all time, and serves as a great introduction to not just King's music, but his skills as an entertainer. He's rarely, if ever, sounded better as a singer or guitarist. On song after song, most of which would be familiar to this 1964 audience of Chicago fans, he simply has the people hanging on his every word, eating out of his hand (they scream constantly throughout the songs, and he plays that enthusiasm for all it's worth). Don't just buy one live B.B. King album, but definitely start with this one.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/phqxKolsBRg" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTKkWzh6w_gr912QYuTa4NpDON2D_BQ1jK0Dq2rcTXsPpQ57diTvOXp53Re3Iz2rcEGn7ErJdRUAw6grpWY_2ArfpXK1RRx89ISzz3Qsfzkg25-SE8dAbt1clI3kOlrvZQ-A3f-3EdieX/s355/71f22ngaa9L._SX355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="355" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTKkWzh6w_gr912QYuTa4NpDON2D_BQ1jK0Dq2rcTXsPpQ57diTvOXp53Re3Iz2rcEGn7ErJdRUAw6grpWY_2ArfpXK1RRx89ISzz3Qsfzkg25-SE8dAbt1clI3kOlrvZQ-A3f-3EdieX/w200-h198/71f22ngaa9L._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>One Kind Favor</i> (Geffen Records): King's swan song in the studio is one of his best and most down-to-earth efforts in years. A lot of his later recordings were sometimes marred by overly slick production, verging on pop production at times, or the presence of too many guest stars (some of these were better than others.....Blues Summit, for example). <i>One Kind Favor</i> has a grittier production (courtesy of T-Bone Burnett) and it features a lot of songs that King never recorded before, including three from one of his heroes - Lonnie Johnson, and his vigorous read of Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" (from which the album's title is taken), which I couldn't help but hear in my head as I watched his funeral on Mississippi Public Television. B.B. King saved one of his best albums for last.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/53rwiVM9kt8" width="425"></iframe>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's really hard to pick just three great B.B. King albums, and that's not counting all of the multi-disc sets that are out there that cover the length and breadth of his career in one fell swoop! By no means should you limit yourself to just three of his albums......you'll be selling yourself short if you do.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So what do you think? Agree or disagree with these three choices. We would love to hear from you and see what your choices would be for B.B. King's Three Essential Recordings!</div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-14766949347950099492021-02-12T00:01:00.018-06:002021-02-18T20:17:49.021-06:00Avalon Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSmRYMHFoP0C0VCgh6obrS9ba6iX_f07y8oXAUVxEwKBQvtG10kwMCF7GmGrBCEatEk6LEEFgJfaIVoVq3w655UnRQ6w5JZRgjlKlDOxxFkbEr1eaTZL8zfC-aSrPDIgXGJVyBStqz2F9/s450/51mvligrm1l-_sy450_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSmRYMHFoP0C0VCgh6obrS9ba6iX_f07y8oXAUVxEwKBQvtG10kwMCF7GmGrBCEatEk6LEEFgJfaIVoVq3w655UnRQ6w5JZRgjlKlDOxxFkbEr1eaTZL8zfC-aSrPDIgXGJVyBStqz2F9/s320/51mvligrm1l-_sy450_.jpg" /></a></div>For the past six or eight months, I have been listening to a lot of country blues, pre-war and post-war. I always come and go with it, picking out a few discs from my collection and listening for a week or two, but I've stuck with it longer this time than ever before. It's been a lot of fun to hear the original recorded versions of songs that you first heard from the legends of the 50's from all the Chicago labels and, later on, from British and American rock guitarists. I've come to appreciate these artists even more than previously by taking the time to let this music soak in more than ever before.<div><br /></div><div>I first heard Mississippi John Hurt in the late 80's, when I picked up a Vanguard collection called <i>Blues at Newport</i>, which featured performances from the Newport Folk Festival between 1959 and 1964. Hurt had three tracks that opened the disc and I was captivated by his gentle approach, his intricate guitar work, his gentle vocals, and his amiable nature in conversation with the audience...it was a bit different from the other artists featured. Later on, I heard a track from his 1928 recordings on another collection, and it was amazing that 35 years separated that performance with the Newport recordings. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the next couple of years, I picked up some other recordings from Hurt, including those incredible 1928 sessions (13 songs) and several sets after his 60's "rediscovery." These are some of the finest, and most unique country blues that you'll hear, an almost-perfect marriage of blues and folk music as Hurt tells stories about everyday living and assorted characters that have passed down over the years from musician to musician. I have returned to these recordings over and over again and Hurt's music appeals to music lovers who rarely, if ever, listen to the blues. It has a timeless appeal that spans genres.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxEU-Td4PQ43I68-EkkOQI6MVZzpmevD8cJOhdCUWvxN4nJSB7KX94lvIvWRBmZfVyvv7jKBSB3EMB827XvnGUE2msFYv-i10AF-VZh6GVQXnhwsAdks5Tqd5Q6CnANwjs24-RiKap7eD/s340/John_hurt.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxEU-Td4PQ43I68-EkkOQI6MVZzpmevD8cJOhdCUWvxN4nJSB7KX94lvIvWRBmZfVyvv7jKBSB3EMB827XvnGUE2msFYv-i10AF-VZh6GVQXnhwsAdks5Tqd5Q6CnANwjs24-RiKap7eD/s320/John_hurt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hurt was born in rural Carroll County, a tiny community called Teoc. He grew up in nearby Avalon, a few miles north of Greenwood. He started playing guitar around the age of ten and was soon playing parties in the area, mostly ragtime tunes, while working as a farm hand. In his twenties, he began working for the railroad, though briefly, but it allowed him to expand his repertoire in the process, and in a few years, he drew the attention of Okeh Records. The label had come through the area to record white fiddle player Willie Narmour, who pointed them to Hurt (the two played square dances together around Avalon), which led Hurt to record the 13 tracks in 1928.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/klcDgu2f_pQ" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hurt's recordings, which included "Stack-O-Lee," "Candy Man Blues," "Avalon Blues,", "Louis Collins," and "Frankie," were wonderful songs, but unfortunately didn't sell very well, which really didn't bother Hurt very much....he was content to work on the farm and play for his friends whenever he had a chance, and he probably would have done so in complete obscurity if it had not been for the folk music revival of the late 50's and early 60's. </div><div><br /></div><div>A music scholar named Tom Hoskins was curious about locating Mississippi John Hurt, and decided to follow the directions within Hurt's "Avalon Blues," locating the 70-something performer alive and well in Avalon. By that time in his life, Hurt had worked very hard for a very long time with very little to show for it, but he could play and sing as well as he did in those 1928 recordings and was not opposed to playing his music for anyone who wanted to hear. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2PDZKH0MerhtY2KKpkkATsUzY3tosrFvFo9hdNh9hmxuCKemSCuSYaxv_c4y1OgW6J8B4nRh96DzOUqp4oPpBbl7G1DY60qAyJSMOnSQwbKaBteeePKK9bMd-U0aw8KzUnGAltf-V6jN/s594/8e25dd2b5ceb4ca818de6207d3fa4968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="395" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2PDZKH0MerhtY2KKpkkATsUzY3tosrFvFo9hdNh9hmxuCKemSCuSYaxv_c4y1OgW6J8B4nRh96DzOUqp4oPpBbl7G1DY60qAyJSMOnSQwbKaBteeePKK9bMd-U0aw8KzUnGAltf-V6jN/w266-h400/8e25dd2b5ceb4ca818de6207d3fa4968.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(L to R); Yank Rachell, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, Elizabeth Cotten, Doc Reese, and Sleepy John Estes</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />He began to play concerts, the festival at Newport among them, and he was received warmly, which thrilled Hurt. These fans, old and new, were eager to hear his music, buy his music, and hung on his every word, and he was a most congenial host and performer, completely relaxed and "at home" with this new audience. He suddenly had more money than he'd ever imagined and was able to enjoy it, along with fame and success, recording several more times, all of it inspired and worth hearing today. He passed away in November of 1966.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bMG_6xa0qRA" width="425"></iframe>
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've always wanted to go to Avalon, just to see the area where he lived and where he is buried. Over the past couple of years, I've been able to venture out a bit.....most areas in Mississippi are a short day-trip of two-three hours from my house, so I decided to venture out a couple of weekends ago. While doing a little research on the internet, I discovered that there is a <a href="http://mississippijohnhurtfoundation.org">Mississippi John Hurt Foundation</a>, which was established in 1999 by Hurt's granddaughter, Mary Frances Hurt, to preserve the musician's legacy and history through several means, including the Mississippi John Hurt Museum, which is set up in Hurt's old home, which is also the site for the annual Mississippi John Hurt Festival. If you're interested in helping them with their mission, visit the site for information on donations....every little bit helps keep his music and legacy alive.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK59wLY0IiMEHzd1A-UTT0qwIdVDYJtvNVcDK0QOhCQ6tDHuDWmNC5XUHnl-jw1bZgi3d2OOYmZDOwJwD2KU3v2W1iwH93XPR6FhF-_y63pXHh0ijCNiFcfyjxNUmnhsEYdSy5MUR95ZoG/s966/86eafa446e2216fa1b40c59a634a3a8c3718b5c0.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="762" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK59wLY0IiMEHzd1A-UTT0qwIdVDYJtvNVcDK0QOhCQ6tDHuDWmNC5XUHnl-jw1bZgi3d2OOYmZDOwJwD2KU3v2W1iwH93XPR6FhF-_y63pXHh0ijCNiFcfyjxNUmnhsEYdSy5MUR95ZoG/w253-h320/86eafa446e2216fa1b40c59a634a3a8c3718b5c0.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>Since we're still battling this accursed virus, I was uncertain as to whether the museum might be open right now (I've been trying to get into another one for several months with no success), so I contacted Ms. Hurt to see about a possible visit. She was most accommodating and got me in touch with Floyd Bailey, the museum curator, since visits are by appointment only. Mr. Bailey contacted me and advised me to meet him in Greenwood and he would guide me to the museum, so my brother and I made the journey to Greenwood a couple of Saturdays ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Bailey met us at a local convenience store and we followed him on Highway 7 north out of town, turning right at Teoc Road. It's always neat to be in the Greenwood area because you can plainly see where the Delta begins.....the rolling hills to the east just stop and then everything is flat. The area where Mr. Hurt lived is right at the edge of the Delta, literally. We went into the hills and took several dirt roads cut deeply into the hills of Carroll County before coming to a clearing where we could plainly see Hurt's house to the left. Driving up to Greenwood, I told my brother that I hated for Mr. Bailey to have to meet us and lead us to the house because I figured we could find it ourselves. Boy, was I wrong! When we stopped, he got out of his van and, smiling, he asked, “Do you think you could have found this yourself???" </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7vd7p-hvrmnalX0rThX6p8_XHXfz-bQMB7Tentt_z0px6ETqKMOExZ2A4h7QSZt6xV5n7hdoMFJcciyy8l8BKkOzKLBW_paemWofWAngzL-y21XZgANnjIm20XO3rrVEC9AV8ZAjQ8ea/s2016/IMG_4659.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7vd7p-hvrmnalX0rThX6p8_XHXfz-bQMB7Tentt_z0px6ETqKMOExZ2A4h7QSZt6xV5n7hdoMFJcciyy8l8BKkOzKLBW_paemWofWAngzL-y21XZgANnjIm20XO3rrVEC9AV8ZAjQ8ea/w240-h320/IMG_4659.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>There's an interesting story on the Foundation website that describes how Ms. Hurt ended up with her grandfather's house. She was able to move it from it's original location about a mile west of the current location. The cozy three-room house is a great little stop with some of his old furniture still in place and lots of information on the walls.....newspaper clippings, pictures of Hurt and his family members and other musicians of the time. It was just a cool feeling to know that he had lived in this house, probably playing his guitar on the porch from time to time. Ms. Hurt also moved the original St. James Church on the property and it sits about 100 yards away from the house. </div><div><br /></div><div>I asked a few questions to Mr. Bailey while there and he filled me in on a few details that I had not been aware of. Mr. Bailey lives in Itta Bena, a few miles west of Greenwood. I lived there as a young child, so we talked a little bit about that as well. He was a most gracious host!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcqaQVGkBwrgAJc0Fh1LSZ-NM6-UvhzxcDWQ0t2iFdLjZcgQeLioEhoIghcv0BL-M9EIcOn6ioWyLaRqlc8D_jkLGsPpM0muQFnSVpvzfhAWj1D6rRDcxstMTVbt-8XnwZiylV2-_0vm9/s2016/IMG_4660.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcqaQVGkBwrgAJc0Fh1LSZ-NM6-UvhzxcDWQ0t2iFdLjZcgQeLioEhoIghcv0BL-M9EIcOn6ioWyLaRqlc8D_jkLGsPpM0muQFnSVpvzfhAWj1D6rRDcxstMTVbt-8XnwZiylV2-_0vm9/w240-h320/IMG_4660.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We also wanted to see Hurt's blues marker and also his grave site. Mr. Bailey said, "Follow me," so we followed him out to the paved road to the site of the old Valley Store, which is where Hurt would buy his groceries, visit with friends, and occasionally play on the front porch. </div><div><br /></div><div>From there, Mr. Bailey led us to a dirt road cut into a steep hill that he said would lead us to the cemetery, saying to drive past a double-wide trailer on the right, go about 600 yards, and "look to the left." Hurt's first log cabin was on this road, as well as the old St. James Church (the one that is now next to the museum). The new location of St. James Church is now a few miles away and there's mostly deer camps and deer stands dotting this road now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL4LLeS2Unn_jNVVhkvmR72ow2ZLo8DOBT7vNPOzJxm5zY_aHTkDeuoVogrKU7bTg-Dub3QZuHsvm5DodZ37TezjSz6qcDDPOyZ04F38zbQwwRx1XMzFNauk4mNSFNKhYU2h-NgVq23D1/s2016/IMG_4669.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL4LLeS2Unn_jNVVhkvmR72ow2ZLo8DOBT7vNPOzJxm5zY_aHTkDeuoVogrKU7bTg-Dub3QZuHsvm5DodZ37TezjSz6qcDDPOyZ04F38zbQwwRx1XMzFNauk4mNSFNKhYU2h-NgVq23D1/s320/IMG_4669.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There were actually two cemeteries down this roads, the one we were looking for and a newer cemetery just across the road with only a few headstones. We found the cemetery when we saw a couple of wind chimes hanging from trees at the cemetery on the right. We were lucky to see it because it's basically a cut in a small hill that's maybe about ten feet wide and marked by a granite marker on the edge of the road....."Durbin Cemetery." I happened to be looking down and caught a glimpse of the marker as I passed, so we drove another hundred feet or so down the narrow road until we found a place to pull over.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3OBvUB0r-RIkjeX61TF2snpWL2bMGt01nrT_2EuN-S_ak4rYc9xgbS6FFp1zTZTg3P3324911MVylv-bCslYnk8PuG60BrdMCfvoxTLwr6pt2JqsCqm3MKcT5-8Gt8frOa-RvoksP0ZN/s2016/IMG_4671.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3OBvUB0r-RIkjeX61TF2snpWL2bMGt01nrT_2EuN-S_ak4rYc9xgbS6FFp1zTZTg3P3324911MVylv-bCslYnk8PuG60BrdMCfvoxTLwr6pt2JqsCqm3MKcT5-8Gt8frOa-RvoksP0ZN/s320/IMG_4671.jpg" /></a></div>The cemetery was on the side of a hill. The graves were set up on either side of a narrow path, about two or three to a side, some with nice markers, some with stones with faded writing, some with the metal markers from the funeral home. Hurt's grave was near the back, about 75 yards maybe from the road. His grave was well-tended, with stones lining the sides. The headstone that has been seen in pictures from books and magazines is at the head of the grave and another newer stone is at the foot. Like other graves we've seen, there were things left behind by fans who made the journey (I'm not sure about the significance of the urn in the picture... <b>UPDATE</b>: Ms. Hurt told me that the urn contains the ashes of Hurt's son, John William, who passed away in 2016). It's a very peaceful, serene site, definitely off the beaten path. It's located where John Hurt spent the majority of his life. It's near his home place and where he went to church, where his family and friends were, so I’m sure it was where he wanted to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are a lot of other Hurts in this cemetery as well, including John's wife, Gertrude, who passed away in 2012 at 111, and son, T.C. (Ms. Hurt's father), who passed away a couple of months before his father. Gertrude Hurt is buried closer to the road, about 50 yards away from her husband, and T.C. Hurt is buried close to his father. Mary Frances Hurt's mother, brother, and sister are also buried in this peaceful place.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've really enjoyed my recent travels into Mississippi Blues Country. This was one of the most interesting because I've enjoyed Mississippi John Hurt's music for so long. Any blues fan enjoys his music. As stated above, it has a timeless appeal that really spans genres....it's not just good blues, it's good music. If you are not familiar with his music, here are three essential releases that I've enjoyed over the years, but trust me when I tell you that you can't go wrong with any of his recordings. These are just the tip of the iceberg.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwvxNyIVQVOwU9KT6FHtvLmZGqYgU2skDE1zTg5T3Ih_Vjfg37dJg8ICNNr3uUs-G0eAfbjFn9cvrZGAP5_aFGRMoaNFbiWDW085O_rOHZH0obV5P6tzNGsdS1uBMbVN1KZhRfroLd1NZ/s425/71guk00hW1L._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwvxNyIVQVOwU9KT6FHtvLmZGqYgU2skDE1zTg5T3Ih_Vjfg37dJg8ICNNr3uUs-G0eAfbjFn9cvrZGAP5_aFGRMoaNFbiWDW085O_rOHZH0obV5P6tzNGsdS1uBMbVN1KZhRfroLd1NZ/w200-h200/71guk00hW1L._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings</i> (Legacy): These are the legendary first recordings. The sound is superb, considering that they're over 90 years old. What's amazing is that when Hurt was "rediscovered" some 35 years later, he sounded just as good as he does on these tracks. Every blues fan should have a Mississippi John Hurt album in their collection and they definitely need this one if they don't have any others.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7ZJTMqYdWq2_7-asUsoBO5JGn6wbOfC4bSawCjlgz433AU88dfWM9q4wAjyKKYRwCLe0s96KOmvCxEgjhOw3RQJAm2UbXJLo4MEmmZFGhM3C4nZTlOvm5K9DtPbUpucLlpHfBRVAon_D/s301/41RK5577X8L.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="301" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7ZJTMqYdWq2_7-asUsoBO5JGn6wbOfC4bSawCjlgz433AU88dfWM9q4wAjyKKYRwCLe0s96KOmvCxEgjhOw3RQJAm2UbXJLo4MEmmZFGhM3C4nZTlOvm5K9DtPbUpucLlpHfBRVAon_D/w200-h199/41RK5577X8L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><i>The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt</i> (Vanguard): I like all of Hurt's Vanguard recordings, but this album, released shortly after his death, is my favorite of those. He sounds fantastic on these tracks. When I first purchased this one years ago, I played it all the time. The sound is pristine, as on many of Vanguard's releases, and it just has a warm, cozy feel, like you're listening to Hurt play on his front porch.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_ljDkh7eX8FKpjQbT8OJzNiFVjRyjXMVGp3e6D-ejTBGHdQ6gfnqH4R3iZ1mTt0PQb9WT0JUQe2GDxmki2oYyLxeo6cTnYgqnM_XcrDEXbQsfbmXVTbzJrE8KTA1DOKFRtJDfca369X6/s425/71Iav0Ft16L._SX425_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="425" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_ljDkh7eX8FKpjQbT8OJzNiFVjRyjXMVGp3e6D-ejTBGHdQ6gfnqH4R3iZ1mTt0PQb9WT0JUQe2GDxmki2oYyLxeo6cTnYgqnM_XcrDEXbQsfbmXVTbzJrE8KTA1DOKFRtJDfca369X6/w200-h199/71Iav0Ft16L._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>The Best of Mississippi John Hurt</i> (Vanguard): Somewhat awkwardly titled, this is actually a 1965 concert recorded at Oberlin College, not a collection of his "Greatest Hits." However, this set captures Hurt in great form performing most of his classic songs and interacting with an appreciative audience. <br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-4185849694181380992021-02-05T00:01:00.002-06:002021-02-05T17:13:55.923-06:00Three Essential Recordings: Buddy Guy<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaYh0lNZWPeJsaiJ3QxNBJNoHe0EibjnAXWvdttI9ArL2aZfwgp9yOkthGbnPb5ZtiIAyWzh0_todLnZp0GOXSbYeLO7UDEP4-u0E4Mwjtc3Bo_xD-qkNPtj6V1Q5xypWw1gflOCvK5GX/s900/download+%25284%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaYh0lNZWPeJsaiJ3QxNBJNoHe0EibjnAXWvdttI9ArL2aZfwgp9yOkthGbnPb5ZtiIAyWzh0_todLnZp0GOXSbYeLO7UDEP4-u0E4Mwjtc3Bo_xD-qkNPtj6V1Q5xypWw1gflOCvK5GX/s320/download+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Friday Blues Fix is introducing a new topic this week called Three Essential Recordings. This is not just for newcomers to the blues, but for longtime blues fans as well. We will look at a particular artist and select, in our opinion, three albums that will serve as a fine introduction for new fans and lead longtime fans to go back and find one that they might have missed. Next week, we will be discussing a recent blues-related journey that we undertook, but for now, let's get started with three essential recordings for Buddy Guy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Most blues fans are familiar with Buddy Guy, who's served as a big influence for a lot of guitarists over the years. In the early 80's, I was a huge fan of Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, both of whom covered Guy songs on their albums. However, I didn't actually get to hear Buddy Guy until MCA started reissuing the Chess Records catalogs in the mid 80's, via their The Blues anthology series. Eventually, I tracked down some of his recordings with Junior Wells and finally his own reissued recordings. In the early 90's, after the resurgence of the blues genre, Guy began releasing new material and continues to do so.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of Guy's recording have great moments.....he manages to still sound inspired as he approaches his mid 80's. For these Three Essentials, we opted to capture his best moments at various periods of his career. If you happen to feel differently from our choices, well, that's your choice and we invite you to share your Three Essentials in the Comments below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay......for starters, these Essentials will be of Guy by himself, we will look at his work with Junior Wells down the road a piece. These are three great options to really catch the work of Buddy Guy over the span of his career.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi4ZvagFalWH98jI8UniIGhKOFR18-aK5GvDx8WdJM47VeIdPPuZyBBe3L5sPiughyphenhyphen-4HE_o6PKGJ6stXCDLpk-XrAC3Fs54l56-Dh-_2zolbyjKS4kAHnrYb28XZV0k4aYx_K-C75q_z/s500/91zeHIk551L._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi4ZvagFalWH98jI8UniIGhKOFR18-aK5GvDx8WdJM47VeIdPPuZyBBe3L5sPiughyphenhyphen-4HE_o6PKGJ6stXCDLpk-XrAC3Fs54l56-Dh-_2zolbyjKS4kAHnrYb28XZV0k4aYx_K-C75q_z/w200-h200/91zeHIk551L._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-style: italic;">Buddy's Blues</i><i> </i>(Chess/MCA): Guy enjoyed a lengthy tenure with Chess, both as a session guitarist and as a front man. Buddy's Blues captures the cream of those recordings, a crisp and concise 15-song set of Guy at his absolute best. Most fans will have heard these songs, either by Guy or by someone else. This is what all the fuss was about for those up-and-coming rock and blues-rock guitarists who cite Guy as a major influence. This is the place for newcomers because each song here (even the one where he's backing vocalist Lacy Gibson with some superb guitar work) is a keeper and the sound is wonderful.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELb-B2rO5Gs" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKuVi3shK3pc2UR0Ht6a8yCIF-x7uDXwbJSopPT7mdFojse0izcRfFgcqPqSUwBBZYr9UJgAdxri7uRfxr_PCftnTwGs458jwOpRTa2viQRO4jf5H47mb8IcphnVh3E1vh2lkZ-v7pN91/s355/71O1lcf0sAL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKuVi3shK3pc2UR0Ht6a8yCIF-x7uDXwbJSopPT7mdFojse0izcRfFgcqPqSUwBBZYr9UJgAdxri7uRfxr_PCftnTwGs458jwOpRTa2viQRO4jf5H47mb8IcphnVh3E1vh2lkZ-v7pN91/w200-h200/71O1lcf0sAL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></i></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-style: italic;">A Man and The Blues</i> (Vanguard): This recording was a couple of years after his Chess recordings (1968), but it captures Guy in a more relaxed and understaed mood, both as a singer and guitarist. Backed by a tight, TIGHT band that includes the great Otis Spann on piano, Wayne Bennett on rhythm guitar, Fred Below on drums, and Jack Myers on bass, along with three saxophonists, Guy works through a great nine-song set that includes two of my favorite Guy slow burners, B.B. King's "Sweet Little Angel" and Mercy Dee Walton's "One Room Country Shack," and "Mary Had A Little Lamb. I've had this album in various formats since 1987, the year I started listening to the blues, and I still play it regularly.</div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kJjztFsP3x0" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iEI9MKCTpBhqhXxu_Myy-Ym3T-xYAgLLNbpc1dXndpPYmAcMFxrKYLalZr3QuaUt9LfMRXJUOCEXlOrbk9DV8esard-_ZYZAS_5N1YoGQadnyuRD0NauYtuVXi1t39QTvHVGVmQzRHJe/s355/71hOrp7YvdL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="348" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iEI9MKCTpBhqhXxu_Myy-Ym3T-xYAgLLNbpc1dXndpPYmAcMFxrKYLalZr3QuaUt9LfMRXJUOCEXlOrbk9DV8esard-_ZYZAS_5N1YoGQadnyuRD0NauYtuVXi1t39QTvHVGVmQzRHJe/w196-h200/71hOrp7YvdL._SY355_.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>Slippin' In</i> (Silvertone Records): When Guy signed with ilvertone in the early 90's, I remember being excited because over time, I had managed to track down a lot of his earlier releases, solo and with Junior Wells, and I just knew he would make a big splash. <br /><div style="text-align: left;">Well, he did, but his first couple of efforts were mixed bags to me.....I just don't enjoy the "guest star" format that a lot of labels do when they sign blues artists....I know I'm probably in the minority here for sure, but I feel like it ends up not really being the star's album. Guy was such a force of nature that it didn't happen that frequently, but his albums ended up having more of a pop/rock feel than blues sometimes. <i>Slippin' In</i> came out in '94, and I almost didn't buy it because I was disappointed in Guy's previous release (<i>Feels Like Rain</i>), but I'm glad I did because to these ears, it's his best effort start to finish of his 90's and beyond releases. He does have a few guest stars (Double Trouble's Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton on some tracks and pianist Johnnie Johnson), but they are versed in the blues through and through and Guy really shines on this set. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jF0FZQK9Z9k" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are a few runners-up.......<i>I Was Walking Through The Woods</i>, <i>Stone Crazy</i>, <i>Sweet Tea</i>, <i>Live at the Checkerboard</i>, and the Rhino collection <i>The Very Best of Buddy Guy</i>, but these three albums are the first ones I reach for when I want to hear Buddy Guy at his finest. As stated above, your mileage may vary, so if they do, let us know in the Comments.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062416028577262304.post-14705798123511089002021-01-15T00:01:00.001-06:002021-01-15T00:01:03.986-06:00Friday Blues Fix's Top 20 For 2020<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kSQsHCMNa9Jn_lTEd_TwLdLC2NqVoaBgAQfST1bN5nmN75I4_jm3NUbBpza1GHfcyZygb0kEdK1VjlQHyR3B9tI6kCBNiYzXSduqalVk3hwzAmmA-iyDxml38tTkq39iXT8dN5QioBBz/s300/Top-20-v2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kSQsHCMNa9Jn_lTEd_TwLdLC2NqVoaBgAQfST1bN5nmN75I4_jm3NUbBpza1GHfcyZygb0kEdK1VjlQHyR3B9tI6kCBNiYzXSduqalVk3hwzAmmA-iyDxml38tTkq39iXT8dN5QioBBz/w200-h200/Top-20-v2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Well, 2020 wasn't much to cheer about....a year best seen in your rear view mirror. However, there were some very good blues recordings that helped blues fans get through it. It was a very hectic year for your humble correspondent and his family, but I was able to listen to a lot of great music in what spare time I had. I also missed a few, too, I'm sure, but below are the best 20 blues albums that I heard this year. Stay tuned for the next online issue of Blues Bytes to see which of these 20 made up my Top Ten for the year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Friday Blues Fix's Top 2020 for 2020 </span>(in no particular order)</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAu-mTDGqXxme-uFtfUMjA19esGtxQZk5ljDxIIhH9lPRfTiWRT0G4bpnQYUP3XGCUcwwEym1ircgqNj_4DW4DK-Sugp_VyXrSWOXnDQOXeWo4tq_6vqU5T2UXoFysu8X8Pwg1LcRA53T/s355/41jhPb%252BGmdL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAu-mTDGqXxme-uFtfUMjA19esGtxQZk5ljDxIIhH9lPRfTiWRT0G4bpnQYUP3XGCUcwwEym1ircgqNj_4DW4DK-Sugp_VyXrSWOXnDQOXeWo4tq_6vqU5T2UXoFysu8X8Pwg1LcRA53T/w200-h200/41jhPb%252BGmdL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Johnny Rawls - </b><i>Where Have All The Soul Men Gone?</i><b> </b>(Third Street Cigar Records): Mr. Rawls does it again with a fantastic album of blues and soul. His songs always sound like old favorites with a nice modern feel. Fortunately, there's still a few soul men still with us (see below), and thank goodness Johnny Rawls is one of them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKynfZjUrP5Km8KgcbZHmundFIdkrunq4CyW_TQjJ2w3iQoAWhbRjaY_w1Zhh8R2Y5SsiL8ADzVk60oaps1RFqLqFSCLtVCn9c01Q9KmMuzC5BhHe1B0hJPgUvtueQKGwB4nukDjpZeuq-/s300/41r-2RFT2eL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKynfZjUrP5Km8KgcbZHmundFIdkrunq4CyW_TQjJ2w3iQoAWhbRjaY_w1Zhh8R2Y5SsiL8ADzVk60oaps1RFqLqFSCLtVCn9c01Q9KmMuzC5BhHe1B0hJPgUvtueQKGwB4nukDjpZeuq-/w200-h200/41r-2RFT2eL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Liz Mandeville</b> - <i>Playing With Fire</i> (Blue Kitty Music): One of the nicest stories in the blues this year. Ms. Mandeville was in a terrible accident back in 2016 and was told she'd never perform again, but she beat the odds and came back with a vengeance.....some nine months after the accident. She's at her best on this set, both as a performer and a songwriter with a very distinctive style.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu68L_zn8h2l2xxDzx1O0GdoYlcSoOPc6T4ZbbU7ffS6Yr5h0Zyhi_RcSWp9cQDWOLtuRiKI_SSK_qVAtFbo2XNioabJ0reRIj8HZb5Yd792hCQdujl6AbqNAgD9Q55_i3PWhf5kHSvRO/s355/61EKuS2WfCL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu68L_zn8h2l2xxDzx1O0GdoYlcSoOPc6T4ZbbU7ffS6Yr5h0Zyhi_RcSWp9cQDWOLtuRiKI_SSK_qVAtFbo2XNioabJ0reRIj8HZb5Yd792hCQdujl6AbqNAgD9Q55_i3PWhf5kHSvRO/w200-h200/61EKuS2WfCL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Kat Riggins</b> - <i>Cry Out</i> (Gulf Coast Records): Ms. Riggins is a talent who deserves to be heard by a wider audience and this album should be the one to make that happen, if there's any justice in the world. A powerful vocalist, Riggins is also a talented songwriter who reaches down deep for inspiration.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKKT9nCCEpd7gZ65JACE-xxKbDZEOPIpM4BD2lQdobcz3fGokZfS_Z1IDD6D_UHCWvo6x8jRAyvCwRMcCG1sGGsCsld4N24V6JaYKG78gew8V4CRBTxGMJKzB9UtD79ALc8snnzXrbB9x/s500/61kj4ONZijL._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKKT9nCCEpd7gZ65JACE-xxKbDZEOPIpM4BD2lQdobcz3fGokZfS_Z1IDD6D_UHCWvo6x8jRAyvCwRMcCG1sGGsCsld4N24V6JaYKG78gew8V4CRBTxGMJKzB9UtD79ALc8snnzXrbB9x/w200-h200/61kj4ONZijL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Sam Joyner </b>- <i>When U Need A Friend</i> (Sam Joyner Music): I wasn't familiar with Joyner, even though he reached the finals at the I.B.C. two consecutive years. After listening to this fine album, it all made sense to me. His brand of blues is a combination of Chicago blues, New Orleans R&B, and the smoothest soul blues this side of Malaco Records. Great set.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Cq2ypoF_UiPzwF6lUTysz053Sz4xtEOv7gnJ4sXdcGf6u9HRsTUzqJIUYtn5ttyMJugFoCFMFU3_f2taVwIlFsP1Zx5X1G34AZ3FfxyJXZTD07gI6LaM_YJwfuY2jt77t4gcuJr45zs/s355/61XgSLf9LhL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Cq2ypoF_UiPzwF6lUTysz053Sz4xtEOv7gnJ4sXdcGf6u9HRsTUzqJIUYtn5ttyMJugFoCFMFU3_f2taVwIlFsP1Zx5X1G34AZ3FfxyJXZTD07gI6LaM_YJwfuY2jt77t4gcuJr45zs/w200-h200/61XgSLf9LhL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Sonny Landreth</b> - <i>Blacktop Run</i> (Provogue Records): You can't go wrong with this slide guitarist extraordinaire, especially when he focuses on the blues as firmly as he does on this excellent release, which blends the blues with various Louisiana styles, Americana, jazz, and R&B. Landreth first blew me away backing John Hiatt over thirty years ago and then with his 1995 release, <i>South of I-10</i>. He still blows me away a quarter century later.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3Csjgy1nU86odht0aZ_ePBJD-ExwGQAnsN4dyP11hA-mCKgbOiU_L0zjimx5tZKXri2DQDn76vzK1DEnEc2y8TYlZm4pSdMFsu7FXlnh4ZAeF1pst3u2GxcWoSkNMenSO9ssp11q3Ld4/s500/61xvRurEkXL._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3Csjgy1nU86odht0aZ_ePBJD-ExwGQAnsN4dyP11hA-mCKgbOiU_L0zjimx5tZKXri2DQDn76vzK1DEnEc2y8TYlZm4pSdMFsu7FXlnh4ZAeF1pst3u2GxcWoSkNMenSO9ssp11q3Ld4/w200-h200/61xvRurEkXL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Sonny Green</b> - <i>Found! One Soul Singer</i> (Little Village Foundation): I am not sure how this could be Green's first album....the California-based singer has recorded a handful of sought-after 45's over the years, but this is a revelation. Green brings a little bit of Bobby "Blue" Bland, a little bit of Little Milton, and a dash of 70's-era Hi Records to the table and it's a mighty fine concoction. A must-listen for blues and soul fans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjxbOrTNYgURVRFIDzXTlDwHcCGBxn3YFQtQrBB_6sjACTNFx9ba4b5HuDziJjgCDStlDPIK9QX9aGbXImoxtz_LkVyMK0XBce9kVVoKuD536eTjRaSbF8CO66ZJWTvTDCTkKCJZ3Ec_b/s500/71dfc88R5ML._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjxbOrTNYgURVRFIDzXTlDwHcCGBxn3YFQtQrBB_6sjACTNFx9ba4b5HuDziJjgCDStlDPIK9QX9aGbXImoxtz_LkVyMK0XBce9kVVoKuD536eTjRaSbF8CO66ZJWTvTDCTkKCJZ3Ec_b/w200-h200/71dfc88R5ML._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Nora Jean Wallace</b> - <i>BluesWoman</i> (Severn Records): I first heard Ms. Wallace backing Jimmy Dawkins on a couple of his mid 80's albums and she recorded a couple of solid albums in the early 2000's before taking time off to care for her sick mother. She's back on the scene now with Severn Records, supported by their fine house band on this excellent set and shows she's as formidable a vocalist now as she was pre-hiatus. Hopefully, we won't have to wait 16 years for her next album. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfuIIptiVMLhkGndeXz8PVaJ4bhsrCWLqVvCw6QDsGwnt2f1zdJ5BBid5O1qWgTgf8EprK4EOop8ZaOWiDF_jwLL-mr7V1dHAGGXIDdkP7rD1QHltMOHOQEABYi6rted3RSVqKCvMLdJc/s500/71JcKMYgxRL._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfuIIptiVMLhkGndeXz8PVaJ4bhsrCWLqVvCw6QDsGwnt2f1zdJ5BBid5O1qWgTgf8EprK4EOop8ZaOWiDF_jwLL-mr7V1dHAGGXIDdkP7rD1QHltMOHOQEABYi6rted3RSVqKCvMLdJc/w200-h200/71JcKMYgxRL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers</b> - <i>Volume 1</i> (Stony Plain Records): This fantastic, loose-limbed jam session, with the North Mississippi Allstars, Charlie Musselwhite, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathus, and the late Jim Dickinson sat on the shelf for a dozen years, believe it or not. Even better, there's a <i>Volume 2</i> on the way this spring that's reportedly even better. Can't wait!!</div><p></p><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ma6hBbTLKRD4db4dFxdkHd-5cigF8DvGazF3zUDq52Od4K_W0VD6mZSJZisFTrgub0cVPVs272UpAdYMP3Nr9i0EuKSsIMoL-fnhjtBrPnG8UHMhIecj9dp_J8lPrdbIETORUb1Ei5pk/s500/71-nbxNrccL._SS500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ma6hBbTLKRD4db4dFxdkHd-5cigF8DvGazF3zUDq52Od4K_W0VD6mZSJZisFTrgub0cVPVs272UpAdYMP3Nr9i0EuKSsIMoL-fnhjtBrPnG8UHMhIecj9dp_J8lPrdbIETORUb1Ei5pk/w200-h200/71-nbxNrccL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Jose Ramirez</b> - <i>Here I Come</i>: A native of Costa Rica, guitarist Ramirez placed second in the 2020 I.B.C. This release finds him teaming up with Anson Funderburgh, Jim Pugh, and friends in Austin. He shows amazing diversity, playing the blues, soul, and even a taste of New Orleans. His guitar work is amazing from track to track, and he's a great singer and songwriter, too. Don't miss this one! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlY72pGBMPugChyp03mflzR9Vv5LKPURUTCSUIdqGnugExwryALVF-B8cWYWMsQCY196W5zSIjZpwXkx_GpzfGrFuPphpD7JK_oursz2nN2UedPkwHxODWb-yauxOdnbgQhbfG0wCQdPh/s355/71oy559raeL._SY355_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlY72pGBMPugChyp03mflzR9Vv5LKPURUTCSUIdqGnugExwryALVF-B8cWYWMsQCY196W5zSIjZpwXkx_GpzfGrFuPphpD7JK_oursz2nN2UedPkwHxODWb-yauxOdnbgQhbfG0wCQdPh/w200-h200/71oy559raeL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Don Bryant</b> - <i>You Make Me Feel</i> (Fat Possum Records): Responsible for some of the best songs recorded on Hi Records, Bryant focused on gospel music and his wife Ann Peebles' career for a number of years before returning to the secular music world a few years ago. Bryant still sounds fabulous and still knows how to write a tune. Fans of Hi and Stax need this in their collection.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE_CAxHdCDgW0kyptYmIwPTG5oWQ6MxKheehPPvcq_dg9EuePE9qUtEUIJIEY1gWPk9rTUegWebL5A9e1gYc0BVfR7fDGo1Rnho2SzxR2c31a7AXFZ1bH7S90r8HDyEMyKKutRffjLLgY/s1200/71pv%252BOarMML._SL1200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE_CAxHdCDgW0kyptYmIwPTG5oWQ6MxKheehPPvcq_dg9EuePE9qUtEUIJIEY1gWPk9rTUegWebL5A9e1gYc0BVfR7fDGo1Rnho2SzxR2c31a7AXFZ1bH7S90r8HDyEMyKKutRffjLLgY/w200-h200/71pv%252BOarMML._SL1200_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Dan Penn</b> - <i>Living On Mercy</i> (The Last Music Company): It's been over a quarter century since Penn released a studio recording (notwithstanding a series of "demos" self-released and hard to find), but that's perfectly fine if he does as fine a job as he does on this release. A great mix of some older Penn songs with some really good new songs, and the man sounds just as soulful as ever. </div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGys6vAG6XJ1Y_RSOm6piFimXnM_MjbDqnSm5zfmhgppWYnQ7P0Ym2mRuYiKIZbjpFTB-dFDl6NzVBzc9bESp2KcyQotFvAMzC5yQLDGZWJdTvA-t25TDmUPcBePlcJ9cK49aW5p8RnOnZ/s355/71TkJo%252BXZfL._SX355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="355" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGys6vAG6XJ1Y_RSOm6piFimXnM_MjbDqnSm5zfmhgppWYnQ7P0Ym2mRuYiKIZbjpFTB-dFDl6NzVBzc9bESp2KcyQotFvAMzC5yQLDGZWJdTvA-t25TDmUPcBePlcJ9cK49aW5p8RnOnZ/w200-h177/71TkJo%252BXZfL._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Andrew Alli</b> - <i>Hard Workin' Man</i> (EllerSoul Records): Alli was a bit of a late bloomer, taking up the harmonica at age 20, but did he ever catch on fast!! This is his debut recording and he sounds like he's been doing this his whole life. This is a great set of traditional Chicago-styled blues and he pays tribute to some of the Windy City's harp masters, all of whom would be duly impressed with this young talent.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoC_NztW0Fow64i_s7E1FOrgBEXJZL7oFO-3JPbgU1Md_eik1s9kHH4v4YzBb8VGXuUoYr4a7Tuvqq52RBjlUUT1Z-mgfWcvvpAyNCRncjFhnlvUmncP3SD61jkj_TCIeklu0PAjn7ssd/s355/81NoCovXH%252BL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoC_NztW0Fow64i_s7E1FOrgBEXJZL7oFO-3JPbgU1Md_eik1s9kHH4v4YzBb8VGXuUoYr4a7Tuvqq52RBjlUUT1Z-mgfWcvvpAyNCRncjFhnlvUmncP3SD61jkj_TCIeklu0PAjn7ssd/w200-h200/81NoCovXH%252BL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Lisa Mills</b> - <i>The Triangle</i> (Melody Place Music): Mills traveled to Muscle Shoals, Memphis, and Jackson, MS (home of Malaco Records), recording her versions of songs native to the regions, backed by artists also native to the region. The result is some mighty fine music by one of the best voices in blues and roots music today. She deserves to be heard and this is a great place to start listening.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHGV6JoZybkMRYhCKe0TanvEI-7RenE-su-9riu2-JKV_0zinTuT1JiXCHQTuszYgviXnzKSmHqt6cVU7VJGC16O8TDmgLcHJ0kTL7wY3o2U9YU52h6MWpwEywB-17UD9PXjxPRzq1Syz/s355/81pAIo1L-ML._SX355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="355" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHGV6JoZybkMRYhCKe0TanvEI-7RenE-su-9riu2-JKV_0zinTuT1JiXCHQTuszYgviXnzKSmHqt6cVU7VJGC16O8TDmgLcHJ0kTL7wY3o2U9YU52h6MWpwEywB-17UD9PXjxPRzq1Syz/w200-h199/81pAIo1L-ML._SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Gerald McClendon</b> - <i>Can't Nobody Stop Me Now</i> (Delta Roots Records): I first heard McClendon on last year's Battle of the Blues - Chicago vs. Oakland set......only one tune, but this release more than makes up for that with this fine set of soul-blues. A fantastic and versatile vocalist, McClendon does an excellent job on this set of original blues, soul, and R&B tunes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1LH-IZ_ybI4ShZ3jnLbBllhm9UlMY97CGXTkRDKNnPn1FRDS1DHOJ0R-Vk10in6nBD4CUvEs83k9zOoe-GMvabEjtUBXIE6gqSyoR4T0TUD2QagoBqxHUgRpL_GBjPOzRP82bKpliVkr/s355/81pH1bYEDeL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1LH-IZ_ybI4ShZ3jnLbBllhm9UlMY97CGXTkRDKNnPn1FRDS1DHOJ0R-Vk10in6nBD4CUvEs83k9zOoe-GMvabEjtUBXIE6gqSyoR4T0TUD2QagoBqxHUgRpL_GBjPOzRP82bKpliVkr/w200-h200/81pH1bYEDeL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Robert Cray Band</b> - <i>That's What I Heard</i> (Nozzle Records): Cray continues his collaboration with Steve Jordan and they continue to explore the Memphis side of the blues and soul. A delightful mix of solid Cray originals with well-chosen covers of rarely-heard tunes. Blues fans owe a lot to Cray for his mid-80's contributions that helped lead to the resurgence of the music and he continues to consistently produce some wonderful recordings.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuNsACwBCE9ZbozGDmPfK2XsREqWRQo6jwV7O73z3cOUYBcmpzH80o1thYjMGpjf6eNntch0cv0GSt0brkiZdjU0qKWi_2dxyKBdlN7wo7-TKKVuNUVsI0bxuEqtLKCaybvdyLZ_iOU0X/s500/81xEkGpIc8L._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuNsACwBCE9ZbozGDmPfK2XsREqWRQo6jwV7O73z3cOUYBcmpzH80o1thYjMGpjf6eNntch0cv0GSt0brkiZdjU0qKWi_2dxyKBdlN7wo7-TKKVuNUVsI0bxuEqtLKCaybvdyLZ_iOU0X/w200-h200/81xEkGpIc8L._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Johnny Iguana</b> - <i>Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular!</i> (Delmark Records): If you've happened to hear any of piano man Iguana's recordings with the Claudettes (and you really should), you kind of know what to expect. With assistance from some of Chicago's finest (John Primer, Lil' Ed Williams, Billy Boy Arnold, and Bob Margolin to name a few), Iguana breathes new life into some of the city's classic blues tunes and contributes some fantastic instrumentals of his own.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF-mff6hC2OLk3owjwWCCcgv4PTE-NvqRGRDb69mtasJ4faWg8xc_i4uBvyQTbs_kxGN6-UPYaRHYv5iMLX4f5ueGhfE6ED66DyaH76DcbKORZhwlNaZCxIifmXJfVLux436SplwlYWSb/s355/91ld7kVrPCL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="352" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF-mff6hC2OLk3owjwWCCcgv4PTE-NvqRGRDb69mtasJ4faWg8xc_i4uBvyQTbs_kxGN6-UPYaRHYv5iMLX4f5ueGhfE6ED66DyaH76DcbKORZhwlNaZCxIifmXJfVLux436SplwlYWSb/w198-h200/91ld7kVrPCL._SY355_.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>Kern Pratt</b> - <i>Greenville, MS....What About You?</i> (Endless Blues Records): This one came out in late December of 2019, so it was too late to get it in for my Top 20 last year. I told him after I reviewed it that I would have put it on that list if I'd had a chance to listen. I'm putting it on this one. His love for the music came through in every note he played and sang. I have probably played this as much as any new recording I played this year. He will be much missed on the Mississippi blues scene and the national blues scene. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3ocDQw3SJzcCUQIXhZ50KZW9rCq7wiGQvrJu_ug5KEBTpVvc1Uha9GaobVhV1AQHF1aAxtD3SetZ4F6JOI-V6VQqSQoIzvA2MwiRg3GG_fVi_G7GnylCQS9NYvKa40FVGHe1riDPPXds/s355/91tBss5vYIL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3ocDQw3SJzcCUQIXhZ50KZW9rCq7wiGQvrJu_ug5KEBTpVvc1Uha9GaobVhV1AQHF1aAxtD3SetZ4F6JOI-V6VQqSQoIzvA2MwiRg3GG_fVi_G7GnylCQS9NYvKa40FVGHe1riDPPXds/w200-h200/91tBss5vYIL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>John Blues Boyd</b> - <i>What My Eyes Have Seen....</i> (Gulf Coast Records): Another late bloomer, Boyd worked as a roofer for over 40 years, retiring to take care of his ailing wife. He began singing and writing songs in his spare time and soon began performing. On this compelling album, Boyd tells his story...including his exodus from his native Mississippi in the early 60's, his career, his journey to California, and his love for his wife and the blues. His magnificent voice is worth the price of the album, but there's so much more to savor. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHGJH-TSPq6RgXEpt-Nbk6VSK7VDv8mqBYS2GN2WGuaVabaLLYe_3N6OyVmVIvKmPig19zxyQzpZz0-SIBrgjWKadod3hlxOdJ6wADhzILvalZmm7M6qcjmnCpv6uGiWfsiXQHhK9RV6B/s355/8147BCl2boL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHGJH-TSPq6RgXEpt-Nbk6VSK7VDv8mqBYS2GN2WGuaVabaLLYe_3N6OyVmVIvKmPig19zxyQzpZz0-SIBrgjWKadod3hlxOdJ6wADhzILvalZmm7M6qcjmnCpv6uGiWfsiXQHhK9RV6B/w200-h200/8147BCl2boL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Bobby Rush </b>- <i>Rawer Than Raw</i> (Deep Rush Records): I never cease to be amazed at Bobby Rush. Now 87 years old and approaching 70 years in the business, he's as energetic and creative as he's ever been, just tearing into this incredible set of acoustic blues that includes classic takes on material from Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson (Version II), Skip James and Howlin' Wolf, mixing in a few of his own tunes for good measure. As I said in my review last month, I can't see anyone not enjoying this recording.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x5crNUIDvg009yCoxxZEHHmTd2Z7X7g5HyjAhFT2rvQkcjgWHu8hWjcjtnIw7AqZh2u8jWLNskGUKNfZcb0cF8IRFP1vIW-XPmPoHOUhgh-Hn9fpguVMDynMkuKytuu7LvPq-7fuwgIE/s355/A1LEWlU2IdL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x5crNUIDvg009yCoxxZEHHmTd2Z7X7g5HyjAhFT2rvQkcjgWHu8hWjcjtnIw7AqZh2u8jWLNskGUKNfZcb0cF8IRFP1vIW-XPmPoHOUhgh-Hn9fpguVMDynMkuKytuu7LvPq-7fuwgIE/w200-h200/A1LEWlU2IdL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>John Nemeth</b> - <i>Stronger Than Strong</i> (Nola Blue Records): I really like how Nemeth doesn't stay in one spot musically from album to album. This set goes in a new direction for the singer, mixing swamp, country, and Hill Country blues. There's still plenty of soul and R&B in the stew, but I really like the direction he takes with this release. It's ragged, but righteous.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> So, what are your favorites of 2020? Feel free to share them in the Comments below.....</div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.com0