Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Bleeding Heart |- Jimi Hendrix

Wikipedia
 "Bleeding Heart" (sometimes called "(My) Bleeding Heart") is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Elmore James in 1961. Considered "among the greatest of James' songs", "Bleeding Heart" was later popularized by Jimi Hendrix, who recorded several versions of the song.



Lurrie Bell & Mississippi Heat – She's 19 Years Old



Saturday, November 24, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Big Mama: Big Mama Thornton

Wikipedia
She was the first to record the hit song "Hound Dog" in 1952. The record was #1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks in 1953... Three years later, Elvis Presley recorded his even more broadly successful rendition of "Hound Dog," based on a version performed by Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. Similarly, Thornton wrote and recorded "Ball 'n' Chain", which became a hit for her, yet Janis Joplin's later recording of it made a bigger impact in the late 1960s

Texas State Historical Association
The nickname "Big Mama" came from somebody after the first show, and it stuck. She was a large, tall woman, and the name suited her vocal tension and coarseness.




 


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Black Dub - Black Dub 2010

Wikipedia
Black Dub is the debut album by the Daniel Lanois-instigated collaboration Black Dub, an amalgam of dub, blues, soul and rock. Allmusic gave it three and a half stars out of five, praising singer Trixie Whitley's "deeply soulful contralto." All songs are written by Lanois, save for the group effort "Last Time." Black Dub consists of Daryl Johnson (bass), Trixie Whitley (vocals), Brian Blade (drums), and Daniel Lanois (piano, guitar)
allmusic
The quartet, .... and vocalist/keyboardist Trixie Whitley (daughter of the late great Chris Whitley) make a beguiling, seductive music that blurs rock, soul, blues, gothic Americana, New Orleans funk, and dubwise reggae.




Thursday, November 15, 2012

Billie: Billie Holiday aka "Lady Day"

Wikipedia

Critic John Bush wrote that Holiday "changed the art of American pop vocals forever. She co-wrote only a few songs, but several of them have become jazz standards, notably "God Bless the Child", "Don't Explain", "Fine and Mellow", and "Lady Sings the Blues". She also became famous for singing "Easy Living", "Good Morning Heartache", and "Strange Fruit", a protest song which became one of her standards and was made famous with her 1939 recording.

WikiAnswers suggests the following derivation of her nickname

Well, her friend Lester Young, Billie, and her mother gave each other nicknames. Billie was considered a lady because she would not accept tips unless you handed her. Lester Young must have gotten "Day" out of Holiday, and thus came up with Lady Day as a nickname.


One of the strongest songs ever written I think


Thelonious Monk Tee Shirt


Thelonious Monk - CBS Overdye T-Shirt


Thelonious Monk hits the keys during his famous 1963 CBS Recording Sessions in a stylized violet photo graphic on the front of this premium black, 100% cotton t-shirt. Presented by and featuring a photograph by legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall, with distressed overdye print and soft, reinforced construction for authentic vintage style and quality, this is a a truly stunning tee - any Monk fan's Dream.

Old Glory Tee Shirts and Stuff @ Amazon.com


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Got a new job, relocating to San Francisco.

I want to give you all an update on what is going on with me as of late.

I recently started a new job and I am relocating from San Diego to San Francisco. I'm looking at it as a chance to see a lot more good live music.

Consider the video below of a young street performer called Gabriel Angelo.  My wife and I went down to the ferry landing just to see the sights and were amazed to see this kid making wonderful music, playing his horn and tap dancing.



I just hope that my new job does not take up so much of my time that I can not blog about all the music I hope to see.




Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Terry Callier - Blue


 Guardian
"You can make accessible music and still sing about love and peace and truth and life and death," said Callier in 1996. "In the end, those are the only things that matter."


 


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Sunnyland Slim

His stage name came from a song he composed about the Sunnyland train that ran between Memphis and St. Louis, Missouri.


Thursday, November 08, 2012

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Wikipedia
 Tharpe became the first superstar of gospel music and also became known as "the original soul sister." She was a treasured early influence on iconic figures such as Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Johnny Cash.
A couple of my favourites - ANYONE SUGGEST OTHERS PLEASE!




Sunday, November 04, 2012

The Sky Is Crying.

Wikipedia
"The Sky Is Crying" is a slow-tempo twelve-bar blues notated in 12/8 time in the key of C.[4] An impromptu song inspired by a Chicago downpour during the recording session, it features James' slide guitar work and vocals




Larry McCray - Don’t Need No Woman



Saturday, November 03, 2012

Spencer Bohren

Spencer Ward Bohren ... is an American roots musician, singer, songwriter, teacher, and visual artist. He plays guitar, lap steel guitar, banjo, and percussion, and utilizes the roots of American traditional music to write songs in blues, country, gospel and folk styles. He has released fourteen albums since 1984.




Amazon Store


Thursday, November 01, 2012

Nina Simone - The Legend Video

Just watched the below film, "Nina Simone - The Legend" and it is a wonderful portrait of Ms. Simone and explains some things about her life that I did not know. If you are a fan of her music you will enjoy watching this.


Nina Simone - The Legend from Nina Simone on Vimeo.