Smoking Hot Nina Simone

Some problems are nice to have, consider this clip of Nina Simone singing the blues. Though she is not what you would call a traditional blues musician, she performed all types of music. So if you have a blues blog, and you find a smoking hot clip like this, "Then What Are You Gonna to Do."

Double Trouble by Otis Rush

I Can't Quit You Baby:
The Complete Cobra Sessions


People, watching the news on TV has given me the blues. It's that bad luck and trouble. They say you can make it if you try. Double Trouble, this is how I feel right now, and I'm sure there are a whole lot of you who feel the same way.

"I lay awake at night with thoughts of love, just so troubled
It is hard to keep a job, laid off, having double trouble

But hey hey yeah,
they say you can make it if you try,

Yes, some of this generation is millionares,
it's hard for me to keep decent clothes to wear

Your love has got me walking baby
and I have no place to go

Bad luck and trouble taken me
I have no money to show

But, hey hey to make it you've got to try
Baby that's no lie

Yes, some of this generation is millionares,
it is hard for me to keep decent clothes to wear"

From Otis Rush - I Can't Quit You Baby (The Blues Collection Vol.19) - 05 - Double Trouble

Double Trouble


Otis Rush and Eric Clatpon "Double Trouble"



Otis Rush - Live at Montreux 1986

Please click images

Otis Rush @Amazon.com

Otis Rush @SqueezeMyLemon

Eric Clapton @SqueezeMyLemon

I Feel Like Going To Church - Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood - Presence of the Lord

While not really a gospel song, this performance of "Presence of the Lord" is definitely informed by gospel blues. And again it is an example of how gospel music serves as a base for a lot of blues, and rock music also.

Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood - Presence of the Lord


Notes from YouTube; Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007, with Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhill

Little Walter: His Best The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection

His Best:Little Walter
If you read SML often you probably know that I love harmonica players. And the harmonica player that I love listening to the most is Little Walter. And the Little Walter album that I like listening to the most, is His Best :(Little Walter)The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection.

I am serious when I tell you that if I was placed on a desert island, and could only have one album, this might be the album. And I bet someone is wondering how could I pick a Little Walter album over say a Muddy Waters album, or maybe a Howlin' Wolf album. Well part of it may be my mood right now, if I pose this question on another day, I might come up with a different album, but right now this is how I feel.

I agree with Robert Gordon's assessment of Little Walter when he said;

Marion "Little Walter" Jacobs is perhaps the most influential harmonica player on contemporary blues, and his collection is a great place to start. He was trained by Muddy Waters, but brought a more swinging feel to blues. Muddy and his band accompany Little Walter on many hits, as do Robert "Jr." Lockwood, the Aces, and other Chicago greats. In the 1950s, Little Walter's popularity eclipsed even Waters', his style a little more relaxed and pop-oriented. Walter's versions of many songs are the standards: "Blues with a Feeling," "You're So Fine," "Juke." Great stuff.

Track Listing
1. Juke 2:47
2. Can't Hold Out Much Longer 3:03
3. Mean Old World 2:57
4. Sad Hours 3:15
5. Tell Me Mama 2:47
6. Off The Wall 2:52
7. Blues With A Feeling 3:10
8. You're So Fine 3:07
9. Too Late 2:44
10. Last Night 2:46
11. Mellow Down Easy 2:45
12. My Babe 2:44
13. Roller Coaster 2:56
14. Hate To See You Go 2:20
15. It Ain't Right 2:57
16. Boom, Boom Out Goes The Light 2:53
17. Confessin' The Blues 3:06
18. Key To The Highway 2:48
19. Everything's Gonna Be Alright 2:52
20. Just Your Fool 2:23

Little Walter mp3s @Amazon

Little Walter @SqueezeMyLemon

Friday Blues Funny - Guitar Face - The Holmes Brothers

The Holmes Brothers @ The Blue Bird Blues Festival

photo by Glenn's photography

Blues Blogs In The Spotlight: A Copywriter's Blues

Another blues blog that I often read is A Copywiter's Blues. This blog is notable because it post some of the most comprehensive posting on blues greats to be found on the web. A typical post includes several video clips and other links to support and act as a resource for background information.

You can tell that the author Alex Badalic is a blues music lover by the way he writes about it. He also relates his experience with the musicians over the years as he relates various shows and other important milestones.

One reason that I like this blog so much is how it often surprised me with his selection of musicians and his presentation.

Big Joe Williams in His Own Words

I love it when the bluesmen speak for themselves. There are a lot of people like me who write about what they said and did, but it is best to hear them say it in their own words.

Here we have Big Joe Williams talking about his music, and how he has written songs for women that he has known over the years. It is very delightful to here him talk about some of these mean old blues in such a light hearted way, with panache and a bit of comedy.

Big Joe Williams - Arkansas Woman (1966)


Shake Your Boogie

please click image

Sweetheart Like You by Guy Davis

Sweetheart Like You

click image for sample mp3s

Guy Davis - Sweetheart Like You


Guy Davis - Things About Coming My Way

Guy Davis @Amazon.com

It's the Birthday of Rory Gallagher

Irish Tour
Rory Gallagher was born on 2 March 1948, and he passed away on 14 June 1995. He was an Irish blues/rock guitarist, born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster.

And even though he had a shot life, and he suffered from illness, the guitarist, singer, and songwriter got a lot done in the world of blues music. His death was due to complications from a liver transplant surgery on June 14, 1995, at age 47.

If you are not familiar with his music click on the images in this post to listen to sample mp3s. Critics agree that Irish Tour 1974, Calling Card, or Fresh Evidence, show case his abilities as a guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Calling Card













Fresh Evidence

I Feel Like Going To Church - Nodody's Fault But Mine

To illustrate the progression from gospel to blues to rock, please consider the following versions of Nobody's Fault But Mine.

Blind Willie Johnson - Nobody's Fault But Mine


Pops Staples - Nobody's Fault But Mine


Led Zeppelin - Nobody's Fault But Mine



Nobody's Fault But Mine @Amazon.com