If you had to, right now, off the top of your head, list your ten favourite blues tunes, what would they be?
I think mine might change from day to day, week to week, but for right this second, and in no particular order, here goes:
Brokedown Engine (I like both the Blind Willie McTell version and the Bob Dylan version from World Gone Wrong)
Rocket 88 (Some people call it the first rock n roll song, on Sun Records. It's credited to sax player and vocalist Jackie Brenston but it was Ike Turner's band).
Don't Start me Talkin' (I love the way James Cotton covered this great Sonny Boy Williamson tune).
Sitting on Top of the World (Mississippi Sheiks, Howlin Wolf)
Natural Born Eastman (Furry Lewis)
Fattening Frogs for Snakes (Sonny Boy Williamson II again. He was a great songwriter)
Lonesome Day Blues (Bob Dylan from Love and Theft)
Flip Flop Fly (Big Joe Turner, Downchild Blues Band)
Sugar Bee (I like the Boozoo Chavis version of this often recorded tune)
Built for Comfort (You could substitute any number of Willie Dixon tunes here).
Here's Bob Dylan performing Don't Start me Talkin
But Mister Anchovy, how can you have a list like that and not include this one?
Har! Here's another one that should have made the list...
Monday, June 22, 2009
Just Curious...
Attention blues bloggers - AllTop.com
Dear readers, this post is aimed at those of your who are blues music bloggers. I think all the support and responses that I get from bloggers is so cool, and I appreciate it so much. We all have to hang together and support each other.
A couple of weeks ago I submitted a list of blues blogs to be included in the AllTop.com website.
According to them they are;
an “online magazine rack” of popular topics. We update the stories every hour. Pick a topic by searching, news category, or name, and we’ll deliver it to you 24 x 7. All the topics, all the time.
In a nutshell they are a way for your blues blog to be seen and read by more readers and blues fans. They can also be a source of news and info for you. They are described as a RSS aggregator. And they are very heavily promoted on Twitter (which is where many readers are at right now).
Alltop is managed by Guy Kawasaki, the venture capitalist, blogger and former Apple Computer evangelist. You can read their about page for more information.
The good people over at AllTop created a topic for blues music see AllTop's blues music topic. They put up some of those that I recommended. You have to have an RSS feed to submit your blog.
You can also check out MyAllTop - Fitzgerald page.
I suggest that if you want your blog indexed on this new emerging website that you click on the link above and submit your blog. I think this is a good thing for blues music bloggers (or any website masters for that matter) to be listed on a site that is heavily promoted on Twitter.
I also have one of their widgets on my sidebar, you can check it out.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Blind Genius
A sorely missed Canadian, another one who lost the battle with cancer - Wikipedia says he was a hot-jazz performer. (jazz that is emotionally charged and intense and marked by strong rhythms and improvisation).
A Bob Dylan tune
An excellent version of a Doors classic
Amazon UK
The Very Best of Jeff Healey
It's Tight Like That
Maxwell St.
Boss Man
On the Chicago News
Old Maxwell St.
Hubert Sumlin talks (briefly) about Maxwell St.
I Feel Like Going To Church - Eric Bibb - Spirit I am
Coming at you this morning with some of that Gospel blues music, trying to raise your spirit on a Sunday.
Spirit I Am (MP3 Download) by Eric Bibb
Eric Bibb @Amazon.com
Eric Bibb @SqueezeMyLemon
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Blues Song In The Spotlight: Robert Johnson - From Four Till Late
Lyrics:
From four till late
I was wringin my hands and cryin
From four till late
I was wringin my hands and cryin
I believe to my soul
that your daddy's Gulfport bound
From Memphis to Norfolk
is a thirty six hour ride
From Memphis to Norfolk
is a thirty six hour ride
A mans like a prisoner
and he's never satisfied
A woman is like a dresser
some man is always ramblin through its drawers
A woman is like a dresser
some man is always ramblin through its drawers
It cause so many men
wear an apron overhaul
From four until late
she get with a no good bunch and clown
From four until late
she get with a no good bunch and clown
Now, she won't do nothin
but tear a good mans reputation down
When I leave this town,
I'm 'onna bid you fare...farewell
When I leave this town,
I'm 'onna bid you fare...farewell
And when I return again
you'll have a great long story to tell
Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings
Robert Johnson @Amazon.com
Friday, June 19, 2009
Worried Life Blues
Oh Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy, Lord
It hurts me so bad, for us to part
Someday baby, ain't gonna worry my life anymore
You're on my mind every place I go and how much I'll miss you
You'll never know, someday baby ain't gonna worry my life anymore
Do you remember lyin' on my bed, drinkin' all of that whiskey, talkin' all out of your head
Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life anymore
Goodbye baby, I'm leavin' you now
Don't make much difference, 'cause you never meant me no good anyhow
Someday baby, ain't gonna worry my life anymore
I've have had my fun....
...if I don't get well no more. You know my health is fadin me and I'll be goin down slow.
Eric Clapton
Eric Bibb and Brian Kramer
Johnny Winter
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Taj Mahal - Leaving Trunk
I really like Taj Mahal's cover version of Sleepy John Estes' song Milk Cow Blues which appears on Taj Mahal's, 1968 eponymous album, Taj Mahal, titled Leaving Trunk.
The video clip below, I believe, is from the The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. It is very cool because it also features Jesse Ed Davis, Ry Cooder et al kicking ass and taking names.
WAKE UP MAMA,
I GOT SOMETHIN TO TELL YOU
YOU KNOW I'M A MAN
WHO LOVE TO SING THE BLUES
Here's the lineup according to the liner notes: Jessie Edwin Davies,(sp) lead guitar; Ryland P. Cooder, rhythm guitar; James Thomas, bass; Sanford Konikoff, drums; Taj Mahal, harp
Leaving Trunk mp3 by Taj Mahal
Milk Cow Blues mp3 by Sleepy John Estes.
