The Blues

[Ducatista47]

We are following up here on Rich's desire, bless his heart, to know more about The Blues. Let me start by posting a few links to some of the more outrageous things I (with help from AdaminAdam) have said in it's defense and behalf.

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...2&postcount=97
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...0&postcount=99
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...&postcount=100
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...&postcount=101
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...96&postcount=1

I doubt I am the resident Blues scholar here, but I'll do what I can until the more knowledgeable come forth. Perhaps what I lack in knowledge I can make up for with enthusiasm. Blues is as broad and varied as Rock and Jazz are, all huge fields in their own right. There is room for everyone to contribute here, so please join in. I'll do a few posts to start out.

Clark

[Ducatista47]

The UK is as good a place to start as Chicago (my home town for my first eighteen years) or the Delta. That is because in the early 1960's one young fellow saw some really cool records under another youth's arm. Thusly Mick and Keith met. The disks were from Chicago's Chess Records. When the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton and others pleaded with their fans to check out "the real thing," their American heroes, those said heroes were rescued from relative obscurity and found their greatest audience - people my age, kids at the time like Mick and Keith. For many years one could have said that Keith would be reduced to do-re-mi if you took away the Chuck Berry licks.

These Bluesmen came to the UK and the Continent to tour and caused a sensation wherever they went. So did the Chess rock artists who learned from their record company stable mates - Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley to name a couple. I remember watching a clip from a BBC show where the featured guests, the Stones, were sitting down and being interviewed. Brian Jones, bless his wonderful soul, was sitting on the floor as I remember when he suggested they stop talking and bring on someone they brought along who was much more important - Howlin' Wolf. I can still see the joy on Brian's face when he uttered The Wolf's name. So out came Wolf and did a GREAT Little Red Rooster.

As far as I am concerned, the UK hatched more musicians who idolized and learned from American blues music than the USA did, at least in those days. The UK is sacred ground to a blues fan like me.

Clark

[Ducatista47]

I might as well mention Robert Johnson sooner than later. The Chicago Blues, men like Muddy Waters and hundreds of others, was made largely by African Americans who migrated North seeking work and just plain leaving the South. So what were they hearing and playing down South?

Unlike the usually electrified guitar (thank you Les Paul) blues of Chicago and the other northern cities, the so called country blues of the earlier South was acoustic, often a solo musician/singer. The most famous of these, at least the most famous to modern Blues fans, was Robert Johnson. He was a young man who had a real gift, actually traveled a bit, and died quite young. Only two recording sessions, more or less, and only two photographs, exist. The fascination comes from the very high level this playing and singing occurred at. I doubt that as unified a presentation of voice and instrument will ever occur again. Only a few artists have even approached the intensity of the resulting music. Son House does comes to mind. If you are not positively haunted by the music of Robert Johnson, you are not a Blues fan yet.

A wonderful two CD collection is in my hand right now. It is Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings. Columbia C2K 46222. The recordings are not up to modern quality standards, but it doesn't matter. The music comes through just fine. They were cut in the field onto "metal parts" - master discs - and even these were not used to make the modern releases. When the LP's which caused a sensation among the London musicians were being prepared, it was discovered the metal parts were missing. A tape of them was used. The originals are still missing. If they still exist, they are music's greatest hidden treasure. Start looking!

Never mind the stories and legends about his life. Enjoy the music. I'm not alone. You can hear both The Stones (Mick) and Crosby, Stills and Nash (David Crosby) starting tracks by humming the beginning of Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen, one of my favorites. They were not borrowing, they were giving an invocation.

[oznob]

A quote by Peter Green from an old Blue Horizon studio recording. I guess the post war kids in Brittain found music they could relate to from accross the pond. No secret that most "British Invasion" bands were heavily influenced by american blues while the white US groups were into the beach music scene. I find the study of the roots of american music, especially blues, facinating. Stevie Ray Vaughn explained once, the blues was like every day life, a horse walking, a train chuggin', a truck lumbering down a dirt road etc. It comes from down deep inside and is poured out with sweat and emotion. Damn shame he left us so young!

Great thead and insight Clark. I look forward to hearing from other Blues fans, which I'm sure is most members of this forum in one way or another.

[Hofmannhp]

..... I look forward to hearing from other Blues fans, which I'm sure is most members of this forum in one way or another.

you can count me in guys....

HP

[richluvsound]

Hi clark,

what would you classify Cassandra Wilson as ? I also heard a guy called josie Cotton many years ago in Victoria BC . He played Harmonica, I wouldn't mind finding other stuff by him. To come to think of it any harmonica along those lines would be brilliant. In the meantime, I'll check out Robert Johnson !

SRV, "Tin Pan Ally" gets a lot of play time on the 4345's sounds -

thanks for the tips ,keep them coming!

Rich

[Hofmannhp]

... In the meantime, I'll check out Robert Johnson !
SRV, "Tin Pan Ally" gets a lot of play time on the 4345's sounds
thanks for the tips ,keep them coming!
Rich

Hi Rich,

first I thought you forgot our meeting in my Blues Garage with "Tin Pan Ally" and Robert Johnson.
Tin Pan Ally is my special speaker tester title.....also my neighbours are forced to hear it several times a week.

HP