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Blues Thread

Nowhere ManNowhere Man Posts: 345
edited August 2013 in Other Music
Just like to hear about some of your favorite Blues Musicians/Groups and Songs.
I've been digging Muddy Waters a lot lately also some of Clapton's work, I think it may all have stemmed from watching the Last Waltz recently.
Feel free to share your thoughts, love to hear them, always like finding songs I haven't discovered yet.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,049
    A blues thread- YES!

    I got into the blues backwards and across the Atlantic in the 1960's starting out as a big fan of Early Stones, Cream, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, The Animals, The Yardbirds, early Fleetwood Mac among others and then through them learning about the great blues artists who inspired them.

    I'm reading Ray Manzark's marvelous book Light My Fire, My Life With the Doors. In it he gives some of the most exciting descriptions of blues I've ever read. Here are a few choice quote from the book:

    [Regarding Muddy Water's "Hoochie Coochie Man"]: ...it was incredible. The most soulful harp I've ever heard. The tightest groove. The most dangerous singing. And the most evil implications, simply by the nature of the song's existence and Muddy's performance of Willie Dixon's classic. [Quotes lyrics]
    And the whole band hit the chord change! Little Walter, Otis Spann, and the boys, rocking. And the top of my head rose up. The band wailed. Muddy told you that he, indeed, was that hoochie coochie man... and I was gone again. What a fucking piece of music!

    [On hearing Howlin' Wolf on the radio]: "Here's a new record by Howlin' Wolf." And out came "Smokestack Lightening". It killed me. The repetitive riff of that great classic. No chord changes! One chord over and over. Hammering at your rhythm center. Over and over. Funky, dark, gritty, evil. Over and over. The same chord. The same riff. Again and again and again. Trance state.... here I come. My radio was hypnotizing me. The Howlin' Wolf had me in his control.
    And he would cry like a lost wolf. Crying for his lost love. Alone and afraid, vulnerable and yet powerful. A man. A real mensch. What a voice.
    And what on earth do those words mean? What is smokestack lightening and why is it shining just like gold? I still don't know. And I love it. So fucking mysterious. A man wailing like a wolf and the musical riff repeating over and over. Dark and nasty bends in the blue notes. The same chords, the same notes. Ovr and over and over, burning a hypnotic hole into your mind, consuming your consciousness. A mantra. A black American mantra.

    [On Bo Diddley]: "Here's one by my good friend Bo Diddley", Al Benson would say to me. "Who Do You Love?" And we were off again. This time riding that Bo Diddley beat. That African tribal drumbeat over which Bo so coolly floated his dark and dangerous words. "Hoodoo you love". Dig it. Hoodoo you love. The juju and the voodoo and the gris gris and the hoodoo were all walking around in my room, after school... and in my brain!

    [John Lee Hooker]: And then John Lee Hooker would jump out of my radio- after a commercial for Dixie Peach Pomade- and he would be singing his latest hit, "Boogie Chillun"

    Ray really knew his stuff! This music is the root of all rock and roll. Jazz/blues- the one true original creation of American culture.

    Long live the blues!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • pearljam133pearljam133 Posts: 202
    I've been listening to Bo Didley a lot lately. He has some funny lyrics but he's a badass guitarist. Kenny Wayne Shepherd is always good for someone younger. Also, Albert King with SRV: In Session is a great CD.
    5/2/2003 - Buffalo, NY
    5/9/2010 - Cleveland, OH
    9/11/2011 - Toronto, ONT
    9/12/2011 - Toronto, ONT
    7/19/2013 - Wrigley Field
    10/11/2013 - Pittsburgh, PA
    10/12/2013 - Buffalo, NY
  • SD48277SD48277 Posts: 12,243
    Muddy is great. John Lee Hooker is great. Sonny Boy Williams, Sippie Wallace, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Howlin' Wolf, Albert & BB King--all great. If you can get ahold of it, check out "Lightning In a Bottle." It's a documentary/concert film done several years ago. The concert was at Radio City, with a decent roster of performers covering blues classics. Also, I think Martin Scorcese did a documentary series on the blues that was aired on PBS that you can check out on DVD.
    ELITIST FUK
  • Daron OshayDaron Oshay Posts: 2,553
    Really enjoying the Buddy Guy Hold That Plane record that was released on RSD
  • DM213518DM213518 Posts: 117
    Willie Dixon is pretty cool.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 Posts: 37,447
    Muddy, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker & BB King are all huge influences for me.
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • No CoderNo Coder Posts: 1,126
    I have always enjoyed listening to some Blues artists, but never searched for any myself, only those that were recommended. So I listened to mainly John Lee Hooker,BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Taj Mahal and Eric Clapton's Blues works

    I have really started to listen to more Blues in the last few years and discovered many more artists- Derek Trucks Band, The Jeff Healey Band, SRV, Buddy Guy, Gary Clarke Jr, Kenny Wayne Shephard. I really hav started to get a great enjoyment from all of these artists.

    I also love the Eric Clapton's Crossroads festivals- the DVDs are some great viewing
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me

    *BEC, Brisbane, March 1995
    *BEC, Brisbane, March 1998
    *BEC, Brisbane, November 2006
    *QSAC, Brisbane November 2009
    *EV Solo, QPAC, Brisbane March 10 and 12 2011
    *Big Day Out, Gold Coast, 19 Jan 2014
    *EV Solo, QPAC, Brisbane, 22,23 & 25 Feb 2014
  • StillHereStillHere Posts: 7,795
    HOT f^^&ing TUNA!

    That is all.

    http://www.hottuna.com

    and

    [url]www.http://jormakaukonen.com/[/url]
    peace,
    jo

    http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
    "How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
    "Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,049
    All the great Chicago Blues artists listed in the Manzarek quotes I posted are indispensable. Along with them, I'm a big fan of Charlie Musslewhite, Harvey Mandel (the two of them on "Stand Back"- fantastic!), Paul Butterfield Blues band and John Mayalls Bluesbreakers.

    Taj Mahal!

    Buddy Guy!

    Bukka White and Mississippi John Hurt are a couple of my favorite acoustic blues artists. And J. B. Lenoir's acoustic sides are great (as are his electric bands' work).

    The blues forever!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Digital TwilightDigital Twilight Posts: 5,642
    I think most of my favourites have already been mentioned with the exception of Leadbelly.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2doFJHXDwJ8
  • he.who.forgetshe.who.forgets Posts: 4,593
    edited June 2013
    Some others that I dont believe have been mentioned yet:
    Blind Willie McTell
    Memphis Minnie
    Big Joe Turner
    Freddie King
    and Junior Kimbrough!
    Post edited by he.who.forgets on
    We were but stones your light made us stars
  • rhcpjam1029rhcpjam1029 Posts: 1,975
    My favorite king...Albert.
    Beavis: All my friends are brown and red? What does that mean?
    Butthead: It means that his friends are like turds and that they like suck.
    Beavis: Heh heh. Oh yeah. Yeah! Get those spoons out of my face before I shove them up your butt!
    Butthead: Huh huh.
  • StillHereStillHere Posts: 7,795
    rhcpjam1029 wrote:
    My favorite king...Albert.
    :thumbup:
    peace,
    jo

    http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
    "How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
    "Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,049
    StillHere wrote:
    rhcpjam1029 wrote:
    My favorite king...Albert.
    :thumbup:

    Ah yes, another great!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • kwdaleykwdaley Posts: 499
    Early ZZ Top

    http://youtu.be/b76kjd5nvMg
    Ottawa 2011
    London 2013 "The Dundas Hookers on Crack" Show
  • Nowhere ManNowhere Man Posts: 345
    This is great! Thanks for all the suggestions, I will be busy listening to a lot of this music.
  • STAYSEASTAYSEA Posts: 3,814
    Nowhere Man wrote:
    This is great! Thanks for all the suggestions, I will be busy listening to a lot of this music.


    I'm unsure if you can handle the blues...

    If you can dig Clarence Carter... You know the blues.

    :D

    http://www.youtube.com/user/SonicJuncti ... BLv4WlKdLA


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7gMkiOPSeA

    This is a show down... Wooten vs, Flea. I guess this is why Victor doesn't play with a band and only teaches. ?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmoeZHnOJKA

    (sorry, I'm infected... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq_YfqIJTfc)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBHaMgM1z3I



    Ummm... Wooten?




    This is too blues...or Funk to handle.. Good luck.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqTCAZK9rzY
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTdSQCgMrFY
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QST9Joizdjs


    and then...

    Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (NOT MICHAEL JACKSON! :lol: )
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6mListnZ10
    And Some Purple Haze...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agRb-QJc7xY

    Playing da blues....
    image
  • EdsonNascimentoEdsonNascimento Posts: 5,521
    All the classics have been named, so I will suggest....John Mayer. Get Live in LA and you'll see why EC has him at His Crossroads Fest every time. He's not a King, or a god, or a Guy, but he's damn good when he wants to be.
    Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
  • No CoderNo Coder Posts: 1,126
    EdsonNascimento wrote:
    All the classics have been named, so I will suggest....John Mayer. Get Live in LA and you'll see why EC has him at His Crossroads Fest every time. He's not a King, or a god, or a Guy, but he's damn good when he wants to be.

    Could not agree more - forget his pop stuff - this guy can seriously play the Blues. His live DVD is brilliant and gave me a whole new appreciation of him
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me

    *BEC, Brisbane, March 1995
    *BEC, Brisbane, March 1998
    *BEC, Brisbane, November 2006
    *QSAC, Brisbane November 2009
    *EV Solo, QPAC, Brisbane March 10 and 12 2011
    *Big Day Out, Gold Coast, 19 Jan 2014
    *EV Solo, QPAC, Brisbane, 22,23 & 25 Feb 2014
  • goldrushgoldrush Posts: 7,542
    edited May 2014
    RL BURNSIDE! :D

    I'm sorry but you just can't have a blues thread without mentioning the badass that was RL Burnside. My Dad used to have some of his stuff on vinyl and I remember listening to it as a kid when I started to learn guitar. My teacher was showing me some John Lee Hooker and BB King stuff and my Dad brought up Burnside.

    I love the RL quote at the end of this story:

    Around 1959, he left Chicago and went back to Mississippi to work the farms and raise a family. He killed a man at a dice game and was convicted of murder and sentenced to six months' incarceration in Parchman Prison. Burnside's boss at the time reputedly pulled strings to keep the murder sentence short, due to having need of Burnside's skills as a tractor driver. Burnside later said "I didn't mean to kill nobody ... I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him and the Lord."

    Poor Boy A Long Way From Home
    http://youtu.be/meC4pmw5u84

    See My Jumper Hanging On the Line
    http://youtu.be/K_DOnKJ232M

    Goin' Down South
    http://youtu.be/hDCcN9qqbUA

    Shake 'Em On Down (with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)
    http://youtu.be/8CEWyHC-iAk
    Post edited by goldrush on
    “Do not postpone happiness”
    (Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)

    “Put yer good money on the sunrise”
    (Tim Rogers)
  • STAYSEASTAYSEA Posts: 3,814
    goldrush wrote:
    RL BURNSIDE! 8-)

    I'm sorry but you just can't have a blues thread without mentioning the badass that was RL Burnside. My Dad used to have some of his stuff on vinyl and I remember listening to it as a kid when I started to learn guitar. My teacher was showing me some John Lee Hooker and BB King stuff and my Dad brought up Burnside.

    I love the RL quote at the end of this story:

    Around 1959, he left Chicago and went back to Mississippi to work the farms and raise a family. He killed a man at a dice game and was convicted of murder and sentenced to six months' incarceration in Parchman Prison. Burnside's boss at the time reputedly pulled strings to keep the murder sentence short, due to having need of Burnside's skills as a tractor driver. Burnside later said "I didn't mean to kill nobody ... I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him and the Lord."

    Poor Boy A Long Way From Home
    http://youtu.be/meC4pmw5u84

    See My Jumper Hanging On the Line
    http://youtu.be/K_DOnKJ232M

    Goin' Down South
    http://youtu.be/hDCcN9qqbUA

    Shake 'Em On Down (with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)
    http://youtu.be/8CEWyHC-iAk

    Thank you! That is some good blues. :thumbup:
    image
  • The Big CheeseThe Big Cheese Posts: 255
    Liking this thread, been getting into Muddy Waters myself recently especially last four albums he made with I believe johnny winter playing /producing (I'm Ready, King Bee, Hard Again :shock: and Live.

    Claptons 'riding with the king ' with bb which is right up there.

    Also early f/mac especially 'Pios Bird Of Good Omen' . Godda throw in 'Hooker and Heat' and Robert Cray 'Bad Influence'.

    Check out Buick 6 on myspace great band
    shows: Shepherds Bush 110809
    Hyde Park 250610
    Bridge School Benefit 23/241010
    Manchester MEN 210612
    Amsterdam Ziggodome 270612
    Berlin '02' 040712
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,049
    One of the most amazing blues band I've ever seen was a trio playing at a street fair in San Francisco in the mid 1980's. I so very much wish I knew the name of this band but I asked them if they had recorded or played any large venues and they said no, they hadn't recorded and they mostly just played street fairs and the like. The guitarist/singer had no left hand (it looked like it had been amputated) and only a thumb and most of his forefinger on the right hand (lots of scarring on what was left of that hand). He played played slide guitar with a bar strapped to his left wrist, held his pick with the thumb and partial finger in the right, and ran his guitar through a little battery powered amp. His singing (no monitors or anything like that) was deep and strong- one of the strongest singers I've ever seen. The rhythm guitar player played intricate patterns on a very beat to hell strat through another little amp and the percussionist kept the beat with drum sticks on little boxes and cans and such. They all sat on the ground while playing. These guys were amazing. Not some freak show as it may seem, but a gritting, full-blown Chicago style blues band with enough soul and grit and guts to send any serious listener to blues heaven. It was magic.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • HEXHEX Posts: 225
    This weekend in Chicago: the largest free blues festival in the world. http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/de ... tival.html
    Check out Khalif Wailin' Walter (Saturday 1.30 PM). Not only for the music but also very much fun to see him play.
    Enjoy !!
  • he.who.forgetshe.who.forgets Posts: 4,593
    we need some more posts in this thread. Maybe this'll get your toe tappin...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJf6JoSTj8Q
    We were but stones your light made us stars
  • Leezestarr313Leezestarr313 Posts: 14,352
    I haven't checked out all the posts in here, but I will do, gradually ...

    When I got my first turntable a couple of years ago, I didn't have enough money to afford all the LPs I wanted. My Dad graciously let me browse through his collection, he switched to CDs and mp3s a while ago and didn't really care about his vinyl anymore. Now, my Dad grew up in GDR. Records from "Western" artists weren't readily available or super expensive, almost like PJ vinyl is right now. But GDR record companies published old stuff, like Blues. Lots of people listened to Blues. And my Dad happened to have a lot of Blues LPs. So I, in turn, got to listen to a lot of that when I started out with vinyl. And I got hooked.

    At the moment, I cannot get enough of Howlin' Wolf. This is one of my faves right now, and I am out to get the album. Sooooo good....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0HfN6GvK08
    Please, Pearl Jam, consider a Benaroya Hall vinyl reissue!
    http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/148993/please-pearl-jam-consider-a-vinyl-benaroya-hall-re-issue


  • Leezestarr313Leezestarr313 Posts: 14,352
    brianlux wrote:
    [On hearing Howlin' Wolf on the radio]: "Here's a new record by Howlin' Wolf." And out came "Smokestack Lightening". It killed me. The repetitive riff of that great classic. No chord changes! One chord over and over. Hammering at your rhythm center. Over and over. Funky, dark, gritty, evil. Over and over. The same chord. The same riff. Again and again and again. Trance state.... here I come. My radio was hypnotizing me. The Howlin' Wolf had me in his control.
    And he would cry like a lost wolf. Crying for his lost love. Alone and afraid, vulnerable and yet powerful. A man. A real mensch. What a voice.
    And what on earth do those words mean? What is smokestack lightening and why is it shining just like gold? I still don't know. And I love it. So fucking mysterious. A man wailing like a wolf and the musical riff repeating over and over. Dark and nasty bends in the blue notes. The same chords, the same notes. Ovr and over and over, burning a hypnotic hole into your mind, consuming your consciousness. A mantra. A black American mantra.
    !

    Oh god, yes :thumbup: The Howlin' Wolf has me in his control too...
    Please, Pearl Jam, consider a Benaroya Hall vinyl reissue!
    http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/148993/please-pearl-jam-consider-a-vinyl-benaroya-hall-re-issue


  • blondieblue227blondieblue227 Posts: 4,509
    howling wolf
    eric clapton
    and yey for gary clark jr for keeping it going.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • greedygreedy Posts: 140
    Most of the ones I would have mentioned have been posted but a couple that may have not been yet....

    Taj Mahal
    Keb Mo
    Jeff Healey - Mess of Blues
    Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet
    Mansfield, MA 1998
    Hartford, CT 1998
    Mansfield, MA 2003
    Boston, MA 2004
    Boston, MA 2010
    Boston, MA 2011 (EV)
    2013 - Wrigley, IL / Worcester, MA (Night 1) / Worcester, MA (Night 2) / Hartford, CT
  • loffy81loffy81 Posts: 153
    Gotta love this groove http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueQGgqzuWQ0 Mr Burnside is a legend!
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