The Blues.. ( Archived) (63)

Aside from the props that obviously must be given to
The Originator... Robert Johnson (who didn't cut any deals at the Crossroads..only the good die young).

They Call Me Muddy Waters '71 seemed to be the one album that brought it all back.

It fit in between the Coltraine, Monk, Dylan, and Baez that the "Beats" had on their shelves and certainly fit in with Clapton, Page, Beck, Richards, Marriot, A.Lee, and all the other axemen of the time. With the big 3 that moved on to bigger concerts that year, music really needed that cohesiveness.

I was barely walking, and I remember feeling that album in my gut even then.

Highlights were 'Birdnest on the Ground', 'Crawling King Snake', and
especially 'Howlin Wolf'. Then again I was 3. It was all about the animals.


btw T. I know you had to edit, but (humble opinion), I think you should have included "thinkin 'bout the woman he once was with" in your post.
BIGTIME props for bringing up the Blues, though!

Hey B.F. did you ever hear of Calhoun Tubbs from the TV show "In Living Colour"?

I have Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and the likes in my collection, but had never heard of the tune "thinkin bout the woman"...I will have to do some research.

One that you did not mention and to date, one of my favorite white bluesmen is Ry Cooder.

I enjoy the blues as well................you were made to sing those songs James.

I was wondering when you were going to bring your beautiful voice to the table dear Cat.

There is a traditional gospel blues song that is my all time favorite;

I had the "honour" of having had it played twice in my life where I was struck with wonder.

I was doing an honour guard parade in Fort Erie to repatriate the remains of some U.S. soldiers from the war of 1812 and the bagpipes played Amazing Grace behind me....yes, my eyes got wet...

The second time I was struck was this year, Paws played the guitar and you Cat, sang lead vocal. I remember glancing around the room, there with Urs and I singing a bit of backup and the hair on my arms stood up...I was "amazed"...

BTW Cat, Urs and Paws....thank you for being you.

Sorry to the audience, I forgot to mention the song....Amazing Grace.

Several years ago I visited a cousin in Ky who lives on the river in a cabin. He was showing me some of his prize posessions and pointed to a picture on the wall of four men and a woman. He asked me if I could name them. To his surprise I named them all. It impressed him big-time. He said I was first person to ever do that. (and he knows lots of people) The picture was all oldies blues performers except for one.

And is that how you became aptly named, dear blueridgegal?

I enjoy the blues, and one woman that could really sing them was Billie Holiday. So here is one of the songs she sang:

Lover Man


I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad
I long to try something I never had
Never had no kissin'
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man, oh, where can you be?

The night is cold and I'm so alone
I'd give my soul just to call you my own
Got a moon above me
But no one to love me
Lover man, oh, where can you be?

I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance
Can be like a heavenly dream

I go to bed with a prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems

Someday we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
Then whisper sweet
Little things in my ear
Hugging and a-kissing
Oh, what I've been missing
Lover man, oh, where can you be?

Jimmy Davis / Ram Ramirez / James Sherman were the song writers.

I love the purity of Ella's voice. It is simply calming.

One song from her "best of" albums that I sing at karaoke is "Mack the Knife" which is a Bobby Darin song, and more jazz than it is blues, but she projects the smokiness of both styles in her soulful voice....

Does anyone out there play flute?

I thought one of the most original blues tunes ever is Jethro Tull's version of Stormy Monday Blues, which I believe is on their first album....