One of the reasons I love the blues is because of how blacks were able to express their emotions through music. The roots of singin' in the fields and the continued pain of living in a world dominated by Jim Crow laws, segregation, and separation.
This guy doesn't get a ton of recognition, but Led Zeppelin says "thank you."
Does anybody remember, "The Blues With Fitz" on NPR on Saturday nights? I used to listen when I was to young to go out around 95-96. He would play a different decade every hour. Have you ever gone on youtube to look up a song and 3 hours later you're on a totally different track. Fitz always had a focused path that was constantly building upon itself. Good times, Not forgotten.
I know a dawg who appreciates a powerful female voice. When I see a Gibson SG, I don't think of Angus young, I think of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She was THE first female lead guitar player. She's not rocking the SG or shredding in this vid, I'll leave that up to you. I choose this cuz I need it right now: "We gotta have more love and understanding everyday of our lives and THAT'S ALL.":
“Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word in modern psychology. It is the word ‘maladjusted’…There are some things in our society and some things in our world to which I’m proud to be maladjusted and…I must honestly say to you that I never intend to adjust myself” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This song isn't blues in the common sense. I like this song because it's all about playing the game without selling your soul; making yourself comfortably anonymous. So many great lines in this song. I always yell out my wife's name when, "I'm gonna find myself a girl who can show me what laughter means," [b][/b]SARAH!!!!!!![u][/u] Where it really hits home though is the idea of the "Happy Idiot,":
I'm gonna be a happy idiot and struggle for the legal tender,
Where the ads take aim, and they lay their claim, to the heart and the soul of the spender
And I'll believe in other men's lies. All those things that money can buy.
Though true love, it could have, been a contender.
What is blues? Is it an instantly recognizable chord progression? I like to think it's a mindset; no matter the trial, find a way to constructively release the frustration and "get up and do it again."
If you don't own the SRV: Live at Montreux 1982 and 1985 double disc, download it now! For those that are unfamiliar with it. While still unsigned, SRV was booked to play the 1982 Montreux, Switzerland Jazz Festival. Apparently his brand of blues was not what the crowd was used to. Throughout the album you can hear the crowd booing more loudly with each song. After the show a dejected Stevie Ray was approached by David Bowie, which led to SRV playing on Bowie's "Let's Dance" album. Our friend Jackson Browne also heard the performance and offered SRV the use of his private recording studio, which led to the "Texas Flood" album. Here's my favorite track from the 1982 disc:
SRV held no grudge. He came back in 1985. He reminds the audience, "it was 3 years ago tomorrow. First time we got booed, first time we won a grammy." If this guitar doesn't give you goosebumps, you have no soul:
It is characterized by the call-and-response pattern, the blues scale and specific chord progressions.
For me I recognize the sound being that I am not a trained musician.
Why put yourself in a box? Didn't you say Robert Kidney taught you what the blues was? I love your description of "punk jazz", yet you also saw fit to include it as blues. Did the horn section in "Can't judge a book by it' cover" fit your criteria?
Well I certainly don't want to be a nerd. I'm the king of rock and roll. Wise words though, Vers. Why argue semantics when we can jam out on a Sunday evening. It don't matter if it's blues, or rock, or boo-jee woo-jee. Just let me get on that groove:
Bone, I had never thought of Jethro Tull as a blues band before. Thanks for sharing. I guess I'd always been thick as a brick and thought of them as a more whimsical, flute playing band like "Life's a Long Song," I won't include that 'cuz it definitely don't fit the theme. It's nice to get a fresh perspective on something I previously thought I knew too well.
When I hear a horn section it makes me think of Chicago blues.
Yet in jazz blues it is different.
I knew Bob Kidney from Kent in 1971. The band 15-60-75 the numbers are blues chords.
At that time he was a blues purist to a degree. Great harp player. He would play records for me. And they were the old classics Sony Boy Williamson, John Lee Hooker, etc.
The song Rosalee that I posted I had never heard before until by chance I saw it on the side of a video.
It blew my mind. I had seen or heard of him in 50 effing years. I have been listening to that song now everyday since I posted it. I really love it. Is it blues?
Not what I would think of as blues. But since I knew where he came from I posted it.
I knew that he had stayed in the area and made a living at music. But I never looked him up.
Funny when that first Tull album came out. I played that piece I posted to Bob Kidney. I was like "listen to this isn't it great". "This has to be one of the greatest blues songs."
He looked at me like "what the .... you talking about?"
I tempered it down "well it is a good one." Bob did like though.
I was always trying to convince him to hit the road. Get a record deal. Become famous. He never wanted that. He wanted to play his music and stay right there.
Not what I would think of as blues. But since I knew where he came from I posted it.
I like it more because you shared your personal connection to it. One of your criteria was a call and response pattern. I really liked the call and response in "Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover," when he asks, "you gotta minute."
Unfortunately, he asks about that minute for about 2. I think a song should always be building or releasing tension. The buildup is overdrawn and anti-climactic. Maybe that wasn't their best night, but I would think after 40 years the best of the best is what would be remembered.
I do love the underlying groove and the lyrics early are great. I would like to hear a couple more of your recommendations. There are quite a few youtube videos of the numbers band and I would like to cut to the chase; see what someone who lived that time first-hand enjoys. I want to know what song you play first when you put the album on.
THANKYOU Bone. I've been sucked into a Numbers Band rabbit hole tonight. Got home and everyone was pooped out, so I thought I'd work on one of the 99 Critical Shots in Pool and play some tunes to help me unwind. When I heard Rosalee my guts got twisted. I could not focus on my shot.
I think a song's intended meaning means squat, once it is listened to and interpreted by another; it's not yours anymore. I immediately thought of a man suffering from Alzheimer's trying to hold on to his fading memories. I recently lost someone I loved very much to Alzheimer's and.. I don't know it just made me a blubbering sentimental fool.
"When you smile at me, all the lights come on." He's still got his wits about him. Maybe folks just notice the odd thing here or there. It's like he's on the cusp of losing something, but he sees his rock and it helps him hold on.
"It don't matter now. Who is right or who is wrong." All the trivial bullspit we worry about. Just hold his hand, dry his cheeks, and let him know that he is loved.
"Your loving calls to me like a far and distant light." Reality has set in. You want to get a glimpse of who you loved, but it's just an empty vessel. There is no recognition in their gaze. I love how he repeats the bass note like someone searching without resolution.
Bone, read an interview I thought you might enjoy. I don't know the guy like you do, but I thought it was pretty cool. He talks about a WWII veteran who taught him the meaning of the blues and also about playing music, not to get rich, but avoid beating himself up in the construction game and do what he loves.
Just realized you already posted Rosalee three weeks ago. Sorry. Still it bears repeating. Thanks Bone, I needed this. I want to feel strong emotions, even if they make me feel uncomfortable.
Until I posted "Rosalee" I had not heard it. When I left Kent in 71 I never went back. I lost all contact except for family in Cleveland.
When I heard Bob sing "Rosalee" out of nowhere tears poured out. Completely unexpected.
It was overwhelming to me the passage of time. My memory of Bob was from 1971. He was an intense, charismatic, confident guy in his prime. To see him as an old man struck me. The way he sings that though. Man he still has it. Great voice and the song fits.
I am happy to see he has fulfilled what he set out to do.
You always hear the talk about Robert Johnson selling his souls at the crossroads. Every time I see that picture of him I think, he must have asked the devil for really long fingers. I remember hearing how Hendrix had a 7 fret reach. This guy could have probably wrapped his hands around the neck and still reached the bass strings.
Keb Mo has such a cool name. I just can't get into him. Everything I hear is just too dang polished. It's like I can hear the producer saying, "Keb, we're marketing you to the recently retired crowd. You can't be too edgy." I think k those edges get a little rougher if you listen live.
I like his guitar better than the Robert Johnson version.
Feel free to turn this off after 45 seconds or so. I'm only including it for posterity's sake. It is absolutely tone deaf and lacks any of the spirit that makes other versions relatable.
Donegal is famous for myths and mystics.Someone gave this long haired boy a mandolin and challenged him to play the blues on it,and he killed it.Along with himself.
I can't wait to listen to this thread. I've been on a really big blues kick as of late, since a nice lil Indiana girl introduced me to some old blues a few months back.
Came across this band the other day. They are from Iceland.
They have a platinum record and were nominated for a Grammy. They must be getting attention their youtube video's have 30 mil hits.
Hard to really classify them. They play mostly original songs that range from blues to rock to folk. The lead singer has a great voice. The music is solid and the lyrics are good. Kaleo is the name.
