A History of the Blues: Chapter 8
A History of the Blues. Chapter 8
1/ So many roads, so many trains – Otis Rush. 1960. Chess Blues
B.1934, Philadelphia. Went to Chicago in 1948, met Muddy Waters & decided that was the life he wanted. First hit was ‘I can’t quit you baby’, in 1956. Credited (along with Buddy Guy & Magic Sam with inventing the west side guitar style. Still plays gigs regularly & makes excellent R & B recordings.
2/ First time I met the blues – Buddy Guy. 1960. Chess blues
B.1936, La. Has followed on from his mentor, Muddy Waters, as Chicago’s blues king. Eric Clapton says he is the best guitarist ever! Well known for his guitar histrionics as well as his ability. Became even more poular in the 90’s, when he won 3 Grammy’s.
3/ Trouble in mind - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. 1960 The blues collection
Terry; B.1911,Ga. D.1986, N.Y.C. McGhee; B.1915, Tn. D.1996, calif. TERRY – Lost his sight by the age of 16 in 2 separate accidents. Was taught at a young age, by his father, to play harmonica. Played street corners for a few years with Blind Boy Fuller. Moved, with his friend, McGhee, to Chicago in 1941. The pair played sessions for many folk acts (including Woodie Guthrie & Leadbelly), gigs of their own, several films, & even appeared on Broadway. McGHEE – Had polio at age 4 which left him with a bad limp. Had an op. in 1937 which gave him much more mobility. Played alectric as well as acoustic guitar. They split their partnership in the mid ‘70’s due to ‘artistic differences’.
4/ Trouble in mind – Peter Green.
B.1934, Philadelphia. Went to Chicago in 1948, met Muddy Waters & decided that was the life he wanted. First hit was ‘I can’t quit you baby’, in 1956. Credited (along with Buddy Guy & Magic Sam with inventing the west side guitar style. Still plays gigs regularly & makes excellent R & B recordings.
2/ First time I met the blues – Buddy Guy. 1960. Chess blues
B.1936, La. Has followed on from his mentor, Muddy Waters, as Chicago’s blues king. Eric Clapton says he is the best guitarist ever! Well known for his guitar histrionics as well as his ability. Became even more poular in the 90’s, when he won 3 Grammy’s.
3/ Trouble in mind - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. 1960 The blues collection
Terry; B.1911,Ga. D.1986, N.Y.C. McGhee; B.1915, Tn. D.1996, calif. TERRY – Lost his sight by the age of 16 in 2 separate accidents. Was taught at a young age, by his father, to play harmonica. Played street corners for a few years with Blind Boy Fuller. Moved, with his friend, McGhee, to Chicago in 1941. The pair played sessions for many folk acts (including Woodie Guthrie & Leadbelly), gigs of their own, several films, & even appeared on Broadway. McGHEE – Had polio at age 4 which left him with a bad limp. Had an op. in 1937 which gave him much more mobility. Played alectric as well as acoustic guitar. They split their partnership in the mid ‘70’s due to ‘artistic differences’.
4/ Trouble in mind – Peter Green.
5/ Trouble in mind – Janis Joplin.
B.1943, Tx. D.1970, L.A. Played with Jorma Kaukonen in the mid ‘60’s. Went on to join Big Brother & the Holding Company & made her name plus several albums with this bluesy psychadelic group. Left them in the late ‘60’s for a patchy solo, blues/ rock (short) career.
Note:- 1961. Columbia releases a selection of Robert Johnson’s recordings on L.P,’King of the Delta blues singers’.
First USSR manned space flight.
6/ Calling on my darling – Albert King. 1961. Chess blues
7/ The red rooster – Howlin’ Wolf. 1961. Chess blues
8/ Little red rooster – The Rolling Stones.1965.
9/ Little milton – Satisfied. 1961. Chess blues
10/ Somethings got a hold on me – Etta James. 1961.Chess blues
Note:- 1962. German promoter, Horst Lippman & talent coordinator/songwriter/musician, Willie Dixon, organize the first American Folk Blues festival, an annual European tour that introduces the continent to such talents as Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters & Howlin’ Wolf.
11/ Wrinkles – The Big Three. 1962. Chess blues
12/ ‘E’ blues - Scrapper Blackwell 1962 (Instrumental) Mr Scrapper’s blues.
Note:- 1963. A peaceful assembly estimated at 250,000 hears Dr.Martin Luther King jr. deliver his ‘I have a dream’ speech during the march on Washington on 28th Aug. 18 days later, 4 black schoolgirls are martyred when the sixteenth street baptist church is bombed, in Birmingham, Alabama on Sept.16.
John F.Kennedy is assasinated.
Monologue Son House. Revisited
Death letter – Son House. 1965 or 1967. Revisited.
B.1943, Tx. D.1970, L.A. Played with Jorma Kaukonen in the mid ‘60’s. Went on to join Big Brother & the Holding Company & made her name plus several albums with this bluesy psychadelic group. Left them in the late ‘60’s for a patchy solo, blues/ rock (short) career.
Note:- 1961. Columbia releases a selection of Robert Johnson’s recordings on L.P,’King of the Delta blues singers’.
First USSR manned space flight.
6/ Calling on my darling – Albert King. 1961. Chess blues
7/ The red rooster – Howlin’ Wolf. 1961. Chess blues
8/ Little red rooster – The Rolling Stones.1965.
9/ Little milton – Satisfied. 1961. Chess blues
10/ Somethings got a hold on me – Etta James. 1961.Chess blues
Note:- 1962. German promoter, Horst Lippman & talent coordinator/songwriter/musician, Willie Dixon, organize the first American Folk Blues festival, an annual European tour that introduces the continent to such talents as Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters & Howlin’ Wolf.
11/ Wrinkles – The Big Three. 1962. Chess blues
12/ ‘E’ blues - Scrapper Blackwell 1962 (Instrumental) Mr Scrapper’s blues.
Note:- 1963. A peaceful assembly estimated at 250,000 hears Dr.Martin Luther King jr. deliver his ‘I have a dream’ speech during the march on Washington on 28th Aug. 18 days later, 4 black schoolgirls are martyred when the sixteenth street baptist church is bombed, in Birmingham, Alabama on Sept.16.
John F.Kennedy is assasinated.
Monologue Son House. Revisited
Death letter – Son House. 1965 or 1967. Revisited.
14/New Death letter – Dave Kelly. 1969. Immediate box set
B.1948,London. Made a number of solo albums before forming the Blues Band with co-leader Paul Jones in the late ‘70’s. He is undoubtedly one of the all time great British blues players & was admired by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf & John Lee Hooker. Brother of the late great Jo Ann Kelly.
Oh Death - Dock Boggs. 1963. B.1898, Va. D.1971.
One of the early hillbilly musicians that worked the area between what would become country & the blues. A true missing link! Made 8 recordings in the late ‘20’s, then went back to working the mines & playing locally. Rediscovered in the early ‘60’s folk/blues revival.
Note:- 1964. Legislative responses to the civil rights movement: the 1964 Civil Rights Act is followed by the Voting rights act (1965) & the equal opportunities act. (1972).
The autobiography of Malcolm X is published.
Civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael Schwerner are murdered during Mississippi freedom summer.
15/ Killing floor – Howlin’ Wolf. 1964. Chess blues
Note:- 1965. Legislative responses to the civil rights movement: the 1964 Civil Rights Act is followed by the Voting rights act (1965) & the equal opportunities act. (1972).
16/ Wang dang doodle – Koko Taylor. 1965. Chess blues
B.1935, Tn. Known as ‘Queen of the Chicago blues’. The daughter of a sharecropper, who worked the fields in her early days. First sang gospel in her local church, then married in 1953 & moved to Chicago with her husband. The pair played the clubs until her ‘discovery’ by Willie Dixon in ‘63’. Has recorded & toured ever since
B.1948,London. Made a number of solo albums before forming the Blues Band with co-leader Paul Jones in the late ‘70’s. He is undoubtedly one of the all time great British blues players & was admired by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf & John Lee Hooker. Brother of the late great Jo Ann Kelly.
Oh Death - Dock Boggs. 1963. B.1898, Va. D.1971.
One of the early hillbilly musicians that worked the area between what would become country & the blues. A true missing link! Made 8 recordings in the late ‘20’s, then went back to working the mines & playing locally. Rediscovered in the early ‘60’s folk/blues revival.
Note:- 1964. Legislative responses to the civil rights movement: the 1964 Civil Rights Act is followed by the Voting rights act (1965) & the equal opportunities act. (1972).
The autobiography of Malcolm X is published.
Civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael Schwerner are murdered during Mississippi freedom summer.
15/ Killing floor – Howlin’ Wolf. 1964. Chess blues
Note:- 1965. Legislative responses to the civil rights movement: the 1964 Civil Rights Act is followed by the Voting rights act (1965) & the equal opportunities act. (1972).
16/ Wang dang doodle – Koko Taylor. 1965. Chess blues
B.1935, Tn. Known as ‘Queen of the Chicago blues’. The daughter of a sharecropper, who worked the fields in her early days. First sang gospel in her local church, then married in 1953 & moved to Chicago with her husband. The pair played the clubs until her ‘discovery’ by Willie Dixon in ‘63’. Has recorded & toured ever since
17/ I feel so good - Jo Ann kelly 1965. Blue Horizon
B.1944, London. D.1990. Favoured the Delta blues, & began playing the London clubs in 1964. Was probably the greatest female blues singer of her generation. Played sometimes with her brother Dave but rarely with a band, which probably held her back. Made a number of excellent solo albums. Died of a brain tumour.
18/ Tribute to Elmore - Clapton/Page. 1965. Immediate box set
19/ Snake drive - Clapton/Page. 1965. Immediate box set
Clapton. B.1945, England.
Page. B.1944, England. One of the most influential & versatile guitarists in rock history. Early to mid 60’s was a highly prizes session guitarist. Went on to join the Yardbirds & eventually founded Led Zeppelin.
Note:- 1966. Black panther party founded in Oakland, California, by Huey Newton & Bobby Seale.
20/ Can’t quit you baby - Savoy Brown. 1966. Blue Horizon
Formed 1966 – Have never done as well in England, their homeland, as in U.S. Numerous personnel changes due to leader, Kim Simmonds, eratic personality. Still record & tour to this day, playing their own style of blues/ rock.
21/ One bourbon, one scotch, one beer – John Lee Hooker. 1966. Chess blues
22/ Rambling on my mind - John Mayalls Blues Breakers. (with Eric Clapton). 1966.
23/ I’d rather go blind – Etta James. 1967. Chess blues
B.1938, L.A. Fought drug addiction for many years, but never let this affect her dynamic singing & stage performances. Now looked on as one of the all time great soul/ blues singers.
B.1944, London. D.1990. Favoured the Delta blues, & began playing the London clubs in 1964. Was probably the greatest female blues singer of her generation. Played sometimes with her brother Dave but rarely with a band, which probably held her back. Made a number of excellent solo albums. Died of a brain tumour.
18/ Tribute to Elmore - Clapton/Page. 1965. Immediate box set
19/ Snake drive - Clapton/Page. 1965. Immediate box set
Clapton. B.1945, England.
Page. B.1944, England. One of the most influential & versatile guitarists in rock history. Early to mid 60’s was a highly prizes session guitarist. Went on to join the Yardbirds & eventually founded Led Zeppelin.
Note:- 1966. Black panther party founded in Oakland, California, by Huey Newton & Bobby Seale.
20/ Can’t quit you baby - Savoy Brown. 1966. Blue Horizon
Formed 1966 – Have never done as well in England, their homeland, as in U.S. Numerous personnel changes due to leader, Kim Simmonds, eratic personality. Still record & tour to this day, playing their own style of blues/ rock.
21/ One bourbon, one scotch, one beer – John Lee Hooker. 1966. Chess blues
22/ Rambling on my mind - John Mayalls Blues Breakers. (with Eric Clapton). 1966.
23/ I’d rather go blind – Etta James. 1967. Chess blues
B.1938, L.A. Fought drug addiction for many years, but never let this affect her dynamic singing & stage performances. Now looked on as one of the all time great soul/ blues singers.
