one of my daily reads in the bog-o-world is 'pre-war blues', (or as the running title says, 'honey, where ya been so long?'). as i am a confirmed blues fanatic and always on the lookout for new old stuff, this site just fills that hole so perfectly. these guys have the best of the stuff ya really can't find anywhere, and i mean everyday of the week is something new and exciting and old as dirt. i really don't know how they do it but i am so glad they do.
peter, (the sitemaster), asked for a measley 3 dollars to help with cost as a way to upgrade, hell, i threw a 10 spot his way to confirm i would still get my daily dose. and he has really come thru with excellent videos of 'lightnin' hopkins', (a bunch of 'em from the early 60's), and a short flick of roy smeck in 1926 doin' some unimaginable guitar and harp work.
it is worth a look see! (but only donors get the look see tho').
and moving along with the blues thingy, we just got the rest of the wonderful 3 part dvd series 'american folk blues festival 1962-1969'. what a godsend! all the viddys are in pristine condition. they look as tho they were filmed last week. they capture some of the greatest blues artists ever, at the prime of their careers. willie dixon, muddy waters, howlin' wolf, john lee hooker, sonny boy williamson, and one of the only filmed performances of my harp hero little walter . . . unbelievable!
the stuff is pulled from old british and german t.v. specials, (america had yet to embrace their own at this point in time), and has these guys in all elements. they are playing in front of old south plantation sets, caught backstage playing to each other. . . .and to see big momma thorton belt out 'hound dog' is worth the price of admission alone, classic! if you love the roots, this is it.
oh, and one more thing. a few years ago i picked up the book 'deep blues' by robert palmer, (not the one you think). it is the definitive story of the mississippi delta blues. i think i have blazed thru it at least 4 times now, it is like taking a cruise with a dobro and harp down thru history, and makes you wanna dig up all the references just to listen to while you read thru his wonderful prose. a must!
ok, gotta go plow thru my new copy of husker du's 'new day rising', (i love gettin' cds of my records that are too well plowed, so clean and undanced on, for now). . . a review to follow, as soon as we get 'flip your wig', to complete the trilogy (those 2 with 'zen arcade'. . . the rest were just not up to the cut) . . . well, talk about tangents. . .
back to the blues, (some of my fave blues cuts on mp3, for a limited time via yousendit):
muddy waters - louisiana blues
robert johnson - terraplane blues
charley patton - spoonful blues
the mississippi sheiks - sittin' on top of the world
8 comments:
Robert Palmer's Deep Blues is one of the best music books around. I learned so much - got such a deeper appreciation of my favorite music - from it. He was a terrific writer.
I love coming here.
Yeah I like the blues. John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson....... I've got a few.
My favourites are Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. I've only a few of their songs but there's something special about their chemistry.
Sleepy, did you ever see the BBC series Dancing in the Street" by Robert Palmer? From memory it tracked heavy metals roots via Jimi and The Yardbirds whose roots were in the delta.
There was a different series each week. Rap being the child of German electronica etc. It was fascinating.
hey miss l, mr palmer's book is a wonderful read. s.a. and i are gonna do the delta when we get home, by the book. clarksdale, memphis and all points in-between. morgan freeman has a blues club in clarksdale we are dying to visit and memphis is always a blast. and one day i'd love to so a search for robert johnson and find the crossroads, of course i'd have to bring the dobro.
jason, that series looks incredible! is it out on dvd? if so i need to grab it, (now i have a mission). . . and that blues dvd set i mentioned has quite a bit of sonny and brownie on them, (sonny is a hoot to watch!). the whole set is very good if ya get a chance to get, do by all means.
Good Good Good, it's all good !
See you in September Sleepybomb, I'm goin' to rest my lazybones for a few weeks.
Be well.
s.a. and i are gonna do the delta when we get home, by the book. clarksdale, memphis and all points in-between.
Very cool! That's what we did on our first (and so far only) visit to New Orleans. We went to Jazz Fest in 199something, then drove through the Delta and the Bayou. Juke joint in Clarksdale, Muddy's cabin (still on site), Sonny Boy Williamson's grave, Parchman Penitentiary, etc. etc. All the blues landmarks we could find - churches, gravesites, birthplaces.
We ended up drinking with Cajun guys in Houma, dancing the two-step and eating alligator. It was a trip we'll never forget.
We didn't make it to Memphis and Nashville, but I know we will someday.
I just had a look and the "Dancing in the street" series by the BBC only appears to be on video tape via Amazon UK. It MAY be available downunder on DVD I'll check out our ABC shop (an Aussie version of the BBC) to see if it is available.
There were 200 interviews. I can remember some standouts, Chas Chandler, Van Morrison, The guys from the Byrds, The guys who owned Chess records, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant,George Martin, Crosby Stills and Nash,Jeff Beck, Three Beatles etc etc.
I only saw about four of the shows from memory. One on psychedelia, one on the folk influence, the blues one and one to do with rap and electronica.
It was probably one of the best documentaries I've seen...... with the best soundtrack ever.
Heh and its John not Jason!!!!!
er, sorry john, (too many 'j's on the brain and on the blogs lately, and i am always better with faces.).
lemme know about that. i am gonna dig around and see what i can see. even if it is only on tape that is ok, i can rip it if need be.
i'm always looking for cool music history stuff and i have never heard of this. and real long too, keep me off the streets for awhile.
thanks for the tip! john!
oh and if ya like jimi there is a wonderful dvd about the making of 'electric ladyland', with interviews of all the participants that are still alive and some great footage of jimi i had never seen. . . a very good documentry, better than expected.
laura, i am uber-impressed! wow, what a great trip. . . you and redsock need to come visit the easy when we get there, i am sure sometime when it gets too cold in toronto. if new orleans wasn't fun enuff the 1st time, i can fix that!
hell we'll go do the delta trip together. . . show me the way.
Post a Comment