The first track from Chuck Berry’s last album with guest appearances from Gary Clark Jr. and Tom Morello is “Big Boys”
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Blind Blues Musicians
Racism, hunger, oppression, random bouts of syphilis — the life of a typical 1920s blues guitarist was not exactly a barrel of laughs. So just imagine how much worse it was being blind. Back then, a great many of them were: Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Lemon Jefferson…in fact, just scroll down the Blues Hall of Fame list and every third musician seems to be preceded with the word “blind.”
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/blind-blues-musicians
John Lee Hooker, Centennial release on Concord
John Lee Hooker was born near Clarksdale, Mississippi on August 22nd, 1917. After running away from home at age 14, he made his way to a factory job in Detroit, Michigan, via Memphis, and Cincinnati. It was there, in 1948, his first recording, “Boogie Chillun,” was made, selling over a million copies.
To begin the centennial celebration of Hooker’s birth year, Vee-Jay Records, a division of Concord Bicycle Music, will release Whiskey & Wimmen: John Lee Hooker’s Finest, on March 31st. The multi-label compilation features songs from Hooker’s Vee-Jay, Specialty, Riverside and Stax Records releases, and includes many of the bluesman’s most iconic songs.
https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2017/03/john-lee-hooker-centennial-brings-new-album/
Dr. Jazz
Pioneering New Orleans cornet player Joe “King” Oliver wrote “Doctor Jazz” in 1926. The song has remained popular since the 1920s. Chris Barber and Harry Connick Jr. have covered it, but Jelly Roll Morton and his Red Hot Peppers achieved definitive heights of improvisation and collective counterpoint in this 1926 version:
Ride ’em on Down – The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones video cover of Eddie Taylor’s Ride ’em On Down. The Stones last featured it live on July 12, 1962 according to setlist.fm. They began their career as a Chicago blues cover band put together by founder Brian Jones. While he pushed for the Stones to remain more blues purist, he later settled for being a colourist accessorizing Jagger-Richard compositions. At the tail end of the 60’s Mick Taylor followed his bluesy Mayall Band stint with deep explorations into roots music for half a decade. After that the Stones played less Chuck Berry and fewer blues covers while still doing more than the next band. Now 50 years after moving away from blues as a main concert or album motif, the Stones seem prepared to take it in with a concentrated force unseen since 1965 when Satisfaction signaled their pop writing validation. The cd also contains count ’em 4 covers of Marksville, Louisiana’s Little Walter. In 2016, they returned to a work by a Chicago blues icon with Ride ’em on Down. Please enjoy the official video..
Fantastic Negrito – Lost in a Crowd
Cool back to the roots sound on this track recorded for NPR’s tiny desk. Playing Madison Square Garden and LA Forum opening for Temple of the Dog.
Top 10 Rolling Stones Blues Songs
Love in Vain at #7, aw c’mon man! Ultimate classic rock throws down its version.
The Band – Blind Willie McTell
One of Bob Dylan’s best latter day cuts was an outtake from the Infidels album produced by Mark Knopfler. The Band ups the ante.
Where the Blues were Born in New Orleans
Black Keys – Forum, LA 11/6/14
This shot from the archives gave the blues feel today. The Black Keys live at the LA forum November 6, 2014. The Akron, Ohio blues duo paid the blues apprenticeship then forged a more popular and creative option. It was like 1966 all over again.
