Bobby Blue Bland -- Help Me Through The Day

Bobby "Blue" Bland owns a warm and cozy corner of my heart. (He lives right next door to Percy Sledge, so to speak.) His voice will forever be associated with a pivotal era of my life. Bobby sang the blues while the foundation for a future with my husband was laid ...  In case you're wondering -- I'm in a reminiscent mood because our wedding anniversary is just around the corner.

Today's pick is from his 1973 California album, Bobby's first album for the ABC-Dunhill label. It is definitely an outstanding production. There's not a single mediocre song on the entire album. It could easily be mistaken for a "Best of" release -- it's an album with excellent musicians, background vocals, and of course, Bobby's unique voice in its prime.

Get the album here!

I chose Help Me Through The Day for the simple reason that some of Bobby's songs are almost played to death, while other equally good songs don't get any air time at all.  Help Me Through The Day is one of the latter songs.

The strings and the guitars are absolutely fantastic. Okay, turn up the volume and listen to the man now ...

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Paul Gayten — Ain’t Nothing Happening

Here’s  a fine piece of jump blues by Paul Gayten, the nephew of Little Brother Montgomery, a blues pianist. Paul followed in his uncle’s footsteps and began playing the piano. Still in his teens, he performed with local bands and, on the side, established his own band Gayten’s Sizzling Six. 

Gayten tried his hand at various branches of the music business including being a bandleader, a label owner, songwriter, and a record producer.

The war years he spent leading the Army band in Biloxi, Mississippi. Once back in New Orleans, created a new trio which became a resident band at the renowned  Club Robin Hood. Two of the first New Orleans R’n B era hits, True and Since I Fell For You, were recorded by Gayten’s trio in 1947. 

Two years later, his trio had grown into a nine-piece band and, having signed up with Regal Records, he wrote For You My Love which hit # 1 on the R’nB charts with Larry Darnell. His band was in high demand and for a while appeared with such greats as Dizzy Gillespy and Charlie Parker. 

In 1952, Gayten joined Okeh Records, but only a year later he gave up touring to join Chess Records.  At Chess, he applied his talent to song writing, promoting, and talent scouting for the label — still recording and being a part time musician. He discovered Clarence Frogman Henry, for example, whose first hit, Ain’t Got No Home, was produced by Gayten.

After a multifaceted career as singer, song writer, producer, and band leader Paul Gayten and his wife moved to Los Angeles in 1960 where he ran the West Coast Chess Record enterprise. In 1968, finally, he established his very own label, Pzazz. (For a Pzazz discography, please go here.)

Paul Gayten died March 26, 1991 in Los Angeles. 

Enjoy!

LimeLinx  

Eddie Kirkland and The Italian American Blues Band -- Burnin' Love

Eddie Kirkland was born August 16, 1923 in Jamaica, raised in Alabama. Also known as the "Gypsy of the Blues" due to his heavy touring, he played with the blues greats.  Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Honeyboy Edwards, and Ruth Brown for example. 

Until his death on February 27, 2011 he regularly toured the U.S. and Europe, wrote and recorded albums. 

Today's song is taken from his 1995 album The Devil and Other Blues Demons (Trix). This is an album you should definitely check out, if you like your blues electric and unadulterated.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

... And you all know I love this tune.

Colwell-Winfield Blues Band -- How Blue Can You Get (live)

BLUES ON THURSDAY

Now, I've read a few critiques concerning the album from which today's track has been taken. Some of the negative evaluations claim that the live recordings are vastly inferior to the group's studio recordings. They also claim that the new lineup was not as good as the original one. I couldn't agree less.
Although only two (I think) original members featured on the 1968 Cold Wind Blues album are present at this live recording, I can't say I like the 1971 lineup less. Colwell plays a cool blues on his guitar, and the vocals are as blues-y as they come. The other original group member, Chuck Purro, works the drums to my fullest satisfaction. Add to this the tangible live atmosphere -- and you end up with a fine record.
The album Live Bust was recorded at the Phoenix Coffee House in Boston which was closed down by the police after the performance. The announcement that "the  police has just closed the club" can be heard on the last track ...
The Colwell-Winfield Blues Band has opened for Led Zeppelin and the group was "most of the band that played on [Led Zeppelin's] Moondance."

So, here we go!

LimeLinx

Joe Hill Louis -- She Treats Me Mean And Evil

Blues on Thursday

Playlist:

She Treats Me Mean And Evil  

Johnny Adams -- I Owe You

Blues on Thursday  Blues on Thursday  Blues on Thursday

Room With A View Of The Blues, Rounder Records, 1990

This is an outstanding album in all aspects: first class musicians and the great Johnny Adams. Get this album! You will enjoy each and every note you hear. I got hooked right away. Being the guitar lover I am --  I was in guitar heaven when I first heard the intro to the song I'd like to share with you today. 

***

LimeLinx

Duke Robillard (guitar); Bill "Foots" Samuel (alto, tenor & baritone saxophone); Alvin "Red" Tyler (tenor saxophone); Terry Tullos (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ernie Gautreau (valve trombone); Dr. John (keyboards), David Barard (bass); Herman Ernest III (drums).

Recorded at Southlake Recording Studio, Metairie, Louisiana in April & May 1987. Includes liner notes by John Morthland.

Personnel: Johnny Adams (vocals); Walter "Wolfman" Washington  (CD Universe)

Joe Medwick -- I Came A Long Ways

BLUES ON THURSDAY

(Get the album!)

There have been many adaptations to A Change Is Gonna Come, it's difficult to find one that doesn't sound like a mere re-make of the original. But when I heard Joe Medwick's I Came A Long Ways, I considered it special -- don't ask me why. Maybe it's the full sound of the organ and the intensity of the intro line ... I have no clue. But I sure love the song.

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LimeLinx 

A Bucketful of the Blues

Blues on Thursday ... Blues on Thursday ... Blues on Thursday ...

Playlist

I've Been Hurt -- Big Lucky Carter

Dog Man -- Big Amos Patton

Trouble Is My Name -- Don Hines

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LimeLinx

The album from which the songs were taken is available here.

Juke Boy Bonner -- I'm In The Big City

Blues on Thursday  bLueS oN thUrsdAy  Blues on Thursday

I just found him while surfing the Tube ... and I'm In The Big City I definitely like. It's from his album Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal, (Arhoolie Records, 1993). This is my kind of Blues. Nice pace, neat harp, and a crisp guitar ...

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Willie Hutch -- Stormy Monday

Blues On Thursday     Blues On Thursday

Today's track is from Willie Hutch's 1976  album Concert in Blues (Motown) 

The excellent pianist is Harold Johnson.

Find the album here.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Big Lucky Carter -- Hurricane Blues (and an Interview)

BLUES ON THURSDAY  BLUES ON THURSDAY 


Take it from one who's been there: oral history.

Enjoy!
LimeLinx

Obituary

Albert King -- Match Box Blues

Two Blues greats in session: Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughn -- Match Box Blues, live

Now, that's the kind of Blues on Thursday I love!

Listen

LimeLinx

Get the CD

John Lee Hooker (live) -- I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive

Here comes J. L. Hooker -- and with him are Otis Spann on the piano. Muddy Waters, Sammy Lawhorn and Luther Johnson are playing some fine guitar tunes. Francis Clay on the drums and Mac Arnold plays the bass. This track is from a 1966 live recording at the Cafe au Go Go in New City. Recordings like these don't leave any doubt as to why the man became the legend he is.

John Lee Hooker - Live at the Cafe au Go-Go

(New York City, August 30th, 1966)
 01 I'm Bad Like Jesse James.mp3
02 She's Long, She's tall ( She Weeos Like A Willow Tree).mp3
03 When My First Wife Left Me.mp3
04 Heartaches and Misery.mp3
05 One Bourbon, One Scotch And One Beer.mp3
06 I Don't Want No Trouble.mp3
07 I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive.mp3
08 Seven days.mp3
Listen!

LimeLinx

 

Muddy Waters -- Blues Before Sunrise

Here comes the great blues man with an interesting version of Blues Before Sunrise. I always loved John Lee Hooker's version, but Muddy's is simply great.  


John Lee Hooker, Blues Before Sunrise

 Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Jump Jackson -- Stewball

Three Blues greats showing us how the Blues is supposed to sound. 

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Bobby "Blue" Bland

I generally don't like a blue Monday. At times, though,  I even ask for one: "Make it Blue, please ... Bobby Blue!"

Playlist:

Sad Feeling

Kiss Me To The Music

It Ain't The Real Thing

Dreamer

Listen

Albert Williams -- Rhumba Chillen

I found this song on the Ultimate Blues Collection by Sun Records and I liked it. It ended up on my Blues Thursday list, although I couldn't find too much info on Albert Williams. 

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Etta James -- The Pick Up

Tell me it's not Thursday again. However, if it turns out to be as great a day as the song I came across while I was looking for something to post,  I will def. enjoy it.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Muddy Waters -- Deep Down In Florida

Blues Thursday! 

From his 1977 album Hard Again

Amazon.com says: "It's seems strange now to think of Muddy Waters's having to make a "comeback," but that's what the 1977 Hard Again came down to. The great bluesman's first post-Chess recording after 30 years with that company, it marked Waters's major-label debut and eventually went gold. The over-60 Waters lived up to all the attention with one of his most energetic, sustained performances, bettering his original version of "Mannish Boy," pushing "Bus Driver" to a raging peak, and generally sounding like the wisest man on record. Harp player James Cotton and producer-guitarist Johnny Winter are among the support; they both stay out of Waters's way and give as good as they get." --Rickey Wright 

Listen!

(Limelinx)

Howlin' Wolf -- My Troubles and Me, Passing By Blues

For all us Blues fans, this is the year of the Wolf -- The Howlin' Wolf, of course. He would have turned 100 in June!

I dedicate my 100th post on SOTS s.e. to the legendary Bluesman from West Point Mississippi.

I know, it's not Thursday, and so it's not supposed to be blues day, but -- the Wolf made me do it!

My Troubles and Me (Memphis Days Vol.1)

Passing By Blues (The Power of the Voice)