Scented Jasmine Tea Blues

Fats Domino - Fats Domino Swings

2010-08-12T23:34:00.000+02:00

Fats Domino legacy begs for a deluxe treatment. A kind of "Complete Sessions" box with not only his best known takes, but lesser-known gems. Every one of his cuts is special, Fats just has this special something. One of my favorite collections of his early hits is called Fats Domino Swings (12.000.000 Records). Catchy title.

It's got most of his best known works: "Blue Monday", "I'm Walking", "I'm In Love Again", "The Fat Man" and of course "Blueberry Hill" - my favorite. "Though we're apart, you're part of me still", sung in his beautiful, calm and soothingly cheerful voice is priceless. This track is a special classic, even Led Zeppelin covered it live. Not that their version matters anything. Omitted is "I'm Ready", but I've got more of his disks and many of the songs are duplicated on some, but I never could tire of them. And one can buy them very cheap (which is a great, but a great shame too).

Fats plays piano, behind him shines the best New Orleans horn section you could dream of, I don't know if even Otis Redding's ensemble could rival those guys. Upbeat, uptempo tracks with one or two ballads, yeah, that's what me likes. Almost as much as digging into his quite unknown work and finding awesome tracks I've never heard before. He really recorded plenty of them.

Check out a small part of lyrics to "Bo Weevil": "on Saturday night / where I was born / down on the farm / guitar plinking / and we started drinking / till the break of dawn" - this is genuine good time music.

Ry Cooder - I, Flathead

2010-08-11T14:31:00.000+02:00

Ry Cooder is a man to admire. Master guitarist, musicologist and archivist, open-minded producer, guy behind Buena Vista Social Club. He taught Keith Richards about open tunings which resulted in the Stones' best work. He recorded a great soundtrack to Paris, Texas which he built on one riff by Blind Willie Johnson. And I, Flathead is his most recent release which closes a trilogy released on Nonesuch Records (Chavez Ravine and My Name Is Buddy).

I, Flathead is a concept album and there's a book included which I haven't read and I doubt I'll ever will. I like particular songs, particular sounds, I know this album is great, but it's beyond my tastes. Just with titles like "Johnny Cash", "Can I Smoke In Here?" and "Steel Guitar Heaven" it should be one of the releases of the year. Well no, it's not for me. I just can't really get into world music. It ruins things for me. If Cooder decided to record a stricte blues album, I'm sure I'd fall for him.

But his inspirations are much wider and more interesting for most, making me a kind of musical outcast. Listening to the Stooges, Gram Parsons and Miles Davis in a row is still a step before Cooder's music! His explorations of American music are clearly not for me, at least for now. Or maybe I'll take a listen to his "Boomer's Story"... While I love Tom Waits, this albums owns too much to him with all those crazy and weird sounds.

But even on I, Flathead there are moments. Not to mention great songs on his previous, quite similar albums, Chavez Ravine and My Name Is Buddy. Check out "Poor Man's Shangri-La" and some others, you'll know. I, Flathead is an album I wouldn't really mind listening with some friends at a party, but only in case we were all baked beyond recognition. ;^)

The Stooges - 1970: the Complete Fun House Sessions

2010-08-10T00:02:00.001+02:00

Punk as we love it. It's 1970, the Stones are at their peak, the Beatles are gone. The Stooges are simple, nihilistic, absurd, shocking, good, and they even know what they want. As the AllMusic review states, this is the true way to separate the Stooges fans from truly obsessed. I quite like Fun House, 8-CD set with complete sessions (!) is even better. Just because I love so those "session recordings" and I love hearing how the band develops. But it's all in theory... Now as we get back to the album, it sucks a little. Still love.

So, there are 30 takes of "Loose", which is one of my favorite Stooges songs. The thing is, all of those takes are almost the same, no kidding. I can say if it's an early or late take, but hell, they are the same. And there are only 2 songs that didn't make the album (one of them is blues so I'm all hot for it anyway, it's called "Slidin' the Blues"). I can even forgive them for bad jokes, I can't forget them the variety which is, I'm estimating, at zero level.

Every good band should have a set like this, showing it bare, with no special effects or production tricks, just messing around, being true. It's really fascinating. And punk is fun. Really. What else you've got to hear? "Louie Louie" by the Stooges.

Gram Parsons - Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels (the Gram Parsons Anthology)

2010-08-09T16:35:00.001+02:00

While I just can't enjoy most of the country records, I find it great to put on Jerry Lee or Johnny Cash from time to time. If I was allowed to listen to only one country album though, I'm sure it'd be a Gram Parsons compilation, Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels. What a fucking great album - and I'm not very much into compilations myself, but this LP is wonderful, diverse and absolutely enough to fall in love with Gram. A classic.

We've got two CDs of the International Submarine Band, a little Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels and the man himself solo. We've got "She", "Hickory Wind", "Love Hurts" and "Sleepless Nights". Country and country rock can't, just can't get better. There are some really rare pearls I've never heard, well, never even heard of, that are just awesome. Gram was a very special guy and a very special story, and it's all there.

Recommended to everyone, not only fans of country. If you heard the Stones do "Dead Flowers" you can have a slight vision of what's to come on Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels.

Marc Ford - Fuzz Machine

2010-08-09T13:37:00.000+02:00

Finally I got my hands on new Marc Ford album called Fuzz Machine. Well, I kinda like it. Ford is a talented white blues guitarist, weak singer and composer, but somehow he manages to put out really good solo albums (he got kicked out from the Black Crowes for drug use), like his 2008 Marc Ford & the Neptune Blues Club (with some Chuck Berry-esque rockers, "white blues" stuff and a very nice ballad, "Keep Holdin' On", not to mention "Main Drain" and "Shame On Me").

I'm a great fan of natural guitar sound, clear and undistorted, so I didn't like the title, but there's not much of that on the album. Ford nicely combines the styles of Clapton and Hendrix into his own, maybe reminding me a little of Ronnie Wood, but with many more boring instrumental passages.

I'm after one listen only, and have to say - it's usual good stuff Ford plays and a good contemporary blues album. With really, really decent production. I hoped for a hint of "Beck's Bolero" in "Bolero In Red" but that was totally different track. "You're the One" seems to be my favorite from Fuzz Machine for now but it's likely to change, it's a very consistent album. Maybe just one or two ballads too many...

Steve Kuhn - Mostly Coltrane

2010-08-07T01:00:00.003+02:00

Steve Kuhn's career started in the 50s and since mid-60s he has been recording and releasing a great deal of post-bop piano. He recorded with many big shots in the jazz world, most famous of them is John Coltrane. Unfortunately for Kuhn he played with Trane for a very brief time in 1960 and got replaced in the quartet by McCoy Tyner without recording anything.

Almost 50 years later Kuhn finally decided to record a tribute album to the great saxophonist containing tunes written or associated with Coltrane. It's called Mostly Coltrane. I picked it up just for one song, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (originally recorded by Trane on Coltrane's Sound in 1960), but other 12 tunes are worth checking out, too.

Kuhn plays with the listener perfectly. While Coltrane's "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" started with that unforgettable riff right away, Brooklyn-born pianist isn't rushing anywhere. He plays many notes teasing the listener with the melody, but never playing it in its original, crystal clear form. Kuhn's not covering Trane's work, he's reinventing it at times. His band includes bassist David Finck, drummer Joey Baron and guesting Joe Lovano on sax, who is an especially good addition to the usual Kuhn's trio.

Kuhn's usually a little too classical-oriented for my taste, but Mostly Coltrane will go down in 21st century jazz history as one of the finest tributes to John Coltrane.

The Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker

2010-08-06T01:01:00.002+02:00

90s were all about grunge when it came to good guitar-driven music, or at least early 90s. There was only one band then that released successful rock and roll records and got away with it: the Black Crowes. They debuted in 1990 with probably my favorite album of the decade - Shake Your Money Maker.

Heavily influenced by the Rolling Stones, the Faces and old blues singers, they weren't orginal at all - but the Black Crowes were, and still are, awesome musicians. "Sister Luck" is an obvious rip-off of the Stones' "Sway" for example, but who cares? I'd much rather hear it than a rip-off of anything else. Raw and hard "Struttin' Blues" and "Stare It Cold" are two another examples of the classic groove, but it's such a joy to listen to them, they sound like they're unstoppable, just go on and on, faster and faster. There are two fine ballads and absolutely insane Otis Redding cover, "Hard to Handle". The opening rocker with its remarkable slide guitar part reminds me of Neil Young's "Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown", top this. Such a shame there's no "Shake Your Money Maker" on the album...

It's not only the best album in the Crowes 20 year history, it's a goddamn masterpiece. It really, really sounds like it was recorded in the 1960s, not 30 years later. Shake Your Money Maker was produced by Rick Rubin and the Rolling Stones' long time collaborator Chuck Leavell participated on piano. Highly recommended.

Sonny Rollins - On Impulse!

2010-08-05T02:46:00.000+02:00

Sonny Rollins is mostly known for his absolutely awesome solo career during the late 50s and for taking a long hiatus afterwards. His later works are almost obscure, but outstanding nevertheless. I took a look at three of his Impulse! disks (released in 1965 and 1966) and the first one, Sonny Rollins On Impulse!, seems to be the most interesting of them all.

His tone changed since Saxophone Collosus from ten years earlier but it's still good old Sonny Rollins reinterpreting old standards. Disk starts with two standards, "On Green Dolphin Street" and lenghty "Everything Happens to Me". The first one was made famous by Miles Davis, second was played by almost everyone, from Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk to Bilie Holliday. Rollins is very lyrical, especially "On Green Dolphin Street" gained my attention as a very different version to the one played by Miles (not to mention Albert Ayler ;)). It's not melancholic anymore and swings beautifully.

Then there's calypso and I just love Rollins playing Caribbean rhythms, no matter if it's "St. Thomas" or anything else. This time it's "Hold 'Em Joe" - so joyful one can't resist dancing and jumping around. Rollins' backing band may not be well-known but sure knows how to swing, they are doing their job fine. Ray Bryant plays piano, Walter Booker is on bass and Mickey Roker on drums. And I can honestly say I'm glad Sonny decided to play with piano this time, Bryant is very prominent on this disk and deserves that place very much.

Both last tunes, "Blue Room" and "Three Little Rooms" are different and even more challenging, especially the first one noted. Judge for yourself, this is forgotten Sonny Rollins at his best.

Television - Live at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco

2010-08-04T00:20:00.000+02:00

So, I haven't written anything about Television yet? Weird, I thought I had written how magical Marquee Moon was before. So, anyway... Television was a wonderful, short-lived band in the end of 70s that played rock. Art rock, punk rock, you name it - they were masterful musicians and had two guitars (played by Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd) exchanging leads (so-called weaving). And, they were good at playing long improvisations. Doesn't certainly sound like punk, right? Oh, there's more - they loved the Stones, the Beatles and others. They were rather neglecting early 70s music like Yes and ELP, though.

And they were playing almost everything but the blues. Their idea was simple - not to play the blues. Oh well. Damn it, I forgive them. They were epic anyway. Marquee Moon from 1977 is probably the greatest LP from that decade, such a shame 1978 follow-up was much weaker. Well, nevermind. Television broke up after two releases. But we're happy to have some live releases. Both from 1978, the first one is called The Blow-Up and was released in 1982 in shameful quality, second, from 2003, is much better. It's simply called Live at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco (waldorf salad instantly comes to my mind).

What we get: two 14-minute-long wild improvisations, two of undersigned's favorite tunes, one the Rolling Stones cover (Satisfaction, of course) and four other rockers. It is unbelievable. Makes me want to jump on stage and play with the band. What a divine album. Best live 70s rock ever released.

Dave Holland - Pathways

2010-08-02T23:11:00.003+02:00

After Vijay Iyer's Historicity I wanted to hear some more modern-day jazz, so I downloaded released this year but recorded live in 2009 album by Dave Holland Octet called Pathways.

First thought: it doesn't site like an octet, everybody waits patiently for their time and has plenty of space. Holland's band consists of Antonio Hart (alto sax and flute), Chris Potter (tenor and soprano sax), Gary Smulyan (baritone sax), Alex Sasha Sipiagin (trumpet and flugelhorn), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Steve Nelson (vibraphone and marimba) and Nate Smith (drums). This is the first time this group played together but you don't feel this - they are really swinging. My favorite cut is the longest one, "How's Never?".

Loud applause after almost every solo adds to the album very much. It was recorded at New York's Birdland and I'd love to be there, but since I'm a million miles away, I am pretty satisfied with this live document. Dave Holland said he was always a fan of Duke Ellington and dreamed about playing with such a powerful front line (3 saxes, 2 brasses). So, he made one of the best jazz releases of the year. And I don't miss piano...

Vijay Iyer - Historicity

2010-08-02T02:59:00.000+02:00

I love piano blues and piano jazz. Hell, I just love pianos. There are many mighty solo piano LPs and this is by far my favorite setting of this instrument (start with Monk's Alone In San Francisco). But jazz trios (piano, bass and drums) can be very fine either. I guess this is the case with the rising star of 00s jazz, Vijay Iyer.

Born in 1971 in New York City, he has a very nice name and Indian roots ;) And he plays mean piano; his trio also consists of Stephan Crump on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums. They have released a couple of disks already, many critics say their last one, Historicity (Act, 2009), is their best. Now as I listen...

It's good. Sometimes Iyer is trying too hard and intense for my liking but in overall, it's good. One can't go wrong with jazz piano trios ;) And there's "Smoke Stack" by Andrew Hill. +10 to awesomeness. (Not to mention Stevie Wonder's tune...) All in all, it's recommended stuff.

I have no idea what's going on on today's jazz scene so hearing Vijay Iyer makes me happy there's still some good music around. I missed his show in Warsaw on the other hand - my huge mistake! I'll look for his Tragicomic LP (Sunnyside, 2008) and the good news: I'm looking forward to hearing his upcoming solo album named just Solo.

PS. Vijay Iyer won Downbeat Magazine's 2009 poll for Rising Star Pianist. So, he's like really, really worth hearing.

J.R. Monterose

2010-08-01T00:15:00.000+02:00

J.R. Monterose is remembered mostly for playing tenor sax on Mingus' Pithecantropus Erectus. His solo career was never really successful commercially, but his works were very highly rated by critics. Monterose debuted for Blue Note Records, AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said it was "in the vein of Sonny Rollins and Coleman Hawkins" and gave it 4.5 stars. In the session participated Ira Sullivan, Horace Silver, Wilbur Ware (yay) and Philly Joe Jones. It's a really swinging date, check out "Ka-Link", it's even on YouTube. This self-titled debut album makes a great pair with Introducing Johnny Griffin LP from the same year, try to mix them!

Later J.R. Monterose recorded obscure disks with Tommy Flanagan, Pete La Roca and Jimmy Garriosn (Straight Ahead, 1959) and others which for now I'm trying to get to. Great stuff!

Happy birthday Buddy Guy!

2010-07-30T15:28:00.000+02:00

Buddy "Motherfucker" Guy was born on this day in 1936 in Louisiana. He's known as one of the wildest performers of the blues and he's playing the blues since early 50s. Today he's one of the most important guitarists in the world.

Buddy's albums to get: Damn Right, I've Got the Blues and his recent Skin Deep. Happy birthday to the king of modern day Chicago blues!

Various memories

2010-07-26T22:27:00.000+02:00

Sometimes there are songs so bound to places, times or people it hurts me not to think about the past. My iTunes just shuffled me a tune from 1976's the Grateful Dead tour called "Cassidy". Only four minutes of great, folk-influenced rock and roll, and a wonderful riff and refrain. I used to listen to this song a couple of months ago waiting for my girlfriend before school, I always took the earplugs out, chatted with her as we made our way to the bus, and the song was, very silently, playing in the background. That was cool ;-) Contrasting with the lyrics, this used to be my true happiness.

She once said she had hated "my music" but loved the way I had loved it (so many mixed tenses in one sentence I had to screw something up, rrright). And almost every time she was at my place I played her Mingus' "Better Git It In Your Soul" and after a thousand tries she said, "hey, I've heard it somewhere before!" during the piano part. Priceless ;^)

New releases: Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Ronnie Wood

2010-07-23T16:13:00.004+02:00

About.com Blues Blog announced new Muddy Waters reissues from the BGO Records specializing in blues, folk and jazz CDs. There's nothing on the label's official page, but the thing seems interesting. One of the disks is a compilation They Call Me Muddy Waters, which would be great if not for the fact that it contains material from early 50s to late 60s. There are many better releases! But the second one looks damn better: it's Live at Mr. Kelly's from 1971. Awesome band (Cotton, Perkins...) and awesome setlist: there are even covers of Jimmy Reed ("You Don't Have to Go") and John Lee Hooker ("Boom Boom").

Another good news: mentioned previously James Cotton, a brilliant harp player, is releasing a new album on Alligator Records. More here. Get ready ;)

I'm also waiting for anothet Ronnie Wood's solo release. Rumours state it's gonna happen this year, probably in September. The album called More Good News was recorded a long time ago...

Sexy girls making good music

2010-07-22T16:05:00.006+02:00

Well, there've been a couple of them. I have no idea if there's anything better than a sexy chick singing the blues. ;) Grace Slick from the Jefferson Airplane has always been a favorite of mine.

Now Debbie Harry. She was even better ;) Ex-Playmate and the lead singer and songwriter for Blondie. Just hearing her sing "Rip Her to Shreds" gives me chills ;)

And erm... last but not least. Not too well known Ellen Foley - I love her cover of the Stones' "Stupid Girl" (Mick Ronson on guitar!). Hot, gorgeous and scary. ;)

Muddy Waters - Screamin' and Cryin'

2010-07-21T13:00:00.000+02:00

This album by Muddy is very close to my heart. It was recorded in my hometown, 16 years before I was born and 16 years after the famous Newport performance that marked his prime days. Waters was 61 at that time and well after his best years, but what does it matter? The recording is in very fine quality, the band is tight (my favorite, Pinetop Perkins, is on piano) and I'm sure all of the fans gathered at the Warsaw Jazz Jamboree '76 festival were amazed such a legend invaded Poland.

Everything starts kinda shaky but by the time the band gets into 3rd song ("Corrina, Corrina" sung by a duet Muddy-Pinetop) it's obvious I'm in for a treat! The legend is literally screamin' and cryin', but he's also a charismatic bandleader. He leaves the stage for a couple of songs to let his band show off ("Floyd's Guitar Blues" is remarkable - "hey, I know this riff!"), but then suddenly Muddy's back, never tired of singing his biggest hits: "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "Hoochie Coochie Man".

Highlights of the lenghty show include "After Hours" - several years later Pinetop Perkins recorded a solo album containing this song with the same title - and closing tracks (of 16 all - were they encores?), standard "Goin' Down Slow" and "What's the Matter With the Mill" also known as "Can't Get No Grindin'" straight from the 30s.

It's better than his previous work from the 70s and way more natural than all of the work he did after this while pairing with Johnny Winter. It's the last time we can hear Muddy howl "Howlin' Wolf" (by the way, the real Wolf died that year) or "Blow Wind Blow". Apart from a surprisingly great 1974's Unk In Funk, for me this is the most important of Muddy's outings from the 70s.

Frank Frost's Downhome Blues

2010-07-20T13:57:00.003+02:00

Remember Sam Phillips? Yeah, that legendary producer from Sun Records (Memphis, Tennessee). Just like Chicago blues was the trademark sound of Chess Records, Phillips most of his works recorded in a strong rockabilly vein. It shows when I listen to one of his last projects, early 60s songs by Frank Frost.

Frost came from Arizona, but played delta blues influenced soul all over the country juke joints. He played guitar, harp and a little piano, too. The compilation Downhome Blues is a set of his best works, this time with Jack Johnson and Sam Carr. A couple of years later Frost played with Scotty Moore.

I like the tunes. Many of them are a nod to Jimmy Reed (who is uncredited). This sounds like Reed on Sun Records, exactly. Frost played music which would be admired by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton alike. On the other hand, it was as unorginal as it was only possible. It resulted in the fact that Frost never made it big. He became an obscure blues shouter, today long forgotten despite quite ambitious come-backs in the 80s and early 90s - Frost even appeared on Deep Blues soundtrack in 1992.

You can hear his songs on YouTube: Didn't Mean No Harm and Back Scratcher.

Lee Morgan

2010-07-20T00:24:00.003+02:00

My jazz library is steadily growing. Recently I've almost completed Blue Mitchell's and Lee Morgan's discographies. Morgan was a much better trumpet player than Mitchell, more prolific and more popular too, but they share some similarities. Both were recording for the Blue Note Records for a long time and both recorded some swinging takes. Blue Mitchell on several occasions tried to copy Morgan's style on "The Sidewinder". They really have this in common, because Lee Morgan also tried to copy his hit single, shamefully with no great success. Listen to "The Rumproller" from the following year, you'll understand.

A funny fact: "The Sidewinder" was an outtake. Morgan recorded it without releasing it in mind. What happened after was enormous success in the pop world (which was fairly odd for a 10-minute-long jazz track) and so-called "The Sidewinder" syndrome, because for the couple of months many Blue Note LPs started with long groovy tracks that were really swinging (boogaloo they call it) but failed in recreating the magic of the unexpected 1964 hit.

But all in all, Lee Morgan was a very advanced player. Not in the terms of Miles or Diz, he wasn't a giant, but he was a real cool bloke. His girlfriend shot him six years after "The Sidewinder". May he rest in peace, he had gone away too soon. That's what he has in common with his idol and guy he learned from - Clifford Brown. Memorable song "I Remember Clifford" (he died in a car accident) was recorded not only by Morgan, but also Sonny Rollins and many others.

Brownie died in 1956 along with Bud Powell's brother, Richie. We'll never know what would be Clifford's answer to "The Sidewinder". Sometimes I close my eyes, listen to the sound of silence and think about it.

The Killer strikes again

2010-07-18T18:27:00.003+02:00

The wildest man in rock and roll ever. Now he's 74 years old and he obviously has no clue about it. His duets album from 2006 is one of my favorites - it's called Last Man Standing. It's because he's the only one left from the great bunch of Sun Records' stars.

Of course, it's Jerry Lee Lewis. He's planning a new release this year called Mean Old Man. With awesome guests (Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson and more) and awesome tunes ("Sweet Virginia" and "Dead Flowers" by the Stones, "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry and "Please Please Me" by the Beatles) it's gonna be wonderful. I'm waiting. ;)

Grachan Moncur III for president

2010-07-14T12:42:00.002+02:00

I've always been keen on free jazz (also known as the New Thing). Musician's music on the highest level, high quality jazz without any sense of rhythm or melody, spiritual trips to heaven and hell ;) The way Trane mixed free jazz and hard bop on A Love Supreme is just for starters. Dolphy released an album called Out to Lunch! on Blue Note Records which was far more into the new thing in 1964, and Blue Note very rarely released albums that weren't straight ahead bop. Dolphy's playing was amazingly great. I've also got some early works of Archie Shepp and Albert Ayler, another free jazz pioneers, and enjoy their music even if I don't understand a bit. Free jazz is a kind of really hardcore jazz that could be used to torture prisoners.

For me, the Blue Note sound connected with not-so-extremely-free playing was the thing. But as I mentioned before, that label wasn't interested much in this kind of music. They made an exception, though, for Grachan Moncur III - a wonderful, gorgeous trombonist and composer. He released two Blue Note albums, Evolution in 1963 and Some Other Stuff in 1964 (with the best cover art ever!). Moncur was associated with Jackie McLean back then and inspirated by Thelonious Monk.

You can't even imagine how the music on those two albums sounds. Divine! With titles like "Monk In Wonderland", you just know there's magic. It's got Lee Morgan's best playing ever - just a month before "The Sidewinder". On his second album he featured Wayne Shorter just before he joined Miles Davis' band.

Moncur's albums were extremely highly acclaimed by critics but fell into obscurity shortly after. Such a shame! Read a lenghty interview with Grachan to understand his music and position better and buy his stuff!

Photos from Blue Note

2010-07-12T16:32:00.009+02:00

Kill me, I'm not a big fan of Curtis Fuller - at least yet. But I was always interested how did the sessions for Blue Note Records look from the inside and when I got a set of Fuller's records for Blue Note label and a beautiful booklet, I've cut a few photos for y'all to see. ;) Photographs are of course taken by one and only Alfred Lion. Beautiful, aren't they? (And they get larger when you click, whaow ;^)).

Tina Brooks - The Waiting Game

2010-07-11T21:33:00.002+02:00

Tina Brooks released only four LPs and the Waiting Game was the hardest for me to find. It may not be the best session of his, but it's still such a wonderful hard bop date. One look at a typical Blue Note cover and a typically gorgeous set of musicians made me sure I'm gonna spend another 40 minutes listening to this album once again. Jazz, and bebop especially, really helps me forget about all the trouble I've got and keeps me focused enough not to drift away.

Johnny Coles is on trumpet, he's the guy who played with Mingus on his 1964 tour which speaks for itself. Enough to love him ;) Kenny Drew's on piano. He's a very bright pianist - I have only one album of his called Undercurrent and he certainly is groovin' the blues. Rhythm section is as follows: Wilbur Ware (known for his masterful playing with Sonny Rollins) and Philly Joe Jones - who was admired by you know who ;)

Tina Brooks doesn't overuse minor tones, even plays cheerfully at times. His interplay with Johnny Coles is absolutely amazing and the way Kenny Drew plays behind them sends chills down my spine - not to mention his solos, and he gets quite a few of them. Of the six songs, all of them are rather short, clocking at about 5-7 minutes - I'd love to hear those tunes played live by Tina's band, stretched to the limit.

There are quieter moments but don't wait for ballads - even if some moments are slow, they are loud and proud. The songs that I find the best are the opening track ("Talkin' About") and eponymous closing track. I rate those compositions higher than many of the well-known ancient jazz standards played to death on too many occasions during the 40s and 50s.

All in all, the Waiting Game is not as overwhelming as Tina's masterpiece, True Blue. It isn't exciting enough to be in every jazz enthusiast's collection. Neither it's original or rare enough to cost you fifteen bucks - unless you're a bebop lover. And I'm quite a maniac now ;) I wildly crave for jazz LPs that are swinging like famous Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder" but are challenging enough not to be called "radio-friendly". On this album, Brooks gets close.

Duke Ellington - Ellington at Newport 1956

2010-06-28T22:40:00.003+02:00

I haven't written about jazz in a long time but it certainly doesn't mean I stopped listening to it. The thing is, I got myself a two CD release of Duke Ellington's At Newport set from 1956 and since some time couldn't listen to anything else. This is the perfect album, so perfect it's impossible to describe, analyzing it seems like an insult to the Duke. And the man wasn't even satisfied with the results!

No doubt it's the greatest jazz live album ever released. I've listened to "Diminuendo In Blue and Crescendo In Blue" countless times and still haven't got enough. And I'm even not a fan of big band jazz! It's inspiring, awesome, stunning, original, blindingly amazing. This is the jazz album to get to start your collection.

Original LP with only five tracks - three parts of "Newport Jazz Festival Suite" on side A and "Jeep's Blues" and "Diminuendo... and Crescendo In Blue" - is the one to get for jazz newbies, everybody else will have glorious time listening to the expanded version.

Gary Moore sucks

2010-06-27T11:26:00.005+02:00

Yeah, I'm lost in the past. There are still quite many good blues albums getting released every year, but nothing great. Production most often is thick, thin, plastic, fake, cold, uninteresting. Not warm and strong like in the Chess years. It's not aggresive at all! Apart from that, lyrics usually suck - when those guys in the 50s sung "I hope some schoolboy start a fight", they really had this on their minds. Now modern blues artists have no guts. And Eric Clapton, who himself is a very fine guitarist, started a trend of playing long, wailing solos, and telling everybody around it's really heartbreaking. No, it's not.

The essence of the blues being down in a hole is Gary Moore. A very popular blues-rock mainstream artist whose concerts really draw attention of the usually-not-going-anywhere crowd. He started his career in the very late 60s and since then played, most notably, with Thin Lizzy. And released 20-something solo albums that are all the same, and all suck. His most important work is 1990's Still Got the Blues LP (the only one similar thing that seems to be worse is Roy Buchanan's pop/blues hit from the same time). A very popular blues-rock album. A very white one.

I downloaded his last album from 2008 called "Bad for You Baby". A tough title, isn't it? I listen and listen and it's not totally unacceptable - I even enjoy some of the songs. Vocals are bad, guitar sound is bad. 10-minute-long tracks are bad. Shredding on a blues album is unforgivable, so amazingly bad it makes me almost quit listening to it. But in overall, I really enjoy moments. But I just love what Ginger Baker said about Gary, and I generally love his bitter comments. :)

Gary Moore, Roy Buchanan, sometimes Clapton sucked hard in their prime, glory days, and now guys like Joe Bonamassa followed in the same style. What's wrong with these people?

Gary Moore is just an imitation of the real blues. He's playing great blues without the feeling. :)

Random album recommendations

2010-06-26T12:28:00.001+02:00

1. Taj Mahal - The Natch'l Blues: not as popular as Mahal's previous, legendary eponymous album, but almost as good. He mixes traditional Delta blues (wonderful "She Caught the Katy") with Memphis soul (Otis Redding-influenced "You Don't Miss Your Water"). Such a shame so many fans overlook it.
2. the Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head: released in 1971 and famously compared to the Stones' masterpiece Sticky Fingers. It's much less interesting, but quite similar, and I can recommend it anyway. Great takes on blues, blues-rock, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, boogie et cetera.
3. Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon - Willie's Blues: a very fine piano player and the ultimate, definitive blues songwriter (and a good bassist) on a very intimate, quiet jammy session from 1959. Tricky tunes, moody atmosphere, I just love this album. A forgotten classic.
4. Pinetop Perkins - Portrait Of A Delta Bluesman: 20 delta blues tracks played solo on piano by a true legend and a couple of short interviews. A cover of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" and famous "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie". That's just awesome! For all lovers of piano blues.

...Just a couple of albums I've been listening to recently.

John Mayall live in 2010

2010-06-23T10:24:00.002+02:00

On 18th June John Mayall played a student's club Stodola in Warsaw, Poland. It was a 2-hour-long set of blues without any supporting band and I can clearly say that everybody loved it, including the main character, the 76-year-old now John Mayall.

Mayall's band was: Greg Rzab on bass, Jay Davenport on drums, a fine pair; almost silent Tom Canning on keys and Rocky Athas on guitar. He was playing a very lyrical blues, wasn't an outstanding guitarist, but I really enjoyed his solos. Mayall played harmonica and keys. I was really hoping for a performance with a guitar but there wasn't a chance.

My favorite track of the whole show was "The Bear" from his album with Mick Taylor Blues From Laurel Canyon. It's just a little song about the leader of Canned Heat band. I couldn't find nor remember the setlist for this particular show so here's a glimpse of what he's playing on this tour that I've stolen from a show that took place ten days before in Aschaffenburg (?), Germany. :)

1 Another Man Done Gone
2 Hideaway
3 Chicago Line
4 Nothing to Do With Love
5 All My Life
6 Help Me
7 You Know That You Love Me
8 California
9 A Dream About the Blues
10 Room to Move
11 Somebody's Acting Like A Child
12 Mama Talk to Your Daughter

In Poland he didn't played "Hideaway", "California" and two encores: we had "The Bear", "All Your Love" (originally by Otis Rush), "Playing with a Losing Hand", and some more instead. The song list may be not impressive but Mayall's band was really jamming and most of them were about 7 minutes long.

I can recommend his shows to any blues fans, he won't let you down. And his new CD's ain't bad either.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Mojo

2010-06-20T20:32:00.002+02:00

When a guy who haven't ever played the blues tries to record a classic blues album one's gotta beware. I don't need Tom Petty to be another Muddy Waters, I will take his new album, Mojo, as it comes. I liked his previous effort no matter how it was labeled (pop-rock actually). So, the first song is running at the moment. "Jefferson Jericho Blues", mhm. Good old whiny, whitey voice of Petty is adorable. Not bluesy, not at all, but it's okay - he sounds like he just couldn't give a damn no matter how hard he'd try and I like it. Slide guitar driving the mediocre song and wham, next one.

This one's longer, taking off with long, interesting coda. "First Flash Of Freedom". It strikes me how well it's produced. Really, I feel like the band is in my room. Even if the sound of the guitars isn't the one I'm dreaming of, it's enjoyable. And it's not the blues as I know it. Not only it's not dirty, it's crystal clear. Somebody said it's reminiscent of the Allman Brothers Band and this is the description for me that I have to laugh about, ABB were the masters of sound. This is waaaaay weaker. But still, it's listenable. Enjoyable. And it has something of that jammy feel.

"Running Man's Bible" is another boring composition played in a nice way. Quite funky, actually. This looks to me as an album that would please Tom Petty's and contemporary blues fans alike. I'm not anyone that would feel connected to any of these groups. Even though I click the "next" button, I like it. Even though I'm happy I didn't spend ten bucks on Mojo, I like it.

"Candy" is the first song I really like. And 4th I've already listened - I have to skip the one called "The Trip to Pirate's Cove". I just can't listen to a song with a name like that. But "Candy" is superb. It's gotta a nice groove to it and a very relaxed feel. OK, 9 songs to go now.

This review sucks and I'm rather out of my mind sitting here listening to this music. A cheap imitation of the real blues, yeah. But Petty wanted to do album like that and he played it well. There's something in it that I like. This is like a girl that isn't particularly pretty but you feel like you just need to lay her anyway. "I Should Have Known It" is a natural single and now I think it would really work in a live setting. A small club and ouch... I can easily imagine myself in the crowd.

Petty wrote all of the songs on the album. I'd love to hear some covers. But it's okay. It's 3.5/5 on my RYM. It's an hour I've just wasted. It's good it was released. It's good there are still guys like Tom, who have nothing to prove and yet they try to have fun. But anyway... this morning I've listened to Blues From Laurel Canyon, Mayall's best work, and Mojo's nothing compared to that.

And when I come to think about it... Don't let anybody tell you it's a blues work. It's obviously not. An album on which every second is thought ten times over, every chord is perfectly chosen and every emotion labelled and classified just can't rock the way Petty wants to.

"Blues for the lost days"...

2010-06-19T09:43:00.003+02:00

Yesterday I attended a wonderful, stunning John Mayall's show in Warsaw. Two hours of blues played live was what I needed. ;) Reminded me that the music is to be played live and CDs are only a small part of the fun. I wrote a lengthy review on my Last.fm already (in Polish) and in some time I'll review it here, but for now I've got to give my mind a rest. ;)

In two weeks time I'm attending Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, a glorious festival. I wanted to go and see Pearl Jam but I can't, dates collide. But in the meantime...

Recently I got so much into the Allman Brothers Band that I can't resist listening to 20-minute version of "Dreams" twice a day. The things that Duane plays are indescribable. ;) Yesterday I was going back home at about midnight with "Whipping Post" rambling through my headphones...

The Derek Trucks Band is releasing a new live double album called "Roadsongs". I'm listening now to their previous studio album and I start to like it. Good time music, actually. I'll wait for the new album.

And I'm still waiting for some free time to review Tom Petty's "Mojo". And Steve Miller's "Bingo". I don't like him but his comments seem very wise (and kinda brave), see them on IORR.

Sunnyland Slim - Slim's Got His Thing Goin' On

2010-06-14T12:38:00.000+02:00

This is the good old stuff mixed with modern blues musicians. Recorded in '68 by Sunnyland Slim, a talented pianist straight from the delta, with George Smith, Big Mama Thornton, Luther Allison, Shakey Jake, Al Wilson, Henry Vestine, Larry Taylor, Luther Allison and, most important, Mick Taylor of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers fame. Taylor plays on "You Used to Love Me", "My Past Life", "She's Got A Thing Goin' On" and "Substitute Woman". That's a shame he isn't featured on entire disc! Young British guitarist who was soon to join the Rolling Stones plays with confidence and respect to older bluesmen.

Slim's piano and voice are good. So are compositions, all of them but Elmore James' "Dust My Broom" credited to Albert Laundrew, which is the real name of Sunnyland Slim. Don't let that fool you, though... After the first chords of "Goin' Back to Memphis" you realize it's "Rollin' & Tumblin'" but under a different name. So is the case with most of the stuff here: it's all the usual hooks played by black blues musicians in the delta. "Slim's Got His Thing Goin' On" may be classic, but it's not ordinary. More, it's totally unique. The blend of electric guitars, harmonicas and pianos is wonderful, production just rocks. It's quite clear for a record like that!

My favorite song must be "Everytime We Get to Drinkin'". ;) But it's hard to tell, really, they are all the same. Slower and faster, all of them have a special kind of charm reserved for original Mississippi wailers. Get this disk and play it loud! It's... inspirational. ;)

Bonus tracks from Valleys Of Neptune

2010-06-13T09:03:00.001+02:00

Well I craved for these two bonus tracks that were sold only at US Target shops (lame!) and tried to find them everywhere. I was right, they are quite cool. Another poster here on Blogger posted them some time ago so now I kindly repost them, get the stuff here. Quality versions of "Slow Version" and "Trash Man" rock, clocking together at about 12 minutes. Both songs were recorded in 1969.

Cool, isn't he? ;-)

News from Ronnie Wood, the Faces & Tom Petty

2010-06-12T09:01:00.002+02:00

There are many new exciting releases I'm waiting for now... First of all, Ronnie Wood's new album called Feel Like Playing. Dirty rock and roll, booze and blues the way I like it. We already can hear two songs off the album, look here. I totally loved Ronnie's first solo album (called I've Got My Own Album to Do) and every next one had some of its charm.

Speaking of Ronnie Wood, his band from the early 70s, the Faces, is reuniting. Without Rod Stewart, replacing him with Mick Hucknall of Simply Red fame. There's a lot of bad press on Mick Hucknall and his singing with the Faces caused a lot of controversy, but I don't mind him really. He even recorded a mediocre blues album called Tribute to Bobby, which was recorded for Bobby Bland. Hucknall can sing and did well on the previous Faces reunion and now I hope they're gonna play some more dates and some bootlegs are going to show up. In their days they were playing the best party-time rock and roll on the planet - except for the Stones.

Tom Petty - a good artist but as far from the blues as one can get - released a new album full of, as he described it, "dirty blues", drawing many references to the Allman Brothers Band. In a deep blues fasion it's called Mojo. ;) Here's one of the singles on YouTube. Funny to see comments below that "it's one of the best blues tunes ever made"... Well, certainly not funny, okay. The track is as unoriginal as it can be. Another one's better. It's good popular artist are interested in the blues, the results sometimes are really frightening, though. ;)

Howlin' Wolf birthday!

2010-06-10T13:04:00.002+02:00

Howlin' Wolf was born 100 years ago, on 10th June 1910 in - of course - Mississippi, USA. He was one of the most influential figures in Chicago blues and one of the most important artists that recorded for Chess Records. Furthermore, he was big and bad. He popularized many blues standards, from "Spoonful" to "Smokestack Lightnin'" that remain favorites to this day.

Many blues purists overlook this album - well, even if it's not the classic 50s blues that Howlin' Wolf played, it's a very fine LP. The Wolf with his long-time collaborator Hubert Sumlin, the Rolling Stones' rhythm section, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood: The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions. Recorded in his latter days, it'll give you a cool glimpse of what's it all about.

Cocksucker Blues

2010-06-06T16:06:00.003+02:00

Such a nice title: well, "Cocksucker Blues" was a song the Rolling Stones composed in 1970 to anger Decca, their record company. They succeeded. Musically a nice blues with only Mick on vocals and Keith on acoustic guitar, lyrically a masterpiece: a tale of a lonesome gay arriving in new city blah blah blah. :)

Two years later the Stones asked Robert Frank to make a documentary about their tour of America in 1972 to accompany the release of Exile On Main Street album. It was real: black & white image of rock and roll stars, drugs, sex, violence and the dark side of being cool. Despite that, I loved the film. Particular scenes were just epic no matter how sad the final conclusions turn to be.

Cocksucker Blues is banned from screening but you can easily find a bootleg copy, now it's everywhere. But before, two good reviews: at Times Online and random private website.

Bob Dylan's birthday

2010-05-24T21:04:00.002+02:00

Happy birthday to Bob Dylan :) He's turning 69 today. Well that's quite something :) I still listen to his first album from time to time. Bob released it in March 1961. Where would we be without his music today?

Probably one of the most important artists in my life. It's a good day to watch I'm Not There - beautiful movie.

Remembering Lena Horne

2010-05-23T19:00:00.003+02:00

Vocal jazz might not be my cup of tea, but regardless of that I have to note that beautiful jazz singer Lena Horne died earlier this May. You can read her short but clever biography on Guardian and see her sing "Stormy Weather" on YouTube. It's from the early 40s.

She will be remembered not only for great, great voice, but also for astonishing beauty and taking the stand agains racial prejudice. May she rest in peace.

Deluxe Exile: comments

2010-05-22T14:37:00.003+02:00

It's great, amazing and gorgeous - of course it is. But as always it's impossible to be 100% positive - the greatest album ever is rereleased with 10 additional bonus tracks (with ADTL single it makes it 11) and they rock, each one of them, but all in all, and compared with well-known 18 Exile songs, they somehow fade. Or maybe I'm not in the mood? That's like another new album and I know I'm going to listen to those ones often.

1. "Pass the Wine (Sophia Loren)" - at first I even didn't like it. Catchy, groovy - maybe. I just wasn't amazed, it wasn't loud enough. But then I read the lyrics (they're good!) and the refrain that goes something like "I'm glad to be alive and kicking, I'm glad to see my heart's still ticking, pass me the wine, boy, let's make some love". And I listened again and now I love everything about this song :) Lyrics, groove, Mick Taylor's fills, horns that rush to the front from time to time, harmonica, the fact that it's quite long for a song like that (almost 5 minutes). Maybe it's Keith that should get his thing louder? Harder? I don't know. Taylor should've jam more in the end and Jagger should let him improvise and stop singing :) Tenor saxophone fills in the end are great, too... In overall, it's a finished song. Well-produced. Prime stuff. Stones at their best, even if it's lacking some hooks. Could be the best song on the disk, but there are even more interesting and unexpected ones.

2. "Plundered My Soul" - discussed before. Weak lyrics and the overall sound is more recent than from 1971. But it's good!

3. "I'm Not Singifying" - I've known this tune before in a version with Keith on great rhythm guitar and loved it! Dirty and mean blues. This version is different, being led by Nicky Hopkins' piano. Oh man I miss Keith's work there! But it's improved, really. Harmonica and horns in the end make the song great for me. Vocals are so-so, Mick Taylor's fills are not that divine and a blues song without a strong solo isn't a good blues song. On the other hand, last minute... Otis would've been proud!

4. "Following the River" - heartbreaking ballad, the kind I don't like. But it's really deep :) Convincing Jagger's vocal, newly recorded of course, but... strings! Strings! Aww come on. Two songs with strings that work for me are this one and "Moonlight Mile", but it's ten times less inspired. "You always saw the best in me" line really blows me though :)

5. "Dancing in the Light" - not a rocker, but close. Up-tempo, positive, happy song. :) Kind of "nanananana na nana": you love to sing it but you never know the words. Most prominent guitarist is Mick Taylor here, Keith's work is somewhere there hidden behind him. One of the best here. Certainly above average Stones level :)

6. "So Divine (Alladin Sane)" - one of my favorites. Awesome lyrics, awesome riff, awesome melody and vocal, and even the lazy solo by Taylor is something I'd love to hear more often from him. The instrumental of this is something that you've got to smoke to, this is far less hypnotizing. "You think your love is so divine / you pour it out like it was heaven-scented wine / You think your love is all I crave / Well, I've got better things to do than be your slave" :)

7. "Loving Cup" - the well-known drunk version with vocals very similar, but overdubbed. Shame. Same great phrasing, though :) Keith's guitar is electric and way more prominent than in the released version. I like it more. Slow and sexy :) It would be the best song on the bonus Exile disk, but it's not - I've already heard that many times! The line "I'm the man who brings you roses when you ain't got none, nothin" always cheers me up :)

8. "Soul Survivor" - another alternate take. Keith sings, this time, and the lyrics are clearly not yet developed - he sings random phrases ("well I just can't fuck it! et cetera!"). Musically it's the same track as the one released before except a little bit of horns added here and there and closing piano parts. So it's a let down. Great we have a Keith track, he sings great, but it's not very interesting one.

9. "Good Time Women" - the only one that was probably untouched. Mick's vocals are from the real Exile Sessions. And we've all heard it before! It's good. Slightly worse than "Tumbling Dice" :)

10. "Title 5" - closing track. Great because it's different. 1:47 of a jam between Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards, going back to the roots of the Stones - it's hard rhythm & blues! You don't hear them play like this at all. :)

And Japanese bonus track to the bonus tracks (^^) and worldwide single not included on the regular album: alternate "All Down the Line". A rocker this disc lacks. :)

2 songs we already heard, 9 new ones but 5 of them with very minor changes. It makes it only 4 songs that are completely new out of 11. Damn it, it's the new Rolling Stones album :)

The Rolling Stones' NPR interviews, 2010

2010-05-19T21:14:00.000+02:00

A new release by the band means lots of promotional stuff and the best part are the interviews. The Stones have fun answering the same old questions and telling the same old stories for 40 years now and always look at the bright side of life, adding more jokes and depth to those words than anyone would imagine: the group of 60-year-old drunks loves making fun of themselves above everything :)

Interviews from NPR are great: we've got a narrator, bits of songs from Exile, and a story. Smart, interesting editing :) Keith discussed basic things, but also lyrics to "Happy", slide on "Ventilator Blues" and another take of "Soul Survivor" with him singing random phrases. It's too short, barely seven minutes, but you're gonna love it.

Another intreview, with Mick this time, was even more interesting. Mick clearly adores being interviewed by women, just talking to them makes him stretching out more, he's talking and talking ;-) Beautiful voices they have, really, the interviewees and interviewers. Mick called "Following the River" a "kiss off" song which made me laugh, quite a beautiful ballad!

Third, longest interview was with Don Was, producer. Who did a great job on this Exile but fucked up anyway - I don't like him. He's to blame for bad sound of their latest releases, but he also encouraged the Stones to release something like that. He's talking trash, but he also said it's possible that new releases will happen. Deluxe treatment of Some Girls? I'm all in!

You can freely download those shows: first with Keith, second with Mick, third with Don Was. NPR rocks! (As do BBC and Jimmy Fallon's Show - stay tuned).

Duane Allman interview

2010-05-18T20:50:00.003+02:00

I've been into Allman Brothers band very much lately, listening to their live jams all day. I'm not a big fan of their two first studio albums that lack much of the intensity of adventurous concerts. Many times live performances surpass studio recordings and this is the case with the Allman Brothers Band: most compositions have their best renditions on At Fillmore East or any other of early Allman's live LPs.

What the band does with the material is so unreal x) Every time I listen to "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" or "Whipping Post" I can hear something new. Their jams go beyond imagination, way beyond the things played by the Grateful Dead or any other popular jam band of the time. It's blues and jazz at its best and the interplay between two guitars is priceless. The biggest star of the Allman Brothers Band, the one that made them shine above most of the other live acts of the day was of course Duane Allman.

From charming acoustic "Little Martha" to wild bluesy "You Don't Love Me" live in '71... This guy can't be beat and he's white. I mean, I get so lost in his imaginative and tricky guitar playing that I can spend more time analyzing it than Dylan's lyrics.

Click here to hear Duane's interview from 1970. 24MB and 22 minutes of Duane mumbling :)

Blues Music Awards 2010

2010-05-17T15:26:00.000+02:00

Blues Music Awards for 2010 have been announced. So... blues album of the year is Joe Louis Walker's "Between a Rock and the Blues", quite enjoyable piece of music. And the band of the year is Tommy Castro Band, these are two biggest honours.

Categories are countless and the Blues Foundation seems quite serious about this stuff, so it might be worth takin' a look. In traditional blues categories winners were Duke Robbilard and Debbie Davies for male and female artists of the year and Super Chikan with "Chikadelic" (WTF?) for the best traditional blues album. And Tommy Castro seems to be the biggest winner, taking four awards of four nominations. :)

See this Blues.org website (which sucks by the way because it can't be linked - hey people start building good websites or stay with brochures).

Woody Allen said he isn't interesting in winning, but even less interested in losing :) I don't care about those awards too much anyway, but it's good that something's going on in the little blues world.

The Stones' "Following the River" video

2010-05-15T14:30:00.005+02:00

Sorry for not writing too much - I've been breathing the blues for some time lately and couldn't get myself together, and furthermore I received an DMCA takedown notice... ABKCO cocksuckers x)

I already have the new deluxe release of "Exile On Main Street" with ten bonus tracks and I will focus on it for the rest of the month :) It's so fucking amazing! Here you can see the "Following the River" video, what a great ballad with awesome lyrics and video, it's so stylish and all. I don't fancy strings that much but once in a time... Also, background vocals are outstanding. The best of all, though, is piano by Nicky Hopkins that drives the song and Mick's vocals. And isn't the light on the video wonderful?

Parts of the lyrics remind me of "Let It Loose"... "You always saw the best of me" line is the best part of the song :) A typical Mick's composition, not better than mentioned above "Let It Loose" or "Moonlight Mile", but luckily too good to be on the mainstream pop radio.

The Ronnie Wood Show

2010-05-06T00:54:00.003+02:00

Every Friday widely featured here guitarist called Ronnie Wood plays an hour long selection of his favorite tracks on Absolute Radio. A painter, lover and drinker: Ronnie played bass in Jeff Beck's band, guitar in the Faces and the Rolling Stones, two most partying bands ever. His playing was truly all about having fun so even though he's not the most talented or able guitarist I can think of, he's certainly in my top ten for his attitude.

That's why the Ronnie Wood Show is something special for me. His made-up stories and exaggerations (no, he wasn't in the last few that saw Jimi Hendrix ^^) make me smile but never let me down. He's so childish, naive and nice ;-) So now every Friday night he chats, plays guitar and tells stories apart from putting on some good old rock and roll! Look here for Strettonbull's posts of his shows and download them.

Ronnie's song selections are quite obvious and too mainstream, but that doesn't bother me. Quite the opposite. I like it very much! I've discovered some new bands thanks to him and wait for more. He's got very similar taste to mine!

The Rolling Stones - All Down the Line

2010-05-05T14:32:00.002+02:00

Some more news concerning the release of deluxe edition of Exile On Main Street, possibly the Stones' best album, arrived. The second single after "Plundered My Soul" has just been released. It's an alternate take of "All Down the Line" and it's great, but not astonishingly different from the version we've known for years. Lots of Mick Taylor's guitar work and the general mess make it work really, really good!

It's got that Chuck Berry-esque vibe and is quite long (over 4 minutes) for a rock and roll song. Vocals are clearly not-yet-developed so Jagger shouts random phrases while the band has lots of time and space to jam over easy chords. It's so relaxed you can tell it wasn't going to be released back then. And again, like on "Plundered My Soul", Nicky Hopkins on piano shines and rolls!

Since Amazon UK is giving the single away for free but the rest of the world have to pay and I don't think it's fair, I put up a download link for free. Unfortunately it's been removed by Blogspot -_- Sorry. You can find it easily for yourself though!

The Black Keys - Rubber Factory

2010-05-01T08:53:00.002+02:00

Now this is it! Enough bluesy and acceptable dirty. Or at least much more and less (^^) than previously reviewed Brothers album. Ladies & gentlemen... Rubber Factory, the Black Keys' masterpiece from 2004.

Indie sucks. I like DIY attitude but it doesn't have to mean lo-fi sound. However, in this case it suits the blues. It's raw and dirty but easily listenable and catchy, it has everything the new album lacks. "10AM Automatic" is oh so good! That's what I call a rocker. Slow "The Lengths" is a boring ballad but the next one's a hot song - you sure have heard "Grown So Ugly" by Captain Beefheart, huh? - this version is equal.

And they played "Stack Shot Billy" on Letterman. And "Aeroplane Blues" was mighty interesting... Just like the whole album really. Most of those 13 tunes don't have the definitive hook that gets stuck in your head but it's alright with me. It's a 4/5 album that I proudly keep in my collection :) And "Till I Get My Way" was a surprisingly good finale, just when I expected nothing new and was ready to switch the player off.

"What about the night / Makes you change / From sweet to deranged" - "10AM Automatic"...

PS. See their music video to the song "Next Girl" from the Brothers album. Funny. And I really like the girls.

The Black Keys - Brothers

2010-04-27T21:48:00.004+02:00

They sound worn-out. Tired & forced. Songs are the same as always, but there's less driving guitar and more tricky synths. I wanted to like it but simply couldn't. I get tired listening to this music too long. There's no happiness or joy of playing and keeping the groove, not much more of the blues - it's strictly business.

If only they were more catchy, more freewheeling and eager to play rock and roll or just faster songs... On the other hand - the duo's brutal and raw concept takes effect. This is outstanding in a way - you rarely hear things like that on the radio. It's much worse than previous Black Keys' albums, though. But still - this is not the kind of music I'd like to listen to when I'm stoned and out of my mind. Makes me nervous.

Oh, well... The best cover art I've seen in ages.

Standout tracks: "Ten Cent Pistol", "Sinister Kid" (it should've been turned into something really great!), "Unknown Brother".

On a final note - I'm really curious what marks it's going to get from professional critics. Pitchfork - the most alternative and indie of 'em all - is of course gonna hail it and praise it, but what about the rest... I couldn't care less about the record but I still can't figure out how come it doesn't move me while it really should. I'm impatiently waiting for Allmusic to note that it's unlistenable shit - which Brothers isn't, by the way.

May releases I'm waiting for

2010-04-24T14:21:00.005+02:00

On 17th May the Rolling Stones release a bonus disc with Exile On Main Street outtakes. We already have one of these on single and "Plundered My Soul" proved it's gonna be hot ;-) Will this be the best Stones album since 1981's Tattoo You? No, probably not, but I don't care, it's like a brand new LP of the Stones screaming and playing the dirtiest rock and roll possible...

Famous Stax Records are releasing 2-CD live album by Otis Redding. I can't wait to pair it with more raw album by Jimi Hendrix called "BBC Sessions" - those two will look so beautiful together! Apart from awful cover, Live On the Sunset Strip will feature biggest-hits by Otis from 1966. Though I prefer his later performances, these ones were truly legendary. Cocaine running through Otis' veins 44 years ago will make it to your next party ;-)

Three weeks to go! Can't damn wait.

Ten Years After - Ssssh

2010-04-23T20:18:00.003+02:00

I haven't ever heard a great studio album by Ten Years After. A tremendous live act with one of the most interesting guitarists of the British blues scene, and most probably the fastest :) And it's not like Alvin Lee had no songwriting skills - maybe his songs weren't the best, but quite original at least. So, what's with Ten Years After?

No idea. "Ssssh" is badly produced and badly written, but it has its groove and I really like it, though most of the times I put it on I'm not able to sit it through all 8 tracks ;) Jim Newson wrote in amusing review for AllMusic:

Featured is a lengthy cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," with reworked lyrics leaving little doubt as to what the singer had in mind for the title character. Also included was a 12-bar blues song with the ultimate generic blues title "I Woke Up This Morning.

Ha ha. Anyway... No favorite tracks that I can pick, no favorite moments, it all kinda flows... But it's well worth a listen. Ten Years After was a fascinating band, not one-hit-wonder act (yeah, I don't like "I'm Going Home" that much). And "Ssssh" is not one of the key works of the (in)famous 1969 year, but the band deserved playing Woodstock.

PS. It's only 33 minutes long so don't hesitate.
PPS. "Good Morning Little School Girl" has to be my least favorite blues standard. Ever.

The Rolling Stones - Plundered My Soul

2010-04-20T20:34:00.005+02:00

Like I noted before, "Plundered My Soul" is a great new single by the Rolling Stones. It came out backed by "All Down the Line", mono single from Exile On Main Street in unedited form. That pairing was a good choice! Now, on 3rd may, we're getting a new single: alternate take of ADTL :) But let's talk PMS for a while.

Lyrics are bad. Obviously a latter-day Jagger in despair... The chorus is mighty, though. Another big fault - where's the solo? Mick Taylor is playing great fills here and there, but the song desperately needs one verse less and a longer solo. I also think that Jagger is pushing too hard but what the hell, I can live with that.

Today while listening on headphones I've heard exactly what Bobby Keys is playing. I've never heard him play rhythm saxophone before! Amazing job. Full credits are as follows: Mick Jagger (voc, gtr, perc), Keith Richards (gtr), Charlie Watts (dr), Bill Wyman (bass), Nicky Hopkins (p), Mick Taylor (gtr), Bobby Keys (sax), Lisa Fischer & Cindy Mizelle (bvoc).

I'm not gonna post a download link anywhere but if you know how to use magnet links, here's one. :) But please also buy it. The Stones' sales are at all-time low!

The Rolling Stones Plundered My Soul (again)

2010-04-15T18:42:00.001+02:00

After many days of waiting I'm speechless. PMS :-) ("Plundered My Soul") hasn't been even released yet but it's here, safe on my hard disc. 9MB of joy, sweet 320kbps quality and french radio DJ's voice in fading somewhere in the end... Not official, not in a great packaging with lyrics and credits, but - in all of its awesomeness & greatness - now it's mine and only mine ;)

It's glorious, proud & sexy. Slow, groovy... An obvious and instant winner that missed it's time by decades. PMS probably isn't going to be played by mainstream radio stations, nor will it attract the attention of the crowds. A shame, but I don't care as now I get lost listening to it a 237th time ;-)

The single was kicked off a special, deluxe treatment of the classic album, by many fans rated as the best ever, called "Exile On Main Street". Famously recorded in Keith Richards' villa in south France, now it comes with a deluxe disc of outtakes and alternate takes. It's hard to imagine my state after first hearing of it - now I'm only familiar with one song ;)

So, it was recorded as an instrumental sometime in 1971. Keith Richards on a great, steady rhythm guitar reminding me of "Tumbling Dice" rhythm part. It's cachy, slow but rolling. Could have been higher in the mix, though. Then we have a kind of barrelhouse piano by Nick Hopkins... I can pay him the best tribute by saying that's "up to his standards". Rhythm section really sounds like the rest of Exile - kinda muddy & messy, and there lays its greatness. There are also recorded recently background vocals by Lisa Fischer and Cindy Mizelle. I think they're doing great job.

Mick's vocals were recorded in the 2010 or 2009... Also the lyrics were newly written. He sounds great, but a bit out of it - a little too loud, and you can easily hear it's not the 1972 edition of Mick Jagger, but a recent one. PMS sounds catchy due to his work but I understand that not everybody might like it, and it's a shame that he dominates the song now... Don't let that trouble you though :]

I'm wondering if Mick Taylor, the great, great lead guitarist, recorded his parts in 1971 or today. I'd love to hear him reuniting with the band after so many weak days of his solo career... He plays like back in the day. Bright fills and all... He should've take a try on the solo, though.

Can't get it out of my mind :-)

"I thought you wanted my money but you plundered my soul", sings Mick. So did the Rolling Stones :]

PS. I got the song about two hours ago... So this are just my first thoughts. Of course I will write more in the future ;)

Monkey Junk - Tiger In Your Tank

2010-04-10T21:21:00.000+02:00

Son House said about his music that he's "talkin' about the blues, not about some monkey junk". So, Monkey Junk is not a strictly blues ensemble, but it's hard to find a good blues band in the 00s anyway ;) Monkey Junk is an award-winning trio and they have just one CD out, 2009's "Tiger In Your Tank". I tend to like it ;)

As they say, their music is a mix of R&B, soul boogie and funk. Well, okay... There's even one pop tune which is a sure low-point of the album, but in overall "Tiger In Your Tank" is very good. The band consists of two guitars and drums (just like Hound Dog Taylor's classic House Rockers) and it works very well. Their Muddy Waters cover, "Tiger In Your Tank", is among my favorite contemporary blues tracks. It just rocks ;) So does "Leave the Rest to You".

There ain't much to tell about this album. Songs are rather short and straight-to-the-point without any improvisations or long solos. Vocals are quite ordinary and typical for a pop band, not a blues one, but they don't sound that bad. Not that I hate the White Stripes but finally we have a contemporary band not influenced by them ;) They are as far to the blues as the Stripes, I was hoping for a more traditional brand of American music. It'll be interesting to see Monkey Junk evolving. Oh, and the cover art's good, ain't it?

2010 blues calendar

2010-04-07T12:12:00.000+02:00

Seventh volume of a blues calendar with classic photos from the 20s has been released... It looks good. Order on BluesImages.com.

Jeff Beck interview, 2010

2010-04-05T12:06:00.000+02:00

BBC Radio 2 aired an interview with Jeff Beck a couple of days ago. It was a nice interview with lots of Jeff's "mhms" - it's always good to hear probably the best guitarist alive talk. Subjects included his auditions for Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones, old times in 60s and 70s and his new album, "Emotion and Commotion", which I find uninteresting by the way.

Jeff was interviewed by Johnnie Walker on "Sounds of the 70s" programme. Setlists includes: "A Day In the Life", "Lilac Wine", "I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel For You", "Thelonious" and "Superstition". In overall whole 2-hour-long set was great, but I uploaded only the Jeff Beck part. Download and enjoy here (24MB). More about the show here.

Muddy Waters' birthday!

2010-04-04T11:32:00.003+02:00

It would've been 97th Muddy's birthday... Time to hail the Father of not only Chicago Blues, but music as we know it today ;) Can't write no more, no words can say how much he's missed.

The one and only Hoochie Coochie Man ;)

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

2010-04-03T10:01:00.000+02:00

I was just going to put on some good old rock and roll and listen to Keith play on 1981 the Rolling Stones' tour - if you ignore Mick's outfit it's great. I can't explain how I ended up listening to Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells". It was a love at first sight.

The strangest thing is that I should hate it. It's a wonder which one I can't stand more - classical music or new age? With a rock and roll heart it's hard to listen to progressive 25-minute-long instrumental compositions... Okay, I used to like "Atom Heart Mother" by Pink Floyd. And there are many nice jazz compositions that are as long and complicated as "Tubular Bells". But I've become open-minded and that was something I had never heard.

If God likes music, this is probably his favorite LP.

Imagine a scene... Gates of heaven, lots of instruments inside... You get in with a bottle of Jack and a cigarette and try them all while "Tubular Bells Part I" is playing... God's voice introduces the instruments, you're dead but you just don't care. It's my heaven and paradise :) "Two slightly distorted guitars"... Oh come on. It's pure greatness.

I still hate that kind of music. I wouldn't like to play it myself but I guess I'll try it sometime.

Charles Burnett's "Warming by the Devil's Fire"

2010-04-01T10:51:00.000+02:00

Charles Burnett's "Warming by the Devil's Fire" is as naive and childish as it could get, yet it still has its charm. It's another production in the series of blues documentaries called "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues".

The movie tells a story mixed with archival performances somehow related to the storyline. Young boy visits his family in the Mississippi delta during 1950s and is kidnapped by his uncle who shows him around and tells about the blues. Acting is just terrible and the story rather weak but it doesn't matter that much. It shows one's love for the blues. Archival performances are great in the whole series and this part is no exception: from Bessie and Mamie Smith, through Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Big Bill Broonzy, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

Director said he tried to show "the tensions between the heavenly strains of gospel and the devilish moans of the blues". Uhm, whatever... Even if the movie didn't capture it that well, there's something out of this world in music played in the delta during 20s and 30s and it's worth further research ;)

Rock and Roll landmarks

2010-03-24T10:00:00.000+01:00

A couple of days ago Chris Epting (known as hbwriter) posted on IORR his audio presentation about famous rock and roll landmarks. We've got Woodstock and Altamont, and even the bathroom where Jim Morrison recorded vocals to "L.A. Woman" ;-) Great photos and commentary, such a shame it's rather short. Hope you'll find it interesting ;-) Look here.

Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune

2010-03-21T13:36:00.001+01:00

I dig it. Dreamy cover, mysterious title and 12 new songs by a man who's hailed the best guitarist ever. Well, Jimi Hendrix was really underappreciated when it came to singing and writing, so it's all good. Awesome quality and performances: there are no messy rehearsals, it sounds like it was recorded yesterday and can really be compared to what Jimi released during his lifetime. There's only one letdown: we are already familiar with some of those songs... Anyway, it deserves at least 4.5 stars I gave it on RYM ;-)

Although it's not all that good, it gets less interesting at moments and I don't like some of the songs, the mood slowly makes you play air guitar along with Hendrix ;) Renditions are agressive. Gotta love Noel Redding singing backup vocals to "Fire". Tricky "Lullaby for the Summer" rocks. The disc ends with a track called "Crying Blue Rain" which starts as a John Lee Hooker rip off and then turns into a mesmerizing blues. What a great way to finish it ;-)

It could've been released in 1969 when it was originally recorded. With maybe two new songs added and two "old ones" removed it would've easily stand beside "Axis: Bold As Love", "Electric Ladyland" and "Band Of Gypsies". I think the best tracks are two singles: "Valleys Of Neptune" and "Bleeding Heart". Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" is longer than it should but it's always more Hendrix :-)

I hope it won't be the best archival release of the decade but it will probably hold the title for several months at least. No matter if it was only released to promote other reissues of Hendrix material... It's a great thing to have "Valleys Of Neptune" in any rock and blues collection.

Let me tell you 'bout Leo Parker

2010-03-20T22:10:00.001+01:00

It's been a long time since I wrote about jazz music the last time. I've already reviewed my 5 favorite jazz records and wanted to leave it like that for a while to focus on my another real love: 20s and 30s barrelhouse blues :) I still can't do it, though. I just love exploring new artists ;-) I've had two released by Blue Note Records albums of Leo Parker for quite a long time but I haven't paid them any mind until today when I luckily and totally by accident put them on.

They are bloody brilliant! :) Everybody compliments Leo Parker for his fat, full tone... He's an outstanding saxophone player and really stands out of line: he's easily and instantly recognizable. Leo Parker played with the best musicians in the business for years and finally got to record his own Blue Note LP in 1961. Unfortunately he died after recording two brilliant sessions. One was released in 1961 as "Let Me Tell You 'Bout It", and the second during the 80s as "Rollin' With Leo". They sound basically the same and there's no need to review any of them separately.

I tend to like the first one better, but professional critics rate "Rollin' With Leo" a little bit higher. It doesn't matter, really. Telling you that a few of his tunes remind me of Sonny Rollins work would be a lie. But you can find the same happiness and optimism in the works of both masters. When I hear "Talkin' the Blues" I think about big city blinking at night. On the other hand centerpiece of "Let Me Tell You 'Bout It", the self-titled track, is reminiscent of New Orleans big bands... That's just a loose thought ;-)

Uplifting music for your body and soul and enormous joy for me. I would really love to be stuck in a small club with Leo Parker and his band, doing coke together and playing bebop.

5 reasons why Otis Redding rules

2010-03-20T14:09:00.004+01:00

1. He was one of the best male singers ever. Otis was all about emotions. And was really black. I sometimes think he was so good because he didn't have to breath... ;-)
2. He wrote and produced his songs himself. He really knew what he wanted to achieve... His lyrics were rather simple but very witty and inteligent ;-)
3. His shows were among the best ever. Electrifying, fast and loud: many famous musicians learned from him, especially the Rolling Stones.

Some people call Otis a second coming of Jesus... Tragically lost at the age of 26, he was one of the most important musicians of the 60s. He's still called "the King Of Soul" ;)

4. He had the best band and sound in the land. Backed by wonderful Booker T. & the MG's and the Bar-Kays he sounded mighty. He also often collaborated with Steve Cropper and recorded an album with Carla Thomas.
5. He had the best repertoire of all soul musicians of the 60s. Wherever he went audiences knew every word of every song! "Your One and Only Man" is still one of my favorite songs.

Grateful Dead in 1976

2010-03-17T22:21:00.000+01:00

I fell in love with the Grateful Dead. Their music, most importantly, but their band formula as well... They created a whole new way of playing in the band with taped and easily accessible shows, devoted fan base (so called Deadheads), varied setlists and long, long jams in the most unexpected moments :-) Jerry Garcia was a true master of the guitar, too.

Grateful Dead played American music: it was folk, blues, sometimes rock and roll or bluegrass, at other times it could be even jazz. With two drummers, two vocalists and two guitarists they were tripping and mixing genres, styles and were focused only on making great music and constant touring.

1976 isn't hailed as most succesful year for the band by most Deadheads, but I focused on it and started collecting their concerts. Grateful Dead released a massive amount of archive recordings in awesome soundboard quality :) What makes a good GD's 1976 recording? It has to include "Scarlet Begonias" and "Wharf Rat" (my two personal favorites) ;) First tells a story of a girl ("I knew without asking she was into the blues" ;D) and the second is a great and deep tale of a man who ends up as a beggar due to various circumstances during his life, it may be really heartbreaking at moments.

"One More Saturday Night", "Promised Land" and "Johnny B. Goode" are great rock and roll pieces, "Mama Tried" is a charming up-tempo country tune... "Samson & Delilah" is a track I first heard by Blind Willie Johnson, who wrote and recorded it in 1927. Things like "They Love Each Other" and "Looks Like Rain" are always nice to hear and I can only imagine what a joy they were to hear live! I like the Dead most, though, when they are playing sped up tracks: "Deal", "Good Lovin'" or "Sugar Magnolia". Jerry Garcia's solos... You gotta love it :) I've just finished listening to "Sugaree" and "Cassidy" and I find them nothing short of wonderful.

Recordings to get: Live at the Cow's Palace (New Year's show!), Dick's Picks #20 and #33 (45 songs on the last one, that's just two shows) and Download Series #4. That's a good start :)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott - A Stranger Here

2010-03-14T14:54:00.000+01:00

I wanted to write something about recent Grammy Awards announcments but there wasn't much to write about: we've got only two categories, for traditional and contemporary albums. One of them was won by Derek Trucks with his "Already Free" which I don't find too pleasing, although I heard it the last time about a year ago. The second award, far more exciting, is in hands of old folk master, Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Yeah, that one. He's still alive just for you to ask ;)

It's not a strictly blues affair, he's rather a folk artist, but whatever. He made an album of old blues covers in style of Tom Waits. Songs are played on acoustic guitar but there are many weird sounds around.

Album's okay. Compositions by old devils like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, Leroy Carr or Mississippi John Hurt are amazing. "A Stranger Here" starts with "Rising High Water Blues" about the Great Flood in Mississippi in 1927. Ramblin' Jack almost happily sings: "back water rising, comin' in my windows and doors". Well, okay.

"Death Don't Have No Mercy" have never been a favorite of mine, even Grateful Dead messed it for me. Here it gets nice treatment with Keith Ciancia's piano line, but anyway to hell with it. It gets really better from here: "Rambler's Blues" is amazing and "The Soul Of A Man" has some of the nicest slide guitar licks played by a white guy. It's Ry Cooder-ish. Which is kinda obvious when you see that the tune was written by Blind Willie Johnson.

Remarkable is "Grinnin' In Your Face" but I'll never forget it with no accompaniament. It's not as angry as it used to be... It's all radio-friendly blues. Sometimes it's mourning blues, sometimes just barrelhouse fucking around, it's great that Ramblin' Jack Elliot decided to release a tribute to old blues folks, play their songs in an old-fashioned way and make it sound good in 21st century. And maybe this album has soul, really. We'll find out when it'll be 50 years old :-)

But I think it's better (and totally different) than Chicago Blues: A Living History and it deserves a Grammy.

Get ready for Exile!

2010-03-13T10:33:00.004+01:00

For many the best rock and roll album of all time, for me only the third greatest released by the Rolling Stones, "Exile On Main Street" will be soon re-released, remastered and with bonus discs added: one of them with extra tracks, second with video material. Allegedly even Mick Taylor added recently a few of his licks to the unfinished tracks. I'm all wet x) While getting ready for "Exile..." to come, you can grab some bootlegs with fine session material. See boots called "Hillside Blues" and "Taxile On Main Street". Also great is videotape of Montreux rehearsals from 1972 and audio bootleg called "Dallas Rehearsals 1972", all the material is in great quality and the band was on fire.

"Exile On Main Street" collected songs recorded between 1969 and 1971, but there aren't many outtakes. 6-minute version of "Loving Cup" with really drunk Mick on vocals always cheered me up, so did acoustic "All Down the Line". "I Ain't Signifying" is a good old-time barrelhouse blues tune. "I'm Going Down" and "Travellin' Man" are unfinished but very, very interesting takes on contemporary rock in 1971 :) There's also 10-minute-long heavy blues track called "Hillside Blues" also known as "I Don't Known the Reason Why". "(Can't Seem to) Get A Line On You" is an early take of "Shine A Light", amazing gospel tune with driving piano! Ans there's little short oddity called "Exile On Main Street Blues": a piano+vocals jingle promoting the new Stones' album, Mick wails: "exile on main street, a strange street to walk down" and mentions all titles of songs on the LP.

None of this is gonna end up on soon-to-be-released bonus disc so it's even better... :) Many new songs to be heard. Read an interview with Mick, Keith and producer Don Was here on the website of Rolling Stone magazine. Let's wait x) A feast's comin'.

Mississippi Matilda Revisited

2010-03-09T11:46:00.005+01:00

I'd like to begin with saying that this post contains my original research and, albeit it's rather short, I'm quite proud :-) I was recently listening to a great blues compilation by Saga Jazz Records called "Plantation Blues: Cotton Patch & Tobacco Belt Blues" and found there a track by mysterious Mississippi Matilda. None of my books mentioned her and I couldn't find anything on the net. Her sole song I got was "Hard Working Woman" (it's even on YouTube with only 56 views!). I listened to it about a billion times in a row and even then couldn't figure out all the lyrics ;-) Anyway, it was a love at first sight.

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's searching and digging for information. They say: if it doesn't exist on the internet, it doesn't exist. And slowly I started gathering information about Mississippi Matilda...

"Hard Working Woman" with 3 other songs was recorded on October 15, 1936. In St. Charles hotel in New Orleans :) That was cool enough for me, but Wirz.de was even more informative: artist's real name was Matilda Powell, she was the wife of Eugene Powell who recorded those songs with her (and probably Willie Harris, Jr.). I started looking for 3 more songs and found two of them in another source: "A&V Blues" and "Happy Home Blues" were on albums by Sonny Boy Nelson as bonus tracks. "Peel Banana Blues" (that song title is still on my mind) remains unreleased by Bluebird Records. I couldn't find any contact and the label seems dead.

Google Books is a great research tool I've never used before. I've searched for Mississippi Matilda and found two interesting results in two books: "Africa and the Blues" and "The tribe of black Ulysses". And voila! ;) I've got even photo of miss Powell from 1972 (by Steve LaVere).

I've even found lyrics for her best known song, "Hard Working Woman":

I'm a hard working woman, and I work hard all the time
But if you hear my baby, he just isn't satisfied

I have to go to my work baby, between the night and day
I didn't think my baby would treat me this way

I'm a hard working woman, but I'm becoming a rolling stone
And the way my baby treats me, Lord I ain't gonna be here long

I've uploaded Matilda's complete works on here, it's about 13MB.

Ronnie's drawings

2010-03-08T16:51:00.001+01:00

Ronnie Wood - widely covered here Rolling Stones guitarist ;) - is a nice painter. He paints mostly his band and favorite musicians & friends, and a couple of days ago I've found his portrait of blues legend Robert Johnson. Beautiful, isn't it? ;) See more of Ronnie's works here.

The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach

2010-03-07T22:05:00.001+01:00

The best album by the Allman Brothers Band, period. Even better, more diversified than their breakthrough Fillmore live set. And the last one with slide guitar virtuoso, Duane Allman. "Eat A Peach" includes everything you can ask for in a blues record. It's surely the best studio album ever released by a jam band, on the other hand I don't know if I can call it like that 'cause large parts were recorded live.

There's amazing selection of tracks... Gentle acoustic instrumental piece by Duane called "Little Martha" closes the album. Somewhere in the middle we can find two classic covers, Elmore James' "One Way Out" and Muddy Waters' "Trouble No More" which are the angriest boogie pieces I've heard in a long time. Nearly as good as originals! "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" was a single and peaked at #77 only, which is a shame: nice lyrics and catchy piano riffs got me rocking :)

"Eat A Peach" has a strong follow up (1973's "Brothers and Sisters"), but also marks the end of the best times for the Allman Brothers Band, great band that still plays in the South. It's a kind of experimental album: "Les Brers In A Minor" sounds like an improvised jazz piece, I really miss Miles on it ;) And there's "Mountain Jam". 34 minutes of various ramblings and solos by every member of the band... A love-hate relationship IMHO, not the best tune for a party, but I'd like to hear it live.

Contrasts between "sweet & lovely" tunes like "Melissa" or "Blue Sky" and heavy blues tracks are something really worth hearing, I love to hear the album in its original form. And there's this 2006 deluxe edition with, sadly, no new tracks from that sessions, but a new disc with Allman's 1971 yet another Fillmore performance.

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um

2010-03-03T22:17:00.002+01:00

It wails a little too much at times but don't get scared: it's probably the most popular album Mingus ever did and this is one of the few cases when general public is right: it's worth buying. Yeah, one of those albums that are worth $100, but only with high-quality package and original cover art. It's very long (9 tracks). It's also overflowing with ideas: that's strange, really, because when you listen to it it's very calm and... dreamy. Everybody has his own place - it's hard to describe. The silence is great!

Except for the first track, maybe, this album isn't meant to be played loud.

I immediately fell in love with "Fables Of Faubus" and "Better Git It In Your Soul". The 2nd one is without doubt my favorite jazz track ever: forget what I wrote before. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is everyone's love. I find "Pussy Cat Dues" and "Jelly Roll" a duet of very pleasant closing tracks, they're moody. "Open Letter to Duke" is of course a tribute to Duke Ellington, although "Bird Calls", according to Mingus himself, has nothing to do with Charlie Parker. It doesn't really matter, does it? Hailed are also Lester Young and Jelly Roll Morton. Mingus has quite a taste :)

It might be eccentric and offbeat, but not for usual Mingus standards. It's just a quick review of jazz styles and imitations of greats of the past, but you might as well not even notice it: album's production is great. It has this very kind of consistent sound. You just hear it was recorded during one day (on a side note: was it really? :)).

Two trombones, three saxophones, a piano and usual rhythm section... Unique sound... Results? One of the 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry in 2003. It speaks for itself :)

Brian Jones' birthday

2010-02-28T10:58:00.008+01:00

Brian Jones would've been 68 today. A former member of the Rolling Stones and one of the greatest multi-instrumentalists ever drowned in his swimming pool on July 3, 1969. Brian was a very fine slide player, he had a great collection of old blues records, from Jimmy Reed to Muddy Waters. He played with Jimi Hendrix and introduced his band at Monterey. 2 days after his death the Rolling Stones performed a concert in Hyde Park dedicated for Jones.

Here's a really good photo of him from filming of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" music video in 1968. After '67 his role in the band was a trifle, although he remained one of the coolest musicians ever.

On his birthday... listen to Stones' early blues stuff! I recommend 1964 sessions in Chicago or simply their second album called "The Rolling Stones, No. 2". It's great :)

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

2010-02-20T21:15:00.000+01:00

Many fans and critics say that in 1964 John Coltrane, one of the best saxophonists of all time, was at the peak of his powers. He entered the Rudy Van Gelder studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on December 9 with his classic quintet: Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Jimmy Garrison. Whole album, released shortly after by Impulse! Records, was recorded there. It was called "A Love Supreme" and it became one of the best selling jazz albums ever.

"A Love Supreme" has, really, very little to do with the blues. Oh, let's say nothing. It's mostly an hard bop and free jazz affair. On the other hand, it might seem as a contradiction of the blues which can be also called devil's music. Coltrane's masterpiece is a spiritual album. A way better effort than Dylan's projects in the 80s. :) The blues connection is there, though: Son House, Blind Willie Johnson and many more bluesmen used to sing spirituals, black man's religious songs. And that's what "A Love Supreme" is all about, counting out perfect arrangements, gorgeous interplay between rhythm section and soloists and adventurous ideas.

The best part for me is the first (of three) part: the moment Coltrane starts chanting phrase "a love supreme" is beyond words! The song goes higher and higher. In the final track Coltrane tries something called "wordless recitation": he imitates singing by using saxophone: he plays words without speaking them. Wikipedia says the poem ends with words: "Elation. Elegance. Exaltation. All from God. Thank you God. Amen".

Also of note is great cover art. That's hell of a photo! All in all: get this. One of the best jazz works ever. And I'm proud to have liked it from the very first hearing :-)

Quoting R.L. Burnside

2010-02-15T12:36:00.002+01:00

I always rant that modern-day blues musicians have no idea what's this all about. They sing how "they want to snap pistols in one's face" or wish "some screwball start to fight", just because they're ready. That's cool the way Muddy sings it, not his wannabes in your local bar. It's tough music and you got to remember that your everyday blues heroes (Leadbelly, Son House, Bukka White) were murderers with great musical talent.

Short historic take here: many blues lyrics make them almost gospel songs: they're praising Jesus and so on (see Blind Willie Johnson or Sister Rosetta Tharpe!). On the other hand, blues was forbidden music coming from the devil, that was the strangest connection that could be. Decadence, alcohol and drug abuse (whiskey was blues musicians' favorite drink, but there are many songs about weed, too!) and violence were all part of fun in juke joints, places that our heroes loved above everything else.

Yesterday I was listening to early recordings of R.L. Burnside. Inferior to works of his contemporaries they were still nice takes on blues standards and I had a good time. In the meanwhile I was reading liner notes and his life stories - yeah, R.L. had a wicked life! And I'm not only talking about his miraculous discovery in the... 90s by Fat Possum Records.

Telegraph.co.uk reports that around 1959 Burnside killed a man who allegedly "tried to run him out of his home". He was sentenced only to three (other sources say six) months in Parchman Farm State Prison thanks to his boss who needed his skills in the business. Years later musician was asked about the accident and said one of my favorites quotes ever. I mean, it's bad as hell, but you just have to love it ;)

"I didn't mean to kill nobody," Burnside later said of the murder. "I just meant to shoot the son of a bitch in the head. Him dying was between him and the Lord."

Charles Mingus - Oh Yeah

2010-02-14T10:30:00.002+01:00

It was recorded in November of 1961 in Atlantic Studios in New York City. All of the album's tracks are written by Mingus who for unknown reason didn't play bass on this session but moved to piano. Doug Watkins played bass and Dannie Richmond drums, making it an outrageous rhythm section. Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Booker Ervin (tenor sax) and Rahsaan Roland Kirk (everything else) all played beyond words, jamming and improvising on Mingus compositions like they were their own.

This is the strangest piece of music I've heard in a long time. Mingus shouts quickly made-up lyrics, Kirk plays on multiple saxophones at once, and the last track ("Passions Of A Man") makes a great soundtrack for a torture scene or cheap BDSM porn. "Eat That Chicken" is a lovely up-tempo number, very positive and all. I especially loved Mingus describing how much he wanted to chew it ;-) "Ecclusiastics" is my favorite from here. A kind of gospel-jazz, a track divine! Amazing horns and piano. The main riff gets stuck in your head. Piano solos are exceptionable, the fact that Mingus isn't a professional pianist shouldn't worry anyone. He's better than one might think!

"Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am" and "Oh Lord Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me" are all as cool as their names. Maybe it's not the best Mingus album, but surely it is one of the best jazz albums ever. Talk about wildness.

I still have to track down 3 bonus tracks from the same sessions... Facts are promising. Four out of seven tracks here are absolute masterpieces, the rest of them are still 10/10 or pretty near. It's really the same old hard bop but the fastest I've heard in a long time. I guess my girl would dance to it ;-)

Ronnie Wood on stage with Pearl Jam

2010-02-13T12:08:00.002+01:00

Ronnie Wood (the Rolling Stones and the Faces) took the stage on August 11 at London's Sheperd's Bush, joining Pearl Jam to play Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" in a way Jimi Hendrix used to. Ronnie jamed with other PJ guitarists, Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, on his white Stratocaster. He got away without playing any lenghty solos but his fills were clever and in overall I think it was a memorable performance: any activity in the Stones camp is worth noting.

Eddie Vedder introduced Ronnie as his very good friend which was quite nice. Ronnie got great applause, the crowd started chanting his name but he quickly got off the stage.

I've uploaded soundboard recording of the song: Pearl Jam w/ Ronnie Wood - All Along the Watchtower.

Mark Figgis' "Red, White & Blues"

2010-02-13T11:55:00.000+01:00

I've already watched and reviewed two movies of blues documentary series called "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" and they didn't amaze me. This time it's no different, but directed by Mark Figgis "Red, White & Blues" is a nice movie. It contains lots of original material: Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Tom Jones and others enter famous Abbey Road Studios (I've always imagined it waaay different!) to play and discuss blues standards. It turns out okay.

"Red, White & Blues" is about British blues boom of the 60s and white men playing the blues. Interviews are quite interesting, although it was a pain for me to see how some of the famous musicians aged, Peter Green (known as the man who took one too many trips) seemed like he was far from being fine. Talking are many important figures of blues movement and British music scene. Particularly interesting are scenes with Eric Burdon, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, Tom Jones, Lonnie Donnegan and... B.B. King! There was also a short clip of the Rolling Stones in their early days playing "I Just Want to Make Love to You"... Brilliant stuff.

Of archival material, I loved clips by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly and Alexis Korner, who was probably one of the most important British bluesman of all times. And the absolute highlight of the movie was Jeff Beck forced to play the blues... He paired well with old worn-out butterscotch Fender Telecaster ;) He's such a nice guy and one of the greatest guitarists on the planet, for sure one of the most underrated, but he isn't playing too often and didn't record anything interesting between late 70s and late 00s... Just listen to his "Truth" from 1968, though... :) Lulu was nice, too. I didn't know she was such a great singer.

In overall: "Red, White & Blues" is not as interesting as the absolutely perfect "Blues Britannia" documentary produced by BBC, but it's worth watching nevertheless, because it covered quite different aspects. Good work x)

PS. Beautiful redhead Christine Tobin singing an old Bessie Smith's track is a treat, both for your ears and eyes :-)

Marc Levin's "Godfathers and Sons"

2010-02-12T08:53:00.001+01:00

Marc Levin's "Godfathers and Sons" is another blues documentary in the series "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues". Still far from perfect, but enjoyable piece. Just like "Feel Like Going Home" (Scorsese's part) its first half is very good and the second one bores the hell out of me. "Godfathers and Sons" is built around Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records founder, and a rapper called Chuck D. Don't ask! The original idea of the movie was telling me how similar blues and hip-hop cultures are. As you probably already figured out, they are not and that was a very bad idea.

"Godfathers" - meaning Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf - are inspiring "Sons", here black hip-hop singers. There's a lot of talk about "the worst blues album of all time", "Electric Mud" by Muddy Waters: the band that made it gets back to the studio after all this years and records new stuff with Chuck D and Common, two contemporary rappers. Chuck D tells us how he adores Muddy and transforms his persona into rap music, we can even see a short part of his concert and that's really pathetic. Anyway, Marshall Chess is telling stories from Chess Records and Chicago blues scene and we get a fair share of performances. Koko Taylor with Magic Slim are rocking a small club, Sam Lay and Pinetop Perkins play at the Chicago Blues Fest and, from archival footage from Chess' archives, we can see Bo Diddley, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson II. The last one was the most interesting for me, playing harp without hands... wow. His teeth also knocked me out ;)

There was also a nice scene with a quote about Paul Butterfield (white bluesman) who "would be into the blues even if he was a tuna sandwich"... That was cool. Mentioned were Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, for whom Marshall Chess was working in the 70s.

And the movie... well. Marshall Chess sucked at being a record producer and his stories could be better: he was the man who witnessed so many great sessions! And those young hip-hop stars aren't the brightest people I've ever seen, not to mention they didn't sound good on blues records. It isn't the first or the last idea of mixing blues with hip-hop, though: the Black Keys tried (Blakroc) and their efforts were better.

A good movie, but again I just don't understand how the hell it got so many "great" reviews from critics... It's not worth it, but if you're a Chicago blues enthusiast, go and see it.

Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 announced!

2010-02-11T17:59:00.002+01:00

It's my third post today but it doesn't matter 'cause it's big news. Eric Clapton have just announced that third Crossroads Guitar Festival will take place on June 26, 2010. I loved two previous ones: original 2004 festival and its follow-up in 2007.

This year's artist list is amazing for a blues-rock festival: Clapton himself, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Jeff Beck, the Allman Brothers Band, Keb' Mo', Joe Bonamassa, John Mayer, Robert Cray, ZZ Top and more, see CrossroadsGuitarFestival.com. Show will last for one whole day and it's set in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Wikipedia entry is really informative, too.

Martin Scorsese's "Feel Like Going Home"

2010-02-11T11:46:00.001+01:00

Martin Scorsese (famous American film director) is a great fan of the blues. In 2003 he decided to produce a series of 7 movies about the blues: its varied styles and roots. Each was directed by a different guy, and Scorsese chose "Feel Like Going Home". It was the first movie from that collection (named "Martin Scorses Presents the Blues") about delta blues and its African roots.

I didn't like the movie that much. It was made in an effective way: interviews and performances were mixed with stories, lots of archival footage, both videos and photos. The thing I dislike is... uhm... it's nothing new. Nothing that interesting. The whole movie was guided by Corey Harris (a fine musician) who travels to West Africa to find how the blues started. Well...

Archival performances were cool, though. You gotta love Son House, Muddy Waters or Leadbelly. Also, John Lee Hooker surprised me with some of his early boogie. Of contemporary artists, Willie King, Corey Harris and Keb' Mo' did well: the latter two played mean "Sweet Home Chicago" on acoustic guitars! Johnny Shines talked a little about Robert Johnson and that's all. That was too much of Africa-related stuff that failed hard at gaining my interest.

Scorsese didn't even try to romanticize the early blues musicians. Didn't tell amazing stories, the whole blues mythology, the devil connection... Nope. It wasn't a typical "talking-heads" documentary you see on TV, but it wasn't that special, and it should be! It was a bit messy and soulless. It didn't make me listen to the blues whole next weekend.

The Rolling Stones - Knebworth Fair '76

2010-02-11T10:29:00.005+01:00

For a long time I tried to avoid listening to mid-seventies live recordings of my favorite band, the Rolling Stones. I considered 1975, 1976 and 1977 the low points of their live career. The lack of good organization, too much heroin and cocaine and basically bad sound and/or bad performances kept me away from those shows. I still think those tours were not as good as the ones before (1972, 1973) and after (amazing 1978), nevertheless I started appreciating them. And great playing by new Stones guitar player, Ronnie Wood, straight from the Faces.

While browsing through my bootleg collection, I found an old DVD release of the Knebworth Fair show from 1976. It's incomplete, but the sound is okay and, in overall, video is highly enjoyable. I can recommend this release :-) On the other hand, it's quite short, clocking at 56 minutes only. And it contains a lot of snippets of other songs that are not shown here which can be a little bit irritating.

Among Stones' standards (like "Tumbling Dice", "Street Fighting Man" or "Honky Tonk Women") we get two rock and roll tunes ("Star Star", also known as "Starfucker", which could be easily a Chuck Berry track, it certainly sounds so, and good old "Route 66") and two great blues songs (Wolf's "Little Red Rooster" and lenghty "Midnight Rambler").

Guitars by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood are high in the mix and really deserve to be so. Especially Ronnie's fills and solos are tasty: I love his slide guitar work on "Midnight Rambler" and solos on "Wild Horses" and "Tumbling Dice". Sometimes straight and to-the-point, more often lazy, laid-out and relaxed: he sounds there as good as in the old Faces days, just plays less and feels comfortable with that.

The only Stone that let me down was Mick Jagger. He failed at everything really (though the crowd seemed to enjoy his stage presence): hair, clothes (oh damn!), dancing and singing. Well, no, not singing really: he was howling and growling all the time, but it just wasn't fun.

If you don't know the Stones material too well, avoid this at all prices. One of the worst possible introductions to the band ;) If you like them, though, and have enough of earlier days work, get this. Not as good as you might think but still watching it is a very nice way of spending your next evening. "Little Red Rooster" is sexy and worth the price of the whole set. :)

Pearl Jam's "2000 Mile Blues"

2010-02-07T12:03:00.003+01:00

I'm not a fan of grunge but I've got a lot of respect for Pearl Jam. They're fans of the Who and Neil Young. They play a good kind of melodic hard rock but also have experience with high quality ballads which is a rare thing ;-) They're evolving, they don't have two same or even similar albums: each one is a step in another direction. The first live show I attended was by Pearl Jam and I loved it. They are indeed a great live band! And they know a little blues, too.

For PJ fans, their best release is the debut album called "Ten". Indeed a lot of their greatest hits come from that one. I like it. The reason I'm writing this post is simple, really: I was skiing in Austria whole last week with "Ten" in my ears and I broke a couple of speed records :)

Of "Ten", I like "Even Flow", that's surely a nice riff. And "Alive", it's probably their best song, I don't care much for the solo, though. "Black" and "Release" are great ballads and "Jeremy" is a moving story about a boy who shot himself in the classroom. The rest of the album is too hard for my liking, but I can listen to it once in a while.

I have downloaded just released extended version of the album. On second CD there are remixed versions of all album tracks and a couple of bonus tracks. "Breath And A Scream" is a great mid-tempo tune I listened to ten times in a row. Eddie Vedder's singing is adorable, really, and though the track is a little dark, it makes me feel good :-)

Another one I need to note here is "2000 Mile Blues"... It really is a blues song. A long way to go so it's understandable ;-) It's the dirtiest, ragged kind of blues I have heard in a long time. Slow, angry and loud. Fantastic guitar interplay (most of the time it takes two guitars to make a great track!). I tried to think about a bluesman who played that way... I still have no idea. Wasted Hubert Sumlin at five o'clock in the morning, maybe. Yeah, it was a compliment.

Another Pearl Jam tune I could easily recommend to fellow blues fans is "Come Back" from their self-titled album released in 2006.

The Holy Muddy Trinity

2010-01-28T10:38:00.003+01:00

Countless compilations of Muddy Waters singles have been released and they're all fun (especially early sides). But, after you've heard first Muddy singles, it's time to dig a little bit deeper. Let me present the Holy Trinity of Muddy Waters LPs, three definitive and absolutely essential blues albums that I've listened to about a hundred times each ;-)

Without doubt, the finest Muddy's live album with his biggest hits and lesser-known songs. Classic sound and a great lineup, also worthy of note is wild audience full of screaming girls :)

On this LP Muddy covers songs by delta blues legend, songwriter, singer and guitar player, Big Bill Broonzy. "Feel So Good" and "Mopper's Blues" deserve Grammys. Or something.

Finally, this is late session, recorded for Chess in 1964. All-acoustic work with Buddy Guy on some kind of rhythm guitar. It is as good as that sounds!

Yeah.

Happy birthday Elmore!

2010-01-27T15:40:00.004+01:00

I'm not turning this blog into a birthday calendar but anyway... This is the final reason you have to get a drink of cold whiskey today. On 27th January 1918 (wow, the very year my country became independent after more than a hundred years of vanishing from the maps... ancient times, really) the King Of Slide Guitar was born: Elmore Brooks. We all know him better as Elmore James :)

This is the time to dust yer brooms and see how the sky's crying ;) Elmore started his career in the 30s and died waaay to early in 1963. Let's raise your glasses to the definitive bottleneck guitar player. I love him. Everybody in the slide business played his tunes, from Hound Dog Taylor to Duane Allman. Listen to some of his standards: "One Way Out", "It Hurts Me Too", "Shake Your Money Maker"... They're priceless.

Eric Burdon recorded a tribute song to James called "No More Elmore" (live here). A goooood one ;-)

Etta James' birthday

2010-01-25T22:40:00.002+01:00

Etta James turned 72 today. Happy birthday to one of the greatest blues singers of all time! With career lasting more than 50 years she's a true legend. Now's the time to listen to "At Last" one more time... ;-) My favorite tune is "All I Could Do Was Cry", though.

You just got to see two of her 1986 performances with Chuck Berry and Keith Richards: "Rock and Roll Music" and Hoochie Coochie Gal. That's the blues... ;-) Hail hail Etta James.

Oliver Nelson - The Blues and the Abstract Truth

2010-01-25T13:00:00.006+01:00

While the last reviewed jazz record by me - Lou Donaldson's "Blues Walk" - had a very polished and gentle sound, this would be a kind of nasty and out of control record. It's still the same nice sound of bebop but it's louder and totally unpredictable. It's "The Blues and the Abstract Truth" by arranger and saxophone player Oliver Nelson.

It all starts with "Stolen Moments", one of my favorite jazz compositions ever. Beautiful melody and catchy riffs, long solos by Nelson, wild Eric Dolphy, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and pianist Bill Evans, that track became one of the most popular post-50s jazz standards. It's almost nine minutes of pure magic, way more than words can say: you can like jazz or not, this one is for everybody.

Another outstanding tracks are "Hoe-Down" and "Yearnin'". All compositions are by Nelson and he plays main role here, but his side men are doing fabulous job: they are all jazz greats: Eric Dolphy, George Barrow, Freddie Hubbard and rhythm section: Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes. "Butch & Butch" is another speeding tune on the album, and "Cascades" is what only a couple of months ago I'd simply call a typical jazz composition: now I find a great joy in listening to those raves.

This record - totally unlike most of the others! - makes me want not to play instruments and perform, but rather write jazz compositions. Nelson's works are imaginative: so simple yet so complex, you just gotta hear it to understand. Do yourself a favor! ;-)

Lou Donaldson - Blues Walk

2010-01-24T17:21:00.005+01:00

Blues is not only connected with black folks with guitars and whisky down in Mississippi singing about women and the devil, it's also a musical form that's fairly often used by jazz musicians. While I'm terribly lame at reviewing jazz records, I can't help myself but write a few words about some of them. In recent months I've been really into 50s and 60s jazz, especially hard bop and it's predecessor, bebop. Basically it was the music invented by black folks that white musicians couldn't steal from them or even understand by that time ;-)

I'm gonna start with tasty, bluesy and quite cheerful, easy to listen to album by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. It's called "Blues Walk" and the title rather accurately describes album contents.

It's a set of six tunes, a couple of uptempo tracks and at least two ballads. The sound is amazingly warm which makes it perfect background music - on the other hand playing is magnificent and solos kinda complex. My favorite tunes are Donaldson's own "Blues Walk" which became a classic, fast "Move" and two beautiful riffs in "Play Ray" (nananana ;)) and "Callin' All Cats".

The band consists of five members: Lou Donaldson on alto saxophone, Peck Morrison on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, Ray Barretto on congas (many say it's him who made this albums sound so different) and Herman Foster on piano, who played some nice solos.

That's a good album to start your jazz collection with if you're into blues and look for some brighter and lighter music to enjoy ;)

VA - Chicago Blues: A Living History

2010-01-17T23:11:00.004+01:00

"Chicago Blues: A Living History" is released in 2009 newly recorded tribute album to Chicago blues and its greats. Local performers (Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch and Lurrie Bell) took part and gave us fine two discs of modern takes on 50s and 60s classics. Covered are Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Reed, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker et cetera.

I like the disc, it sounds modern yet it's still traditional brand of blues we all know so well. "Can't Stand to See You Go" is my favorite track, or at least one of the best 'cause it's very hard to choose, and it's performed almost exactly the way it was played by Jimmy Reed decades ago. It lacks magic of those times - it's not overproduced, but it does not sound as warm as it could. "Chicago Blues" is a very fine effort but I guess I won't be putting it on too often.

This album surely got me interested in contemporary Chicago blues musicians: John Primer played some mean slide guitar on "Feel Like Going Home", Billy Boy Arnold surprised me with "Memphis Slim, USA" :), Billy Branch rocked the place with "One More Mike" and Lurrie Bell kind of let me down with his three songs, of which the best was "I Believe" in the vein of Hound Dog Taylor.

If you live in Chicago or are particularly interested in Chicago blues, get this because it's worth 18 bucks on Amazon. :) Y'all can also see a special Facebook page.

New Hendrix album to be released

2010-01-13T21:39:00.003+01:00

New album of twelve unreleased tracks by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, called Valleys Of Neptune, is to be released in March by Sony. There's gonna be a lot of tasty blues licks here and there with "Red House", "Bleeding Heart" (originally by slide guitar master, Elmore James) and Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" (also briefly covered by Jimi on his awesome BBC Sessions). Tracks come from 1969 sessions.

It is another in a long series of Jimi's posthumous albums. If you have none of them, see First Rays Of the New Rising Son, the Cry Of Love and Rainbow Bridge first. They're all worth it! I'm sure most of electric blues enthusiasts enjoy and appreciate virtuosity of probably one of the best guitar players that stepped on Earth ever. :)

King's lines...

2010-01-11T23:12:00.004+01:00

Some people say that blues is played to make everybody else feel as down and out as you are, others just want to complain a little... Today I've been shuffling through good old B.B. King's tracks and found two ones that can't contrast more yet they are still classic B.B.'s lines:

Nobody loves me but my mother and she could be jivin' too
I say noody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too!

It's a song called Nobody Loves Me But My Mother. Well, what could be more depressing? Certainly not this:

If we make a little love from the very start...
What a lovely way to get to know someone!

It's his "Makin' Love Is Good for You" from 2000, unfortunately not on YouTube. Happy listening :)

Best blues albums of 2009

2010-01-04T11:00:00.001+01:00

What are the best blues albums of 2009? It's hard for me to say, really, I haven't heard too many of them. Still. The blues ain't dead, but it might be a little asleep: it seems like a very weak year. There are no great, standout albums from popular artists like in 2008, when two magnificent albums were released by legends, Buddy Guy and B.B. King. There are many not-so-well-known-here-in-Europe bands that are worth checking out, so I'm gonna point ya in the right direction.

The most interesting lists: blues and blues-rock by About.com, blues by NPR.org and custom, automatically generated chart by RYM.com.

When it comes to big names... Bob Dylan released bluesy "Together Through Life" and Eric Clapton with Steve Winwood released an archival live album recorded in 2007 at Madison Square Garden. Just because the boys are touring together again. Setlist is good, on the other hand, and so is the playing. But beware, it might get... lifeless... at times. It's Clapton, after all - a guitar player and singer as great as boring.

More views of mine? Bonamassa sucks and plays progressive shit rather than blues (but the guy is mighty, listen to his North Sea Jazz Fest performance). Derek Trucks is a virtuoso guitarist and his records are certainly very good, but they lack the groove. There ain't no swinging, no matter if it's a ballad or uptempo tune. Listen at your own risk ;)

I will make... 3 lists: of best archival records, blues and blues-rock albums. Promise. Not sooner than next month though. And I hope next year I will get enough jazz bebop albums to make another list ;) Cheers. Hope it helps.

It Might Get Loud

2010-01-02T16:45:00.001+01:00

"It Might Get Loud" by Davis Guggenheim is a film about electric guitar. Or, in other words, a complete disaster. Three famous guitarists (the Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White) gather to talk and play a little. It got pretty good reviews from professional critics (70 on MetaCritic and 78% on RottenTomatoes) but the movie bore the hell out of me. Now come on, I hate U2/the Edge (and anyone who calls himself like that) and Jimmy Page is a nice guy, sure, but my dishwasher has more interesting stories to tell. Those guys gather in a room and have totally nothing to say to each other! And it could really be a marvellous movie.

Page played stunning things in 1973 and made Led Zeppelin the 2nd greatest blues-rock band in the world. But he's so boring, really... Fortunately, they've shown some archival footage of him playing skiffle and it was priceless. On the other hand, you can see that on YouTube. Another nice clip was Jimmy playing his favorite records on a gramophone and playing air guitar, but it seemed awfully staged and far from natural anyway. I can't even comment on the Edge.

However, that's enough of complaining, because Jack White stood up to the task. And I don't adore any of his bands that much. And he's got weird style of playing. Anyway... I totally fell in love with his attitude. A magnificent opposite of that guy from U2. Tradition blah blah blues blah blah hard work ;) He even played Son House and called "Grinnin' In Your Face" his favorite record. And it was plain to see he was really enjoying playing and life in general. Nice to see.

Don't waste your time, folks.

Chuck Berry

2009-12-27T01:50:00.005+01:00

Muddy Waters used to sing the blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll... ;) Really, rock and roll is just sped up blues and it's hard not to adore its master, Chuck Berry. Most casual fans connect him with his biggest hit, "Johnny B. Goode", but he's got so much more to offer. New Year's Eve's pretty soon so get ready for some party-time music. I took my time and made my own list of ten favorite tunes written and/or recorded by Chuck Berry.

1. Sweet Little Sixteen
2. Rock and Roll Music
3. Blues for Hawaiians
4. Roll Over Beethoven
5. Memphis, Tennessee
6. Too Much Monkey Business
7. Little Queenie
8. No Particular Place to Go
9. Almost Grown
10. Beautiful Delilah

The best compilation album containing above songs and many more is Johnny B. Goode: His Complete '50s Chess Recordings. It costs about 80$ but is reaaaaally worth it. Hard rocking stuff. :)

The Rolling Stones famously played "Little Queenie" and "Carol" on 1969 US Tour (released on Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out album) and "Let It Rock" and "Sweet Little Sixteen" during 1978 US Tour (released in awesome quality on Handsome Girls bootleg), these are my favorite renditions of Chuck's tracks, be sure to check 'em out, they're worth it. Also, Keith Richards of the Stones fame - whose idol was no one else than Chuck Berry - helped accomplished guitarist get his concert movie done. Titled "Hail Hail Rock and Roll", it is an unbelievable documentary of two 1986 shows with Keith Richards, Etta James, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt. It's also worth buying for some scenes with Ingrid Berry, Chuck's daughter :-)

Chuck is one of my favorite guitarists. John Lennon said... Well, if you consider yourself a music fan, you should've known what! Chuck Berry is rock and roll and rock and roll ain't dead. Chuck either. Go and see him and listen to his works: whiners say they all sound the same, but in fact they all have the same great sound and can't let ya down ^^ Many bands started out covering his compositions, just for the fun of playing them. If "Johnny B. Goode" can't give you a proper kick, I'd be afraid to guess what can! ;-)

A Jazz & Blues Christmas

2009-12-22T01:29:00.003+01:00

I love Christmas but have to agree, it's got a weak side and it's music. I don't dig singing those sad old-fashioned carols, they bore the hell out of me. Even Bob Dylan's Christmas album sucks a little bit and I generally love the man, will write about that thing when the season's over ;) Traditionally, this year I will put on Keith Richards' cover of "Run Rudolph Run", great rock and roll by Chuck Berry. But in the meanwhile... Putamayo World Records - pretty interesting label specializing in so-called world music and releasing compilation albums with psychedelic artwork - released LP called "A Jazz & Blues Christmas". So I got it. And I like it :)

Liner notes author wrote the album is meant to "liven up the holiday season" and it certainly does :) Some lesser-known vocal jazz and cheerful blues tracks are... nice. Not amazing or boring, it just gets ya in a good Christmas groove. Included are B.B. King, Ray Charles and 8 more: "A Jazz & Blues Christmas" is not a long album with its 10 songs, but it's certainly worth to get.

See it on Amazon.com and Putamayo Official Site. Merry Christmas :)

Kid Bailey

2009-12-20T00:34:00.002+01:00

We don't even know if he really existed, we have two of his recordings, though. Two brilliant delta blues compositions written and recorded by mysterious Kid Bailey, "Mississippi Bottom Blues" and "Rowdy Blues", survived. They were recorded in 1929 in Memphis, Tennessee. The songs are very inspiring, Bailey sings in his whiny voice: "I'm going where the water tastes like wine, where I can be drunk and staggering all the time" and "I'm gonna sit right here 'til I tear this barrelhouse down". Both songs lyrics deal with alcoholism, Mississippi delta lifestyle of 20s and 30s and, of course, women: Kid Bailey clearly states: "[he] ain't gonna marry, ain't gonna settle down" ;-)

You can read lyrics over here and download two songs here.

Keith Richards' birthday!

2009-12-18T00:11:00.017+01:00

It's 18th December and Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones' guitarist, is turning 66 today. He's my favorite musician of all time and the true king of the cool. ;-) Happy birthday! Keith is famous for his great riffs ("Satisfaction", "Start Me Up", "Brown Sugar", "Jumpin' Jack Flash") but he can play mean blues too. The Stones played it since the very first day the band existed and in the middle 60s they reminded America of their roots and helped many classic blues artists. See this blues thread on IORR and check out his version of "Still A Fool" played with Hubert Sumlin. :)

Hail hail Keith Richards. (Photos by Ethan Russel). Awesome tracks from YouTube: Cocaine Blues, 32-20 Blues, Satisfaction Blues... ;)

The Rolling Stones' lead guitarist Keith Richards claims to have snorted his father's ashes and has had enough blood transfusions over the years to feed a thousand vampires. At this point, we can't decide whether he's going to die tomorrow or live forever. (RS)

In 1968 Pope declared Keith Richards was God.

Broader introduction

2009-12-17T00:43:00.001+01:00

I wrote recently about two songs that are a great introduction to the blues, and now let's make it 116 more. The greatest blues compilation ever, spanning almost a hundred years of blues development, was strangely released under the name of respected American film director, Martin Scorsese. In fact, it's a soundtrack to his collection of seven full-length films about the blues ;) "A Musical Journey" is the essential, 5CD long box set of the blues... You gotta have it or all of original recordings. Discs #2 and #3 are my favorite. And here's what critics say:

Intelligently gathered and arranged, it treats the blues both from a historical perspective and from a working assumption that the form is still alive and well, continually morphing and transforming itself. There simply isn't a better or deeper survey of the blues on the market. (Steve Leggett)

Notwithstanding a few flaws, however, this CD box set is an excellent representation of recorded blues history, covering the entire history of the blues and including most of the important artists and styles of this wonderful musical genre. I highly recommend it to anyone who is either desiring to learn about the blues or who is already a blues fan and is simply looking for a good thorough collection of great blues music. (Kenneth Falkenstein)

Go and get it. Another pretty interesting blues compilations: Chess Blues (a 2nd favorite), Alligator Records 35x35 and Mississippi Blues: Rare Cuts. And remember, this whole series sucks, no matter if it's blues or jazz.

Introduction to the blues

2009-12-13T00:00:00.006+01:00

While the essence of the blues has to be Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and all those mostly forgotten acoustic blues wailers, they are not the best way to start your blues collection, are they? I would go with British blues rockers from the 60s. I'm gonna write more about this wonderful boom of British guitarists playing old music of black American people in the nearest future, but meanwhile... My two favorite classic blues compositions and two most wonderful renditions I know of ;)

"Key to the Highway" was written by a prolific blues singer and guitarist, Big Bill Broonzy, sometime around 1940. Exactly 30 years later Eric Clapton played it with probably greatest white slide guitar player, Duane Allman, and released it on Derek and the Dominos album called "Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs". This wonderful rendition clocks at more than 9 minutes, it's a really great jam. Listen to it on YouTube while it's still available ;) Eric Clapton played the song many times during his career since then, check out another version of "Key to the Highway" jammed with Buddy Guy in the late 80s.

Another great song that started out as acoustic delta blues but then got picked up by British blues fanatics is Robert Johnson's probably most haunting ballad, "Love In Vain". The song from 1937 was covered famously by the Rolling Stones on one of their best albums, "Let It Bleed", in acoustic country blues vein. The band played it live on the tour amplified, though, and for me it's just the essence of the blues. One of the most magnificent moments in its late history. God bless Keith Richards, Mick Taylor and Mick Jagger. And the rest of the Stones. Hear it here during 1969 US tour and get it on "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!" live album. It was also played in somehow extended way (with famous solo by Mick Taylor) during 1972 tour and it can be seen on "Ladies and Gentlemen" film of the tour and many YouTube videos.

Still not getting the blues, huh? Ya can't go wrong with this.

Collecting Robert Johnson

2009-12-11T15:47:00.006+01:00

After years of being out of stock, all Robert Johnson songs are easily available nowadays on many albums. The best of them is "The Complete Recordings" box. The name is just a little bit misleading, though - it contains all Robert Johnson recordings but one, an alternate take of brilliant "Traveling Riverside Blues". Allmusic.com critic Thomas Ward wrote: "the song is one of the undoubted masterpieces of Robert Johnson’s recorded legacy and one of the most poetic ones". It was re-recorded by many artists, for example Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Led Zeppelin.

"Traveling Riverside Blues" alternate take clocks at 2:39. It was recorded in 1937 and first officialy released in 1998.

You can get the missing track o'er here. :)

Hello world!

2009-12-11T00:06:00.006+01:00

Hi there, this is my new blog about music I love: the blues. I'm gonna write as often as I can about everything related to the blues, from Bukka White to the Black Keys, jazz and rock and roll. Oh, and my favorite blues artist has to be Muddy Waters. ;)

Pretty weird name of the blog (I've seen many better ones over here, though!) comes from the Rolling Stones' song called "Let It Bleed", look it up, it's great. ;-)

I'm going to post some reviews of movies, books and LPs connected with the blues, news on new releases and things worth checking out. I think we are terribly lucky to have many legendary bluesmen still alive, like Buddy Guy for example, and it's a crime not to go and see them. Just... don't do that, well... what the fuck. Tickets are getting more and more expensive but music is to be played loud and live. Them records are amazing and all but they are a bit... dead IMHO. ;)

"Why waste money on psychoterapy when you can listen to Keith Richards playing the blues?"

Cheers.