Mark Figgis' "Red, White & Blues"

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 :-)

Introduction to the blues

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.