Top 5 For the Newbie (in no particular order)

I would like to share my top 5 blues albums for newcomers to the blues. These were selected to give beginners a broad yet palatable taste of the world of blues music to, hopefully, peak their interests and inspire then to explore more. Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comment section or on the Facebook page.

#1.
Jimi Hendrix: Blues

#2.
Muddy Waters - Fathers and Sons

#3.
Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings

#4.
John Lee Hooker - The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker

#5. (tie)
B.B. King - Live at the Regal & Live in Cook County Jail

Honorable Mentions:
Eric Clapton - From the Cradle
The Allman Brothers Band - Live at the Fillmore East
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
Skip James - The Complete Early Recordings
Howlin' Wolf - self titled
Son House - Delta Blues

The Slide

        The most iconic tool the bluesman has used throughout the years (other than his guitar itself) is the slide. There have been many variations on the slide, however, the most widely used in the early days were the glass bottleneck and the knife blade. The resonator guitar became the preferred instrument of many musicians which emits a very distinct and often haunting moan.
        Perhaps the first mention of a guitarist using a slide was from blues legend W.C. Handy. At a Tutwiler, Mississippi, train station in the early 20th century, the band leader heard a man play in this style with a knife blade and it had a profound effect on Handy.
        Probably little known to early, rural bluesmen in the American South, slide playing was also a popular method in Hawaii.
        Many contemporary musicians have shown just how versatile the slide can be. Virtuosi such as Duane Allman, Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, David Gilmore, and Ry Cooder.

Refer to these links to learn more about the blues slide. Happy listening!

A history of the pedal steel by PremierGuitar.com

A Mini Guide to Slide Guitar from Dawsons.co.uk

The Top 10 Slide Guitarists by WristRock.com

We Need More Blues Festivals

This will be a short entry.

There needs to be more blues festivals.

For real, guys. There are many great small festivals around the U.S., but I have not seen many big ones recently. Maybe I just don't know where to look. Please, go out and support your local blues festival and advocate for the spread of America's greatest music. Even an increased number of blues acts in general music festivals would be awesome. Bands like Tedeschi Trucks Band or Gary Clark Jr. are getting well earned attention. However, there is always room for more. Many festivals take suggestions for who people want to see.

So go out there and support the cause. Support the bands. Support the blues.

Obscure Bluesmen

        Most blues fans (I would think) have, at some point or another, come across a particular artist who is relatively unknown and thought, "How is this guy (or gal) not popular?!" I have had a few such occasions myself.  And this leads one to wonder how many more outstanding blues artists that were never heard outside of a rural juke joint by a hand full of people. Those who actually did record blues are not always widely received and fall into relative obscurity. I say relative because there are so many artists out there to choose from, that great musicians can  be overlooked even if they do have a substantial following. For example the great R. L. Burnside is not a household name by any means, but is a recognized as a giant of North Mississippi blues. He didn't necessarily fall into obscurity, but you get the picture.

        So now I want to ask those of you reading to take one minute of your time and tell the Blues United community what artist you love that people may not have heard of.

Tell us at the Facebook page HERE or comment below.

Book Review: "The Blues: A Visual History"

          Right out of the gate, I can tell you that I recommend this book to anyone. Author Mike Evans does a great job laying out the history of the blues according to sub-genre, artist, and chronology. Just as pleasing as the writing, the photographs, vintage flyers and posters, and illustrations bring the music and artists to life. Evans mixes things up with a very aesthetically pleasing book (as the title implies) beyond merely the images.  The book itself is large with many full page photographs and quotes or descriptions to accompany. There are also artist profiles throughout the book for a quick look and the blues' biggest names.
          The writing is a bit dry at times and Evans sticks to a mostly descriptive style. However, for blues fans this is easy to overlook. The book is dense with history and keeps you turning the page. It is a relatively short book (256 pages with the text taking up no more than half of any given page) but I found myself taking longer to finish it that I thought I would. I wanted to take the time to read every image description and study the photographs. I tried to throw myself into the period and situation of every section. It was immensely enjoyable.
          It is worth mentioning here that contributing editor on The Blues: A Visual History was Robert Gordon who is a seasoned blues historian and author of (among others) Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters, which I hope to soon read. Evans himself is also author of many other works in musicology.
          I give this great book a rating of 4.5 stars. If you are a veteran blues fan there might be a lot of history in here that you are already aware of but the visuals give it a breath of new life. Please, check for this book at your local library or book store.

Why do people like the blues?

          This is a question that can be asked of any musical genre (or any art form for that matter). To me, the answer, as it relates to the blues, is feeling. If you don't feel it, it doesn't mean anything. The emotions that the blues invokes is more than just a pleasant feeling of musical enjoyment -- it is a sensation that can only be described as electric. Even in the times before Muddy Waters, when electric blues was on the prepuce of the fringe, the feeling of the blues was still primal. It moved, soothed, grooved, and sometimes elates its listeners. If there is anything that I can convey to the modern man and woman just starting to listening to blues, it is this: forget what you know; listen to the emotion of the music; let it move you; let it groove you; do not let the main stream music scene tell you what is cool and what is not. Feel the music and judge for yourself. Peace.

American Folk Blues Festival

          In the 1960s, Europe hosted a series of tours of American blues musicians known as the American Folk Blues Festival (originally billed as the American Negro Blues Festival). Many of these were filmed including German and British events. Footage was released on DVDs in 2003 and are now, in my opinion, some of the greatest (if not the greatest) live blues video recording one could experience.

          The films, titled simply The American Folk Blues Festival, span 1962 to 1969 and are composed of three volumes. Big Mamma Thorton, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Earl Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Willie Dixon, and John Lee Hooker are just a few of the blues legends who performed. The only downside of the three-part set is that it leaves you wanting more. Much more -- which I suppose is not all together bad.

          There is also another release of the same name and subtitled The British Tours 1963-1966. I have not had the opportunity to view this, however, if it is half as good as the aforementioned set, it is worthy of any blues lover's collection. In short: watch these videos. It might very well turn many people on to blues and deepen the appreciation of the music for those who are already fans.

          Happy watching!

(Not so original) Original Blues Song

This is my first attempt at writing a blues song so don't judge too harshly. It was fun and maybe I'll get better at it.


When I get tired and lonesome
Can't nothin in the world undo these blues
When I get tired and lonesome
Can't nothin in the world undo these blues
Nothin but a bottle and a woman
And one day they will put me in my tomb

Often times I lay awake at night
Askin why oh why can't I change my ways
Often times I lay awake at night
Askin why oh why can't I change my ways
Despair done took a hold on me
I'm feelin like it's the end of days

Well I went down to the church
Said 'Preacher what can I do?'
He said 'Boy ain't nothin I can do to help
I believe it's just too late for you

Well I get so tired and lonesome
Can't nothin in the world undo these blues
Nothin but a bottle and a woman
And one day they will put me in my tomb

Well I went to my dear mother
Said 'mother help me if you please'
She said 'Son you're on your own'
And I fell down on my knees

You know I often lay awake at night
Askin why oh why can't I change my ways
Despair done took a hold on me
Lord I do believe it is the end of days

Who Was the First Rock and Roller?

Arguably the most popular music style in the world, rock and roll has broken a lot of cultural ground in the past sixty plus years. But who was the first to play the fast-tempo blues that took the world by storm? I'll give you a tiny hint: it wasn't Elvis.

In all honesty, we probably cannot track down who was literally the first person to ever play that style but we can trace it back to a handful of artists around 1949-1954. Ike Turner, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and countless other musicians culminated in this era to produce a sound that was becoming increasingly popular.

The first rock and roll hit, according to many music historians, was "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brentson in 1951. 1954 was the year Elvis recorded "That's All Right" and Big Joe Turner released "Shake Rattle and Roll." By 1955 rock and roll (radio disc jockey Alan Freed popularized the name) was in full swing.

The matter of who had the first rock and roll song is largely irrelevant. That it exists at all is what matters. When the blues had a baby and named it Rock and Roll, who knew how much it would change the world.

Is it Blues?

What makes the blues the blues? I have wondered this myself and the answer I have come up with is, "Whatever you want it to be." Blog over.

Well, not necessarily. There have been many times when I have caught myself saying, "This isn't blues! How can they call that blues?" But, to each his own and somebody wants to call a jazz or rock tune blues then more power to them. W. C. Handy deserves his place in history as the single person who brought blues out of the South and into the rest of the world. Though, I must say, I cannot listen to some his arrangements without getting bored. A tempo-perfect, pitch-perfect, highly structured, horn-filled and frilled blues song is not usually appealing to my ears. To be honest, I would consider an a capella gospel spiritual more of a blues song than them.

Now, I must backtrack for a second and say that the only thing I do think is required to call a piece of music the blues is soul. Call it feeling, conviction, honesty -- whatever. It must come from a place of emotion. Now that does not mean, of course, that other musical genres cannot posses soul, but if music does not have soul, it is most certainly not blues. I am talking about soul in the song itself and, more, importantly, in the delivery. Do yourself a favor: listen to "Grinnin' in your Face" by Son House. Zero guitar, 100% blues.

Also, read this short article about the roots of the blues by Debra Devi. It explains, in part, how I feel. So, good luck with your journey on the River Blues. Peace.

The Mississippi Delta

Proud to introduce the Blues United community!

I, like a lot of kids, grew up on the music my parents listened to. Rock and roll music -- Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, KISS, AC/DC -- was by bread and butter. Until about age 13. During a visit to my uncle's place, we were listening to the music channels on cable. I am not sure if they have those anymore, but, basically, it was radio on the TV. We were likely listening to some classic rock or metal (I think I remember Blue Oyster Cult) when he looked at me and, with an air of intensity and subtle excitement, like he had a secret, asked, "You wanna hear some REAL shit?"

Umm . . . Yes, please.

What kid doesn't want to hear great music. So, he turns the television to a channel labeled "Blues." Now I had heard of the blues before this, and had even heard it in the form of blues rock, but this . . . this was something completely different. It was Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues." I didn't know music like this existed and was surprised that I liked an old, crackly song that was just a guy and a guitar. But I did like it. I loved it.

Now, at 27, I have been immersing myself in blues music ever since. My passion has inspired me to create a community of blues lovers worldwide that can share in the greatest music tradition in the world. Please engage and share your blues story. The Facebook page is:
www.facebook.com/inblueswetrust