I am not sure why I haven't written more about blues favourites such as Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Muddy Waters. I love their stuff and I love the blues!
Here's the track listing on my CD blues primer for Keegan:
Evil Gal blues – Albinia JonesChicago breakdown – Big MaceoI wish you would – Billy Boy ArnoldShake your moneymaker – Elmore JamesDust my blues – Elmore JamesYou don't have to go – Jimmy ReedSittin' here thinkin' – John Lee HookerMannish Boy – Junior Wells/ Muddy WatersYoung man blues – Mose AllisonRollin' stone – Muddy WatersGot my mojo working – Muddy WatersThat's alright – Jimmy RodgersMilk cow blues – Sleepy John EstesI'm a king bee – Slim HarpoGood morning little schoolgirl – Sonny Boy WilliamsonWhoopin' the blues – Sonny TerryGood morning blues – Sonny Terry & Brownie McGheeThe midnight special - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGheeSmokestack lightning – The YardbirdsHow many more years – Howlin' WolfMoanin' at midnight – Howlin' WolfI'm ready – Muddy Waters
It's not supposed to be comprehensive at all (I figured Keegan had heard Robert Johnson for instance) and, of course, there are many omissions and it does show my bias towards Waters/Wolf/Sonny and Brownie.
My love of the blues began properly after I watched Sonny and Brownie playing at the Nambassa music festival (late seventies I think). I remember the moment well because I was standing about ten feet from the stage with not many other people around me.
Someone led Sonny on to the stage, they settled down on their seats and Brownie started playing his guitar and tapping his foot. I watched in awe.
It was one of those epiphanies I have had from time to time as I listened and watched and grooved.
Obviously I am not alone in letting the blues strike it's chord in my soul. For some reason I never tire of the form, or get depressed when I hear it. In fact I find the tales inherent in the blues very life affirming in a Grapes Of Wrath kind of way. Hardships are overcome and have been sung about in a cathartic way since the genre began in the American south's slave plantations.
It's true that I came to many of these songs from white blues inspired acts like Hot Tuna.
Billy Boy Arnold's I Wish You Would is a case in point.
I first heard it on Hot Tuna's Hoppkov album and then they did a stonking live version on their live double - Double Dose.
I hadn't heard of Billy Boy Arnold until that point. I'm sure Jorma and Jack from Hot Tuna would be thrilled to know that they made Arnold's version accessible via their own, very different treatment.
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