The blues thread

[TomAz]

Robert Johnson to the Black Keys. Talk about blues here.

It is my opinion that any serious rock and roll fan has to at least go through a phase where the blues is an important part of what you listen to. I mean if all you want to do is bop along to daft punk, don't bother, but otherwise I think it's a good idea.

my own tastes:

Like: John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Black Keys

ok: BB King, Eric Clapton (the earlier the better, pretty much)

dislike: not much. Led Zeppelin's mangling of old blues songs on their first two albums, I guess.



anyway. if you like the blues you can discuss here.

[Mr.Nipples]

i just noticed shes a lefty playing a right handed guitar and that the strings haven't even been changed...*jaw drops*

[BROKENDOLL]

TomAz, you're still sore because I said I wouldn't run into you at Coach due to your taste VS mine in the lineup this year, aren't you?
"Boppin' to Daft Punk?" Hey, it's more fun than a pacemaker! LOL
On occassion, I still pull out my rock n' blues selections...Sorry, but Led Zeppelin tops my list, followed by Aerosmith... namely Joe "Motherfucking" Perry. (His last solo disc was full of the blues.)
Not favorites, but how about Rolling Stones and Doobie Brothers? And my first concert experience ever...Elvis Presley!

[TomAz]

I start a thread about Muddy Waters and BD responds with the Doobie Brothers.

[Mr.Nipples]

TomAz, you're still sore because I said I wouldn't run into you at Coach due to your taste VS mine in the lineup this year, aren't you?
"Boppin' to Daft Punk?" Hey, it's more fun than a pacemaker! LOL
On occassion, I still pull out my rock n' blues selections...Sorry, but Led Zeppelin tops my list, followed by Aerosmith... namely Joe "Motherfucking" Perry. (His last solo disc was full of the blues.)
Not favorites, but how about Rolling Stones and Doobie Brothers? And my first concert experience ever...Elvis Presley!

[Blinken]

I really like the blues but am very ignorant about them at the same time. I fully plan to fix that with this thread though.

[zenidogx]

I've recently been introduced to Bessie Smith. she's so awesome.


my favorites are Robert J, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and the White Stripes (yeah, i said it).

[TomAz]

I don't think of bebop as blues.

I think the White Stripes do a good job with blues.

I don't know much about Bessie Smith.

[Gribbz]

I've got ramblin'. I've got ramblin' on my miiiiiind.

[Monklish]

Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Please get the rest of this honky pap away from me.

[Down Rodeo]

Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign

This is one of the best blues albums I've ever heard. Clapton ripped off these licks left and right for Disraeli Gears.

[bigc1]

[TomAz]

i just noticed shes a lefty playing a right handed guitar and that the strings haven't even been changed...*jaw drops*

Elizabeth Cotten was Pete Seeger's nanny. true story.

[summerkid]

Mississippi John Hurt.

[pancakespancakes]

I went through a phase of listening to lots of classic blues until I had pretty much got the jist of everything. I felt the need to educate myself. But I let go of it after awhile.

I still hold Blind Willie McTell very close to my heart. Easily one of my favorite artists of all time of any genre. His voice and his guitar playing are just really sweet and beautiful, and not in a haunting way like Robert Johnson has. And his songwriting is pretty legendary too. I think he's just perfect.

my favorites are Robert J, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and the White Stripes (yeah, i said it).

Uhhh I think you're a little bit confused there zeni.... that is the genre called jazz.

[Geno_g]

Muddy Waters...

[Mr.Nipples]

Elizabeth Cotten was Pete Seeger's nanny. true story.

i did not know that.

[stinkbutt]

Buddy Guy is awesome and he plays the coolest looking guitar ever

[zenidogx]

Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Please get the rest of this honky pap away from me.

good call on Taj Mahal. i've gotta see him perform before he Carlins on me.

I don't know much about Bessie Smith.

try finding her version of 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do

[pancakespancakes]

I think the White Stripes do a good job with blues.

I agree. That is what attracted me to them originally. They inject a lot of much-needed originality into their 12-bar blues, and it works.

The Black Keys just put me to sleep on the other hand...

[higgybaby23]

Check out Joe Bonamassa. This guy has been playing guitar since he was a kid. There are some youtube videos of him shredding as a 12 or 13 year old. He is the closest thing to the Hendrix/SRV electric blues style that I have heard.

[TomAz]

I still hold Blind Willie McTell very close to my heart. Easily one of my favorite artists of all time of any genre. His voice and his guitar playing are just really sweet and beautiful, and not in a haunting way like Robert Johnson has. And his songwriting is pretty legendary too. I think he's just perfect.

and I know one thing
nobody can sing
them blues like Blind Willie McTell

[zenidogx]

Uhhh I think you're a little bit confused there zeni.... that is the genre called jazz.

can't have jazz without the blues. davis, coltrane, and ellington have some select work that is very deep. i can't find a good version of it on youtube, but look for "Black and Tan Fantasy" by Duke Ellington.

[Gribbz]

I agree. That is what attracted me to them originally. They inject a lot of much-needed originality into their 12-bar blues, and it works.

The Black Keys just put me to sleep on the other hand...

What songs by the white stripes are "bluesy?"

I don't really listen to the stripes but I haven't heard the blues in the songs I've heard.

[summerkid]

we dont have anything against davis or coltrane but they don't belong in this thread is all.

[pancakespancakes]

Just sayin, that's still not what we'd refer to as the blues, am I right?

You wouldn't have Metallica without the blues... and I'm sure they have some songs in 1/4/5 too.

[Monklish]

can't have jazz without the blues. davis, coltrane, and ellington have some select work that is very deep. i can't find a good version of it on youtube, but look for "Black and Tan Fantasy" by Duke Ellington.

You can't find almost any kind of popular music without the blues. That does not make Duke Ellington blues.

[TomAz]

back in the 80s when I lived in Houston they used to put on free blues shows during Juneteenth in Hermann Park. Free, all you had to do was show up with your lawn chairs or blanket & cooler. they'd get some good national acts -- I saw John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Clifton Chenier all before they kicked it. they'd get 20-25 thousand on a Saturday night and everbody'd get drunk and dance around to JLH. one of my best musical memories ever. I think SRV may have even played one year. Saw Taj Mahal there too. great great stuff. all free.

I became a pretty big Albert Collins fan cuz of those shows and would go see him in the clubs when he came through. He was a crazy dude put on a hell of a show.

[pancakespancakes]

we dont have anything against davis or coltrane but they don't belong in this thread is all.

Exactly. The Beatles do a couple blues songs, and so do the Red Hot Chili Peppers. We don't need everyone!

[summerkid]

What songs by the white stripes are "bluesy?"

I don't really listen to the stripes but I haven't heard the blues in the songs I've heard.

a lot esp. their earlier stuff. An obvious one is their cover of son house's death letter. Which seriously rocks.