It's been quiet on the calendar this month so just as well that the World Cup's been around to keep us occupied. However I couldn't in a month of Sundays miss the 115th anniversary of the arrival on 26th June 1903 in Jefferson County, Arkansas of the mighty Big Bill Broonzy whose given name was Lee Conley Bradley. Bill was one of 17 kids and his country blues became very popular in the 50s as part of the folk revival making him an international star. British players as diverse as Ray Davies, Ronnie Wood, Rory Gallagher, Steve Howe and John Renbourn cited Big Bill as a major influence. He recorded over 300 songs in a long career. Here's a great bit of film from the mid 50s singing 'When did you leave Heaven'.
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Further to the above, my pal sent me a link to the film this is from, a wee twenty minute gem from Arena's night with the Blues from a jazz club in Belgium. There's a great bluesy version of the arena theme, some of those wonderful R Crumb drawings of the old Blues folks, and intro from John Walters and BB King and Lucille, and after the film a crackin' closin' track from Junior Kimbrugh. Here's the link if you fancy a look.Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post
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Happy Birthday Roger Spear, Bonzo Dog Band member, born on this day in 1943.
Why is he on this thread?
Well... 50 years ago...
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Thanks Global! Must go change out of my dark grey mohair suit and put on my dirty jeans! It's Friday night, after all!Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post
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They were brilliant, and generally yes there are many good examples of the genre, Mayall in his eighties a prime example! Liverpool Scene had a good go too!Originally posted by Globaltruth View PostComment
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In late 1969 a guy in Paisley whose name I have now forgotten tried to persuade me that I was wasting my time going to see Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, still probably just about the best gig I ever had the delight of attending, cloughie.Originally posted by cloughie View Post
It's the last day of June, marking the halfway point of my rather excellent Blues calendar, and marking the birthday in 1892 of Bo Carter, born Armenter Chatmon in Bolton, Mississippi. Bo was one of the Mississippi Sheiks with his brothers Lonnie and Sam as well as the great Walter Vinson. Bo is best known for his solo renditions of 'dirty blues' with songs like 'Your Biscuits are Big Enough for Me' and 'Banana in your Fruitbasket'. But here's a bit of non-dirty blues, the original recording of 'Corrine Corrina'.
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"Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Just Want to Make Love to You", "Little Red Rooster", "Spoonful", and "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" - a mighty fine list indeed, and all composed by William James Dixon born 1st July 1915 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, although he went on to be one of the major figures in Chicago Blues of the 50s and 60s. If you look at the old films of the American Blues' tours of the early 60s, as often as not Willie Dixon will be directing procedures from his upright double bass. A big man, he arrived in Chicago in '36 and was a boxer, sparring partner, even, for the great Joe Louis. Taking a stand against institutionalised racism in society he refused to serve in the army in WW2 and served 10 months in the slammer.
In the early 50s he signed for Chess and became as much a talent scout as a performer but continued to write. His songs have been performed by the likes of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howling Wolf and Bo Diddley. And of course he influenced Cream, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix among many others through the 60s. This great Bluesman was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. He died in 1992.
'Nervous' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFqwQ6xPjF0
'Little Red Rooster' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW4FE8WkvuMComment
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Avalon Blues - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klcDgu2f_pQ
In 1963, a young fan, Tom Hoskins, used the lyrics of this song to trace Mississippi John Hurt who had been lost to music since the late 20s. John Hurt was born 3rd July a century and a quarter ago in Teoc, Mississippi, though his family moved to Avalon when John was still young. On Valentine Day 1928 Hurt recorded a number of songs for Okeh in Memphis, and after the release of a record, Hurt was taken to New York where he recorded a further dozen sides, almost all of which were released. Having done the recording, John went back to life on the farm.
By the time Hoskins found him he was 71, but he reticently agreed to go to Washington where he recorded an album for Piedmont, the beginning of a short but hugely successful renaissance. He appeared to great acclaim at the Newport Festival, the audience it would seem drawn into the world of Mississippi John Hurt by his relaxed style. Although not a professional musician he was a player of remarkable skill, and it was this style that certainly influenced a large number of folkies in the 1960s.
Here he is just after rediscovery.
'You Gotta Walk that Lonesome Valley' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85BvT5X6WSoComment
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Some of the folks in the calendar have achieved legendary status, others remain largely unknown. Smiley Lewis was born Overton Amos Lemons on July 5, 1913 in Dequincy, Louisiana and developed a slow-rocking style only to be almost 'drowned in the backwash of Fats Domino' who followed him. Here's his original version of Dave Bartholomew's 'I hear you knocking', which was to become such a massive hit for others down the years.
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coincidentally Dave Bartholomew's version of The Monkey speaks his mind (1957) is one of my favourite songs.Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post
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Me too, GT. First heard it on Andy Kershaw's show.Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post
Seems Dave Bartholomew is still alive - 99 with a birthday on Christmas Eve to make it the ton. Here he is a few years back with Fats Domino.
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Bet that's where I heard it too.Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post
That's a lovely clip JC - someone should tell Fats he really doesn't need that syrup though....
Here's another about Dave B (and the Dominos)
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Brilliant, GT. Film has a slightly different take on his birth year - Wiki has him 100 this coming Christmas Eve. By the way, did you know that in 1952 Dave wrote 'My Ding-a-Ling'?Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post
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Yep. Same year he performed on 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' which was one of the top songs of 1952.
Here he is with another classic New Orleans sound (with apologies to the jazzers if we're overlapping a bit...)
Keep walking Dave...
a few years later Franks daughter reworked it
obsessed with boots and walking that woman it seems...Comment
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