My nice new Blues Calendar

[Globaltruth]

Not on the blues calendar, but the mighty Irma Thomas is 80 today, born New Orleans 18th February, 1941. Here she is back in the sixties with 'Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5PUa4CuO8A

Happy Birthday, Irma.

Thanks JC.
Did you know Randy Newman was one of the co-writers?
this song was initially released in 1964 as the B-side to Time is on My Side, so I thought we should have Irma singing that too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McOmcNwqprA

[a better version than the well-known one by the Moss Gatherers]

[johncorrigan]

Thanks JC.
Did you know Randy Newman was one of the co-writers?
this song was initially released in 1964 as the B-side to Time is on My Side, so I thought we should have Irma singing that too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McOmcNwqprA

[a better version than the well-known one by the Moss Gatherers]

Thank you. I did not know that, Global...good ole Randy.

The thing about 'Time is on My Side' is that you can hear Mick trying to completely imitate Irma on the Stones' version. Here's a fine take on 'It's Raining' with Allen Toussaint from five or six years back - I just love that rolling New Orleans groove.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZDOK32auh4

[johncorrigan]

The Calendar on the kitchen wall informs me that it's Scrapper's birthday today, born Francis Blackwell on 21st February, 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana, which might go part of the way to explain why he's such a unique player. Here he is still producing the goods in '61 on 'Goin' Where the Monon Crosses the Yellow Dog', just a year before his murder by a neighbour,( I believe drink had been taken) - although it would appear that his reputation gave him his nickname.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tILmvkxgAl0

[johncorrigan]

There's been plenty blues harmonica songs about trains, but just about my favourite is 'Mean Old Train' by Papa George Lightfoot, born Alexander Lightfoot on 2nd March, 1924 in Natchez, Mississippi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGbCAht-Rks

[johncorrigan]

Perhaps the artist recognised as plumbing the emotional depths of the Blues more than any other is the great singer/ slide guitarist, Eddie James 'Son' House, born this day in 1902 in Riverton in Coahoma County, Mississippi. Son House worked on various plantations in the Robinsonville area, but played the juke joints at the weekends, except when the spirit called and he would sing and preach in various churches, before heading back to the blues clubs. He was a major influence on Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, and played alongside Charley Patton. In 1941, while working as a tractor driver on the Neunlist plantation, House recorded for the Fisk University led by Alan Lomax and John Book, alongside Willie Brown, Leroy Williams and others. Lomax later recalled, “Of all my times with the blues, this was the best one.”
In the 60s blues aficionados headed south looking for House, only to discover that he was living in Rochester, New York. Here's he is in the 60s singing 'Grinnin' In Your Face'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlt76tCrDdg

[johncorrigan]

Can't say much about Raymond Barrow except that, according to the old calendar, he was born this day in 1900 in Lafayette, Alabama... and in 1929, he played a fine 'Walking Blues' , barrelhouse style on the old piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99F1aPirG0

[johncorrigan]

Robert Lockwood Jr was born this day in 1915 in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas and was a pivotal figure in the Chicago Blues sound of the 50s and 60s. He was shown how to play guitar by Robert Johnson. Here he is in '51 with 'I'm Gonna Dig Myself a Hole'. What's not to like, I say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXAE2STxf10

[johncorrigan]

Nicknamed 'Muddy' by his Grandmother, because as a child he liked to play in the mud, McKinley Morganfield was born this day in 1913 in Jug's Corner, Mississippi and although originally a harmonica player went on to become on the the most influential of Guitarists. Originally he was influenced by Son House, Robert Johnson and Robert Nighthawk. He made his first recording for the Library of Congress Team led by Alan Lomax and John Book in '41. He then joined many southern farm workers moving to Chicago in the 40s where he formed the seminal Muddy Waters Blues Band which just about defines the Chicago electric blues sound. Here he is in '71 on Willie Dixon's 'Mannish Boy'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IOou6qN1o

[johncorrigan]

What was it about Walters and the moothie? Big Walter Horton, born in Horn Lake, Mississippi this day in 1917...so great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUB_LQ9jfwk

[johncorrigan]

The old calendar informs me that Eleanora Fagan, aka Billie Holiday, was born this day in 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The recent doc about her is still available on the i player.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t8qv

[johncorrigan]

Bessie Smith was born 15th April, 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee - she was orphaned by the age of 10 and took to singing and dancing the street corners of Chattanooga to make money to live. She rose to become one of the most popular entertainers of the twenties. She made her first recording in 1923, but here she is in 1929 with Eddie Lang and James P. Johnson with the fabulous 'Kitchen Man'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGbwXHnZlME

[Globaltruth]

Petroc played this, which is a blues-calendar worthy entry.

Not Blind Willie, but Richard 'Rabbit' Brown singing of the sinking of the Titanic.

The anniversary was on April 10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_3BkouFIIM

It was on the tenth of April, on a sunny afternoon
The Titanic left South Hamilton, each one was happy as bride and groom
No one thought of danger or what their fate may be
Until a gruesome iceberg caused fifteen hundred to perish in the sea

It was early Monday morning, just about the break of day
Captain Smith called for help from The Carpathia, and it was many miles away
Everyone was calm and solemn, asked each other what the trouble may be
Not thinking that death was lurking, way out upon that Northern Sea

The Carpathia received the wireless
"S.O.S. In distress. Come at once,
We are sinking. Make no delay and do your best
Get your lifeboats all in readiness, 'cause we're going down very fast
We have saved the women and the
Children, and try and hold out to the last"

You know, at last they called all the passengers, told them to hurry to the deck
Then they realized that the mighty Titanic was an awful fatal wreck
They lowered the lifeboats, one by one, taking women, children from the start
The poor men, they were left to care for themselves, but they sure played a hero's part

You know, they stood out on that sinkin' deck, and they was all in great despair
You know, accidents may happen most any time, and we know not when and where
The music played as they went down, on that dark blue sea
And you could hear the sound,
That familiar hymn, singin' "Nearer My God To Thee"

They say, "Nearer my God to Thee
Nearer my God to Thee
Nearer my God to Thee
Nearer to Thee
So, like a wanderer
As the sun goes down
Darkness be over me"
Just then the Titanic went down

[johncorrigan]

Petroc played this, which is a blues-calendar worthy entry.

Not Blind Willie, but Richard 'Rabbit' Brown singing of the sinking of the Titanic.

The anniversary was on April 10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_3BkouFIIM

What a voice! By the way, is there something we should know about Petroc and you, GT? He's getting a few mentions in your posts lately - brings to mind GT and Petroc sitting up a tree.

[Globaltruth]

What a voice! By the way, is there something we should know about Petroc and you, GT? He's getting a few mentions in your posts lately - brings to mind GT and Petroc sitting up a tree.

Petroc cool name, cool guy....

I just have this suspicion that he has a quota of non classical music to slot in and that he actually quite enjoys playing that "Sort of Thing", so I listen out for them. So much better than any alternatives on the BBC in the morning. I mean, the loathsome magazine programme on r4 at that time plays hardly any WM at all! Disgrace!!

[Jazzrook]

Petroc cool name, cool guy....

I just have this suspicion that he has a quota of non classical music to slot in and that he actually quite enjoys playing that "Sort of Thing", so I listen out for them. So much better than any alternatives on the BBC in the morning. I mean, the loathsome magazine programme on r4 at that time plays hardly any WM at all! Disgrace!!

I enjoyed that great track by Richard 'Rabbit' Brown - a new name to me - played on Radio 3's 'Breakfast' today.
According to 'The Penguin Guide To Blues' it appears on 'The Greatest Songsters 1927-1929'(DOCUMENT DOCD-5003). Wish I could find a copy!

JR