Spin Doctors Spin The Blues

Remember "Two Princes"? 

Sure you do. If you feel the need to head back into the 1990's for a sec, here you go:

Arguably their only hit record, the band went their own way never to be heard from again.

Until 2013, when they released a BLUES album.

You see, it seems the band was getting positive reactions from their bluesy material, so they just recorded an entire album of blues.  

I don't think it's that bad; just not something you can get used to easily; it's definitely not the old pop-rock band sound you remember. 

Here's a song off their 'If The River Was Whiskey" (a line taken from the old blues song) called Scotch and Water Blues:

2014 Fender Basses (and a Kick-ass Amp)

Some new models of Fender's basses have been posted on their website, with no official statement just yet. These models are from the Custom Shop; nothing from the regular production just yet.

Nothing too unusual.

However I LOVE the new Vaporizer amp they just posted... that retro 50's "Jetsons" look is awesome.

Check out the new models below:

Proto Precision Bass

Heavy Relic 1964 Precision Bass

Fender Vaporizer Amp

Buddy Guy Performs 'Hoochie Coochie Man' At The 2013 Kennedy Center Honors

Buddy Guy with President Obama at the show

The ambassador of the blues, Buddy Guy, performed at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors (he was honoree in 2012). His choice was the classic Muddy Waters song 'Hoochie Coochie Man', on the 29th of  December.

Buddy Guy just kills it, and also gives a sod to Santana who won an award for 2013.

Year in Blues: Highlights of 2013

Another year, another moment for self-reflection.

This year saw growth of viewers on the blog, even though I haven't posted as much as I did in 2012 (due to my new role as a parent).

Since the news that Speakin' The Blues was chosen as one of Lebanon's Top 100 Blogs, we have had a lot more coverage. (Thanks 2famous.tv!) I wrote two articles over on Project Revolver and got to meet many of Lebanon's famous bloggers and social media personalities through this.

So below are the top 10 viewed posts of 2013 on this blog, with major changes coming in 2014 (new design, a monthly comic strip, and more reports).

All in all musically, 2013 was my worst. True, I live in Kuwait, and the action is almost zero, but I used to perform a lot more in previous years. Hopefully, in 2014 I will announce something new from Avant-Garde Music Projects. Follow us on Facebook for more details.

I want to thank all the readers from all over the world for their support. To be one of the only (if not THE only) bloggers about blues and jazz in the Middle East, it's truly great to see that many people are reading. It just makes my drive more powerful

Well enough of that! Here's the list of the 10 most viewed posts of 2013 (in no particular order):

1.      Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, & Bo Diddley Join Forces

2.     'Equinox' - John Coltrane

3.     London's 2013 BluesFest Has Killer Lineup

4.     Fender Vintage Hot Rod Basses Unveiled!

5.     Happy Birthday B.B.King!

6.     Feature: Mississippi's 'Lost' Blues Music Masters

7.     The Pan Arabian Enquirer Trolls The Dubai Jazz Fest (With Good Reason)

8.     The Mockery That Is The Dubai Jazz Fest [UPDATE]

9.     A Legendary Chicago Blues Get-Together

10.   'I'm a King Bee' - Slim Harpo

The Parasite Blues

Via SMBC Comics

Merry Christmas (But Even Santa's Got the Blues)

A Merry Christmas from Speakin' the Blues!

But who says you can escape the blues?

Not even Santa can!

You can also take a fun blues Christmas quiz over [here].

Chicago Bluesman Eric 'Guitar' Davis Murdered

[SOURCE]

In a sad state of affairs, bluesman Eric 'Guitar' Davis was found murdered in Chicago's South Shore area. He was shot in his car several times. He was 41 years old.

The son of blues drummer Bobby 'Top Hat' Davis, Eric was a talented guitarist, and was known in the local scene and has several albums out, and tours.

It's a sad day for the blues, may you rest in peace Eric.

Here's his cover of Muddy Waters' 'Hoochie Coochie Man':

5 Great Blues Songs That Appear in Film

The blues is America's gift to the music world; it inspired a new generation of musicians, and like the saying goes: 'Blues had a baby, and they named it Rock n' Roll'.

Throughout Hollywood's history dozens of blues songs have been used in movies, so here's five examples of famous blues songs that appear in them:


5. THE RAINMAKER : 'How Blue Can You Get?' - B.B. King

4. SKYFALL : 'Boom Boom' - The Animals (Cover of John Lee Hooker's original)

3. THE BLUES BROTHERS : 'Sweet Home Chicago' - The Blues Brothers

2. GOODFELLAS : 'Mannish Boy' - Muddy Waters

1. TERMINATOR 2 : 'Bad To The Bone' - George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Got some I missed? Let me know!

'Miles Davis Way' Officially Named in NYC

New York City's 312 West 77th Street has been officially named 'Miles Davis Way' by Mayor Bloomberg, after intense campaigning from Shirley Zafirau, his old neighbor.

Legendary trumpeter and jazz leader Miles Davis lived on that street for almost 25 years. 

Read the whole story [here].

John Coltrane's 'Afro Blue Impressions' Re-Mastered & Expanded

One of John Coltrane's best live albums, 'Afro Blue Impressions', has been re-released as a double-disc with a new remastering and three extra bonus tracks.

Released originally in 1963, this was in the Classic Quartet's tour of Europe. With Elvin Jones on drums, McCoy Turner on piano, and Jimmy Garrison on bass, you knew this was gonna be an amazing performance. This was when Coltrane's music shifted to more modal and avant-garde jazz, from his old hard bop sound.

Featuring some of Coltrane's best songs, like Naima, Impressions, and a stunning 21 minute performance of My Favorite Things, the new album features 3 unreleased tracks from a Stockholm performance: Naima, My Favorite Things, and I Want To Talk About You.

It's also been nominated for a Grammy award for Best Album Notes.

Hear the supreme (pun intended) version of 'My Favorite Things' below, which features Coltrane on the unusual soprano saxophone, with a hypnotic performance: