Led Zeppelin's First 3 Albums to be Re-Released

The legendary classic rock band Led Zeppelin have announced that their first three albums, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III, will be remastered and re-released on June 3.

The albums will come in several packages, like a special box set, single or double CD's, 2 vinyl versions, and digital download. The extra content will be an unreleased live concert audio for Led Zep 1, and studio outtakes for Led Zep 2 and 3.

Led Zeppelin remain one of the biggest rock bands ever, and of course their blues influence is very profound.

Here's 'The Lemon Song', featured on Led Zeppelin II, which is a blues nod to Howlin' Wolf; who incidentally sued the band for copyright infringement on his song 'Killing Floor'; and he has since then been credited on the song.

The Most Kickass Blues Gig Announced, to be in Las Vegas

Holy fuckballs; this has got to be the biggest, meanest, most orgasmic (ok I'll calm down) blues event of the year!

The Big Blues Bender has announced a major blues event between September 25-29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will take place at the Riviera Hotel & Casino.

Now, how big is this show? Just a a few dozen of the best blues musicians alive today!! Take a look for yourself:

I might have to start saving up for this; unless of course I start a Kickstarter campaign, I wouldn't want to miss this!

Tickets are now for sale ONLY from the official website and include 4 nights stay in the hotel.

My 3rd Article for Revolver Is Up!

The lovely folks at Revolver have been very generous to publish my blues rambling; the third time in fact!

This time around the article is called "Booze and the Blues: 10 Blues Songs About Alcohol", and you can read it [here]. 

Cheers (hah) to Revolver and Bernard for their interest and support!

Blues Music Goes Global: A VOA Report

The Voice of America (VOA) has uploaded a special report video about blues music; speaking about the history and it's influences on music, and features several clips of live music playing. The report was prepared by Greg Flakus, who is from Texas and discusses Lightnin' Hopkins, who is a Texan as well. The International Blues Challenge is also shown, and Joe Whitmer of the Blues Foundation tells him a bit about it.

It's a short but very informative video; check it out:

International Jazz Day 2014's Host City is Osaka, Japan

The 3rd Annual International Jazz Festival's host city has been announced and it will be in Osaka, Japan.

From the official release:

"In the spirit of International Jazz Day, organizers select a venue with rich historical significance, representing jazz’s ability to connect disparate traditions and cultural identities. In 2014, Osaka, Japan’s beautiful Osaka Castle Park will host more than 30 world-renowned performers and an audience of thousands in celebration of the third annual International Jazz Day. 

The 2014 All-Star Global Concert will feature internationally renowned artists including pianists: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kris Bowers, John Beasley and Herbie Hancock; vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roberta Gambarini, Lalah Hathaway and Gregory Porter; trumpeters Theo Croker, Roy Hargrove, Claudio Roditi and Terumasa Hino; bassists James Genus, Marcus Miller and Esperanza Spalding; drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, and percussionists Pete Escovedo and Sheila E.; saxophonists Kenny Garrett, Troy Roberts (Australia), Wayne Shorter and Lew Tabackin; trombonist Steve Turre; guitarists Earl Klugh and John Scofield."

Looks like this will be an insane concert! April 30 is the official UN approved International Jazz Day. See you then!

Even The Beatles Sang The Blues

The Beatles, during a troubled time of the band in 1968, released what is now known as The White Album (it's actually a self-titled album). In that album, is one (for me at least) standout track, called 'Yer Blues'.

Written by John Lennon while the band was in India, the song came about as Lennon put it: "trying to reach God and feeling suicidal". 

The song is pretty much your standard blues, but with a twist near the end where slow tempo picks up and George Harrison plays the slide guitar solo. Also, it's noted that this was one of the few times Paul McCartney played the Fender Jazz Bass on record.

The lyrics are also your standard Lennon too: 

The eagle picks my eye
The worm he licks my bones
I feel so suicidal
Just like Dylan's Mr. Jones
Lonely wanna die
If I ain't dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why.

Hope you enjoy this jem!

Low Down Dirty Blues: 'Cold Lonely Nights' - Lonnie Brooks

Lonnie Brooks, currently at age 80, is a pioneering blues guitarist and vocalist from Louisiana; having started his career in Texas before moving to Chicago in the early 60's. He has performed with dozens of musicians including BB King, Jimmy Reed, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and many others.

Here's a cut from 1988 called 'Cold Lonely Nights', featuring hard-hitting guitars and gut-wrenching vocals:

The Blues Map of The USA

We talked about the many regions of the blues; but now, I have created a visual representation of it, otherwise known as a map (and we all love maps don't we!)

So with my superior MS Paint skills (shrug), I present to you The Blues Map of the USA! Thank me later!

(click for larger image)

Voodoo and the Blues

Voodoo is a religious belief which combines African, Caribbean, French and other national traditions,  and while it is mostly based in Haiti (and is considered an official religion) it has deep roots in New Orleans, Louisiana, where almost 15% of the population admit to practicing it. Voodoo was brutally repressed by slave-owners, yet its powerful beats, ethics and aesthetics endured. Since New Orleans has a distinctive place in blues and jazz; and we draw the origin references to voodoo from it. 

Some, especially in the Arab world, view Voodoo as an evil cult, with gruesome descriptions of human sacrifice and black magic; a perfect match with the music that is the Blues.

Much of the lore of voodoo in the blues comes in the form of using magic spells, seeing gypsy women (fortune tellers), and putting curses on others who were treatin' us bad, mostly as a sign to show the mysterious and sometimes mystical side of the music. 

Here are a few voodoo references in blues music: 

I Got my Mojo Workin' - Muddy Waters

"I'm going down to Louisiana to get me a mojo hand; I'm gonna have all you women right here at my command"

Mojo Hand - Lightnin' Hopkins

"I lay down thinking, Buy me a mojo hand; I did wanna fix my woman so she can't have no other man." 

I Put A Spell On You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Speaks for itself really!

Hoodoo Lady Blues - Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup

"Now, Miss Hoodoo Lady, please give me a hoodoo hand;
"I wanna hoodoo this woman of mine, I believe she's got another man."

And there's a compilation album you can buy containing several voodoo related blues music

 (Disclaimer to the idiots: IT'S NOT SATANIC)

Standard of the Week: 'Born Under a Bad Sign'

This week, we will delve into one of blues most famous standards, 'Born Under a Bad Sign', by Albert King.

Recorded and released by the legendary Stax record label, 'Born Under a Bad Sign' is considered the quintessential Albert King song. It was recorded with the Booker T & The MG's as the backup band; which is a winning combination.

It's listed in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame as one of the '500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll', and is was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the "Classic of Blues Recording, Singles or Album Tracks" category . 

The original 1967 album version.

The riff is what gives the song wide appeal to both blues and rock fans. Dozens of musicians covered it, 

such as Cream:

Jimi Hendrix (as an instrumental)

Robben Ford: 

and.... HOMER SIMPSON (seriously)

Stay tuned for more standards, hope you liked the little tidbits for this song this week!