Review: 'Sweet Giant of the Blues' - Otis Spann (1969)

It is hard to not write about the great blues pianist Otis Spann; he was a pillar of the classic Chicago blues. Indeed, he was in Muddy Waters' band from 1952 until 1968... in the blues world that's almost a lifetime, as many session players would often leave a band to pursue solo efforts. Muddy Waters always chose the best of the best to play in his band, and he also encouraged them to find their own success. 

Otis Spann, called a brother by Muddy, was the leading blues pianist of his time. His unique playing and soulful voice propelled him to the top of the pack very quickly, and he is included on many of the classic blues standards of the 50's and 60's. He released his first solo album in 1960, and until his early death in 1970 released several more and performed with other bluesmen such as Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, and more.

2 Year Old Kid Sings The Blues (No Joke)

This kid is going places... he ain't even old enough to have the blues but he's already wailing on it like he's a dog without a bone.

Thanks Zaid and Tarek for the link!

'Who's Gonna Love You Tonight?' - Deep Blues by Sam Chatmon

Sam Chatmon was a delta blues singer and multi-instrumentalist, who was part of the blues group The Mississippi Sheikhs. Their music was highly influential from the 1930's onward.

Sam died in 1983 but his musical legacy lives on; here's Who's Gonna Love You Tonight? It's a version of several blues songs from Blind Lemon Jefferson and Arthur Crudup.

Feel the blues!

Swamp Blues: 'Cadillac In The Swamp' - SmokeHouse

There is a sub-genre of the blues called Louisiana Blues, with it's music center being New Orleans. Within this subgenre lies a variation called 'Swamp Blues'.

Swamp Blues is a lot more gritty, laidback and for lack of a better term, loose. The beats are a heavier version of the standard blues rhythms or boogie riffs of Chicago and mixing the Cajun sounds the South, taking you to the depths of the swampy, misty Louisiana bayou.

A nice modern example comes from the band Smokehouse. In 1996 the band released an album called 'Cadillac in the Swamp', which features this type powerful sound; a great story along with eerie blues imagery in the video.

Hugh Laurie (AKA House) Covers Muddy Waters' 'Louisiana Blues'

Hugh Laurie (best known as House from the TV show of the same name) is a lover of the blues; previously I reviewed his debut album 'Let Them Talk'. His newest album 'Didn't It Rain' was released last year. Both albums heavily feature blues music among other genres.

One of the album surprises on that album is a cover of the Muddy Waters 1950 classic 'Louisiana Blues', with his own twist.

Here's the video, and the original below it for reference:

'Beefsteak Blues' - James 'Son' Thomas

James 'Son' Thomas lived the blues; he was a gravedigger, was shot by an ex-wife, worked the fields, and lived down in Mississippi most of his life. He started recording in the late 60's till the 80's, however he remains obscure outside of the blues circles.

His Delta blues style is very gritty and deep like the muddy Mississippi river. This song called 'Beefsteak Blues' was recorded sometime in the 80's and he sings:

'Beefsteak when I'm hungry, whiskey when I'm dry;
 Beefsteak when I'm hungry, whiskey when I'm dry;
Good lookin' woman when I'm livin', and heaven when I die

Worry I'ma leave you; worry you off my mind;
Worry I'ma leave you; worry you off my mind;
Way you keeps me worried; bother all the time

Some folks say I'm worried, worried the blues ain't bad
Some folks say I'm worried, worried the blues ain't bad
Well that's the worst old feelin' I most ever had.'

(That last line is taken straight from Muddy Water's 'Country Blues' from 1941.)

This is some hard drinkin' blues music:

35th Blues Music Awards Winners Announced

The 35th Blues Music Awards took place on May 8, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee. The event brought together the lovers and players of the blues into one great night of celebration.

Congrats to all the winners; it's always nice to see a mix of the traditional bluesmen such as Buddy Guy and James Cotton with contemporary bluesmen like Susan Tedeschi and Gary Clark Jr.

Here's the full winners list after the jump:

More Bad Places to Have the Blues

A few years back I posted a small list of places where you can't have the blues.

Here's a new list of places that you just cain't have the blues , no matter how the economy dragged you down , or no matter how many men/women done mistreat you:

You dropped your monocle at an art gallery

You missed Kim at her opening of Millions of Milkshakes

Your doctor left some fat on your leg during lypo

Your iPhone's home button don't work so you go the Apple Store

A Justin Beiber concert

Blowin' the Blues: Top 10 Blues Harp Players

Hohner, the most famous brand of harps for blues players.

The harmonica, or as it's known in blues terms as the 'harp', has been and still is an essential addition to any blues song. The harmonica is older than the blues, but ever since the early days of the blues in the Mississippi Delta,  harp players started accompanying guitarists and vocalists, it gave the song a more 'country folk' sound that people associate with. 

Eventually with the great migration of blues players to the urban centers of Chicago, Detroit, etc, harp players started using amplifiers to keep up with the electrified guitars and vocals, and since then traditional blues players most always have a harp in their band lineup.

I compiled a list of my personal top 10 harp players, based on influence and legacy.

'BB King: The Life of Riley' to Get Theater, DVD Release

A new documentary called 'BB King: The Life of Riley' is set to be released in select US theaters on May 21st, with a DVD, Blu-Ray and digital release for June 17.

The film, directed by Jon Brewer and narrated by God Morgan Freeman, will cover the rich and long-lasting musical history of Riley 'B.B.' King from his childhood, to his career beginning until now, where at 88 years old remains one of the only original bluesmen from back in the day. It features interviews by BB King himself, as well as Bono, Eric Clapton, Bruce Willis, Ringo Starr  and others, including appearances by Keith Richards, Mick Jagger And President Obama.

The soundtrack will be released as well, featuring selected works spanning his entire career.

Here's the trailer for the film: