Minor Wisdom

The Pretenders: “My City Was Gone”

Here’s a rock-and-roll apple that didn’t fall far from the blues tree: the Pretenders’ live performance of “My City Was Gone.” Orleanians can relate to that.

The good folks at What About Clients Paris?, who led me to this video, have their own version of Saturday Evening Blues going. Today’s installment there is Howlin’ Wolf performing “Dust My Broom.”

Henry Butler

Why did I say that Henry Butler is special? Here’s why, in two parts:

See also these two posts at A Scale Canadian:

• Two versions of “Aberdeen Mississippi Blues”: one by Kenny Wayne Shepherd (pretty good), and the original by Bukka White (wow!).
• Two videos of James Cotten.

Sonny Landreth, “Native Stepson”

Sonny Landreth is playing at Jazz Fest tomorrow. I won’t get to see him, so I’ll console myself with this 2007 performance of “Native Stepson”.

High-energy blues by Tab Benoit

Yesterday at Jazz Fest, I heard Tab Benoit simulate a washboard on his guitar. This video features the same thing, along with some other spicy guitar playing.

Little Richard and CCR: “Good Golly, Miss Molly”

Before getting to this evening’s double feature, a few random blues-related thoughts:

• If you enjoy these Saturday-evening blues videos, then for goodness’ sake, double your pleasure and subscribe to A Scale Canadian. Its proprietor, Jim Bates, has found and posted some great stuff—for instance, Tom Petty as frontman and bass player for a band called Mudcrutch, playing Lover of the Bayou.
• If you like unvarnished country blues like R.L. Burnside used to play, then you must get Little Freddie King’s latest, Messin’ Round tha House. Although it has three remix tracks that I don’t care for, the rest of it is pure gold.
• If you like the North Mississippi Allstars, then you must have their latest, Hernando. Offbeat reviewer Brett Milano thinks it’s their best—which would make it even better than Shake Hands with Shorty and Electric Blue Watermelon. I think he’s right.

Now, this week’s videos.

Little Richard is a gift. I love every Little Richard song I’ve ever heard, including “Good Golly, Miss Molly.” And yet I find Creedence Clearwater Revival’s rendition of that song bluesier and more primitive than Little Richard’s original. What do you think? Here’s Little Richard:

An here’s CCR:

Son House: “Death Letter”

Son House had a background as a child Baptist preacher, and it shows in his singing. He embodied the original American blues and passed it on to succeeding generations, including ours.

Spencer Bohren: “Born in a Biscayne”

I’ve heard Spencer Bohren’s name for years, but I didn’t really listen to him until one day, driving to work, I turned on the radio, tuned in to WWOZ, and fell right into the middle of “The Long Black Line.” And without having heard the beginning of the song, I knew exactly what he meant by “the long black line.” I was hooked.

Anyway, here’s some vintage Spencer, circa 1984, singing “Born in a Biscayne.” In case you’re wondering, the Biscayne was a Chevrolet for people who couldn’t afford an Impala.

Up jumped the devil

Jeremy Lyons, originally from Ithaca, New York, is an adopted son of New Orleans. His music is blues with a touch of swing. Here he is with the Deltabilly Boys, in a live performance of Preachin’ Blues. Me, I’m captivated by Jeremy’s slide work—and by that little bitty two-string bass.

Albert King: “Born Under a Bad Sign”

I noticed from watching this video that Albert King didn’t just play left-handed; he played upside down.

Skip James: “Devil Got My Woman”

Before Aaron Neville’s angelic tenor, before Johnny Adams’ unbelievable falsetto, there was Skip James. Besides accompanying himself on guitar or piano, he sang with a voice most ethereal. He didn’t hit the high notes; he caressed them. But don’t take my word for it; just listen to this.