Tag: tunes

Technically it’s Sonny Boy Williamson II but the “II” tends to get dropped in the YouTube listings. There was a Sonny Boy Williamson I but he passed in 1948 and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a live performance of his. This Sonny Boy Williamson was born as Aleck Miller

Here’s an interesting combination of performers. Someone will have to let me know if it works. To begin, Doc Watson will explain the origins of this first song, which is called Southbound. This is Ray Bonneville with Cross and Flowers. The fellow on keys is John Fullbright, a singer/songwriter I’ve

If you’re not entirely awake yet, this might do the trick.

Got a nickel that I keep here in my pocket I got these snakeskin boots here wrapped around my feet I got a picture that I keep here in a locket Of a woman who’s much too good for me This is Lincoln Durham with Mud Puddles. We’re going to

Lonnie Johnson is another innovative blues and jazz musician who originally hailed from New Orleans. A lot of them seemed to end up in Texas but Johnson actually ended up in Toronto, moving to the city in 1965 and living there until his death in 1970. This is Another Night

Let’s begin with a little solo rock ‘n’ roll. This is Gary Clark Jr. performing live at a radio station with Shotgun Man. This is Doggie Treats by Sue Foley, performing a few years back in Amsterdam. I don’t think I’ve ever posted anything by Lonnie Brooks. This will remedy

Last week all the offerings were slow blues. This week, not so much. If you want the full introduction to the band, you can start this at the beginning. If you don’t particularly care what their names are, advance to about the two minute mark where you’ll find “Mimi” Castillo

Seems appropriate for a hot August evening. This is Johnny Copeland with Honky Tonkin’. I believe this is from an episode of Austin City Limits. It was a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan and this is older brother Jimmie fronting Double Trouble on Texas Flood. And this is Willie Dixon

Apparently it’s possible to hoodoo the hoodoo man. Actually Hoodoo Man Blues was the title track on Junior Wells first album in 1965. And Louis Jordan was singing about hoodooing the hoodoo man as far back as 1939. This is John Németh. At one point I’d swear Kim Wilson plays

This is John Fullbright. I made the heaven and earth, I made the stars above. Is it too much to ask for a little love? This is one of those pieces that I stumbled across while looking for something completely different and kept in the back of my mind until

Good evening. We’ll start the proceedings with Corey Harris performing in Paris (which might explain why he introduces Black Woman Gate in French), assisted by Moh Kouyaté on lead guitar. (Thanks, Moose!) If you’re a regular Friday night visitor, you may recall that Sue Foley is originally from Ottawa. She’s

In 2003 John Fahey came in at number 35 on a Rolling Stone list of the top 100 guitarists of all time. This is Poor Boys Long Way From Home. Chris Smither has been writing, recording and performing for over forty years. His songs have been covered by the likes

Gov’t Mule unplugged. Fallen Down.

I had a craving for voices and harmonies and stuff and I’m indulging myself. There’s not much more to it than that. I posted this first one once before but that copy’s been pulled from YouTube. If memory serves, it’s from a TV special shot in the Eighties and the

Good evening. This would be one of those sets consisting of tunes I stumbled over while looking for other things. Let’s start with a funky guitar instrumental called Last Train to Aalter by Alex Schulz and the Severn Soul Revue. And now a little slower and more intense — this

To quote the Wikipedia bio, Little Walter “fundamentally altered many listeners’ expectations of what was possible on blues harmonica” and it would be hard to overstate his influence. This is an instrumental piece called Walter’s Jump. Sam John Hopkins was given the nickname “Lightnin’” by a record company executive in

You know how I like to do a change of pace every once in a while? This is one. And we start with John Hartford, his fiddle and a piece of quarter inch particle board outfitted with a Barcus-Berry transducer pickup. Got no money for to buy a little whiskey

Arthel “Doc” Watson passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89. During a long career in music he earned 8 Grammy awards and a reputation as a master at his craft. And based on the interviews I’ve seen, he was just a really nice man. Deep River Blues is

Juke is an instrumental originally written and recorded by Little Walter. This is Moreland & Arbuckle. Just a Feeling is another Little Walter tune. This one’s a slow blues and features Charlie Musselwhite on vocal and harp with Richard Bargel on guitar. And to pick up the pace again and