chicago
Jimmy Rogers – Sloppy Drunk
Ruleville, MS‘ Jimmy Rogers with a funny if handsomely-played tune of a sort that’s rooted in the authentic ‘real folk blues’ of early America.
And I love that moonshine whiskey
and I’ll tell you what I do
And I love that moonshine whiskey
and I’ll tell you what I do
The reason is why I drink,
I’m just trying to get along with you
Joe Posnanski: Remembering ‘Mr. Cub,’ Ernie Banks
A sad day for Cubs fans and those who tip a respectful hat at the passing of an individual of demonstrable excellence.
Reggae Covers: John Holt – You’ll Never Find (Lou Rawls)
This bass-heavy 1977 cover by John Holt of the 1976 original by Chicago, IL soul master Lou Rawls contains none of the vivacity of the Rawls classic, let alone its soaring strings and horns. You almost wonder how such a recording came to exist, let alone find release.
You’ll never find another love like mine
Someone who needs you like I do
You’ll never see what you’ve found in me
You’ll keep searching and searching your whole life through
Whoa, I don’t wish you no bad luck, baby
But there’s no ifs and buts or maybes
Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Thank You Mr. Poobah
A harp clinic from blues great & noted switchblade-carrier Paul Butterfield.:
Howlin’ Wolf – Sitting On Top Of The World
Chester Arthur Burnett had many names. Big Foot Chester. Bull Cow. Later he became better known as the Tail Dragger, the one and only Howlin’ Wolf. The Wolf rose up in White Station, MS (between Columbus and Tupelo) and went to Chicago in 1953 where he came to typify the electrified, Delta-bred Chicago blues style. He learned guitar from Charley Patton and harmonica from Sonny Boy Williamson, but blew the South Side away once professionally aligned with world-class blues virtuosi like Hubert Sumlin, Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy, Sam Lay (later of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band) and Junior Parker.
I could link to a dozen Howlin’ Wolf tunes that’d knock your socks off –the ‘real folk blues’ in the time-honored tradition– but this is the one I was just singing in my head so I thought I’d share.
Going down to the freight yard,
catching me a freight train.
I’m gonna’ leave this town.
Work done got hard.
But now she gone, and I don’t worry
Sitting on top of the world.
I Was At This Game: Andre Dawson 1991 Bat-Throwing Incident
We were in town for a three game homestand and miscellaneous other Kingston Mines/Blues high jinks as sort of a late birthday present. The best seats we had of all the three games were for this one, about six rows up behind the Cubs dugout, right about here (links to aviewfrommyseat.com).
The Hawk was terrifying to behold in all his fury.
BONUS: Rob Dibble loses his damn mind and throws the ball at baserunning Doug Dascenzo.
James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Branch & Sugar Ray Norcia (‘Super Harps’) – T.D.’s Boogie Woogie
The Super Harps are Chicago blues stalwarts James Cotton, Billy Branch, Sugar Ray Norcia, and the legendary Charlie Musselwhite. Folks can’t help shake a leg all day or night to a boogie like this, their take on the old Tommy Dorsey number.
Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Shake Your Money Maker
Elmore James’ original has evolved into a staple of the blues set. With all the impossibly-talented musicians out there I’m certain there’s a cover that rocks harder than the Paul Butterfield version but I haven’t heard it yet. Check out Mike Bloomfield‘s slide lead. That cat got it, for sure.
Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Driving Wheel
Butterfield without Bloomfield is hard to imagine until you hear just how well they do with Elvin Bishop on the git-fiddle. As competent a replacement for his Electric Flag-forming predecessor as he is, Elvin’s lead in this old Roosevelt “Honeydripper” Sykes number is upstaged by the knock-down phenomenal horn chart (anchored by Gene Dinwiddie & David Sanborn) and the heedless, wild-ass shuffle of Phil Wilson on the drums.
Every time she walk
Shake like a leaf hanging on a tree
Every time my baby walk
Shake like a leaf hanging on a tree
Well, I want you to come over here baby
and get your steak, potatoes and peas.
Mike Bloomfield – Wine Wine Wine
Arguably the best guitarist of his generation, certainly among the top blues guitarists of all time, Mike Bloomfield pulls the blues kicking and screaming out of a beautiful old Les Paul. I wish the recording included Bloomfield’s vocal track. He looks so happy here…so far away from where he was headed.
A Biscuit In The Sun 