Tag Archives: b.b. king
GOSPEL MUSIC IS THE ROOTS?
Posted on July 31, 2018 by mike
The late great Willie Dixon once said "The Blues is the roots, everything else is the fruits". While it might be taboo to disagree with a musical legend like Dixon (especially while he was alive as he was also a 300-lbs boxer), I must respectfully do so. In my personal opinion, it is Gospel and spiritual music that we have to credit with being the musical tree that provided us with all other forms of popular music.
While popular music may have evolved further and further away from it's roots in Gospel and spiritual music over the years you can still hear the genre's influence in some of today's popular music. Example, when you listen to artists like Beyonce', Childish Gambino, and Bruno Mars you can definitely hear that somewhere along the way they were influenced, maybe indirectly, by artists like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. James, Aretha, and Ray were all influenced heavily by Gospel music. Aretha grew up in the in the church, Ray took a song by the little known gospel group The Southern Tones and turned it into "I Got A Women", and Mr. Brown's stage show was basically a secular version of a baptist revival. Same with Country music. You'd be hard pressed to find a country artist today that wasn't inspired by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, or George Jones in some way. Each of those artists recorded several gospel albums over their long and impressive careers. Rock music? Same thing. Most modern rock bands in some way have been inspired by artists like The Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, etc. Those artists listened to the Blues and Blues came from Gospel and spiritual music. We could talk about how Jamaican Reggae and Ska musicians listened to Blues, R&B, and Gospel music in the 1950's over radio waves they picked up from America, but my feeling is you're getting my point. The roots of most genres of popular music begin in Gospel and spiritual music.
Now, while one might enjoy the melodies in Gospel music there still might be a hang up when it comes to the lyrics. I totally understand that. Personally I am not a religious person and identify more as an atheist. Still, I LOVE classic gospel and spiritual music! I love the passion in the music and the wonderful melodies. Also, I appreciate how Gospel music has helped a lot of folks through some very rough times in history. So while I may not have all the same beliefs as the person singing the music I am still able to enjoy the music.
Here are some of my favorite Gospel albums and artists that I hope you'll check out.
FREEDOM HIGHWAY epic records
While a live album of the same name was released in 1965 (which is also excellent) this record is compiled of studio versions of Gospel classics such as "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", and "Wade In The Water". The record also features probably the best song band leader Roebuck "Pops" Staples ever wrote, "Why Am I Treated So Bad?". Pops wrote the song after watching the events surrounding "The Little Rock Nine" unfold on television. The song became a hit not only for the Staple Singers but also an anthem of the Civil Rights movement during the 1960's.
BROTHER JOHN SELLERS
BAPTISTS SHOUTS & GOSPEL SONGS smithsonian folkways recordings
Born in Mississippi in 1924, Brother John Sellers was one of the best (and most underrated) Blues/Gospel singers ever to record. His larger-then-life voice is best showcased here on his 1959 album BAPTISTS SHOUTS & GOSPEL SONGS. Sellers was discovered by the great Mahalia Jackson when he was a youngster performing in local gospel showcases. As an adult he became an in-demand entertainer performing all over the world with legends like Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry, Jo Jones, and Jackson herself. He passed away from diabetes related complications in 1999.
MAHALIA JACKSON:
MAHALIA! SINGS GOSPEL RIGHT OUT OF THE CHURCH columbia records
During Mahalia Jackson's impressive career she introduced millions of music lovers all over the world to Gospel music. She inspired artists such as James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin, performed for world leaders, and was a powerful presence in the civil rights movement. While she has hundreds of recordings my personal favorite is MAHALIA! SINGS GOSPEL RIGHT OUT OF THE CHURCH. The material is mostly up beat and beautifully recorded. Even though this record came out later in Jackson's career her voice has never sounded better.
THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS
20th CENTRY MASTERS COLLECTION
Few Gospel vocal groups have been more influential then The Dixie Hummingbirds. During the 1940's and 50's (generally referred to as "The Golden Age of Gospel"), they were megastars. They packed arenas, paved the way for future vocal groups like The Temptations and The Four Tops, and sold piles of records. You can even trace their influence to modern pop groups like Boys II Men and N'Sync. While the Hummingbirds have many recordings available a great place to start is their "best of" collection "THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS 20th CENTURY MASTERS". This collection gives you a good overview of their sound and features their Grammy winning hit "Loves Me Like A Rock".
JOY IN MY SOUL: THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS
ABKCO Music & Records
The Soul Stirrers were another group that were megastars during the Gospel's golden age. While they are best known for being the group that kick-started Sam Cooke's career in the 1950's, the group's origins go back to the mid 1930's. With Cooke in the group the Stirrers achieved rockstar-like status and recorded several hits for Specialty Records. While the group was at their musical best when they were with Cooke, my personal favorite collection of theirs is JOY IN MY SOUL: THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS. This collection features recordings the group did for Sam Cooke's own record label SAR Records after he had officially left the group. Many of these recordings were produced by Cooke himself and show that even in their later years the group was one of the very best vocal Gospel groups.
SISTER ROSETTA THARPE
GOSPEL OF THE BLUES
Born in Arkansas in 1915 Sister Rosetta Tharpe influenced Rock and Popular music more then most people know. A young Little Richard got his start by opening for her before anybody knew who he was. Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan all cite Sister Rosetta as a major influence, and during her heyday she performed for stadium sized crowds all over the world. In short, Sister Rosetta was a rockstar before Rock n' Roll even existed.
While there are many recordings of Sister Rosetta available a good place to start when wanting to learn more about her music is a collection of her early recordings entitled THE GOSPEL OF THE BLUES. This collection is complied of tracks recorded 1938 – 1948 and features a dynamite version of her hit "Shout, Sister, Shout". The record also features a number of her recordings with Lucky Millinder's Orchestra and the Sammy Price Trio. These tracks show that Sister Rosetta could swing as hard as she could rock!
Posted in Music Reviews, Tributes	| Tagged Ace Records, Aretha Franklin, atlantic records, b.b. king, big legal mess records, big mama thornton, blues, bottleneck cafe, brother john sellers, chess records, chicago, chicago blues, civil rights, delta blues, dolly parton, fat possum records, george jones, gospel, james brown, Johnny Cash, Kent Soul, led zeppelin, mahalia jackson, mavis staples, memphis, mississippi, new orleans, preachin the blues, r&b, ray charles, smithsonian folkways, spiritual music, stax, The Rolling Stones, The Staple Singers
THE ROLLING STONES: BLUE AND LONESOME
Posted on February 2, 2017 by mike
THE ROLLING STOMES BLUE AND LONESOME (Universal Records)
For fans of Muddy Waters, B.B. King,
Of all the blues influenced rock bands to come out of England during the 1960's, few perform American Blues music with the same authenticity as The Rolling Stones. Ever since the band's early days when singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards bonded over their love for Blues artists like Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley, the Blues have been a big part of the band's sound. On their first visit to the states in 1964 they included a trip to Chess Records in Chicago to record where their Blues heroes had recorded. They've introduced Blues artists to a whole new audience by taking them on tour and donated to Blues museums. They've even picked up the tab for the funeral expenses of Blues musicians when the musician's family couldn't afford it. Now for their most recent release the band has decided to release a whole album paying tribute to their Blues heroes. Entitled Blue and Lonesome, this record shows that even after decades of sold out tours and millions of records sold they really are just a bunch of guys that want to play the Blues.
The recent formula of an artist recording a "Blues Tribute album" when they're unable to come up with new original material is a tired one, but here The Stones actually deliver! The band performs the songs on BLUE AND LONESOME (universal records) with a swagger that has long separated them from other Blues-based rock bands. The record kicks off with a cover of Little Walter's "Just A Fool". For those that are unaware Little Walter Jacobs was THE harmonica player on the Chicago Blues scene during the 1950's and has even been called "The Jimi Hendrix of Harmonica". While trying to match the exact sound and power of Little Walter's playing is impossible, Mick Jagger gets a lot closer then you'd think. His own harp playing isn't as flashy as Walter's but it more than gets the point across.
Another stand-out track is the slow Blues "Little Rain". Again The Stones come up big with their rendition of this lesser known Jimmy Reed tune. Playing slower tunes like this without losing the plot is usually tough on drummers. Fortunately for the Stones they have Charlie Watts behind the drums to keep them in-check. His laid-back drumming style perfectly fits this style of music by allowing the songs room to breath but without letting the bottom fallout. Such is the same with the rest of the Stones on this record. "Less is more" is the name of the game with this band and even when Eric Clapton joins the party on "I Can't Quit You Baby" and "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" the focus is always on playing what's best for the song.
Bottom line is BLUE AND LONESOME is an excellent record that shows us the Stones are still just a bunch of music fans trying to turn people on to the Blues.
Posted in Music Reviews	| Tagged b.b. king, blue and lonesome, blues, bottleneck cafe, buddy guy, Charlie watts, chess records, chicago, chicago blues, delta blues, eric clapton, howlin wolf, james brown, jimmy reed, john lee hooker, keith richards, little walter, mick jagger, mississippi, muddy waters, The Rolling Stones
ROBERT BELFOUR 1940-2015
Posted on March 4, 2015 by mike
Similar Artists: Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, Lightnin' Hopkins
The Beginning: Fat Possum Records and Hill Country Blues
In 1992 a small indie label called Fat Possum Records gave the American Blues scene a much needed kick-in-the-ass when they released the debut album from 62 year-old Bluesman Junior Kimbrough. Entitled ALL NIGHT LONG, the record was met with rave reviews from both critics and Blues fans and gave Kimbrough some well deserved national attention. Shortly after the success of the Kimbrough record Fat Possum also started having success with another one of their artists, R.L. Burnside. Like Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside was in his 60's and a resident of the area surrounding Holly Springs, Mississippi known as the Mississippi Hill Country. Also like Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside was a master of a style of music called "Hill Country Blues". Different then the well known Delta Blues style, Hill Country Blues focuses more on creating a groove and sometimes features other instruments such as Drums. With both the Kimbrough and Burnside records receiving some good press, Fat Possum began recording other Hill Country Blues musicians. Unfortunately the label quickly ran into the problem that many of the musicians they recorded were usually older and in very poor health. Sadly, many of them died before or shortly after their album got released. Down but not out Fat Possum Records kept plugging along and in 2000 they released a record by a 59 year-old construction worker named Robert Belfour.
Fat Possum and Mr. Robert Belfour
Robert Belfour was born in 1940 in Red Banks, Mississippi. Growing up in the Hill Country, he was surrounded by music and learned to play the guitar by watching his father play. As his interest in the guitar grew he began performing for friends and family at picnics. He continued his musical education by watching local legends like Othar Turner and Junior Kimbrough who both lived in the area and regularly performed at parties and in local Juke-Joints. Unfortunately when Robert was just 13 years old his father passed away and he was forced to get a job in order support the family. Then in 1959 Robert got married and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. He worked in construction for the next 35 years and only played music when he had time. In fact, it was until the late 80's when he really began to take music seriously again. His first real break came in 1994 he was featured on the compilation album THE SPIRIT LIVES ON, DEEP SOUTH COUNTRY BLUES & SPIRITUALS. The recordings he contributed to the record got the attention of Fat Possum Records and in the year 2000 the label issued his debut album WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU. A dark-acoustic record, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU showcased Roberts percussive guitar work and rich deep voice. The album featured a mixture of originals and covers, many of which had been made popular by other Hill Country Blues musicians. The album was a success with many Blues enthusiasts and introduced Robert to an international audience.
In 2003 Robert released his second album on Fat Possum, the humorously titled, PUSHIN' MY LUCK. Like it's predecessor, the album was primarily acoustic and pleased both fans and critics. Internationally, Robert's popularity grew and he started to play a number of European Blues festivals. Back in the states, Robert kept his home in Memphis and continued to be a regular performer on the Juke-Joint scene in Clarksdale, Mississippi. A dynamic performer into his 70's, Robert's shows would usually last late into the the night and sometimes be as long as three hours! Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Robert Balfour passed away at his home in Memphis on February 25, 2015. Fortunately for us (and thanks to the good folks at Fat Possum Records) his recordings are still readily available and can be found on iTunes, Amazon, and at your local record store.
Posted in Music Reviews, Tributes	| Tagged All Night Long, atlantic records, b.b. king, blues, bottleneck cafe, charlie patton, chess records, coffee, DEEP SOUTH COUNTRY BLUES & SPIRITUALS, delta blues, fat possum records, gospel, Hill Country Blues, Holly Springs, howlin wolf, john lee hooker, junior kimbrough, memphis, mississippi, muddy waters, Othar Turner, pushin' my luck, r&b, r.l. burnside, Red Banks, Robert Belfour, robert johnson, son house, THE SPIRIT LIVES ON, West memphis, What's Wrong With You
LEO "BUD" WELCH: I Don't Prefer No Blues!
Posted on February 17, 2015 by mike
LEO "BUD" WELCH: I DON'T PREFER NO BLUES
Big Legal Mess Records/Fat Possum Records
For Fans of Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, and The White Stripes
Sadly, the future of the Blues looks pretty bleak. While there are still a few living legends left in the world they rarely perform or record. Or if they do still record their record label or producer tries to place them with Classic Rockers who may not have even heard of the them. This is why the new album from 82 year-old guitarist Leo "Bud" Welch is a such welcome release! Recorded for Big Legal Mess records in Mississippi, I Don't Prefer No Blues is full of no-nonsense stripped-down gritty Blues. If you ever wondered what a Juke-Joint in Clarksdale, Mississippi sounds like on a Saturday night, well, here you go.
In 2014 Leo Welch gave the Blues scene a much needed shot of life when he released his first album Sabougla Voices (also on Big Legal Mess Records). Like it's predecessor, I Don't Prefer No Blues was produced by Big Legal Mess label owner Bruce Watson. For this album Watson enlisted the help of fellow Mississippi roots musician Jimbo Mathus (of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame) and together the pair pushed Leo record a much more Juke-Joint Blues sounding record. Featuring a number of Blues standards like "I Woke Up This Morning" and "Poor Boy", this album might the best REAL Blues album of the year.
The album opens with the acoustic standard "Poor Boy". Backed by an upright bass and featuring some beautiful backing vocals courtesy of Sharde Thomas (Othar Turner's granddaughter) this track is excellent rendition of a tune that's been performed by delta musicians since the 1920's. Leo and Sharde add their own stamp to the tune that leaves us hoping they'll work together again soon. Up next is dark funky blues tune "Girl In The Holler". Powered by a firm back-beat the song slowly builds to a boiling point before simmering down and fading out. Dynamics are key here and the musicians backing Leo on this record are true masters of capturing the authentic electric-delta sound.
Other fine moments on the album are the boogie-shuffle "Cadillac Baby" and fuzzy slow blues "Going Down Slow". Both tunes should quickly become crowd favorites when they're performed live as they feature Leo at his very best. Even though I Don't Prefer No Blues focuses on the Blues-side of Leo's repertoire he doesn't totally abandon his love for Gospel music. Possibly the album's strongest track, "Pray On" is a combination of all the things that make this album great. Fuzzy-guitar, boogie blues, and a slammin' band! Llike the album, this song shows us that at 82 years young, Leo isn't slowing down. He's just getting started.
Posted in Music Reviews	| Tagged b.b. king, big legal mess records, blues, bottleneck cafe, bruce watson, charlie patton, chess records, chicago, clarksdale mississippi, Conqueroo, delta blues, fat possum records, gospel, howlin wolf, I Don't Prefer No Blues, Jimbo Mathus, Jimi Hendrix, john lee hooker, junior kimbrough, Leo "Bud" Welch, mississippi, muddy waters, Other Turner, r&b, r.l. burnside, robert johnson, sabougla, son house, soul, squirrel nut zippers, West memphis, White Stripes
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: The Story of The Memphis Music Scene
Posted on September 24, 2014 by mike
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
Directed by Martin Shore
Social Capital Films (Soundtrack available from Concord Music/STAX)
Few cities have played a bigger role in the development of popular music then the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Artists like B.B. King, Otis Redding, Elivs Presley, and Al Green all came to Memphis looking for opportunities that couldn't be found in their hometowns. Overtime, artists like these changed the sound of the Memphis scene as well as the sound popular music, but they didn't do it alone. Just as important as the artists, if not more in some cases, are the produces, songwriters, and label owners who took chances with them. The story of the Memphis music scene can't be told without including people like Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, STAX A&R man Al Bell, STAX Founders Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, and producer Willie Mitchell. These people put up money for studio time, did the promotion, produced the sessions, and in some cases even risked their lives for the music they believed in! It took many different people from different backgrounds to make the Memphis music scene happen. Now thanks to a new documentary from director Martin Shore, the story of the Memphis music scene is finally be told the way it should be told… by the people who lived it.
Part history lesson, part musical tribute, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER not only tells the story of record labels like STAX and Hi-Records but also shows the recording of the movie's soundtrack. Recorded in Memphis, the album version of TAKE ME TO THE RIVER (Stax/Concord Music Group) showcases legendary Memphis musicians performing alongside younger players who've been inspired by the music of Memphis. While not all the duets might be the perfect match up of artists there's still something very heart warming about music bringing people from different backgrounds together. One of the album's the best duets is the pairing of 72 year-old Soul-Shouter Otis Clay and 12 year-old rapper P-nut on the track "Trying To Live My Life Without You". Originally a hit for Otis in 1972 the song still sounds fresh. Otis is still in great vocal form and the band is right on the money. While some may view the addition of the 12 year-old P-Nut as some sort of gimmick, it's anything but. P-Nut nails his part and sounds great. Also, you get the sense while watching the film that Otis legitimately enjoys listening to P-nut rap over his tune.
Another standout duet on the album is the match up of Mavis Staples with The North Mississippi All-Stars on "Wish I Had Answered". Originally recorded by the Staple Singers in 1963, the song was selected by the All-Star's own Luther Dickinson. Many times for these type of star-studded duet projects you get bands that sound a little flat even though they're made up of top-notch studio musicians. This is not the case here. The All-Stars are students of American music and along with an outstanding vocal performance by Ms. Staples, they perfectly capture the original spirit of the tune. Pops would be proud.
If the movie has any faults, it's only that the short lived Goldwax label isn't mentioned. Producing singers such as James Carr, Spencer Wiggins, and The Ovations, this little label was started by former Sun Records guitarist Quinton Claunch in 1964. Unfortunately due to money issues and to Carr's mental instability (he was the label's star performer) the Goldwax was out of business in 1969. Still, during it's short lifespan it was responsible for some of the most soulful music to ever come out of Memphis. Still, even without the mention of Goldwax TAKE ME TO THE RIVER gives the viewer and excellent in-depth look at the musical history of Memphis, as told by the people that lived it. Here's hoping both the film and soundtrack inspire a younger generation to discover this music and make music history of their own.
Posted in Music Reviews	| Tagged Ace Records, Aretha Franklin, atlantic records, b.b. king, big mama thornton, blues, bottleneck cafe, chess records, chicago, civil rights, coffee, delta blues, etta james, funk, goldwax, gospel, Hi-Records, howlin wolf, james brown, Kent Soul, Martin Shore, mavis staples, memphis, mississippi, new orleans, P-Nut, r&b, social capital films, soul, stax, Take Me To The River, The North Mississippi All-Stars, West memphis
BLUESIN' BY THE BAYOU: Swamp Blues at it's finest!
Posted on August 15, 2014 by mike
Few people were better at discovering musical talent in Louisiana during the 1950's and 60's then J.D. Miller and Eddie Shuler. Instrumental in bringing styles such as Zydeco, Cajun, and Swamp Pop to the ears of the world, they each made their mark by recording and producing local unknown talent. Miller recorded the artists he discovered then usually sold the tapes to other record labels while Shuler recorded and released music on his own Goldband label. Now, thanks to the fine people at ACE Records, there are TWO new excellent compilations that focus on the Blues recordings produced by Miller and Shuler.
Part of ACE's "By The Bayou" series, these discs, entitled Bluesin' By The Bayou and Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough & Tough, are both supreme examples of the Louisiana Blues scene during the 50's and 60's. Sometimes known as "Swamp Blues" the music on these recordings is a mix of down-home Country Blues with a few touches of R&B, Zydeco, and Cajun Music thrown in for good measure. These recordings are essential for any Blues or Roots Music fan's record collection. This is as greasy as it gets!
Some of the artists featured on Bluesin' On The Bayou
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Slim Harpo was one of the most successful and best known of all Swamp Blues artists. His songs "I'm A King Bee" (1957) and "Shake Your Hips" (1961) were both covered by The Rolling Stones and he had a number one hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back". Included on Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough and Tough are his single "My Little Queen Bee", an answer to his first hit "King Bee", and a cover of Lonesome Sundown's "Bought Me A Ticket"
LONESOME SUNDOWN
Lonesome Sundown was born Cornelius Green in 1931 on a plantation in Donaldsville, Louisiana. Well versed in a variety of musical styles, Lonesome Sundown's music ranged from down-home Blues to Country to Roll-licking R&B. He was never a household name but nevertheless was responsible for some of the most exciting music to come out of Louisiana in the 50's and 60's. Included on Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough and Tough are romping versions of his songs "I'm Gonna Stick To You Baby" and "If Anybody Asks You". Both songs are essential listening for ANY Blues fan.
LIGHTNIN' SLIM
One of the most important and influential bluesmen to ever come out of Louisiana, Lightnin' Slim was actually born in St. Louis, Missouri. He moved to Louisiana when he was a teenager and soon picked up the guitar and began playing in clubs. In 1954 he recorded "Bad Luck Blues" with J.D. Miller and regularly performed with fellow Louisiana bluesmen Lonesome Sundown, Lazy Lester, and Slim Harpo. Included here in this collection is his song "Trip To Chicago" which talks about the groups "adventure" to play a gig in the Windy City! Fellow Louisiana bluesman Buddy Guy credits Lightnin' Slim as one of his biggest influences.
A talented multi-instrumentalist, Lazy Lester performed on many recordings produced by J.D. Miller as both a front-man and backup musician. His first major his was the his 1958 release "I'm A Lover Not A Fighter". Originally written by J.D. Miller, this song put Lester on the map and was coupled with the b-side "Sugar Coated Love". Still an excellent performer to this day, he still tours nationally and is a favorite at Blues festivals. He was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Posted in Music Reviews	| Tagged Ace Records, b.b. king, blues, Blusin' by the bayou, Bobbin By The Bayou, bottleneck cafe, buddy guy, Cajun Music, chess records, chicago, chicago blues, delta blues, Eddie Shuler, Goldband Records, gospel, J.D. Miller, jazz, Kent Soul, lazy lester, lonesome sundown, Louisiana, mississippi, new orleans, r&b, slim harpo, swamp blues, swamp pop, The Rolling Stones, Zydeco
NO MORE DOGGIN' The RPM Records Story: Vol 1 1950-1953
Posted on August 4, 2014 by mike
Full of Jump Blues, early R&B, and down-home Country Blues, the double-disc collection No More Doggin' The RPM Records Story Vol. 1 might be one of the best introductions to early 50's blues ever. Compiled by the good folks at ACE Records, this collection covers the early years of RPM Records and features well know artists like B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, and Lightnin' Hopkins.
Started in 1950 by the Bihari Brothers, RPM was meant to be a subsidiary of the Bihari's very popular label Modern Records. After initially having lots of success with Modern, the Bihari's began having trouble getting their records played on the radio due to stations not wanting to play too many sides from any one label. So in order to get their product on the airwaves the Bihari's started a number of subsidiary labels. Probably the most popular of Modern's subsidiary labels, RPM introduced the world to a Memphis radio DJ by the name of Riley B. King. Eventually known as "B.B. King", Riley came to the attention of the Bihari Brothers thanks to their working relationship with Memphis talent scout/producer Sam Phillips. Phillips at the time was recording local artists with his Memphis Recording Service then sending the masters to labels like Modern and Chess. Trough their relationship with Phillips, the Bihari's got hooked up with some of the best talent in Memphis. Unfortunately their relationship ended when Phillips and the Bihari's had a disagreement over a B.B. King session and went their separate ways. Fed up with feeding product he recorded to other labels, Phillips then decided to start his own label, Sun Records. As for Modern/RPM, even without the help of Phillips the label still went on to produce many more hits, including B.B. King's breakthrough hit record Three O'Clock Blues.
No More Doggin' The RPM Records Story Vol. 1 starts off with the Dixieland-style track "Alabama Bound". Sung by Adele Francis, this tune was RPM's first release in 1950. Other stand out tracks are Sonny Blair's down-and-out blues ballad "Glad To Be Back Home", B.B. King's "Other Night Blues, and Howlin' Wolf's "Riding In The Moonlight". My personal favorite recordings on this collection are the Lightnin' Hopkins tracks. Excellent versions of "Bad Luck and Trouble" and "Another Fool In Town" showcase Hopkins at his bluesy best, while "Jake Head Boogie" shows that he also could ROCK when he wanted to. Another nice surprise on this collection is the tune "It's Time For Lovin' To Be Done". Performed by Detroit Bluesman Little Eddie Kirkland, the song features uncredited backing vocals by the great John Lee Hooker!
As usual the folks at ACE left no stone unturned when putting this collection together. Included in this collection is a nice history of RMP records as well as a few words on all the performers. All of the albums 52 tracks sound crisp and clear thanks to the extra care shown by the folks who did the remastering. If you want to hear where Rock N' Roll really began this collection is for you.
Posted in Music Reviews	| Tagged Ace Records, adele francis, b.b. king, bad luck and trouble, Bihari Brothers, blues, bottleneck cafe, chess records, chicago, chicago blues, delta blues, dixieland, Eddie Kirkland, gospel, howlin wolf, jake head boogie, john lee hooker, Kent Soul, lightnin' hopkins, mississippi, Modern Records, new orleans, No more doggin' the RPM Records Story Vol. 1, r&b, RPM Records, sam phillips, soul, sun records, The Rolling Stones, West memphis
LEO "BUD" WELCH: Sabougla Voices
Posted on April 22, 2014 by mike
Leo "Bud" Welch: SABOUGLA VOICE Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum
For Fans of: Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, The White Stripes, Rev Louis Overstreet
Guitarist Leo "Bud" Welch was born in Sabougla, Mississippi in 1932. A natural musician, Leo taught himself to play the guitar by learning songs off the radio. As soon as he built up a small repertoire he began performing at parties and local juke-joints. Unfortunately work as a musician was inconsistent and even though he was incredibility talented he was unable to make a living playing music. In order to make ends-meet Leo ended up taking a job as a logger and had to resort to playing music only when he had free time. Then in 1975 Leo switched from playing Blues to playing Gospel. He started performing in churches all over Mississippi and even began hosting a local Gospel Television show. Even though he now considered himself a Gospel musician he still kept in touch with the local Blues scene. As time went on he heard that Blues musicians like Junior Kimbrough were having late-in-life success working with Fat Possum Records. Inspired by this he called up the label and requested an audition. Label owner Bruce Watson agreed to hear Leo play and ended up signing him on the spot. Now thanks to the good people at Fat Possum and Big Legal Mess Records the world finally gets to hear one of the treasures of Mississippi, guitarist Leo Welch.
The album is called Sabougla Voices and the music on it is honest no-frills Mississippi Gospel. Throughout the albums ten tracks Leo's plays the guitar with the energy of someone half his age. Songs like "Praise His Name" and "You Can't Hurry God" are upbeat and show us the lines between Blues and Gospel are blurry at best. In fact, if you were to change a few lyrics, these songs could easily be for Saturday night instead of Sunday morning. Another standout track on the record is the acoustic "Me and My Lord". Sounding a little like Pops Staples, Leo does call and response with his backup singers while playing acoustic guitar. This song is given an extra push by Leo's backing band which shows it's professionalism by settling into a nice groove and not over playing.
Even though all of the music on Sabougla Voices is solid, the album's strongest track is easily the slow and eerie blues tune "A Long Journey". Beautifully recorded, this song is about accepting the fact that death is part of life. That being said, hopefully Leo will be still be around for a long time as he deserves to enjoy every minute of his new found success! He's got gigs booked across the U.S. this summer and is even scheduled to perform in Europe! Not bad for someone that at one point had to turn down an audition with B.B. King because he couldn't afford to travel to Memphis. This album is excellent and belongs in your collection.
Posted in Music Reviews	| Tagged b.b. king, big legal mess, blues, blues guitarist, bottleneck cafe, bruce watson, chicago, church, clarksdale mississippi, country blues, delta blues, fat possum, gospel, howlin wolf, john lee hooker, juke joint, junior kimbrough, Leo "Bud" Welch, Leo Welch, mississippi, mississippi blues, mississippi hill country, mississippi hill country blues, Mother Loves Her Children, muddy waters, oxford mississippi, pinetop perkins, preachin the blues, r&b, r.l. burnside, sabougla, sabougla mississippi, West memphis, You Can't Hurry God
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: The Authorized Biography
FEVER: Little Willie John's Fast Life, Mysterious Death, and the Birth of Soul
Author: Susan Whitall Publisher: Titan Books
Armed with a lion-like voice and sparkling personality Little Willie John was one of the most popular entertainers during the 1950's and 60's. Songs like "All Around The World", "Fever", and "Talk To Me" all made it to the top of the R&B charts and became the blueprint for what would later be called "Soul Music". He consistently filled concert halls throughout his career always delivering an electric stage show that left audiences wanting more. On the road more often then not Willie lived his life fast and hard. He regularly stayed out until the wee-hours of the morning drinking and socializing. One night after a show in Seattle, Washington while he was drinking at an after-hours club Willie was involved in an altercation that ended with him stabbing a man. Willie ended up being charged with manslaughter and was sent away to the Washington State Penitentiary where he died on May 26 1968 at the age of 30. Although the cause of his death is listed as "Heart Attack", there are questions about the care he was given while incarcerated. However it happened, it's a sad but true fact that Little Willie John left this world too soon.
In her book FEVER: Little Willie John, A Fast Life, Mysterious Death, and the Birth of Soul, author Susan Whitall gives us a detailed and in-dept look at the life of one of music's greatest voices. Written with the help of Willie John's son Kevin and filled with interviews from those who knew Willie John this book is essential for anyone interested in the history of Soul music.
Essential listening Little Willie John: Complete Hit Single's A's & B's
Posted in Book Reviews, Tributes	| Tagged Aretha Franklin, atlantic records, b.b. king, blues, bottleneck cafe, chess records, chicago, delta blues, Detroit, Fever, funk, gospel, Jackie Wilson, james brown, Kent Soul, Kevin John, little willie john, Little Willie John: A Fast Life, mable john, mavis staples, mississippi, new orleans, r&b, soul, stevie wonder, Susan Whitall, Talk To Me, Titan Books, West memphis
RESPECT YOURSELF: The Story of STAX Records
RESPECT YOURSELF: THE STORY OF STAX RECORDS Bloomsbury USA
Author Robert Gordon has been writing about the music of Memphis for almost 30 years. In Respect Yourself: The Story of STAX Records Mr. Gordon not only tells the story of STAX but also the story of the Civil Rights movement in Memphis. Passionately written and meticulously researched this book takes you from the label's meager beginnings in a garage outside Memphis to it's bankruptcy in 1975. Along with Mr. Gordon's narration you hear from the people that made STAX happen, making this book one of a kind.
A LITTLE STAX HISTORY…
Started by Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Axton in 1957, STAX Records was more then just a record label. It was a voice in the community. The label's open door policy made it possible for anyone to come in off the street and set up an audition. It didn't matter where you were from or what the color of your skin was, you were welcomed at STAX as long as you had a passion for music.
Right from the beginning STAX did things it's own way. Segregation may have been alive and well in Memphis during the 1960's, but that didn't stop STAX founder Jim Stewart from hiring an African American DJ named Al Bell to be his lead promotions man. Working together side by side Jim, Estelle, and Al turned STAX records from a little indie label into a household name! STAX artists like Otis Redding, Booker T. & The MG's, Carla Thomas, and William Bell put the label on the map with singles that started appearing on the R&B and Pop charts. Money was coming in and things were really rolling, until one very dark December day in 1967…
Today many people can remember exactly where they were when they learned that the plane carrying Otis Redding and The Bar-Keys went down. Otis was the soul of STAX and the voice of soul music. A few months later while the people of STAX were still grieving over the loss of Otis and the Bar Keys their world was rocked again. On the evening of April 4, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Needless to say, after the assassination of Dr. King everything was different, especially in Memphis. If all this wasn't enough, the label's distributor Atlantic Records ended it's relationship with STAX. With it's biggest star gone and no way to get music to the stores most label's would have called it a day, but most labels didn't have Al Bell. It was then that Al and the folks at STAX hunkered down and staged one of the biggest comebacks in music history.
The early 70's found STAX again at the top of the Soul music world. This time around STAX would reach heights that were even greater then it did in the 1960's. Al Bell gained full control of the label and STAX rode the success of artists like Isaac Hayes, The Emotions, Johnnie Taylor, and The Staple Singers all the way to the top of the charts. Sadly this rebirth would be short lived as some questionable business decisions and over expatiation lead to STAX eventually having to declaring bankruptcy in 1975.
Posted in Book Reviews, Music Reviews, Tributes	| Tagged Al Bell, Aretha Franklin, atlantic records, b.b. king, beale street, blues, Booker T. and The MG's, Booker T. Jones, bottleneck cafe, carla thomas, chess records, civil rights, coffee, Dave Porter, delta blues, estelle axton, Isaac Hayes, jerry wexler, jim stewart, Kent Soul, lorraine motel, Martin Luther King Jr., mavis staples, memphis, mississippi, national civil rights museum, new orleans, otis redding, pops staples, preachin the blues, r&b, Respect Yourself the story of stax records, Robert Gordon, Rufus Thomas, sam phillips, San & Dave, satellite, satellite records, soul, stax, Steve Cropper, The Rolling Stones, The Staple Singers, Wattstax, West memphis, william bell, wilson pickett