voices I miss
Albert Collins (1932-1993, vocals, guitar), “Cold, Cold Feeling” (J. M. Robinson), live, 1981
*****
another take
Ice Pickin’ (Alligator Records), 1978
(This track, which I co-produced nearly 50 years ago, lives on through streaming, with over 17 million plays on Spotify.)
**********
lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
sounds of Christmas
Bessie Smith (1894-1937) with Joe Smith (cornet), Charlie Green (trombone), Fletcher Henderson (piano), “At the Christmas Ball,” 1925
*****
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929), “Christmas Eve Blues,” 1928
*****
Victoria Spivey (1906-1976) with Lonnie Johnson (guitar), “Christmas Morning Blues,” 1928
*****
Leroy Carr (1905-1935), “Christmas in Jail—Ain’t That a Pain,” 1929
*****
Sonny Boy Williamson I (1914-1948), “Christmas Morning Blues,” 1938
*****
Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers with Charles Brown (1922-1999, vocals, keyboards), “Merry Christmas, Baby,” 1947
*****
(1921-1999), “Lonesome Christmas (I & II),” 1950
*****
Sonny Boy Williamson II (AKA Alex or Aleck Miller, 1912-1965), “Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues,” 1951
*****
John Lee Hooker (1917-2001), “Blues for Christmas,” 1959
**********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
sounds of Chicago
Listening to this last night, it seemed as if I could listen to it, happily, forever.
Jimmy Yancey (1894-1951, piano), “How Long Blues” (c. 1940, Chicago)
**********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
John Lee Hooker (1917–2001), “Serves Me Right to Suffer” (J. L. Hooker), live (TV show), Germany (Cologne), 1968
**********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
R. L. Burnside (1926-2005), live, 1984*
**********
lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
*****
*Songs: 01. Poor Black Mattie, 02. Rolling & Tumbling, 03. Peach Tree Blues, 04. Skinny Woman, 05. Going Down South, 06. I Believe My Time Ain’t Long, 07. Bad Luck And Trouble, 08. Jumper On The Line, 09. Ramblin’ On My Mind, 10. Gone So Long, 11. Long Distance Call, 12. 44 Blues, 13. See What My Buddy Done, 14. Poor Boy, 15. Sneakers Jam.
sounds of Chicago
Otis Spann (1924, or 1930, to 1970; piano, vocals), “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do,” live, 1966
**********
lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
Blind Willie McTell (vocals, guitar) with Kate McTell (vocals) and Curley Weaver (guitar), “I Got Religion, I’m So Glad,” rec. 1935 (Chicago)
**********
lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
like nobody else
Freddie Roulettte (1939-2022, lap steel guitar), “End of the Blues,” live, 2010
**********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Pablo Picasso [1881-1973], untitled [1967], detail)
sounds of Chicago
Otis Spann (1924 or 1930–1970, piano, vocals), “Spann’s Blues,” live, Germany, 1963
**********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
two takes
Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011), “Me and the Devil,” 2010
**********
Robert Johnson (1922-1938), “Me and the Devil Blues,” rec. 1937 (Dallas)
music clip of the day 